Adapter assembly for filter arrangement

Claim 2

In a fluid system having a filter unit mounted to a filter pad wherein the filter unit includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a filter element disposed in the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet and wherein the filter pad includes inlet and outlet chambers respectively communicating with the inlet and outlet of the filter unit; an adapter assembly to allow detection of the pressure differential across the filter element of the filter unit by a differential pressure detector, the adapter assembly comprising: an adapter plate; means for sealingly attaching the adapter plate to the filter pad; means for sealingly attaching the filter unit to the adapter plate; means for connecting the differential pressure detector to the adapter plate; said adapter plate including a first aperture allowing fluid to communicate between the inlet chamber of the filter pad and the inlet of the filter unit and a second aperture allowing fluid to communicate between the outlet of the filter unit and the outlet chamber of the filter pad; first means for channeling to the detector connecting means fluid which flows between the inlet chamber of the filter pad and the inlet of the filter unit; and second means for channeling to the detector connecting means fluid which flows between the outlet of the filter unit and the outlet chamber of the filter pad.

Claim 3

The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for sealingly attaching the adapter plate to the filter pad and the means for sealingly attaching the filter unit to the adapter plate comprise a hub detachably mounted to the adapter plate to provide for universal orientation.

Claim 4

The adapter assembly of either of claims 1 and-2 wherein the hub and filter pad include cooperating threaded portions, wherein the means for sealingly attaching the adapter plate to the filter pad further includes a seal on the adapter plate which is compressed between the adapter plate and filter pad when the hub is threaded onto the filter pad and wherein the hub and the filter unit include cooperating threaded portions and wherein the means for sealingly attaching the filter unit to the adapter plate further includes a surface on the adapter plate to which the filter unit is sealable when the filter unit is threaded onto the hub.

Claim 5

The adapter assembly of any one of claims 1 through 3 wherein the detector connecting means comprises a detector orifice extending into the adapter plate from a peripheral edge.

Claim 6

The adapter assembly of any one of claims 1 through 3 wherein the detector connecting means comprises a boss extending outwardly from a peripheral edge of the adapter plate and wherein the boss includes a detector orifice.

Claim 7

The adapter assembly of any one of claims 1 through 5 wherein the adapter plate comprises an outer ring-shaped portion, an inner ring-shaped portion, and at least one spoke which maintains the inner and outer ring-shaped portions in fixed coaxial relation, wherein the inner and outer ring-shaped portions define therebetween a space including the first aperture, and wherein the first channeling means comprises a fluid passage communicating between the space and the detector connecting means.

Claim 8

The adapter assembly of any one of claims 1 and 3 through 6 wherein the means for sealingly attaching the adapter plate to the filter pad and the means for sealingly attaching the filter unit to the adapter plate comprise a hollow hub wherein the hollow hub is mounted to the adapter plate within the second aperture and defines a central channel which communicates between the outlet of the filter unit and the outlet chamber of the filter pad, and wherein the second channeling means includes a fluid passage in the hub communicating between the central channel and the periphery of the hub, means for channeling fluid around the periphery of the hub, and a fluid passage in the adapter plate which communicates between the peripheral channeling means and the detector-connecting means.

Claim 9

The adapter assembly of claim 7 wherein the peripheral channeling means comprises an expanded portion of the second aperture.

Claim 10

In a fluid system including a spin-on filter unit which has a base with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a filter element disposed in the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet and which is attachable to a filter pad having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, an adapter assembly to allow detection of differential pressure across the filter element by a differential pressure detector, the adapter assembly comprising: an adapter plate having a first side formed to sealingly engage the filter pad, a second side formed to sealingly engage the base of the filter unit, and an aperture to allow fluid to flow from the inlet chamber of the filter pad to the inlet of the filter unit; a hub mounted to the adapter plate and including means for attaching the hub to the filter pad, means for retaining the first side of the adapter plate in sealed engagement with the filter pad, means for retaining the base of the filter unit in sealed engagement with the second side of the adapter plate, and a fluid channel to allow fluid to flow from the outlet of the filter unit to the outlet chamber of the filter pad; means for connecting a differential pressure detector to the adapter plate; a first fluid passage means for communicating fluid flowing through the aperture in the adapter plate to the detector connecting means; and a second fluid passage means for communicating fluid flowing through the channel in the hub to the detector connecting means.

Claim 11

In a fluid system including a spin-on filter unit which has a base with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a filter element disposed in the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet and which is attachable to a filter pad having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, an adapter assembly to allow detection of differential pressure across the filter element by a differential pressure detector, the adapter assembly comprising: an adapter plate having a first side formed to sealingly engage the filter pad, a second side formed to sealingly engage the base of the filter unit, and an aperture to allow fluid to flow from the inlet chamber of the filter pad to the inlet of the filter unit; a hub mounted to the adapter plate and including means for attaching the hub to the filter pad, means for retaining the first side of the adapter plate in sealed engagement with the filter pad, means for retaining the base of the filter unit in sealed engagement with the second side of the adapter plate, and a fluid channel to allow fluid to flow from the outlet of the filter unit to the outlet chamber of the filter pad; means for connecting a differential pressure detector to the adapter plate; a first fluid passage means for communicating fluid flowing through the aperture in the adapter plate to the detector connecting means; and a second fluid passage means for communicating fluid flowing through the channel in the hub to the detector connecting means.

Claim 12

The adapter assembly of claim 9 wherein the detector connecting means includes a boss protruding from the perimeter of the adapter plate and having a detector orifice intercepting the first and second fluid passage means.

Claim 13

The adapter assembly of either of claims 9 or 10 wherein the adapter plate is generally circular and the adapter plate includes a ring-shaped outer portion, a ring-shaped inner portion, and at least one spoke fixing the inner and outer portions in coaxial relation, said aperture being disposed between the inner and outer portions and wherein the axis of the detector orifice is parallel to the axis of the adapter plate.

Claim 14

The adapter assembly of claim 11 wherein the outer portion includes similarly-shaped end faces.

Claim 15

The adapter assembly of claim 9 wherein the adapter plate is generally circular and wherein the detector connecting means includes a detector orifice extending into the adapter plate from a peripheral edge and having an axis extending radially inward toward the center of the adapter plate, the detector orifice intercepting the first and second fluid passage means.

Claim 16

The adapter assembly of any one of claims 9 through 13 wherein the hub is detachably mounted to the adapter plate.

Claim 17

In a fluid system including a spin-on filter unit which has a base with an inlet and an outlet and a filter element disposed in the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet and which is attachable to a filter pad having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, an adapter assembly to allow detection of the pressure differential across the filter element by a differential pressure detector, the adapter assembly comprising: an adapter plate including a first side formed to sealingly engage the filter pad, a second side formed to sealingly engage the base of the filter unit, a central orifice, an aperture spaced from the central orifice to allow fluid to flow from the inlet chamber of the filter pad into the inlet of the filter unit, a fitting including a detector orifice for receiving the differential pressure detector, a first fluid passage extending from the detector orifice to fluid flowing between the inlet chamber of the filter pad and the inlet of the filter unit, and a second fluid passage extending from the detector orifice to the central orifice; a hollow, tubular hub detachably mountable within the central orifice of the adapter plate and including a flange engageable with the second side of the adapter plate, a first end means for attaching the hub to the filter pad, and a second end means for attaching the hub to the base of the filter unit, the hub defining a central channel communicating between the outlet of the filter unit and the outlet chamber of the filter pad and further including a fluid channel extending radially through the tubular hub from the central channel of the hub to the central orifice of the adapter plate; and first and second means for sealing the adapter plate to the hub, said sealing means being disposed on either side of the fluid channel and within the first and second sides of the adapter plate, respectively, to form an annular space bounded by the adapter plate, the hub, and the first and second sealing means so that the second fluid passage, the annular space, and the fluid channel provide an isolated fluid communication between the central channel of the hub and the detector orifice.

Claim 18

In a fluid system including a spin-on filter unit which has a base with an inlet and an outlet and a filter element disposed in the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet and which is attachable to a filter pad having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, an adapter assembly to allow detection of the pressure differential across the filter element by a differential pressure detector, the adapter assembly comprising: an adapter plate including a first side formed to sealingly engage the filter pad, a second side formed to sealingly engage the base of the filter unit, a central orifice, an aperture spaced from the central orifice to allow fluid to flow from the inlet chamber of the filter pad into the inlet of the filter unit, a fitting including a detector orifice for receiving the differential pressure detector, a first fluid passage extending from the detector orifice to fluid flowing between the inlet chamber of the filter pad and the inlet of the filter unit, and a second fluid passage extending from the detector orifice to the central orifice; a hollow, tubular hub detachably mountable within the central orifice of the adapter plate and including a flange engageable with the second side of the adapter plate, a first end means for attaching the hub to the filter pad, and a second end means for attaching the hub to the base of the filter unit, the hub defining a central channel communicating between the outlet of the filter unit and the outlet chamber of the filter pad and further including a fluid channel extending radially through the tubular hub from the central channel of the hub to the central orifice of the adapter plate; and first and second means for sealing the adapter plate to the hub, said sealing means being disposed on either side of the fluid channel and within the first and second sides of the adapter plate, respectively, to form an annular space bounded by the adapter plate, the hub, and the first and second sealing means so that the second fluid passage, the annular space, and the fluid channel provide an isolated fluid communication between the central channel of the hub and the detector orifice.

Claim 19

For a fluid system including a spin-on filter unit having an inlet, an outlet, and a filter element disposed in the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and a filter pad having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber wherein the filter unit is attached to the filter pad with the inlet chamber communicating with the inlet and the outlet chamber communicating with the outlet, a process for detecting the differential pressure across the filter element comprising: detaching the filter unit from the filter pad; attaching one side of an adapter to the filter pad with an aperture in the adapter communicating with the inlet chamber of the filter pad and a channel in the adapter communicating with the outlet chamber of the filter pad, the adapter including a fitting for receiving a differential pressure detector and first and second fluid passages intercepting the fitting and respectively communicating with fluid flowing through the aperture and fluid flowing through the channel; attaching the filter unit to the other side of the adapter assembly with the aperture communicating with the inlet of the filter unit and the channel communicating with the outlet of the filter unit; connecting a differential pressure detector to said fitting, and detecting the differential pressure across the filter element with the differential pressure detector.

Claim 20

For a fluid system including a spin-on filter unit having an inlet, an outlet, and a filter element disposed in the fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet, and a filter pad having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber wherein the filter unit is attached to the filter pad with the inlet chamber communicating with the inlet and the outlet chamber communicating with the outlet, a process for detecting the differential pressure across the filter element comprising: detaching the filter unit from the filter pad; attaching one side of an adapter to the filter pad with an aperture in the adapter communicating with the inlet chamber of the filter pad and a channel in the adapter communicating with the outlet chamber of the filter pad, the adapter including a fitting for receiving a differential pressure detector and first and second fluid passages intercepting the fitting and respectively communicating with fluid flowing through the aperture and fluid flowing through the channel; attaching the filter unit to the other side of the adapter assembly with the aperture communicating with the inlet of the filter unit and the channel communicating with the outlet of the filter unit; connecting a differential pressure detector to said fitting, and detecting the differential pressure across the filter element with the differential pressure detector.

Claim 21

The process of claim 16 wherein the filter system further includes a threaded stud threaded at one end to the filter unit and threaded at the other end to the filter pad, wherein detaching the filter unit from the filter pad includes unscrewing the filter unit from the stud, wherein attaching the adapter to the filter pad includes unscrewing the stud from the filter pad and threading a threaded portion of the adapter to the filter pad, and wherein attaching the filter unit to the adapter includes threading the filter unit onto another threaded portion of the adapter.

Claim 22

The process of claim 17 wherein the adapter includes an adapter plate with a central aperture and a hub having first and second threaded end portions and wherein attaching the adapter to the filter pad further includes removably mounting the hub in the central aperture of the adapter plate.