Gas compressor filter element
A filter element for use in a gas compression system is disclosed and is structured to filter a lubricant mist from a flow of compressed gas. The filter element includes a lip and a separator flange that extends from the lip in a generally downward direction to a basket. The basket can contain a filter media useful to remove lubricant mist from the flow of compressed gas. The separator flange is oriented in a downward direction to encourage condensate to flow toward the basket and away from a lid of a container in which the filter element is installed.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a compressed air filter element configured to filter mixed stream of compressed gas and oil mist, the compressed air filter element having:
a basket having an interior into which a filter media is located when installed, the basket including an exterior shell having a plurality of apertures into which flow the mixed stream of compressed gas and oil mist;
a lip located at an end of the basket and structured to engage a lid of a filter container, the lip oriented transverse to the exterior shell of the basket and having a circumferentially extending surface around the interior of the basket and having a portion located in a plane of capture used to support the compressed air filter element when in an installed configuration; and
a separator element flange directly connected to the lip and to the exterior shell and not otherwise extending past the exterior shell, the separator element flange located entirely on one side of the plane in which is located the portion of the circumferentially extending surface of the lip, the separator element flange including a surface forming a flow path that descends from the lip to the interior of the basket such that a liquid forming on the separator element flange is urged to flow into the interior of the basket.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , which further includes a filter media captured between the exterior shell and an inner wall, the inner wall having a plurality of apertures from which flow a filtered compressed gas.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the separator flange element extends away from the lip to the exterior shell without reversing direction and returning in direction toward the plane in which is located the circumferentially extending surface of the lip.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the basket includes a top and a bottom, the top including an open first end proximate the lip and the bottom including a closed second end, the compressed air filter element further including a fluid conduit which extends between the closed second end toward the open first end and structured to convey consolidated liquid located in the bottom of the basket toward the open first end.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , which further includes an air compressor and a conduit in fluid communication with the air compressor, the conduit connected to a container within which is disposed the compressed air filter element, the conduit structured to convey a mixed stream of oil mist and compressed air to be filtered by the filter media.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the container includes a lid which can be placed in an open position permitting insertion of the compressed air filter element and a closed position permitting filtering of the mixed stream of oil mist and compressed air, and which further includes a non-metallic sealer in intimate contact with the lid and the lip.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the separator element flange extends downwardly from the lip such that condensate forming on the separator element flange will be urged to flow toward the interior of the compressed air filter element.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the separator element flange is directly connected between the lip and the exterior shell.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the inner wall is a wire mesh, and wherein the plurality of apertures are circular holes.