Filter element with air vent
AssigneeCummins Filtration IP, Inc.
InventorsPeter Herman, Jeffrey B. Sharp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and means are described for rapidly evacuating trapped air from the top of a top-loaded liquid filter housing. An air vent means is provided that prevents complete sealing between a bypass valve and a sealing surface on an endcap of a replaceable filter element. The air vent means enables the rapid evacuation of trapped air in the top of the housing chamber, but permits only a negligible flow rate of liquid, for example oil, through the air vent means once air is evacuated due to high viscosity ratio of liquid, such as oil, versus air.
Claims10
A method of providing air venting from a liquid filter that includes a top load filter housing and a filter element removably installable in the top load filter housing, the top load filter housing includes a centertube and a bypass valve on the centertube, and the filter element includes a cylindrical sealing flange that is designed to engage with the bypass valve when the filter element is installed in the top load filter housing, the method comprising:
- installing the filter element in the filter housing, such that an air vent formed in the cylindrical sealing flange permits air to bleed past the cylindrical sealing flange,
- the air vent comprising one or more of:
- a notch in the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- a filter disk attached to the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- a texture at the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- and
- a hole formed in the cylindrical sealing flange adjacent to the free end.
A liquid filter, comprising:
- a filter housing with a removable lid at a top of the housing, a centertube, and a bypass valve on the centertube;
- and
- a liquid filter element removably disposed within the filter housing, the liquid filter element including:
- a ring of filtration media having a first end and a second end and circumscribing a central cavity;
- a first endcap sealingly attached to the first end of the filtration media, the first endcap including a centertube opening through which the centertube of the filter housing can pass when the liquid filter element is installed in the filter housing;
- a second endcap sealingly attached to the second end of the filtration media, the second endcap including a bypass fluid opening that is opposite and coaxial to the centertube opening in the first endcap;
- the bypass fluid opening is defined by a cylindrical sealing flange that extends from the second endcap in a direction toward the first endcap and the central cavity, the cylindrical sealing flange includes a free end that is designed to seal with the bypass valve on the centertube when the liquid filter element is installed in the filter housing;
- and
- the cylindrical sealing flange includes an air vent permitting air to bleed past the cylindrical sealing flange when the liquid filter element is installed in the filter housing,
- the air vent comprises one or more of:
- a notch formed in the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- a filter disk attached to the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- a texture provided at the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- and
- a hole formed in the cylindrical sealing flange adjacent to the free end.
A liquid filter element configured for disposition within a filter housing, comprising:
- a ring of filtration media having a first end and a second end and circumscribing a central cavity;
- a first endcap sealingly attached to the first end of the filtration media, the first endcap including a centertube opening through which a centertube of the filter housing can pass when the liquid filter element is installed in the filter housing;
- a second endcap sealingly attached to the second end of the filtration media, the second endcap including a bypass fluid opening that is opposite and coaxial to the centertube opening in the first endcap;
- the bypass fluid opening is defined by a cylindrical sealing flange that extends from the second endcap in a direction toward the first endcap and the central cavity, the cylindrical sealing flange includes a free end that is designed to seal with a bypass valve on the centertube when the liquid filter element is installed in the filter housing;
- and
- the cylindrical sealing flange includes an air vent permitting air to bleed past the cylindrical sealing flange when the liquid filter element is installed in the filter housing,
- the air vent comprising one or more of:
- a notch formed in the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- a filter disk attached to the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- a texture provided at the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- and
- a hole formed in the cylindrical sealing flange adjacent to the free end.
A liquid filter, comprising:
- a filter housing with a removable lid at a top of the housing, a centertube, and a bypass valve on the centertube;
- and
- a liquid filter element removably disposed within the filter housing, the filter element including:
- a ring of filtration media having a first end and a second end and circumscribing a central cavity;
- a first endcap sealingly attached to the first end of the filtration media, the first endcap including a centertube opening through which the centertube of the filter housing passes;
- a second endcap sealingly attached to the second end of the filtration media, the second endcap including a bypass fluid opening that is opposite and coaxial to the centertube opening in the first endcap, the bypass fluid opening defined by a cylindrical sealing flange that extends from the second endcap in a direction toward the first endcap and the central cavity, the cylindrical sealing flange including a free end that seals with the bypass valve on the centertube;
- and
- an air vent formed on the cylindrical sealing flange, the air vent permitting air to bleed past the cylindrical sealing flange and the bypass valve,
- the air vent comprising one or more of:
- a notch formed in the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- a filter disk attached to the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- a texture provided at the free end of the cylindrical sealing flange;
- and
- a hole formed in the cylindrical sealing flange adjacent to the free end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.