Water filter abstract
A bilge water filter for filtering bilge water discharged being
drained from the bilge of a vessel includes a casing having first
and second ends and at least one sidewall extending between the
first and second ends, an inlet extending through the first end
of the casing, and an outlet extending through the second end of
the casing. The bilge water filter also includes a filter media
disposed in the casing, between the inlet and the outlet, the filter
media being adapted to absorb contaminants present in the bilge
water while allowing substantially contaminant-free bilge water
to be discharged from the outlet of the bilge water filter. The
bilge water filter is adapted to be externally mounted to the outer
surface of the hull of a vessel (i.e., to the outer surface of the
hull) for draining bilge water from the vessel, capturing contaminants
inside the filter and discharging contaminant-free bilge water from
the outlet of the filter.
Water filter claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system including a water-going vessel having a hull and a
bilge water filter externally mountable to a bilge water discharge
outlet of said water-going vessel comprising: a casing having a
first end, a second end and at least one sidewall extending between
the first and second ends; an inlet extending through the first
end of said casing; an outlet extending through the second end of
said casing; and a hydrophobic filter media disposed in said casing
between the inlet and the outlet, said filter media being adapted
to absorb contaminants present in said bilge water while allowing
substantially contaminant-free bilge water to be discharged from
said outlet, wherein the inlet of said bilge water filter is externally
mounted outside the hull of said water-going vessel to the bilge
water discharge outlet of said water-going vessel for draining bilge
water from said water-going vessel.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet of said
bilge water filter includes an inlet tube connected to the first
end of said casing, said inlet tube having external threads threadable
into the bilge water discharge outlet of said vessel.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet of said
bilge water filter includes an inlet tube having an outer radial
surface engagable with the bilge water discharge outlet of said
vessel for securing said bilge water filter to said vessel.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydrophobic filter
media absorbs contaminants present in said bilge water and allows
contaminant-free bilge water to pass therethrough.
5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said hydrophobic filter
media includes a fibrous material.
6. The system as claimed is claim 4 further comprising a coarse
material disposed in said casing and between said hydrophobic filter
media, wherein said coarse material is adapted to control the flow
rate of said bilge water through said filter casing.
7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said coarse material
is selected from the group consisting of charcoal and gravel.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said contaminants
are selected from the group consisting of petroleum-based products,
oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, cleaning
solvents and paint.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said casing has a
longitudinal axis extending between the inlet and the outlet thereof,
and said at least one sidewall is a substantially cylindrical side
wall.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said casing is made
of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel
and plastic.
11. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bilge filter
includes an inlet tube passing through the inlet of said casing,
said inlet tube being connected to the first end of said casing.
12. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said inlet tube
is substantially hollow, has a first axial opening outside said
casing, a second axial opening inside said casing, a sidewall extending
between the first and second axial openings and a plurality of peripheral
openings extending through the sidewall.
13. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said filter media
includes a first substantially cylindrical-shaped pad extending
at least partially around a portion of the inlet tube disposed in
said casing.
14. The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said filter media
further comprises a second filter media disposed between said inlet
tube and said outlet tube.
15. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the second filter
media pad of said is in substantial alignment with the inlet tube
and the outlet tube of said bilge filter.
Water filter description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to filtering fluids and is particularly
directed to removing contaminants from bilge water being discharged
from a water-going vessel such as a boat or ship.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, federal, state and local governments have dramatically
increased the amount of time spent solving environmental problems.
Some of these environmental concerns involve the boating industry
and efforts to maintain oceans, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams
in a condition suitable for animals and humans alike. Recently,
the United States government enacted the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act, commonly referred to as the "Clean Water Act,"
which provides regulations for maintaining clean waters in the United
States of America. Some of the regulations set forth in the Clean
Water Act are directed to the discharge of contaminants, such as
oil and other petroleum-based products, into the waters of the United
States. As a result, boaters, boat dealers and boating service centers
are now strictly regulated regarding the potential for discharging
contaminates from boats into U.S. waters. One particular concern
regards bilge water that must periodically be discharged from the
hulls of boats. Such discharge may occur during operation of the
boat or when the boat is removed from the water for storage or maintenance.
As is well known to those skilled in the art, bilge water generally
collects in the low point's of a boat's hull and is frequently contaminated
by a wide variety of pollutants, including petroleum-based products,
gasoline, oil, transmission and power steering fluids, cleaning
solvents and paint.
There are presently many different systems used to remove bilge
water from boats and to filter the bilge water before it is discharged
overboard. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4031839 to Pedone discloses
reusable oil absorbent pads that may be placed in the hull of a
boat. Each pad has an absorbent filler material which repels water
and which attracts oil so that it will draw oil from the outside
of the bag toward the inside of the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5609760 to Leach discloses an oil filtering system
for bilge water including an oil filter having an elongated tubular
housing and a discharge end wall having an outlet fitting adapted
to be connected to an outlet conduit. The opposite end of the tubular
housing has an access flange having a circular sealed recess within
which is received a circular sealing gasket. The access flange is
provided with connection apertures on opposite sides thereof. The
filter includes a tubular filter support that is secured to the
external surface area of a perforated filter support tube. An elongated
filter media is positioned about the perforated filter support tube.
