Spin-on filtering oil removal cartridge

1. A compressed air system for an air brake assembly comprising:

a compressor for generating pressurized air for use in operating the air brake system;

a serviceable oil removal cartridge disposed downstream from the compressor for filtering oil from the pressurized air,

the oil removal cartridge having an outer housing enclosing a filtering element and a load plate for supporting the filtering element, wherein a plurality of openings are provided in the load plate for allowing the pressurized air to enter or exit the oil removal cartridge,

the load plate including a threaded annulus dimensioned to allow the oil removal cartridge to be removed and installed as a single unit, wherein the threaded annulus includes a passage for allowing the pressurized air to enter or exit the oil removal cartridge;

and an air dryer disposed downstream from the oil removal cartridge for removing water from the pressurized air.

2. The compressed air system according to claim 1 , further comprising a body assembly having a hollow member dimensioned to be threadably received by the threaded annulus.

3. The compressed air system according to claim 1 , wherein the threaded annulus has a smaller diameter than a diameter of the filtering element.

4. The compressed air system according to claim 3 , wherein the threaded annulus is concentric with the filtering element.

5. The compressed air system according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the load plate is crimped with a portion of the outer housing to form a first seal.

6. The compressed air system according to claim 1 , further comprising a metal piece operatively associated with the load plate and crimped with a portion of the outer housing to form a first seal.

7. The compressed air system according to claim 6 , further comprising a second seal operatively connected to a surface of the metal piece.

8. The compressed air system according to claim 1 , further comprising first and second end caps mounted to opposed ends of the filtering element.

9. The compressed air system according to claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member disposed within an upper portion of the housing for applying a continuous force against the filtering element.

10. The compressed air system according to claim 1 , wherein the filtering element is annular in shape having a support which defines a chamber for containing a filtering media.

11. A compressed air system comprising:

(a) a compressor for generating compressed air;

(b) a removable& oil removal cartridge disposed downstream from the compressor for agglomerating and removing oil vapor entrenched in the compressed air, wherein the oil removal cartridge comprises:

(i) a housing including an air inlet and an air outlet and a threaded annulus for securing the cartridge onto another threaded member; wherein the threaded annulus includes a passage for allowing the pressurized air to enter or exit the oil removal cartridge; and

(ii) a filtering element disposed within the housing between the inlet and outlet, wherein said filtering element is a fibrous material and includes an elongated surface parallel to the flow of air entering the inlet of the housing along which the compressed air may pass and a width perpendicular to said inlet air flow through which the compressed air passes to reach the air outlet; and

(c) an air dryer disposed downstream from the oil removal cartridge for removing water from the compressed air.

12. A filter apparatus for a compressed air system for an air brake system comprising:

means for receiving air from a compressor which generates pressurized air for use in operating the air brake system;

a serviceable oil removal cartridge disposed downstream from the compressor for filtering oil from the pressurized air, the oil removal cartridge having an outer housing enclosing a filtering element and a load plate for supporting the filtering element, wherein at least one opening is provided in the load plate for allowing the pressurized air to enter or exit the oil removal cartridge, the load plate including a threaded annulus dimensioned to allow the oil removal cartridge to be removed and installed as a single unit, wherein at least one opening is provided in the threaded annulus for allowing the pressurized air to enter or exit the oil removal cartridge; and

means for providing air to an air dryer disposed downstream from the oil removal cartridge which removes water from the pressurized air.

13. The filter apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a body assembly having a hollow member dimensioned to be threadably received by the threaded annulus.

14. The filter apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the threaded annulus has a smaller diameter than a diameter of the filtering element.

15. The filter apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the threaded annulus is concentric with the filtering element.

16. The filter apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein a portion of the load plate is crimped with a portion of the outer housing to form a first seal.

17. The filter apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a metal piece operatively associated with the load plate and crimped with a portion of the outer housing to form a first seal.

18. The filter apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising a second seal operatively connected to a surface of the metal piece.

19. The filter apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising first and second end caps mounted to opposed ends of the filtering element.

20. The filter apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a biasing member disposed within an upper portion of the housing for applying a continuous force against the filtering element.

21. The filter apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the filtering element is annular in shape having a support, which defines a chamber for containing a filtering media.