Filter apparatus including apparatus for clamping an air filter element in a filter housing

A filter apparatus comprising:

• a filter housing;
• an elongated filter element, having a first end and a second end, within said housing;
• a clamping plate movable between a first position engaging said first end of said filter element so as to hold said filter element in said housing, and a second position permitting removal of said filter element from said housing;
• first and second bearing saddles attached to said clamping plate, each of said saddles having at least one portion spaced from said clamping plate a predetermined distance;
• first and second axially rotatable cams spaced apart from each other, each of said cams having portions offset from an axis of rotation and portions coaxial with said axis of rotation, each of said cam offset portions extending through one of said spaced portions of one of said bearing saddles, said offset portions of said cams each being engageable with said clamping plate so as to move said plate to said first position when said cams are rotated in a first direction and being engageable with said bearing saddles to move said clamping plate to said second position when said cams are rotated in a second direction opposite said first direction;
• and,
• first and second support means, each mounted on said clamping plate and engageable with at least one of said coaxial portions of each of said cams for cooperating with said cams and said bearing saddles to permit movement of said plate between said first and second positions and for preventing lateral movement thereof.

A filter apparatus comprising:

• a filter housing;
• a filter element within said housing;
• a support structure in said filter housing having first and second ends opposite one another with a space therebetween accepting said filter element therein;
• a fixed surface at said support structure first end against which said filter element may be pressed;
• a movable clamping plate at said support structure second end, said plate having first and second oppositely facing sides, with said second side facing said support structure fixed surface;
• a plurality of rods rotatably mounted at said support structure second end, said rods each having a plurality of portions coaxial with an axis of rotation of said rod and a plurality of portions offset from said axis such that each of said offset portions describe an arc when said rod is rotated about said axis;
• a plurality of support fins attached to and extending outwardly from said first side of said clamping plate, each of said fins having a plurality of slots formed therein through which at least one of said co-axial portions of one of said rods passes such that said support fins support said clamping plate and prevent lateral movement thereof when said slots contact said coaxial portions of said rods;
• and
• a plurality of bearing saddles attached to said first side of said clamping plate, said bearing saddles each having at least one portion substantially parallel to but spaced from said first side, said offset portions of said rods extending between said saddle spaced portions and said plate first side, such that when said offset portions describe an arc while being moved generally in the direction towards the second side of said clamping plate, said offset portions of said rods will press against said plate first side, causing said clamping plate to press against said filter element and in turn against said fixed surface and thereby clamp said filter element in place between said clamping plate and said fixed surface, and such that when said offset portions describe an arc while being moved generally in a direction away from said second side of said clamping plate each of said offset portions presses against said spaced portions of said bearing saddles causing said bearing saddles to move said clamping plate away from said filter element and thereby release said filter element from between said clamping plate and said fixed surface.