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JP-2026076170-A - Filter device with ventilation core

JP2026076170AJP 2026076170 AJP2026076170 AJP 2026076170AJP-2026076170-A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a liquid filtration apparatus and method that includes an improved ventilation mechanism to prevent gaseous fluid accumulating in the housing from accumulating at the top of the filter device. [Solution] A liquid filter device and related methods are provided, comprising a housing, an interior within the housing, a cartridge assembly 56 (or known as a "filter cartridge") housed within the housing, and a vent 44 that allows a gaseous fluid to be released from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing. [Selection Diagram] Figure 5

Inventors

  • グレガーソン， バリー エル．

Assignees

  • インテグリス・インコーポレーテッド

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20251225
Priority Date
20201120

Claims (14)

  1. A liquid filtration device, A bowl including an open end, a distal end opposite to the open end, and an interior extending between the open end and the distal end, A manifold capable of sealing the open end of the bowl, comprising a manifold having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, A cartridge assembly disposed inside the said, comprising a filter membrane, a proximal end of the cartridge assembly, and a distal end of the cartridge assembly, wherein the proximal end of the cartridge assembly includes a surface adapted to contact the surface of the manifold to form a cartridge assembly-manifold seal, and the distal end of the cartridge assembly includes a surface adapted to contact the inner surface of the bowl to form a cartridge assembly-bowl seal inside the said, The core volume located in the central inner part of the aforementioned cartridge assembly, The housing volume located outside the cartridge assembly and between the cartridge assembly and the bowl, A liquid filtration apparatus comprising a vent hole extending from the distal end of the bowl to the core volume, which fluidly connects the core volume to the outside of the liquid filtration apparatus.
  2. The cartridge assembly has a central axis that extends between the proximal end and the distal end of the cartridge assembly within the core volume. The cartridge assembly-manifold seal can be formed by pressing the proximal end surface of the cartridge assembly against the surface of the manifold, and moving the cartridge assembly toward the manifold along the central axis. The cartridge assembly-manifold seal can be disassembled by pulling the proximal end surface of the cartridge assembly away from the surface of the manifold and moving the cartridge assembly away from the surface of the manifold along the central axis. The apparatus according to claim 1.
  3. The cartridge assembly has a central axis that extends between the proximal end and the distal end of the cartridge assembly within the core volume. The cartridge assembly-bowl seal can be formed by pressing the distal end surface of the cartridge assembly against the surface of the bowl, and moving the cartridge assembly toward the bowl along the central axis. The cartridge assembly-bowl seal can be disassembled by pulling the distal end surface of the cartridge assembly away from the surface of the bowl, and moving the cartridge assembly away from the surface of the bowl along the central axis. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
  4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cartridge assembly-manifold seal includes an annular sealing gasket between the proximal end surface of the cartridge assembly and the surface of the manifold.
  5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ventilation holes can be selectively opened and closed to selectively enable fluid communication between the core volume and the outside.
  6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fluid inlet communicates with the housing volume and the fluid outlet communicates with the core volume.
  7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ventilation hole comprises a conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end located in the distal portion of the core volume, and the second end located outside.
  8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ventilation hole includes a conductive material that electrically connects the core volume to earth.
  9. A method for filtering a liquid using a liquid filtration apparatus, The apparatus comprises a housing including a manifold and a bowl, wherein the bowl is placed vertically above the manifold, and the fluid is introduced into the apparatus, The bowl comprises an open end, a distal end opposite to the open end, and an interior extending between the open end and the distal end, A manifold that engages with the open end of the bowl to form a manifold-bowl seal, comprising a manifold having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, A cartridge assembly disposed inside the said, comprising a filter membrane, a proximal end of the cartridge assembly, and a distal end of the cartridge assembly, wherein the proximal end of the cartridge assembly includes a surface adapted to contact the surface of the manifold to form a cartridge assembly-manifold seal, and the distal end of the cartridge assembly includes a surface adapted to contact the inner surface of the bowl to form a cartridge assembly-bowl seal inside the said, The core volume located in the central inner part of the aforementioned cartridge assembly, The housing volume located outside the cartridge assembly and between the cartridge assembly and the bowl, The apparatus includes a vent that extends from the distal end of the bowl to the core volume, thereby fluidly connecting the core volume to the outside of the housing, and the ability to introduce fluid into the apparatus. The process involves introducing the liquid into the inlet, passing it through the housing volume from the inlet, through the filtration membrane to the core volume, and then passing it through the outlet, wherein the gas accumulates in the distal region of the core volume, and the liquid is passed through it. A method comprising releasing the gas through the vent.
  10. The cartridge assembly has a central axis that extends between the proximal end and the distal end of the cartridge assembly within the core volume. The cartridge assembly-manifold seal can be formed by pressing the proximal end surface of the cartridge assembly against the surface of the manifold, and moving the cartridge assembly toward the manifold along the central axis. The cartridge assembly-manifold seal can be disassembled by pulling the proximal end surface of the cartridge assembly away from the surface of the manifold and moving the cartridge assembly away from the surface of the manifold along the central axis. The method according to claim 9.
  11. The cartridge assembly has a central axis that extends between the proximal end and the distal end of the cartridge assembly within the core volume. The cartridge assembly-bowl seal can be formed by pressing the distal end surface of the cartridge assembly against the surface of the bowl, and moving the cartridge assembly toward the bowl along the central axis. The cartridge assembly-bowl seal can be disassembled by pulling the distal end surface of the cartridge assembly away from the surface of the bowl, and moving the cartridge assembly away from the surface of the bowl along its central axis. The method according to claim 9 or 10.
  12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the cartridge assembly-bowl seal includes an annular sealing gasket between the proximal end surface of the cartridge assembly and the surface of the bowl.
  13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the fluid inlet communicates with the housing volume and the fluid outlet communicates with the core volume.
  14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the ventilation hole includes a conductive material that electrically connects the core volume to earth.

