Quick-drain valve member for use with filter apparatus

• US 20040232063A1
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mann+Hummel Purolator Filters LLC (Hummel Familien-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH + Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Purolator Filters NA LLC (Hummel Familien-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH + Co. KG)
• Inventors: Cline, L. Steven, Neufeld, Henry L., Richie, Bryant L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,060,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/433.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0415 Details of supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/162 with snap, latch or clip connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/291 End caps
• 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 35/147 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/153 Anti-leakage or anti-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/16 Cleaning-out devices , e.g. for removing the cake from the filter casing or for evacuating the last remnants of liquid

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.

Claims

1. A filter apparatus comprising:

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.

2. The filter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the quick-drain valve member comprises a proximal end portion formed monolithically with the end cap and a distal end portion that engages 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 disengages 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.

3. The filter apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a center tube, wherein the filter element defines a filtered fluid region within the filter element to receive a flow of fluid filtered by the filter element, the center tube extends in the filtered fluid region to provide internal support to the filter element, and the quick-drain valve member is spaced apart from the center tube.

4. The filter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a filter chamber and a valve chamber, and the quick-drain valve member extends in the valve chamber when the filter element is positioned in the filter chamber and is removed from the valve chamber when the filter element is removed from the filter chamber.

5. The filter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the quick-drain valve member comprises a post and a flow blocker, the post is secured to the outwardly facing surface, and the flow blocker is secured to the post to 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 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.

6. The filter apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

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.

7. The filter apparatus of claim 5, wherein the end cap and the post are made of a plastic material and formed monolithically with one another, and the flow blocker is made of an elastomeric material.

8. The filter apparatus of claim 5, wherein the housing comprises a frusto-conical valve seat and the flow blocker comprises a frusto-conical surface that engages the frusto-conical valve seat 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.

9. The filter apparatus of claim 1, wherein the quick-drain valve member comprises (i) a retainer secured to 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 away from the outwardly facing surface, and (iv) a flow blocker secured to the flow blocker carrier to 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 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.

10. The filter apparatus of claim 9, wherein 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 the post.

11. The filter apparatus of claim 10, wherein the retainer comprises a detent, the cup comprises a wall and a sleeve, the spring engages the wall, the sleeve surrounds the spring, the sleeve extends from the wall in a first direction and defines an aperture receiving the detent, and the post extends from the wall in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

12. The filter apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the post comprises (i) a head having a diameter less than a diameter of the cup and (ii) a neck interconnecting the head and the cup and having a diameter less than the diameters of the head and the cup,

the cup, 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.

13. A filter apparatus comprising:

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 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 away from the filter element, and (iv) a flow blocker secured to the flow blocker carrier 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.

14. The filter apparatus of claim 13, wherein the filter element comprises an end cap, and the retainer is secured to the end cap.

15. The filter apparatus of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a valve seat, the retainer is secured to the end cap and comprises a detent, and the flow blocker carrier defines an aperture receiving the detent for movement of the detent therein in response to engagement between the flow blocker and the valve seat.

16. The filter apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flow blocker carrier comprises a cup and a post secured to the cup, the cup and the retainer cooperate to capture the biasing element therebetween, the cup surrounds the biasing element and defines the aperture, and the flow blocker is secured to the post.

17. A filter element comprising:

filter media configured to filter a flow of fluid therethrough,

an end cap secured to the filter media, the end cap comprising an outwardly facing surface, and

a quick-drain valve member secured to the outwardly facing surface of the end cap.

18. The filter unit of claim 17, wherein the quick-drain valve member is configured to block a flow of fluid from an interior region defined by a housing 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.

19. The filter apparatus of claim 18, wherein the quick-drain valve member comprises a post and an elastomeric flow blocker, the post is secured to the outwardly facing surface, and the flow blocker is secured to the post to 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 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.

20. The filter unit of claim 18, wherein the quick-drain valve member comprises (i) a retainer secured to 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 away from the outwardly facing surface, and (iv) a flow blocker secured to the flow blocker carrier to 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 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.