1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid filtering systems and, more specifically, to fluid filtering systems having an interior filter element and which may include modular housing.
2. Description of the Background of the Invention
Fluid filtering systems have many manufacturing and processing applications. Conventional fluid filters typically utilize a filter element that takes the form of a filter cartridge or a filter bag. Although known filtering systems are effective, it would be useful to provide a cost-effective approach to prevent accidental rupture of a fluid filtering system, and to provide indicators that a fluid filtering system is in a proper state to allow it to filter fluids.
It is therefore becoming increasingly necessary to provide fluid filter systems which include multiple safety features for detecting an improperly seated lid portion in connecting to a housing portion of a fluid filtering system.
The present invention is directed to an improved fluid filtering system useful in filtering fluids of various types.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a fluid filter assembly is provided with a housing portion and a lid portion to filter fluid. The housing portion includes an access opening through which a filter element is inserted. The lid portion is utilized to cover the access opening secure itself to the housing portion. The housing portion also includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening through which fluid is allowed to pass when the fluid filtering system is operational.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the housing portion further includes a plurality of vent bores and vent gaskets which are covered by cam locking portions of the lid portion when the lid portion and the housing portion are secured together. The vent bores and vent gaskets serve to indicate a fluid-tight seal between the housing portion and the lid portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, the lid portion includes a circumferential gasket which seats against an inner radial surface of an upper lip of the housing portion when the lid portion and the housing portion are secured together. The circumferential gasket serves to indicate a fluid-tight seal between the inside of the housing portion and an inner cylindrical lip of the lid portion
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a safety pin included in the lid portion designed to give a visual indication of an unseated lid portion and to physically secure the lid portion from being removed accidentally from the housing portion. The safety pin includes an internal spring and a plunger which is seated against a cam locking portion of the housing portion when the lid portion is correctly seated thereon; the plunger must be suitably raised from its contact with the cam locking portion for the lid portion to be unseated from the housing portion successfully.
The various features of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description of the illustrative embodiments thereof, to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent same or similar items.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which:
The present invention generally discloses an improved fluid filtering system in the form of a filter assembly 10, as shown in
The housing portion 12 may be manufactured from any suitable material, including 316 stainless steel, 304 stainless steel, carbon steel, or polypropylene. In the illustrated embodiment, polypropylene with a 20% glass fill is used. As is known in the art, various internal coatings may be employed for use with the housing portion 12 depending upon the material used to form the housing portions 12, the filter assembly 10, and the application for which the fluid filtering system is to be used.
As shown in
A vertically extending cylindrical lip 30 can also be seen in
The fluid filter assembly 10 also includes a safety pin 36 fitted to the lid portion 14. The safety pin 36 includes a portion extending vertically up through a hole in the lid portion 14 and a plunger 40 extending vertically down through a hole in the lid portion 14 to contact the housing portion 12 at the camming interface. A spring 38 is included internally to the safety pin 36 to provide a mechanism by which the plunger 40 may secure the lid portion 14 to the housing portion 12. Preferably, as shown in
As seen in
Prior to use of the fluid filter assembly 10, a filter element must be installed in the housing portion 12 through the access opening 22. Initially, the lid portion 14 is removed, if not already. A filter element is then longitudinally inserted in the access opening 22, as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/972,976 and 10/972,978.
The lid portion 14 is then positioned over the housing portion 12, as shown in
To secure the lid portion 14 to the housing portion 12, the lid handles 16 are used to twist the lid portion 14 in a clockwise direction, as shown in the illustrated embodiment of
When the cam locking members 28 of the lid portion 14 have completed their transit under the cam locking portions 24 of the housing portion 12, and are seated against the stops 26, the plunger 40 of the safety pin 36 snaps down, as the spring 38 is allowed to extend once again, the plunger 40 having traversed the circumferentially extending locking portion 24, as is seen in
With the lid portion 14 secured to the housing portion 12, and the access opening 22 closed, fluid is introduced into the housing portion 12 through the inlet opening 42, allowed to pass through the filter element (not shown) and out through the outlet opening (not shown). The fluid filtering system is also preferably pressurized at this time. Should the lid portion 14 be incorrectly seated on the housing portion 12 at the gaskets 32, fluid would be allowed to pass through an opening between the lid portion 14 and the housing portion 12 that is sealed by the gasket 32. Visual indication of fluid on the outside of the filter housing 12 would indicate to the operator of the fluid filtering system that the system is operating incorrectly and would prompt the operator to cease fluid filtering operations. Alternately, if the lid portion 14 is incorrectly seated on the housing portion 12 at the vent bores 20 and vent gaskets 18, fluid would be allowed to pass through the vent bores 20 and fluid would appear on the outside of the filter housing 12 to indicate to the operator of the fluid filtering system that fluid is leaking and to prompt the operator to shut the system down.
When removing the lid portion 14 from the housing portion 12, the sequence of events described above is carried out. First, the safety pin 36 must be lifted so as to release the plunger 40 from its position seated against an outer edge of the locking portion 24, depressing the spring 38. Simultaneously, the lid handles 16 are used to unseat the locking members 28 of the lid portion 14 from their positions under the locking portions 24 of the housing portion 12, turning the lid portion 14 in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in
From the above description, it will be apparent that the invention disclosed herein provides a novel and advantageous system for support and stabilization of a recreational vehicle. The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary methods and embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms and utilize other materials without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/972,976, filed Oct. 25, 2004 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/972,978, filed Oct. 25, 2004, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US2007/012330 | 5/23/2007 | WO | 00 | 11/19/2009 |