Filter container system with venting configuration

Abstract

A filter container is required that can efficiently perform the degassing of the flow path of the secondary side of a filter with a simple configuration. The above-described problem is solved by a filter container system that includes a filter cartridge having a cylindrical filter that performs filtration of a fluid and has a pipe between a first opening disposed at one end and a second opening disposed at the other end; a filter container that can store the filter cartridge inside in a detachable manner, the filter container having a venting mechanism at an upper portion; a partition wall that is in contact with the filter cartridge and the inside of the filter container, forming a venting chamber that communicates with a venting port of the venting mechanism; and a pipe that extends in the vertical direction in a manner that communicates with the venting chamber.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a breather structure of a filter container. BACKGROUND

[0002] In a fluid machine that utilizes the flow of a fluid, in order to prevent pressure loss and improve the efficiency of the flow of the fluid, it is necessary to perform, in an initial state, a so-called air bleed of air remaining in a flow path from the flow path. In filtration of a fluid using a filter, the air bleed of a flow path of a fluid to be filtered (hereinafter, referred to as "filtration fluid") in an initial state is also an important process.

[0003] On the other hand, a method of performing filtration of a fluid using a filter container in which a filter cartridge having a filter is built in a detachable manner is widely used. In particular, in such a filter container, in order to replace the filter cartridge, a configuration in which the entire inside of the filter container is always exposed is adopted. Therefore, it is necessary to perform air bleeding in a flow path on a primary side (upstream side) and a flow path on a secondary side (downstream side) of the filter of the filter cartridge, respectively. At this time, in a filter container in which the primary side of the filter is set to the outer peripheral surface of the filter, it is difficult to perform air bleeding in the flow path on the secondary side (downstream side) of the filter.

[0004] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0005] PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-086625 SUMMARY

[0007] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008] Regarding the air bleeding in the flow path on the secondary side (downstream side) of the filter, in Patent Document 1, an example of separating fuel oil from air by using a vane member that forms a spiral flow after making the fuel oil to be filtered into a descending flow is described. However, the structure for air bleeding becomes complicated, and the flow of air for air bleeding depends only on the natural rising flow of air, and therefore there is a problem that the effect of air bleeding is not high in reality. Therefore, a filter container capable of efficiently performing air bleeding in the flow path on the secondary side of the filter with a simple configuration is required.

[0009] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0010] The above problems are solved by a filter container system including: a filter cartridge having a cylindrical filter that performs filtration of a fluid and has a pipe between a first opening provided at one end and a second opening provided at the other end; a filter container that can store the filter cartridge inside in a detachable manner, the filter container having a ventilation mechanism at an upper portion; a partition wall that contacts the filter cartridge and the inside of the filter container to form a ventilation chamber that communicates with a ventilation port of the ventilation mechanism; and a pipe that extends in a vertical direction in a manner that communicates with the ventilation chamber, wherein the filter container has a storage state in which the filter cartridge is stored inside the filter container, in the storage state, the pipe penetrates the inside of the pipe in a manner that an end of the pipe reaches the ventilation chamber, so that a gap pipe is provided between the pipe and the pipe, the partition wall contacts an end portion of the filter, the ventilation chamber is partitioned from the gap pipe, the pipe, and a portion other than the ventilation port, and in the storage state, the filter container system defines a flow path in which the fluid flows in from an inlet at a lower portion of the filter container, the fluid that flows in reaches the ventilation chamber from the outer peripheral surface of the filter via the filter to the gap pipe, and is discharged from the lower portion of the filter container via the pipe from the ventilation chamber.

[0011] Effects of Invention

[0012] According to the present application, the venting of the flow path on the secondary side of the filter can be performed efficiently with a simple configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 A perspective view of a filter container system according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0014] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the filter container system according to an embodiment of the present application, and is a view showing a cross section X-X of Figure 1 .

[0015] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the filter container system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0016] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the filter container system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0017] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the filter container system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0018] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the filter container system according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] (Example 1)

[0020] Referring to Figures 1 to 4 , as an embodiment of the present application, the filter container system 1 of Example 1 is described. The filter container system 1 is provided with a filter cartridge 2, a filter container 3, an air chamber 4, a partition wall 5, and a tube 6. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the filter container system 1 of the present application. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the filter container system of the embodiment of the present application, and is a view showing a cross section X-X of Figure 1 . Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view obtained by enlarging a portion of the partition wall 5 of Example 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the filter cartridge 2 of Example 1, and is a view particularly describing the tube 6.

