Retrofitting and use of rectangular filters, assembly and method for filtration

Abstract

An adaptor device for retrofitting in a pool filter housing is disclosed, where the pool filter housing has a conventional cylindrical concentric filter. The adaptor device allows the pool filter to be retrofitted with a plurality of filter elements, thereby improving its filtering efficiency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filter system for filtering pools and spa water, comprising:
 a) a filter housing;   b) a fluid inlet to the filter housing;   c) a clean fluid outlet from the filter housing;   d) a separation plate located inside the filter housing, said separation plate having a center hole in communication with the clean fluid outlet;   e) an adaptor plate located in the filter housing, wherein the adaptor plate is located above the separation plate, and at least one spacer is provided between said separation plate and said adaptor plate, wherein a plurality of outlet ports are provided on said adaptor plate; and   f) a plurality of filter elements enclosed in said filter housing, each of said filter elements comprising a central void surrounded by filter media, wherein each said filter element is mounted on said adaptor plate at one of said outlet ports.   
     
     
         2 . The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the media is pleated filter media in a trapezoidal shape with top and bottom sides parallel to each other and the longer sizes in between the top and bottom flaring out such that the bottom side is wider than the top side, the central void being created by the pleated filter media inside the trapezoid extending from the top side to the bottom side, wherein each said filter element further comprising a generally rectangular top cap that is secured to the top side of the pleated media to maintain a rectangular profile of the filter element; a generally rectangular bottom cap secured to the bottom side of the pleated media with a central opening that communicates with the central void in the pleated filter media; and said bottom cap is a longer rectangle to accommodate the flare of the trapezoidal media. 
     
     
         3 . The filter system of  claim 2 , wherein said top cap is solid and further comprising a handle on the top cap of each of the filter elements. 
     
     
         4 . The filter system of  claim 2 , further comprising a guide support mounted at each of the outlet ports on the adaptor plate, wherein the guide support is perforated, and wherein the guide support extends into the central void of the filter element. 
     
     
         5 . The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter elements are wedge-shaped filter elements having a wedge-shaped cross section, and a plurality of the wedge shaped filter elements are enclosed in said filter housing in a generally circular arrangement with each of said wedge shaped filter elements having a central void surrounded by filter media, a top cap, a bottom cap with an opening located therein to communicate with the central void in the filter media that extends from the top cap to the bottom cap; the bottom cap of each said wedge shaped filter is mounted on the adaptor plate at one of said outlet ports such that the fluid to be filtered passes through the filter media into the central void of the wedge-shaped filter elements, and filtered fluid passes through the opening in the adaptor plate into the second chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The filter system of  claim 5 , wherein said top cap is a solid top cap and further comprising a handle on the top cap of each of said wedge-shaped filter elements. 
     
     
         7 . The filter system of  claim 5 , further comprising a guide support mounted at each of the outlet ports on the adaptor plate, wherein the guide support is perforated, and wherein the guide support extends into the central void of the wedge-shaped filter element. 
     
     
         8 . The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the media is selected from the group of natural media, synthetic media, ceramic media, glass media and metal media. 
     
     
         9 . The filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media is selected from the group of pleated or non-pleated media. 
     
     
         10 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter housing is generally cylindrical and the separation plate is generally circular mounted inside the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 g) a spider plate placed above the filters inside the filter housing, the spider plate having radiating arms from a central hub and arms generally contacting the top of each of the filters; and   h) a mechanism between the spider cap and the inside of the top of the housing to secure the spider plate over the filters when the filter housing is in use.   
     
     
         12 . An adaptor device for retrofitting into a pool and spa filter housing, wherein said pool and spa filter housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a separation plate inside the filter housing, wherein the adaptor device comprises:
 a) an adaptor plate sized to be placed inside the filter housing above the separation plate, wherein a plurality of outlet ports are provided on said adaptor plate to allow fluid to flow through the adaptor plate; and   b) at least one spacer between said separation plate and said adaptor plate to create a flow path between the adaptor plate and the separation plate.   
     
     
         13 . The adaptor device of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of guide support, and each of said plurality of guide supports is mounted on said plurality of outlet ports on the adaptor plate. 
     
     
         14 . The adaptor device of  claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of guide supports is perforated. 
     
     
         15 . The adaptor device of  claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of guide supports is detachably fastened to the adaptor plate. 
     
     
         16 . The adaptor device of  claim 13 , wherein each said guide support matches a removable filter element. 
     
     
         17 . The adaptor device of  claim 16 , wherein said removable filter element has a rectangular or a wedge-shape cross-section. 
     
     
         18 . A filter system for filtering pools and spa water, comprising:
 a) a filter housing;   b) a fluid inlet to the filter housing;   c) a clean fluid outlet from the filter housing;   d) an adaptor manifold located in the filter housing, wherein a plurality of outlet ports are provided on a top side of said adaptor manifold, and a connection port is provided on a bottom side of said manifold, wherein fluid communication is formed between the outlet ports and the connection port; and   e) a plurality of filter elements enclosed in said filter housing, each of said filter elements comprising a central void surrounded by filter media, wherein each said filter element is mounted on said adaptor manifold at one of said outlet ports.   
     
     
         19 . An adaptor device for retrofitting into a pool and spa filter housing, wherein said pool and spa filter housing having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a separation manifold inside the filter housing, wherein the adaptor device comprises:
 an adaptor manifold sized to be placed inside the filter housing above the separation plate, wherein a plurality of outlet ports are provided on a top side of said adaptor manifold to allow fluid to flow through the adaptor manifold, and at least one connection port provided on a bottom side of said adaptor manifold, wherein the outlet ports are in fluidic communication with the connection port.