| Fluid filter assembly with concave surface in the closed end of the housing -> Monitor Keywords |
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Fluid filter assembly with concave surface in the closed end of the housingRelated Patent Categories: Liquid Purification Or Separation, Flow, Fluid Pressure Or Material Level, Responsive, Fluid Pressure Responsive By-passFluid filter assembly with concave surface in the closed end of the housing description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060207921, Fluid filter assembly with concave surface in the closed end of the housing. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 10/715,682 filed Nov. 18, 2003 and entitled Fluid Filter Assembly. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A. 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 housing having a concave surface that cooperates with the annular filter media/core assembly to eliminate the spring used in the prior pending application and to help center the annular filter media/core assembly in the housing. [0004] B. 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. 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 Pat. No. 5,405,527. [0006] The present invention improves upon the filter assembly with combination valve, shown for example, in the Covington Pat. No. 5,405,527 and overcomes disadvantages and deficiencies of such prior art constructions. C. 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 with a housing having a concave surface in the closed end that eliminates the spring of the prior co-pending application Ser. No. 10/715,682 and helps to center the filter media/core assembly in the housing. [0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved filter assembly having a housing with a concave surface in the closed end that engages the annular filter media/core assembly to help reduce the overall height of the filter assembly and to reduce the inner void volume of the filter assembly, thus requiring less oil to fill the system. [0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved filter assembly wherein manufacturing and assembly are improved such that fixturing devices can be eliminated. [0011] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter. [0012] The invention pertains to a filter assembly having a housing open at one end and closed at the other end. The closed end has a concave portion that is constructed and arranged to engage with and center an annular filter media/core assembly disposed in the housing. The end plate has at least two inlet openings and an outlet opening therein. 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 second inlet 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 second inlet opening and fluid flow can pass through the second inlet opening and out the outlet opening, thereby bypassing the filter media/core assembly. A resilient seal on each end cap of the annular filter media/core assembly help bias the filter element toward the end plate to retain the combination valve in place and to seal fluid flow from between the filter media and the concave surface of the housing, from between the combination valve and the filter media and from between the combination valve and the end plate. D. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0013] There is shown in the attached drawing a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein like numerals refer to like elements and wherein: [0014] 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. E. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0015] 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. The closed end of the housing 12 has a central concave portion or depression 13 formed therein. Disposed within the housing 10 is a filter means 15 which comprises an annular filter element 14 mounted on a core 16. The concave portion 13 is adapted to engage within the opening at the top of the annular filter element 14 to help prevent fluid to be filtered from bypassing the filter element and to help center the filter element 14 in the housing 12. 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. [0016] The combination valve 26, which is retained between the lower end of the filter element 14 and the top of the end plate 18 includes a first portion 28 for controlling flow through the first inlet opening or openings 30 and a second portion 32 for controlling flow through the second inlet opening or openings 34. The first portion 28 is more resilient than the second portion 30 and will open under a lesser pressure, whereas the second portion 32 is stiffer and requires a higher pressure to open same. In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the first portion 28 of the combination valve 26 will open the first inlet openings at a minimum opening pressure, for example, on the order of 1 psi and the second portion 32 will open the second inlet openings 34 at a predetermined higher pressure, for example on the order of 8-10 psi. Provided centrally in the end plate 18 is a central threaded outlet opening 36. The outlet opening 36 is disposed about the longitudinal axis of the filter assembly 10 and is within the circle of second openings 34. In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, there are eight first inlet openings 30 and eight second inlet openings 34 in the end plate 18. Other opening configurations than round are feasible and the number of openings can be varied as will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, depending upon the application for the filter assembly 10. [0017] The combination valve 26 of the present invention includes a first portion 28 that is annular and has a bend intermediate the radial extent of the first portion 28. The part of the first portion 28 that engages the second portion 32 extends generally horizontally and the free end is inclined outwardly and downwardly from the horizontal portion. The second portion 32 includes an annular inwardly inclined part that is adapted to cooperate with the second inlet openings 34 and an upwardly extending part 38 that cooperates with the horizontal part of the first portion 28 to form a shoulder 40 that receives the lower inner end of the core 16 of the filter means. The part 38 is annular and engages the interior of the lower end of the core 16 of the filter means when assembled [0018] The end plate 18 is suitably secured to the lid 20, for example, by welding The recess 42 in the lid 20 is adapted to receive and retain the gasket 22 (FIG. 1). The lid 20 may be provided with projections that slightly interfere with the recess 42, whereby in use, the gasket 22 is forced into the recess 42 and retained in place by the pressure from the projections engaging and cooperating with the resilient gasket 22. [0019] The resilient gasket 22 will be retained in the recess or groove 42 during handling of the filter assembly 10 and the projections (not shown) define cooperative engaging means for holding the gasket in place. Persons skilled in the art will understand that the gasket 22 can be similarly retained in place in the recess 42 if the projections on the lid 20 were eliminated and projections were provided on the outside or inside surfaces of the gasket 22 for engaging with the walls of the recess 42. Such arrangement would function in an equivalent manner. Continue reading about Fluid filter assembly with concave surface in the closed end of the housing... 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