# US 12,179,131 B2 · Filtration element with gradient seal interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,131 B2 - Document ID: US12179131B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/529,893 - Filed: 2021-11-18 - Published: 2022-03-10 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-20 - Assignees: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc. - Applicants: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc. - Inventors: Pravin Shantinath Kadam; Sudhindra Palaxa Arakeri; Peter K. Herman; Kevin C. South - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179131B2 ## CPC - B01D 29/21: with corrugated, folded or wound sheets - B01D 27/08: Construction of the casing - B01D 35/147: Bypass or safety valves - B01D 35/30: Filter housing constructions - B01D 2201/295: with projections extending in a radial outward direction, e.g. for use as a guide, spacing means - B01D 2201/302: having inlet or outlet ports - B01D 2201/304: Seals or gaskets - B01D 2201/34: Seals or gaskets for filtering elements - B01D 2201/4007: Use of cam or ramp systems - B01D 2201/4076: Anti-rotational 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) ## Abstract A liquid filtration system includes a filter head, a shell housing, and a filter cartridge. The filter head includes a skirt having a ramp disposed at a first end of the skirt. The shell housing is coupled to the filter head. The filter cartridge is disposed within the shell housing. The filter cartridge includes a filter media pack and am endcap coupled to a first end of the filter media pack. The endcap includes an interface member extending from an upper surface of the endcap. The interface member includes a scaling member that is at least partially tilted at an oblique angle relative to a central axis of the endcap. The scaling member is sealingly engaged with the skirt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid filtration system, comprising: a filter head comprising a skirt, the skirt having a ramp disposed at a first end of the skirt, the ramp defining a stepwise transition in an axial height of the skirt; a shell housing coupled to the filter head; and a filter cartridge disposed within the shell housing, the filter cartridge comprising: a filter media pack; and an endcap coupled to a first end of the filter media pack, the endcap comprising an interface member extending from an upper surface of the endcap, the interface member comprising a sealing member that is at least partially tilted at an oblique angle with respect to a central axis of the filter cartridge, the sealing member sealingly engaged with the skirt. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid filtration system of claim 1, wherein the endcap includes an anti-rotation member engaging the interface member and extending radially away from the interface member such that when the shell housing is fully installed onto the filter head the anti-rotation member is engageable with the ramp with no radial gap between the ramp and the interface member. ### Claim 3 A liquid filtration system, comprising: a filter head comprising a skirt, the skirt having a ramp disposed at a first end of the skirt; a shell housing coupled to the filter head; and a filter cartridge disposed within the shell housing, the filter cartridge comprising: a filter media pack; and an endcap coupled to a first end of the filter media pack, the endcap comprising an interface member extending from an upper surface of the endcap, the interface member comprising a sealing member that is at least partially tilted at an oblique angle with respect to a central axis of the filter cartridge, the sealing member sealingly engaged with the skirt, wherein the endcap includes an anti-rotation member engaging the interface member and extending radially away from the interface member such that when the shell housing is fully installed onto the filter head the anti-rotation member is engageable with the ramp with no radial gap between the ramp and the interface member, and wherein the anti-rotation member is a rectangular-shaped tab extending radially outward from the interface member and upwardly from the upper surface in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the upper surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The liquid filtration system of claim 2, wherein a height of the anti-rotation member is approximately equal to a height of the ramp at a leading edge of the ramp. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liquid filtration system of claim 1, wherein the skirt defines a cylindrically-shaped recessed area that is sized to receive the interface member therein. ### Claim 6 A liquid filtration system, comprising: a filter head comprising a skirt, the skirt having a ramp disposed at a first end of the skirt; a shell housing coupled to the filter head; and a filter cartridge disposed within the shell housing, the filter cartridge comprising: a filter media pack; and an endcap coupled to a first end of the filter media pack, the endcap comprising: an interface member extending from an upper surface of the endcap, the interface member comprising a sealing member that is at least partially tilted at an oblique angle with respect to a central axis of the filter cartridge, the sealing member sealingly engaged with the skirt, wherein the skirt further comprises a first inner surface and a second inner surface, wherein an inner diameter of the second inner surface is less than an inner diameter of the first inner surface, and wherein a transition between the first inner surface and the second inner surface is oriented parallel to the sealing member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The liquid filtration system of claim 6, wherein the transition between the first inner surface and the second inner surface is tilted at