Filter for separating solid bodies from a fluid stream

Abstract

A filter for separating solid bodies such as fish from a stream of water utilizable as a coolant for a power-generating plant comprises a cylindrical housing, an inlet conduit attached to a cylindrical wall of the housing substantially radially thereto, a first outlet conduit connected to a bottom end of the housing for drawing off filtrate, a second outlet conduit attached to the cylindrical housing wall opposite the inlet conduit for channeling away fish-laden effluent, a filter sieve eccentrically disposed in the housing to form therewith an annular filter chamber including tapered chamber halves extending from the inlet to the second outlet conduit, and an elongate wedge-shaped fluid-guide body extending parallel to the housing symmetry axis and shiftably disposed at the junction of the housing and the inlet conduit for selectively moving into a primary position for dividing an incoming fluid stream into substantially equal portions flowing into respective chamber halves and at least into one secondary position juxtaposed to a vertical side of the inlet conduit for directing the incoming stream into one chamber half to initiate an annular flow about the sieve. The wedge has a cylindrically concave downstream surface which advantageously engages the sieve in the primary wedge position and a pair of cylindrically concave upstream surfaces which engage respective vertical sides of the inlet conduit and housing junction in respective secondary positions of the wedge.