Fuel filter with bypass valve

• US 6,555,000 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: Knight, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Savage, Matthew O.
• Application Number:
  US09/822,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 210/416.1, 210/416.4, 210/416.5, 210/418, 210/450, 210/456, 137/565.35
• US Class Current: 210/416.4
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/162 with snap, latch or clip connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/305 Snap, latch or clip connecting means
• 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 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 29/15 arranged for inward flow filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/21 with corrugated, folded or wound sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/902 containing fixed liquid displacement elements or cores
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/925 containing liquid displacement elements or cores
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/96 in which the filtering elements are moved between filtering operations; Particular measures for removing or replacing the filtering elements; Transport systems for filters B01D29/09, B01D29/70 take precedence
• 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 35/157 Flow control valves: Damping or calibrated passages
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/1573 Flow control valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/1576 Calibrated passages
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/18 Heating or cooling the filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/26 Filters with built-in pumps filters provided with a pump mounted in or on the casing aquarium pumps or filters A01K63/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 36/003 Filters in combination with devices for the removal of liquids B01D35/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/22 Arrangements for purifying liquid fuel specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines, e.g. arrangements in the feeding system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/26 with water detection means
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/30 : characterised by heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/44 : Filters structurally associated with pumps

Abstract

A fuel filter includes a pair of housing portions defining an interior cavity. A filter element is provided in surrounding relation to a fuel pump. A diverter plate assembly supported in the housing in sealing relation with one of the housing portions, the pump and the filter element, includes a bypass valve with a ball member. The bypass valve is normally closed when the pump is operational, and fuel flow passes from the inlet, through the filter element, and through the pump to the outlet. When the pump is not operational, the bypass valve opens, and fuel flow passes from the inlet through the filter element, and then directly to the outlet, bypassing the fuel pump. The diverter plate assembly includes a segmented collar that couples the assembly to one of the housing portions; a lip seal sealing to the pump; an outer rim that seals to one of the housing portions; and an annular flange that seals to the filter element.

Claims

1. A filter including a housing having an inlet and outlet for directing fluid into and out of the housing, the housing including housing portions defining a filter cavity, a pump supported by one portion of the housing and extending into in the filter cavity for pumping fluid through the housing, and a filter element in the filter cavity disposed in surrounding relation to said pump for separating particulate contaminants from the fluid, a diverter plate assembly disposed in surrounding relation to the pump for dividing the filter chamber into a first zone adjacent the inlet of said filter housing and adjacent an exterior filtering surface of the filter element, and a second zone adjacent an interior filter surface of the filter element and an inlet port of said pump, and a third zone adjacent an outlet port of said pump and an outlet of said filter housing, wherein said pump pumps fluid from said second zone to said third zone, and a bypass valve disposed in said diverter plate assembly for permitting flow in a single direction from said second zone to said third zone to bypass said pump.

2. The filter as in claim 1, wherein said diverter plate assembly has an annular configuration, said diverter plate assembly including a central opening receiving said pump.

3. The filter as in claim 2, wherein said diverter plate assembly includes coupling means for coupling said diverter plate assembly to cooperating coupling means on said housing.

4. The filter as in claim 3, wherein said diverter plate assembly coupling means includes a segmented annular collar projecting axially away from a surface of the diverter plate assembly, and said housing coupling means includes an annular collar, the diverter plate assembly annular collar engaging the housing annular collar to couple the diverter plate assembly to the housing.

5. The filter as in claim 3, wherein said collar closely surrounds said pump.

6. The filter as in claim 2, wherein said diverter plate assembly has a lip seal which bounds the central opening in the diverter plate assembly and seals to the pump.

7. The filter as in claim 2, wherein said diverter plate assembly includes an outer annular rim projecting axially away from a surface of the plate, said rim closely received in the housing and sealing against one of the housing portions.

8. The filter as in claim 2, wherein diverter plate assembly includes an annular flange projecting axially away from a surface of the assembly, and said filter element includes an end cap with a corresponding annular flange projecting axially away from the end cap, the annular flange from the diverter plate assembly and the annular flange from the filter element engaging in sealing relation and preventing fluid flaw between the diverter plate assembly and the end cap.

9. The filter as in claim 8, wherein the annular flange is radially outwardly disposed from the central opening in the diverter plate assembly.

10. The filter as in claim 9, and further including an O-ring seal disposed between the annular flange of the diverter plate assembly and the annular flange from the filter element to provide a fluid-tight seal.

11. The filter as in claim 2, wherein the diverter plate assembly includes a segmented annular collar closely receiving the pump and coupling the diverter plate assembly to a corresponding annular collar on the housing;

a lip seal bounding the central opening and sealing to the pump;

an outer annular rim closely received in and sealing to the housing; and

an annular flange sealing to the filter element.

12. The filter as in claim 2, wherein the bypass valve includes an annular seat integral with said diverter plate assembly, and a ball member supported in the annular seat, the ball member moveable between a first position blocking flow through the annular seat when said pump is operational and a second position allowing flow through the annular seat when the pump is not-operational.

13. The filter as in claim 12, wherein said annular seat is closely received in a sleeve integral with the diverter plate assembly, the sleeve fluidly sealed to an outlet passage in one housing portion fluidly connected to the outlet.

14. The filter as in claim 2, wherein said diverter plate assembly includes an annular heater pan having a collar receiving the pump and coupling the diverter plate assembly to a corresponding collar on the housing;

and an outer annular rim closely received in and sealing to the housing; and

a flow diverter ring disposed adjacent the heater pan and having a lip seal bounding the central opening and scaling to the pump, and an annular flange sealing to the filter element.

15. The filter as in claim 1, wherein said diverter plate assembly is fixed via coupling structure to corresponding coupling structure on one of said housing portions.

16. The filter as in claim 15, wherein said housing portions include corresponding threaded portions enabling said housing portions to be separated to enable access and replacement of said filter element, said bypass valve remaining fixed with one of said housing portions during replacement of said filter element.

17. The filter as in claim 1, wherein said bypass valve includes an annular seat and a ball member supported on said annular seat, the ball member moveable between a first position blocking flow through the annular seat when said pump is operational, and a second position allowing flow through the annular seat when the pump is not operational.

18. A filter including a housing having an inlet and outlet for directing fluid into and our of the housing, and an internal filter cavity, a pump supported by the housing in the filter cavity for pumping fluid through the filter, and a filter element in the filter cavity for separating particulate from the fluid, a diverter plate assembly supported by said housing in sealing relation with the pump, the filter element and the housing to divide the housing into i) an inlet fluid zone in fluid communication with the housing inlet and a clean side of the filter element;

ii) an outlet fluid zone in fluid communication with an outlet of the pump and the housing outlet; and

iii) an intermediate fluid zone in fluid communication with a clean side of the filter element and an inlet to the pump, the diverter plate assembly supporting a one-way check valve fluidly connected to the intermediate fluid zone and the outlet fluid zone, said one-way check valve normally closed when the pump is operational and open when the pump is non-operational, the check valve, when open allowing flow from the intermediate fluid zone to the outlet fluid zone, bypassing the pump.

19. The filter as in claim 18, wherein the diverter plate assembly includes a segmented annular collar closely receiving the pump and coupling the diverter plate assembly to a corresponding collar of the housing;

a lip seal bounding the central opening and sealing to the pump;

an outer annular rim closely received in and sealing to the housing; and

an annular flange sealing to the filter element.

20. The filter as in claim 18, wherein the check valve is located intermediate and exposed to pump outlet pressure and to fluid inlet pressure at the inlet, the difference in pressures moving the valve from the closed to the open position.