Patent Application
20080053886
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
As illustrated in
Referring to
The standpipe 30 includes and/or forms a valve 44 that is in an open position (see
The closure member 50 is movable between a first position wherein the valve 44 is closed (
The closure member 50 sealingly engages a first o-ring 58 axially positioned between the ports 56 and the distal end 46 of the standpipe 30 forming a first seal between the closure member 50 and the standpipe 30. A free end 62 of the closure member 50 engages the first o-ring 58. An annular groove in the outer surface 60 of the standpipe 30 retains the first o-ring 58. The opposite end 66 of the closure member 50 sealing engages a second o-ring 64 axially positioned between the plurality of openings 56 and the base portion 34 forming a second seal between the closure member 50 and the standpipe 30. The second o-ring 64 seats in a second annular groove in the outer surface 60 of the standpipe 30. In the closed configuration, with the closure member 50 engaging the first and second o-rings 58, 64 on opposite sides of the openings 56, the openings 56 are completely sealed and no fluid may pass there through. As such, the central cavity 32 of the standpipe 30 is not in fluid communication with the filter element 10.
The locking member 52 maintains the axial position of the closure member 50 in the closed position such that the overall valve 44 remains in sealing engagement with the first and second o-rings 58, 64. The locking member 52 generally circumscribes the standpipe 30 and includes a plurality of resilient locking prongs 70 that extend axially toward the distal end 46 of the standpipe 30 and radially inward. The distal ends 72 of the locking prongs 70 engage an annular locking channel 74 formed in the outer surface 60 of the standpipe 30 in the closed position. The engagement between the distal ends 72 and the standpipe 30 prevents the locking member 52 from moving axially along the standpipe 30. Consequently, the closure member 50 is similarly prevented from moving axially along the standpipe 30 toward the base portion 34 when the locking member 52 engages the standpipe 30.
To prevent axial movement along the standpipe 30 in the opposite axial direction, toward distal end 46, the first o-ring 58 is sized to prevent the closure member 50 from sliding past the first o-ring 58. Conversely, to allow the closure member 50 to move axially from the closed position to the open position, the second o-ring 64 is sized sufficiently small that the closure member 50 may slide over the second o-ring 64 when a sufficient axial force is applied thereto, while maintaining a radial seal therebetween. A coil spring 78 positioned between the base portion 34 and the locking member 52 biases the locking member 52 and closure member 50 toward the closed position.
The filter element 10, described with reference to
Bottom and top end caps 88, 90 are sealingly affixed to the opposing ends 84, 86 of the filter media 82, respectively. The end caps 88, 90 include inner annular walls 94, 96 spaced apart from outer annular walls 98, 100, respectively. The inner and outer annular walls 94, 98 of the bottom end cap 88 are interconnected by a first annular disc portions 102, all of which combine to form an annular well 106. Similarly, the inner and outer annular walls 96, 100 of the top end cap 90 are interconnected by an annular disc portion 104, all of which combine to form an annular well 108. The annular wells 106, 108 receive the opposing ends 84, 86 of the filter media 82, respectively. The annular wells 106, 108 function to hold plastisol 109 or other sealing adhesive to sealingly fix the filter media ends 84, 86 to the end caps 88, 90 by potting, which is generally known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The plastisol 109 seals the filter media ends 84, 86 to the end caps 88, 90 to prevent fluid from short circuiting the filter media 82. Although the filter element 10 is illustrated as having end caps 88, 90 including annular wells 106, 108, for holding plastisol 109, the filter element 10 may be formed without the outer annular wells 98, 100 and corresponding wells 106, 108. In such a configuration, the filter ends 84, 86 of the filter media 82 may be sealingly embedded in an interior side of disc portions 102, 104. For example, plastic material end caps can me melted and the filter media embedded directly into the plastic material of the end caps.
