Tubular filter structure

Abstract

An easily removable tubular filter assembly, such as from a cylindrical array of parallel filter tubes arranged between two spaced parallel circular plates, which array is immersible in a liquid to be filtered. Each filter tube comprises a central open-ended perforated rigid tube with flanged tubular bushings for each end, and a fabric tubular sock which surrounds the perforated tube and tucks in the ends of the tube around the outer flanges of said bushings. A flanged tubular ferrule snugly fits in the bushing at one end of the fabric-covered tube to hold the tucked-in sock in place and seal its flange into an aperture in a wall of a suction chamber which may comprise one of the parallel circular plates of the array assembly. The other end of each filter tube is closed by a plug which snugly fits into the other end bushing and holds the other tucked-in end of the sock in place, as well as supports that end of the filter tube in an aperture in the other spaced circular plate, identical with that plate forming the wall of the suction chamber. The outer end of this plug provides a seat for a compression spring which is compressed by a removable plate bolted to the adjacent apertured plate, which compressed spring urges all the filter tubes into sealing contact with the apertures in the suction chamber. Thus, by removing the outer bolted plate, which may cover, preferably not more than half of the apertures and filter tube ends, enables easy axial removal of its associated filter tubes from the array for replacement without further disassembly of the array.