Granted Patent B1

US 7,531,090 · App. 11/113,051 · Granted May 12, 2009

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A filter element removably positionable within a filter chamber defined by a filter housing, the filter housing comprising a standpipe extending within the filter chamber, said standpipe provided with a flow control valve for selectively controlling fluid flow through said standpipe, said filter element comprising:

a tubular filter media circumscribing a central axis;

a first end cap supporting said filter media at one end thereof;

a second end cap longitudinally spaced from said first end cap and supporting said filter media at the opposite end thereof; and

a center tube extending between said second end cap and said first end cap, said center tube having a substantially cylindrical body extending between opposite first and second ends of said center tube,

said center tube having at least one inlet opening formed on said cylindrical body and a standpipe opening at said second end thereof adjacent to said second end cap through which said standpipe may be inserted longitudinally into said center tube;

said center tube having at least one actuator key having a portion located radially inwardly from said center tube and provided to actuate said flow control valve of said standpipe, wherein said at least one actuator key is located between said first and second end caps and setoff from said central axis.

2. The filter element as defined in claim 1 , wherein said flow control valve includes at least one inlet opening in a distal end of said standpipe fluidly connected to an outlet port of the filter housing for directing filtered fluid from said filter element to the outlet port.

3. The filter element as defined in claim 1 , wherein said at least one actuator pin longitudinally extends inwardly into said center tube in the direction from said first end toward said second end thereof.

4. The filter element as defined in claim 3 , wherein said at least one actuator pin includes a plurality of actuator pins extending into said center tube and circumferentially spaced apart.

5. The filter element as defined in claim 1 , wherein said first and second end caps of said filter element are radially spaced from an inner peripheral surface of said filter housing.

6. The filter element as defined in claim 1 , wherein said first end cap has a central hole therethrough and said first end said of center tube extends trough said central hole in said first end cap of said filter element.

7. The filter element as defined in claim 6 , further including an annular seal member circumferentially bounding said central hole in said first end cap.

8. The filter element as defined in claim 1 , wherein said first end cap has an end wall disposed in said first end of said center tube of said filter element.

9. The filter element as defined in claim 1 , wherein the center tube defines a radially extending shoulder located between said first and second end caps, and wherein said at least one actuator key extends from said radially extending shoulder.

10. The filter element as defined in claim 1 , further including an annular seal member circumferentially bounding said standpipe opening of said center tube.

11. The filter element as defined in claim 9 , wherein the radially extending shoulder radially reduces a diameter of the center tube between a first side of said shoulder and one of said first end cap and said second end cap.

12. The fluid filter assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein said filter housing is provided with an inlet port in fluid communication with said filter chamber and an outlet port in fluid communication with an internal flow passage of said standpipe.

13. The fluid filter assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein said at least one actuator key is provided to mate with a complementary actuator opening in a closure element of said flow control valve of said standpipe.

14. A fluid filter assembly comprising:

a filter housing defining a filter chamber;

a stand pipe extending upwardly into said filter chamber of said filter housing;

said standpipe including an internal flow passage and provided with a flow control valve for selectively controlling fluid flow through said standpipe; and

a filter element removably positionable within said filter chamber of said filter housing, said filter element comprising:

a tubular filter media circumscribing a central axis;

a first end cap supporting said filter media at one end thereof;

a second end cap longitudinally spaced from said first end cap and supporting said filter media at the opposite end thereof; and

a center tube extending between said second end cap and said first end cap, said center tube having a substantially cylindrical body extending between opposite first and second ends of said center tube, said center tube disposed about said standpipe substantially coaxially with said central axis,

said center tube having at least one inlet opening formed on said cylindrical body and a standpipe opening at said second end thereof adjacent to said second end cap through which said standpipe may be inserted longitudinally into said center tube;

said center tube having at least one actuator key provided to actuate said flow control valve of said standpipe for providing fluid communication between said filter chamber and said internal flow passage of said standpipe, wherein said at least one actuator key is located between said first and second end caps and distanced from said central axis.

15. The fluid filter assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein said filter housing includes a cylindrical cup-shaped bowl having a closed end and an opposite open end and a cover removably attached to said open end of said bowl.

16. The fluid filter assembly as defined in claim 14 , wherein said filter housing is provided with an inlet port in fluid communication with said filter chamber and an outlet port in fluid communication with said internal flow passage of said standpipe.

17. The filter element as defined in claim 1 , wherein said at least one inlet opening of said center tube are radially formed on said cylindrical body such that fluid can radially enter said center tube through said at least one inlet opening.

18. The filter element as defined in claim 14 , wherein said at least one inlet opening of said center tube are radially formed on said cylindrical body such that fluid can radially enter said center tube through said at least one inlet opening.

19. The filter element as defined in claim 14 , wherein the center tube defines a radially extending shoulder located between said first and second end caps, and wherein said at least one actuator key extends from said radially extending shoulder.

20. The filter element as defined in claim 19 , wherein the radially extending shoulder radially reduces a diameter of the center tube between a first side of said shoulder and one of said first end cap and said second end cap.

Assignments (9)