Filter assembly

Claim 2

A filter assembly comprising: a head adapted to be fixedly mounted; fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head; first cam surfaces on said head; a clamping collar having second cam surfaces engageable with said first cam surfaces and cooperating therewith so that rotation of said collar in one direction causes axial movement of said collar from a clamping to an unclamped position and rotation in an opposite direction returns said collar to a clamping position; a pressure vessel having a filter element disposed therein; means for supporting said pressure vessel in said clamping collar; means associated with said pressure vessel defining fluid inlet and outlet openings to and from the filter element and arranged for communication with said fluid inlet and outlet ports in said head to permit fluid flow through the filter, said means associated with said pressure vessel comprising a closure member in sealed engagement with the end of said pressure vessel; a manually operated shut-off valve in said head operatively associated with said fluid inlet; and interacting means on said shut-off valve and said clamping collar for restraining said clamping collar against rotation to an unclamped position.

Claim 3

In a filter assembly the combination comprising: a head adapted to be fixedly mounted; fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head; a clamping collar operatively associated with said head for retaining a pressure vessel in said head; cooperating means on said head and said clamping collar for moving said clamping collar between a clamping and an unclamped position on said head; a manually operated shut-off valve in said head operatively associated with said fluid inlet; and interacting means on said shut-off valve and said clamping collar for restraining said clamping collar against rotation to an unclamped position.

Claim 4

In a filter assembly the combination comprising: a head adapted to be fixedly mounted; fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head; a clamping collar operatively associated with said head for retaining a pressure vessel in said head; cooperating means on said head and said clamping collar for moving said clamping collar between a clamping and an unclamped position on said head; a manually operated shut-off valve in said head operatively associated with said fluid inlet; and interacting means on said shut-off valve and said clamping collar for restraining said clamping collar against rotation to an unclamped position.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 wherein said shut-off valve includes an actuating lever for movement of said valve between an open and a closed position; and said interacting means includes a first formation on said actuating lever and a second formation on said clamping collar, said two formations being arranged for abutting engagement when said lever is in its open position to prevent rotation of said collar from its clamped to an unclamped position.

Claim 6

A filter assembly comprising: a head adapted to be fixedly mounted; fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head; first cam surfaces on said head; a clamping collar having second cam surfaces engageable with said first cam surfaces and cooperating therewith so that rotation of said collar in one direction causes axial movement of said collar from a clamping to an unclamped position and rotation in an opposite direction returns said collar to a clamping position; a pressure vessel having a filter element disposed therein; means for supporting said pressure vessel in said clamping collar; means associated with said pressure vessel defining fluid inlet and outlet openings to and from the filter element and arranged for communication with said fluid inlet and outlet ports in said head to permit fluid flow through the filter; said means associated with said pressure vessel comprising a closure member in sealed engagement with the end of said pressure vessel, said means for supporting said pressure vessel in said clamping collar includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced ledge surfaces formed on said clamping collar and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ridge surfaces on said pressure vessel engageable with said ledge surfaces, safety means for preventing fluid under pressure in the system in which the filter assembly is disposed from blowing said pressure vessel from said head in the event removal of the pressure vessel is attempted before shutting off the supply of fluid to the head, said safety means comprising cooperating stationary stop means on said head and stop means on said clamping collar defining a predetermined limit of rotation of said clamping collar when removal of said pressure vessel from the filter assembly is desired and further comprising said circumferentially spaced ledge surfaces on said clamping collar which in cooperation with said ridge surfaces on said pressure vessel are effective during initial disengagement of said pressure vessel from said head to prevent the pressure vessel being blown from said head.

Claim 7

A filter assembly comprising: a head adapted to be fixedly mounted; fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head; first cam surfaces on said head; a clamping collar having second cam surfaces engageable with said first cam surfaces and cooperating therewith so that rotation of said collar in one direction causes axial movement of said collar from a clamping to an unclamped position and rotation in an opposite direction returns said collar to a clamping position; a pressure vessel having a filter element disposed therein; means for supporting said pressure vessel in said clamping collar; means associated with said pressure vessel defining fluid inlet and outlet openings to and from the filter element and arranged for communication with said fluid inlet and outlet ports in said head to permit fluid flow through the filter; said means associated with said pressure vessel comprising a closure member in sealed engagement with the end of said pressure vessel, said means for supporting said pressure vessel in said clamping collar includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced ledge surfaces formed on said clamping collar and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ridge surfaces on said pressure vessel engageable with said ledge surfaces, safety means for preventing fluid under pressure in the system in which the filter assembly is disposed from blowing said pressure vessel from said head in the event removal of the pressure vessel is attempted before shutting off the supply of fluid to the head, said safety means comprising cooperating stationary stop means on said head and stop means on said clamping collar defining a predetermined limit of rotation of said clamping collar when removal of said pressure vessel from the filter assembly is desired and further comprising said circumferentially spaced ledge surfaces on said clamping collar which in cooperation with said ridge surfaces on said pressure vessel are effective during initial disengagement of said pressure vessel from said head to prevent the pressure vessel being blown from said head.

Claim 8

In a filter assembly the combination comprising: a head adapted to be fixedly mounted; fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head; a pressure vessel inserted in said head and adapted to have a filter element disposed therein; means associated with said pressure vessel defining fluid inlet and outlet openings to and from the filter element and arranged for communication with said fluid inlet and outlet ports in said head to permit fluid flow through the filter; a clamping collar for securing said pressure vessel into said head; safety means for preventing fluid under pressure in the system in wHich the filter assembly is disposed from blowing said pressure vessel from said head in the event removal of the pressure vessel is attempted before shutting off the supply of fluid to the head; said safety means comprising cooperating ledge surfaces and ridge surfaces on said clamping collar and pressure vessel, respectively, and cooperating stationary stop means on said head and stop means on said clamping collar defining a predetermined limit of rotation of the clamping collar when removal of the pressure vessel from the filter assembly is desired.

