This invention relates to a depth filter, and a filter cartridge which includes the depth filter.
A depth filter is required to capture particles of a planned size included in a fluid that is a filtration object, for a predetermined period. Accordingly, accompanying the passage of the operating time, a pressure loss in the flow of fluid passing through a depth filter increases due to captured particles accumulating in the filter material. Therefore, to ensure the flow of fluid, it is necessary to increase the total pressure of the fluid according to the pressure loss, and consequently the total pressure increases with time when using a depth filter.
A conventional depth filter 31 will be described referring to
The depth filter 31 is formed of one or more cylindrical filter layers 34 for capturing particles that are impurities. The fluid typically flows from the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrical filter layer 34 toward the inner side.
The forms of an increase in total pressure in the depth filter 31 include a form in which, during steady operation, there is a pressure increase accompanying inherent pulsation of the pump that promotes the flow of fluid, and a form in which there is a pressure increase for the purpose of compensating for a pressure loss that arises over time such as in the case of a clogged mesh in the filter layer 34 of the depth filter 31. Further, the cause of an increase in total pressure during unsteady operation is an increase in the secondary side pressure of the pump when regulating the flow rate of the fluid or when activating a fluid line. In the conventional depth filter 31, the pressure increase in these cases directly leads to a direct increase in pressure inside the depth filter 31, thus leading to a decrease in the capturing accuracy.
One aspect of the present invention is a depth filter including a first filter layer having cylindrical shape, a second filter layer having a cylindrical shape, the second filter layer arranged on an inner side of the first filter layer, the second filter layer having a mesh coarseness same as or less than a mesh coarseness of the first filter layer, and a space layer provided between the first filter layer and the second filter layer, wherein in the space layer, fluid resistance between a front side and a rear side of the space layer is substantially zero.
Another aspect of the present invention is a filter cartridge including a filter cover, and a depth filter arranged inside the filter cover, the depth filter including a first filter layer having a cylindrical shape, a second filter layer having a cylindrical shape, the second filter layer arranged on an inner side of the first filter layer, the second filter layer having a mesh coarseness same as or less than a mesh coarseness of the first filter layer, and a space layer provided between the first filter layer and the second filter layer, wherein in the space layer, fluid resistance between a front side and a rear side of the space layer is substantially zero.
By means of the configuration of the present invention, the influence of pressure in the depth filter at a time of a pressure increase can be reduced, and the capturing accuracy can be maintained.
Hereunder, a depth filter 1 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention as well as a filter cartridge equipped with the depth filter 1 are described with reference to
The filter cartridge includes a filter cover 32, and the depth filter 1 arranged inside the filter cover 32. The filter cartridge is detachably housed inside a filter housing 20 and used. The filter housing 20 has a flow path inlet 21 and a flow path outlet 22. The flow path inlet 21 of the filter housing 20 is joined to a pump (not illustrated) that promotes the flow of a fluid to be filtered, and the fluid to be filtered is introduced into the filter housing 20 by the pump. The introduced fluid flows via the outer peripheral surface of the depth filter 1 to pass through the depth filter 1 from the outer peripheral surface which is the primary side (upstream side of the flow) of the depth filter 1, and flows out to a central flow path 33 of the filter which is the secondary side (downstream side of the flow) of the filter. The fluid that flows out to the central flow path 33 of the filter is discharged to outside from the flow path outlet 22. The fluid typically flows toward the inner side from the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrical filter layer 34.
The depth filter 1 is formed of a plurality of cylindrical filter layers 34 for capturing particles that are impurities. In Embodiment 1, in
A space layer 35 is provided between the first filter layer 34a that is the primary-side filter layer and the second filter layer 34b that is the secondary-side filter layer. The space layer 35, for example, can be provided as a gap formed so that a predetermined distance is secured by means of a spacer (not illustrated) or the like between the first filter layer 34a and the second filter layer 34b and so as to have a predetermined volume. Since the space layer 35 is a gap, the fluid resistance between the front side and rear side of the space layer 35 is zero, that is, there is no fluid resistance.
Alternatively, the space layer 35 can be provided as a layer formed of a fiber in which fluid resistance does not arise between the front side and the rear side of the space layer 35, that is, a fiber in which the fluid resistance between the front side and the rear side of the fiber is substantially zero. For example, the space layer 35 can be formed as a nonwoven fabric in which the mesh is coarse and large and which has a large number of micro-interspaces communicating between the front side and the rear side, and there is a large cross-sectional area between the front side and the rear side of the micro-interspaces. In this case, the phrase “fluid resistance does not arise” means that the micro-interspaces that are present in the fiber are large, so that when fluid flows through the fiber, the fluid flows through the micro-interspaces and no resistance arises in the flow at that time. The fiber layer of the space layer 35 serves as a spacer which does not generate fluid resistance and which is not liable to cause volume fluctuations. Thus, the space layer 35 at which a predetermined volume is secured is formed between the first filter layer 34a and the second filter layer 34b.
