Filter element and filter assembly with recirculation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9808745-B2
Application number	US-201414223125-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2014
Priority date	Mar 24, 2014
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A filter element may include a tubular member including a partition at least partially defining first and second chambers. The tubular member may further include at least one outlet aperture and at least one inlet aperture configured to provide flow communication exiting from the first chamber and flow communication into the second chamber, respectively. The filter element may be configured such that fluid passing through the filter element from an inlet port to an outlet port passes through the first chamber, a filter medium, and the second chamber. The filter element may also include an end cap having a return aperture configured to provide flow communication between fluid exiting from the first chamber and fluid entering the inlet port, wherein a portion of fluid exiting from the first chamber is returned to the inlet port for recirculation through the first chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filter element comprising:
a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and including:
a partition at least partially defining a first chamber and at least partially defining a second chamber, the partition extending longitudinally in the tubular member and being configured to prevent flow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber within the tubular member;
an end portion at least partially defining an inlet port configured to provide flow communication into the first chamber, and at least partially defining an outlet port configured to provide flow communication exiting from the second chamber;
at least one outlet aperture configured to provide flow communication exiting from the first chamber; and
at least one inlet aperture configured to provide flow communication into the second chamber;

a filter medium associated with the at least one outlet aperture and the at least one inlet aperture, wherein the filter element is configured such that fluid passing through the filter element from the inlet port to the outlet port passes through the first chamber, the filter medium, and the second chamber; and
an end cap defining a return aperture and a return passage, the return aperture being configured to provide flow communication between fluid exiting from the first chamber and fluid entering the inlet port, the return aperture being in fluid communication with the first chamber via the return passage, the end cap including
a plate extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, the return aperture extending through the plate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and
a wall extending transverse to the plate, the wall defining a return orifice extending radially through the wall and being in flow communication with the return aperture via the return passage in the end cap.

2. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the end cap is associated with the end portion of the tubular member.

3. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the filter medium includes a first portion associated with the at least one outlet aperture, and a second portion associated with the at least one inlet aperture.

4. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the filter medium includes a first portion associated with the at least one outlet aperture, and a second portion associated with the at least one inlet aperture, and wherein the first portion of the filter medium has first filtering characteristics, and the second portion of the filter medium has second filtering characteristics different from the first filtering characteristics.

5. The filter element of claim 1 , wherein the return aperture is a first return aperture, and the end cap further includes a second return aperture in the plate on an opposite side of the end portion of the tubular member from the first return aperture.

6. A filter assembly comprising:
a filter base configured to be coupled to a machine;
a canister having an open end and a closed end and being configured to be coupled to the filter base; and
a filter element configured to be received in the canister, the filter element including:
a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and including:
a partition at least partially defining a first chamber and at least partially defining a second chamber, the partition extending longitudinally in the tubular member and being configured to prevent flow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber within the tubular member;
an end portion at least partially defining an inlet port configured to provide flow communication into the first chamber, and at least partially defining an outlet port configured to provide flow communication exiting from the second chamber;
at least one outlet aperture configured to provide flow communication exiting from the first chamber; and
at least one inlet aperture configured to provide flow communication into the second chamber;

a filter medium associated with the at least one outlet aperture and the at least one inlet aperture, wherein the filter element is configured such that fluid passing through the filter element from the inlet port to the outlet port passes through the first chamber, the filter medium, and the second chamber; and
an end cap defining a return aperture and a return passage, the return aperture being configured to provide flow communication between fluid exiting from the first chamber and fluid entering the inlet port, the return aperture being in fluid communication with the first chamber via the return passage, the end cap including
a plate extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, the return aperture extending through the plate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and
a wall extending transverse to the plate, the wall defining a return orifice extending radially through the wall and being in flow communication with the return aperture via the return passage in the end cap.

7. The filter assembly of claim 6 , wherein the return aperture is a first return aperture, and the end cap further includes a second return aperture on an opposite side of the end portion of the tubular member from the first return aperture.

8. The filter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the filter base includes a recess configured to correspond to the second return aperture, and wherein the recess is configured to block fluid flow communication from the second return aperture.

9. The filter assembly of claim 8 , wherein the end cap includes a first flange extending around the first return aperture and a second flange extending around the second return aperture, and wherein a return port of the filter base is configured to receive the first flange and the recess of the filter base is configured to receive the second flange.

10. A fuel system comprising:
a pump configured to draw fuel from a tank and supply fuel to an engine;
a primary filter assembly in flow communication with the pump and configured to at least one of separate fluid from the fuel and filter particles from the fuel;
a secondary filter assembly in flow communication with the pump and configured to filter particles from the fuel; and
fluid lines providing flow communication between the primary filter assembly and the pump, and between the pump and a secondary filter assembly,
wherein the secondary filter assembly includes:
a filter base;
a canister having an open end and a closed end and being configured to be coupled to the filter base; and
a filter element configured to be received in the canister, the filter element including:
a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and including:
a partition at least partially defining a first chamber and at least partially defining a second chamber, the partition extending longitudinally in the tubular member and being configured to prevent flow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber within the tubular member;
an end portion at least partially defining an inlet port configured to provide flow communication into the first chamber, and at least partially defining an outlet port configured to provide flow communication exiting from the second chamber;
at least one outlet aperture configured to provide flow communication exiting from the first chamber; and
at least one inlet aperture configured to provide flow communication into the second chamber;

a filter medium associated with the at least one outlet aperture and the at least one inlet aperture, wherein the filter element is configured such that fluid passing through the filter element from the inlet port to the outlet port passes through the first chamber, the filter medium, and the second chamber; and
an end cap

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Morris Bryant A
• Ries Jeffrey R

Classifications

• B01D29/114

  arranged for inward flow filtration (B01D29/15, B01D29/33 take precedence) · CPC title

• B01D29/232 Primary

  with corrugated, folded or wound sheets · CPC title

• B01D2201/0415

  Details of supporting structures · CPC title

• B01D29/21

  with corrugated, folded or wound sheets · CPC title

• B01D2201/291

  End caps · CPC title