A filter element

Abstract

A filter element including: a hollow body extending along a central axis passing therethrough. The hollow body is coverable by a flexible filter medium, the hollow body having a plurality of apertured surface sections, the apertured surface sections being shaped inwardly towards the central axis. When the hollow body is covered by the flexible filter medium, in a filtering configuration, the flexible filter medium is held against the apertured surface sections, as fluid- to-be-filtered passes through the flexible filter medium and into the hollow body via the apertured surface sections, and in a discharge configuration, the flexible filter medium is flexed outwardly relative to the hollow body away from the central axis and away from the apertured surface sections, as fluid is delivered outwardly from the hollow body via the apertured sections, to displace particulates collected by the flexible filter medium.

Description

A FILTER ELEMENTField

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter element. The filter element may be for a polishing filter.Background

[0002] Existing candle filter elements for a polishing filter assembly are generally cylindrical in shape. During a filtering operation, there is a cake buildup on the filter media that covers the candle filter element. Discharging the cake from the filter element is a time-consuming process and requires the filter assembly to be taken offline for long periods of time.Summary of Invention

[0003] An object of preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to address one or more of the disadvantages described above and / or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

[0004] An aspect of the present invention provides a filter element including: a hollow body extending along a central axis passing therethrough, the hollow body being coverable by a flexible filter medium, the hollow body having a plurality of apertured surface sections, the apertured surface sections being shaped inwardly towards the central axis such that, when the hollow body is covered by the flexible filter medium: in a filtering configuration, the flexible filter medium is held against the apertured surface sections, as fluid-to-be-filtered passes through the flexible filter material and into the hollow body via the apertured surface sections, and in a discharge configuration, the flexible filter medium is flexed outwardly relative to the hollow body away from the central axis and away from the apertured surface sections, as fluid is delivered outwardly from the hollow body via the apertured sections, to displace particulates collected by the flexible filter medium.

[0005] The filter element is preferably for a candle filter. The filter element is preferably for a polishing filter. Preferably, the filter element is for removing or reducing solids or particulate from the fluid-to-be-filtered. The fluid-to-be-filtered is preferably of a low to medium viscosity. The filter element may be for mining applications. In other examples, the filter element is forapplications in filtering water, waste water, chemicals, battery chemicals, or high-purity alumina.

[0006] The filter element preferably includes the flexible filter medium for covering the hollow body. The flexible filter material allows for the passage of fluid therethrough while trapping particulates in the fluid. The flexible filter material may be a membrane, mesh, felt, or cloth for example.

[0007] A shape of a portion of the flexible filter material at one of the plurality of apertured surface sections when in the filtering configuration is different when in the discharge configuration. In a preferred example, a shape of a portion of the flexible filter material at one of the plurality of apertured surface sections when in the filtering configuration is inverted when in the discharge configuration. For example, in the filtering configuration, a portion of the flexible filter material at an apertured surface section is curved inwardly towards the central axis and, in the filtering configuration, the portion of the flexible filter material is curved outwardly from the central axis.

[0008] The hollow body may be an elongate hollow body and the central axis is a central longitudinal axis. In other examples, the elongate hollow body may have other shapes such as a toroidal shape, a spiral shape, or a serpentine shape for example.

[0009] The plurality of apertured surface sections preferably includes an elongate surface that extends along a length of the elongate hollow body. Preferably, the apertured surface sections are radially spaced apart from each other about the central axis. In a preferred example, the plurality of apertured surface sections includes a curved surface section. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow body has a cross-sectional profile having a series of peaks and troughs defining an outer perimeter of the hollow body.

[0010] The plurality of apertured surface sections may include at least three apertured surface sections or at least five apertured surface sections. The plurality of apertured surface sections preferably includes six apertured surface sections. In other examples, the apertured surface sections includes more than six apertured surface sections.

[0011] At least one end of the hollow body may be engageable with an end cap or another hollow body, the other hollow body also having a plurality of apertured surface sections and being coverable by the flexible fdter material.

