Modular filter capsule apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731233-B2
Application number	US-201615231766-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2016
Priority date	Apr 6, 2012
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed is a disposable filter capsule apparatus that incorporates integral quick connect components and check valves to facilitate assembly to, and dis-assembly from, larger assemblies and apparatus. The quick connect elements and valves are configured to eliminate the need for auxiliary sealing elements, e.g., o-rings and valve springs so as to prevent unwanted reactions with fluids and/or gases flowing through the capsules, and to further prevent the disposal of expensive re-usable elements in the disposable capsules.

First claim

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A disposable filter capsule apparatus comprising:
a capsule body having portions defining a filter chamber;
a filter secured in the chamber;
at least one inlet port having an inner wall defining a port chamber in fluid communication with the filter chamber wherein the port extends from the capsule body, and wherein an inner junction of the capsule body and the port forms a tapered annular wall having a small diameter end and a large diameter end, wherein the small diameter end connects to the port chamber;
a quick connect fitting integral to the at least one inlet port;
an O-ring-free and rigid dual-flange check valve secured in the at least one inlet port, wherein the check valve defines an inner valve chamber and comprises a bottom flange and a top flange, wherein the bottom flange has a frustoconically shaped upper surface, wherein the bottom flange upper surface has portions defining a plurality of concentrically oriented annular shoulders of consecutively larger cross-sectional diameters and arranged along the axial length of the bottom flange upper surface so as to collectively form a uniformly sloped, uniformly serrated, frusto-conical flange in cross-section, wherein the uniform slope of the combined annular shoulders is substantially parallel with the slope of the tapered annular wall, and wherein an annular apex of each annular shoulder registers against the tapered annular wall to form a multi-segmented face seal when the check valve is in a closed position; and,
a valve retention ring secured in the capsule body and registered against the check valve.

2. The filter capsule of claim 1 wherein the top flange extends radially outwardly from a top end of the check valve and is dimensioned to fit within the port chamber.

3. The filter capsule of claim 2 , wherein the top flange further comprises a plurality of valve flange segments extending radially outwardly from a top surface of the top flange.

4. The filter capsule of claim 3 wherein the check valve further comprises at least one lateral port in fluid communication with the port chamber and the inner valve chamber.

5. The filter capsule of claim 3 wherein the valve stem comprises a first segment having portions defining a first segment press-fit surface and having the portions defining the flange, and a second segment having portions defining a second segment press-fit surface and having the plurality of valve flanges, wherein the first segment press-fit surface is connected to the second segment press-fit surface.

6. The filter capsule of claim 1 wherein the valve retention ring further comprises an annular perimeter ring with a plurality of flexible retention levers extending radially inwardly from the perimeter ring, wherein the plurality of retention levers register against the check valve stem.

7. The filter capsule of claim 6 wherein the plurality of retention levers register against one another at about a center point of the valve retention ring.

8. The filter capsule of claim 1 wherein the flange has portions defining a frustoconically shaped surface, wherein the surface registers against the tapered annular wall to form a face seal when the check valve is in a closed position.

9. The filter capsule of claim 1 wherein the port further comprises a top flange having portions defining a flange channel, and wherein the quick connect fitting is structured as a female fitting and comprises a locking sleeve engaged in the channel, a sleeve-releasing latch secured to the top flange and having portions engaged in the channel in registration with the locking sleeve and a locking pin secured in a bore formed in the wall of the port, wherein the sleeve has portions defining a slot, and wherein the locking pin passes through the slot.

10. The filter capsule of claim 1 wherein the quick connect fitting comprises a male quick connect fitting.

11. The filter capsule of claim 10 wherein the male fitting comprises:
a male fitting body having an inner wall defining a male port chamber;
an integral sleeve housing extending from the body, wherein the sleeve housing defines a sleeve housing chamber;
a male insertion tube having portions defining a tube chamber and male lateral ports in fluid communication with the housing chamber, wherein the insertion tube is dimensioned and configured to fit within the sleeve housing chamber, wherein the insertion tube can slide within the chamber, and wherein a distal end of the tube extends beyond a distal end of the sleeve housing; and,
a plunger structured and dimensioned to fit within the sleeve housing, wherein the plunger has portions defining a tapered distal end, wherein the distal end registers against a proximal end of the insertion tube, and wherein the plunger has portions defining an annular plunger shoulder at a proximal end.

12. The filter capsule of claim 11 wherein the male quick connect fitting further comprises a spring secured in the male port chamber and a cap secured to a distal end of the male fitting body, wherein the cap has portions defining a spring chamber in fluid communication with the male port chamber and further portions defining an outlet port in fluid communication with the spring chamber, and wherein one end of the spring registers against the plunger shoulder and the other end of the spring registers against the cap.

13. The filter capsule of claim 12 further comprising an O-ring, wherein the sleeve housing has portions defining an annular outer O-ring channel formed proximal to a distal end of the sleeve housing, wherein the O-ring is secured in the O-ring channel.

14. The filter capsule of claim 13 further comprising an annular lock channel formed on the sleeve housing for receiving the locking sleeve of the female quick connect fitting when the male fitting and female fitting are merged together.

15. The filter capsule of claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises a single layer with pore sizes from about 0.01 microns to about 50 microns.

16. The filter capsule of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises a plurality of membrane layers wherein each layer has the same pore size from about 0.01 microns to about 50 microns.

17. The filter capsule of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises a plurality of membrane layers wherein each layer has a different pore size each within the range of about 0.01 microns to about 50 microns.

18. The filter capsule of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises at least one microporous, hydrophilic or hydrophobic membrane, constructed from materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyethersulfone, polysulfone, cellulose acetate, Polytetrafluoro-ethylene (Teflon® PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) and its derivatives, MFA (co-polymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoromethyl vinyl ether, fluorinated ethylene propylene polymer (FEP) and mixtures thereof.

19. The filter capsule of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises a fibrous material selected from the group consisting of microfibers and nanofibers of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, carbon, fiberglass, polypropylene sulfide (PPS), Polytetrafluoro-ethylene (Teflon® PTFE), cellulose including cellulose/diatomaceous earth or silica blends, cellulose/carbon particles or fibers, cellulose/ion exchange resins and mixtures thereof.

20. The filter capsule of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one outlet port defining an outlet port chamber wherein the port extends

Assignees

• Saint Gobain Performance Plastics Corp

Inventors

• Lin Zhenwu

Classifications

• B01D2201/184

  Special form, dimension of the openings, pores of the filtering elements · CPC title

• B01D46/0013

  Modules · CPC title

• B01D46/4272

  Special valve constructions adapted to filters or filter elements · CPC title

• B01D35/153 Primary

  Anti-leakage or anti-return valves · CPC title

• B01D35/147

  Bypass or safety valves · CPC title