AU2008221517A1

AU2008221517A1 - Improved filter cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2008221517A1
Application number: AU2008221517A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Luigi Gagliardi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-09-18
Filing date: 2008-09-18
Publication date: 2009-04-02

Description

18/09 2008 16:49 FAX 6182311273 CLIO PASRLA 1/3 COLLISON IP AUSTRALIA R 014/032 00 0 58524 DIA:BN 0 ~P/00/0 11 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 00 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT 00 ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: LUIGI GAGLIARDI Actual Inventor: LUIGI GAGLIARDI Address for Service: COLLISON C0.,1 17 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: IMPROVED FILTER CLEAN ING APPARATUS Details of Associated Provisional Application: Australian Patent Application No. 2007905095 dated 18 September 2007 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18 18/09 2008 16:49 FAX 6182311273 COLLISON IP AUSTRALIA IA015/032 00 0 2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION 00 The present invention relates to liquid filtration equipment and, in particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method of cleaning a filtration unit.

in DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 005 Water quality is a very important characteristic in both domestic and industrial 0 o situations.

Often water is taken from large reservoirs or water courses such as rivers and can contain a large amount of particulate matter such as stones, shells, seeds as well as general sedimentary matter. Over time this particulate matter can results in a build up of debris on the inside of equipment used to pump water from its source and can play havoc then with irrigation equipment, resulting in the need to undertake regular, and sometimes expensive, maintenance on pipes, sprinkler heads and pumps.

To rectify this, filtration devices are usually placed in line to remove as much particulate matter as possible and with the advent of modern filtration technology, where filter sizes are as low as 5 micro metres, the filter can quickly build up a considerable layer of material, often referred to as the "filter cake".

This filter cake however can adversely affect the performance of the pumping set up resulting in dramatically reduced pressures and in some instances can result in break down of the pumping equipment.

As such, routine filter cleaning and replacement is required in order to prevent any excessive build up of filter cake on the inside of the filter. This can simply mean some form of backwashing of the filter screen or, if there is excessive filter cake build up, a total removal and replacement of the filter screen, which adds significantly to the cost and complexity of the maintenance procedure.

COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18 18/09 2008 18:49 FAX 6182311273 COLLISON IP AUSTRALIA la016/032 00 03 The need to perform regular maintenance on water filters is becoming increasingly complex due to the remote nature of many pump systems from O owners and as such it is desirable to have substantially longer times between schedules maintenance requirements.

Some filter systems employ a drum filter which has a cylindrical section having _an outer surface perforated with holes. Water is pumped into the inside section of the drum filter and forced through the outer holes which trap debris contained 0 in the incoming dirty water and cleaner water is then produced on the outside of Sthe drum. Inside the drum filter itself then is formed a filter cake made up of various debris and it is known to have a single internal suction scanner that is utilised in a back flush cycle. A motor driven suction scanner assembly moves linearly across the inside surface of the drum filter, the suction scanner having a threaded shaft to provide a rotational and linear movement of the suction scanner up and down the inside of the drum filter.

These suction scanner set ups are quite complex and over time debris from the filter cake can become lodged in the drive gear of the threaded shaft resulting in a decrease in performance of the scanner.

Additionally, the requirement for relatively large motors to drive the scanner along the threaded shaft then requires a substantial power source, which may not be possible in a remote location, and also an increase in maintenance in terms of monitoring the performance of the scanner motor.

Accordingly, such set ups are not readily employed in more remote locations and, where they are there are significant maintenance issues that need to be dealt with, which if they are not, results in dramatic decrease in efficiencies and performance of the pump system.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a drum filter having an internal surface cleaning assembly.

COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18 18/09 2008 16:49 FAX 8182311273 COLLISON IP AUSTRALIA la017/032 00 0 4 It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a drum filter having an internal surface cleaning assembly that is automatically activated.

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Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a drum filter with an internal surface cleaning assembly that is easy to operate and has low maintenance.

5 It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially cameliorate, the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art.

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o Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taking in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, although this should not be seen as limiting the invention in any way, there is provided a filtering device including a cylindrical filter element, a housing that surrounds and seals the filter element, an untreated water inlet for supplying untreated water under pressure to a untreated water chamber located on an inner side of the filter element, an internal surface cleaning assembly positioned within the cylindrical filter element having a plurality of cleaning heads positioned coaxially and juxtaposed one another along a hollow tube, each cleaning head having a collection duct in fluid communication with the tube, a means for providing back wash water so that water inside the untreated water chamber is forced through the collection duct of the cleaning heads through the tube to cause the rotating means to rotate thus affecting a rotation of the cleaning heads relative to the inside of the cylindrical filter element.

