Check valve

Abstract

A filter system especially useful in the treatment of waste material, in particular liquid waste material which may include particulate matter therein. The filter system includes a series of filters of progressively finer porosity in order to selectively eliminate particulate (or semi-particulate) matters from a carrier material, typically, but not exclusively, of a fluid or liquid nature. The filters are mounted within a housing which includes one or more inlet ports and at least one outlet port.

1 . A filtration unit comprising, 
 a housing,    at least one inlet port at said housing,    at least one outlet port at said housing,    a check valve interposed between said inlet port and said outlet port to control material flow therebetween in said housing, and    a filter device interposed between said inlet port and said outlet port in said housing to filter the material flow therebetween.    
     
     
         2 . The unit recited in    claim 1    wherein, 
 said filter device includes a plurality of filter components.  
 
     
     
         3 . The unit recited in    claim 1    wherein, 
 said inlet port is integrally formed with said housing.  
 
     
     
         4 . The unit recited in    claim 1    wherein, 
 said inlet port is disposed at a side surface of said housing.  
 
     
     
         5 . The unit recited in    claim 1    wherein, 
 said outlet port is disposed at the bottom surface of said housing.  
 
     
     
         6 . The unit recited in    claim 1    including, 
 a cap for selectively covering each said inlet port.  
 
     
     
         7 . The unit recited in    claim 1    wherein, 
 said inlet port is mounted on a support which is affixed to said housing.  
 
     
     
         8 . The unit recited in    claim 7    wherein, 
 said housing has at least one inlet port aperture therein for receiving said inlet port such that said support is disposed within said housing.  
 
     
     
         9 . The unit recited in    claim 1    wherein, 
 each said check valve is attached to an inlet port to permit only unidirectional flow through said housing.  
 
     
     
         10 . The unit recited in    claim 1    including, 
 a filter support disposed within said housing and adapted to support said filter device thereon.  
 
     
     
         11 . The unit recited in    claim 1    including, 
 at least one rib formed on the internal surface of said housing to direct material flow toward said outlet port.  
 
     
     
         12 . The unit recited in    claim 1    wherein, 
 said check valve includes a proximal end which is securely joined to said inlet port and a distal end which is selectively opened or closed to passage of material flow through said check valve from said inlet port.  
 
     
     
         13 . The unit recited in    claim 6    including, 
 a connecting strap joined to each said cap.  
 
     
     
         14 . The unit recited in    claim 13    wherein, 
 said connection strap is selectively mounted to said outlet port.  
 
     
     
         15 . The unit recited in    claim 1    including, 
 a plurality of inlet ports disposed in a first surface of said housing and a single outlet port disposed in a second surface of said housing.  
 
     
     
         16 . A check valve comprising, 
 a proximal end which is normally open and is adapted to be joined to an inlet source, and    a distal end remote from said proximal end,    said distal end includes at least one flexible portion which is adapted to flex to thereby permit material flow through said proximal end in one direction only.    
     
     
         17 . The unit recited in    claim 16    wherein, 
 said distal end includes a pair of flaps joined together at the sides thereof and at said proximal end.