The filter element 10 further includes a tubular support member 112 positioned within the central cavity 114 of the filter media 82. The support member 112 extends the axial length of the filter media 82 from the first end 84 to the second end 86. Furthermore, the support member 112 is positioned radially between the inner periphery of the filter media 82 and the radially outer surface of the inner annular walls 94, 96 (of end caps 88, 90). In the illustrated embodiment, the plastisol 109 in the first annular well 106 sealingly bonds the first end 116 of the tubular support member 112 within the first annular well 106. Similarly, the plastisol 109 in the second annular well 108 sealingly bonds the second end 118 of the tubular support member 112 in the second annular well 108. As illustrated, the tubular support member 112 is formed from molded plastic. However, the tubular support member 112 could be manufactured from other materials.
As fluid must pass through the filter media 82 to be cleaned of impurities, the tubular support member 112 that extends the length of the filter media 82 is permeable to the fluid being filtered. In the illustrated embodiment, the tubular support member 112 includes a plurality of through passages 124 in the form of cutouts in the sidewall of the tubular support member 112. The through passages 124 allow the fluid to pass from the exterior of the filter element 10 the interior 114 of the filter element 10.
As indicate previously, prior to installing a proper filter element onto the standpipe 30 (see
To unlock the valve 44, the filter element 10 includes at least one key 128 for axially actuating the locking member 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter element 10 includes a plurality of keys 128. The first inner annular wall 94 of the first end cap 88 includes the plurality of keys 128 (however the wall of the unitary support member may alternatively provide the keys). As further illustrated in
Referring to
The filter element 10, and more particularly the tubular support member 112, includes a radially inward projecting annular sealing platform 160 that includes a resilient sealing lip 162 that provides an aperture. The aperture receives a portion of the standpipe 30 and closure member 50. The sealing lip 162 resiliently engages the outer surface 166 of the closure member 50, as the filter element 10 is inserted onto the standpipe 30 to form a seal. As such, the sealing platform 160, and more particularly the sealing lip 162, extend radially inward beyond the first inner annular wall 94 and its keys 128. This configuration, allows the keys 128 to slide past the closure member 50 while the sealing lip 162 contacts the outer surface 166 of the closure member 50. The sealing platform 160 is positioned axially between the free end of the first inner annular wall 94 and the second end cap 90. The sealing lip 162 may be unitarily formed in the sealing platform 160. To prevent fluid from bypassing the seal, the sealing platform 160 may be a solid or continuous, except for the aperture provided by the sealing lip 162. In an embodiment, the sealing platform 160 abuts with the axial free end of the first inner annular wall 94.
The keys 128 may be evenly annularly spaced apart or pairs of adjacent keys 128 may have varying spacing. The spacing of the keys 128 is coordinated with the spacing required by the closure member 50. Further, the filter element 10 may include one key or multiple keys 128 and no specific number of keys is required.
As illustrated, the sealing lip 162 may be configured to have a radius sized small enough that at some axial position relative to the closure member 50, the sealing lip 162 sufficiently engages the outer surface 166 of the closure member 50 to axially actuate the closure member 50 towards the base portion 34 such that end 62 of the closure member 50 separates from the first o-ring 58 breaking the seal therebetween. As the filter element 10 continues to be installed over the standpipe 30 until the first end cap 88 abuts the abutment shoulders 38 of the base portion 34, the filter element 10 axially actuates the closure member 50 to open the valve 44. As the valve 44 opens, the interior 114 of the filter media 82 becomes fluidly communicated with the interior cavity 32 of the standpipe 30 through ports 56 such that fluid flowing through the filter media 82 may flow from the interior 114 of the filter element 10 and into the standpipe 30.
In an alternative embodiment, and as illustrated in
The second end cap 90 includes a recessed portion positioned between and partially defined by the second inner annular wall 96 and extends axially into the central cavity 114 of the filter media 82. A spring (not shown) or portion of the filter housing (not shown) may be received in the recessed portion 180 when the filter element 10 is fully installed in the standpipe 30. The spring or portion of the filter housing can apply an axial load to the filter element 10 to maintain the axial position of the filter element 10 and oppose the opposite axial load being applied by coil spring 78.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
