Bagged filter cartridge, system and method

Abstract

A filter assembly is provided. The filter assembly includes a filter cartridge with a containment bag including a vent port and a support housing, including a split lid.

1 . A filter cartridge, comprising:
 a containment bag;   an inlet port extending through the containment bag adapted to receive fluid into the bag;   an outlet port extending through the containment bag adapted to outlet fluid from the filter cartridge; and   a vent port extending through the containment bag; and   a filter media element disposed in the containment bag and connected to the outlet port.   
     
     
         2 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet port and the vent port are arranged gravitationally above the outlet port along a top side of the bag. 
     
     
         3 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet fitting providing the inlet port, the containment bag having an inlet opening and being connectively sealed to the inlet fitting, the inlet port extending through said inlet opening into an interior of the bag. 
     
     
         4 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet fitting connected with a filtered fluid chamber and extending through an annular disc, and wherein the annular disc is fixed relative to and in sealing engagement with the outlet fitting, and wherein the inlet fitting is carried freely by the bag in spaced relation and thereby freely movable relative to the filter media element. 
     
     
         5 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media element further comprises a filtered fluid chamber, the top of the filtered fluid chamber being closed, the bottom of the filtered fluid chamber being in fluid communication with outlet port. 
     
     
         6 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising an annular filter media element including a plurality of filter discs, the filter discs being stacked and compressed, each of the filter discs including a combination of adsorption and depth loading filtration media. 
     
     
         7 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of filtering fluid comprising:
 inletting unfiltered fluid into a containment bag;   venting air from the containment bag;   containing a filter media pack in the containment bag, the filter media pack comprising a hollow interior that has an opening at one end and is closed to fluid flow at a second end opposite the one end;   filtering the unfiltered fluid through a filter media pack contained in the containment bag to produce filtered fluid; and   outletting filtered fluid from the filter element and through said opening and through the containment bag.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the containment bag includes an inlet fitting sealingly attached to the containment bag for inletting unfiltered fluid, a vent fitting sealingly attached to the containment bag for venting the containment bag, and an outlet fitting sealing attached to the containment bag for outletting filtered fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the inlet, vent, and outlet fittings each comprise hose barbs. 
     
     
         14 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A filter assembly, comprising:
 a housing, the housing comprising a bowl defining an interior and an open end;   a filter cartridge removably supported inside of the housing through the open end, the filter cartridge comprising a containment bag; an inlet port extending through the containment bag adapted to receive fluid into the bag; an outlet port extending through the containment bag adapted to outlet fluid from the filter cartridge; and a filter media element disposed in the containment bag and connected to the outlet port; and   wherein the assembly further comprises a vent opening that is adapted to vent air from inside of the housing when the bag receives unfiltered fluid that causes the bag to expand and thereby conform substantially to the interior of the housing.   
     
     
         32 . The filter assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the vent opening comprises a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         33 . The filter assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the housing further comprises a lid having at least one aperture providing a hole that facilitates fluid communication through a conduit extending through the lid and connected to the containment bag. 
     
     
         34 . The filter assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the filter media element comprises a plurality of filter discs arranged in an annular stack and defining an axially extending cavity, a first end of the cavity being open and connected to the outlet port and a second end opposite said first end, the second end being closed at a location inside the bag, and wherein the second end is above the first end such that during operation fluid flows downwardly out of the cavity toward the first open end and is prevented from flowing upwardly out of the cavity, and wherein fluid in the cavity is prevented from flowing upwardly out of the axially extending cavity and upwardly out of the bag by a closure closing the second end of the cavity. 
     
     
         35 . The filter assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the containment bag of the filter cartridge defines a bag interior, the bag interior adapted to receive fluid through the inlet port and adapted to return fluid through the outlet port with a fluid flow path running inside the bag from the inlet port to the outlet port, the bag being expandable and flexible and with the fluid flow path running through the filter media element, the filter media element comprising a plurality of filter discs arranged in an annular stack and defining an axially extending cavity, a first end of the cavity being open and connected to the outlet port and a second end opposite said first end, the second end being closed at a location inside the bag. 
     
     
         36 . The filter assembly of  claim 35 , further comprising a fitting or disc formed separately from the bag and welded to the bag to integrally secure and seal the fitting or disc to the bag, the fitting or disc providing fluid communicated through the bag to the interior. 
     
     
         37 . The filter assembly of  claim 35 , further comprising a disc or fitting providing fluid communication with the bag interior, the disc or fitting being integrally secured and sealed to the bag. 
     
     
         38 . The filter assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the disc or fitting comprises a hose barb. 
     
     
         39 . The filter assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the vent opening extends through the housing. 
     
     
         40 . The filter assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the vent opening extends through the containment bag. 
     
     
         41 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the filter cartridge includes a bag defining a bag interior, the bag interior adapted to receive fluid through the inlet port and adapted to return fluid through the outlet port with a fluid flow path running inside the bag from the inlet port to the outlet port, the bag being expandable and flexible and with the fluid flow path running through the filter media element, the filter media element comprising a plurality of filter discs arranged in an annular stack and defining an axially extending cavity, a first end of the cavity being open and connected to the outlet port and a second end opposite said first end, the second end being closed at a location inside the bag. 
     
     
         42 . The filter cartridge of  claim 41 , further comprising a fitting or disc formed separately from the bag and welded to the bag to integrally secure and seal the fitting or disc to the bag, the fitting or disc providing fluid communicated through the bag to the interior. 
     
     
         43 . The filter cartridge of  claim 41 , further comprising a disc or fitting providing fluid communication with an interior of the bag, the disc or fitting being integrally secured and sealed to the bag. 
     
     
         44 . The filter cartridge of  claim 43 , wherein the disc or fitting comprises a hose barb. 
     
     
         45 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media element comprises a plurality of filter discs arranged in an annular stack and defining an axially extending cavity, a first end of the cavity being open and connected to the outlet port and a second end opposite said first end, the second end being closed at a location inside the bag, and wherein the second end is above the first end such that during operation fluid flows downwardly out of the cavity toward the first open end and is prevented from flowing upwardly out of the cavity, and wherein fluid in the cavity is prevented from flowing upwardly out of the axially extending cavity and upwardly out of the bag by a closure closing the second end of the cavity.