Aerosol separator assembly; components; and, methods

1. A filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic liquid aerosol phase from a gas stream and for use in filtering the gas stream; the filter cartridge comprising:

(a) a media pack comprising filtration media surrounding an open interior and including first and second, opposite, ends;

(b) a first end piece adjacent the first end of the media pack; the first end piece having a first, outer, end surface on an opposite side of the first end piece from the media pack;

(i) the first end piece including a perimeter housing seal arrangement thereon; the perimeter housing seal arrangement comprising a seal member configured to form a releasable seal with a housing, when the filter cartridge is installed in a housing, for use;

(ii) the first end piece including a central flow aperture arrangement projecting therethrough in communication with the open interior of the media pack;

(iii) the first end piece including a rigid peripheral rim projection non-removably positioned thereon and extending in a direction away from the media pack; and,

(iv) the first end piece having a recessed surface portion extending between the peripheral rim projection and the central flow aperture arrangement; and,

(v) the first end piece including a non-circular projection positioned around the central flow aperture arrangement and projecting from the first end piece in a direction opposite the media pack;

(A) the non-circular projection being non-threaded and positioned spaced from the peripheral rim projection by the recessed surface portion;

(B) the non-circular projection extending to a tip located remote from the recessed surface portion and having a shape with a first straight portion and an opposite curved portion;

(C) the non-circular projection having a drain gap arrangement therethrough allowing fluid on the recessed surface portion to flow to the central flow aperture arrangement by passage through the non-circular projection; and,

(D) the cartridge having no threaded mount portion thereon.

2. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the first end piece includes a first member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational alignment indexing arrangement including at least a first radial projection.

3. A filter cartridge according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) the first member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational alignment indexing arrangement comprises the first radial projection spaced from a first locator shoulder to define a first locator receiver gap therebetween.

4. A filter cartridge according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) the first member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational alignment indexing arrangement includes a second radial projection spaced from a second location shoulder to define a second locator receiver gap therebetween.

5. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 including:

(a) a handle member positioned on the first end piece and projecting in a direction away from the media pack;

(i) the handle member being a non-collapsible projection and including a handle bridge section forming a handle opening thereunder between the handle bridge section and an adjacent portion of the first end piece.

6. A filter cartridge according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) the handle member comprises a perimeter handle member positioned adjacent the outer perimeter of the first end piece.

7. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the second end piece includes: a closed central portion overlapping, and closing, an end of the open interior of the media pack.

8. A filter cartridge according to claim 7 wherein:

(a) the second end piece includes an outer perimeter section comprising a plurality of spaced projections and a plurality of drain regions between the spaced projections; each drain region being, at least in part, in direct drain overlap with an end of the filtration media in the media pack at a location adjacent the second end piece.

9. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the second end piece includes an outer perimeter section comprising a plurality of spaced projections and a plurality of drain regions between the spaced projections; each drain region being, at least in part, in direct drain overlap with an end of the filtration media in the media pack at a location adjacent the second end piece.

10. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the perimeter housing seal comprises an o-ring.

11. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the first end piece includes a first member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational alignment indexing arrangement comprising a first radial projection spaced from a first locator shoulder to define a first locator receiver gap therebetween;

(i) the first member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational alignment indexing arrangement also including a second radial projection spaced from a second locator shoulder to define a second locator receiving gap therebetween;

(A) the first and second locator gaps being radially spaced, on center, a smallest radial amount of less than 180°.

12. A filter cartridge according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the second end piece and the first end piece are positioned at opposite ends of a central, tubular, media support extending through the open interior of the media pack.

13. A filter cartridge according to claim 12 wherein:

(a) the first end piece, second end piece and tubular media support are portions on a single, integral, molded, support piece.

14. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly comprising:

(a) housing defining an interior and including a housing base and a removable access cover;

(i) the housing defining a gas flow inlet, a gas flow outlet and a liquid drain outlet; and,

(ii) the housing base including a first member of a cartridge-to-housing base rotational alignment indexing arrangement thereon; and,

(b) a filter cartridge for use in separating a hydrophobic liquid aerosol phase from a gas stream and for use in filtering the gas stream; the filter cartridge comprising:

(a) a media pack comprising filtration media surrounding an open interior and including first and second, opposite, ends;

(b) a first end piece adjacent the first end of the media pack; the first end piece having a first, outer, end surface on an opposite side of the first end piece from the media pack;

(i) the first end piece including a perimeter housing seal arrangement thereon; the perimeter housing seal arrangement comprising a seal member forming a releasable seal with the housing;

(ii) the first end piece including a central flow aperture arrangement projecting therethrough in communication with the open interior of the media pack;

(iii) the first end piece including a rigid peripheral rim projection non-removably positioned thereon and extending in a direction away from the media pack; and,

(iv) the first end piece including a recessed surface portion extending between the peripheral rim projection and the central flow aperture arrangement;

(iv) the first end piece having a recessed surface portion extending between the peripheral rim projection and the central flow aperture arrangement; and,

(v) the first end piece including a non-circular projection positioned around the central flow aperture arrangement and projecting from the first end piece in a direction opposite the media pack;

(A) the non-circular projection being non-threaded and positioned spaced from the peripheral rim projection by the recessed surface portion;

(B) the non-circular projection extending to a tip located remote from the recessed surface portion and having a shape with a first straight portion and an opposite curved portion;

(C) the non-circular projection having a drain gap arrangement therethrough allowing fluid on the recessed surface portion to flow to the central flow aperture arrangement without passage over the non-circular projection; and,

(D) the cartridge having no threaded mount portion thereon;

(c) the filter cartridge including a second member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational indexing arrangement that is engaged with the filter member of a cartridge-to-housing rotational indexing arrangement, to rotationally orient the cartridge in the housing.

15. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly according to claim 14 wherein:

(a) the second member of the cartridge to housing base rotational alignment indexing arrangement is positioned on the first end piece; and,

(b) the housing seal arrangement is a perimeter housing arrangement positioned on the first end piece.

16. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) the first member of the cartridge-to-housing base rotational alignment indexing arrangement includes a first projecting tab on the housing base; and,

(b) the second member of the cartridge-to-housing base rotational alignment indexing arrangement includes a first receiver space defined between a first radial projection and a first shoulder oriented on the first end piece of the filter cartridge.

17. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly according to claim 15 wherein:

(a) the first member of the cartridge-to-housing base rotational alignment indexing arrangement includes first and second, spaced, projecting tabs on the housing base; and

(b) the second member of the cartridge-to-housing base rotational alignment indexing arrangement includes first and second, spaced, receiver spaces;

(i) the first receiver space being defined between a first radial projection and a first shoulder oriented on the first end piece of the cartridge; and,

(ii) the second receiver space being oriented between second radial projection and a second shoulder oriented on the first end piece of the cartridge;

(A) the first and second receiver spaces being spaced, radially, on center, by a radial spacing of less than 180°.

18. A crankcase ventilation filter assembly according to claim 14 wherein:

(a) the access cover includes a first member of a cartridge-to-access cover portion rotational alignment indexing arrangement thereon; and,

(b) the filter cartridge includes a second member of a cartridge-to-access cover portion rotational alignment indexing arrangement thereon;

(i) the first and second members of the cartridge-to-access cover portion rotational indexing alignment arrangement being engageable to provide a selected, single, rotational alignment between the filter cartridge and a portion of the access cover.