Apparatus for filtering liquids

Abstract

Apparatus for filtering contaminants from liquids such as cooking oil is disclosed. A filter assembly comprises an envelope formed of an upper wire mesh filter element and a lower wire mesh filter element joined about their peripheral edges and a porous insert filter member removably contained centrally within the envelope which has a plurality of voids allowing vertical and lateral fluid flow therethrough. The filter assembly is releasably secured in the assembled condition by a fastener which is adapted to be connected to a pump and the fastener has fluid passageways in communication with .Iadd.the lateral flow passages in .Iaddend.the porous insert for drawing fluid through the upper and lower filter elements and said insert. The upper and lower filter elements of the envelope are formed of stainless steel mesh and the porous insert filter member is formed of apertured aluminum plate. The filter assembly is suited for use in combination with food cooking apparatus employing cooking oil disposed in a container in which food particles and other particulate matter become deposited and may be used in place of conventional cooking oil filter apparatus. The apparatus is also suitable for use in systems employing a filter powder disbursed in the cooking oil to be filtered.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination with food cooking apparatus employing cooking oil disposed in a container in which food particles and other particulate matter become deposited, a cooking oil filtering apparatus comprising: a filter assembly disposed in the cooking oil in the container comprising a deformable porous filter insert member of a relatively rigid material containing sufficient voids .Iadd.and passages .Iaddend.to allow vertical and lateral fluid flow therethrough,   said filter insert being removably contained within and surrounded by an upper and a lower stainless steel wire mesh filter element,   a peripherally extending fastener releasably securing said filter insert and the wire mesh filter element in an assembled condition,   a hollow fitting secured centrally of one of said wire mesh filter elements having fluid passageways in communication .Iadd.with lateral passages in .Iaddend.said filter insert,   suction means operatively connected to said hollow fitting for drawing cooking oil from said container through said wire mesh filter elements and thence through said filter insert to filter the cooking oil,   fluid transmission means operatively connected to said suction means for transmitting the filtered cooking oil to a desired destination, and   coagulating means disbursed in the cooking oil for providing filter cake directly on the outer surface of said wire mesh filter elements.   
     
     
       2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said releasable fastener comprises a substantially rectangular frame securing said filter insert and said wire mesh filter members therebetween,   one portion of said frame being releasably secured and operable on release to pivot to an open position permitting removal of said plate.   
     
     
       3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said upper and lower wire mesh filter elements are formed of 24×110 stainless steel wire mesh with 0.0145 inch and 0.0090 strand diameters respectively.   
     
     
       4. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said upper and lower wire mesh filter elements are formed of 80×70 stainless steel wire mesh with strand diameter of 0.0055 inches.   
     
     
       5. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said upper and lower wire mesh filter elements are formed of 100 stainless steel wire mesh with strand diameter of 0.0045 inches.   
     
     
       6. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said interior filter member is comprised of aluminum plate. 
     
     
       7. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said coagulating means is comprised of diatomaceous earth.   
     
     
       8. In combination with food cooking apparatus employing cooking oil disposed in a container in which food particles and other particulate matter become deposited, a cooking oil filtering apparatus comprising: a filter assembly disposed in the cooking oil in the container comprising a substantially rectangular channel-shaped frame,   one portion of said frame being releasable secured and operable on release to pivot to an open position,   a pair of wire mesh filter members secured at their peripheries in said channel-shaped frame,   a deformable porous interior filter insert member of a relatively rigid material removably positioned between said wire mesh filter members and containing sufficient voids .Iadd.and passages .Iaddend.to allow vertical and lateral fluid flow therethrough,   hollow washer members secured centrally of each of said wire mesh filter members,   a hollow washer member secured centrally of said filter insert,   said washer members being aligned .[.when.]. .Iadd.with .Iaddend.said filter insert washer members .[.with its washer member.]. abutting .[.the washer member of one of.]. said .[.were.]. .Iadd.wire .Iaddend.mesh filter members,   said hollow fitting having an opening positioned inside said filter insert .Iadd.and communicating with said lateral passages therein .Iaddend.and having an opening at its end outside said filter assembly,   suction means operatively connected to the outside opening of said fitting for drawing cooking oil from said container through said wire mesh filter elements and thence through said filter insert to filter the cooking oil,   fluid transmission means operatively connected to said suction means for transmitting the filtered cooking oil to a desired destination, and   coagulating means disbursed in the cooking oil for providing filter cake directly on the outer surface of said wire mesh filter elements. .Iadd.   
     
     
       9.  The combination according to claim 1 in which said filter insert comprises a flat rectangular metal plate slitted and the material deformed to form interrupted tubular openings in edge view, said tubular openings providing said lateral passages,   said peripherally extending releasable fastener comprises a substantially rectangular frame securing said filter insert plate and said wire mesh filter members therebetween, and   one portion of said frame being releasably secured and operable on release to pivot to an open position permitting removal of said plate. .Iaddend.