Self-cleaning circulation system and method

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for providing a self-cleaning water circulation system which may be utilized for a fish pond, fountain, or the like. Means for automatically cleaning the pump intake to avoid pump failure due to leaves and debris is provided. The circulation system also comprises a self-cleaning filter for cleaning the circulated water whereby maintenance requirements are substantially reduced.

1 . A self-cleaning filter assembly for filtering circulated liquid, said self-cleaning filter assembly being connectable with a source of pressurized liquid, comprising: 
 a filter for filtering unfiltered liquid to produce filtered liquid, said filter collecting waste when filtering said liquid;    a filter cleaning member for directing said pressurized liquid onto said filter for cleaning said filter to produce waste fluid, said waste fluid comprising said waste collected when filtering said liquid; and    a pivotally mounted liquid director member, said pivotally mounted liquid director member being pivotal to a first pivotal position for selectively directing said waste fluid towards a waste liquid outlet, said pivotally mounted liquid director member being pivotal to a second pivotal position for selectively directing said filtered liquid to a filtered liquid outlet.    
   
   
       2 . The self-cleaning filter system of  claim 1 , further comprising a piston and a cylinder connected to said pivotally mounted liquid director member, said piston and said cylinder being in liquid communication with said pressurized cleaning liquid inlet and responsive to said pressurized cleaning liquid for relative movement between said piston and said cylinder to thereby pivot said pivotally mounted liquid director member to direct waste liquid towards said waste liquid outlet during said cleaning cycle.  
   
   
       3 . The self cleaning filter system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a housing with said filter mounted therein, said housing defining an unfiltered inlet for receiving said liquid to be filtered, and    a pressurized liquid input for receiving said pressurized liquid for cleaning said filter.    
   
   
       4 . The self-cleaning filter system of  claim 1 , wherein said filter is mounted on said pivotally mounted liquid director member.  
   
   
       5 . The self-cleaning filter system of  claim 1 , wherein said filter cleaning member comprises one or more nozzles mounted within a filter housing and angled with respect to said filter housing to thereby direct said pressurized fluid to produce a swirling flow of fluid within said filter housing during a cleaning cycle for cleaning said filter.  
   
   
       6 . A self-cleaning filter assembly for use with a controllable source of pressurized fluid, comprising: 
 a filter for filtering fluid to produce filtered fluid, said filter collecting debris while filtering said fluid;    a piston and a cylinder moveable between a first position and a second position, said piston and said cylinder being in fluid communication with said controllable pressurized fluid and responsive to said controllable pressurized fluid for relative movement of said piston and said cylinder between said first position and said second position, said piston and cylinder being operatively mounted for directing said filtered fluid to a filtered fluid outlet in said first position, said piston and cylinder being operatively mounted for directing a waste fluid comprising said debris towards a waste fluid outlet in said second position.    
   
   
       7 . The self-cleaning filter assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a gravity bias for biasing said piston to one of said first position or said second position.  
   
   
       8 . A self-cleaning filter assembly for use with a source of pressurized filter cleaning fluid, comprising: 
 a filter;    a housing with said filter mounted therein, said housing defining an unfiltered inlet for receiving unfiltered fluid to be filtered with said filter to thereby produce filtered fluid, said filter collecting debris when producing said filtered fluid;    one or more nozzles mounted within a filter housing, said one or more nozzles being oriented to produce rotating motion of said pressurized filter cleaning fluid within said filter housing for removing said debris from said filter to thereby clean said filter; and    one or more outlets in said housing.    
   
   
       9 . The self-cleaning filter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said one or more nozzles are fixedly mounted.  
   
   
       10 . The self-cleaning filter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said filter housing is round and said one or more nozzles are angled with respect to said filter housing.  
   
   
       11 . The self-cleaning filter system of  claim 8 , wherein said nozzles are mounted above said filter and direct said fluid downwardly to produce swirling fluid flow within said filter housing.  
   
   
       12 . The self-cleaning filter system of claim of  claim 8 , further comprising a fluid director responsive to flow of said pressurized filter cleaning fluid to direct waste water comprising said debris to a waste water outlet during said cleaning cycle, said fluid director otherwise directing said filtered fluid to a filtered fluid outlet.  
   
   
       13 . A method for producing filter media comprising: 
 obtaining a pre-fluid processed mass of fiber;    fluid processing said pre-fluid processed mass of fiber by spraying fluid thereon to produce a fluid processed mass of fiber wherein said fluid processed mass of fiber binds itself together so as to have significantly increased cohesiveness as compared to said pre-fluid processed mass of fiber; and    utilizing said fluid processed mass of fiber in a filter housing for filtering fluid.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said pre-fluid processed mass of fiber comprises batting material.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said pre-fluid processed mass of fiber is 100% pure polyester fiber.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein tufts of said pre-fluid processed mass of fiber can be easily pulled apart in tufts by a first force before said fluid processing; and 
 such that said fluid processed mass of fiber cannot be pulled apart except by a second force more than ten times greater than said first force after said fluid processing to thereby form a cohesive filter media.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said fiber is synthetic.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising holding said pre-fluid processed mass of fiber together while spraying fluid thereon.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising placing said pre-fluid processed mass of fiber in a container prior to said spraying fluid on said pre-fluid processed mass of fiber.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing that said container is perforated such that fluid drains from said container.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said pre-fluid processed mass of fiber comprises unwoven fibers.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said fluid processed mass of fiber binds itself together to form clumps.