[0021] First, the structure of the filter container system 1 of Example 1 is described. The filter cartridge 2 is a configuration in which a cylindrical filter 21 that performs filtration of a fluid is held by a cartridge support body (not shown). Typically, the filter 21 is formed by a porous material composed of a nonwoven fabric or the like. For example, the cartridge support body is a cylindrical core body, and the filter cartridge 2 can be formed as a configuration in which the filter 21 is wound around the cylindrical core body, or a configuration in which a cylindrical housing in which the filter 21 is sandwiched is formed. A hollow portion in the center of the cylindrical shape of the filter cartridge 2 is divided into a tube 24 that extends in the length direction. One end of the tube 24 forms a first opening 6a, and the other end on the opposite side forms a second opening 6b. Typically, the tube 24 is configured as a cylindrical hollow portion that extends along the central axis of the cylindrical shape of the filter cartridge 2.

[0022] The filter container 3 is a container of a cylindrical shape having a hollow portion inside, and is a container that isolates the inside of the filter container 3 from the outside. The filter container 3 is capable of fixing and storing the filter cartridge 2 in the hollow portion inside thereof in a detachable manner. The filter container 3 has an air passage mechanism 31 on the primary side (upstream side) and an air passage mechanism 32 on the secondary side (downstream side). Hereinafter, in the filter container system 1 of the present application, the upstream side of the flow of the filtered fluid is referred to as the primary side, and the downstream side is referred to as the secondary side. In the filter container 3, one side having the air passage mechanism 31 on the primary side and the air passage mechanism 32 on the secondary side is defined as the upper side. One side not having the air passage mechanism 31 and the air passage mechanism 32 is defined as the lower side. With respect to the filter container 3, in the state of use, the side having the air passage mechanism 31 and the air passage mechanism 32 is used as the upper side. In the present specification, with respect to the filter container system 1, the explanation is made using the definition of the direction of the upper side and the lower side in the state of use. The filter container 3 has an opening on the lower side that communicates with the hollow portion of the filter container 3. The filter cartridge 2 is mounted to the hollow portion of the filter container 3 through the opening. Also, in the present specification, the state in which the filter cartridge 2 is stored inside the filter container 3 is defined as the storage state.

[0023] The inner surface of the upper portion of the filter container 3 has an isolation wall 5 that completely surrounds the air passage port 32a of the air passage mechanism 32 and is mounted in a manner extending from the inner surface. The isolation wall 5 is typically cylindrical in shape, but can be various shapes as long as it completely surrounds the air passage port 32a. In the state in which the filter cartridge 2 is stored inside the filter container 3, that is, the storage state, the end portion 5a of the isolation wall 5 is in contact with the end portion 2a of the filter cartridge 2. The isolation wall 5 is configured such that, in the state in which the end portion 5a of the isolation wall 5 is in contact with the end portion 2a of the filter cartridge 2, the opening of the pipe 24 at the end portion 2a of the filter cartridge 2 is surrounded by the isolation wall 5. The space surrounded by the inner surface of the filter container 3, the end portion 2a of the filter cartridge 2, and the isolation wall 5 is demarcated as the air passage chamber 4. That is, the air passage chamber 4 is formed by the end portion 5a of the isolation wall 5 being in contact with the end portion 2a of the filter cartridge 2.

[0024] In the state in which the filter cartridge 2 is stored inside the filter container 3, that is, the storage state, the filter cartridge 2 is fixed to the filter container 3 in a manner that a gap of a sufficient flow path width for the filtered fluid to flow is formed between the inner surface of the filter container 3 and the filter cartridge 2. The filtered fluid can flow from the gap into the filter 21 inside the filter cartridge 2 via the outer surface of the filter cartridge.

[0025] The pipe 6 is a hollow member of a cylindrical shape having a first opening 6a and a second opening 6b at both end portions, and is in a tube shape with both ends penetrating the cylindrical shape without a hole in the peripheral surface thereof. With regard to the pipe 6, a clearance pipe 24a is formed along the outer periphery of the pipe 6 in a manner extending in a direction toward the first opening 6a and the second opening 6b of both ends of the pipe 6 between the outer side surface of the pipe 6 and the inner surface of the pipe 24 of the filter cartridge 2. In a state where the clearance pipe 24a is formed, the pipe 6 is fixed to the end portion 2b opposite to the end portion 2a of the filter cartridge 2, for example. The face of one side of the clearance pipe 24a of the filter cartridge 2 is formed to be porous, and thus the configuration is achieved in which the fluid can pass through the filter 21 from the outer surface of the filter cartridge 2 to the face of one side of the clearance pipe 24a of the filter cartridge 2.

