# US 2018/0021713 A1 · Barrier vent assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021713 A1 - Document ID: US20180021713A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/547,363 - Filed: 2016-01-28 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-28 - Assignees: Donaldson Company, Inc. - Applicants: Donaldson Company, Inc. - Inventors: Jonathan Lauden; Michael J. Hebert; Daniel Dotzler; Daniel Little - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021713A1 ## CPC - B01D 46/003: {including coalescing means for the separation of liquid} - B01D 39/1623: {of synthetic origin} - B01D 39/2017: {the material being filamentary or fibrous} - B01D 39/2024: {otherwise bonded, e.g. by resins} - B01D 46/0031: {with collecting, draining means} - B01D 46/0036: {by adsorption or absorption} - B01D 46/10: Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces - B01D 46/12: in multiple arrangements - B01D 46/2403: {characterised by the physical shape or structure of the filtering element} - B01D 46/543: {using membranes} - B01D 61/147: {Microfiltration} - B01D 63/087: {Single membrane modules} - B01D 71/36: Polytetrafluoroethylene - B01D 2239/0216: Bicomponent or multicomponent fibres - B01D 2239/0421: Rendering the filter material hydrophilic - B01D 2279/35: for venting arrangements - 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 The technology disclosed herein relates to a vent assembly having a vent housing that defines a first airflow pathway, a second airflow pathway, and a third airflow pathway. The first airflow pathway is configured for fluid communication with an interior of an enclosure. The second airflow pathway is configured for fluid communication with the external environment, and the third airflow pathway extends between the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway. A membrane is coupled to the vent housing such that the second airflow pathway and the third airflow pathway are in communication through the membrane. Coalescing filter media is disposed within the vent housing such that the third airflow pathway and the first airflow pathway are in communication through the coalescing filter media. The vent assembly defines a spacing region between the coalescing media and the membrane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vent assembly comprising: a vent housing defining: a first airflow pathway configured for fluid communication with an interior of an enclosure; a second airflow pathway configured for fluid communication with the environment external to the vent housing; and a third airflow pathway extending between the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway; a membrane coupled to the vent housing such that the second airflow pathway and the third airflow pathway are in communication through the membrane; coalescing filter media disposed within the vent housing such that the third airflow pathway and the first airflow pathway are in communication through the coalescing filter media; and the vent assembly defining a spacing region between the coalescing media and the membrane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the coalescing filter media comprises a plurality of layers of synthetic filter media. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, the layers of synthetic filter media each having a maximum efficiency of 10%. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers of synthetic filter media comprises at least 50 layers of filter media. ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein each layer synthetic filter media is substantially unbonded to adjacent layers of synthetic filter media. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the synthetic filter media comprises a secondary layer of coalescing filter media, wherein the secondary layer of coalescing filter media has a particle filtration efficiency of at least 48%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the coalescing filter media comprises bi-component fibers. ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the coalescing filter media lacks a binder material. ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the coalescing filter media comprises glass microfibers. ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the coalescing filter media has an overall particle filtration efficiency of at least 95%. ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, further comprising a media spacer between the coalescing filter media and the membrane, wherein the media spacer is configured to prevent contact between the coalescing filter media and the membrane and configured to define a portion of the third airflow pathway. ### Claim 17 (canceled) ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the media spacer compresses the coalescing filter media within the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing defines perimeter openings such that the second airflow pathway extends from the membrane to the external environment through the perimeter openings. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The vent assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cap coupled to the housing, wherein the cap is configured to shield a flow face of the membrane from the environment. ### Claim at position 21 21-40. (canceled) ### Claim 41 A method of making a vent assembly, comprising: forming vent housing having a first end and a second end, the vent housing defining an airflow pathway extending from the first end to the second end; stacking a plurality of layers of coalescing filter media in the airflow pathway within the housing; inserting a media spacer to contain the plurality of layers of coalescing filter media in the housing; and coupling a membrane to the vent housing in a spaced relationship from the coalescing filter media. ### Claim 42 (canceled) ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, further comprising coupling a cap to the housing to shield a flow face of the membrane from the environment. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The method of any of claim 41, wherein a majority of the plurality of layers of the coalescing filter media each has a maximum particle filtration efficiency of 10%. ### Claim 45 (canceled) ### Claim 46 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein each layer of stacked coalescing filter media is substantially unbonded to adjacent layers of stacked synthetic filter media. ### Claim at position 28 47-49. (canceled) ### Claim 50 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the coalescing filter media lacks a binder material. ### Claim 51 (canceled) ### Claim 52 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the coalescing filter media comprises glass microfibers. ### Claim at position 32 53-56. (canceled)