Filter Element and Filter Assembly Including Locking Mechanism

• US 20120037556A1
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baldwin Filters Incorporated (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Baldwin Filters Incorporated (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Beard, John H., Calcaterra, Farrell F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,023,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0407 Perforated supports on both sides of the filtering element
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/0415 Details of supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/12 Pleated filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/127 with means for keeping the spacing between the pleats
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/291 End caps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/295 with projections extending in a radial outward direction, e.g. for use as a guide, spacing means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/298 End caps common to at least two filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/305 Snap, latch or clip connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/40 Special measures for connecting different parts of the filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4015 Bayonet connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4046 Means for avoiding false mounting of different parts
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/4076 Anti-rotational means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/60 Shape of non-cylindrical filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/114 arranged for inward flow filtration B01D29/15, B01D29/33 take precedence
• 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 29/232 with corrugated, folded or wound sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/54 arranged concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/58 arranged concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/90 for feeding
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/902 : containing fixed liquid displacement elements or cores
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 36/003 : Filters in combination with devices for the removal of liquids B01D35/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 36/006 : Purge means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 37/025 : additives incorporated in the filter
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/27 : Fuel-injection apparatus with filters
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/24 : characterised by water separating means
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/26 : with water detection means
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/30 : characterised by heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/42 : Installation or removal of filters

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. Keyed arrangements may occur between a filter element and a filter housing, a filter and a filter base, and a filter base and a filter housing. A locking arrangement may be provided to prevent undesired loosening of a filter relative to a filter base. The filter base may include a torsion lock insert that engages lock detents of a filter to prevent the undesired loosening. An adaptor may be provided to provide the lock detents that interact with a torsion lock insert.

Claims

1. A filter, comprising:

a cover having a rim region and a hub region, the hub region having an inlet port and an outlet port;

a tubular ring of filter media for filtering fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port, the tubular ring of filter media extending axially between first and second ends and having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;

at least one key provided proximate the rim region; and

at least one lock detent provided between the rim and the hub region, the at least one lock detent having at least a portion positioned radially between the inner and outer diameters of the tubular ring of filter media, the at least one lock detent extending axially outward from an outer surface of the cover in a direction extending away from the filter media.

2. The filter of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a first end cap sealingly connected to a first end of the tubular ring of filter media, the cover further includes an adaptor plate including offsetting projections extending axially between an inner face of the adaptor plate and an outer face of the first end cap, the offsetting projections providing a flow passage between the adaptor plate and the first end cap, the at least one lock detent is provided by the adaptor plate.

3. The filter of claim 2, wherein the adaptor plate and the first end cap are integrally formed in a unitary piece.

4. The filter of claim 1, wherein the tab is elongated in a direction extending generally radially between the rim and the hub.

5. The filter of claim 4, wherein the at least one lock detent includes a plurality of lock detents angularly spaced from one another, wherein gaps between the lock detents are equally spaced.

6. The filter of claim 1, wherein the at least one key includes a plurality of angularly spaced apart keys, wherein a first one of the keys has a first width and a second one of the keys has a second width, different than the first width.

7. The filter of claim 1, wherein the cover is an end cap sealingly bonded to the first end of the tubular ring of filter media;

and

further including a second end cap sealingly bonded to a second end of the filter media.

8. The filter of claim 1, wherein the outer rim region includes a circular seal member, the at least one lock detent extends radially inward of the circular seal member.

9. The filter of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a circular disc portion that is continuous and imperforate, the circular disc portion extends radially between and connects the rim region to the hub region, the at least one lock detent extends axially outward from the disc portion.

10. The filter of claim 9, wherein the rim region forms the radially outer most portion of the cover.

11. The filter of claim 10, wherein the rim region includes a circular seal member, the at least one lock detent is positioned radially inward of the circular seal member.

12. The filter of claim 9, wherein the rim region and the hub region extend axially outward away from the tubular ring of filter media further than the at least one lock detent.

13. The filter of claim 9, wherein the cover is free of voids angularly offset from the at least one lock detent.

14. The filter of claim 13, wherein the cover is free of voids angularly offset from the at least one lock detent wherein no portion of another device to which the filter is to be mounted can pass axially past the at least one lock detent radially between the hub region and the rim region and then rotated angularly underneath the at least one lock detent to use the at least one lock detent to provide a positive axial engagement between the cover and the device to which the filter is to be mounted for axially securing the cover to the device to which the filter is to be mounted.

15. The filter of claim 1, wherein the at least one lock detent is free of undercuts preventing the at least one lock detent from being used to axially secure the cover to another device.

