Assemblies; components and filter features thereof; and, methods of use and assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10029198-B2
Application number	US-201615192272-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 25, 2015
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

An air cleaner assembly is disclosed, along with related methods. In one aspect, the air cleaner assembly has a housing including a housing body and a removable cover that together define an interior volume for holding a filter cartridge. The housing body can include a first plurality of lugs, wherein each of the first plurality of lugs has a first engagement surface disposed at a first angle that is oblique to a rotational plane of the cover. A second plurality of lugs can be provided on the cover, wherein each of the second plurality of lugs has a second engagement surface disposed at the first angle. A lock mechanism can also be provided that is disposed on the cover, wherein the lock mechanism includes a lock member axially movable between a locked position and an unlocked position to selectively secure the cover to the housing body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air cleaner assembly:
a. a housing including a housing body and a removable cover that together define an interior volume for holding a filter cartridge, the removable cover being rotatable with respect to the housing body along a plane of rotation;
b. a first lug located on the housing body, the first lug having a first ramped engagement surface;
c. a second lug located on the cover, the second lug having a second ramped, engagement surface; and
d. a lock mechanism disposed on the cover, the lock mechanism including a lock member axially movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
e. wherein the cover is positionable between a secured position and an unsecured position:
i. in the secured position, the first ramped engagement surface of the first lug being in overlapping contact with the second ramped engagement surface of the second lug to provide resistance to the cover from being rotated in a first direction along the plane of rotation, wherein the lock member extends alongside a portion of the first lug to provide resistance to the cover from being rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction;
ii. in the unsecured position, the lock member is removed from being alongside the first lug such that the cover can be rotated in the second direction.

2. The air cleaner assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
a) the first lug is one of a first plurality of lugs located on the housing body, each of the first plurality of lugs having a first ramped engagement surface; and
b) the second lug is one of a second plurality of lugs located on the cover, each of the second plurality of lugs having a second ramped engagement surface.

3. The air cleaner assembly of claim 2 , wherein each of the first plurality of lugs includes a guide surface disposed at a first angle that is oblique to the plane of rotation of the cover, the guide surface being for guiding the lock member towards a first side of one of the first plurality of lugs as the lock member is being displaced between two of the first plurality of lugs.

4. The air cleaner assembly of claim 3 , wherein each of the first plurality of lugs includes a guide member extending from the guide surface, the guide member constraining the movement of the lock member along the guide surface.

5. The air cleaner assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first angle is about 10 degrees.

6. The air cleaner assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lock mechanism includes a main body to which the lock member is secured.

7. The air cleaner assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a sidewall configured as a parking location for the lock member that frictionally retains the lock mechanism in the unlocked position.

8. The air cleaner assembly of claim 2 , wherein each of the first plurality of lugs includes a recessed portion and wherein the lock member includes a nose portion that snaps into the recessed portion when the lock mechanism is moved to the, locked position.

9. The air cleaner assembly of claim 1 wherein only a single first lug is provided on the housing body and only a single second lug is provided on the cover.

10. The air cleaner assembly of claim 1 , wherein only a single first lug is provided on the housing body.

11. The air cleaner assembly of claim 1 , wherein only a single second lug is provided on the cover.

12. The air cleaner assembly of claim 10 , wherein a plurality of radially spaced second lugs are provided on the cover.

13. The air cleaner assembly of claim 11 , wherein a plurality of radially spaced first lugs are provided on the housing body.

14. The air cleaner assembly of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of radially spaced first lugs are provided on the housing body and a plurality of radially spaced second lugs are provided on the cover.

15. A lock mechanism for a filter cartridge assembly having a housing body and a removable cover, the lock mechanism comprising:
a) a handle portion for operating the lock mechanism, the handle being configured for insertion into the removable cover; and
b) a lock member connected to the handle portion, the lock member being configured to engage with an engagement surface of the housing body;
c) the lock mechanism being movable by the handle portion between a unlocked position and a locked position:
i) in the locked position, the locking member exerting a force against the engagement surface resulting from a first portion of the lock member being in a first deflected state due to engagement of the lock member against the engagement surface of the housing body and resulting from a second portion of the lock member being in a second deflected state due to engagement of the lock member against a portion of the removable cover.

16. The lock mechanism of claim 15 , wherein when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked position, the first portion of the lock member is in an undeflected state and the second portion is in a third deflected state.

17. The lock mechanism of claim 15 , wherein at least part of the lock member first portion extends at an oblique angle with respect to the lock member second portion.

18. The lock mechanism of claim 15 , further including a nose portion extending between the first portion and the nose portion.

19. The lock mechanism of claim 18 , wherein the nose portion extends at an oblique angle to the first portion.

20. The lock mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the lock member is a steel wire.

21. The lock mechanism of claim 20 , wherein the handle portion is formed from a plastic material.

22. The lock mechanism of claim 21 , wherein the lock member is removably attached to the handle portion.

Assignees

• Donaldson Co Inc

Inventors

• Adamek Daniel Eric
• Osendorf Richard J
• Nelson Benny K
• Einberger Joseph A

Classifications

• B01D46/0004 Primary

  Details of removable closures, lids, caps or filter heads · CPC title

• B01D2265/021

  Anti-rotational means · CPC title

• B01D46/2411

  Filter cartridges · CPC title

• B01D46/4227

  Manipulating filters or filter elements, e.g. handles or extracting tools · CPC title

• B01D2265/022

  Bayonet connecting means · CPC title