Fuel filter cartridges with automated air-bleeding internal features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11213775-B2
Application number	US-201816648594-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2018
Priority date	Sep 25, 2017
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A filter assembly includes a housing having an outer cavity and an inner cavity, and a gasket disposed within the housing. The gasket includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a vent passage. The gasket forms a first seal with a central tube at the inner surface. The central tube extends into the inner cavity and includes an opening. A filter element is positioned within the housing and includes a filter media configured to filter a fluid and an endcap including an annular tab portion that forms a second seal with the outer surface of the gasket when the filter element is positioned in an operating position within the housing. The vent passage circumvents the first seal and the second seal, allowing air to flow from the inner cavity of the housing to the opening in the central tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filter assembly comprising:
a housing having an outer cavity and an inner cavity;
a gasket disposed within the housing and comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and a vent passage, the gasket configured to form a first seal with a central tube at the inner surface, the central tube extending into the inner cavity and having an opening; and
a filter element positioned within the housing, the filter element comprising a filter media and an endcap, the filter media configured to filter a fluid, the endcap including an annular tab portion that forms a second seal with the outer surface of the gasket when the filter element is positioned in an operating position within the housing;
wherein the vent passage circumvents the first seal and the second seal, allowing air to flow from the inner cavity of the housing to the opening in the central tube.

2. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vent passage extends along the inner surface of the gasket between the gasket and the central tube.

3. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vent passage extends from a bottom surface of the gasket to a top surface of the gasket.

4. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vent passage extends along the outer surface of the gasket between the gasket and the endcap.

5. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gasket further comprises:
a top annular ring extending radially past the outer surface and the inner surface, the top annular ring having a horizontal slot extending therethrough; and
a bottom annular ring extending radially past the outer surface and the inner surface, the bottom annular ring having a vertical slot extending therethrough.

6. The filter assembly of claim 5 , wherein the horizontal slot extends through the top annular ring in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the outer surface and the vertical slot extends through the bottom annular ring in a second direction substantially parallel with the outer surface.

7. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is a porous gasket allowing air to flow from the inner cavity of the housing through the porous gasket and to the opening in the central tube.

8. The filter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the porous gasket allows air to move therethrough and prevents liquid from flowing therethrough.

9. The filter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the porous gasket is made from a sintered metal filter.

10. The filter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the porous gasket comprises a felt material.

11. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the endcap seals a dirty side of the filter media from a clean side of the filter media, the endcap comprising an air vent passage extending therethrough configured to vent air through the endcap from the outer cavity.

12. A filter assembly comprising:
a housing having an outer cavity and an inner cavity;
a gasket disposed within the housing and configured to form a first seal with an outer surface of a central tube extending into the inner cavity, the central tube including an opening formed in a top surface and a vent passage formed on the outer surface; and
a filter element positioned within the housing, the filter element comprising a filter media and an endcap, the filter media configured to filter a fluid, the endcap including an annular tab portion that forms a second seal with the gasket when the filter element is positioned in an operating position within the housing;
wherein the vent passage circumvents the first seal and the second seal allowing air to flow from the inner cavity of the housing to the opening in the central tube.

13. The filter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the vent passage is circular in cross-section.

14. The filter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the vent passage is rectangular in cross-section.

15. The filter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the endplate seals a dirty side of the filter media from a clean side of the filter media, the endcap comprising an air vent passage extending therethrough configured to vent air through the endcap from the outer cavity.

16. A filter assembly, comprising:
a gasket comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and a vent passage, the gasket configured to form a first seal with a central tube at the inner surface, the central tube extending into an inner cavity of a housing, the central tube having an opening; and
a filter element comprising a filter media and an endcap, the filter media configured to filter a fluid, the endcap including an annular tab portion that forms a second seal with the outer surface of the gasket;
wherein the vent passage circumvents the first seal and the second seal, allowing air to flow from the inner cavity of the housing to the opening in the central tube.

17. The filter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the vent passage extends along the inner surface of the gasket between the gasket and the central tube.

18. The filter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the vent passage extends from a bottom surface of the gasket to a top surface of the gasket.

19. The filter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the vent passage extends along the outer surface of the gasket between the gasket and the endcap.

20. The filter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the gasket is a porous gasket allowing air to flow from the inner cavity of the housing through the porous gasket and to the opening in the central tube.

21. A filter assembly comprising:
a housing having an outer cavity and an inner cavity;
a porous gasket disposed within the housing, the porous gasket surrounding and configured to seal with a central tube extending into the inner cavity, the central tube including an opening; and
a filter element positioned within the housing, the filter element comprising a filter media and an endcap, the filter media configured to filter a fluid, the endcap sealed with the porous gasket when the filter element is positioned in an operating position within the housing;
wherein the porous gasket allows air to flow from the inner cavity of the housing through the porous gasket and to the opening in the central tube.

Assignees

• Cummins Filtration Ip Inc

Inventors

• Bowerman Jeff A
• Bright Aarol Duane
• Herman Peter K
• Holzmann Mark V
• Kadam Pravin Shantinath
• Roysdon Eric

Classifications

• B01D36/001 Primary

  Filters in combination with devices for the removal of gas, air purge systems · CPC title

• F02M37/50

  Filters arranged in or on fuel tanks · CPC title

• B01D2201/295

  with projections extending in a radial outward direction, e.g. for use as a guide, spacing means · CPC title

• B01D29/15

  arranged for inward flow filtration · CPC title

• B01D2201/34

  Seals or gaskets for filtering elements · CPC title