16. A filter assembly, comprising:

a filter cartridge comprising;

a housing having a first ourter outer annular sidewall;

a cover at one end of the housing, the cover having an inlet port and an outlet port;

filter media disposed within the first outer annular sidewall;

a mounting thread; and

a torsion lock detent radially between the mounting thread and the inlet and outlet ports; and

a filter base comprising;

a second annular sidewall including an open end sized to receive an end of the housing therethrough, the second annular sidewall including an inclined shelf corresponding to the mounting thread formed in a radially inner surface of the second annular sidewall for securing the filter cartridge to the filter base, the shelf facing axially away from the open end of the second annular sidewall, the second annular sidewall having an inner diameter being less than an outer diameter of the mounting thread; and

a lock assembly including a ramped surface terminating in a lock slot, the ramped surface abutting the torsion lock detent when the mounting thread is inserted into the thread slot, the ramped surface being axially moveable relative to the second annular sidewall, the lock assembly including a biasing member axially biasing the ramped surface towards the torsion lock detent.

17. The filter assembly of claim 16, wherein the open end of the annular sidewall includes an opening formed therein at an end of the shelf through which the mounting thread is received and a terminating end axially offset from the opening, and wherein the lock assembly comprises an annular locking member including the ramped surface on an axial end thereof, the annular locking member being axially moveable relative to the second annular sidewall;

and a biasing member axially biasing the lock member in a direction extending axially from the terminating end toward the opening.

18. The filter assembly of claim 17, wherein the ramped surface has an axial incline direction being opposite an axial incline direction of the thread slot.

19. The filter assembly of claim 18, further including a second mounting thread by one of the housing and the cover, wherein the second annular sidewall includes a second shelf facing axially away from the open end of the second annular sidewall, the second shelf corresponding to the second mounting thread, and wherein the second annular sidewall includes a second opening formed at an end of the second shelf through which the mounting thread is received.

20. The filter assembly of claim 19, wherein the angular distance between the ends of the first and second shelves proximate the first and second openings in a first direction is different than the angular distance between the ends of the first and second shelves proximate the first and second openings in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

21. The filter assembly of claim 20, further including a second torsion lock detent provided by one of the cover and the housing radially between the second mounting thread and the inlet and outlet ports, further including a second ramped surface formed on the axial end of the annular locking member terminating in a lock slot, the second ramped surface abutting the second torsion lock detent when the second mounting thread axially abuts the shelf and the second mounting thread abuts the second shelf.

22. The filter assembly of claim 21, wherein the ramped surface and the second ramped surface each terminate in an axially extending abutment at an opposite end as the lock slot, the abutments formed in the end of the annular locking member.

23. The filter assembly of claim 22, wherein each locking slot is axially recessed relative to the end of the ramped surface to which the locking slot is adjacent.

24. The filter assembly of claim 23, wherein each locking slot includes a bottom wall interposed between two abutment sidewalls, wherein the abutment sidewall interposed between the bottom wall and the corresponding ramped surface of that locking slot is a canted cam surface.

25. The filter assembly of claim 24, wherein the annular locking member is prevented from angularly rotating relative to the second annular sidewall when the filter cartridge is threaded to the filter base with the lock detents abutting the ramped surfaces and the filter cartridge angularly rotating relative to the locking member and the second annular sidewall.

26. The filter assembly of claim 20, wherein the annular locking member is axially translated relative to the second annular sidewall at a first rate when the filter cartridge is threaded to the filter base with the lock detents abutting the ramped surface and axially translated at a second rate when the lock detents translate into the lock slots as the filter cartridge is threaded to the filter base.

27. A filter for use with a filter base, comprising:

a housing having an outer annular sidewall;

filter media disposed within the outer annular sidewall;

a cover at one end of the housing, the cover having an inlet port and an outlet port;

a seal member sealing the housing to the cover;

an inclined mounting thread provided by at least one of the housing and the cover to threadedly secure the filter to the filter base; and

a torsion lock detent provided by the cover radially between the inclined mounting thread and at least one of the inlet and outlet ports, the torsion lock detent extending axially outward from an outer surface of the cover, the torsion lock detent providing no part of the inclined mounting thread, the torsion lock detent free from engagement with the housing when the cover is attached to the housing.

28. The filter of claim 27, further including an angular securement between the housing and the cover preventing relative angular rotation therebetween, the angular securement being selected from the group consisting of:

welding, adhesively bonding, chemically bonding and mechanical keying.

29. The filter of claim 27, wherein the cover includes a first end cap secured to an end of the filter media.

30. The filter of claim 29, wherein the cover further includes a housing plate spaced from the first end cap forming a fluid flow passage therebetween.

31. The filter of claim 27, wherein the mounting thread extends angularly through a degree of between about 75 degrees and about 115 degrees.

32. The filter of claim 31, wherein the mounting thread extends angularly between a beginning and an end and the beginning angularly aligns with the torsion lock detent.

33. The filter of claim 27, further comprising an inlet and an outlet passing through the cover;

further comprising at least one seal through which all fluid passing into and out of the filter element operably passes through, the torsion lock detent extending radially outward beyond the at least one seal.

34. The filter of claim 27, wherein the torsion lock detent is positioned radially inward of the seal between the cover and the housing.