Steven Crouch

US Patent:

6517612, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

Oct 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/004526

Inventors:

Steven Crouch - Chapel Hill NC
Steve Wright - Hillsorough NC
Jeffrey Storm - Durham NC
Wai S. Poon - Hockessin DE
Stephen K. Stark - Wilmington DE
Daniel W. Thorpe - Hockessin DE
Glenn R. Voshell - Elkton MD

Assignee:

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

B01D 33044

US Classification:

95277, 95270, 95282, 55304, 55400, 55521, 55528

Abstract:

This invention is directed to a continuously cleanable, high performance filtration apparatus and a method for using the apparatus. The apparatus is a radial inflow centrifugal filtration device, which includes a filter element located within a chamber and rotatably coupled to a filtered fluid outlet in a bulkhead that abuts the chamber. The filter element is generally tubular, its side-walls encircling and, thus, defining an interior plenum. The filter element side-walls incorporate a filter media, preferably a laminated microporous membrane filter media. The filter element is rotatably coupled at the filtered fluid outlet by a seal which can maintain a seal as filter element rotates. Additionally, the device can include a boundary layer momentum transfer device made up of a plurality of stacked annular disks having central openings, each disk separated from adjacent disks by a desired gap. The central openings define a cavity in which the filter element is mounted.