The resulting movement of the cleaning heads along the internal surface of the cylindrical filter element acts to dislodge debris built up over time and the debris then are forced into the collection duct by pressure of the back wash water and thus into the tube and through an outlet.

COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18 18/09 2008 16:49 FAX 8182311273 COLLISON IP AUSTRALIA 018/032 00 8 e In preference, the collection ducts have a leading edge and trailing edge.

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00 In preference, the leading edge is arcuate in shape.

In preference, the cleaning heads further include an internal filter surface engaging member.

I/3 In preference, the filter surface engaging member is constructed from a rigid 00 plastics material.

0 In preference, the rotating means operatively connected to the tube is a turbine.

In preference, the housing further includes a rotating means housing chamber.

In preference, the rotating means housing chamber has a back wash water outlet.

In preference, the housing further includes a treated water outlet.

In preference, the treated water outlet includes a valve to restrict water flow therethrough.

In preference, the back wash water outlet includes a valve having an open and shut position.

In preference, the device includes a means for monitoring the pressure between the water in the untreated water chamber and the water in the treated water chamber.

In preference, the pressure sensing means is operatively connected to the back wash water outlet valve and the treated water outlet valve so that, at a predetermined pressure, back wash water outlet valve is switched to an open position thus forcing water in the untreated water chamber into the collection duct of the cleaning heads, through the tube and urging against the rotating COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18 18/09 2008 16:50 FAX 6182311273 COLLISON IP AUSTRALIA 1a019/032 00 S6 ,means which then turn the tube and the cleaning heads engaging the internal Vj surface of the cylindrical filter element and debris so produced forced out 00 through the open back wash water outlet valve.

In preference, the treated water outlet valve is switched to a closed position to further force water though the back wash water outlet.

Ci BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 00 o SBy way of example, an employment of the invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the filter device of the present invention; Figure 2A shows a side view of the filter that fits within the filter device; Fig 2B is an end on view of the filter of Figure 2A; Figure 3 shows a side on view of the filter-cleaning device; Figure 4 is an end view of the filter-cleaning device of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION is The filtering device 10 has a main housing body 12 with an untreated water inlet 14 positioned at a first and 16, a treated water outlet 18 projecting from the main housing body 12. The second end 20 includes a chamber 22 within which is held the rotating means 24. As can readily be appreciated, the overall shape and design of the main housing body 12 can be adapted accordingly to any particular set up without unnecessarily taking away anything from the invention.

The main housing body 12 is cylindrical in shape and contained within it a cylindrical filter element 30, often referred to as a drum filter, having an internal surface 32 and an external surface 34. Such filters are typically made from very COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18 18/09 2008 16:50 FAX 6182311273 COLLISON +IP AUSTRALIA Z 020/032 00 0 7 Sresilient materials, such as stainless steel, and further have a plurality of holes extending between the internal surface 32 and external surface 34 which may 00 be of any given diameter as required for any particular situation.

The cylindrical filter element 30 has seals 36 and 38 so as to prevent any untreated water entering through the untreated water inlet 14 from mixing with 'water that has passed through the filter element 30. These seals 36 and 38 Sengage, most commonly via a friction fit, with the internal surface of the main 00 housing body 12.

Positioned within the cylindrical filter element 30 is an internal surface cleaning assembly 40 which has a plurality of cleaning heads 42 juxtaposed another and coaxially aligned end to end along axis 44. Each cleaning head 42 has a filter surface engaging member 46 which is constructed from a removably secured resilient plastics material so that as they engage and travel along the internal surface 32 of the cylindrical filter element 30 they do not cause damage to the element itself but rather simply serves to dislodge any build up of particulate matter.

The assembly 40 further includes a tube that forms the common axis for the cleaning heads 42, each cleaning head having a collection duct 48 that is in fluid communication with the tube 50 so that water in the untreated water chamber 51 can travel into the cleaning head 42 via the collection duct 48 and not into the tube The assembly 40 is capable of rotating about axis 44 as it is rotatably connected to the main housing body 12 by spindle 52. The other end of the assembly 40 has a rotating means, such as a turbine cooperatively connected with the tube 50 so that the turning of the turbine results in the tube 50 being rotated and thus the assembly 40 being rotated.

The turbine housing chamber 22 also has a back wash water outlet 60 and a back wash water outlet valve 62 that is controlled by a solenoid. In addition, the COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18 18/09 2008 16:50 FAX 6182311273 COLLISON IP AUSTRALIA ljh021/032 00 0 08 treated water outlet 18 has a treated water outlet valve 64, the vales 62 and 64 both having an open and closed position.

00 It should be noted that it is possible for the invention to work without the need to close the treated water outlet valve 64 in that by opening the back wash water outlet valve 62 this will result in a substantial pressure differential that will force Iwater out through the back wash water outlet valve 62 to remove debris.

