Filter element and a filter assembly

A filter assembly for filtering contaminants from a fluid stream, the filter assembly comprising:

• a. a housing defining a chamber and an opening which communicates with the chamber, the chamber having a longitudinal axis, an inlet arranged to receive a fluid stream including entrained contaminants, and an outlet through which the fluid stream can exit the chamber following removal of contaminants;
• b. a filter element having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, a passage extending along the element between the first and second ends and a filter media component extending around the passage, the filter element adapted to be located within the chamber in a flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet so that fluid flowing along the flow path is directed through the filter media component, the filter element including a flange projecting radially outward, away from an outer surface of the filter media component around an entire outer perimeter of the filter element and describing an outermost circular perimeter of the filter element, the flange including an alignment component comprising a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from a circular perimeter of the flange;
• c. in which the housing opening is dimensioned so that the filter element can pass through the opening for location in the chamber, and in which the filter assembly comprises a cover which can be coupled to the housing to close the opening and secure the filter element within the chamber;
• and
• d. in which the filter element and the housing are arranged so that, when the filter element is located within the chamber, the longitudinal axis of the filter element is offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

A filter assembly for filtering contaminants from a fluid stream, the filter assembly comprising:

• a. a housing defining a chamber and an opening which communicates with the chamber, the chamber having a longitudinal axis, an inlet arranged to receive a fluid stream including entrained contaminants, and an outlet through which the fluid stream can exit the chamber following removal of contaminants, the outlet extending through a wall of the housing transverse to the longitudinal axis;
• b. a filter element having a first end, a second end, a passage extending along the element between the first and second ends and a filter media component extending around the passage, the filter element adapted to be located within the chamber in a flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet so that fluid flowing along the flow path is directed through the filter media component the filter element including a flange projecting radially outward, away from an outer surface of the filter media component around an entire outer perimeter of the filter element and describing an outermost circular perimeter of the filter element, the flange including an alignment component comprising a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from a circular perimeter of the flange;
• c. in which the housing opening is dimensioned so that the filter element can pass through the opening for location in the chamber, and in which the filter assembly comprises a cover which can be coupled to the housing to close the opening and secure the filter element within the chamber;
• and
• d. in which the filter element and the housing are arranged so that, when the filter element is located within the chamber, a generally annular space exists between an outer surface of the filter element and the housing wall, a distance between the outer surface and the chamber outlet being greater than a distance between the outer surface and the housing wall at a location that is spaced around a perimeter of the chamber from the outlet.

A filter assembly for filtering contaminants from a fluid stream, the filter assembly comprising:

• a. a housing defining a chamber and an opening which communicates with the chamber, the chamber having a longitudinal axis, an inlet arranged to receive a fluid stream including entrained contaminants, and an outlet through which the fluid stream can exit the chamber following removal of contaminants;
• b. a filter element having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, a passage extending along the element between an opening at the first end and an opening at the second end, and a filter media component extending around the passage, the filter element being adapted to be located within the chamber in a flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet so that fluid flowing along the flow path is directed through the filter media component, the filter element including a flange projecting radially outward, away from an outer surface of the filter media component around an entire outer perimeter of the filter element and describing an outermost circular perimeter of the filter element, the flange including an alignment component comprising a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from a circular perimeter of the flange;
• c. in which the housing opening is dimensioned so that the filter element can pass through the opening for location in the chamber, and in which the filter assembly comprises a cover which can be coupled to the housing to close the housing opening and secure the filter element within the chamber;
• d. in which the filter element and the housing are arranged so that, when the filter element is located within the chamber, the longitudinal axis of the filter element is offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the chamber;
• and
• e. in which the cover comprises a pressure relief valve which closes the opening at the one of the first and second ends of the filter element that is disposed adjacent the cover when the filter element is located in the chamber and the cover is coupled to the housing, the pressure relief valve being biased to a closed position and movable to an open position when the pressure of fluid within the passage of the filter element reaches a predetermined level.

