# US 11,890,570 B2 · Filter device and method for switching on and/or switching off such filter device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,890,570 B2 - Document ID: US11890570B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/733,957 - Filed: 2019-06-19 - Published: 2021-07-29 - Granted: 2024-02-06 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-26 - Assignees: Atlas Copco Airpower N.V. - Applicants: Atlas Copco Airpower, N.V. - Inventors: Stefaan Boel; Marc Steijnen; Sylwester Manski; Peter Waeterschoot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11890570B2 ## CPC - B01D 46/4272: {Special valve constructions adapted to filters or filter elements} - B01D 46/0004: {Details of removable closures, lids, caps or filter heads} - B01D 46/0043: {containing fixed gas displacement elements or cores} - B01D 46/0087: {Bypass or safety valves} - B01D 46/2414: {End caps including additional functions or special forms} - B01D 46/88: Replacing filter elements - B01D 2271/02: Gaskets, sealings - B01D 2273/10: Allowing a continuous bypass of at least part of the flow, e.g. of secondary air, vents - 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) ## Abstract A filter device separating impurities from a gas, including a filter housing having a lid and a pot; the lid having an inlet and an outlet; a filter element in the pot with a top cap and a bottom cap with a filter cartridge therebetween; the top cap has an inlet duct connected to the lid inlet so that the gas to be purified is passed through the inlet duct to the filter cartridge; a space is between the lid and the top cap which is connected to the outlet of the lid; a switching element to be installed rotatably in the lid and rotatable between an off-position in which the inlet port or the outlet port connects to respectively the inlet or outlet of the lid, and a twisted position, in which the entrance of the inlet duct of the top cap can connect to the lid inlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filter device for separating impurities from a gas to be purified, whereby the filter device (1) includes a filter housing (2) consisting of a lid (3) and a pot (4); whereby the lid (3) is provided with an inlet (6) for gas to be purified and an outlet (7) for purified gas; whereby in the pot (4) a filter element (9) is installed, which filter element (9) consists of a top cap (10) and a bottom cap (11) with a filter cartridge (12) in between; whereby the top cap (10) is provided with an inlet duct (17) with an entrance (18), which entrance (18) can connect to the inlet (6) of the lid (3) in such a way that the gas to be purified is passed through the inlet duct (17) to the filter cartridge (12); and where there is a space (21) between the lid (3) and the top cap (10) which can be connected to the outlet (7) of the lid (3), characterized in that the filter device (1) is further provided with a switching element (22) with an inlet port (23) and an outlet port (24), the switching element (22) being configured in such a way that it can be installed rotatably in the lid (3); and it can be rotated between on the one hand an off-position, in which the inlet port (23) or the outlet port (24) connects to respectively the inlet (6) or outlet (7) of the lid (3), and on the other hand a twisted position, in which this is not the case and in which the entrance (18) of the inlet duct (17) of the top cap (10) can connect to the inlet (6) of the lid (3). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching element (22) is a bypass element, whereby the inlet port (23) and the outlet port (24) are in fluid connection with each other through a bypass duct (25), so that the gas to be purified can flow from the inlet (6) to the outlet (7) of the lid (3) when the switching element (22) is rotated in the off-position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The filter device according to claim 2, characterized in that a filter material (26) is applied in the bypass duct (25). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet port (23) and outlet port (24) of the switching element (22) are not in fluid connection with each other, so that the gas to be purified cannot flow from the inlet (6) to the outlet (7) of the lid (3) when the switching device (22) is rotated in its off-position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that means (27) are provided for rotation of the switching element (22) in the lid (3), the means (27) being so designed as to be controllable when the lid (3) is mounted on the pot (4). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned means (27) include a pin (28) attached to or forming part of the switching element (22) and extending through the lid (3). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that blocking means (32) are provided for blocking the top cap (10) in relation to the switching element (22), the blocking means (32) being configured in such a way that the top cap (10) is rotating along with the switching element (22). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet port (23) and/or the outlet port (24) of the switching element (22) on a side of the inlet port (23) or the outlet port (24) closest to the inlet (6) or outlet (7) of the lid (3) respectively in the off-position, is provided with a non-removable seal (33). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The filter system according to claim 8, characterized in that the seal (33) on the inlet port (23) and/or the outlet port (24) is poured in a groove provided for this purpose, so that the seal (33) is part of the switching element (22). ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The filter device according to claim 8, characterized in that the seal (33) on the inlet port (23) and/or the outlet port (24) is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching element (22) is made of metal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that means (29) are provided which are configured to indicate or show whether the switching element (22) is either in the off-position or in the twisted position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet (6) and/or outlet (7) of the lid (3) is provided with a rounding or chamfer on a side closest to respectively the inlet port (23) or outlet port (24) of the switching element (22) in its off-position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid (3) is provided with a recess on at least one of the two opposite sides closest to respectively the inlet port (23) or the outlet port (24) of the switching element (22) in its twisted position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The filter device according to claim 14, characterized in that the recess in a direction coinciding with a tangential direction in which the switching element can rotate, is a gradual recess. ### Claim 16 A method for switching off and/or switching on a filter device (1) for separating impurities from a gas to be purified, whereby the filter device (1) includes a filter housing (2) consisting of a lid (3) and a pot (4); whereby the lid (3) is provided with an inlet (6) for gas to be purified and an outlet (7) for purified gas; whereby in the pot (4) a filter element (9) is installed, which filter element (9) consists of a top cap (10) and a bottom cap (11) with a filter cartridge (12) in between; whereby the top cap (10) is provided with an inlet duct (17) with an entrance (18), which entrance (18) can connect to the inlet (6) of the lid (3) in such a way that the gas to be purified is passed through the inlet duct (17) to the filter cartridge (12); and whereby there is a space (21) between the lid (3) and the top cap (10) which can be connected to the outlet (7) of the lid (3), characterized in that the filter device (1) is further provided with a switching element (22) with an inlet port (23) and an outlet port (24), whereby the switching element (22) is rotated in the lid (3) between on the one hand an off-position, in which the inlet port (23) or outlet port (24) connects to the inlet (6) or outlet (7) of the lid (3) respectively, and on the other hand a twisted position, in which this is not the case and in which the entrance (18) of the inlet duct (17) of the top cap (10) can connect to the inlet (6) of the lid (3). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the top cap (10) is rotated along with the switching element (22) by blocking means (32) which block the top cap (10) in relation to the switching element (22). ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the switching element (22) in the lid (3) is rotated by means (27), whereby these means (27) are controllable when the lid (3) is mounted on the pot (4). ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method according claim 16, characterized in that means (29) indicate or show whether the switching element (22) is either in the twisted position or in the off-position.