[0012] There is also disclosed herein a filter element including: a hollow body extending along a central axis passing therethrough, the hollow body having a plurality of apertured surface sections, a flexible filter material for covering the hollow body, wherein: in a filtering configuration, the flexible filter material is held against the apertured surface sections, as fluid- to-be-filtered passes through the flexible filter membrane and into the hollow body via the apertured surface sections, and in a discharge configuration, the flexible filter membrane is expanded outwardly relative to the elongate hollow body, as fluid is delivered outwardly from the hollow body via the apertured sections, to displace particulates collected by the flexible filter membrane.Brief Description of Drawings

[0013] Preferred embodiments of the invention will not be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a filter element according to an embodiment of the present invention;Figure 2 shows an end view of the filter element shown in Figure 1;Figure 3 shows an end cap for the filter element shown in Figure 1;Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the filter element of Figure 1 with the end cap of Figure 3 and a central tube;Figure 5 shows a filter element with the filter medium covering the hollow body; andFigures 6A and 6B show schematic views of the filter element with the filter medium received thereby in a filtering configuration and in a discharge configuration respectively.Description of Embodiments

[0014] Figures 1 and 2 show a filter element 100 of a filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. The filter element 100 is for a polishing filter and is for removing or reducing solids or particulate from a fluid. The fluid to which the filter element is subjected is of a low to medium viscosity. The filter element 100 is for a candle filter. The filter element is located in a chamber with other filter elements. In preferred examples, the filter element 100 is used for mining applications. In other examples, the filter element 100 may be used for other applications such as filtering water, waste water, chemicals, battery chemicals, or high-purity alumina.

[0015] The hollow body 120 is formed using an injection molding process. In other examples, the hollow body may be 3d-printed. In yet further examples, the hollow body may be extruded.

[0016] The filter element 100 has a hollow body 120 extending along a central axis A passing therethrough. The hollow body 120 has a substantially tubular structure. The hollow body 120 is an elongate hollow body and the central axis A is a central longitudinal axis. The hollow body 120 has a substantially uniform cross-section along its length. One end of the hollow body 120 has an engaging portion 124 with which a cap portion (shown in Figure 3) is engageable or mateable. An opposite end of the hollow body is a closed end. The closed end is integral with the hollow body 120. In other examples, the closed end may be removably engageable or mateable with the hollow body. In other examples, the elongate hollow body may have other shapes such as a toroidal shape, a spiral shape, or a serpentine shape for example.

[0017] With reference to Figure 2, the hollow body 120 has six of apertured surface sections 122 that form walls of the hollow body 120. The plurality of apertured surface sections 122 includes an elongate surface that extends along a length of the elongate hollow body 120. The apertured surface sections 122 are radially spaced apart from each other about the central axis A. In other examples, the hollow body may have more or less than six sections. For example, the hollow body may have least three apertured surface sections, at least five apertured surface sections, or at least seven surface sections.

[0018] The hollow body 120 has a cross-sectional profile having a series of peaks and troughs defining an outer perimeter of the hollow body 120. Each of the plurality of apertured surface sections 122 includes a curved surface section. In particular, each section 122 is curved inwardlyinto the hollow body towards the central axis A. In the preferred examples shown in the figures, each section 122 is a concave surface. In other examples, each apertured section may be geometrically or non-geometrically shaped inward towards the central axis. For example, the aperture section may have a triangular or trapezoidal profile.

[0019] An end of the hollow body 120 has an engaging portion 124 that is engageable with the end cap (shown in Figure 3) or with another hollow body to extend the length of the filter element. In this regard, the filter element has a length that can be adjusted. The hollow bodies may be threadably engageable with each other. The engaging portion 124 has a male member with which the end cap is engageable. With reference to Figure 3, the end cap 140 has a body portion 142 and an engaging portion 144 extending therefrom. The engaging portion 144 of the end cap 140 has a profile that is substantially similar to the profile of the hollow body 120. The engaging portion 144 is a female member for receiving the male member of the hollow body 120. The body portion 142 has a threadable portion for engaging a filtrate outlet or outlet manifold.

[0020] With reference to Figure 4, the hollow body 120 houses a central tube 160. The central tube 160 has a threaded portion at one end for threadably engaging the closed end of the hollow body 120 and a threaded portion at an opposite end for threadably engaging the end cap 140. The tube 160 is for holding an assembly of one or more hollow bodies and end caps together.