00 An adjustable pressure differential switch is used to continuously monitor the 0 o pressure differential across the cylindrical filter element 30 by having a pressure sensing means positioned in the untreated water chamber 51 and the treated water chamber 49 and when the pressure differential reaches a preset value this then signals the treated water outlet valve 64 to close and the backwash water outlet valve 62 to open so that the incoming untreated water being forced into the water inlet 14 is eventually forced through the cleaning heads 42 and into the collection duct 48, along the tube 50 and out into the turbine housing chamber 22 against the blades of the turbine 24 forcing it to rotate which in turn rotates the cleaning heads 42 of the assembly 40 thus resulting in the debris being scraped off the internal surface 32 of the filter element 30 and then sucked into the cleaning heads 42 and out through the back wash water outlet As each cleaning head 42 is positions coaxially along the tube 50 at staggered positions, in this instance approximately 45 degrees relative to one another, this then creates sufficient water flow along a leading edge of the cleaning heads 42 that greatly increases the suction capability of the water against any built up debris on the internal surface 32.

Moreover, when compared to known cleaning apparatus there is a lack of internal moving parts thus there is a greatly reduced need for maintenance.

More importantly however it should now be readily apparent that the rotational action of the internal surface cleaning assembly, often referred to as a "scanner" does not require any power to rotate, such as an external motor which is COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18 18/09 2008 16:50 FAX 6182311273

COLLISON

IP AUSTRALIA 022/032 00 9 ,commonly used in prior art examples. All that is required is for power to be supplied to the adjustable pressure differential switch and the solenoids 00 controlling valves 62 and 64 to simply open and close valves 60 and 62 when a preset pressure differential has been reached. The extremely effectively cleaning of the assembly 40 is achieved in only one complete rotation with minimal water loss through the back wash water outlet valve 62. Although the power requirements may be achieved by use of a small section of solar power C generating cells, it is also possible to simply employ a small 9 volt battery that Swould have a substantially long life given that only very minor power draw is required to turn the solenoid valves on and off.

The resulting filter unit is then one that can be placed in a remote location, requires minimal maintenance attention and only very small amounts of power that can be replaced quickly and efficiently when required.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but it is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction [and process steps, parameters of operation etc] without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention.

COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18

Claims

1. A filtering device including a cylindrical filter element, a housing that surrounds and seals the filter element, an untreated water inlet for supplying untreated water under pressure to a untreated water chamber 5 located on an inner side of the filter element, an internal surface cleaning Sassembly positioned within the cylindrical filter element having a plurality 00 of cleaning heads positioned coaxially and juxtaposed one another along a O 0hollow tube, each cleaning head having a collection duct in fluid communication with the tube, a means for providing back wash water so that water inside the untreated water chamber is forced through the collection duct of the cleaning heads through the tube to cause the rotating means to rotate thus affecting a rotation of the cleaning heads relative to the inside of the cylindrical filter element, so that in use the resulting movement of the cleaning heads along the internal surface of the cylindrical filter element acts to dislodge debris built up over time and the debris then are forced into the collection duct by pressure of the back wash water and thus into the tube and through an outlet.

2. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein the collection ducts have a leading edge and trailing edge.

3. The filtering device of claim 2, the leading edge is arcuate in shape.

4. The filtering device of claim 3, the cleaning heads further include an internal filter surface engaging member.

The filtering device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rotating means operatively connected to the tube is a turbine.

6. The filtering device of claim 5, wherein the housing further includes a rotating means housing chamber. COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18 18/09 2008 16:50 FAX 8182311273 COLLISON IP AUSTRALIA R 024/032 00 11

7. The filtering device of claim 6, wherein the rotating means housing chamber has a back wash water outlet. 00

8. The filtering device of claim 7, wherein the housing further includes a treated water outlet. t 5

9. The filtering device of claim 8, wherein the treated water outlet includes a c valve to restrict water flow therethrough. 00 O

010. The filtering device of claim 9, wherein the back wash water outlet includes a valve having an open and shut position.

11. The filtering device of claim 10, wherein the pressure sensing means is operatively connected to the back wash water outlet valve and the treated water outlet valve so that, at a predetermined pressure, back wash water outlet valve is switched to an open position thus forcing water in the untreated water chamber into the collection duct of the cleaning heads, through the tube and urging against the rotating means which then turn the tube and the cleaning heads engaging the internal surface of the cylindrical filter element and debris so produced forced out through the open back wash water outlet valve.

12. The filtering device of claim 11, wherein when the treated water outlet valve is switched to a closed position to further force water though the back wash water outlet.

13. An apparatus for filtering water, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. COMS ID No: ARCS-206686 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2008-09-18