Filter apparatus

• US 20060186031A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baldwin Filters Incorporated (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Baldwin Filters Incorporated (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Fick, Walter J., Beard, John H., Quackenbush, Joshua L., Marshall, James N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,492,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/235
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0407 Perforated supports on both sides of the filtering element
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0415 Details of supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/12 Pleated filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/127 with means for keeping the spacing between the pleats
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/28 Position of the filtering element
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/295 with projections extending in a radial outward direction, e.g. for use as a guide, spacing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/305 Snap, latch or clip connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/40 Special measures for connecting different parts of the filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4015 Bayonet connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4046 Means for avoiding false mounting of different parts
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4084 Snap or Seeger ring connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/52 Filter identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/60 Shape of non-cylindrical filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/118 open-ended
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/21 with corrugated, folded or wound sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/232 with corrugated, folded or wound sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/54 arranged concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/147 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/153 Anti-leakage or anti-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/16 Cleaning-out devices , e.g. for removing the cake from the filter casing or for evacuating the last remnants of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 36/003 : Filters in combination with devices for the removal of liquids B01D35/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 37/025 : additives incorporated in the filter

Abstract

A fluid filtering apparatus and method may include keyed components to ensure that a correct filter element is being installed into a filter base, and to automatically actuate a fluid valve as the filter element is rotated into place on the base. Tool-less replacement of the element is provided. An embodiment of the element may include inner and outer substantially tubular-shaped media packs disposed about an axis, with one end of each of the inner and outer media packs being attached to an end cap of the element in a manner defining a fluid flow space between the inner and outer media packs for receiving a flow of fluid directed in parallel through the inner and outer media packs. A housing of the filter apparatus may include a flow tube configured to fit into the space between the inner and outer media packs.

Claims

1. A filter apparatus comprising a filter element, a filter base, and a filter housing, including a first set of complimentary, keyed structures, for attaching the filter housing to the filter base.

2. The filter apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second set of complimentary, keyed structures, for attaching the filter housing to the filter element.

3. A filter apparatus comprising a filter element, a filter base, and a filter housing, including a first set of complimentary, keyed structures, for attaching the filter housing to the filter element.

4. A filter apparatus comprising a filter element, a filter base and a valve, the valve restricting a flow of fluid into or out of the filter element when the valve is in a first position, and the valve allowing a flow of fluid into or out of the filter element when the valve is in a second position.

5. The filter apparatus of claim 4, wherein the valve is biased to close when the filter element is removed from the filter base, and is automatically opened by installing the filter element onto the filter base.

6. The filter apparatus of claim 5, wherein the valve includes a keyed axially projecting structure, for engaging a complimentary keyed axially projecting structure of a filter element, for ensuring that the filter element is the proper filter element for use with that filter base.

7. The filter apparatus of claim 6, wherein the complimentary keyed axially projecting structures of the valve and the filter element function to move the valve from the closed position to the open position when the filter element is installed into the filter base.

8. A filter element comprising inner and outer media packs, and an end cap, the inner and outer media packs being disposed one inside of the other, a fluid flow space between the inner and outer media packs for receiving a flow of fluid directed in parallel through the inner and outer media packs.

9. A filter apparatus comprising a filter element, a filter base, and a filter housing, the filter housing includes a flow tube, the flow tube is connected to the filter housing.

10. The filter apparatus of claim 9 wherein the flow tube is removably attached to the filter housing.

11. The filter apparatus of claim 9 wherein the flow tube is permanently attached to the filter housing

12. A filter apparatus comprising a filter element, a filter base, a filter housing, and a flow tube, the flow tube includes a first portion and a second portion.

13. The filter apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first portion is connected to the filter housing, and the second portion is connected to the filter element.

14. The filter apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first portion is connected to the filter housing, and the second portion is connected to the filter base.

15. The filter apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first portion is connected to the filter base, and the second portion is connected to the filter element

16. A filter apparatus comprising a filter element and a filter base, one of the filter base and the filter element includes an identification reader, and one of the filter base and the filter element includes an identification tag.

17. The filter apparatus of claim 16 wherein the identification reader is an RFID reader and the identification tag is an RFID tag.

18. The filter apparatus of claim 17 wherein the RFID reader is on the filter base and the RFID tag is on the filter element.

19. A filter element comprising a media pack, a flow tube and an end cap, the flow tube is connected to the end cap, the media pack is positioned around the flow tube.

20. A filter apparatus comprising a filter base, a filter housing, and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism limits the rotation between the housing and the base.

21. The filter apparatus of claim 20 wherein the locking mechanism includes a collar which engages the base.

22. The filter apparatus of claim 20 wherein the locking mechanism includes a pin on the base which engages a notch on the housing.

23. The filter apparatus of claim 20 wherein the locking mechanism includes pin in the base which engages one of a valve, a filter element and a flow tube.

24. The filter apparatus of claim 23 wherein the pin is moved to allow the filter apparatus to communicate with a location outside of the filter apparatus.