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US 2012/0223003 A1Published application
Fuel filter cartridge and keyed end cap
AssigneeBaldwin Filters, Inc.
InventorsThomas C. Richmond, Steven M. Todd, Kenneth W. Stirn, Farrell F. Calcaterra
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filter cartridge has a keyed end cap which is configured and shaped for unlocking an associated valve mechanism that comprises a latch device and a valve. In this manner, when the fuel filter cartridge is placed into a fuel filter housing having such a latch and valve mechanism, the fuel filter cartridge is operable therein to filter fluid and pass the fluid into a standpipe contained within the fuel filter housing. The fuel filter cartridge of this type generally includes pleated filter paper which is disposed between two opposed end caps. The keys may be provided along the bottom end cap.
Claims22
A filter assembly, comprising:
- a filter housing defining a housing cavity;
- a valve assembly within the housing cavity, the valve assembly including:
- a central standpipe defining a central flow passage including a flow port;
- a flow control valve including a valve portion surrounding the standpipe and axially movable therealong between a closed position wherein the valve portion covers the flow port preventing fluid flow therethrough and an open position wherein the valve portion is positioned to uncover the flow port and permit fluid flow therethrough;
- a filter element within the housing cavity of the filter housing, the filter element engaging the flow control valve and maintaining the flow control valve in the open position, the filter element including:
- a tube of filter media extending along a longitudinal axis between opposed first and second ends;
- a first end cap sealingly connected to the first end of the tube of filter media;
- a second end cap having an inner and outer face, the second end cap sealingly connected to the second end of the tube of filter media, the filter media defining a central cavity, the second end cap including a disc portion including a central opening surrounding the longitudinal axis and opening to the central cavity;
- and
- a first plurality of keys located on the outer face and axially projecting from the outer face in a direction extending away from the filter media, the first keys being arranged in a first annular array surrounding the longitudinal axis, and the first keys being axially offset from the filter media along the longitudinal axis, the keys acting upon the valve assembly and the filter element maintaining the flow control valve in the open position.
7 more elements
A filter assembly, comprising:
- a filter housing defining a housing cavity;
- a valve assembly within the housing cavity, the valve assembly including:
- a central standpipe defining a central flow passage including a flow port;
- a flow control valve surrounding the standpipe and axially movable therealong between a closed position wherein the flow control valve closes the fluid flow therethrough and an open position wherein the valve portion is positioned to open the flow port and permit fluid flow therethrough;
- and
- a latch device movable axially along the central standpipe including a locked position maintaining the flow control valve in the closed position and an unlocked position permitting the flow control valve to transition to the open position;
- a filter element within the housing cavity of the filter housing, the filter element engaging the latch device and the flow control valve, the filter element maintaining the latch device in the unlocked position and maintaining the flow control valve in the open position, the filter element including:
- a tube of filter media extending along a longitudinal axis between opposed first and second ends and surrounding the longitudinal axis;
- a first end cap sealingly connected to the first end of the tube of filter media;
- a second end cap having an inner and outer face, the inner face sealingly connected to the second end of the tube of filter media, the first end cap, second end cap and filter media defining a central cavity therebetween, the second end cap including a central opening surrounding the longitudinal axis and opening to the central cavity;
- and
- a plurality of first keys located on the second end cap and projecting away from the second end cap in a direction extending away from the first end cap, the first keys being arranged in a first annular array surrounding the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a plurality of second keys located on the second end cap and projecting axially away from the second end cap in a direction extending away from the first end cap, the second keys being arranged in a second annular array surrounding the longitudinal axis, the first keys being independent of and spaced apart from the second keys, the second keys being of a different characteristic than the first keys;
- and
- wherein the first keys engage the latch device and the second keys engage the flow control valve.
13 more elements
A filter element comprising:
- a tube of filter media extending along a longitudinal axis between opposed first and second ends and surrounding the longitudinal axis;
- a first end cap sealingly connected to the first end of the tube of filter media;
- a second end cap having an inner and outer face, the second end cap sealingly connected to the second end of the tube of filter media, the filter media defining a central cavity, the second end cap including a disc portion including a central opening surrounding the longitudinal axis and opening to the central cavity;
- and
- a first plurality of keys located on the second end cap and axially projecting from the outer face in a direction extending away from the filter media, the first keys being arranged in a first annular array surrounding the longitudinal axis, and the first keys being axially offset from the filter media along the longitudinal axis.
2 more elements
A filter element comprising:
- a tube of filter media extending along a longitudinal axis between opposed first and second ends and surrounding the longitudinal axis;
- a first end cap sealingly connected to the first end of the tube of filter media;
- a second end cap having an inner and outer face, the second end cap sealingly connected to the second end of the tube of filter media, the filter media defining a central cavity, the second end cap including a disc portion including a central opening surrounding the longitudinal axis and opening to the central cavity;
- and
- a first plurality of keys located on the second end cap and axially projecting from the outer face in a direction extending away from the filter media, the first keys being arranged in a first annular array surrounding the longitudinal axis, and the first keys extending radially outward beyond an inner diameter of the tube of filter media.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.