AEROSOL SEPARATOR ASSEMBLY; COMPONENTS; AND METHODS

• US 20110258975A1
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donaldson Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Donaldson Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Mosset, Wade Stephen, Adamek, Daniel Eric, Hemish, Bradley Allen, Lundgren, Thomas John
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/357
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4053 using keys
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/026 with means for avoiding false mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2265/028 Snap, latch or clip connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0004 Details of removable closures, lids, caps or filter heads
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0005 Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames B01D46/2422 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0031 with collecting, draining means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0087 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/009 Identification of filter type or position thereof, e.g. by transponders or bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/2414 End caps including additional functions or special forms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/4227 Manipulating filters or filter elements, e.g. handles or extracting tools
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 13/04 having means for purifying air before leaving crankcase, e.g. removing oil
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2013/0438 with a filter

Abstract

A filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic liquid aerosol phase from a gas stream, as a crankcase ventilation filter for example, is described. The cartridge includes a media pack comprising filtration media surrounding an open interior and a first end piece. Various structure included on the first end piece is described. An example is a D-shaped projection. Also described is an assembly including the filter cartridge, specific features of a housing component of the assembly. Methods of assembly and use are also described.

Claims

1. A filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic liquid aerosol phase from a gas stream and for use in filtering the gas stream;

the filter cartridge comprising;

(a) a media pack comprising filtration media surrounding an open interior and including first and second, opposite, ends;

(b) a first end piece adjacent the first end of the media pack;

the first end piece having a first, outer, end surface on an opposite side of the first end piece from the media pack;

(i) the first end piece including a perimeter housing seal arrangement thereon;

(ii) the first end piece including a central flow aperture arrangement projecting therethrough in communication with the open interior of the media pack; and

(iii) the first end piece including a non-circular projection positioned around the central flow aperture arrangement and projecting from the first end piece in a direction axially opposite the media pack;

the non-circular projection being positioned spaced from an outer perimeter of the first end piece.

2. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the non-circular projection is non-continuous and includes a liquid drain gap arrangement therethrough.

3. A filter cartridge according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) the non-circular projection defines an outer perimeter with a first straight side portion and an opposite curved side portion.

4. A filter cartridge according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) the drain gap arrangement comprises a gap in the first straight side portion.

7. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 including:

(a) a handle member positioned on the first end piece and projecting in a direction away from the media pack;

(i) the handle member being non-collapsible and including a handle bridge section forming a handle opening thereunder between the handle bridge section and an adjacent portion of the first end piece;

the handle opening being sized to permit at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand to project therethrough.

8. A filter cartridge according to claim 7 wherein:

(a) the handle member comprises a perimeter handle member positioned adjacent the outer perimeter of the first end piece.

9. A filter cartridge according to claim 8 wherein:

(a) the perimeter handle member is radially positioned with the handle opening aligned with, and directed toward, a first straight side of the non-circular projection.

10. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 including:

(a) the first end piece includes a peripheral rim projection extending in a direction away from the media pack;

(i) the peripheral rim projection surrounding a recessed surface portion of the first end piece;

the recessed surface portion extending between the peripheral rim projection and the non-circular projection.

12. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the first end piece includes a first member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational alignment indexing arrangement comprising a first radial projection spaced from a first locator shoulder to define a first locator receiver gap therebetween.

13. A filter cartridge according to claim 12 wherein:

(a) the first member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational alignment indexing arrangement includes a second radial projection spaced from a second locator shoulder to define a second locator receiving gap therebetween;

(i) the first and second locator gaps being radially spaced, on center, a smallest radial amount of less than 180°

.

14. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 including:

(a) a second end piece positioned spaced from the first end piece with the media pack positioned therebetween.

15. A filter cartridge according to claim 14 wherein:

(a) the second end piece and the first end piece are positioned at opposite ends of a central, tubular, media support extending through the open interior of the media pack.

