# US 7,608,136 B2 · In-line filter with quick-change coupling and a filter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,608,136 B2 - Document ID: US7608136B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/567,949 - Filed: 2004-08-11 - Published: 2007-07-26 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-08-11 - Assignees: Scientific Glass Technology Singapore Pte Ltd. - Inventors: Marinus Frans van der Maas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608136B2 ## CPC - B01D 46/0012: {In-line filters} - B01D 46/003: {including coalescing means for the separation of liquid} - B01D 46/24: Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using rigid hollow filter bodies - B01D 46/64: arranged concentrically or coaxially - B01D 46/88: Replacing filter elements - F16L 55/09: Air-conditioning, e.g. de-watering, in pneumatic systems - Y10T 137/87965: Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion - 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) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An in-line filter provided with a substantially elongated filter housing (1; 51) in which filtering material (A) is included, the filter housing being provided on a first end with an inflow opening (2) and, on a second, opposite end with an outflow opening (3), while at the inflow opening (2) and the outflow opening (3) fastening means (4-7) are provided for fastening a supply or discharge tube, respectively (8 or 9, respectively), while the fastening means (4-7) are quick-change couplings (4-7), a respective quick-change coupling (4, 5; 6, 7) having a coupled condition and an uncoupled condition, while in the quick-change coupling (4, 5; 6, 7) a shut-off valve (10) is provided which, in the coupled condition, assumes an open position thus allowing gas to pass and which, in an uncoupled condition, assumes a closed position thus not allowing gas to pass. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An in-line filter provided with a transponder and a substantially elongated filter housing in which filtering material is included, the filter housing being provided on a first end with an inflow opening and on a second, opposite end with an outflow opening, while at the inflow opening and the outflow opening fastening means are provided for fastening a supply or discharge tube, respectively, wherein the fastening means are quick-change couplings, a respective quick-change coupling having a coupled condition and an uncoupled condition, while in the quick-change coupling a shut-off valve is provided which, in the coupled condition, assumes an open position and thus allows gas to pass and which, in an uncoupled condition, assumes a closed position and thus does not allow gas to pass; wherein each quick-change coupling comprises a male part and a female part through which a bore extends, which forms the fluid communication between the supply or discharge tube, respectively, and the inflow opening or outflow opening, respectively, of the filter housing, while, with the male part and the female part in coupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the coupled condition and with the male part and the female part in uncoupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the uncoupled condition; and wherein the shut-off valve is disposed in the bore of the male part; is biased in a closed position by a spring; and comprises a valve body and a valve stem, the valve body being arranged for cooperation with a valve seat in the bore of the male part, the valve stem being provided with a collar against which the spring rests with a first end, while another end of the spring rests against a supporting surface provided in the male part, as a constriction is provided in the bore, while, when the male part is placed in the female part, with an end facing away from the valve body, the valve stem meets a stop in the female part such that movement against the spring force of the spring is effected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An in-line filter according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off valve of the quick-change coupling forms part of the part of the quick-change coupling that remains connected to the supply or discharge tube, respectively, such that in the uncoupled condition, the supply or discharge tube, respectively is hardly, if at all, polluted by air. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An in-line filter according to claim 2, wherein each quick-change coupling comprises a male part and a female part through which a bore extends, which forms the fluid communication between the supply or discharge tube, respectively and the inflow opening or outflow opening respectively, of the filter housing, while, with the male part and the female part in coupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the coupled condition and with the male part and the female part in uncoupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the uncoupled condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An in-line filter according to claim 3, wherein the female parts are connected to the two ends of the filter housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An in-line filter according to claim 1, wherein the male parts of the two quick-change couplings are connected to the supply or discharge tube, respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An in-line filter according to claim 1, wherein a first female part, which forms the fluid communication between the supply tube and the inflow opening, and a second female part, which forms the fluid communication between the dispensing tube and the outflow opening, are connected to the two ends of the filter housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An in-line filter according to claim 1, wherein in the bore in the male part a sieve is included. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An in-line filter according to claim 1, wherein each male part is provided with a clamp fitting for connecting the male parts to the supply tube and the discharge tube, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An in-line filter according to claim 1, wherein the stop in the female part comprises a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) or poly(tetrafluoroethene) (PTFE) cap which cap, when the male part is placed in the female part, is pierced by the free end of the valve stem provided to that end with a sharp point. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An in-line filter according to claim 1, wherein around the filter housing a protective shell is provided. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An in-line filter according to claim 10, wherein the protective shell is included between two female parts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) An in-line filter according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the filter housing and the protective shell are at least partly transparent, for instance in that the filter housing is manufactured from glass and in that the protective shell is manufactured from acrylic plastic, while in the filter housing an indicator is included which discolors when the filtering material is saturated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) An in-line filter according to claim 10, wherein the protective shell is included between the two female parts. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An in-line filter according to claim 1, wherein the transponder is provided with a temperature sensor, while the transponder is placed on the filter housing adjacent a downstream end of the filter housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The in-line filter according to claim 1, the filtering material being configured to remove water, oxygen and hydrocarbons from a gas flow, while the filtering material does not contain alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The in-line filter as recited in claim 1, wherein the bore in the male part includes a sieve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The in-line filter according to claim 16, the filtering material being configured to remove water, oxygen and hydrocarbons from a gas flow, while the filtering material does not contain alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The in-line filter as recited in claim 1, wherein the male part is provided with a clamp fitting for connecting to at least one of the supply tube and the discharge tube. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The in-line filter according to claim 18, the filtering material being configured to remove water, oxygen and hydrocarbons from a gas flow, while the filtering material does not contain alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. ### Claim 20 An in-line filter provided with a transponder and a substantially elongated filter housing in which filtering material is included, the filter housing being provided on a first end with an inflow opening and on a second, opposite end with an outflow opening, while at the inflow opening and the outflow opening fastening means are provided for fastening a supply or discharge tube, respectively, wherein the fastening means are quick-change couplings, a respective quick-change coupling having a coupled condition and an uncoupled condition, while in the quick-change coupling a shut-off valve is provided which, in the coupled condition, assumes an open position and thus allows gas to pass and which, in an uncoupled condition, assumes a closed position and thus does not allow gas to pass; and wherein each quick-change coupling comprises a male part and a female part through which a bore extends, which forms the fluid communication between the supply or discharge tube, respectively, and the inflow opening or outflow opening, respectively, of the filter housing, while, with the male part and the female part in coupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the coupled condition and with the male part and the female part in uncoupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the uncoupled condition; and wherein a screw thread on the male part for connecting the male part to the female part, is provided on a fastening ring rotatably connected to the male part of such that only the fastening ring needs to be turned for fastening the male part in the female part and that therefore the remaining parts of the male part need not be rotated. ### Claim 21 An in-line filter provided with a transponder and a substantially elongated filter housing in which filtering material is included, the filter housing being provided on a first end with an inflow opening and on a second, opposite end with an outflow opening, while at the inflow opening and the outflow opening fastening means are provided for fastening a supply or discharge tube, respectively, wherein the fastening means are quick-change couplings, a respective quick-change coupling having a coupled condition and an uncoupled condition, while in the quick-change coupling a shut-off valve is provided which, in the coupled condition, assumes an open position and thus allows gas to pass and which, in an uncoupled condition, assumes a closed position and thus does not allow gas to pass; and wherein each quick-change coupling comprises a male part and a female part through which a bore extends, which forms the fluid communication between the supply or discharge tube, respectively, and the inflow opening or outflow opening, respectively, of the filter housing, while, with the male part and the female part in coupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the coupled condition and with the male part and the female part in uncoupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the uncoupled condition; and wherein a connection between the female part and the filter housing is formed by a detachable connection that is formed by a clamp joint, to which end the female part is provided with a body, a clamping plate which can be connected to the body with the aid of fastening bolts and with a flexible clamping ring with a diameter that fits the outer circumference of the filter housing. ### Claim 22 An in-line filter provided with a substantially elongated filter housing in which filtering material is included, the filter housing being provided on a first end with an inflow opening and on a second, opposite end with an outflow opening, while at the inflow opening and the outflow opening fastening means are provided for fastening a supply or discharge tube, respectively, wherein the fastening means are quick-change couplings, a respective quick-change coupling having