[0021] With reference to Figure 5, the filter element 100 includes a flexible filter medium 180, for covering the hollow body 120. The flexible filter material 180 allows for the passage of fluid therethrough into the hollow body 120 while trapping particulates in the fluid. The flexible filter material 180 may be a membrane, mesh, felt, or cloth for example. In a preferred example, the filter membrane is a sock that fits over the hollow body 120.

[0022] With reference to Figures 6A and 6B, the filter element 100 is operable in a chamber 200 in a filtering configuration in which fluid-to-be-filtered passes through the filter medium 180 and into the hollow body 120 and a discharge configuration in which fluid is supplied from the hollow body 120 to expand the flexible medium away from the hollow body to dislodge the particulate captured by the filter medium 180. The chamber may be a pressure vessel or an ambient-pressure tank. In the filtering configuration, the flexible filter medium 180 is held against the plurality of apertured surface sections 122 by way of the flow of the fluid in thechamber into the filter element in an inward direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 6A. During this process, the filter medium 180 filters particulates from the fluid. In the discharge configuration, the flexible filter medium 180 is flexed outwardly relative to the hollow body 120 away from the central axis and away from the apertured surface sections 122, by way of a reverse flow of fluid from the hollow body 120 into the chamber in an outward direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 6B, to displace particulates collected by the filter medium 180.

[0023] Due to the apertured surface sections 122 of the hollow body 120 being shaped inwardly towards the central axis, a shape of a portion of the flexible filter material 180 at one of the plurality of apertured surface sections 122 when in the filtering configuration is different when in the discharge configuration. In a preferred example, a shape of a portion of the flexible filter material at one of the plurality of apertured surface sections when in the filtering configuration is inverted when in the discharge configuration. With reference to Figure 6A, in the filtering configuration, a portion of the flexible filter medium 180 at an apertured surface section 122 is curved inwardly towards the central axis. With reference to Figure 6B, in the filtering configuration, the portion of the flexible filter medium 180 is curved outwardly from the central axis. During the filtering configuration, the particulates collected by the filter medium 180 would form a cake that substantially follows the shape of the surface sections 122. In the discharge configuration, the filter medium 180 is expanded outwardly away from the surface sections 122. The change in shape of the filter medium 180 from the filtering configuration to the discharge configuration allows for the cake to be easily removed or discharged from the filter medium 180 as a slurry or as a dry filter cake.

[0024] The various embodiments of the present invention described above have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention should not be limited by any of the exemplary embodiments described above.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A filter element including: a hollow body extending along a central axis passing therethrough, the hollow body being coverable by a flexible filter medium, the hollow body having a plurality of apertured surface sections, the apertured surface sections being shaped inwardly towards the central axis such that, when the hollow body is covered by the flexible filter medium: in a filtering configuration, the flexible filter medium is held against the apertured surface sections, as fluid-to-be-filtered passes through the flexible filter medium and into the hollow body via the apertured surface sections, and in a discharge configuration, the flexible filter medium is flexed outwardly relative to the hollow body away from the central axis and away from the apertured surface sections, as fluid is delivered outwardly from the hollow body via the apertured sections, to displace particulates collected by the flexible filter medium.

2. The filter element of claim 1, including the flexible filter medium for covering the hollow body.

3. The filter element of claim 1 or 2, wherein a shape of a portion of the flexible filter medium at one of the plurality of apertured surface sections when in the filtering configuration is inverted when in the discharge configuration.

4. The filter element of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hollow body is an elongate hollow body and the central axis is a central longitudinal axis.

5. The filter element of claim 4, wherein the plurality of apertured surface sections includes an elongate surface that extends along a length of the elongate hollow body.

6. The filter element of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the apertured surface sections are radially spaced apart from each other about the central axis.

7. The filter element of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plurality of apertured surface sections includes a curved surface section.

8. The filter element of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plurality of apertured surface sections includes at least three apertured surface sections.

9. The filter element of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the plurality of apertured surface sections includes six apertured surface sections.

10. The filter element of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one end of the hollow body is engageable with an end cap or another hollow body, the other hollow body also having a plurality of apertured surface sections and being coverable by the flexible filter material.

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