DISPOSABLE FILTER WITH AN ACCESSORY PORT
A disposable filter for filtering a working fluid including a housing having an inlet to be disposed in fluid communication with a working fluid and an outlet to be disposed in fluid communication with a machine. A filter media is disposed within the housing for filtering the working fluid passing through the disposable filter between the inlet and outlet. At least one accessory port is positioned adjacent to and fluidly connected to at least one of the inlet and the outlet for receiving an accessory for monitoring a characteristic of the working fluid passing through the inlet or the outlet of the disposable filter and/or an operational condition of the disposable filter or associated machinery.
1 . A disposable filter for filtering a working fluid comprising:
a housing including an inlet to be disposed in fluid communication with a working fluid and an outlet to be disposed in fluid communication with a machine;
a filter media disposed within said housing for filtering said working fluid passing through said disposable filter between said inlet and outlet; and
at least one accessory port positioned adjacent to and fluidly connected at least one of said inlet and said outlet for receiving an accessory for monitoring a characteristic of said working fluid passing through said inlet or said outlet of the disposable filter and/or an operational condition of the disposable filter or associated machinery.
2 . A disposable filter of claim 1 further including an accessory coupled with said accessory port for monitoring a characteristic of said working fluid passing through said inlet or said outlet of said disposable filter and/or an operational condition of the disposable filter or associated machinery.
3 . A disposable filter of claim 2 wherein said accessory is a getter and includes a magnet for drawing particulate from said working fluid toward said magnet, and a sight window for allowing a user to inspect said particulate drawn to said magnet.
4 . A disposable filter of claim 3 wherein said magnet is removably connected to said window to allow said magnet to be removed from said window such that said window may be cleaned.
5 . A disposable filter of claim 2 wherein said accessory includes a sight window for allowing a user to observe working fluid flowing within said disposable filter.
6 . A disposable filter of claim 2 wherein said accessory includes at least one sensor configured to measure at least one of pressure, temperature, flow rate, chemical composition moisture levels, an additive measure, optical transmissibility, reflection level, a light scattering level, a thermal capacity, a surface acoustic wave measurement, and an ultrasonic wavelength of said working fluid.
7 . A disposable filter of claim 2 further including a controller for analyzing characteristics of said working fluid acquired by said accessory.
8 . A disposable filter of claim 7 wherein said accessory includes a communication module in wireless electronic communication with said controller for wirelessly communicating said measured characteristics of said working fluid, the disposable filter or associated machinery to said controller.
9 . A disposable filter of claim 7 wherein said controller is positioned remote from said accessory.
10 . A disposable filter of claim 2 wherein said accessory is detachably coupled with said accessory port.
11 . A disposable filter of claim 1 further including a bypass structure adjacent to said fluid outlet and configured to maintain a predetermined pressure within said disposable filter.
12 . A disposable filter of claim 11 further including a bypass indicating device connected to said bypass structure and configured to indicate a status of said bypass structure.
13 . A disposable filter of claim 12 wherein said bypass indicating device is positioned adjacent to said accessory port.
14 . A disposable filter of claim 3 wherein a seal is positioned within said accessory port for sealing said connection between said accessory port and said accessory.
15 . A disposable filter of claim 3 further including a valve connected to said accessory portion for selectively fluidly connecting and disconnecting said disposable filter from said accessory through said accessory port and to allow different accessories to be coupled with said accessory port while preventing said leakage of fluid from within said disposable filter.
16 . A disposable filter of claim 15 wherein said valve is a flapper valve.
17 . A filter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has a generally cylindrical shape and extends between a bottom surface and a top surface, and wherein said top surface of said housing defines said inlet, and wherein said top surface of said housing further defines said outlet at a position that is radially inward of said inlet.
18 . A filter system as set forth in claim 17 wherein said filter media is positioned radially between said inlet and said outlet.
19 . A filter system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a connector for allowing said housing to be coupled with said machine.
20 . A filter system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said connector is a threaded connection for allowing said housing to be threaded onto a corresponding threaded connection on said machine.