# US 10,307,699 B2 · Filtering element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,699 B2 - Document ID: US10307699B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/809,849 - Filed: 2011-07-08 - Published: 2013-07-18 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-14 - Assignees: Hydac Filtertechnik GmbH - Applicants: Edwin Koch; Matthias Schwender; Andreas Schmitz - Inventors: Edwin Koch; Matthias Schwender; Andreas Schmitz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307699B2 ## CPC - B01D 35/143: Filter condition indicators - B01D 36/003: {Filters in combination with devices for the removal of liquids (B01D35/185 takes precedence)} - B01D 36/005: {Liquid level sensing means, e.g. for water in gasoil-filters} - G01N 21/81: Indicating humidity - B01D 27/101: {Filter condition indicators} - B01D 2201/0407: Perforated supports on both sides of the filtering element - B01D 2201/0415: Details of supporting structures - B01D 2201/291: End caps - B01D 2201/52: Filter identification 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) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A filtering element for filtering devices, comprising a filtering material (5) which defines a filtering space and is intended for the filtration of fluids, and at least one water indicator (13, 19, 23) which is provided at a location coming into contact with fluid during the filtration mode and indicates the presence of water in the fluid in a visually recognizable manner, is characterized in that the at least one water indicator (13, 19, 23) is provided on an end cap (7, 9) for mounting at one end of the filtering material (5), and/or is at least partially part of the end cap (7, 9), and/or is provided on a fluid-permeable supporting structure (21) surrounding the filtering material (5), and/or is at least partially part of the supporting structure (21). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filtering element for filtering devices comprising: a cylindrical filtering material for the filtration of fluids defining an internal filtering cavity within the filtering material; a top and a bottom end cap as terminal encasements of said filtering material; and at least one water indicator which displays the presence of water in the fluid in a visually recognizable manner, wherein said at least one water indicator is provided on an outside of the filtering element and on an outside of one of said top and bottom end caps at a location coming into contact with fluid during filtration mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The filtering element according to claim 1, wherein said filtering element forms a removable filtering cartridge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The filtering element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one water indicator is attached to one of said top and bottom end cap and is in the form of a test strip comprising copper sulfate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The filtering element according to claim 1, wherein the filtering space defined by the filtering material is formed as a filtering cavity and/or is cylindrical. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The filtering element according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said end caps forms a circular encasement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The filtering element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one water indicator signals the presence of water by changing color. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The filtering element according to claim 6, wherein the at least one water indicator irreversibly changes color in the presence of water. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The filtering element according to claim 1, wherein at least a substantial portion of said filtering space is provided with said filtering material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The filtering element according to claim 1, wherein said top and bottom end caps are arranged on opposite sides of said filtering space along a longitudinal axis of said filtering element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The filtering element according to claim 1, wherein a fluid-permeable supporting structure is provided, that forms an outer encasement of said filtering material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The filtering element according to claim 10, wherein said fluid-permeable supporting structure is arranged coaxially with said filtering material along a longitudinal axis of said filtering element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The filtering element according to claim 10, wherein said fluid-permeable supporting structure extends along a longitudinal axis of said filtering element from said top end cap to said bottom end cap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The filtering element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one water indicator is arranged so that the water indicator is visually observable, at least when the filtering element is removed from the filtering device. ### Claim 14 A filtering element for filtering devices comprising: a cylindrical filtering material for the filtration of fluids defining an internal filtering cavity within the filtering material; a top and a bottom end cap as terminal encasements of said filtering material; and at least one water indicator which displays the presence of water in the fluid in a visually recognizable manner, wherein said at least one water indicator is provided on an outside of the filtering element and on one of said top and bottom end caps at a location coming into contact with fluid during filtration mode; and said at least one water indicator is in the form of a test strip.