[0026] The pipe 6 is in a state of being stored in the filter cartridge 2 in the storage state of the filter container 3, and is fixed to the filter cartridge 2 in a manner extending and positioned in the vertical direction in the use state. The inner surface of the clearance pipe 24a is the inner surface of the pipe 24, and thus the opening of the end portion of the clearance pipe 24a is located in the region surrounded by the end portion 5a of the partition wall 5, and the clearance pipe 24a is in fluid communication with the air chamber 4. The end portion of the lower side of the clearance pipe 24a opposite to the end portion of the upper side in communication with the air chamber 4 is sealed.

[0027] The pipe 6 has a pipe wall configuration in which the outer surface of the pipe 6 is not in fluid communication with the hollow portion of the pipe 6, and is not permeable. The pipe 6 is located inside the clearance pipe 24a, and in the storage state of the filter cartridge 2 stored in the filter container 3, the first opening 6a of one end of the pipe 6 reaches the air chamber 4, and at the first opening 6a, the hollow portion of the pipe 6 is in fluid communication with the air chamber 4. Thus, in the storage state, the air chamber 4 is in fluid communication only with the air vent 32a of the air vent mechanism 32, the clearance pipe 24a, and the first opening 6a of one end of the pipe, and is in fluid isolation from the inside of the filter container 3 except for them.

[0028] In the storage state of the filter cartridge 2 stored in the filter container 3, and in the use state, the pipe 6 and the clearance pipe 24a are positioned in a manner extending in the vertical direction, and thus the air chamber 4 is ensured to be located at the upper portion of the pipe 6 and the clearance pipe 24a. The air vent 32a is located at one side of the upper portion of the air chamber 4.

[0029] Next, the flow path of the whole of the filtered fluid defined by the filter container system 1 of Example 1 is described. The filtered fluid is typically a liquid. The filter container 3 is fitted to the filter base 40 and is fixed to the filter base 40 by a fixing tool or the like. The filtered fluid is supplied to the inside of the filter container 3 from a fluid source through the flow inlet 41a of the pipe 41. The flow inlet 41a of the pipe 41 is provided on the lower side of the filter container 3. A prescribed pressure is applied to the flow inlet 41a of the pipe 41, and the prescribed pressure is defined as the pressure on the primary side of the filtered fluid of the filter container system 1. The filtered fluid to which the prescribed pressure is applied flows upward along the outer peripheral surface of the filter cartridge 2 in the gap formed between the inner surface of the filter container 3 and the filter cartridge 2 from the side of the upper portion of the filter container 3. When the filtered fluid flows upward along the outer peripheral surface of the filter cartridge 2 in the gap formed between the inner surface of the filter container 3 and the filter cartridge 2, the gap pipe 24a that flows into the inside of the filter cartridge 2 from the outer peripheral surface of the filter cartridge 2 via the inner filter 21. The end portion of the lower side of the gap pipe 24a is sealed, and therefore, by the pressure on the primary side, the filtered fluid that flows into the gap pipe 24a causes the filtered fluid to flow toward the upper portion of the filter container 3 through the gap pipe 24a.

[0030] The filtered fluid that flows toward the upper portion of the filter container 3 reaches the breather chamber 4. Then, in addition to the pressure on the primary side, the filtered fluid that reaches the breather chamber 4 causes the filtered fluid to flow from the breather chamber 4 toward the lower portion of the filter container 3 in the pipe 6 by the force of gravity. That is, the breather chamber 4 is located at the reversal portion of the flow of the filtered fluid toward the upper portion of the filter container 3 and the flow of the filtered fluid toward the lower portion of the filter container 3. Thus, in the breather chamber 4, the air contained in the flow of the filtered fluid is naturally separated, and therefore, the air remains in the breather chamber 4, and the filtered fluid flows toward the lower portion of the filter container 3 through the pipe 6. The air that remains in the breather chamber 4 is discharged to the outside through the secondary-side breather port 32a and the breather mechanism 32. The primary-side breather mechanism 31 communicates with the gap formed between the inner surface of the filter container 3 and the filter cartridge 2 and functions in a manner that allows the primary-side air release of the filtered fluid. The filtered fluid that flows through the pipe 6 and toward the lower portion of the filter container 3 is discharged from the filter container system 1 from the discharge pipe 42 through the discharge port 42a of the lower portion of the filter container 3.

[0031] As described above, in the filter container system 1 of the present application, air mixed in the filtered fluid can be naturally separated from the filtered fluid and air released in a simple configuration.

