Self-cleaning filter and vortexer

Abstract

A self-cleaning filter and vortexer is provided in which a filter rotates over the clean fluid outlet port of a vortexer cannister in the direction of the flow of fluid into the tangential inlet port of the vortexer. The peripheral velocity of a freely rotating filter will approximate the flow velocity of the fluid into the tangential inlet port to enhance the centrifugal acceleration effect of the vortexer and the dynamic cleaning of the filter medium. This acceleration enhances centrifugal separation of the heavier particulates in the vortexer and enhances the dynamic cleaning of the fines and other particulates from the filter medium. The drive mechanism for rotating the filter may be designed to be uneven so as to shake the filter medium as it rotates. The flow of fluid will pass thru the filter medium and be exhausted as a cleaned fluid into the outlet port of the vortexer cannister. Throughout this disclosure centrifugal refers only to the normal acceleration associated with curvilinear motion while dynamic refers to all three components of relative curvilinear motion, namely, normal, Corolis and tangential. The vortexer (cyclone) herein referenced to utilizes the centrifugal component only while the rotating filter elements herein referred to are so designed as to utilize all three of the relative curvilinear components, hence the distinction throughout between centrifugal and dynamic effects.