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid filter device comprising a housing, an interior within the housing, a cartridge assembly housed within the housing (or known as a "filter cartridge"), and vents that allow a gaseous fluid to be discharged from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing. Liquid filtration systems enable the preparation and control of the flow of purified liquids, such as high-purity liquids. These systems have a wide range of applications in the chemical processing and manufacturing industries, such as pharmaceuticals, food processing and packaging, industrial and commercial chemicals and chemical products, and liquids used in semiconductor and microelectronic processing. In the case of semiconductor and microelectronic processing, liquid filtration systems are used to filter liquids used in the manufacture of solar panels, flat panel displays, and semiconductor and microelectronic devices. Liquids may also be used in processes such as photolithography, bulk chemical transfer, chemical mechanical processing (CMP), wet etching, or cleaning, among other types of processing. Various designs of filter assemblies used for liquid processing (filtration) include multi-component filter housings that define the interior, which houses a filtration membrane that removes impurities from the liquid as it passes through the membrane. During use, the liquid flows through the interior in a channel that includes the flow through the filtration membrane. The filtration membrane is a component of a replaceable filter cartridge (i.e., a "cartridge assembly") that can be removed from the housing and replaced after a period of use. The housing of such a filter assembly typically includes two main external structures: a manifold and a bowl. The manifold includes a fluid inlet through which the fluid entering the filter housing (unfiltered liquid) passes, and a fluid outlet through which the fluid exiting the filter assembly after passing through the filtration membrane (filtered liquid) passes. Between the inlet and outlet, the fluid must pass through a porous filtration membrane. The filtration membrane is supported by a replaceable filter cartridge housed within the housing. The bowl includes an open end that engages with the manifold, forming a liquid-tight seal between the manifold and the bowl. The standard installation configuration for this type of filter assembly uses a manifold connected to input and output conduits. The input conduit is connected to the manifold inlet, which directs the incoming flow of unfiltered liquid into the housing. The output conduit is connected to the manifold outlet, receiving the flow of fluid (i.e., "filtered liquid") that has passed through the filtration membrane and exited the assembly via the manifold output. A typical installation configuration for such a filter housing assembly is designed so that the bowl extends vertically downward below the manifold. This configuration is often referred to as the standard configuration or the "bowl-down" configuration. In this configuration, the manifold rests above the housing, so the vent port may be included in the manifold or selectively opened in the upper portion of the housing to release air or other gases that accumulate within the filter assembly. During startup or use, when filtering a liquid fluid, the exemplary filter assembly may accumulate a large amount of gas (e.g., air) within the internal space of the filter cartridge, for example, in the internal core volume located within the central channel of the filter cartridge housed in the housing. In certain application examples, for instance, when these filter devices are used by semiconductor manufacturers, a more preferred installation configuration for this type of liquid filtration device may be an inverted "bowl-on-top" configuration, where the bowl of the cartridge assembly and housing is located above the manifold. While the bowl-on-top configuration has advantages, it also presents challenges. In the bowl-on-top configuration, the piping connecting to the manifold (inlet and outlet conduits) can be located below the bowl and filter cartridge, alongside the manifold, in the lower or bottom portion of the filter device. This configuration can be preferred because it positions the bowl and cartridge assembly in a more accessible location above the manifold and allows for more efficient drainage of the filter during filter replacement steps. However, in the bowl-up orientation, the vent holes are located at the bottom of the filter assembly, preventing the ventilation mechanism through the manifold from functioning. Furthermore, gaseous fluids accumulating within the housing, for example, the internal space of the filter cartridge (i.e., the "cartridge core volume" of the "core volume"), may accumulate at the top of the filter device, i.e., at the top of the bowl. The ventilation mechanism of a liquid filtration system can be important for at le