[0032] (Example 2)

[0033] Next, with reference to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5Example 2 of the present application will be described. Example 2 is the same structure as Example 1 in the storage state and the use state. Hereinafter, regarding the same parts as Example 1, the description will be omitted, and only the parts different from Example 1 in Example 2 will be described. In Example 1, the partition wall 5 is attached to the inner surface of the filter container 3. However, the partition wall 5 can also be attached to the filter cartridge 2. Figure 5 Example 2 in which the partition wall 5 is attached to the filter cartridge is shown.

[0034] That is, in Example 2, the partition wall 5 is attached in a manner extending from the end portion 2a of the filter cartridge 2. In Example 2, the breather chamber 4 is formed by the end portion 5b of the partition wall 5 being in contact with the inner surface of the upper portion of the filter container 3. The structure including the formed breather chamber 4 is the same as this, and the points other than this are the same. In this way, the partition wall 5 can be disposed in the filter container 3 as well as in the filter cartridge 2 as long as it can form the breather chamber 4. Furthermore, the partition wall 5 can also be disposed as an independent member (not shown) other than this.

[0035] (Example 3)

[0036] Next, Example 3 of the present application will be described with reference to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , and Figure 6 . Example 3 is the same structure as Example 1 in the storage state and the use state. Hereinafter, regarding the same parts as Example 1, the description will be omitted, and only the parts different from Example 1 in Example 3 will be described. In Example 1, the tube 6 is attached to the filter cartridge 2, but can also be attached to the filter container 3. Figure 6 Example 3 in which the tube 6 is attached to the filter container 3 is shown.

[0037] For example, as shown in Figure 6 , it can be configured so that the tube 6 is held by the partition wall 51 that forms the breather chamber 4. In this case, in the storage state, the partition wall 51 holds the tube 6 in the gap tube 24a of the filter cartridge 2 in the same manner as Example 1. In the case where it is configured so that the tube 6 is held by the partition wall 51, it is necessary to provide an opening in the partition wall 51 for the breather chamber 4 to fluidly communicate with the gap tube 24a.

[0038] In addition, in the form where the tube 6 is not held by the partition wall 51, it can also be fixed to the filter container 3. As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , as long as it can be configured as a tube 6, the tube 6 is not limited to being fixed to the filter cartridge 2, but can also be fixed to the filter container 3 in various ways.

[0039] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-003920 filed on January 14, 2021, and incorporates the content thereof by reference as part of this application.

[0040] Reference Signs List

[0041] 1: filter container system; 2: filter cartridge; 21: filter; 3: filter container; 4: plenum; 5, 51: partition wall; 6: tube; 24: line; 24a: gap line.

Claims

1. A filter container system comprising: a filter cartridge having a cylindrical filter that performs filtration of a fluid and has a pipe between a first opening provided at one end and a second opening provided at the other end; a filter container that can store the filter cartridge inside in a detachable manner; a partition wall that contacts the filter cartridge and the inside of the filter container and forms an air chamber that communicates with an air vent; and a pipe that extends in the vertical direction in a manner that communicates with the air chamber, wherein the filter container has a storage state in which the filter cartridge is stored inside the filter container, in the storage state, the pipe penetrates the inside of the pipe in a manner that the one end of the pipe reaches the air chamber, so that a gap pipe is provided between the pipe and the pipe, the partition wall contacts the end of the filter, and the air chamber does not fluidly communicate with the gap pipe, the pipe, and a portion other than the air vent, in the storage state, the filter container system defines a flow path in which the fluid flows in from an inlet at the lower portion of the filter container, the fluid that has flowed in flows through the filter from the outer peripheral surface of the filter to the gap pipe and toward the upper portion of the filter container to the air chamber, and is discharged from the air chamber to the outlet at the lower portion of the filter container through the pipe, and the air chamber is located at a reversal portion of the flow of the fluid toward the upper portion of the filter container and the flow of the fluid toward the lower portion of the filter container.

2. The filter container system according to claim 1, wherein the gap pipe causes the flow of the fluid toward the upper portion of the filter container, and the pipe causes the flow of the fluid from the air chamber toward the lower portion of the filter container.

3. The filter container system according to claim 2, wherein the partition wall is installed in a manner that extends from the inner surface of the upper portion of the filter container, and the air chamber is formed by the end of the partition wall contacting the end of the filter cartridge.

4. The filter container system according to claim 2, wherein the partition wall is installed in a manner that extends from the end of the filter cartridge, and the air chamber is formed by the end of the partition wall contacting the inner surface of the upper portion of the filter container.

5. The filter container system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pipe is fixed to the filter cartridge.

6. The filter container system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pipe is fixed to the filter container. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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