1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid filters and, more specifically, to a fluid filter having a modular housing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fluid filters have many manufacturing and processing applications. For example, fluid filters are often used in chemical applications, water applications, paints and coatings applications, plastics and resin applications, electronics and semiconductor applications, utilities and power generation applications, food and beverage applications and pharmaceutical applications.
Conventional fluid filters include a filter housing which receives a removable filter element which is used to trap and remove particulates and other matter in the fluid. The filter elements typically take the form of either a filter cartridge or a filter bag. The individual circumstances of each application will determine the necessary capacity of the fluid filter and conventional fluid filters are manufactured in several standard sizes to meet the differing needs of the end user. Fluid filter housings are typically manufactured to hold a particular standard sized filter element.
In the manufacture of fluid filter housings, there may be some common filter housing parts that are used in the manufacture of more than one size of filter housing, however, there are typically some housing components that define the volume of the filter housing in which the filter element is placed and which are unique for each individual size of filter housing.
Although known fluid filters and methods of manufacture are effective, an improved fluid filter which can be more cost effectively manufactured is desirable.
The present invention provides fluid filter having a modular housing that utilizes common parts to manufacture filter housings having different capacities.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a method of manufacturing a fluid filter. The method includes providing an inlet housing section, providing an outlet housing section and providing a plurality of modular housing sections having a common configuration. The method also includes identifying a plurality of differently sized filter elements wherein a filter housing for each of the differently sized filter elements can be assembled by securing a predetermined number of the modular housing sections between the inlet housing section and the outlet housing section, and wherein the identified plurality of filter elements correspond to at least two different predetermined numbers of modular housing sections. One of the differently sized filter elements is selected and a filter housing is assembled for the selected filter element by securing the predetermined number of the modular housing sections corresponding to the selected filter element between the inlet housing section and the outlet housing section.
The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a fluid filter assembly that includes a filter element selected from one of a plurality of differently sized filter elements and a filter housing. The filter housing includes an inlet housing section, an outlet housing section and a selected number of modular housing sections disposed between the inlet housing section and the outlet housing section. The modular housing sections communicate fluid from the inlet housing section to the outlet housing section with each of the modular housing sections having a common configuration. The number of modular housing sections differs for differently sized filter elements and the selected number of modular housing sections disposed between the inlet housing section and the outlet housing section is determined by the selection of the filter element.
The invention comprises, in yet another form thereof, a fluid filter assembly system that includes a plurality of differently sized filter elements, an inlet housing section, an outlet housing section and a plurality of modular housing sections wherein each of the modular housing sections have a common configuration. A plurality of fluid filter housings defining a plurality of differently sized filter cavities are manufacturable from the inlet housing section, the outlet housing section and the plurality of modular housing sections by securing alternative quantities of the modular housing sections between the inlet housing section and the outlet housing section. A respective one of the plurality of differently sized filter cavities is sized to receive each of the differently sized filter elements.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a fluid filter system that provides for the efficient manufacture of fluid filters having different sizes using a minimal number of different parts.
The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, the embodiment disclosed below is not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise form disclosed.
A modular fluid filter assembly 20 in accordance with the present invention is shown in
An individual modular housing section 30 is shown in
Modular housing sections 30 are joined end-to-end and co-axially. In other words, ends 38 of adjacent housing sections 30 are abutted together during assembly of filter housing 22. The ends 38 of adjacent housing sections 30 form a fluid tight seal therebetween and the abutted ends 38 may be joined by welding. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, housing sections 30 are formed of polypropylene with 20% glass fiber fill and adjacent housing sections 30 are welded together by interposing a hot plate between the two ends 38 to be joined and, after the ends 38 have been sufficiently heated, removing the plate and biasing the two ends 38 together so that they are fused together as they cool. Ends 38 may also be joined together by spin welding or any other suitable method for forming a fluid tight joint.
