Filter Assembly And Filter Element

Abstract

A filter assembly and a method of filtering a fluid using the filter assembly are disclosed. The filter assembly includes wave coils arranged axially to define a filter element. The filter element includes bottom and top ends and an inner cavity. The filter assembly also includes a base plate that engages one, or both, ends to support the wave coils. The fluid flows toward the base plate, and the base plate diverts the fluid inside or outside the inner cavity. The wave coils include crests and troughs engaging one another on adjacent wave coils to define filtration apertures. The diverted fluid is filtered through the filtration apertures such that a filtrate of the fluid passes through the inside or outside of the inner cavity, and a retentate of the fluid is retained on the other of the inside or outside of the inner cavity relative to the filtrate.

1 . A filter assembly for filtering a fluid, said assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of wave coils arranged axially to define a filter element having first and second ends and an inner cavity;    a support engaging one of said first and second ends for supporting said wave coils and for diverting the fluid inside or outside said inner cavity of said filter element; and    each of said wave coils including at least one crest and at least one trough with said at least one crest of one wave coil engaging said at least one trough of an adjacent wave coil to define at least one filtration aperture between each crest and each trough of adjacent wave coils for filtering the fluid diverted by said support.    
   
   
       2 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an adjustment mechanism engaging at least one of said first and second ends for modifying a length L, extending between said first and second ends of said filter element, to reduce and expand said at least one filtration aperture.  
   
   
       3 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said adjustment mechanism is at least partially disposed in said inner cavity of said filter element.  
   
   
       4 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a base plate engaging one of said first and second ends of said filter element.  
   
   
       5 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said support is further defined as said base plate.  
   
   
       6 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said adjustment mechanism further comprises a flange member engaging the other of said first and second ends relative to said base plate, said flange member being adjustably engaged relative to said base plate for modifying said length L to reduce and expand said at least one filtration aperture.  
   
   
       10 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said adjustment mechanism further comprises an adjustment shaft extending from said base plate to engage said flange member such that said flange member is adjustable relative to said base plate for modifying said length L of said filter element.  
   
   
       11 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising at least one retention post extending through said inner cavity and between said first and second ends of said filter element for maintaining the axial arrangement of said wave coils.  
   
   
       26 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said wave coils are further defined as a wave spring.  
   
   
       27 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said wave coils comprises a shearing surface for imparting shear forces on the fluid being filtered.  
   
   
       28 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 27  wherein said shearing surfaces of said wave coils comprise a plurality of ridges enhancing the shear forces imparted on the fluid being filtered.  
   
   
       29 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 27  wherein said shearing surfaces of said wave coils comprise a coating for modifying a flow of the fluid being filtered.  
   
   
       30 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said wave coils extend continuously in an endless path through said at least one crest and said at least one trough and between said first and second ends of said filter element.  
   
   
       31 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 30  wherein said wave coils extend continuously in a helix through said endless path between said first and second ends.  
   
   
       32 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising a controller in communication with said adjustment mechanism such that adjustment mechanism automatically modifies said length L of said filter element to reduce and expand said at least one filtration aperture.  
   
   
       33 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 32  further comprising at least one pressure sensor in communication with said controller for activating said adjustment mechanism to automatically reduce and expand said at least one filtration aperture.  
   
   
       34 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 1  in combination with a filter canister comprising an inlet for receiving the fluid to be filtered and an outlet for delivering the fluid that has been filtered, said filter assembly being disposed in said filter canister.  
   
   
       35 - 41 . (canceled)  
   
   
       42 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 34  wherein said inlet of said filter canister is oval-shaped for imparting a vortex onto the fluid received into said filter canister for filtering.  
   
   
       43 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 34  further comprising an inlet valve disposed at said inlet of said filter canister for isolating said filter canister from the fluid to be filtered.  
   
   
       44 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 43  further comprising a controller in communication with said inlet valve for automatically isolating said filter canister from the fluid to be filtered.  
   
   
       45 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 44  further comprising a first pressure sensor disposed at said inlet of said filter canister for determining an inlet pressure and a second pressure sensor disposed at said outlet of said filter canister for determining an outlet pressure wherein said first and second pressure sensors are in communication with said controller such that said controller activates said valve to isolate said filter canister from the fluid to be filtered when said outlet pressure is less than said inlet pressure by a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       46 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 45  further comprising an outlet valve disposed at said outlet of said filter canister for allowing said filter canister to selectively receive fluid for back-washing said filter element when said outlet pressure is less than said inlet pressure by said predetermined amount.  
   
   
       47 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said flange member comprises; 
 a fixed plate engaging the other of said first and second ends relative to said base plate, and    a sliding plate being adjustably engaged relative to said fixed plate and for modifying said length L of said filter element to reduce and expand said at least one filtration aperture.    
   
   
       48 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 47  wherein said adjustment mechanism further comprises a controller in communication with said sliding plate for automatically adjusting said sliding plate relative to said fixed plate.  
   
   
       49 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising at least one baffle disposed within said inner cavity of said filter element for directing the fluid toward said at least one filtration aperture.  
   
   
       50 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 49  wherein said at least one baffle is hollow such that a filtration additive be can delivered to said at least one filtration aperture through said at least one baffle.  
   
   
       51 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 50  wherein said filtration additive delivered to said at least one filtration aperture through said at least one baffle is steam.  
   
   
       52 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of said filter assemblies.  
   
   
       53 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 52  wherein said plurality of said filter assemblies is arranged such that said filter assemblies are in parallel.  
   
   
       54 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 52  wherein said plurality of filter assemblies is arranged such that said filter assemblies are in series.  
   
   
       55 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 52  wherein at least one filter assembly of said plurality is disposed concentrically about another filter assembly of said plurality in a nested configuration.  
   
   
       56 . A filter assembly as set forth in  claim 55  further comprising a plurality of beads disposed within said inner cavity of said filter element for increasing a surface area of the fluid to be filtered.  
   
   
       57 . A filter element for filtering a fluid, said filter element comprising: 
 a plurality of wave coils arranged axially and having first and second ends and an inner cavity; and    said assembly characterized by each of said wave coils including at least one crest and at least one trough with said at least one crest of one wave coil engaging said at least one trough of an adjacent wave coil to define at least one filtration aperture between each crest and each trough of adjacent wave coils for filtering the fluid.    
   
   
       58 . A filter element as set forth in  claim 57  in combination with an adjustment mechanism engaging at least one of said first and second ends for modifying a length L, extending between said first and second ends of said filter element, to reduce and expand said at least one filtration aperture.  
   
   
       59 . (canceled)  
   
   
       60 . A filter element as set forth in  claim 57  wherein said wave coils are further defined as a wave spring.  
   
   
       61 . A filter element as set forth in  claim 57  wherein each of said wave coils comprises a shearing surface for imparting shear forces on the fluid being filtered.  
   
   
       62 . A filter element as set forth in  claim 61  wherein said shearing surfaces of said wave coils comprise a plurality of ridges enhancing the shear forces imparted on the fluid being filtered.  
   
   
       63 . A filter element as set forth in  claim 61  wherein said shearing surfaces of said wave coils comprise a coating for modifying a flow of the fluid being filtered.  
   
   
       64 . A filter element as set forth in  claim 57  wherein said wave coils extend continuously in an endless path through said at least one crest and said at least one trough and between said first and second ends.  
   
   
       65 . A filter element as set forth in  claim 64  wherein said wave coils extend continuously in a helix through said endless path between said first and second ends.  
   
   
       66 - 75 . (canceled)