# US 12,110,069 B2 · Power steering fluid filter assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,069 B2 - Document ID: US12110069B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/991,419 - Filed: 2020-08-12 - Published: 2022-02-17 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-12 - Applicants: Plews, Inc. - Inventors: Toby Kuntzelman; Anthony Holguin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110069B2 ## CPC - B62D 5/062: {Details, component parts} - B01D 35/02: Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, (B01D35/05 takes precedence; {water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70}) - B01D 35/06: Filters making use of electricity or magnetism (ultrafiltration, microfiltration B01D61/14; electrodialysis, electro-osmosis B01D61/42; devices comprising filters and magnetic separators B03C1/30) - B01D 35/147: Bypass or safety valves - B62D 5/30: Safety devices, e.g. alternate emergency power supply or transmission means to ensure steering upon failure of the primary steering means - B01D 2201/4084: Snap or Seeger ring connecting means - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - 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 power steering fluid filter assembly having a housing defining an interior chamber, an upstream end and downstream end. The housing is substantially cylindrical having a substantially circular cross-section and longitudinal axis and at least one filter element through which fluid flowing through said housing passes. A plurality of inlet nozzles, each of which are selectively removable at the upstream end of the housing, the inlet nozzles having commonly sized cylindrical protrusions for fitting within the housing and differentially sized hose barbs for fitting within differentially sized hoses feeding power steering fluid to the housing. A plurality of outlet nozzles each of which are selectively removable at the downstream end of the housing, the outlet nozzles having commonly sized cylindrical protrusions for fitting within the housing and differentially sized hose barbs for fitting within differentially sized hoses through which power steering fluid exiting the housing passes. The inlet and outlet nozzles are releasably retained at the ends of the housing by, for example, removable clips, threads, or snap rings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power steering fluid filter assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior chamber having an upstream end and downstream end, said housing being substantially cylindrical having a substantially circular cross-section and longitudinal axis and at least one filter element through which fluid flowing through said housing passes; a plurality of inlet nozzles (inlet nozzles), each of which are selectively removable at the upstream end of said housing, said inlet nozzles having same sized cylindrical protrusions for fitting within said housing and differentially sized hose barbs for fitting within differentially sized hoses feeding power steering fluid to said housing, wherein the differentially sized hose barbs of the plurality of inlet nozzles change an inlet interior diameter of the housing having the at least one filter element; a plurality of outlet nozzles (outlet nozzles), each of which are selectively removable at the downstream end of said housing, said outlet nozzles having same sized cylindrical protrusions for fitting within said housing and differentially sized hose barbs for fitting within differentially sized hoses through which power steering fluid exiting said housing passes, wherein the differentially sized hose barbs of the plurality of outlet nozzles change an outlet interior diameter of the housing having the at least one filter element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power steering fluid filter assembly of claim 1 further comprising removable clips for releasably retaining said inlet and outlet nozzles to said housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power steering fluid filter assembly of claim 2 wherein said housing further comprises circumferential indents proximate its upstream and downstream ends, said removable clips being sized to fit within said indents and configured to releasably retain an inlet nozzle at the upstream end of said housing and an outlet nozzle at the downstream end of said housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The power steering fluid filter assembly of claim 3 wherein the cylindrical protrusion of each inlet nozzle further comprises an inlet nozzle indent which is positioned to align with said circumferential indent proximate the upstream end of said housing for selectively receiving said removable clip, the receipt of which maintains said inlet nozzle cylindrical protrusion within said housing and wherein the cylindrical protrusion of each outlet nozzle further comprises an outlet nozzle indent which is positioned to align with said circumferential indent proximate the downstream end of said housing for selectively receiving said removable clip, the receipt of which maintains said outlet nozzle cylindrical protrusion within said housing. ### Claim 5 In a power steering fluid filter assembly having a housing defining an interior chamber having an upstream end and downstream end, said housing being substantially cylindrical having a substantially circular cross-section and longitudinal axis and at least one filter element through which fluid flowing through said housing passes, the improvement comprising: a plurality of inlet nozzles (inlet nozzles), each of which are selectively removable at the upstream end of said housing, said inlet nozzles having same sized cylindrical protrusions for fitting within said housing and differentially sized hose barbs for fitting within differentially sized hoses feeding power steering fluid to said housing, wherein the differentially sized hose barbs of the plurality of inlet nozzles change an inlet interior diameter of the housing having the at least one filter element; a plurality of outlet nozzles (outlet nozzles), each of which are selectively removable at the downstream end of said housing, said outlet nozzles having same sized cylindrical protrusions for fitting within said housing and differentially sized hose barbs for fitting within differentially sized hoses through which power steering fluid exiting said housing passes, wherein the differentially sized hose barbs of the plurality of outlet nozzles change an outlet interior diameter of the housing having the at least one filter element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The power steering fluid filter assembly of claim 5 further comprising removable clips for releasably retaining said inlet and outlet nozzles to said housing. ### Claim 7 A method of installing a filter assembly within a power steering fluid line comprising: providing a power steering fluid filter assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior chamber having an upstream end and downstream end, said housing being substantially cylindrical having a substantially circular cross-section and longitudinal axis and at least one filter element through which fluid flowing through said housing passes; a plurality of inlet nozzles (inlet nozzles), each of which are selectively removable at the upstream end of said housing, said inlet nozzles having same sized cylindrical protrusions for fitting within said housing and differentially sized hose barbs for fitting within differentially sized hoses feeding power steering fluid to said housing, wherein the differentially sized hose barbs of the plurality of inlet nozzles change an inlet interior diameter of the housing having the at least one filter element; a plurality of outlet nozzles (outlet nozzles), each of which are selectively removable at the downstream end of said housing, said outlet nozzles having same sized cylindrical protrusions for fitting within said housing and differentially sized hose barbs for fitting within differentially sized hoses through which power steering fluid exiting said housing passes, wherein the differentially sized hose barbs of the plurality of outlet nozzles change an outlet interior diameter of the housing having the at least one filter element; and removable clips for releasably retaining said inlet and outlet nozzles to said housing; said method further comprising: selecting an inlet nozzle that comprises a hose barb sized to snugly fit within a power steering hose line upstream of said filter assembly and retaining the cylindrical protrusion of that nozzle within said housing and selecting an outlet nozzle that comprises a hose barb sized to snugly fit within a power steering hose line downstream of said filter assembly and retaining the cylindrical protrusion of that nozzle within said housing; and inserting said inlet nozzle hose barb within said upstream power steering hose line and inserting said outlet hose nozzle barb within said downstream power steering hose line.