Filter with exterior and interior media components and method of filtering

Abstract

The invention features a filtration segment having a top seal, a bottom seal and a primary filter core and the method of filtering with the design of the filtration segment. The primary filter core is operatively coupled to at least one opening which is located either on the top seal or on the bottom seal. The filtration segment also includes one or more interior filters surrounding the primary filter core. Each interior filter includes a filter material surrounding a secondary core which is operatively coupled to at least one opening which is located either on the top seal or on the bottom seal. Each filter may optionally include a retaining medium enclosing the filter material. The filtration segment has one or more layers of an exterior filter media which operatively surround the interior filters and are operatively coupled to the top seal and the bottom seal.

1 . A filtration segment for use in a filter housing comprising:
 a top seal;   a bottom seal;   a generally cylindrical fluid permeable primary filter core between the top seal and the bottom seal operatively coupled to an opening for a fluid flow located on one of either the top seal and the bottom seal, wherein said primary filter core is a void or a cylindrical tube;   two or more interior filters spaced around the primary filter core, each interior filter comprising: a filter media surrounding a secondary core and said secondary core operatively coupled openings located on the top seal and bottom seal to allow fluid flow into the interior filter;   an exterior filter composed of one or more layers of media extending between the top seal and bottom seal surrounding the interior filters and the primary filter core; and   granular filter media distributed in the void inside the exterior filter, surrounding the interior filters and around the primary core.   
     
     
         2 . The filtration segment of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior media is generally cylindrical and the top and bottom seals are generally circular in shape. 
     
     
         3 . The filtration segment of  claim 1 , further comprising securing adaptor located on the fluid openings of the primary core of the seals for stacking the filter segments. 
     
     
         4 . The filtration segment of  claim 1 , wherein the primary filter core is operatively coupled to openings for a fluid flow located on both the top seal and the bottom seal; and
 wherein the interior filters are operatively coupled to openings for fluid flow said openings are located on both the top seal and the bottom seal.   
     
     
         5 . A method for filtering a fluid comprising the steps of:
 (1) flowing a fluid around a generally cylindrical exterior fluid permeable filter media allowing part of the fluid to pass through the filter media;   (2) at the same time as step (1), flowing the remaining fluid through cores of more than one generally cylindrical filter media inside the exterior media and allowing the fluid to pass through the filter media; and   (3) collecting said fluid that has passed through the exterior filter media and the media inside the exterior media.   
     
     
         6 . A method for filtering a fluid comprising the steps of
 (1) flowing the fluid through the interior to the exterior of a generally cylindrical fluid permeable outer filter media layer allowing part of the fluid to pass through the filter media;   (2) at the same time as step (1) flowing the remaining media through the interior to the exterior of more than one generally cylindrical filter medias surrounded by the outer filter media so the fluid passes to the cores of the interior filter medias; and   (3) collecting the fluid that has passed through the outer filter media and the interior filter media cores.