# US 10,245,534 B2 · Filter inline heater > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,534 B2 - Document ID: US10245534B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/723,632 - Filed: 2015-05-28 - Published: 2016-12-01 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-28 - Assignees: Shaw Development, LLC - Applicants: Shaw Development, LLC - Inventors: John R. Koonce; Michael O'Hara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245534B2 ## CPC - B01D 35/005: {Filters specially adapted for use in internal-combustion engine lubrication or fuel systems} - B01D 29/114: {arranged for inward flow filtration (B01D29/15, B01D29/33 take precedence)} - B01D 35/18: Heating or cooling the filters - B01D 35/30: Filter housing constructions - F02M 37/30: characterised by heating means - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF ## Abstract A filter assembly comprising a housing, a filter, a heater, hose fittings, a heat bridge, and insulators. The housing defines interior and exterior regions communicating through apertures. The filter separate the housing into a region upstream of the filter comprising an aperture, and a region downstream of the filter comprising an aperture. The heater extends into the interior region. The hose fittings are each coincident with an aperture and are formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity. The heat bridge is formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity and thermally connects the heater to the hose fittings. The insulators each are formed of a material having a low thermal conductivity, and each at least partially cover a hose fitting. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filter assembly for filtering aqueous urea solution comprising a housing defining an interior region and exterior region, the interior region and the exterior region being in fluid communication through a first aperture and a second aperture; a fluid filter within the housing, the filter separating the housing into an upstream region upstream of the filter, the upstream region in fluid communication with the second aperture, and a downstream region downstream of the filter, the downstream region in fluid communication with the first aperture; a heater extending into the interior region of the housing; a first hose fitting in fluid communicating with the first aperture, the first hose fitting formed of a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 16 W/(m*K); a second hose fitting in fluid communicating with the second aperture, the second hose fitting formed of material having a thermal conductivity of at least 16 W/(m*K); a heat bridge formed of a conductive material having a thermal conductivity of at least 16 W/(m*K), thermally connecting the heater to the first hose fitting, and thermally connecting the heater to the second hose fitting; and a first insulator formed of a material having a thermal conductivity of at most 0.25 W/(m*K), the first insulator at least partially covering the first hose fitting; and a second insulator formed of a material having a thermal conductivity of at most 0.25 W/(m*K), the second insulator at least partially covering the second hose fitting. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein, the first hose fitting and the second hose fitting are each formed of a material that is resistant to corrosion when directly exposed to aqueous urea solution. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein, the housing is formed of multiple sub-housings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The filter assembly of claim 3 wherein, the first hose fitting comprises stainless steel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The filter assembly of claim 4 wherein, the second hose fitting comprises stainless steel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The filter assembly of claim 5 wherein, the conductive material of the heat bridge is selected from the group comprising aluminum, aluminum nitride, brass, bronze, copper, titanium, zirconium, iron, steel, and stainless steel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The filter assembly of claim 6 wherein, the heat bridge is at least partially insulated by the first insulator or the second insulator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The filter assembly of claim 7 wherein, the first insulator and the second insulator comprise nylon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The filter assembly of claim 8 wherein, the filter defines a substantially hollow cylinder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first aperture and second aperture in the housing are forming on a first side of the housing, wherein the first hose fitting and second hose fitting extend radially outward from the respective first aperture and second aperture, wherein the heating element is located between the first aperture and second aperture, wherein the heat bridge extends radially outward from the heat element to thermally connect the heat element to the first hose fitting and second hose fitting. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cup-like structure having a base with at least one sidewall extending axially upward from the base, the sidewall defining an open end opposite the base, wherein the filter is received in the cup-like structure, and a cap attachable to the cup-like structure, the cap closing the open end; wherein the heating element, first hose fitting and second hose fitting are supported on the cap; wherein the first aperture and second aperture are formed in the cap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The filter assembly of claim 11, wherein the filter defines a central bore, the downstream region being within the central bore, the second aperture being located radially outward of the filter, a divider extending axially inward from the cap, the divider registering with an interior surface of the filter to fluidly separate the upstream region from the downstream region, wherein the heat element extends axially inward from the cap radially inward of the divider, the heat element extending into the central bore. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The filter assembly of claim 11, wherein the cap includes a top wall and a cap sidewall extending axially downward from the top wall, the cap sidewall being located radially outward of the sidewall of the cup-like member, an attachment assembly connecting the cap sidewall and the sidewall of the cup-like member, the attachment assembly being located therebetween. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The filter assembly of claim 13, wherein the attachment assembly includes an external thread extending radially outward from the sidewall of the cup-like member and an internal thread defined in the cap sidewall. ### Claim 15 A filter assembly for filtering aqueous urea solution, the filter assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior region and exterior region, the interior region and the exterior region being in fluid communication with a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the housing includes a first sub-housing and a second sub-housing releasably attached to each other by a fastener; a fluid filter received within the housing, the filter separating the housing into an upstream region upstream of the filter, the upstream region in fluid communicating with the second aperture, and a downstream region downstream of the filter, the downstream region in fluid communicating with the first aperture; a heater supported on the second sub-housing and extending into the interior region of the housing, wherein the heater is in thermal communication with at least the upstream region; a first hose fitting in fluid communicating with the first aperture; a second hose fitting in fluid communicating with the second aperture, wherein the first hose fitting and second hose fitting are supported on the second sub-housing; a heat bridge supported on the second sub-housing, formed of a conductive material having a thermal conductivity of at least 16 W/(m*K), thermally connecting the heater to the first hose fitting, and thermally connecting the heater to the second hose fitting; and a first insulator formed of a material having a thermal conductivity of at most 0.25 W/(m*K), the first insulator at least partially covering the first hose fitting; and a second insulator formed of a material having a thermal conductivity of at most 0.25 W/(m*K), the second insulator at least partially covering the second hose fitting. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The filter assembly of claim 15, wherein the fastener includes an internal thread formed on at least one of the first sub-housing and second sub-housing, and an external thread, operatively engaging the internal thread, formed on at least one of the first sub-housing and second sub-housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The filter assembly of claim 15, wherein the filter defines a central bore and the housing includes a divider extending into the central bore to separate the upstream region from the downstream region, the divider including an opening that in fluid communicates with the first hose fitting, and wherein the second hose fitting is in fluid communicating with the upstream region radially outward of the divider. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The filter assembly of claim 17 further comprising a support at an opposite end of the housing relative to the divider, wherein the support extends at least partially into the central bore. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The filter assembly of claim 15, wherein the heat bridge includes a portion to which the first hose connector and second hose connector are attached, the first hose connector and second hose connector each being constructed of a thermally conductive material of at least 16 W/(m*K).