Modular Filter Assembly

Abstract

Disclosed herein are modular filter assemblies having a plurality of stacked filter plates formed from a porous material. The filter plate can comprise a planar base portion from which a convoluted ridge wall, having a ridge outer side surface, a ridge inner surface, and a top ridge surface extends. A plurality of fluid inlet troughs and a plurality if fluid outlet troughs are defined by the ridge wall. Adjoining filter plates form a plurality of fluid inlet cavities defined by the fluid inlet trough of one filter plate and a portion of the bottom surface of the adjoining filter plate; and a plurality of fluid outlet cavities defined by the fluid outlet trough of the one filter plate and a portion of the bottom surface of the adjoining filter plate. In use, the plurality of fluid inlet cavities are in filtered communication with the plurality of fluid outlet cavities.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A modular filter assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of stacked filter plates formed from a porous material, each filter plate comprising:
 a planar base portion having an outer peripheral edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and further defining at least one opening extending therebetween the respective top and bottom surface; 
 a convoluted ridge wall extending from the top surface of the base portion and having a ridge outer side surface, a ridge inner side surface, and a top ridge surface, the convoluted wall surrounding the at least one opening; 
 a plurality of fluid inlet troughs defined by the ridge outer side surface and a first portion of the base portion top surface; and 
 a plurality of fluid outlet troughs defined by the ridge inner side surface and a second portion of the base portion top surface; 
 wherein at least a first and a second filter plate of the plurality of filter plates are stacked such that the ridge top surface of the first plate is contacting the bottom surface of the second plate; 
   a plurality of fluid inlet cavities defined by the fluid inlet trough of the first filter plate and a first portion of the bottom surface of the second filter plate; and   a plurality of fluid outlet cavities defined by the fluid outlet trough of the first filter plate and a second portion of the bottom surface of the second filter plate;   wherein the plurality of fluid inlet cavities are in filtered communication with the plurality of fluid outlet cavities such that a fluid passing from the fluid inlet cavity to the fluid outlet cavity must pass through at least one of the ridge and filter plate base portion.   
     
     
         26 . The modular filter of  claim 25 , wherein the porous material comprises a sintered thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         27 . The modular filter of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of filter plates are identical. 
     
     
         28 . The modular filter of  claim 25 , wherein the at least first and second filter plates are stacked such that at least a portion of the inlet troughs of the first filter plate are in underlying registration with at least a portion of the outlet troughs of the second filter plate. 
     
     
         29 . The modular filter of  claim 28 , wherein the at least first and second filter plates are stacked such that each inlet trough of the first filter plate is in underlying registration with an outlet trough of the second filter plate. 
     
     
         30 . The modular filter of  claim 25 , wherein the convoluted ridge wall is continuous. 
     
     
         31 . The modular filter of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one opening extending therebetween the respective top and bottom surface has a peripheral edge defined by the plate base portion, and wherein said peripheral edge further defines at least one key for aligning the plurality of filter plates in a predetermined pattern of overlying registration. 
     
     
         32 . The modular filter of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of filter plates are stacked such that the at least one opening extending therebetween the respective top and bottom surface of each filter plate forms a conduit. 
     
     
         33 . The modular filter of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of fluid outlet cavities are in communication with the conduit. 
     
     
         34 . The modular filter of  claim 32 , further comprising a core extending longitudinally through the at least one opening and comprising opposing proximal and distal ends, a first end cap affixed to the proximal end of the core proximate the top ridge surface of the second filter plate, and a second end cap affixed to the distal end of the core proximate the bottom surface of the planar base portion of the first filter plate. 
     
     
         35 . The modular filter of  claim 25 , wherein the outer peripheral edge of the filter plate is substantially circular in shape. 
     
     
         36 . The modular filter of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one opening extending therebetween the respective top and bottom surface of the filter plate base portion is positioned coaxially with a longitudinal axis of the filter plate. 
     
     
         37 . The modular filter of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one opening extending therebetween the respective top and bottom surface of the filter plate is substantially circular in shape. 
     
     
         38 . A modular filter assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of stacked filter plates formed from a porous material, each filter plate comprising:
 a planar base portion having an outer peripheral edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface; 
 a convoluted ridge wall extending from the top surface of the base portion and having a ridge outer side surface, a ridge inner side surface, and a top ridge surface; 
 a plurality of fluid inlet troughs defined by the ridge outer side surface and a first portion of the base portion top surface; and 
 a plurality of fluid outlet troughs defined by the ridge inner side surface and a second portion of the base portion top surface; 
 wherein at least a first and a second filter plate of the plurality of filter plates are stacked such that the ridge top surface of the first plate is contacting the bottom surface of the second plate; 
   a plurality of fluid inlet cavities defined by the fluid inlet trough of the first filter plate and a first portion of the bottom surface of the second filter plate; and   a plurality of fluid outlet cavities defined by the fluid outlet trough of the first filter plate and a second portion of the bottom surface of the second filter plate;   wherein the plurality of fluid inlet cavities are in filtered communication with the plurality of fluid outlet cavities such that a fluid passing from the fluid inlet cavity to the fluid outlet cavity must pass through at least one of the ridge and filter plate base portion.   
     
     
         39 . The modular filter of  claim 38 , wherein the porous material comprises a sintered thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         40 . The modular filter of  claim 38 , wherein the plurality of filter plates are identical. 
     
     
         41 . The modular filter of  claim 38 , wherein the at least first and second filter plates are stacked such that at least a portion of the inlet troughs of the first filter plate are in underlying registration with at least a portion of the outlet troughs of the second filter plate. 
     
     
         42 . The modular filter of  claim 41 , wherein the at least first and second filter plates are stacked such that each inlet trough of the first filter plate is in underlying registration with an outlet trough of the second filter plate. 
     
     
         43 . The modular filter of  claim 38 , wherein the convoluted ridge wall is continuous. 
     
     
         44 . A method of filtering a contaminant from a fluid stream comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of filter plates formed from a porous material each comprising:
 a planar base portion having an outer peripheral edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface; 
 a convoluted ridge wall extending from the top surface of the base portion and having a ridge outer side surface, a ridge inner side surface, and a top ridge surface; 
 a plurality of fluid inlet troughs defined by the ridge outer side surface and a first portion of the base portion top surface; and 
 a plurality of fluid outlet troughs defined by the ridge inner side surface and a second portion of the base portion top surface; 
   stacking at least a first and second filter plate of the plurality of filter plates in a stacked arrangement to form a modular filter assembly, wherein in the stacked arrangement the ridge top surface of the first plate is contacting the bottom surface of the second plate, a plurality of fluid inlet cavities are defined by the fluid inlet troughs of the first filter plate and a first portion of the bottom surface of the second filter plate, and a plurality of fluid outlet cavities are defined by the fluid outlet troughs of the first filter plate and a second portion of the bottom surface of the second filter plate, wherein the plurality of fluid inlet cavities are in filtered communication with the plurality of fluid outlet cavities such that a fluid passing from the fluid inlet cavity to the fluid outlet cavity must pass through at least one of the ridge and filter plate base portion; and   passing a fluid containing a particulate contaminant from at least one fluid inlet cavity to at least one fluid outlet cavity.