17. A filter cartridge according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) the second end piece includes;

(i) a closed central portion overlapping, and closing, an end of the open interior of the media pack; and

, (ii) an outer perimeter section comprising a plurality of spaced projections and a plurality of drain regions between the spaced projections;

each drain region being at least in part, in direct drain overlap with an end of media in the media pack at a location adjacent the second end piece.

18. A filter cartridge according to claim 17 wherein:

(a) the closed central portion of the second end piece is positioned projecting into the end of the open interior of the media pack; and

,

(b) the second end piece includes a closed transition portion between the closed central portion and the outer perimeter section;

5-6. -6. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

19. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly comprising:

(a) a housing defining an interior and including a housing base and a removable access cover;

(i) the housing defining a gas flow inlet, a gas flow outlet and a liquid drain outlet; and

,

(ii) the housing base including a first member of a cartridge-to-housing base rotational alignment indexing arrangement thereon; and

,

(b) a serviceable filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic liquid aerosol phase from a gas stream;

the filter cartridge being operably positioned in the housing interior and including;

(i) a media pack comprising filter media surrounding an open filter interior and including first and second, opposite, media ends;

(ii) a housing seal arrangement;

(A) the housing seal arrangement being sealed to a portion of the housing base;

(iii) a first end piece adjacent the first end of the media pack including a central flow aperture therethrough in flow communication with the open filter interior; and

,

(iv) the cartridge including a second member of the cartridge-to-housing base rotational alignment indexing arrangement thereon oriented engaging the first member of the cartridge-to-housing rotational indexing arrangement in the housing base to require the cartridge to be in a selected, single, rotational orientation in the housing base when the cartridge is operably positioned in the housing base.

21. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the first member of the cartridge-to-housing base rotational alignment indexing arrangement includes a first projecting tab on the housing base; and

,

(b) the second member of the cartridge-to-housing base rotational alignment indexing arrangement includes a first receiver space defined between a first radial projection and a first shoulder oriented on the first end piece of the filter cartridge.

23. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the access cover includes a first member of a cartridge-to-access cover portion rotational alignment indexing arrangement thereon; and

,

(b) the filter cartridge includes a second member of a cartridge-to-access cover portion rotational alignment indexing arrangement thereon;

(i) the first and second members of the cartridge-to-access cover portion rotational indexing alignment arrangement being engageable to provide a selected, single, rotational alignment between the filter cartridge and a portion of the access cover.

29. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly according to claim 19 wherein:

(a) the access cover assembly comprises a cover member and a lower basket member; and

(b) the regulator valve assembly includes a diaphragm;

(i) the cover member of the access cover assembly is secured to the lower basket member with a portion of the diaphragm secured therebetween.

20. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

24-28. -28. (canceled)

30-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly comprising:

(a) a housing defining an interior and including a housing base and a removable access cover;

(i) the housing including a gas flow inlet, a gas flow outlet and a liquid drain outlet;

(ii) the access cover including a first member of a cartridge-to-access cover portion rotational indexing arrangement thereon;

(b) a serviceable filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic liquid aerosol phase from a gas stream;

the filter cartridge being operably positioned within the housing interior and including;

(i) a media pack comprising filter media surrounding an open filter interior and including first and second, opposite, media ends; and

,

(ii) a first end piece adjacent the first end of the media pack including a perimeter seal arrangement thereon and a central flow aperture arrangement therethrough;

(A) the perimeter housing seal arrangement being sealed to a portion of the housing base; and

(B) the first end piece including a second member of the cartridge-to-access cover portion rotational alignment indexing arrangement thereon oriented engaging the first member of the cartridge-to-access cover portion rotational indexing arrangement to position the filter cartridge and a selected portion of the access cover in a single, selected, rotational alignment with one another.

34. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly according to claim 33 wherein:

(a) the first member of the cartridge-to-access cover portion rotational alignment indexing arrangement comprises a D-shaped projection on a portion of the access cover; and

,

(b) the second member of the cartridge-to-access cover rotational alignment indexing arrangement comprises a D-shaped projection positioned on the first end piece of the filter cartridge, around the central flow aperture.