a coupled condition and an uncoupled condition, while in the quick-change coupling a shut-off valve is provided which, in the coupled condition, assumes an open position and thus allows gas to pass and which, in an uncoupled condition, assumes a closed position and thus does not allow gas to pass, wherein each quick-change coupling comprises a male part and a female part through which a bore extends, which forms the fluid communication between the supply or discharge tube, respectively and the inflow opening or outflow opening respectively, of the filter housing, while, with the male part and the female part in coupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the coupled condition and with the male part and the female part in uncoupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the uncoupled condition, wherein at each quick-change coupling, the shut-off valve that is biased in a closed position by a spring is included in the bore in the male part, and wherein the shut-off valve comprises a valve body and a valve stem, the valve body being arranged for cooperation with a valve seat in the bore of the male part, the valve stem being provided with a collar against which the spring rests with a first end, while another end of the spring rests against a supporting surface provided in the male part, as a constriction is provided in the bore, while, when the male part is placed in the female part, with an end facing away from the valve body, the valve stem meets a stop in the female part such that movement against the spring force of the spring is effected. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The in-line filter according to claim 22, the filtering material being configured to remove water, oxygen and hydrocarbons from a gas flow, while the filtering material does not contain alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) An in-line filter according to claim 22, wherein between the valve body and the valve seat a flexible sealing ring is provided. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An in-line filter according to claim 24, wherein the stop in the female part comprises a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) or poly(tetrafluoroethene) (PTFE) cap which cap, when the male part is placed in the female part, is pierced by the free end of the valve stem provided to that end with a sharp point. ### Claim 26 An in-line filter provided with a substantially elongated filter housing in which filtering material is included, the filter housing being provided on a first end with an inflow opening and on a second, opposite end with an outflow opening, while at the inflow opening and the outflow opening fastening means are provided for fastening a supply or discharge tube, respectively, wherein the fastening means are quick-change couplings, a respective quick-change coupling having a coupled condition and an uncoupled condition, while in the quick-change coupling a shut-off valve is provided which, in the coupled condition, assumes an open position and thus allows gas to pass and which, in an uncoupled condition, assumes a closed position and thus does not allow gas to pass, wherein each quick-change coupling comprises a male part and a female part through which a bore extends, which forms the fluid communication between the supply or discharge tube, respectively and the inflow opening or outflow opening respectively, of the filter housing, while, with the male part and the female part in coupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the coupled condition and with the male part and the female part in uncoupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the uncoupled condition, and, with the aid of screw thread, the male part can be connected to the female part, wherein screw thread on the male part is provided on a fastening ring rotatably connected to the male part of such that only the fastening ring needs to be turned for fastening the male part in the female part and that therefore the remaining parts of the male part need not be rotated. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The in-line filter according to claim 26, the filtering material being configured to remove water, oxygen and hydrocarbons from a gas flow, while the filtering material does not contain alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. ### Claim 28 An in-line filter provided with a substantially elongated filter housing in which filtering material is included, the filter housing being provided on a first end with an inflow opening and on a second, opposite end with an outflow opening, while at the inflow opening and the outflow opening fastening means are provided for fastening a supply or discharge tube, respectively, wherein the fastening means are quick-change couplings, a respective quick-change coupling having a coupled condition and an uncoupled condition, while in the quick-change coupling a shut-off valve is provided which, in the coupled condition, assumes an open position and thus allows gas to pass and which, in an uncoupled condition, assumes a closed position and thus does not allow gas to pass, wherein each quick-change coupling comprises a male part and a female part through which a bore extends, which forms the fluid communication between the supply or discharge tube, respectively and the inflow opening or outflow opening respectively, of the filter housing, while, with the male part and the female part in coupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the coupled condition and with the male part and the female part in uncoupled condition, the quick-change coupling is in the uncoupled condition, wherein the connection between the female part and the filter housing is formed by a detachable connection, and wherein the connection is formed by a clamp joint, to which end the female part is provided with a body, a clamping plate which can be connected to the body with the aid of fastening bolts and with a flexible clamping ring with a diameter that fits the outer circumference of the filter housing. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The in-line filter according to claim 28, the filtering material being configured to remove water, oxygen and hydrocarbons from a gas flow, while the filtering material does not contain alkali metals or alkaline earth metals.