Filtration system and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a filtration system comprising a filter tank. In some embodiments, at least portions of an inlet pipe and an outlet manifold can be positioned within the filter tank. At least one manifold assembly can be coupled to the outlet manifold and also can be positioned within the filter tank. In some embodiments, the manifold assembly can include at least one first aperture, at least one second aperture, and at least one first cavity positioned within the manifold assembly. In some embodiments, the second aperture can fluidly connect the first cavity and the outlet manifold. Also, at least one filter can be coupled to the manifold assembly so that the first aperture fluidly connects the filter to the first cavity.

1 . A filtration system for use in a filter tank, comprising:
 at least one outlet manifold, at least a portion of the outlet manifold configured to be positioned within the filter tank;   at least three interleaved manifold assemblies coupled to the outlet manifold and positioned substantially adjacent to one another so that at least one of the three interleaved manifold assemblies extends outwardly from the outlet manifold in one direction and at least one of the three interleaved manifold assemblies extends outwardly from the outlet manifold in a substantially opposite direction, each of the manifold assemblies including:   at least one first non-linear cavity comprising a plurality of fluidly coupled regions including:
 a first region including at least one second aperture through a portion of the manifold assembly, the at least one second aperture fluidly connecting the at least one first non-linear cavity and the outlet manifold; and 
 a second region angled relative to the first region defining the non-linearity of the at least one first non-linear cavity; 
 at least one filter coupled to the manifold assembly so that the at least one first aperture fluidly connects the at least one filter to the at least one first non-linear cavity; and 
 wherein the at least one filter extends generally inwardly towards the first region and the second region. 
   
     
     
         2 . The filtration system of  claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of first apertures positioned through a portion of each of the interleaved manifold assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . The filtration system of  claim 1 , and further comprising at least one support structure coupled to each of the interleaved manifold assemblies, wherein the at least one support structure is configured and arranged to receive a portion of the outlet manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The filtration system of  claim 1 , and further comprising at least one receiving member coupled to each of the interleaved manifold assemblies immediately adjacent to the at least one first aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The filtration system of  claim 4  and further comprising at least one mandrel coupled to the at least one receiving member and adjacent to the at least one first aperture, wherein the at least one filter is at least partially supported by the at least one mandrel; and
 wherein the at least one mandrel is configured and arranged to be capable of being positioned substantially parallel to the first region. 
 
     
     
         6 . The filtration system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one mandrel comprises at least one mandrel aperture and a mandrel cavity, wherein the at least one mandrel aperture and the mandrel cavity are fluidly connected to the at least one first non-linear cavity via the at least one first aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a handle. 
     
     
         8 . The filtration system of  claim 1  and further comprising a coupling member coupled to each of interleaved manifold assemblies substantially adjacent to the at least one second aperture. 
     
     
         9 . A filtration system retrofittable into a filter tank comprising:
 at least three substantially adjacently positioned interleaved manifold assemblies, each manifold assembly coupled to an outlet manifold and positioned substantially adjacent within the filter tank so that at least one of the three interleaved manifold assemblies extends outwardly from the outlet manifold in one direction and at least one of the three interleaved manifold assemblies extends outwardly from the outlet manifold in a substantially opposite direction, and each manifold assembly including;   a first non-linear cavity comprising a plurality of fluidly coupled regions including;
 a first region including a second aperture through a portion of the manifold assembly and a coupling member coupled to the manifold assembly adjacent to the second aperture, 
 a second region disposed in a non-linear orientation relative to the first region, and 
 a third region including at least one first aperture positioned through a portion of the manifold assembly and at least one receiving member coupled to the manifold assembly adjacent to the at least one first aperture, 
   the third region disposed in a non-linear orientation relative to the second region so as to at least partially define the non-linearity of the first non-linear cavity;   at least one filter coupled to the manifold assembly via the receiving member;   wherein the at least one filter is positioned substantially parallel to the first region.   
     
     
         10 . The filtration system of  claim 9 , wherein the coupling member is capable of coupling with an outlet manifold positioned within the filter tank through at least one third aperture, the third aperture configured and arranged to receive at least a portion of the coupling member. 
     