Next, the effect of providing the space layer 35 will be described. When pressure fluctuations arise accompanying a pressure increase that accompanies inherent pulsation of a pump promoting the flow of fluid, the space layer 35 serves as a buffer that reduces the pressure fluctuations. That is, when an inherent pressure fluctuation of the pump is taken as an input signal, the space layer 35 functions as a signal filter, and an effect is produced such that pressure fluctuations applied to the first filter layer 34a are attenuated by the space layer 35. In this regard, when a pressure sensor was disposed in the first filter layer 34a and another pressure sensor was disposed in the second filter layer 34b, it was found that when the detected pressure at the pressure sensor disposed in the first filter layer 34a was a primary side pressure of 127.5 kilopascals ±4.5 kilopascals, the detected pressure at the pressure sensor disposed in the second filter layer 34b was 85.5 kilopascals ±0.25 kilopascals. As demonstrated by this result, because of the presence of the space layer 35, the pressure fluctuation range was reduced from ±4.5 kilopascals to ±0.25 kilopascals which meant that the pressure fluctuation range was suppressed to around 5.6 percent, and thus a decrease of 94 percent in the fluctuation range was observed. It is possible to adjust the amount of attenuation in the pressure fluctuation amount by adjusting the thickness (width) of the space layer 35, that is, by adjusting the volume of the space layer 35.
Next, a depth filter 2 of Embodiment 2 of the present invention and a filter cartridge equipped with the depth filter 2 are described with reference to
Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in the respect that one or more filter layers 34c having a cylindrical shape are further provided on the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross section of the first filter layer 34a of Embodiment 1. The one or more filter layers 34c are arranged to contact each other along the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross section of the respective layers. The number of layers constituting the filter layer 34c is not limited as long as the number is one or more. In this case, the relation between the mesh coarseness of the first filter layer 34a and the mesh coarseness of the second filter layer 34b is the same as in the case of Embodiment 1. In addition, with respect to the mesh coarseness of the filter layers constituting the filter layer 34c, the mesh coarseness of adjacent filter layers is the same (equal) or decreases in the direction toward the inner side from the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross sections of the layers. Further, with respect to the coarseness of the innermost layer of the filter layer 34c and the coarseness of the first filter layer 34a also, the mesh coarseness of adjacent filter layers is the same or decreases in the direction toward the inner side from the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross sections of the layers. That is, with respect to the relation between the coarseness of the mesh of the respective layers from the outermost layer of the filter layer 34c to the second filter layer 34b, the coarseness of the mesh of adjacent filter layers is the same or decreases in the direction toward the inner side from the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross sections of the layers.
As in the space layer 35 of Embodiment 1, the space layer 35 of Embodiment 2 is arranged between the first filter layer 34a and the second filter layer 34b. The internal structure of the space layer 35 is the same as in Embodiment 1. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the space layer 35, the one or more filter layers 34c having a cylindrical shape and the first filter layer 34a have the same structure as an integrated filter layer, and therefore, as in Embodiment 1, an effect is obtained such that the pulsation of pressure applied to the outermost layer of the filter layer 34c is attenuated by the space layer 35. As in Embodiment 1, it is possible to adjust the amount of attenuation of pressure pulsation fluctuations by the space layer 35 by adjusting the volume of the space layer 35.
Next, a depth filter 3 of Embodiment 3 of the present invention and a filter cartridge equipped with the depth filter 3 are described with reference to
In Embodiment 2, the depth filter 2 further includes the one or more cylindrical filter layers 34c on the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross section of the first filter layer 34a. Embodiment 3 differs from Embodiment 2 in the respect that, relative to Embodiment 1, the depth filter 3 further includes one or more filter layers 34d having a cylindrical shape on the inner side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross section of the second filter layer 34b. As in Embodiment 2, in Embodiment 3 the one or more filter layers 34d are arranged to contact each other along the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross section of the respective layers. The number of layers constituting the filter layer 34d is not limited as long as the number is one or more. Further, the relation between the mesh coarseness of the first filter layer 34a and the mesh coarseness of the second filter layer 34b is the same as in the case of Embodiment 1, and in addition, with respect to the coarseness of the mesh of the filter layers constituting the filter layer 34d, the coarseness of the mesh of adjacent filter layers is the same or decreases in the direction toward the inner side from the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross sections of the layers. Furthermore, with respect to the coarseness of the outermost layer of the filter layer 34d and the coarseness of the second filter layer 34b also, the coarseness of the mesh of the adjacent filter layers is the same or decreases in the direction toward the inner side from the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross sections of the layers. That is, with respect to the relation between the mesh coarseness of the respective layers from the second filter layer 34b to the innermost layer of the filter layer 34d, the mesh coarseness of adjacent filter layers is the same or decreases in the direction toward the inner side from the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross sections of the respective layers.
