Filter apparatus
First Claim
1. A filter cartridge for filtering particles in a fluid, the filter cartridge comprising:
- a generally cylindrical filter element having a first end cap, a second end cap, and a filter media pack, the filter media pack having a first end and a second end, the first end cap being coupled to the first end and the second end cap being coupled to the second end, the first end cap having a filter element key disposed on an outer periphery of the first end cap; and
a filter housing having a sidewall for surrounding the filter element when the filter element is disposed within the filter housing and an opening to allow the filter element to be inserted into and removed from the filter housing, the sidewall having an inner surface, the inner surface having a filter housing key;
such that when the filter element is disposed within the filter housing and the filter element key is engaged with the filter housing key, the engagement between the filter element key and the filter housing key restricts rotational movement of the filter element relative to the filter housing such that the filter element cannot be rotated to a position to remove the filter element from the filter housing;
a biasing element operably acting on the filter element to bias the filter element out of the opening, wherein the filter element is insertable into the filter housing by inserting the filter element through the opening and compressing the biasing element, rotating the filter element relative to the filter housing, and releasing the filter element such that the filter element key is axially engaged with the filter housing key under biasing force of the biasing element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid filtering apparatus and method may include keyed components to ensure that a correct filter element is being installed into a filter base, and to automatically actuate a fluid valve as the filter element is rotated into place on the base. Tool-less replacement of the element is provided. An embodiment of the element may include inner and outer substantially tubular-shaped media packs disposed about an axis, with one end of each of the inner and outer media packs being attached to an end cap of the element in a manner defining a fluid flow space between the inner and outer media packs for receiving a flow of fluid directed in parallel through the inner and outer media packs. A housing of the filter apparatus may include a flow tube configured to fit into the space between the inner and outer media packs.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A filter cartridge for filtering particles in a fluid, the filter cartridge comprising:
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a generally cylindrical filter element having a first end cap, a second end cap, and a filter media pack, the filter media pack having a first end and a second end, the first end cap being coupled to the first end and the second end cap being coupled to the second end, the first end cap having a filter element key disposed on an outer periphery of the first end cap; and a filter housing having a sidewall for surrounding the filter element when the filter element is disposed within the filter housing and an opening to allow the filter element to be inserted into and removed from the filter housing, the sidewall having an inner surface, the inner surface having a filter housing key; such that when the filter element is disposed within the filter housing and the filter element key is engaged with the filter housing key, the engagement between the filter element key and the filter housing key restricts rotational movement of the filter element relative to the filter housing such that the filter element cannot be rotated to a position to remove the filter element from the filter housing; a biasing element operably acting on the filter element to bias the filter element out of the opening, wherein the filter element is insertable into the filter housing by inserting the filter element through the opening and compressing the biasing element, rotating the filter element relative to the filter housing, and releasing the filter element such that the filter element key is axially engaged with the filter housing key under biasing force of the biasing element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A filter cartridge for filtering particles in a fluid, the filter cartridge comprising:
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a generally cylindrical filter element having a first end cap, a second end cap, and a filter media pack, the filter media pack having a first end and a second end, the first end cap being coupled to the first end and the second end cap being coupled to the second end, the first end cap having a filter element key disposed on an outer periphery of the first end cap; and a filter housing having a sidewall for surrounding the filter element when the filter element is disposed within the filter housing and an opening to allow the filter element to be inserted into and removed from the filter housing, the sidewall having an inner surface, the inner surface having a filter housing key, the filter housing being configured to be releasably connected to a filter base; wherein when the filter element is disposed within the filter housing and the filter housing is not connected to the filter base and the filter element key is engaged with the filter housing key, rotational movement of the filter element relative to the filter housing is restricted such that the filter element cannot be rotated to a position to remove the filter element from the filter housing when the filter housing is not connected from the filter base; a biasing element operably acting on the filter element to bias the filter element out of the opening, wherein the filter element is insertable into the filter housing by inserting the filter element through the opening and compressing the biasing element, rotating the filter element relative to the filter housing, and releasing the filter element such that the filter element key is axially engaged with the filter housing key under biasing force of the biasing element.
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Specification