Replaceable filter elements including plural filter media and related filtration systems, techniques and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9670888-B2
Application number	US-201314018687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2013
Priority date	Jun 20, 2006
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

One embodiment is a filter element including an outer filter media and an inner filter media. The outer filter media is operable to remove particulates present in a flow of fluid and/or coalesce water contained in the flow of fluid. The inner filter media is operable to remove particulates from the flow of fluid, separate water form the flow of fluid, and remove particulates from the flow of fluid. Other embodiments include unique apparatus, devices, systems, and methods relating to fuel filters and filtration. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present application shall become apparent from the detailed description and figures included herewith.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel filter, comprising:
a housing for housing a filter element;
the filter element including:
an inner filter media stage that defines an inner fluid chamber for filtered fuel,
an outer filter media stage spaced radially apart from the inner filter media stage, the outer filter media stage having a vertical length longer than that of the inner filter media stage,
an upper end cap at an upper end of the outer filter media stage, the upper end cap including an outer edge and an inside edge, wherein the outer edge includes a first flange protruding downwardly from the outer edge,
a lower end cap structure at a lower end of the outer filter media stage,
an internal segment that extends from the upper end cap to a base portion to form an internal connection chamber, the base portion provided at a top surface of the inner filter media stage, the internal segment including a downwardly extending segment secured to the outside surface of the inner filter media stage and a second flange provided at an inner edge of the base portion, the second flange extending downwardly from the inner edge of the base portion in parallel with an inside surface of the inner filter media stage, wherein the second flange defines an opening leading to the inner fluid chamber,
wherein the inner filter media stage, the outer filter media stage, the upper end cap, the lower end cap structure, the internal segment and the base portion are configured to prevent fuel passing through the outer filter media stage from bypassing the inner filter media stage so that all of the fuel flows through and is filtered by the inner filter media stage and enters the inner fluid chamber.

2. The fuel filter of claim 1 , wherein the filter element further includes a first centertube adjacent to the inside surface of the outer filter media stage and a second centertube adjacent on one side to the inside surface of the inner filter media stage and adjacent on an opposite side to the second flange.

3. The fuel filter of claim 1 , wherein the filter element further includes an axial gap formed between the lower portion of the outer filter media stage and a lower portion of the inner filter media stage.

4. A fuel filter, comprising:
a housing for housing a filter element;
the filter element including:
an inner filter media stage that defines an inner fluid chamber for filtered fuel,
an outer filter media stage spaced radially apart from the inner filter media stage, the outer filter media stage having a vertical length longer than that of the inner filter media stage,
an upper end cap at an upper end of the outer filter media stage, the upper end cap including an outer edge and an inside edge, wherein the outer edge includes a first flange protruding downwardly from the outer edge,
an internal segment that extends from the upper end cap to a base portion to form an internal connection chamber, the base portion provided at a top surface of the inner filter media stage, the internal segment including a downwardly extending segment secured to the outside surface of the inner filter media stage and a second flange provided at an inner edge of the base portion, the second flange extending downwardly from the inner edge of the base portion in parallel with an inside surface of the inner filter media stage, wherein the second flange defines an opening leading to the inner fluid chamber, and
an upper cap member having an upwardly extending flange, a mid-section, and a downwardly extending flange, where the mid-section is positioned on an upper surface of the upper end cap and the downwardly extending flange is positioned adjacent the inside surface of the outer filter media stage.

5. The fuel filter of claim 4 , further comprising a cylindrical seal connected with a lower edge of the downwardly extending flange of the upper cap member.

6. The fuel filter of claim 1 , further comprising a nutplate that includes a central threaded segment that protrudes upwardly from a base portion of the nutplate and a wing portion that extends upwardly and outwardly away from the base portion, the wing portion having a plurality of fluid passing apertures located circumferentially around the wing portion.

7. The fuel filter of claim 6 , further comprising an external seal connected to an outer upper edge of the housing, the external seal having a downwardly extending segment abutting an inner edge of the nutplate.

8. The fuel filter of claim 1 , further comprising a spring engaged with the filter element and positioned within an interior space of the housing.

9. The fuel filter of claim 1 , wherein the outer filter media stage is adapted to capture particulates entrained in a flow of fuel, and the inner filter media stage is adapted to capture particulates entrained in the flow of fuel.

10. The fuel filter of claim 1 , wherein the housing is generally cylindrical, with an opening at one end of the housing.

11. The fuel filter of claim 1 , wherein the lower end cap structure includes a lower base portion secured to a lower portion of the outer filter media stage, the lower base portion having an outer flange that protrudes from an outer edge of the lower end cap.

12. The fuel filter of claim 1 , wherein the lower end cap structure includes an upper base portion secured to a lower portion of the inner filter media stage, the upper base portion having a second outer flange that protrudes from an outer edge of the upper base portion.

13. The fuel filter of claim 1 , wherein the lower end cap structure includes:
a first lower end cap positioned at a second end of the outer filter media stage and a second lower end cap positioned at a second end of the inner filter media stage,
the first lower end cap including a lower base portion secured to a lower portion of the outer filter media stage, the lower base portion having an outer flange that protrudes from an outer edge of the first lower end cap, and
the second lower end cap including an upper base portion secured to a lower portion of the inner filter media stage, the upper base portion having a second outer flange that protrudes from an outer edge of the upper base portion.

14. A filter element, comprising:
an inner filter media stage that defines an inner fluid chamber for filtered fuel,
an outer filter media stage spaced radially apart from the inner filter media stage, the outer filter media stage having a vertical length longer than that of the inner filter media stage;
an upper end cap and a lower end cap at opposing ends of the outer filter media stage, the upper end cap including an outer edge and an inside edge, wherein the outer edge includes a first flange protruding downwardly from the outer edge;
an internal segment that extends from the upper end cap to a base portion to form an internal connection chamber, the base portion provided at a top surface of the inner filter media stage, the internal segment including a downwardly extending segment secured to the outside surface of the inner filter media stage and a second flange provided at an inner edge of the base portion, the second flange extending downwardly from the inner edge of the base portion in parallel with an inside surface of the inner filter media stage, wherein the second flange defines an opening leading to the inner fluid chamber,
wherein the inner filter media stage, the outer filter media stage, the upper end cap, the lower end cap, the internal segment and the base portion are configured to prevent fuel passing through the outer filter media stage from bypassing the inner filter media stage so that all of the fuel flows through and is filtered by th

Assignees

• Cummins Filtration Ip Inc

Inventors

• Jiang Zemin
• Mccormick Melvin Douglas
• Genter David P
• Blizard Norman C
• Husband Jeffrey A
• Connor Michael J
• Abdalla Wassem
• Verdegan Barry M

Classifications

• B01D27/148

  arranged concentrically or coaxially · CPC title

• B01D36/003

  Filters in combination with devices for the removal of liquids (B01D35/185 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02M37/221 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• B01D27/06 Primary

  with corrugated, folded or wound material · CPC title

• Y10S210/05

  Coalescer · CPC title