Filter element and filter assembly including locking mechanism

• US 8,057,669 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Soohoo; Tony G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keyworth; Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/139,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20080245719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 210/233, 210/234, 210/235, 210/440, 210/443, 210/444, 210/446, 210/497.01
• 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 assembly, comprising:

a filter cartridge comprising;

a housing having a first 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 provided by one of the housing and the cover; and

a torsion lock detent provided by one of the cover and the housing 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, 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;

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;

wherein the open end of the second 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 annular locking member in a direction extending axially from the terminating end toward the opening.

2. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the ramped surface has an axial incline direction being opposite an axial incline direction of the thread slot.

3. The filter assembly of claim 2, 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 second mounting thread is received.

4. The filter assembly of claim 3, 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.

5. The filter assembly of claim 4, 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.

6. The filter assembly of claim 5, 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.

7. The filter assembly of claim 6, wherein each locking slot is axially recessed relative to the end of the ramped surface to which the locking slot is adjacent.

8. The filter assembly of claim 7, 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.

9. The filter assembly of claim 8, 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.

10. The filter assembly of claim 4, 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.

11. The filter cartridge of claim 1, the ramped surface axially facing the open end of the annular side wall, the shelf and the mounting thread axially securing the filter cartridge to the filter base.

12. A filter assembly, comprising:

a filter cartridge comprising;

a housing having a first 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 provided by one of the housing and the cover; and

a torsion lock detent provided by one of the cover and the housing 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 radially inner surface if the second annular sidewall, the shelf facing axially away from the open end of the second annular sidewall for axially securing the filter cartridge to the filter base, 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 axially facing the open end of the second annular side wall such that the ramped surface substantially axially faces the filter cartridge as the filter cartridge is being inserted into the open end of the second annular sidewall; and

wherein the lock assembly of the filter base further comprises an annular locking member including the ramped surface on an axial end thereof, the annular locking member being axially moveable relative to the annular sidewall, and a biasing member axially biasing the annular locking member toward the open end of the annular sidewall.

13. The filter cartridge of claim 12, wherein the biasing member biases the annular locking member in a same direction as the ramped surface on the axial end of the annular locking member axially faces.