| Fluid filter assembly having a combination valve -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Fluid filter assembly having a combination valveRelated Patent Categories: Liquid Purification Or Separation, Flow, Fluid Pressure Or Material Level, Responsive, Fluid Pressure Responsive By-passFluid filter assembly having a combination valve description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060201858, Fluid filter assembly having a combination valve. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 10/715,682 filed Nov. 13, 2003 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention pertains to a fluid filter assembly having a combination valve retained between a filter media/core assembly and an end plate and, more particularly, to a fluid filter assembly having a novel unitary combination check valve and bypass valve cooperating with a unique end plate for controlling the flow of fluid into and out from the fluid filter assembly. Further, the invention pertains to a fluid filter assembly that includes a filter means that cooperates with a novel combination valve and end plate and results in an overall design that can be more easily assembled. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] There is known in the prior art a filter device having a housing with an open end, a filter element received in the housing, an end plate closing the open end and having inlet and outlet openings therein, and a valve for cooperating with the inlet openings to allow oil to flow into the filter through the inlet openings, but prevents flow of oil in a reverse direction. An example may be seen in Minowa et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,372. Prior filters are known that include a combination valve having two portions, the first portion for closing the inlet openings to block the flow of oil back out of the inlet openings when the oil is not being circulated and the second portion for opening a bypass opening when the filter media is clogged for returning oil to the engine to keep the engine lubricated even though the filter element is clogged. An example of such construction is Covington U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,527. [0006] The present invention improves upon the filter with combination valve, shown for example, in the Covington U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,527 and overcomes disadvantages and deficiencies of such prior art constructions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved filter assembly that has a simpler design and fewer parts than prior art filter assemblies. [0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved filter assembly that eliminates separate adhesives in fabricating the filter media and wherein internal element leakage is eliminated. [0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved filter assembly having a housing and a combination valve in the housing that better tolerates heavily contaminated oil and is retained in position against an end plate in the housing by the filter media under bias from an internal spring member between the top of the filter media and the interior of the housing of the filter assembly. [0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved filter assembly wherein parts are standardized for automated assembly and by increasing or decreasing the length of the filter media, and the housing, the capacity can be changed. [0011] A still further object of the present invention is to provide an end plate having a single row of holes and flow channels formed in the end plate, each flow channel communicating at one end with one of the holes. [0012] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter. [0013] The invention pertains to a filter assembly having a housing open at one end, with an annular filter media/core assembly disposed in the housing. The end plate has at least one inlet opening, at least one bypass opening, and an outlet opening therein. The bypass opening comprises a flow channel formed in the end plate and communicating at one end with the first inlet opening. A combination valve is disposed and retained between the filter media/core assembly and the end plate. The combination valve has a first portion cooperating with the first inlet opening in the end plate and a second portion cooperating with the flow channel of the bypass opening. In normal operation the first portion of the combination valve will yield before the second portion of the combination valve and fluid flow will pass through the first inlet opening, the filter element and then be discharged through the outlet opening. When the filter element begins to clog, pressure upstream of the first portion will build and upon attainment of a predetermined pressure, the second portion will open the bypass opening and fluid flow can pass through the bypass opening and out the outlet opening, thereby bypassing the filter media/core assembly. A spring disposed between the end of the filter media/core assembly remote from the end plate and the housing biases the filter element toward the end plate to retain the combination valve in place and to seal fluid flow from between the combination valve and the filter media and between the combination valve and the end plate. The filter media/core assembly, which is fabricated from recyclable materials, includes top and bottom end caps which are suitably bonded to the filter media. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0014] There is shown in the attached drawing a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein like numerals in the various views refer to like elements and wherein: [0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of the filter assembly of the present invention, with part of the housing broken away to show interior parts including the combination check and bypass valve; [0016] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the end plate of FIG. 1; [0017] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the end plate taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0018] There is shown in FIG. 1 a filter assembly embodying the present invention. The filter assembly 10 includes a generally cup-shaped cylindrical shell or housing 12 that is open at one end and closed at the other. Disposed within the housing 10 is an annular filter media/core assembly or filter means 15 which comprises an annular filter element 14 mounted on a core 16. Provided in the open end of the housing 10 is an end plate 18, which has a lid 20 secured thereto. An annular, resilient gasket 22 is received and retained in a recess in the lid 20 for providing a seal between the filter assembly 10 and the engine block (not shown) to which the filter assembly 10 is secured in normal use. Recesses 13 are provided in the housing 12 proximate the top thereof for providing a better gripping surface for a wrench used to assemble a clean filter assembly to an engine block and to remove a dirty filter assembly from an engine block for replacement. [0019] Resilient means 24, for example, a spring, is provided between the top of the filter means 15 and the interior of the housing 12 for biasing the filter means 15 toward the end plate 18. Continue reading about Fluid filter assembly having a combination valve... Full patent description for Fluid filter assembly having a combination valve Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Fluid filter assembly having a combination valve patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Fluid filter assembly having a combination valve or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Control device for water source filtering system Next Patent Application: Water screen Industry Class: Liquid purification or separation ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Fluid filter assembly having a combination valve patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.14052 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
