Filter cap affixed to a filter sleeve

• US 5,580,456 A
• Filed: 06/01/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Bowlsbey, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reifsnyder, David A.
• Application Number:
  US08/457,525
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 210/493.1, 210/493.2, 210/496, 210/497.1, 210/440, 210/435, 156/69, 156/73.1, 156/218, 156/283, 156/294, 156/295, 156/580.2
• US Class Current: 210/493.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0446 suspended from plates at the upper side of the filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0484 suspended from collector tubes at the upper side of the filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/111 Making filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/15 arranged for inward flow filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/52 in parallel connection
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/061 Manufacturing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/067 with pleated membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/542 joining hollow covers or hollow bottoms to open ends of container bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5432 joining hollow covers and hollow bottoms to open ends of container bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/545 one hollow-preform being placed inside the other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7392 characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/10 Polymers of propylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/04 Polymers of styrene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/06 PS, i.e. polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/12 containing fluorine
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/16 : PVDF, i.e. polyvinylidene fluoride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/18 : PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluorethene , e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluorethene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2055/02 : ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 : Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1038 : Hollow cylinder article

Abstract

Improved apparatus and method for installing a filter sleeve in filtration apparatus is provided. In its basic form, the present invention uses a filter sleeve with a pre-installed end cap bonded to at least one of its ends. Through use of a bonding process such as sonic welding, the end cap and filter sleeve form a tight seal with one another which is durable and quite resistant to leakage. The end cap can be provided with receptacles to allow for ready interface with existing filtration apparatus, eliminating presently utilized mounting procedures which can be ineffective, burdensome, and time consuming. Additionally, improved method is also provided for securely sealing the opposite end of the filter sleeve.

Claims

1. A cap for sealing an end of a filter sleeve that consists essentially of:

a cap comprising an interior surface, an exterior surface and an outer circumferential ring connecting said interior and said exterior surfaces, the cap being adapted to fit said outer circumferential ring within an end of a filter sleeve with said interior surface facing into the sleeve;

a center hub and at least one projection on said interior surface to permit the cap to interface with a base of an interior perforated tube.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein said outer circumferential ring includes at least one ridge around at least a portion thereof to aid in sealing the cap to the filter sleeve.

3. The cap of claim 1, wherein said cap comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, fluorinated ethylenepropylene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

4. The cap of claim 1, wherein said outer circumferential ring includes a series of nubs around at least a portion thereof to aid in sealing the cap to the filter sleeve.

5. The cap of claim 1, wherein said outer circumferential ring has a cross-sectional geometry selected from the group consisting of circular, rectangular, hexagonal and oval.

6. A cap for seating an end of a filter sleeve that comprises:

a cap comprising an interior surface, an exterior surface and an outer circumferential ring connecting said interior and said exterior surfaces, the cap being adapted to fit said outer circumferential ring within an end of a filter sleeve with said interior surface facing into the sleeve;

a center hub and at least one projection on said interior surface to permit the cap to interface with a base of an interior perforated tube,

wherein the cap is bonded to the filter sleeve by densification of the filter sleeve around at least a portion of the outer circumferential ring so as to resist seepage of unfiltered liquid longitudinally through the filter sleeve past the cap.

7. The cap of claim 6, wherein said bond comprises a bond selected from the group consisting of a sonic weld, a fusion weld, a hot wire weld, a hot jaw weld and a hot air weld.