As in the space layer 35 of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the space layer 35 of Embodiment 3 is arranged between the first filter layer 34a and the second filter layer 34b. The internal structure of the space layer 35 is the same as in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the space layer 35, the second filter layer 34b and the filter layer 34d have the same structure as an integrated filter layer, and therefore, as in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, an effect is obtained such that the pulsation of pressure applied to the first filter layer 34a is attenuated by the space layer 35. As in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, it is possible to adjust the amount of attenuation of pressure pulsation fluctuations by the space layer 35 by adjusting the volume of the space layer 35.
Next, a depth filter 4 of Embodiment 4 of the present invention and a filter cartridge equipped with the depth filter 4 are described with reference to
In Embodiment 2, the depth filter 2 further includes the one or more cylindrical filter layers 34c on the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross section of the first filter layer 34a. Embodiment 4 differs from Embodiment 2 in the respect that a third filter layer 34e is further provided on the outer side of the outermost layer of the one or more filter layers 34c. Further, a space layer 36 is provided between the outermost layer of the filter layer 34c and the third filter layer 34e. With respect to the relation between the mesh coarseness of the respective layers from the third filter layer 34e that is the outermost layer of the filter layer 34 to the second filter layer 34b that is the innermost layer of the filter layer 34 via the filter layer 34c and the first filter layer 34a, the coarseness of the mesh of adjacent filter layers is the same or decreases in the direction toward the inner side from the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross sections of the respective layers.
The internal structure of the space layer 35 and the space layer 36 of Embodiment 4 is the same as the internal structure of the space layer 35 of Embodiment 1, and as in the space layer 35, the space layer 36 produces an effect such that pulsations of the total pressure applied to the third filter layer 34e are attenuated by the space layer 36. Further, an effect is also produced such that the amount of fluctuation in pulsations of the pressure which are attenuated by the space layer 36 and propagated via the filter layer 34c and the first filter layer 34a are further attenuated by the downstream space layer 35. As in Embodiment 1 to Embodiment 3, it is possible to adjust the amount of attenuation of pressure pulsation fluctuations at the space layer 35 and the space layer 36 by adjusting the volume of the space layer 35 and the space layer 36.
Next, a depth filter 5 of Embodiment 5 of the present invention and a filter cartridge equipped with the depth filter 5 are described with reference to
Although Embodiment 5 is the same as Embodiment 2 in the respect that the filter layer 34 includes the filter layer 34c, Embodiment 5 differs from Embodiment 2 in the respect that space layers 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d are further provided between the respective filter layers constituting the filter layer 34c. The structure of the space layer 35 and the space layers 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d is the same as the structure of the space layer 35 of Embodiment 1. The number of layers constituting the filter layer 34c is not limited as long as the number is one or more. The number of the space layers 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d can be changed according to the number of layers constituting the filter layer 34c. With respect to the mesh coarseness of the first filter layer 34a, the second filter layer 34b and the filter layers constituting the filter layer 34c, as in Embodiment 2, the coarseness of the mesh of adjacent filter layers is the same or decreases in the direction toward the inner side from the outer side in the radial direction of the cylindrically shaped cross sections of the layers.
As in the space layer 35, the space layers 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d of Embodiment 5 produce an effect such that pulsations of the total pressure applied to the outermost layer of the filter layer 34c are attenuated by the space layers 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d and the space layer 35. Further, as in Embodiments 1 to 4, it is possible to adjust the amount of attenuation of pressure pulsation fluctuations by the space layer 35 and the space layers 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d by adjusting the volume of the space layer 35 and the space layers 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d.
In this regard, we will discuss the amount of pressure attenuation in a case where the number of layers of the filter layer 34c was one, that is, in a case where the filter layer was composed of a total of three layers (the filter layer 34c as an outermost layer, the first filter layer 34a as a middle layer, and the second filter layer 34b as an innermost layer) (
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 31 depth filter
20 filter housing
32 filter cover
33 central flow path
34 filter layer
34
a first filter layer
34
b second filter layer
34
c, 34d one or more filter layers
34
e third filter layer
35, 36, 37 space layer
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2018/006925 | 2/26/2018 | WO | 00 |