Claire Cox (asker) May 14, 2014:

Ha! Turns out the filter in question is the one in the reference document I posted. The client has just referred me to the same link. I'm inclined to just describe it as a VHE dust, bacteria and aerosol filter unless anyone has any better ideas. Can't find an English website for this particular manufacturer.

Anca Florescu-Mitchell May 13, 2014:

If this is on a vehicle it could be a snorkling filter. You see this type of arrangement sometimes on landrover exhausts which allows them to go through deep water.

Claire Cox (asker) May 12, 2014:

Sorry for the silence... Sorry, folks and thanks for your suggestions - it's been a busy evening. The reference doc isn't actually from my project, but was one of the few instances other than my file that I could find this word in use. The only further context I can give you (and apologies for not stating this before, but I'm working in a CAT tool and the document itself is an A3 format - I was unable to get a meaningful printout, so it's been hard to get an overview of what's going on), is that this filter is part of one of the glove box assemblies for a remote operated vehicle in said sludge recovery & treatment plant. I think I'll have to refer it back to the client for clarification. They've been very helpful with other queries from the accompanying specification (which didn't go into this level of detail!), so hopefully I'll be able to get a better idea - I'll report back if I do. I just thought it was worth checking whether anyone had come across anything similar before... Thanks again.

merlrennes May 12, 2014:

But they could use it for sludge recovery then filtering coffee...I think I am getting grossed out..

philgoddard May 12, 2014:

I said "Claire's reference", not "Claire". And just because this filter is used in a sludge recovery plant doesn't mean it's used for sludge recovery. They might use coffee filters too...

merlrennes May 12, 2014:

Confused Claire said it was for a sludge recovery & treatment plant. Not dust, bacteria and aerosols!

philgoddard May 12, 2014:

Claire's reference says it filters dust, bacteria and aerosols, so I'm not sure the "submerged" idea works.
This patent includes one. It's a device for isolating a contaminated working environment:
http://www.google.com/patents/EP1486265A1?cl=fr