an angle with respect to the sealing member. ### Claim 8 A liquid filtration system, comprising: a filter head comprising a skirt, the skirt having a ramp disposed at a first end of the skirt; a shell housing coupled to the filter head; and a filter cartridge disposed within the shell housing, the filter cartridge comprising: a filter media pack; and an endcap coupled to a first end of the filter media pack, the endcap comprising: an interface member extending from an upper surface of the endcap, the interface member comprising a sealing member that is at least partially tilted at an oblique angle with respect to a central axis of the filter cartridge, the sealing member sealingly engaged with the skirt, wherein the skirt further comprises a seal disruptor that comprises a rib or an indentation, the seal disruptor extending downwardly from a second end of the skirt toward the filter cartridge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The liquid filtration system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of seal disruptors disposed along perimeter of the skirt, wherein a lower edge of each one of the plurality of seal disruptors extends upwardly from a reference plane that is oriented parallel to the sealing member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The liquid filtration system of claim 1, wherein the interface member comprises a cylindrically-shaped protrusion, the cylindrically-shaped protrusion defining a central opening that extends through the endcap. ### Claim 11 A liquid filtration system, comprising: a filter head comprising a skirt, the skirt having a ramp disposed at a first end of the skirt; a shell housing coupled to the filter head; and a filter cartridge disposed within the shell housing, the filter cartridge comprising: a filter media pack; and an endcap coupled to a first end of the filter media pack, the endcap comprising: an interface member extending from an upper surface of the endcap, the interface member comprising a sealing member that is at least partially tilted at an oblique angle with respect to a central axis of the filter cartridge, the sealing member sealingly engaged with the skirt, wherein a first portion of the sealing member is tilted at a first angle, and wherein a second portion of the sealing member is tilted at a second angle that is different from the first angle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The liquid filtration system of claim 1, wherein the interface member further comprises a protrusion extending from the upper surface, the protrusion including an opening extending radially therethrough. ### Claim 13 A liquid filter cartridge, comprising: a filter media pack; and an endcap coupled to a first end of the filter media pack, the endcap comprising an interface member extending from an upper surface of the endcap, the interface member comprising a sealing member that is at least partially tilted at an oblique angle with respect to a central axis of the filter media pack, a first portion of the sealing member is tilted at a first angle, and a second portion of the sealing member is tilted at a second angle that is different from the first angle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The liquid filter cartridge of claim 13, wherein the endcap includes an anti-rotation member engaging the interface member and extending radially away from the interface member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The liquid filter cartridge of claim 13, wherein the interface member further comprises a protrusion extending from the upper surface, the protrusion including an opening extending radially therethrough. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The liquid filter cartridge of claim 13, wherein the interface member comprises a cylindrically-shaped protrusion, the cylindrically-shaped protrusion defining a central opening that extends through the endcap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The liquid filter cartridge of claim 13, wherein the interface member includes an upper extension piece and a lower extension piece that each extend radially outward from the endcap, the upper extension piece and the lower extension piece together defining a groove that is sized to receive the sealing member therein. ### Claim 18 A method, comprising: providing a filter head, the filter head comprising a skirt, the skirt having a ramp at a first end of the skirt, the ramp defining a stepwise transition in an axial height of the skirt; providing a shell housing; providing a filter cartridge, the filter cartridge comprising a filter media pack and an endcap coupled to a first end of the filter media pack, the endcap comprising an interface member extending from an upper surface of the endcap, the interface member comprising a sealing member that is tilted at an oblique angle with respect to a central axis of the filter cartridge; joining the filter cartridge to the shell housing; and installing the shell housing onto the filter head to sealingly engage the sealing member to the skirt. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the endcap further comprises an anti-rotation member extending radially outward from the interface member, and wherein installing the shell housing onto the filter head further comprises engaging the anti-rotation member with a leading edge of the ramp at a location that is adjacent to the sealing member with no radial gap therebetween. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The liquid filtration system of claim 1, wherein the ramp is formed in a helical shape that extends parallel to a central axis of the filter head, the liquid filtration system further comprising an anti-rotation member extending radially away from the interface member, the anti-rotation member engaging the skirt at a leading edge of the ramp.