JP-2026514481-A - Filter assemblies and associated filter elements

Abstract

A fluid filter assembly comprising a filter housing for housing a replaceable filter element, and a filter element operably disposed within the filter housing and having a first end cap connected to a first end of a fluid filtration medium. The filter housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first end cap is adapted to the connection between the first housing portion and the second housing portion so as to be detachable to the first housing portion and detachable to the second housing portion, and preferably to be sealing; relating to a filter element and adapter for use in a fluid filter assembly.

Inventors

• クリストゥフェク，ミロスラフ
• カトゥール，バルト
• フェルストラーテ，マティス
• クラバー，トム

Assignees

• ドナルドソン カンパニー，インコーポレイティド

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20240311

Priority Date

20230428

Claims (20)

1. A fluid filter assembly, - A filter housing for accommodating a replaceable filter element, - Includes a filter element operably disposed within the filter housing and having a first end cap connected to a first end of a fluid filtration medium; A fluid filter assembly comprising a filter housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion; the first end cap is adapted to the connection between the first housing portion and the second housing portion to be fitted for a removable mounting to the first housing portion and to be fitted for a removable mounting to the second housing portion and to seal.
2. A fluid filter assembly according to claim 1, - A filter bowl corresponding to the first housing portion, having an internal volume and a main opening for housing the filter element, - The filter element is operably disposed within the filter bowl and comprises a first end cap connected to the first end of the fluid filtration medium, - Includes a filter head corresponding to the second housing portion for receiving an incoming fluid flow and directing it toward the fluid filtration medium, and for receiving a fluid flow out of the filter element, The fluid filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first end cap is adapted to a removable mounting to the filter head and to a removable mounting to the filter bowl and to seal the connection of the filter bowl to the filter head.
3. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 2, wherein the filter bowl and the end cap are adapted for a removable mounting by screw connections including first and second complementary threads provided on the filter bowl and the end cap, respectively.
4. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 3, wherein a first thread is provided in the main opening, and the first end cap includes an intermittent second thread.
5. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first thread in the main opening is oriented radially outward, and the second thread is oriented radially inward.
6. The fluid filter assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the filter head and the filter element are adapted to be mounted by a bayonet-type connection system, the filter head includes a first portion of the bayonet connection system, and the filter element includes a second portion of the bayonet connection system.
7. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 6 or 3, wherein the bayonet connection system is adapted to provide a bayonet-type connection when the filter element is rotated within the filter head in the same direction as the filter bowl is screwed into the end cap by a threaded connection.
8. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first portion of the bayonet connection system includes radially inward-extending ribs, terminating at a stopper surface, which are positioned on the cylindrical inner surface of the filter head.
9. The fluid filter assembly according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the end cap includes a set of regularly angularly distributed radially extending threaded sectors, each containing a section of a second thread, and a set of regularly distributed radially extending notches alternating with the set of threaded sectors, and the second portion of the bayonet connection system is embodied by the lower rim of the set of regularly distributed radially extending sectors of the end cap.
10. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 9, wherein the filter bowl has a cylindrical inner surface, and a radial notch extends radially inward beyond the inner surface, thereby providing an inflow path for fluid to enter the bowl and proceed toward the filtration medium.
11. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the end cap includes the central end cap portion, and the regularly distributed radially extending threaded sectors include a circumferentially extending circumferentially extending axially, radially extending portion containing a second, intermittent thread, extending radially from the central end cap portion.
12. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first portion of the bayonet connection system comprises a radially inwardly extending projection disposed on the cylindrical inner surface of the filter head, and the second portion of the bayonet connection system comprises the opening in the side wall of the first end cap of the filter element, which is fitted and positioned to connect with the projection.
13. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of fluid inlet openings on the axial end face of the first end cap, wherein the axial projection thereof is located outside the axial projection of the fluid filtration medium.
14. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first portion of the bayonet connection system includes at least one circumferentially arranged recess that opens axially and is located on the cylindrical inner surface of the filter head, and the end cap includes a set of regularly angularly distributed radially extending threaded sectors, each containing a section of a second thread, and a set of regularly angularly distributed, mainly radially extending bayonet lips or wings that are angularly separated from the set of threaded sectors and arranged and adapted to be received in at least one circumferentially extending recess that is alternately arranged with them.
15. The fluid filter assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the filter head and the filter element are adapted to be attached by a snap-fit connection system, the filter head includes a first portion of the snap-fit connection system, and the filter element includes a second portion of the snap-fit connection system.
16. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 15, wherein the end cap includes a set of regularly angularly distributed radially extending threaded sectors, each containing a section of a second thread, and a set of regularly distributed radially extending notches alternating with the set of threaded sectors, and the second portion of the snap-fit connection system is embodied by the radially extending sectors of the end cap, which are adapted and arranged to be radially elastic.
17. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 16, wherein the filter bowl has a cylindrical inner surface, and a radial notch extends radially inward beyond the inner surface, thereby providing an inflow path for fluid to enter the bowl and proceed toward the filtration medium.
18. The fluid filter assembly according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the end cap includes the central end cap portion, and the regularly distributed radially extending threaded sectors include each primarily axially extending circumferential sidewall portion that extends radially from the central end cap portion and contains intermittent complementary threads, and the axially extending sidewall portion is elastic when deformed radially outward.
19. The fluid filter assembly according to claim 18, wherein the circumferential sidewall portion, which is mainly axially extending, extends slightly radially inward and is adapted to receive the upper rim of the filter bowl during installation, the upper rim of the filter bowl is adapted to extend axially, biasing the circumferential sidewall portion, which is mainly axially extending, during installation, and after the bowl is attached to the end cap and indirectly to the filter head, the end cap opens behind an undercut rim that embodies the first portion of the snap-fit connection, and the undercut rim is located on the inner surface of the filter head.
20. The fluid filter assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 19, wherein the end cap further includes an outlet pipe that communicates fluidly with the internal volume of the filter medium, and a circumferential radial sealing member disposed around the outlet pipe.

Description

Cross-reference to related applications This application was filed as a PCT international application on 11 March 2024 and claims priority to European Patent Application No. 23170712.6, filed on 28 April 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical field to which the invention pertains: This disclosure relates to filter assemblies and filter elements. In particular, this disclosure relates to bowl/cartridge filter assemblies for filtering liquids such as fuels, lubricating fluids such as oils, and hydraulic fluids. Background: Filter elements, also known as filter cartridges, are used in a wide variety of filtration applications, and the fluid being filtered can be a liquid or a gas. In many cases, it is desirable to filter contaminants from a fluid flow. For example, fluid flows into automotive engines or hydraulic systems often contain particulate contaminants. In such systems, it is preferable to remove or at least reduce contaminants from the fluid to reduce the risk of equipment damage. A filter element comprises a filter medium for removing contaminants as a fluid flows through it. Commonly used and commercially available filter media include, for example, pleated or grooved media. The filter element needs to be replaced when the filter medium is loaded with particles exceeding a certain threshold load. Filter elements are typically installed within a housing in a replaceable manner. A special category of filter assembly in the field of liquid filtration is the bowl/cartridge filter. Such an assembly includes a filter bowl having an internal volume and a main opening for housing a filter element, a filter element operably positioned within the filter bowl, and a filter head for receiving the incoming fluid flow and directing it toward the fluid filtration medium, and for receiving the outgoing fluid flow from the filter element. The filter bowl can be attached to the filter head in a sealed manner, for example, by screw connections and appropriately placed seals. Bowl/cartridge filter assemblies exist in both upright and suspended configurations. Many bowl/cartridge-type assemblies allow for the flow of each liquid even without a filter element, increasing the risk of damage to the device. Bowl/cartridge-type filters that avoid the aforementioned problems are needed in industry. Summary The object of the embodiments of this disclosure is to provide a filtration assembly that prevents the associated equipment from operating if a suitable filter element is not installed. The present invention is defined in the appended independent claims. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments. In a first aspect of this disclosure, a fluid filter assembly is provided, - A filter housing for accommodating a replaceable filter element, - Includes a filter element operably disposed within a filter housing and having a first end cap connected to a first end of a fluid filtration medium, The filter housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section; A fluid filter assembly is disclosed in which the first end cap is adapted to a removable mounting to a first housing portion and to a removable mounting to a second housing portion, and is adapted to the connection between the first housing portion and the second housing portion to seal, preferably. A benefit is that a filtration assembly is provided that prevents the filter bowl from being attached to the filter head if a suitable filter element is not present. In a preferred embodiment of the first suspended type, the assembly is: - A filter bowl corresponding to the first housing portion, having an internal volume and a main opening for housing a filter element, - A filter element operably positioned within a filter bowl and having a first end cap connected to a first end of a fluid filtration medium, - Includes a filter head corresponding to a second housing section for receiving the incoming fluid flow and directing it toward the fluid filtration medium, and for receiving the fluid flow out of the filter element, The first end cap is adapted to a connection of the filter head to the filter bowl so as to be detachable to the filter head and detachable to the filter bowl, and preferably to be sealed. For the purposes of this disclosure, “removable mounting” means a mounting that can be removed without damaging any of the components to which it is mounted. According to a preferred embodiment, the filter bowl and the first end cap are adapted for a removable mounting by screw connections including first and second complementary threads provided on the filter bowl and the first end cap, respectively. According to a preferred embodiment, the first thread is provided in the main opening, and the first end cap includes an intermittent second thread. According to a preferred embodiment, the first thread in the main opening is oriented radially outward, and the second thread is oriented radially inward.