As described above, opposing ends 38 of each modular housing section 30 have the same configuration. Thus, regardless of the number of modular housing sections 30 located between the inlet housing section 26 and the outlet housing section 28, the joined housing sections 30 will have two opposing ends 38 that can be respectively joined to inlet housing section 26 and outlet housing section 28. Inlet and outlet housing sections 26, 28 each have an assembly interface 42 that takes the form of a cylindrical wall defining an opening 44. Assembly interfaces 42 have the same configuration as ends 38 and inlet and outlet housing sections 26, 28. Inlet and outlet sections 26, 28 are also formed of polypropylene with 20% glass fiber fill. Consequently, the assembly interfaces 42 of inlet and outlet sections 26, 28 can be joined to an end 38 of a modular housing section 30 in the same manner as ends 38 of separate modular housing sections 30 are joined together.
Inlet housing section 26 of assembly 20 is shown in
A V-shaped gasket 66 (
Filter element 24 is secured by engagement with inlet housing section 26 near assembly interface 42. Filter element 24 has a mounting ring 72 that is removably mounted to inlet housing section 26 in a snap fit engagement. Ring 72 defines a mounting interface that includes an outer radially extending flange 74 and a generally cylindrical section 76 having an outwardly extending annular rib 78 which may be segmented. Ring 72 also includes a second cylindrical mounting section 80 having a smaller diameter. Filter bag 82 is secured to mounting section 80. In the illustrated embodiment, ring 72 is formed of polypropylene. Other materials, however, such as nylon, polyester or steel may also be used to form the mounting ring of a bag-type filter element.
Filter bag 82 is a conventional non-woven felt filter bag. Such filter bags may be formed from fibers of a variety of different materials such as polyester, polypropylene, nylon, nomex, TeflonĀ® or other suitable material as is well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Filter bag 82 has an open end that is attached to mounting section 80 of ring 72 by ultrasonic welds 84. Stitching or other suitable means may alternatively or additionally be employed to attach bag 82 to ring 72. Bag-type filter elements suitable for use with the present invention are commercially available from Filter Specialists, Inc. having a place of business in Michigan City, Ind. For purposes of clarity, filter bag 82 is not shown in
When installing filter element 24 in filter housing 22, filter bag 80 is inserted through access opening 46 and opening 44 into the interior volume 40 of modular housing sections 30 until mounting ring 72 engages inlet housing section 26 adjacent opening 44 to secure filter element 24 within assembly 20. The snap-fit securement of mounting ring 72 is best seen in
Ring 72 may also be provided with internal handles (not shown) that extend generally diametrically across ring 72 to allow ring 72 to be more easily flexed radially inwardly during insertion and removal of ring 72. Such handles are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,167 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
A reticulated filter basket 32 may optionally be employed with the present invention when using a bag-type filter element. Filter basket 32 has a length that corresponds to the length of the filter bag and is used to prevent the filter bag from engaging the interior surface of the filter housing during filtering operations. Filter basket 32 is positioned within the filter volume defined by modular housing sections 30 and rests upon ribs 90 located within outlet housing section 28. Filter basket 32 has a generally perforated structure defining fluid openings 92 over the majority of its surface area as best seen in
During filtering operations, fluid enters filter assembly 20 through inlet 48 and then passes through ring 72 and opening 44 and into filter bag 82. The fluid then passes through bag 82. As the fluid passes through bag 82, the fluid is filtered and particulates removed from the fluid. The filtered fluid then passes through openings 92 in filter basket 32. The filtered fluid flows between filter basket 32 and the interior surface of filter housing 22 towards threaded outlet opening 96 in outlet housing section 28 where it exits filter assembly 20.
Outlet housing section 28 is shown in
A bag-type filter element 24 is illustrated in
As described above, modular housing sections 30 each have the same configuration and are coaxially securable to thereby define a filter cavity 40 having a length that varies depending upon the number of modular housing sections 30 joined together. Thus, when it is desired to manufacture a fluid filter that employs a filter element with a bag having a length 82a, the filter housing is constructed using only a single modular housing section 30 as depicted in
The present invention thereby facilitates the efficient manufacture of filter housings for a variety of differently sized filter elements. Each of the filter housings will employ an inlet housing section 26, in which each of the different filter elements can be removably mounted, an outlet housing section 28, and one or more modular housing sections 30. The number of modular housing sections being determined by the size of the filter element with which the filter housing is intended to be used.
While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles.