Patent Application
20150267657
This patent disclosure relates generally to a closure system and, more particularly, to a quick twist disconnect closure for a filter housing.
Liquid filter drains are known for draining filter housings of accumulated contaminants. In internal combustion engines, for example, filters are used to remove contaminants from oil, fuel, hydraulic fluids and other such fluids. In a particular example, a fuel line filter is used to separate out water and debris.
In order to properly maintain the engine or power source, the various filters are periodically checked and replaced as the filter medium becomes saturated with debris. Conventional filters require tools such as one or a pair of wrenches to disassemble the filter housing from the fluid line or mounting. Such tools may be easily lost or stolen from job sites and must also be maintained.
US Publication No. 2007/0221561A1 (hereinafter “the '561 publication”), entitled “Liquid Filtration System,” purports to describe a tool-less system for checking and replacing a filter. However, the end cap of the pressure vessel that houses the filter of the '561 publication does not provide even support about the perimeter of the end cap. In addition, the end cap must be turned about 90° in order to assemble or disassemble the pressure vessel. While this may be acceptable in the open pitcher envisioned by the authors of the '561 publication, it may be less desirous in the power source compartment of a large earthmoving machine or other such vehicle or device.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved closure system to address the problems described above and/or problems posed by other conventional approaches.
The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present disclosure, wherein aspects of an improved liquid filter drain are provided.
In one aspect, the disclosure describes a fitting includes a lid and a receiver. The lid includes a circular body, a handle, an annular lid groove, and an annular spring. The circular body is defined by a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter. The handle is disposed upon the first surface and is configured to receive torque and linear force and translate the torque and linear force to the circular body. The annular lid groove is disposed about the perimeter. The annular spring has a spring body, a first catch disposed at a first end of the spring body, and a second catch disposed at a second end of the spring body. The spring body is configured to mate with the annular lid groove. The spring body is configured to fully reside within the annular lid groove in response to the first catch being drawn towards the second catch. The spring body is configured to partially extend annularly outwardly from the annular lid groove in response to the first catch and the second catch being allowed to return to a biased position. The receiver includes a throat and a throat groove. The throat is defined by a cylindrical surface configured to mate with the perimeter of the circular body. The throat groove is disposed about the throat. The throat groove is configured to receive the extended portion of the spring body partially extending from the annular lid groove. The lid is captured in the receiver in response to the spring body mating with the throat groove.
In another aspect, the disclosure describes a filter cartridge assembly to filter a fluid. The filter cartridge assembly includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a filter medium disposed in the housing between the inlet and the outlet and a fitting. The fitting includes a lid and a receiver. The lid includes a circular body, a handle, an annular lid groove, and an annular spring. The circular body is defined by a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter. The handle is disposed upon the first surface and is configured to receive torque and linear force and translate the torque and linear force to the circular body. The annular lid groove is disposed about the perimeter. The annular spring has a spring body, a first catch disposed at a first end of the spring body, and a second catch disposed at a second end of the spring body. The spring body is configured to mate with the annular lid groove. The spring body is configured to fully reside within the annular lid groove in response to the first catch being drawn towards the second catch. The spring body is configured to partially extend annularly outwardly from the annular lid groove in response to the first catch and the second catch being allowed to return to a biased position. The receiver includes a throat and a throat groove. The throat is defined by a cylindrical surface configured to mate with the perimeter of the circular body. The throat groove is disposed about the throat. The throat groove is configured to receive the extended portion of the spring body partially extending from the annular lid groove. The lid is captured in the receiver in response to the spring body mating with the throat groove.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure describes a machine having a filter cartridge assembly to filter a fluid. The filter cartridge assembly includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a filter medium disposed in the housing between the inlet and the outlet and a fitting. The fitting includes a lid and a receiver. The lid includes a circular body, a handle, an annular lid groove, and an annular spring. The circular body is defined by a first surface, a second surface, and a perimeter. The handle is disposed upon the first surface and is configured to receive torque and linear force and translate the torque and linear force to the circular body. The annular lid groove is disposed about the perimeter. The annular spring has a spring body, a first catch disposed at a first end of the spring body, and a second catch disposed at a second end of the spring body. The spring body is configured to mate with the annular lid groove. The spring body is configured to fully reside within the annular lid groove in response to the first catch being drawn towards the second catch. The spring body is configured to partially extend annularly outwardly from the annular lid groove in response to the first catch and the second catch being allowed to return to a biased position. The receiver includes a throat and a throat groove. The throat is defined by a cylindrical surface configured to mate with the perimeter of the circular body. The throat groove is disposed about the throat. The throat groove is configured to receive the extended portion of the spring body partially extending from the annular lid groove. The lid is captured in the receiver in response to the spring body mating with the throat groove.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain aspects of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one example in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosed device and method is capable of aspects in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the various aspects. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the various aspects.
In a particular example, the power source 18 includes an engine configured to combust a fuel such as diesel and this fuel is filtered at a filter cartridge assembly 20. As fuel passes through the filter cartridge assembly 20, contaminants such as water, debris, and the like are filtered out and collect in the filter cartridge assembly 20. Periodically, the filter cartridge assembly 20 is inspected to determine if a filter medium (described further herein) disposed within the filter cartridge assembly 20 should be replaced. For example, if sufficient debris has collected on the filter medium, the filter medium may be replaced. As described herein, it is an advantage of embodiments of the filter cartridge assembly 20 that the filter cartridge assembly 20 is easier and less time consuming to inspect and replace the filter medium than conventional filter cartridges. It is another advantage of embodiments of the filter cartridge assembly 20 that the filter medium may be inspected and replace without directly contacting the filter medium. These and other advantages are described herein. Of note, while particular example is made throughout of filtering fuel, the various embodiments are not limited to filtering fuel, but rather, include any suitable filtering application. Examples of suitable filtering applications include hydraulic, lubricant, air, or other such filtration systems.
The lid 22 includes a circular body 36 and a handle 38 disposed on the circular body 36. The handle 38 is configured to receive torque and linear force and translate the torque and linear force to the circular body 36. For example, a user or technician may grasp the handle 38, turn the handle 38 relative to the housing 30, and draw the lid 22 from the housing 30 in response to a fitting 40 being released. While the various elements of the fitting 40 are further described herein, a few elements that are visible in
The top cap 68 covers the top end of the filter media 64 to reduce or prevent a flow of fluid from bypassing the filter media 64. The top cap 68 includes a retention clip 74 that is configured to engage a filter mounting post 76. The filter mounting post 76 extends down from the lid 22. In a particular example, the filter mounting post 76 extends axially from the center of the lid 22. As described herein, the retention clip 74 and filter mounting post 76 may be permanently or releaseably affixed to one another and, in this manner, the handle 38 provides the user with the ability to remove the filter media 64 without directly coming into contact with the filter media 64. The top cap also includes a sloping face 78. This sloping face 78 increases the volume available for an incoming flow of fluid to disperse about the filter media 64. In this manner, flow velocity can be maintained about the filter media 64.
The bottom cap 70 covers the bottom end of the filter media 64 in a manner similar to the top cap 68. The adapter 62 is configured to provide a conduit to convey a flow of the filtered fluid from the filter media 64 to the fuel outlet 34. In a particular example, the adapter 62 includes a filter seal 80 configured to reduce or prevent intermixing of filtered fluid with unfiltered fluid. In a particular example, the filter seal 80 includes an O-ring to form a seal between the adapter 62 and the bottom cap 70. The adapter 62 may also include a housing seal 82 configured to reduce or prevent leakage from the housing 30. In a particular example, the housing seal 82 includes an O-ring to form a seal between the adapter 62 and the housing 30.
Also shown in
The lid 22 further includes a lid seal 96 disposed about the perimeter of the lid 22. As shown in
Also shown in
Returning to
Now also referring to
The present disclosure may be applicable to any machine including a fluid filter cartridge assembly. Aspects of the disclosed filter cartridge assembly may promote ease of use, greater ability to inspect and replace filters, operational flexibility, and performance of fluid filter housing assemblies in general and fuel systems in particular.
Applicants discovered that a conventional filter housing fitting did not provide sufficient ease of use to encourage proper inspection and replacement of filter cartridges. Applicants further discovered that conventional filter housings required tools to tighten fitting and that a tool-less inspection and replacement of filter cassettes reduced the time and expense of inspecting and replacing filter cartridges. Applicants further yet discovered that the filter cassettes of conventional filter housings were difficult to remove without directly handling the filter cassette.
According to an aspect of the disclosure shown in
According to an aspect of the disclosure shown in
Accordingly, aspects of the disclosure enable ease of use to encourage proper inspection and replacement of filter cartridges, a tool-less inspection and replacement of filter cassettes reduced the time and expense of inspecting and replacing filter cartridges, replacement of filter cassettes without direct contact with the filter cassette, operational flexibility, and performance of fluid filter housing assemblies in general and fuel systems in particular.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.
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.
Throughout the disclosure, like reference numbers refer to similar elements herein, unless otherwise specified. The many features and advantages of the various aspects are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages that fall within the true spirit and scope of the aspects. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the aspects to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the various aspects.
