FILTER WITH LOCALIZED FLOW ATTACHMENT AND FILTER HEAD

• US 20100200490A1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Filtration Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Filtration Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wells, Aaron M., Kallurwar, Rahul, Eickhoff, James L., Bagci, Ismail C., Husband, Jeffrey A., South, Kevin C., Martin, Harold R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,308,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/302 having inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/34 Seals or gaskets for filtering elements for removable closures, lids, caps or filter heads B01D2201/304
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/114 arranged for inward flow filtration B01D29/15, B01D29/33 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/117 arranged for outward flow filtration B01D29/23, B01D29/35 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/58 arranged concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/902 containing fixed liquid displacement elements or cores
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/30 Filter housing constructions

Abstract

A fluid filter device is described, where a flow attachment member provides a unique interface between the filtering element and a filter head. The fluid filter described herein generally provides a flow structure that is localized and sealed. The flow attachment member is configured to communicate fluid into and out of the fluid filter, and is configured to localize fluid flow both into and out of the fluid filter within a separating structure of the flow attachment member. The flow attachment member further includes a seal structure configured to substantially prevent or at least confine leakage to a localized area away from proximity of the edges of the housing. A composite filter head is described that has integrally molded inlet and outlet fittings.

Claims

1. A filter head comprising:

a shell configured to cover and seal with a fluid filter;

a mount connected to the shell, the mount includes an inner rib support and wall structure that allows the mount to be open inside, the mount includes bolt holes configured to mount the filter head to another equipment;

an inlet fitting configured to allow entry of fluid into the shell; and

an outlet fitting configured to allow exit of fluid from the shell,

wherein the shell, mount, inlet and outlet fittings are integrally molded from a composite material as a one piece component.

2. The filter head of claim 1, wherein the shell has an inner thread.

3. The filter head of claim 1, wherein the shell has an inner wall structure configured to seal with the fluid filter to fluidly separate the inlet and outlet fittings.

4. The filter head of claim 1, further comprising a natural frequency of at least 175 Hz.

5. The filter head of claim 1, wherein the mount includes upper rib supports and lower rib supports disposed between the bolt holes.

6. The filter head of claim 5, wherein the upper rib supports and lower rib supports have an arrangement that resembles a diamond-like shape, such that one of the bolt holes is positioned generally at a top vertex and two of the bolt holes are positioned generally at two side vertices of the arrangement.

7. The filter head of claim 6, wherein the mount further comprises a reinforcing structure positioned generally at a bottom vertex of the arrangement, the reinforcing structure is connected to the lower rib supports.

8. The filter head of claim 7, wherein the mount further comprises a vertical rib connected between the top and bottom vertices of the arrangement.

9. The filter head of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises an outer sloped surface.

10. The filter head of claim 9, wherein the outer sloped surface is generally an A-frame.

11. The filter head of claim 1, wherein the mount further comprises inner and outer vertical ribs that extend along a majority of a height of the shell.

12. The filter head of claim 11, wherein the inner and outer vertical ribs taper toward the shell.

13. The filter head of claim 1, wherein the mount further comprises a sidewall connected to the shell, the sidewall includes a rim with a reduced thickness, and the rim is connected to an outer surface of the shell to form a groove.

14. The filter head of claim 13, wherein the groove substantially contours an outer surface of the shell where the rim connects with the shell.

15. The filter head of claim 13, wherein the reduced wall thickness is approximately 3.0 mm and less than 4.0 mm.

16. The filter head of claim 1, wherein the mount further comprises horizontal ribs that connect the mount to the shell.

17. The filter head of claim 1, wherein the fittings have a tapered construction of larger diameter at one end from the shell to a smaller diameter at an opposite end.

18. The filter head of claim 1, wherein the fittings are positioned to reduce initial restriction of fluid entering and exiting the filter head.

19. A filter assembly comprising:

1) a fluid filter that includes;

a housing having a filter cartridge disposed therein, the filter cartridge containing a filter media; and

a cap configured to communicate fluid to be filtered to the filter media, and configured to communicate fluid filtered by the filter media out of the fluid filter, the cap comprises a stem and a flow separating structure configured to localize fluid flow both into and out of the fluid filter, the stem and flow separating structure being molded as a single component, and a seal structure disposed about an outer surface of the structure, the seal structure configured to substantially prevent or confine leakage from the cap; and

2) a filter head that includes;

a shell connectable to the fluid filter, the shell is configured to cover and seal with the fluid filter;

a mount connected to the shell, the mount includes an inner rib support and wall structure that allows the mount to be open inside, the mount includes bolt holes configured to mount the filter head to another equipment;

an inlet fitting configured to allow entry of fluid into the shell; and

an outlet fitting configured to allow exit of fluid from the shell,

wherein the shell, mount, inlet and outlet fittings are integrally molded from a composite material as a one piece component.