Claim 9

In a filter assembly the combination comprising: a head adapted to be fixedly mounted; fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head; a pressure vessel inserted in said head and adapted to have a filter element disposed therein; means associated with said pressure vessel defining fluid inlet and outlet openings to and from the filter element and arranged for communication with said fluid inlet and outlet ports in said head to permit fluid flow through the filter; a clamping collar for securing said pressure vessel into said head; safety means for preventing fluid under pressure in the system in wHich the filter assembly is disposed from blowing said pressure vessel from said head in the event removal of the pressure vessel is attempted before shutting off the supply of fluid to the head; said safety means comprising cooperating ledge surfaces and ridge surfaces on said clamping collar and pressure vessel, respectively, and cooperating stationary stop means on said head and stop means on said clamping collar defining a predetermined limit of rotation of the clamping collar when removal of the pressure vessel from the filter assembly is desired.

Claim 10

In a filter assembly the combination comprising: a head adapted to be fixedly mounted; fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head; a filter unit inserted into said head; a clamping collar for securing said filter unit in said head; said filter unit comprising a pressure vessel adapted to have a filter element disposed therein and a closure member in sealed relationship with the open end of said pressure vessel, said closure member including an annular rim portion and first and second tubular portions, said three portions all being coaxially disposed; a web portion interconnecting said rim portion and said second tubular portion; said second tubular portion extending axially beyond said rim portion and said first tubular portion extending axially beyond said second tubular portion; said first and second tubular portions being radially spaced from each other to define an opening therebetween; said first tubular portion also defining an opening therethrough; said openings defining fluid inlet and outlet ports to lead to and from the pressure vessel and adapted for fluid communication with said fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head.

Claim 11

In a filter assembly the combination comprising: a head adapted to be fixedly mounted; fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head; a filter unit inserted into said head; a clamping collar for securing said filter unit in said head; said filter unit comprising a pressure vessel adapted to have a filter element disposed therein and a closure member in sealed relationship with the open end of said pressure vessel, said closure member including an annular rim portion and first and second tubular portions, said three portions all being coaxially disposed; a web portion interconnecting said rim portion and said second tubular portion; said second tubular portion extending axially beyond said rim portion and said first tubular portion extending axially beyond said second tubular portion; said first and second tubular portions being radially spaced from each other to define an opening therebetween; said first tubular portion also defining an opening therethrough; said openings defining fluid inlet and outlet ports to lead to and from the pressure vessel and adapted for fluid communication with said fluid inlet and outlet ports formed in said head.

Claim 12

In a filter unit for use in a filter assembly the combination comprising: a pressure vessel adapted to have a filter element disposed therein; a closure member in sealed relationship with the open end of said pressure vessel, said closure member comprising an annular substantially conical shaped body and including an annular rim portion and first and second tubular portions; said three portions all being coaxially disposed; a web portion interconnecting said rim portion and said second tubular portion; said second tubular portion extending axially beyond said rim portion, and said first tubular portion extending axially beyond said second tubular portion; said first and second tubular portions being radially spaced from each other to define an opening therebetween; said first tubular portion also defining an opening therethrough; said openings defining fluid inlet and outlet ports to lead to and from the pressure vessel.

Claim 13

In a filter unit for use in a filter assembly the combination comprising: a pressure vessel adapted to have a filter element disposed therein; a closure member in sealed relationship with the open end of said pressure vessel, said closure member comprising an annular substantially conical shaped body and including an annular rim portion and first and second tubular portions; said three portions all being coaxially disposed; a web portion interconnecting said rim portion and said second tubular portion; said second tubular portion extending axially beyond said rim portion, and said first tubular portion extending axially beyond said second tubular portion; said first and second tubular portions being radially spaced from each other to define an opening therebetween; said first tubular portion also defining an opening therethrough; said openings defining fluid inlet and outlet ports to lead to and from the pressure vessel.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 7 including means on each of said tubular portions for supporting sealing means thereon.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 7 including sealing means associated with the outside surface of each of said tubular portions, said tubular portions thereby being adapted to be placed in sealing engagement with inlet and outlet means of a head member disposed in the system with which the filter assembly is to be used.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 7 including a filter element within said pressure vessel and arranged therein to cooperate with the inlet and outlet ports of said closure member.

Claim 17

A filter unit closure member comprising: an annular substantially conical shaped body including an annular rim portion and first and second tubular portions, said three portions all being coaxially disposed; a web portion interconnecting said rim portion and said second tubular portion; said second tubular portion extending axially beyond said rim portion and said first tubular portion extending axially beyond said second tubular portion; said first and second tubular portions being radially spaced from each other to define an opening therebetween, said first tubular portion also defining an openIng therethrough, said openings defining fluid inlet and outlet ports to lead to and from a filter unit with which said closure member is adapted to be associated.

Claim 18

A filter unit closure member comprising: an annular substantially conical shaped body including an annular rim portion and first and second tubular portions, said three portions all being coaxially disposed; a web portion interconnecting said rim portion and said second tubular portion; said second tubular portion extending axially beyond said rim portion and said first tubular portion extending axially beyond said second tubular portion; said first and second tubular portions being radially spaced from each other to define an opening therebetween, said first tubular portion also defining an openIng therethrough, said openings defining fluid inlet and outlet ports to lead to and from a filter unit with which said closure member is adapted to be associated.

Claim 19

The closure member of claim 11 including means on each of said tubular portions for supporting sealing means thereon.