The filter media is made of an oil absorbing material such as a
polyolefin hydrocarbon. During operation, bilge pump forces bilge
water through a central passage of the perforated filter support
tube, through the perforations of the filter support tube and through
the filter media. As a result, any oil or other particles in the
bilge water is captured by the filter media.
U.S. Pat. No. 5084168 to Woog discloses a filtering assembly
for removing hazardous particles from a fluid. The filtering assembly
includes a cylindrical housing having an outlet spaced from the
inlet. Adjacent the inlet, a metal precipitate chamber is provided
having rolled fiberglass for capturing the hazardous particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5948253 to Hearn discloses a three layer hydrocarbon
filter for removing hydrocarbons and synthetic hydrocarbons (e.g.
oil) from water by adsorption and/or absorption. The filter has
at least three layers of filter media that extend outwardly relative
to the longitudinal axis of the filter. The layers of filter media
are placed within a casing. The first and third layers of filter
media include a first material that is hydrophobic and which removes
hydrocarbons from contaminated water through adsorption or absorption.
The second layer of filter media includes a mixture of the first
filter media material with a second material.
U.S. Pat. No. 6056881 to Miller et al. discloses a bilge water
filtration system for removing petroleum-based liquid contaminates
from bilge water as the bilge water is pumped from the bilge area
of a boat to a discharge outlet in the hull of the boat. The system
uses filtration media enclosed in a modular unit equipped with a
filter tube so that the filter media can be easily installed in
the system and removed to allow for destruction or recycling of
the contaminants trapped by the filter media. The bilge water filtration
system is designed to be installed "in-line" with an existing
bilge pumping system on boats or yachts.
In spite of the above efforts, there remains a need for a simplified
and cost-effective method for removing contaminated bilge water
from boats and ships.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present
invention, a bilge water filter externally mountable to a bilge
water discharge outlet of a vessel, such as a boat or a ship, includes
a casing having a first end, a second end remote therefrom and at
least one sidewall extending between the first and second ends.
The bilge water filter also preferably includes an inlet extending
through the first end of the casing and an outlet extending through
the second end of the casing. The filter has a hydrophobic filter
media disposed in the casing between the inlet and the outlet, the
filter media being adapted to absorb contaminants present in the
bilge water while allowing substantially contaminant-free bilge
water to be discharged from the outlet. The inlet of the bilge water
filter is desirably adapted to be externally mountable to the bilge
water discharge outlet of the vessel for draining bilge water from
the vessel. In certain preferred embodiments, the inlet of the bilge
water filter includes an inlet tube that is connected to the first
end of the casing. The inlet tube may have external threads formed
thereon so that the inlet tube may be screwed into the bilge water
discharge outlet of the vessel. In other preferred embodiments,
the inlet tube may have an outer radial surface engagable with the
bilge water discharge outlet of the vessel. In this latter embodiment,
the inlet tube may be snap-fit or friction-fit into the bilge water
discharge outlet of the vessel.
The hydrophobic filter media preferably absorbs contaminants present
in the bilge water, including but not limited to petroleum-based
products, oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, power steering fluid,
cleaning solvents and paint. The hydrophobic media, which may include
a fibrous material, absorbs the contaminates in the bilge water
while allowing the contaminant-free portion of the bilge water to
pass therethrough. The bilge water filter may also include a coarse
material, such as gravel or charcoal, disposed in the casing between
the hydrophobic filter media. The coarse material is adapted to
control the flow rate of the bilge water passing through the filter
casing. In certain preferred embodiments, the coarse material forms
a continuous, circuitous path between the inlet and the outlet of
the casing. The path of the coarse material may include a series
of legs extending between the first and second ends of the casing,
whereby the filter media is disposed between the legs of the coarse
material. The casing may have a longitudinal axis extending between
the inlet and the outlet of the filter, whereby the casing has at
least one sidewall that is substantially cylindrical. The casing
may be made of a durable material such as stainless steel or plastic.
In other preferred embodiments, the inlet tube is substantially
hollow, has a first axial opening outside the casing, a second axial
opening inside the casing, a sidewall extending between the first
and second axial openings and a plurality of peripheral openings
extending through the sidewall of the inlet tube. As a result, bilge
water entering the inlet tube may pass into the casing through the
peripheral openings in the sidewall of the inlet tube and also through
an opening at the second end of the tube (located inside the casing).
