Granted Patent B2

US 7,854,837 · App. 12/267,916 · Granted Dec 21, 2010

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A filter cartridge, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical filter media adapted to allow fluid to pass from an exterior of said filter media to an interior of said filter media, said filter media having an upper longitudinal end and a lower longitudinal end;

a pressure relieving structure disposed at said upper end of said filter media, and said pressure relieving structure opening when a predetermined pressure level is established across said filter media to maintain said predetermined pressure across said filter media, the pressure relieving structure including a flexible valve member that flexes in response to said predetermined pressure level to allow fluid and/or air/vapor to pass from said exterior to said interior;

a top cap disposed at said upper end of said filter media and connected to said filter media;

a bottom cap disposed at said lower end of said filter media and having an opening adapted to receive a fluid outlet; and

a divider positioned adjacent to said exterior of said filter media, said divider having an upper end connected to said top cap and an open lower end that is longitudinally spaced from said bottom cap such that at least a portion of said filter media located adjacent to said bottom cap is not directly adjacent to said divider, and said divider extending a majority of the distance from said top cap to said bottom cap.

2. The filter cartridge as stated in claim 1 , said pressure relieving structure further comprising:

said top cap having said flexible valve member mounted therein for allowing said fluid and/or air/vapor to pass from said exterior of said filter media to said interior space when the pressure across said filter media reaches said predetermined level.

3. The filter cartridge as stated in claim 2 , said pressure relieving structure further comprising:

said top cap having a pressure-relieving aperture extending therethrough from said exterior to said interior;

said top cap having a mounting aperture formed therethrough from said exterior to said interior;

said flexible valve member having a flexible head portion that is disposed within said interior, wherein said head portion of said flexible valve member covers said pressure relieving aperture below said predetermined pressure level to block fluid and/or air/vapor from passing through said pressure relieving aperture and flexes away from said pressure relieving aperture at or above said predetermined pressure level to allow fluid and/or air/vapor to pass through said pressure relieving aperture from said exterior to said interior; and

said flexible valve member having a flexible stem portion that extends through said mounting aperture to fixedly connect said flexible valve member to said top cap and allow flexing of said head portion of said flexible valve member with respect to said top cap.

4. The filter cartridge of claim 3 , further comprising:

said pressure relieving aperture being smaller than said mounting aperture.

5. The filter cartridge as stated in claim 3 , said pressure relieving structure further comprising:

a sheet of filter media connected to said top cap and covering said pressure relieving aperture to prevent unfiltered fluid from passing through to said interior.

6. A filter cartridge for use in a fluid filter assembly having a vertical housing having a fluid inlet for communicating a fluid into the housing and a fluid outlet for communicating said fluid downstream of the housing, and the housing having an outer cover wherein at least a portion of the outer cover is transparent for viewing the level of the fluid in the housing, the filter cartridge comprising:

a substantially cylindrical filter media adapted to allow fluid to pass from an exterior of said filter media to an interior of said filter media, said filter media having an upper end and a lower end;

a top cap disposed at said upper end of said filter media and connected to said filter media, said top cap having a pressure-relieving aperture extending therethrough from said exterior to said interior and a mounting aperture extending therethrough from said exterior to said interior;

a bottom cap disposed at said lower end of said filter media and having an opening adapted to receive a fluid outlet; and

a flexible valve member having a flexible head portion that is disposed within said interior and is connected to said top cap, wherein said head portion of said flexible valve member covers said pressure relieving aperture below said predetermined pressure level to block fluid and/or air/vapor from passing through said pressure relieving aperture and flexes away from said pressure relieving aperture at or above said predetermined pressure level to allow fluid and/or air/vapor to pass through said pressure relieving aperture from said exterior to said interior, wherein the release of said pressure allows the level of said fluid to rise within the housing of the fluid filter assembly;

