(19)

(11)

EP 1 485 183 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 22.01.2004 (43) Date of publication: 15.12.2004 Bulletin 2004/51 (21) Application number: 03720324.7 (22) Date of filing: 07.03.2003

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B01D 39/16 (86) International application number: PCT/EP2003/002375 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/076046 (18.09.2003 Gazette 2003/38)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK (30) Priority: 09.03.2002 GB 0205574 (71) Applicant: Voith Fabrics Heidenheim GmbH & Co.KG 89522 Heidenheim (DE)	(72) Inventors: CROOK, Robert, L. Wilson, NC 27485 (US) ALDRICH, William, Daniel Wilson, NC 27893 (US) PATEL, Sanjay Summerville, SC 29483 (US)