The filter media may also include a substantially cylindrical-shape
pad disposed inside the casing and extending at least partially
around the portion of the inlet tube disposed in the casing. In
other referred embodiments, the filter media may include a filter
media pad disposed between the inlet tube and the outlet tube of
the bilge water filter. The filter media pad between inlet and outlet
tubes may be in substantial alignment with the inlet and outlet
tubes to provide a further means for removing contaminants from
the bilge water.
Although the present invention is not limited by any particular
theory of operation, it is believed that providing a bilge water
filter that may be externally attached to the outer surface of a
hull will greatly facilitate the process of draining bilge water
from the bilge of a boat or ship. This is because it is much simpler
to drain bilge water from the outside of the boat as opposed to
using draining apparatus inside the relatively cramped bilge area
of a boat. Another benefit of the present invention is that boat
operators will be much more likely to filter the bilge water that
they drain from their boats, thereby minimizing the likelihood that
boat operators will drain contaminated bilge water directly onto
the ground in violation of the above-mentioned Clean Water Act.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method
for draining bilge water from a bilge water discharge outlet of
a vessel includes providing a bilge water filter having an inlet
and an outlet, the bilge water filter having a filter media adapted
to absorb contaminants present in the bilge water while allowing
substantially contaminant-free bilge water to be discharged from
the outlet of the bilge water filter. The method also includes opening
the bilge water discharge outlet from the vessel, such as by removing
a plug closing the bilge water discharge outlet, and externally
mounting the bilge water filter to the outer surface of a hull of
the vessel so that the inlet of the bilge water filter is in substantial
alignment with the discharge outlet of the vessel. The inlet is
preferably inserted into the bilge water discharge outlet to commence
draining the bilge water from the hull. The method also preferably
includes draining the bilge water through the discharge outlet of
the vessel and through the bilge water filter, the bilge water filter
capturing the contaminants in the bilge water while allowing the
contaminant-free portion of the bilge water to be discharged through
the outlet of the bilge water filter. In preferred embodiments,
the step of securing the inlet of the bilge water filter to the
discharge outlet of the vessel may include screwing the inlet tube
into the bilge water discharge outlet, or snap-fitting the inlet
tube in the bilge water discharge outlet.
These and other preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described in more detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a hull of a boat having
bilge water collected in the hull.
FIG. 2 shows a bilge water filter used to drain bilge water collected
in the hull shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with certain preferred
embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a bilge water filter, in
accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a bilge water filter, in
accordance with further preferred embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a boat 20 including a hull 22 having an interior surface
24 and an exterior surface 26. The hull 22 includes a low point
28 commonly referred to as the bilge, in which bilge water 30 frequently
collects. This bilge water must be periodically removed from the
hull to avoid problems such as dampness and warping of the hull.
In order to remove the bilge water 30 the hull 22 is provided with
a bilge water discharge outlet 32. The outlet 32 is normally closed
by a plug 34 that may be removed when an operator desires to drain
the bilge water 30 from the hull 22.
In certain preferred embodiments, in order to drain bilge water
30 from the lower portion 28 of hull 22 boat 20 is removed from
water and placed on land. This is commonly called dry-docking a
boat. Plug 34 may than be removed for discharging bilge water through
bilge water discharge outlet 32.
Referring to FIG. 2 in accordance with one preferred embodiment
of the present invention, after bilge plug 34 is removed, a bilge
water filter 36 may be externally secured to hull 22 and in bilge
water discharge outlet 32. Bilge water filter 36 preferably includes
a filter casing 38 having a first end 40 a second end 42 and at
least one sidewall 44 extending between the first and second ends
40 42. Bilge filter 36 includes an inlet 46 extending through first
end 40 of casing 38 and an outlet 48 extending through second end
42 of casing 38. Bilge water filter 36 also desirably includes a
filter media (not shown) disposed in casing 38 between inlet 46
and outlet 48. As will be described in more detail below, the filter
media is adapted to absorb any contaminates present in contaminated
bilge water 30 such as oil and gasoline, while allowing substantially
contaminant-free bilge water to be discharged from outlet 48. Unlike
prior art bilge water filtering systems wherein the filter is positioned
"in-line" between a bilge pump and the bilge water discharge
outlet in the hull, the present invention provides a more simplified
and cost-effective design whereby the bilge water filter may be
externally attached to boat 20 from outside hull 22. In other words,
the bilge water filter of the present invention is attached to the
boat from the outside of the hull 22 preferably after the boat
has been removed from the water for storage or maintenance. Thus,
the present invention greatly facilitates the process of draining
bilge water 30 from hull 22 of a boat, particularly for the small-time
boat operator. Moreover, the externally mounted bilge water filter
of the present invention greatly simplifies the process for draining
bilge water from a boat, thereby improving the chance that boaters
will fully comply with all the provisions of the Clean Water Act.