A filter element for separating contaminants from a fluid stream, the filter element adapted to be located within a chamber defined by a housing of a filter assembly so that the filter element is in a flow path extending between an inlet of the chamber and an outlet of the chamber, the filter element comprising:

• a. a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, a passage extending along the element between the first and second ends, and a filter media component extending around the passage;
• and
• b. a flange extending transverse to the longitudinal axis and projecting radially outward, away from an outer surface of the filter media component around an entire outer perimeter of the filter element and describing an outermost circular perimeter of the filter element, a first part of the outermost, circular perimeter defined by the flange disposed a first distance from the longitudinal axis, and a second part of the outermost, circular perimeter defined by the flange disposed a second distance from the longitudinal axis which is less than the first distance;
• c. in which the flange comprises an alignment component including a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from a circular perimeter of the flange along the first part of the outermost, circular perimeter of the filter element, which is adapted to cooperate with a further alignment component provided by the housing and disposed within the chamber, to facilitate rotational orientation of the filter element within the chamber.

A filter element for separating contaminants from a fluid stream, the filter element adapted to be located within a chamber defined by a housing of a filter assembly so that the filter element is in a flow path extending between an inlet of the chamber and an outlet of the chamber, the filter element comprising:

• a. a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, a passage extending along the element between the first and second ends, and a filter media component extending around the passage, the passage being coaxial to the longitudinal axis and the filter media component describing a cylindrical outer surface which is centred on the longitudinal axis;
• b. a flange extending transverse to the longitudinal axis and protruding beyond the outer surface of the element around an entire outer perimeter of the filter element and defining an outermost, circular perimeter of the filter element, a first part of the flange extending a first distance from the outer surface, and a second part of the flange extending a second distance from the outer surface which is less than said first distance;
• c. in which the filter element comprises an alignment component, said alignment component being provided by the flange and including a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from a circular perimeter of the flange along the first part of the flange, the alignment component adapted to cooperate with a further alignment component provided by the housing and disposed within the chamber, to facilitate rotational orientation of the filter element within the chamber.

A filter element for separating contaminants from a fluid stream, the filter element adapted to be located within a chamber defined by a housing of a filter assembly so that the filter element is in a flow path extending between an inlet of the chamber and an outlet of the chamber, the filter element comprising:

• a. a cylindrical outer periphery;
• b. a first end, a second end, a central axis extending between the ends and an internal cavity disposed on the central axis;
• c. a filter media component circumscribing the central axis;
• and
• d. a first end cap at the first end and a second circular end cap at the second end, the end caps each comprising an opening which communicates with the internal cavity, the openings being coaxially aligned along the central axis;
• e. in which one of the end caps is arranged non-concentrically with respect to the other end cap, with its opening disposed off-centre in the end cap, and in which said one end cap comprises a flange describing an outermost circular perimeter of the filter element and including an alignment component having a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from a circular perimeter of the flange, for rotationally orientating the filter element within the chamber.

A filter assembly for filtering contaminants from a fluid stream, the filter assembly comprising:

• a. a housing defining a chamber and an opening which communicates with the chamber, the chamber having an inlet arranged to receive a fluid stream including entrained contaminants, and an outlet through which the fluid stream can exit the chamber following removal of contaminants;
• b. a filter element having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, a passage extending along the element between the first and second ends and a filter media component extending around the passage, the filter element being locatable within the chamber in a flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet so that fluid flowing along the flow path is directed through the filter media component the filter element further including, the filter element further including a flange extending transverse to the longitudinal axis, the flange describing an outermost perimeter of the filter element, a first part of the perimeter defined by the flange disposed a first distance from the longitudinal axis, and a second part of the perimeter defined by the flange disposed a second distance from the longitudinal axis which is less than the first distance;
• c. in which the housing opening is dimensioned so that the filter element can pass through the opening for location in the chamber, and in which the filter assembly comprises a cover which can be coupled to the housing to close the opening and secure the filter element within the chamber;
• d. at least one first alignment assembly having a first alignment component and a second alignment component, one of the first and second alignment components being provided by the housing and disposed within the chamber, and the other being provided by the flange of the filter element, and describing an outermost circular perimeter of the filter element, the other alignment component including a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from a circular perimeter of the flange, the first and second alignment components cooperating to rotationally orient the filter element within the chamber;
• and
• e. at least one second alignment assembly having a first alignment component and a second alignment component, one of the first and second alignment components being provided by the housing and disposed within the chamber, and the other being provided by the cover, the first and second alignment components cooperating to rotationally orient the cover relative to the housing and so to the filter element.