said flexible valve member having a flexible stem portion that extends through said mounting aperture and is at least partially disposed in engagement with said top end cap at said exterior to fixedly connect said flexible valve member to said top cap and allow flexing of said head portion of said flexible valve member with respect to said top cap, wherein said head portion and said stem portion of said flexible valve member define a unitary body of flexible material; and

a divider positioned adjacent to said exterior of said filter media, said divider having an upper end connected to said top cap and an open lower end, and said divider defining an interior region between the outside of said filter media and an inner surface of said divider and an exterior region adjacent to the outer surface of said divider, and said divider extending a majority of the distance from said top cap to said bottom cap, wherein said open lower end of said divider is longitudinally spaced from said bottom cap such that at least a portion of said filter media located adjacent to said bottom cap is not directly adjacent to said divider and said interior region and said exterior region are in communication at said open lower end of said divider.

7. The filter cartridge as stated in claim 6 , said pressure relieving structure further comprising:

a sheet of filter media connected to said top cap and covering said pressure relieving aperture to prevent unfiltered fluid from passing through to said interior.

8. A filter cartridge for use in a fluid filter assembly having a vertical housing having a fluid inlet for communicating a fluid into the housing and a fluid outlet for communicating said fluid downstream of the housing, and the housing having an outer cover wherein at least a portion of the outer cover is transparent for viewing the level of the fluid in the housing, the filter cartridge comprising:

a substantially cylindrical filter media adapted to allow fluid to pass from an exterior of said filter media to an interior space at least partially defined by said filter media;

a top cap disposed at said upper end of said interior space and connected to said filter media;

a bottom cap disposed at said lower end of said interior space and having an opening adapted to receive a fluid outlet; and

a divider positioned adjacent to said exterior of said cylindrical filter media, said divider having an upper end connected to said top cap and an open lower end, and said divider defining an interior region between the outside of said cylindrical filter media and an inner surface of said divider and an exterior region adjacent to the outer surface of said divider, and said divider extending a majority of the distance from said top cap to said bottom cap, wherein said open lower end of said divider is longitudinally spaced from said bottom cap such that at least a portion of said filter media located adjacent to said bottom cap is not directly adjacent to said divider and said interior region and said exterior region are in communication at said open lower end of said divider; and

said top cap having a pressure relieving structure that opens when a predetermined pressure level is established across said filter media, said pressure relieving structure allowing said fluid and/or air/vapor to pass through said pressure relieving structure when the pressure across said filter media reaches a predetermined level, wherein the release of said pressure allows the level of said fluid to rise within the housing of the fluid filter assembly.

9. The filter cartridge as stated in claim 8 , said pressure relieving structure further comprising:

said top cap having a pressure-relieving aperture extending therethrough from said exterior to said interior;

said top cap having a mounting aperture extending therethrough from said exterior to said interior;

said pressure relieving structure having a flexible valve member having a flexible head portion that is disposed within said interior, wherein said head portion of said flexible valve member covers said pressure relieving aperture below said predetermined pressure level to block fluid and/or air/vapor from passing through said pressure relieving aperture and flexes away from said pressure relieving aperture at or above said predetermined pressure level to allow fluid and/or air/vapor to pass through said pressure relieving aperture from said exterior to said interior; and

said flexible valve member having a flexible stem portion that extends through said mounting aperture and is at least partially disposed in engagement with said top end cap at said exterior to fixedly connect said flexible valve member to said top cap and allow flexing of said head portion of said flexible valve member with respect to said top cap, wherein said head portion and said stem portion of said flexible valve member define a unitary body of flexible material.

10. The filter cartridge as stated in claim 9 , said pressure relieving structure further comprising:

a sheet of filter media connected to said top cap and covering said pressure relieving aperture and said mounting aperture to prevent unfiltered fluid from passing through to said interior.

11. The filter cartridge as stated in claim 8 , further comprising:

said cylindrical filter media having a corrugated structure formed by a continuous sheet of filter media.

Assignments (8)