Referring to FIG. 3 in accordance with certain preferred embodiments
of the present invention, a bilge water filter 136 for draining
bilge water 130 from a hull 122 of a vessel includes casing 138
having first end 140 second end 142 remote from first end 140 and
cylindrical sidewall 144 extending between first end 140 and substantially
second end 142. Bilge water filter 136 includes inlet 146 extending
through the first end 140 of casing 138 and outlet 148 extending
through the second end 142 of casing 138. In one preferred embodiment,
inlet 146 is defined by neck 150 attached to the first end 140 of
casing 138. Neck 150 preferably has external threads 152 adapted
for screwing neck 150 into bilge water discharge outlet 132 of hull
122. As a result, bilge filter 136 may be easily mounted to the
external surface of hull 122 for draining bilge water 130.
Bilge water filter 136 includes filter media 154 disposed inside
casing 138 between inlet 146 and outlet 148. Filter media 154 is
preferably adapted to absorb any contaminates present in the bilge
water 130 including but not limited to petroleum-based products,
gasoline, oil, transmission and steering fluid, paints and cleaning
solutions. In certain preferred embodiments, filter media 154 is
a fibrous material. Bilge water filter 136 also includes a coarse
material 156 such as gravel or charcoal that allows the contaminant-free
portion of the bilge water 130 to pass therethrough. The coarse
material 156 preferably controls the flow rate of the bilge water
through the filter 136.
In the particular preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3 filter
media 154 includes a series of filter media pads that are spaced
apart from one another. The filter media pads preferably extend
in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of casing 138.
The coarse material 156 is preferably packed around the filter media
154 to form a continuous, circuitous path between the inlet 146
and the outlet 148 of casing. In other words, coarse material 156
includes legs 156A-156F extending between filter media pads 154.
In operation, a plug (not shown) covering bilge water discharge
outlet 132 is removed so that bilge water 130 may flow through the
outlet 132. Simultaneously, the externally threaded neck 150 connected
to first end 140 of filter is screwed into discharge outlet 132.
After the bilge water 130 flows into the inlet, bilge water 130
passes through the legs 156A-156F of the coarse material 156. As
the bilge water passes by the filter media pads, filter media 154
absorbs the petroleum-based products or other contaminates present
in the bilge water. However, because filter media 154 is hydrophobic,
it does not absorb contaminant-free portion of the bilge water,
but allows this substantially pure water to pass therethrough without
being absorbed. As a result, the bilge water 130 may be drained
from hull 122 with the contaminants in bilge water 130 being absorbed
by filter media 154 and the contaminant-free bilge water being discharged
from outlet 148.
Referring to FIG. 4 in accordance with another preferred embodiment
of the present invention, a bilge water filter 236 includes a filter
casing 238 having first end 240 and second end 242 remote therefrom.
Filter casing 238 includes a substantially cylindrical sidewall
244 extending between first and second ends 240 242. Bilge water
filter 236 has an inlet 246 extending through first end 240 of casing
238 and an outlet 248 extending through second end 242 of casing
238. The inlet 246 preferably comprises a hollow tube 250 integrally
connected to first end 240. Hollow tube 250 preferably includes
external threads 252 so that bilge water 236 may be screwed into
discharge outlet 232 in hull 222. Hollow tube 250 desirably includes
a plurality of peripheral openings 260 extending therethrough and
opening 261 at the second end of tube 250.
Bilge water filter 236 also desirably includes a filter media 254
disposed inside casing 238. In the particular preferred embodiment
shown in FIG. 4 filter media includes first filter media pad 254A
that substantially surrounds inlet tube 250 and second filter media
pad 254B that is in substantial axial alignment between inlet tube
250 and outlet tube 262. Bilge water filter 236 also includes coarse
material 256 such as gravel or charcoal, packed inside casing 238.
Coarse material 256 preferably occupies the area within casing 238
that is not occupied by filter media 254. As described above, coarse
material 256 controls the flow of bilge water 230 between inlet
246 and outlet 248.
In operation, inlet tube 250 is screwed into discharge outlet 232
of hull 222. Bilge water 230 flows into inlet tube 250 and passes
through peripheral openings 260 and opening 261 at second end of
tube 250. Bilge water 230 then flows through coarse media 256 until
it contacts filter media 254. Filter media 254 is hydrophobic, allowing
the contaminant-free portion of bilge water to pass therethrough
while absorbing the contaminants present in the bilge water 230
such as oil, gas or other petroleum-based products. Filter media
pad 254B is desirably placed between inlet tube 250 and outlet tube
262 to provide an additional means for removing contaminants from
bilge water 230 as the bilge water passes between inlet 246 and
outlet 248. After passing through casing 238 contaminant-free bilge
water is discharged through outlet 248 with the contaminants in
bilge water 230 being absorbed by filter media 254.
Although the invention herein has been described with reference
to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments
are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the
present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous
modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that
other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
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