Gas separating and venting filter
First Claim
1. A gas separating and venting filter comprising:
- a plastic heat-deformable plastic housing having walls defining an interior chamber, inlet opening means in said housing for conveying fluid into said chamber, one of said walls comprising liquid-wetting filter means for passing liquid only therethrough, outlet means downstream of said liquid-wetting filter means for conveying liquid therefrom, vent opening means in said housing communicating between the outside of said housing and said interior chamber to vent gas from said chamber, and planar liquid-repellent filter means covering said vent opening means and having a peripheral edge portion overlying said housing and sealed thereto to permit the passage of gas but to prevent liquid from escaping through said vent opening means, said liquid-repellent filter means comprising a plastic liquid-repellent filter membrane with a plastic fibrous backing disposed between said membrane and said housing, said filter means having a higher melt temperature than said housing, said seal between said filter means and said housing comprising a continuous mechanical bond formed between said fibrous backing and said housing in which portions of said housing fill the interstices in portions of said fibrous backing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid filter is disclosed which separates gas from liquid and vents the separated gas from the filter. The filter includes a vented housing through which the fluid stream passes. Liquid-wetting filter means carried in the housing in the path of the fluid stream permits the passage of liquid only. Gas separated from the fluid is vented through vent opening means which is covered by a liquid-repellent filter to permit the passage of gas only. An automatic, pressure sensitive control means may be used to seal the vent opening means against the entry of ambient air but to automatically release separated gas from the filter. The liquid-repellent filter may be secured to the housing by a mechanical bond between the housing and a fibrous backing carried by the filter, or a continuous band of medical grade tape may be used to attach the filter to the housing.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A gas separating and venting filter comprising:
- a plastic heat-deformable plastic housing having walls defining an interior chamber, inlet opening means in said housing for conveying fluid into said chamber, one of said walls comprising liquid-wetting filter means for passing liquid only therethrough, outlet means downstream of said liquid-wetting filter means for conveying liquid therefrom, vent opening means in said housing communicating between the outside of said housing and said interior chamber to vent gas from said chamber, and planar liquid-repellent filter means covering said vent opening means and having a peripheral edge portion overlying said housing and sealed thereto to permit the passage of gas but to prevent liquid from escaping through said vent opening means, said liquid-repellent filter means comprising a plastic liquid-repellent filter membrane with a plastic fibrous backing disposed between said membrane and said housing, said filter means having a higher melt temperature than said housing, said seal between said filter means and said housing comprising a continuous mechanical bond formed between said fibrous backing and said housing in which portions of said housing fill the interstices in portions of said fibrous backing.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. In a gas separating and venting fluid filter comprising a housing including inlet opening means and outlet opening means, liquid-wetting filter means disposed in a flow path between said inlet and outlet opening to permit the passage of liquid only, vent opening means in said housing upstream of said liquid-wetting filter means to vent gas from the housing, the improvement comprising:
- vent control means associated with said vent opening means and being selectively operable to vent said gas automatically and manually, said vent control means comprising flexible resilient cover means carried exteriorly of said housing and including a portion normally overlying and sealing said vent opening means, said housing including at least one wall defining a recess on the exterior surface thereof adjacent said vent opening means and underlying said cover, whereby depression of said cover into said recess causes said cover to engage the edge of said wall and the portion of said cover overlying said vent opening means to flex away from said vent opening means, breaking the seal and permitting venting of gas from the filter, said resilient cover also being operable to flex away from said vent opening means and automatically vent gas when the gas pressure inside said housing is greater than atmospheric pressure.
- View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Specification