35-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly comprising:

(a) a housing defining an interior and including a housing base and a removable access cover;

(i) the housing base including a gas flow inlet, a gas flow outlet and a liquid flow outlet;

the housing base further including;

(A) a lower cylindrical portion having a first circular interior cross-section; and

(B) an upper cylindrical portion having a second circular interior cross-section;

(C) the first circular interior cross-section being eccentrically aligned with the second interior cross-section;

(D) the lower cylindrical portion including an upper projection with a first inner seal surface;

(E) the upper cylindrical portion including a threaded outer surface and an opposite inner seal surface;

(F) the access cover being removably threaded onto the upper cylindrical portion with a seal member positioned between a portion of the access cover and the second inner seal surface; and

,

(G) the housing defining an gas/liquid flow gutter arrangement extending from a location adjacent the inlet at least partially around the housing base;

the gas/liquid flow gutter arrangement being positioned between an upper flange of the lower cylindrical portion and the upper cylindrical portion;

the air/liquid flow gutter arrangement including an upwardly directed ramp section; and

,

(b) a serviceable filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic liquid aerosol phase from a gas stream;

the filter cartridge being operably positioned within the housing and including;

(i) a media pack comprising filter media surrounding an open filter interior and including first and second, opposite, media ends; and

,

(ii) a first end piece adjacent the first end of the media pack including a perimeter seal arrangement thereon and a central flow aperture arrangement therethrough;

(A) the perimeter housing seal arrangement being sealed to the first inner seal surface.

39. (canceled)

40. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly comprising:

(a) a housing defining an interior and including a housing base and a removable access cover;

(i) the housing base including a gas flow inlet, a gas flow outlet and a liquid drain outlet;

(ii) the housing base including an upper, threaded, end;

(iii) the access cover comprising a cover assembly with a regulator valve assembly therein oriented to regulate gas flow into a central flow aperture of a first end piece of an installed cartridge;

(A) the access cover assembly including a cover member and a lower basket member;

(B) the regulator valve assembly including a diaphragm;

the cover member being secured to the lower basket member with a portion of the diaphragm secured therebetween; and

,

(C) the cover member comprising a rim member and a cap member;

(1) the rim member including a central aperture therethrough; and

,

(2) the cap member including a snap-fit projection arrangement projecting through the central aperture in the rim member and into snap-fit engagement with the lower basket member;

the rim member being rotatable relative to the cap member and the lower basket member; and

,

(b) a serviceable filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic liquid aerosol phase from a gas stream;

the filter cartridge being operably positioned in the housing interior and including;

(i) a media pack comprising filter media surrounding an open filter interior and including first and second, opposite, media ends; and

,

(ii) a first end piece adjacent the first end of the media pack including a perimeter housing seal arrangement thereon and a central flow aperture therethrough in flow communication with the open filter interior;

the perimeter housing seal arrangement being sealed to a portion of the housing base.

41. A filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic aerosol phase from a gas stream and for use in filtering the gas stream;

the filter cartridge comprising;

(a) a media pack comprising filtration media surrounding an open interior and including first and second, opposite, ends;

(b) a cartridge support piece comprising first and second end pieces and an interior support;

(i) the media pack being positioned on the cartridge support piece between the first and second end pieces with the interior support extending through the media pack open interior;

(ii) the first and second end pieces and interior support being formed integral with one another; and

,

(iii) the first end piece including a central aperture therethrough;

(c) the cartridge support piece including a handle member positioned on the first end piece and projecting in a direction away from the media pack;

(i) the handle member being non-collapsible and including a handle bridge section forming a handle opening thereunder between the handle bridge section and an adjacent portion of the first end piece; and

,

(d) a radially outwardly directed seal member.

42. A filter cartridge according to claim 41 wherein:

(a) the handle bridge section is arcuate in extension partially around the central aperture.

43. A filter cartridge according to claim 41 wherein:

(a) the handle bridge section extends over an arcuate extension of at least 30°

.

44-47. -47. (canceled)