Alignment notch for an endcap of a filter element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12064718-B2
Application number	US-202318127185-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2023
Priority date	Jul 10, 2018
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A filtration system comprises a housing having a first housing end and a second housing end. The housing defines a central compartment therein. The housing includes an alignment tab disposed on the second housing end. The alignment tab protrudes from the second housing end towards the first housing end. A filter element is positioned within the housing. The filter element includes a first endcap, a second endcap, and filter media positioned between and extending axially between the first endcap and the second endcap. The filter media defines a central opening extending axially therein. An alignment notch is disposed on the second endcap, the alignment notch protruding from the second endcap toward the first endcap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filtration system, comprising:
a housing having a first housing end and a second housing end, the housing defining a central compartment therein, the housing comprising:
an alignment tab disposed on the second housing end, the alignment tab protruding from the second housing end towards the first housing end; and
a filter element positioned within the housing, the filter element comprising:
an endcap, comprising:
a first endcap surface;
a second endcap surface spaced axially apart from the first endcap surface, the second endcap surface extending along a perimeter of the endcap; and
an alignment notch element extending from the first endcap surface and protruding axially beyond the second endcap surface; and

filter media coupled to the endcap, the alignment notch element separating at least one pleat in the filter media from an adjacent pleat in the filter media, the alignment notch element defining an alignment notch.

2. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment notch element comprises a u-shaped protrusion that comprises a first notch surface and a second notch surface disposed away from the first notch surface, the first notch surface facing at least one pleat of the filter media when the filter element is disposed in the housing and the second notch surface facing the alignment tab when the filter element is disposed in the housing.

3. The filtration system of claim 2 , wherein the alignment notch element further comprises a top notch portion extending from a first portion of the first notch surface toward a second portion of the first notch surface and an inner circumferential surface extending from an end of the first portion of the first notch surface toward an end of the second portion of the first notch surface.

4. The filtration system of claim 3 , wherein the top notch portion and the first notch surface are configured to separate the at least one pleat in the filter media from the adjacent pleat in the filter media and to impede adhesive from the filter media from contacting the second notch surface.

5. The filtration system of claim 2 , wherein the alignment notch element further comprises a top notch portion extending from a first portion of the first notch surface toward a second portion of the first notch surface and an inner circumferential surface disposed between the top notch portion and an endcap surface, the inner circumferential surface disposed between the second notch surface and the filter media.

6. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the first endcap surface is substantially parallel to the second endcap surface.

7. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment notch element comprises a u-shaped protrusion that comprises a first notch surface and a second notch surface disposed away from the first notch surface, the first notch surface facing the at least one pleat of the filter media and the second notch surface facing the alignment tab when the filter element is disposed in the housing.

8. The filtration system of claim 7 , wherein the first housing end is adjacent a second endcap of the filter element when the filter element and the housing are aligned, the filter element and the housing being properly aligned when the filter element is rotated such that the alignment tab engages the alignment notch, and wherein the alignment tab comprises:
a first engagement surface protruding away from the first housing end, the first engagement surface adjacent the second notch surface; and
a second engagement surface spaced apart from the first housing end by the first engagement surface, the second engagement surface adjacent an inner circumferential surface of the alignment notch, the inner circumferential surface of the alignment notch.

9. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the first housing end is adjacent a second endcap of the filter element when the filter element and the housing are aligned, wherein the filter element and the housing are properly aligned when the filter element is rotated such that the alignment tab engages the alignment notch.

10. The filtration system of claim 9 , wherein the alignment tab comprises:
a first engagement surface protruding away from the first housing end, the first engagement surface adjacent an internal notch surface of the alignment notch;
a second engagement surface protruding away from the first housing end, the second engagement surface adjacent the internal notch surface of the alignment notch; and
a third engagement surface protruding away from the first housing end, the third engagement surface extending from the first engagement surface toward the second engagement surface.

11. The filtration system of claim 10 , wherein the third engagement surface is adjacent an inner circumferential surface of the alignment notch, the inner circumferential surface extending from an end of a first surface of the internal notch surface toward an end of a second surface of the internal notch surface.

12. The filtration system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment tab comprises an isosceles trapezoidal protrusion, and wherein the alignment notch element comprises a hollow isosceles trapezoidal protrusion.

13. A filter element, comprising:
an endcap, comprising:
a first endcap surface;
a second endcap surface spaced axially apart from the first endcap surface, the second endcap surface extending along a perimeter of the endcap; and
an alignment notch element extending from the first endcap surface and protruding axially beyond the second endcap surface; and
filter media coupled to the endcap, the alignment notch element separating at least one pleat in the filter media from an adjacent pleat in the filter media, the alignment notch element defining an alignment notch, the alignment notch element comprising an inner circumferential surface extending axially away from the first endcap surface and closing the alignment notch so as to prevent adhesive from spilling radially into the alignment notch,
wherein the alignment notch element comprises:
a protrusion having one of a u-shape and a v-shape, the protrusion comprising a first notch surface and a second notch surface disposed away from the first notch surface, the first notch surface adjacent at least one pleat of the filter media; and
a top notch portion extending spaced axially apart from the second endcap surface, the inner circumferential surface extending from an end of a first surface of the first notch surface toward an end of a second surface of the first notch surface.

14. The filter element of claim 13 , wherein the top notch portion and the first notch surface are configured to separate the at least one pleat in the filter media from the adjacent pleat in the filter media and to impede the adhesive from the filter media from contacting the second notch surface.

15. The filter element of claim 13 , wherein the top notch portion extends from a first portion of the first notch surface toward a second portion of the first notch surface, the inner circumferential surface disposed between the top notch portion and an endcap surface, the inner circumferential surface disposed between the second notch surface and the at least one pleat of the filter media.

16. The filter element of claim 13 , wherein the alignment notch defines an opening at an axial end of the alignment notch, the top notch portion at least partially covering the opening.

17. The filter element of claim 13 , wherein an axial end of the alignment notch defines a dome-like shape.

18. The filter element of claim

Assignees

• Cummins Filtration Ip Inc
• Davco Tech Llc

Inventors

• Young Joshua Luther
• Olson Dean
• Curt Carey A
• Hall Philip S
• Chajec Zdzislaw

Classifications

• B01D2201/291

  End caps · CPC title

• B01D35/30

  Filter housing constructions · CPC title

• B01D35/147

  Bypass or safety valves · CPC title

• B01D2201/4053

  using keys · CPC title

• B01D2201/295

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