# US 11,905,917 B2 · Fuel-water separator filter assembly with axial sealing member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,905,917 B2 - Document ID: US11905917B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/486,304 - Filed: 2021-09-27 - Published: 2022-03-31 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-29 - Assignees: Cummins Filtration Inc. - Applicants: Cummins Filtration Inc. - Inventors: Wassem Abdalla; Nikhil Manohar Kalbande; Vaibhav Pimpalte - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11905917B2 ## CPC - B01D 27/08: Construction of the casing - F02M 37/34: by the filter structure, e.g. honeycomb, mesh or fibrous - B01D 35/306: {Filter mounting adapter} - B01D 36/003: {Filters in combination with devices for the removal of liquids (B01D35/185 takes precedence)} - F02M 37/24: characterised by water separating means - B01D 2201/0415: Details of supporting structures - B01D 2201/291: End caps - B01D 2201/34: Seals or gaskets for filtering elements - 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 comprises a housing defining an internal volume. An opening is defined at a bottom end of the housing. An adaptor is coupled to the bottom end of the housing. A filter element is disposed within the housing. The filter element comprises a filter media defining a central channel, and an endcap coupled to a filter media bottom end of the filter media proximate to the adaptor. A sealing member is disposed around the adaptor, the sealing member configured to form an axial seal between the endcap and the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filter assembly, comprising: a housing defining an internal volume, an opening defined at a bottom end of the housing; an adaptor coupled to the bottom end of the housing; a filter element disposed within the housing, the filter element comprising: a filter media defining a central channel, and an endcap coupled to a filter media bottom end of the filter media proximate to the adaptor; and a sealing member disposed around the adaptor, the sealing member configured to form an axial seal with the endcap and the housing, the sealing member including a sealing member surface abutting the endcap, thereby forming an axial seal with the endcap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein: the endcap is a first endcap, and the filter element further comprises a second endcap coupled to a filter media top end of the filter media opposite the filter media bottom end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The filter assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a biasing member operatively coupled to the second endcap, the biasing member urging the filter element towards the sealing member so as to cause the first endcap to push against the sealing member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the adaptor has a ring shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the adaptor comprises a plurality of threads defined on a radial inner surface thereof, the plurality of threads configured to mate with corresponding threads of a water reservoir. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing member comprises a gasket having a rectangular cross-section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the adaptor comprises a ledge extending radially outward from an outer surface of the adaptor, the ledge in combination with a portion of the outer surface of the adaptor configured to provide an alignment feature for the sealing member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The filter assembly of claim 7, wherein the sealing member has a width that is larger than a length of the ledge such that a portion of the sealing member protrudes outwardly from the ledge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The filter assembly of claim 8, wherein an outer edge of the sealing member distal from the filter media contacts an inner surface of the housing so as to form the axial seal therewith. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a nutplate coupled to a top end of the housing, the nutplate defining a central opening to allow fluid to flow therethrough. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The filter assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a center tube disposed within the central channel; and a hydrophobic layer coupled to the center tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The filter assembly of claim 11, further comprising a coalescing tube disposed within the central channel. ### Claim 13 A filter assembly comprising: a housing defining an internal volume, an opening defined at a bottom end of the housing; an adaptor coupled to the bottom end of the housing; a filter element disposed within the housing, the filter element comprising: a filter media defining a central channel, and an endcap coupled to a filter media bottom end of the filter media proximate to the adaptor; a sealing member disposed around the adaptor, the sealing member configured to form an axial seal with the endcap and the housing; a nutplate coupled to a top end of the housing, the nutplate defining a central opening to allow fluid to flow therethrough; and a second sealing member disposed between the second endcap and the nutplate, the second sealing member providing a seal between the central channel of the filter element and the central opening of the nutplate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The filter assembly of claim 13, wherein: a first portion of the second sealing member is disposed within an inner rim of an aperture defined in the second endcap that is co-axial with the central channel of the filter media, and a second portion of the second sealing member surrounds the central opening of the nutplate such that the second sealing member forms a conduit coupling the central channel with the central opening. ### Claim 15 A housing assembly for a filter element, comprising: a housing defining an internal volume for receiving a filter element that comprises a filter media defining a central channel and an endcap coupled to a filter media bottom end of the filter media, an opening defined at a bottom end of the housing; an adaptor coupled to the bottom end of the housing; and a sealing member disposed around the adaptor, the sealing member configured to form an axial seal with the endcap and the housing when the filter element is disposed in the housing, the sealing member including a sealing member surface configured to abut the endcap, thereby forming an axial seal with the endcap. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The housing assembly of claim 15, wherein the adaptor has a ring shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The housing assembly of claim 16, wherein the adaptor comprises a plurality of threads defined on a radial inner surface thereof, the plurality of threads configured to mate with corresponding threads of a water reservoir. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The housing assembly of claim 16, wherein the adaptor comprises a ledge extending radially outward from an outer surface of the adaptor, the ledge in combination with a portion of the outer surface of the adaptor configured to provide an alignment feature for the sealing member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The housing assembly of claim 18, wherein the sealing member has a width that is larger than a length of the ledge such that a portion of the sealing member protrudes outwardly from the ledge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The housing assembly of claim 19, wherein an outer edge of the sealing member distal from the outer surface of the adaptor contacts an inner surface of the housing so as to form the axial seal therewith.