Enhanced fuel water separation using structural embossing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12296287-B2
Application number	US-202217678171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2022
Priority date	Aug 26, 2019
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

A filter media, filter element, filter system and methods are provided. The filter media provides improved filter characteristics including water separation efficiency. The filter media may include one or more of increased surface roughness and/or embossments. The filter media may be provided by pleated filter media.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pleated filter element comprising:
pleated filter media having a first side forming an upstream surface and a second side forming a downstream surface, the pleated filter media including a plurality of pleat flanks and a plurality of folds, adjacent pleat flanks connected by a corresponding one of the plurality of folds; and
a plurality of structural embossments formed in at least one of the first and second sides of the pleat flanks, each structural embossment having a first end and a second end, the first and second end defining an embossment axis of the structural embossment, the embossment axis extending at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular orientation relative to the folds connected to the corresponding pleat flank;
wherein:
a first structural embossment of the plurality of structural embossments and a second structural embossment of the plurality of structural embossments are formed in a first pleat flank of the plurality pleat flanks;
the embossment axis of the first structural embossment extending at a different angle than the embossment axis of the second structural embossment; and
the pleated filter media has a gravitational top and a gravitational bottom, the gravitational top being vertically above the gravitational bottom, the folds extending between the gravitational top and the gravitation bottom, the embossment axis of the first structural embossment being less aligned with gravity than the embossment axis of the second structural embossment, the first structural embossment being located closer to the gravitational top than the second structural embossment.

2. The pleated filter element of claim 1 , wherein:
the pleated filter media forms a tube of filter media defining a longitudinal central axis, the folds extend parallel to the longitudinal central axis; and
each structural embossment is elongated along the structural embossment's embossment axis.

3. The pleated filter element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structural embossments each have a width that is generally perpendicular to the embossment axis, the width increasing when moving from the first end toward the second end.

4. A pleated filter element comprising:
pleated filter media having a first side forming an upstream surface and a second side forming a downstream surface, the pleated filter media including a plurality of pleat flanks and a plurality of folds, adjacent pleat flanks connected by a corresponding one of the plurality of folds; and
a plurality of structural embossments formed in at least one of the first and second sides of the pleat flanks, each structural embossment having a first end and a second end, the first and second end defining an embossment axis of the structural embossment, the embossment axis extending at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular orientation relative to the folds connected to the corresponding pleat flank;

wherein:
a first structural embossment of the plurality of structural embossments and a second structural embossment of the plurality of structural embossments are formed in a first pleat flank of the plurality pleat flanks;
a third structural embossment of the plurality of structural embossments is formed in a second pleat flank of the plurality of pleat flanks, a first fold of the plurality of folds being formed between the first and second pleat flanks, the first end of the third structural embossment being positioned axially between the first ends of the first and second structural embossments along the first fold and the first end of the second structural embossment being positioned axially between the first and second ends of the third structural embossment, the first, second, and third structural embossments forming a shingled orientation;
the first and second structural embossments form a projection on the first side of the pleated filter media and a depression on the second side of the pleated filter media;
the third structural embossment forms a projection on the second side of the second pleat flank and a depression on the first side of the second pleat flank.

5. The pleated filter element of claim 1 , wherein:
the filtration media is formed into a tube of pleated filter media defining a central longitudinal axis;
each of the structural embossments form a projection on one of the first and second sides of the corresponding pleat flank and a depression in the other one of the first and second sides of the corresponding pleat flank;
wherein a width of the projection and depth of the depression measured generally perpendicular to the corresponding pleat flank increases when moving radially away from the central longitudinal axis of the tube of pleated filter media and along the embossment axis.

6. The pleated filter element of claim 1 , wherein:
the pleated filter media is formed into a tube of pleated filter media, the tube of pleated filter media defining a central longitudinal axis, the tube of pleated filter media and is configured for fluid to be filtered to flow radially through the tube of pleated filter media as the fluid is filtered;
the tube of pleated filter media has a gravitational top and a gravitational bottom, the gravitational top being vertically above the gravitational bottom, the central longitudinal axis and folds extending between the gravitational top and the gravitation bottom, the embossment axis of the structural embossments being oriented relative to the longitudinal axis such that when moving along the embossment axis towards the gravitation bottom, the embossment axis moves radially outward and away from the longitudinal axis.

7. A method of making a filter element of claim 1 comprising:
providing filter media;
embossing the filter media with a plurality of structural embossments;
folding the filter media about a plurality of folds to form a plurality of pleat flanks.

8. A method of filtering water from a flow of fuel comprising:
passing the flow of fuel through the filter media of the filter element of claim 1 as the fuel flows from an inlet of the filter element to an outlet of the filter element.

9. A filtration system comprising:
a filter head having an inlet and an outlet;
a housing, the housing defining a sump region;
a filter element according to claim 1 positioned within the housing vertically.

10. A pleated filter element comprising:
pleated filter media having a first side forming an upstream surface and a second side forming a downstream surface, the pleated filter media including a plurality of pleat flanks and a plurality of folds, adjacent pleat flanks connected by a corresponding one of the plurality of folds; and
a plurality of structural embossments formed in at least one of the first and second sides of the pleat flanks, each structural embossment having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends defining an embossment axis of the structural embossment, the embossment axis extending at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular orientation relative to the folds connected to the corresponding pleat flank;
wherein:
a first structural embossment of the plurality of structural embossments and a second structural embossment of the plurality of structural embossments are formed in a first pleat flank of the plurality pleat flanks;
the embossment axis of the first structural embossment extending at a first angle relative to the pleat folds;
the embossment axis of the second structural embossment extending at a second angle relative to the pleat folds;
wherein the first angle and the second angle extend at different angles relative to a same pleat fold, wherein the first and second angles are both less than ninety (90) degrees relative to the same pleat fold when me

Assignees

• Parker Hannifin Corp

Inventors

• Tate Jason L
• Bokka Sreevalli

Classifications

• B01D2201/32

  Flow characteristics of the filter · CPC title

• B01D2201/12

  Pleated filters · CPC title

• B01D17/045

  with coalescers · CPC title

• B01D35/005

  Filters specially adapted for use in internal-combustion engine lubrication or fuel systems · CPC title

• B01D17/06

  Separation of liquids from each other by electricity · CPC title