Quick-drain valve member for use with filter apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A filter apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining an interior region and a quick-drain outlet, anda filter element positioned in the interior region to filter a flow of fluid through the interior region, the filter element comprising (i) an end cap comprising an outwardly facing surface and (ii) a quick-drain valve member secured to the outwardly facing surface to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region,wherein the quick-drain valve member comprises a post and a an elastomeric flow blocker, the post is secured to the outwardly facing surface, and the flow blocker is secured to the post so as to define an axial end of the quick-drain valve member distal from the outwardly facing surface and to axially engage the housing to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to axially disengage the housing to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region, the post comprises (i) a body secured to the outwardly facing surface, (ii) a head having a diameter less than a diameter of the body, and (iii) a neck interconnecting the body and the head, the neck having a diameter less than the diameters of the body and the head, the body, the head, and the neck cooperate to define an annular groove, the neck defines a channel extending through the neck, and the flow blocker surrounds the head and the neck and extends into the annular groove and through the channel to mount the flow blocker to the post.
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Abstract
A filter apparatus comprises a filter element to be positioned in an interior region defined by a housing. The filter element comprises a quick-drain valve member to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through a quick-drain outlet defined by the housing when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A filter apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining an interior region and a quick-drain outlet, and a filter element positioned in the interior region to filter a flow of fluid through the interior region, the filter element comprising (i) an end cap comprising an outwardly facing surface and (ii) a quick-drain valve member secured to the outwardly facing surface to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region, wherein the quick-drain valve member comprises a post and a an elastomeric flow blocker, the post is secured to the outwardly facing surface, and the flow blocker is secured to the post so as to define an axial end of the quick-drain valve member distal from the outwardly facing surface and to axially engage the housing to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to axially disengage the housing to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region, the post comprises (i) a body secured to the outwardly facing surface, (ii) a head having a diameter less than a diameter of the body, and (iii) a neck interconnecting the body and the head, the neck having a diameter less than the diameters of the body and the head, the body, the head, and the neck cooperate to define an annular groove, the neck defines a channel extending through the neck, and the flow blocker surrounds the head and the neck and extends into the annular groove and through the channel to mount the flow blocker to the post. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A filter apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining an interior region and a quick-drain outlet, and a filter element positioned in the interior region to filter a flow of fluid through the interior region, the filter element comprising (i) an end cap comprising an outwardly facing surface and (ii) a quick-drain valve member secured to the outwardly facing surface to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region, wherein the quick-drain valve member comprises (i) a retainer secured to and extending axially from the outwardly facing surface, (ii) a flow blocker carrier secured to the retainer for movement of the flow blocker carrier relative to the retainer, (iii) a spring biasing the flow blocker carrier axially away from the outwardly facing surface, and (iv) an elastomeric flow blocker secured to the flow blocker carrier so as to define an axial end of the quick-drain valve member distal from the outwardly facing surface and to axially engage the housing to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to axially disengage the housing to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region, and the flow blocker carrier comprises a cup and a post secured to the cup, the cup receives the retainer and the spring, and the flow blocker is secured to and encloses the post. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A filter apparatus comprising:
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a housing defining an interior region and a quick-drain outlet, and a filter element positioned in the interior region to filter a flow of fluid through the interior region, the filter element comprising a quick-drain valve member comprising (i) a retainer secured to and extending axially from an end cap of the filter element, (ii) a flow blocker carrier secured to the retainer for movement relative thereto, (iii) a biasing element biasing the flow blocker carrier axially away from the end cap, and (iv) an elastomeric flow blocker secured to the flow blocker carrier so as to define an axial end of the quick-drain valve member and to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region, wherein the housing comprises a valve seat, the retainer comprises axially extending cantilevered fingers and a detent protruding radially outwardly from each finger, the flow blocker carrier comprises a cup and a post secured to and extending axially from the cup and enclosed by the flow blocker, the cup surrounds the fingers and the biasing element and defines apertures larger than and receiving the detents for relative movement between the cup and the detents in response to axial engagement between the flow blocker and the valve seat, and the cup and the post engage the flow blocker to urge the flow blocker axially against the valve seat in response to operation of the biasing element.
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8. A filter apparatus comprising:
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a housing comprising a valve seat and defining an interior region and a quick-drain outlet, and a filter element positioned in the interior region to filter a flow of fluid through the interior region, the filter element comprising (i) an end cap comprising an outwardly facing surface and (ii) a quick-drain valve member secured to and extending axially from the outwardly facing surface and comprising an elastomeric compressible element providing an axial end of the quick-drain valve distal from the outwardly facing surface to axially engage the valve seat to block discharge of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to axially disengage the valve seat to allow discharge of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification