Filter assembly having removable filter element

Claim 2

A filter assembly comprising a stationary part having fluid inlet and outlet ports, a bowl for supporting a replaceable filter element removably connected with said stationary part, connecting means for connecting said filter element between said inlet and outlet ports, a pressure deformable cup seal located between said stationary part and said bowl, said cup seal being constructed and arranged to deform in proportion to the difference between the fluid pressure at said inlet port and the fluid pressure at said outlet port to provide a variable force between said stationary part and said bowl in proportion to the difference between the fluid pressure at said inlet port and the fluid pressure at said outlet port, said variable force being substantially eliminated when there is substantially no difference between the fluid pressure at said inlet port and at said outlet port, and a manually operable relief valve connected to said inlet port for selectively reducing the force between said stationary part and said bowl by selectively releasing the pressure at said inlet port.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, including a tubular projection depending downwardly from said stationary part, an annular groove disposed on the exterior surface of said tubular projection, said sealing means comprising an annular cup seal disposed in said groove, and said bowl having a curved surface surrounding said tubular projection and contacting said cup seal.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, including a plurality of flanges secured to said stationary part and projecting inwardly toward a vertical axis, said bowl comprising an upwardly opening hollow body of revolution, symetrical about said axis, a plurality of lugs connected to the upper portion of said bowl and projecting radially outwardly from said axis, said flanges being spaced apart to permit said lugs to pass upwardly between adjacent ones of said flanges, and an open space about each of said flanges to permit each of said lugs to be moved to a position above one of said flanges, whereby said flanges and lugs connect said bowl with said stationary part.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said filter element comprises an upwardly opening hollow circular cylinder, said filter element being supported in said bowl coaxially with said tubular projection, a side of said filter element spaced from a side of said bowl, and including a second tubular projection, coaxial with the first tubular projection and located within said first tubular projection, said second tubular projection extending into said hollow filter element, and second sealing means interconnected between said second tubular projection and said filter element, whereby fluid flowing through said first tubular projection into said bowl, and out of said bowl through said second tubular projection is filtered through said filter element.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second sealing means presents a variable force between said second tubular projection and said filter element in accordance with the pressure differential across the seal of said second sealing means.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4, including a chamber within said stationary part connected to said inlet port, a passageway connecting said chamber with the space between said filter element and said bowl, within said first tubular projection, and means connecting said outlet port with the interior of said second tubular projection.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1, whereiN said relief valve is interconnected between one side of said sealing means and the other side of said sealing means, whereby the pressure differential across said sealing means may be dissipated by said relief valve prior to removal of said bowl from said stationary part.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7, including a stop valve connected between a water supply pipe and said inlet port for cutting off said water supply prior to opening said relief valve. 9 Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said relief valve has a manually operable control member extending outwardly from said valve to the exterior of said assembly.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7, including means for connecting the inlet of said valve with said inlet port and the outlet of said valve with a location maintained at atmospheric pressure.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bowl comprises an upwardly opening body having an upper portion extending upwardly beyond said sealing means to define a chamber between said bowl and said stationary part, said upper portion of said bowl being spaced from said stationary member to provide an opening leading from said chamber to the exterior of the assembly, the outlet of said valve being connected to a location directly above said chamber.

Claim 12

In a filter assembly having a stationary part with inlet and outlet ports, a bowl for supporting a replaceable filter element, and connecting means for connecting said filter element between said inlet and outlet ports, the combination comprising coupling means for removably coupling said bowl with said stationary part, said coupling means including a flange secured to said stationary part and a corresponding lug secured to said bowl, said bowl adapted to be rotated relative to said stationary part to bring said lug into a position above said flange, and indicator means for indicating when said bowl is in properly assembled relation with said stationary part, said indicator means comprising a valve having its inlet connected to a supply of water within said assembly and its outlet connected to a location on the exterior of said assembly, and means responsive to the relative position between said bowl and said stationary part for selectively allowing said valve to open.

Claim 13

In a filter assembly having a stationary part with inlet and outlet ports, a bowl for supporting a replaceable filter element, and connecting means for connecting said filter element between said inlet and outlet ports, the combination comprising coupling means for removably coupling said bowl with said stationary part, said coupling means including a flange secured to said stationary part and a corresponding lug secured to said bowl, said bowl adapted to be rotated relative to said stationary part to bring said lug into a position above said flange, and indicator means for indicating when said bowl is in properly assembled relation with said stationary part, said indicator means comprising a valve having its inlet connected to a supply of water within said assembly and its outlet connected to a location on the exterior of said assembly, and means responsive to the relative position between said bowl and said stationary part for selectively allowing said valve to open.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 12, including a cam secured to said bowl, and a cam follower secured to said stationary member, said cam follower being operable to allow said valve to open except when said cam is in a predetermined relation with said cam follower.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said bowl comprises an upwardly opening hollow body and said valve comprises an aperture connecting said inlet port with a location on the exterior of said assembly directly above the inside of the upper rim of said bowl, a valve stem mounted in said aperture, said valve stem having a sealing member adapted to seal said aperture when said valve stem is moved toward the inlet port side of said aperture, and a cam secured to the upper portion of the inside of said rim to engage and move said stem upwardly when said bowl is in properly assembled relation with said stationary part.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 14, including sealing means interconnected between said stationary part and said bowl, said bowl having a curved surface surrounding said sealing means and contacting said sealing means at a location spaced below the upper rim of said bowl, the upper part of said bowl being spaced from said stationary part to define a chamber, said upper rim being spaced from said stationary part to provide an opening leading from said chamber to the exterior of said assembly.

Claim 17

In a filter assembly having a stationary part with inlet and outlet ports, a bowl for supporting a replaceable filter element removably connected with said stationary part, connecting means for connecting said filter element between said inlet and outlet ports, the combination comprising a downwardly opening tubular projection secured to said stationary parT, said bowl comprising an upwardly opening hollow body surrounding the lower end of said tubular projection, and sealing means interconnected between said tubular projection and said bowl, said bowl having a portion extending upwardly from said sealing means and away from said tubular projection to define a chamber within said bowl and without said tubular projection, whereby water flowing downwardly through said tubular projection is received in said chamber when said bowl is removed downwardly from said stationary part.

Claim 18

In a filter assembly having a stationary part with inlet and outlet ports, a bowl for supporting a replaceable filter element removably connected with said stationary part, connecting means for connecting said filter element between said inlet and outlet ports, the combination comprising a downwardly opening tubular projection secured to said stationary parT, said bowl comprising an upwardly opening hollow body surrounding the lower end of said tubular projection, and sealing means interconnected between said tubular projection and said bowl, said bowl having a portion extending upwardly from said sealing means and away from said tubular projection to define a chamber within said bowl and without said tubular projection, whereby water flowing downwardly through said tubular projection is received in said chamber when said bowl is removed downwardly from said stationary part.

Claim 19

In a filter assembly having a stationary part with inlet and outlet ports, a bowl for supporting a replaceable filter element removably connected with said stationary part, connecting means for connecting said filter element between said inlet and outlet ports, the combination comprising a downwardly opening tubular projection secured to said stationary part, said bowl comprising an upwardly opening hollow body surrounding the lower end of said tubular projection, and sealing means interconnected between said tubular projection and said bowl, said bowl having a portion extending upwardly from said sealing means and away from said tubular projection to define a chamber within said bowl and without said tubular projection, whereby water flowing downwardly through said tubular projection is received in said chamber when said bowl is removed downwardly from said stationary part, the upper rim of said bowl being spaced from said stationary part to provide an opening leading from said chamber to the exterior of said assembly.

Claim 20

In a filter assembly having a stationary part with inlet and outlet ports, a bowl for supporting a replaceable filter element removably connected with said stationary part, connecting means for connecting said filter element between said inlet and outlet ports, the combination comprising a downwardly opening tubular projection secured to said stationary part, said bowl comprising an upwardly opening hollow body surrounding the lower end of said tubular projection, and sealing means interconnected between said tubular projection and said bowl, said bowl having a portion extending upwardly from said sealing means and away from said tubular projection to define a chamber within said bowl and without said tubular projection, whereby water flowing downwardly through said tubular projection is received in said chamber when said bowl is removed downwardly from said stationary part, the upper rim of said bowl being spaced from said stationary part to provide an opening leading from said chamber to the exterior of said assembly.

Claim 21

In a filter assembly having a stationary part with inlet and outlet ports, a bowl for supporting a replaceable filter element removably connected with said stationary part, connecting means for connecting said filter element between said inlet and outlet ports, the combination comprising a downwardly opening tubular projection secured to said stationary part, said bowl comprising an upwardly opening hollow body surrounding the lower end of said tubular projection, and sealing means interconnected between said tubular projection and said bowl, said bowl having a portion extending upwardly from said sealing means and away from said tubular projection to define a chamber within said bowl and without said tubular projection, whereby water flowing downwardly through said tubular projection is received in said chamber when said bowl is removed downwardly from said stationary part, the exterior surface of said tubular projection including an annular groove disposed therein, said sealing means comprising an annular cup seal disposed in said groove, and said bowl having a curved surface surrounding said tubular projection and contacting said cup seal at a location spaced below the upper rim of said bowl, said cup seal presenting a variable force between said tubular projection and said bowl in accordance with the pressure differential across said seal.

Claim 22

In a filter assembly having a stationary part with inlet and outlet ports, a bowl for supporting a replaceable filter element removably connected with said stationary part, connecting means for connecting said filter element between said inlet and outlet ports, the combination comprising a downwardly opening tubular projection secured to said stationary part, said bowl comprising an upwardly opening hollow body surrounding the lower end of said tubular projection, and sealing means interconnected between said tubular projection and said bowl, said bowl having a portion extending upwardly from said sealing means and away from said tubular projection to define a chamber within said bowl and without said tubular projection, whereby water flowing downwardly through said tubular projection is received in said chamber when said bowl is removed downwardly from said stationary part, the exterior surface of said tubular projection including an annular groove disposed therein, said sealing means comprising an annular cup seal disposed in said groove, and said bowl having a curved surface surrounding said tubular projection and contacting said cup seal at a location spaced below the upper rim of said bowl, said cup seal presenting a variable force between said tubular projection and said bowl in accordance with the pressure differential across said seal.