     
         11 . The filtration system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture are in fluid communication with the first non-linear cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The filtration system of  claim 9 , wherein an angle between the first region and the second region is approximately forty-five degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The filtration system of  claim 9 , wherein an angle between the second region and the third region is approximately forty-five degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The filtration system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the interleaved manifold assemblies comprises a plurality of first apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The filtration system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one filter is configured and arranged to receive a portion of the at least one mandrel. 
     
     
         16 . A filtration system comprising:
 at least one outlet manifold configured to be positioned within a filter tank;   at least one manifold assembly coupled to the at least one outlet manifold and extending outwardly and generally perpendicular from the outlet manifold,   the at least one manifold assembly including at least one substantially non-linear cavity comprising a plurality of fluidly coupled regions, and   the fluidly coupled regions comprising at least a first region including at least one second aperture through a portion of the manifold assembly; and   wherein the at least one second aperture fluidly connects the at least one first non-linear cavity and the outlet manifold.   
     
     
         17 . The filtration system of  claim 16 , wherein the non-linear cavity further comprises a second region coupled to the first region so as to be substantially non-parallel with the first region. 
     
     
         18 . The filtration system of  claim 17 , wherein the non-linear cavity further comprises a third region coupled to the second region, the third region including at least one first aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The filtration system of  claim 18 , wherein the third region is coupled to the second region so as to be substantially non-parallel with at least one of the first region or the second region. 
     
     
         20 . The filtration system of  claim 16 , further comprising a filter tank. 
     
     
         21 . The filtration system of  claim 18 , wherein the third region comprises receiving members coupled substantially adjacent to the at least one first aperture. 
     
     
         22 . The filtration system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one mandrel. 
     
     
         23 . The filtration system of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one filter, the at least one filter configured to be reversibly fluidly coupled to the at least one of the receiving members by reversibly coupling to the at least one mandrel. 
     
     
         24 . The filtration system of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the receiving members is coupled to the at least one mandrel using a thread. 
     
     
         25 . The filtration system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one filter extends generally inwardly towards the second region. 
     
     
         26 . The filtration system of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one filter extends generally inwardly towards the first region. 
     
     
         27 . The filtration system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one mandrel comprises at least one mandrel aperture and a mandrel cavity; and wherein the at least one mandrel aperture and the mandrel cavity are fluidly connected to the at least one substantially non-linear cavity via the at least one first aperture. 
     
     
         28 . The filtration system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one manifold assembly includes a plurality of interleaved manifold assemblies interleavedly coupled to the outlet manifold. 
     
     
         29 . The filtration system of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the interleaved manifold assemblies extends outwardly from the outlet manifold in one direction and at least one further manifold assembly extends outwardly from the outlet manifold in a substantially opposite direction. 
     
     
         30 . A filtration system comprising:
 a filter tank;   at least one outlet manifold configured to be positioned within the filter tank;   at least one manifold assembly coupled to the outlet manifold and extending outwardly and generally perpendicular from the outlet manifold,   the at least one manifold assembly including at least one substantially non-linear cavity comprising a plurality of fluidly coupled regions, and   the fluidly coupled regions comprising at least a first region including at least one second aperture through a portion of the manifold assembly fluidly connecting the at least one first non-linear cavity and the outlet manifold; and   at least one filter configured to be reversibly fluidly coupled to at least a portion of the at least one manifold assembly.   
     
     
         31 . The filtration system of  claim 30 , wherein the non-linear cavity further comprises a second region coupled to the first region so as to be substantially non-parallel with the first region. 
     
     
         32 . The filtration system of  claim 31 , wherein the non-linear cavity further comprises a third region coupled to the second region, the third region including at least one first aperture. 
     
     
         33 . The filtration system of  claim 32 , wherein the third region is coupled to the second region so as to be substantially non-parallel with at least one of the first region or the second region. 
     
     
         34 . The filtration system of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one manifold assembly includes at least one receiving member 
     
     
         35 . The filtration system of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one filter is configured to be reversibly coupled to the at least one receiving member using a coupled mandrel.