IP Library Granted Patent US 11,333,117
Granted Patent B2
US 11,333,117 · App. 16/742,605 · Granted May 17, 2022

Fuel filter assembly

Inventor: Zafar Hussain (Albion, IL)
Assignee: CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.
F02M37/32B01D35/30B01D36/003F02M37/0017B01D2201/291
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,333,117
App. No.
16/742,605
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid filter assembly is adapted to filter out contaminants from a fluid supply. The filter assembly includes a housing that is adapted to house a cylindrical filter element. The housing includes a lower housing and an upper housing. A top plate is secured to the upper filter housing. Both the top plate and upper filter housing include seals that are adapted to seal the filter. The filter includes threads formed on an exterior surface of the upper housing to allow the filter to be coupled to a filter mount. Dirty fuel enters the filter through the top plate by use of a plurality of openings formed in the top plate, passes through media of the filter element, and exits through a center opening formed in the top plate.

Claims (38)

1. A filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising:

a housing having a side wall and a bottom wall to define an inner cavity, the housing having an interior surface;

a filter element positioned within the cavity of the housing, the filter element adapted to filter a fluid;

a plurality of first projections extending radially inwardly from the interior surface of the housing;

a plurality of second projections extending radially inwardly from the interior surface of the housing, the second projections being axially spaced from the first projections;

a top plate adapted to be coupled to the housing, the top plate adapted to be positioned between the first and second projections such that a first surface of the top plate engages the first projections and a second surface of the top plate engages the second projections, wherein the top plate includes an outer perimeter that includes a plurality of notches;

wherein the first and second projections maintain the axial position of the top plate with respect to the housing.

2. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the number of notches is equal to the number of second projections.

3. The filter assembly of claim 2 , wherein the notches are adapted to allow the top plate to move axially past the second projections toward the first projections.

4. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second surface of the top plate includes a ramped surface that connects the second surface to a third surface.

5. The filter assembly of claim 4 , wherein when the top plate is positioned between the first and second projections and is rotated, the ramp surface engages one of the second projections and continued rotation causes the third surface to engage the one of the second projections to lock the position of the top plate between the first and second projections.

6. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the top plate includes an inner annular ring that is formed to include a central opening.

7. The filter assembly of claim 6 , wherein the inner annular ring is connected to an outer flange by a series of radially extending bridge members.

8. The filter assembly of claim 7 , wherein the top plate is formed to include openings between the bridge members.

9. The filter assembly of claim 6 , wherein the inner annular ring includes a gasket used to form a seal.

10. The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the filter housing includes a first housing component and a second housing component that is connected to the first housing component to form the cavity within the housing.

11. A filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising:

a housing having a side wall and a bottom wall to define an inner cavity, the housing having an interior surface;

a filter element positioned within the cavity of the housing, the filter element adapted to filter a fluid;

a plurality of first projections extending radially inwardly from the interior surface of the housing;

a plurality of second projections extending radially inwardly from the interior surface of the housing, the second projections being axially spaced from the first projections;

a top plate having a perimeter formed to include a plurality of notches, the top plate adapted to be positioned between the first and second projections such that a first surface of the top plate engages the first projections and a second surface of the top plate engages the second projections.

12. The filter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the number of notches is equal to the number of second projections.

13. The filter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the notches are adapted to allow the top plate to move axially past the second projections toward the first projections.

14. The filter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second surface of the top plate includes a ramped surface that connects the second surface to a third surface.

15. The filter assembly of claim 14 , wherein when the top plate is positioned between the first and second projections and is rotated, the ramp surface engages one of the second projections and continued rotation causes the third surface to engage the one of the second projections to lock the position of the top plate between the first and second projections.

16. The filter assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first projections engage the filter element to assist in maintaining axial position of the filter element with respect to the housing.

17. The filter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the top plate includes a central opening.

18. The filter assembly of claim 17 , wherein the filter element includes a tubular member that is adapted to be positioned within the central opening of the top plate when the filter assembly is assembled.

19. The filter assembly of claim 18 , wherein the tubular member includes a seal member to form a seal between the tubular member and the top plate.

20. A filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising:

a housing having a side wall and a bottom wall to define an inner cavity, the housing having an interior surface;

a filter element positioned within the cavity of the housing, the filter element adapted to filter a fluid;

a plurality of first projections extending radially inwardly from the interior surface of the housing;

a plurality of second projections extending radially inwardly from the interior surface of the housing, the second projections being axially spaced from the first projections;

a top plate adapted to be coupled to the housing, the top plate adapted to be positioned between the first and second projections such that a first surface of the top plate engages the first projections and a second surface of the top plate engages the second projections, wherein the second surface of the top plate includes a ramped surface that connects the second surface to a third surface;

wherein when the top plate is positioned between the first and second projections and is rotated, the ramp surface engages one of the second projections and continued rotation causes the third surface to engage the one of the second projections to lock the position of the top plate between the first and second projections;

wherein the first and second projections maintain the axial position of the top plate with respect to the housing.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2026
From: PGI NORTHSTAR LLC
To: FIRST HORIZON BANK
Reel/Frame 075410/0391 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2026
From: FIRST BRANDS GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; STRONGARM, LLC
To: PGI NORTHSTAR LLC
Reel/Frame 075584/0001 →
LIEN Recorded Dec 8, 2025
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 073892/0154 →
LIEN Recorded Dec 3, 2025
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 073819/0490 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2020
From: CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 053392/0488 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2020
From: BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 053376/0077 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2020
From: BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 053376/0061 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62792176 · Jan 14, 2019
Related Publication 20200224618A1 · Jul 16, 2020