Spring biased filter element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10913018-B2
Application number	US-201715613436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2017
Priority date	Jun 5, 2017
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A filter element for use in a housing of a filter assembly having a cover and a seal therebetween. The housing includes inlet and outlet valves. The filter element comprises a first endcap and a second endcap including an inlet valve actuator. A cylindrical ring of filter media extends axially between the first and second endcaps and surrounds a center tube that defines an outlet having an outlet valve actuator. A sleeve positioned to receive and exert force in a first and second direction surrounds a bias member. Threading the cover to the housing compresses the bias member causing the inlet and outlet valve actuators to actuate the inlet and outlet valves. Removing the cover causes extension of the bias member and the inlet and outlet valve actuators to retreat from the inlet and outlet valves before the seal between the cover and the housing is broken.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A filter element for use in a housing of a filter assembly comprising:
a cylindrical ring of filter media circumscribing a longitudinal axis and extending axially between a first endcap and a second endcap having an inlet valve actuator;
a coaxial center tube circumscribed by the filter media and defining an opening;
a sleeve concentric with the center tube defining an annular cavity and surrounding a bias member captured between the sleeve and the center tube, the sleeve receiving and exerting force in a first and second direction,
wherein, an application of force on the first endcap causes the sleeve to exert force in the first direction compressing the bias member and a removal of the force from the first endcap causes the bias member to extend and urge the sleeve in the second direction.

2. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the urging of the sleeve in the second direction causes the filter element to move in the first direction.

3. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the center tube includes a radially projecting annular shoulder defining an annular slot, the annular shoulder positioned within the sleeve and the annular slot capturing a first end of the bias member.

4. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the center tube includes a radially projecting annular shoulder positioned within the sleeve and defining an annular slot, the bias member captured between the annular slot at one end and the sleeve at a another end, the bias member compressing when force is exerted on the first endcap and extending when force is removed from the first endcap.

5. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a ramped stop abutted by an annular shoulder projecting radially from the center tube when the bias member is in an extended position.

6. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the inlet valve actuator is a ring protruding coaxially from the second endcap.

7. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the center tube defines a cup-shaped reservoir communicating with a conduit, the conduit leading to a return opening including an outlet valve actuator.

8. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the bias member is a wave spring.

9. A filter assembly comprising:
a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing including an inlet having an inlet valve and an outlet having an outlet valve;
a cover including a seal threaded to the first end of the housing;
a cylindrical ring of filter media circumscribing a longitudinal axis and extending axially between a first endcap and a second endcap having an inlet valve actuator, the filter media positioned within the housing;
a coaxial center tube circumscribed by the filter media and including a support assembly, wherein the support assembly includes a bias member surrounded by a sleeve, the sleeve exerting force in a first direction compressing the bias member in response to the cover being threaded to the housing and the bias member extending moving the sleeve in a second direction in response to removal of the cover from the housing;
wherein, in response to a force exerted on the first endcap the inlet valve actuator causes the inlet valve to open and in response to a removal of force exerted on the first endcap the support assembly causes the inlet valve to close.

10. The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the support assembly includes a bias member.

11. The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the support assembly includes a coil spring.

12. The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein threading the cover to the housing exerts a force on the first endcap and removing the cover relieves the force exerted on the first endcap.

13. The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the seal is positioned a distance D 1 from an upper edge of the housing that is greater than a distance D 2 that the inlet valve actuator retreats to cause the inlet valve to close.

14. The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein during removal of the cover from the housing, the inlet and outlet valves are closed before the seal between the housing and the cover is no longer effective.

15. The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the support assembly includes an annular shoulder projecting radially from the center tube and defining an annular slot, a coaxial sleeve concentric with the shoulder defining an annular cavity and surrounding a bias member, the bias member captured between the slot and the sleeve.

16. The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the support assembly includes a bias member and receives and exerts force axially in a first direction causing compression of the bias member and receives and exerts force axially in a second direction in response to extension of the bias member.

17. A method of removing a filter element for use in a housing of a filter assembly having an inlet valve and an outlet valve, said method of removing the filter element comprising:
providing a cylindrical ring of filter media circumscribing a longitudinal axis and extending axially between a first endcap and a second endcap having an inlet valve actuator;
providing a coaxial center tube circumscribed by the filter media and having a support assembly, wherein the support assembly comprises a bias member which is positioned to receive force axially in a first direction causing compression of the bias member and positioned to exert force in a second direction in response to extension of the bias member;
wherein, in response to a force exerted on the first endcap the inlet valve actuator engages the inlet valve and in response to a removal of force exerted on the first endcap the support assembly causes the inlet valve actuator to disengage the inlet valve.

18. The method of removing a filter element for use in a housing from claim 17 , wherein the step of providing a coaxial center tube having a support assembly includes the support assembly comprising a bias member and receiving force axially in a first direction in response to an exertion of force on the first endcap and receiving force in a second direction in response to a removal of force on the first endcap.

Assignees

• Baldwin Filters Inc

Inventors

• Moore Jonathan D
• Merritt Steven J

Classifications

• B01D29/21

  with corrugated, folded or wound sheets · CPC title

• B01D2201/291

  End caps · CPC title

• B01D35/1573

  Flow control valves · CPC title

• B01D35/1475 Primary

  Pressure relief valves or pressure control valves · CPC title