Fluid filter with bypass and condition indicator

Claim 2

A fluid filter, comprising: a. a filter housing forming a filter chamber with an open top; b. a dome-like cover including top wall means and side wall means mounted on said open top, said cover including a tubular guide portion which extends downwardly into said filter chamber a predetermined distance; c. a tubular filter element having an open top end and a bottom end; d. means including closure means at said bottom end for mounting said filter element in said chamber for guided sliding movements thereof between a normal fluid filtering position adjacent said cover and a displaced position in response to clogging thereof, said means further including a tubular bypass member having a lower end portion thereof engaging said open top end of said filter element, and an upper end portion thereof slidably extending into said tubular guide portion, said bypass member having bypass openings therein to permit fluid to bypass the filter element upon movement of said filter element and bypass member to the displaced position; e. means biasing said filter element to the normal fluid filtering position; f. a fluid inlet passageway in said cover in fluid communication with said tubular guide portion and leading to the interior of the filter element through said bypass member and a fluid outlet passageway in said cover leading to the filter chamber exterior of the filter element; g. a pair of upstanding tabs mounted On said upper end portion of said bypass member which extend upwardly into said dome-like cover, said tabs moving with said bypass member and filter element to indicate a clogged condition; h. a pair of viewing windows, each window mounted in a side wall of said cover below a top wall thereof and in close proximity to each of said tabs to permit visual observation of said tabs; and i. said cover including walls located in close proximity to each of said tabs opposite each of said windows to define a downwardly opening narrow pockets around said tabs, said pockets forming air pockets to resist entry of fluid therein.

Claim 3

Fluid filter apparatus, comprising: a. a filter housing having an open top end and a closed bottom end, defining a filter chamber; b. cover means including top wall means, side wall means, peripheral bottom wall means engaging said open top end, bottom web means extending horizontally inwardly therefrom, and centrally positioned, tubular guide means; c. a rod carried by said bottom end, extending through said filter chamber; d. a tubular filter element mounted on said rod in said filter chamber having an open top end, and having bottom closure means secured thereto with an axial opening thereof slidably mounted on said rod; e. a tubular bypass member having a lower end portion thereof engaging said open top end of said filter element, an upper end portion thereof slidably extending into said tubular guide means, and means associated with said bypass member to maintain the bypass member and upper end of the filter element coaxial with respect to the rod during a bypass condition; f. said cover means having a first fluid passageway leading to the top of said tubular guide means and a second fluid passageway leading to an annular chamber between said filter element and said housing; g. said filter element and bypass member being movable on said rod between bypass and normal flow positions, said bypass member having bypass opening means therein to permit fluid to bypass said filter element upon movement of said filter element and bypass member to said bypass position; h. a spring on said rod engaging said closure member to normally bias said filter element and bypass member to the normal flow position; and i. viewing window means mounted in said side wall means of said cover means below said top wall means thereof, and tab means mounted on said bypass member which extend upwardly behind and in close proximity to said window means to permit visual observation thereof, said tab means moving with said bypass member to indicate a bypass condition.

Claim 4

Fluid filter apparatus, comprising: a. a filter housing having an open top end and a closed bottom end, defining a filter chamber; b. cover means including top wall means, side wall means, peripheral bottom wall means engaging said open top end, bottom web means extending horizontally inwardly therefrom, and centrally positioned, tubular guide means; c. a rod carried by said bottom end, extending through said filter chamber; d. a tubular filter element mounted on said rod in said filter chamber having an open top end, and having bottom closure means secured thereto with an axial opening thereof slidably mounted on said rod; e. a tubular bypass member having a lower end portion thereof engaging said open top end of said filter element, an upper end portion thereof slidably extending into said tubular guide means, and means associated with said bypass member to maintain the bypass member and upper end of the filter element coaxial with respect to the rod during a bypass condition; f. said cover means having a first fluid passageway leading to the top of said tubular guide means and a second fluid passageway leading to an annular chamber between said filter element and said housing; g. said filter element and bypass member being movable on said rod between bypass and normal flow positions, said bypass member having bypass opening means therein to permit fluid to bypass said filter element upon movement of said filter element and bypass member to said bypass position; h. a spring on said rod engaging said closure member to normally bias said filter element and bypass member to the normal flow position; and i. viewing window means mounted in said side wall means of said cover means below said top wall means thereof, and tab means mounted on said bypass member which extend upwardly behind and in close proximity to said window means to permit visual observation thereof, said tab means moving with said bypass member to indicate a bypass condition.

Claim 5

Fluid filter apparatus, comprising: a. a generally cylindrical filter housing having an open top end and a closed bottom end, defining a filter chamber; b. a cover member having a top wall, side walls, an outer, generally circular bottom portion engaging said open top end, a bottom web portion extending horizontally inwardly therefrom, and a coaxially positioned, cylindrical guide portion connected to said web portion; c. a rod carried by said bottom end, extending axially through said filter chamber; d. a spring on said rod adjacent said bottom end; e. a cylindrical filter element mounted coaxially on said rod between said guide portion and said spring, having an open top end, and having bottom, spring engaging closure means secured thereto with an axial opening thereof slidably mounted on said rod; f. a tubular bypass member having a lower end portion thereof engaging said open top end of said filter element, and an upper end portion thereof slidably extending into said cylindrical guide portion; g. said cover member having an inlet passageway leading to a top end of said cylindrical guide portion, and a separate outlet passageway leading through said web portion to an annular chamber between said filter element and housing; h. said filter element and bypass member being movable on said rod downwardly against said spring, said bypass member having bypass opening means in a wall thereof to permit fluid to bypass said filter element upon said movement of said filter element and bypass member and means associated with said bypass member to maintain the bypass member and the upper end of the filter element coaxial with respect to the rod during a bypass condition; i. a viewing window mounted in a side wall of said cover member below said top wall thereof, and a tab mounted on said bypass member which extends upwardly directly behind said window to permit visual observation thereof, said tab moving downwardly with said bypass member to indicate a bypass condition; and j. said cover member including a wall located opposite said tab from said window to define a downwardly opening pocket around said tab, said pocket forming an air pocket to resist entry of fluid therein.

Claim 6

Fluid filter apparatus, comprising: a. a generally cylindrical filter housing having an open top end and a closed bottom end, defining a filter chamber; b. a cover member having a top wall, side walls, an outer, generally circular bottom portion engaging said open top end, a bottom web portion extending horizontally inwardly therefrom, and a coaxially positioned, cylindrical guide portion connected to said web portion; c. a rod carried by said bottom end, extending axially through said filter chamber; d. a spring on said rod adjacent said bottom end; e. a cylindrical filter element mounted coaxially on said rod between said guide portion and said spring, having an open top end, and having bottom, spring engaging closure means secured thereto with an axial opening thereof slidably mounted on said rod; f. a tubular bypass member having a lower end portion thereof engaging said open top end of said filter element, and an upper end portion thereof slidably extending into said cylindrical guide portion; g. said cover member having an inlet passageway leading to a top end of said cylindrical guide portion, and a separate outlet passageway leading through said web portion to an annular chamber between said filter element and housing; h. said filter element and bypass member being movable on said rod downwardly against said spring, said bypass member having bypass opening means in a wall thereof to permit fluid to bypass said filter element upon said movement of said filter element and bypass member and means associated with said bypass member to maintain the bypass member and the upper end of the filter element coaxial with respect to the rod during a bypass condition; i. a viewing window mounted in a side wall of said cover member below said top wall thereof, and a tab mounted on said bypass member which extends upwardly directly behind said window to permit visual observation thereof, said tab moving downwardly with said bypass member to indicate a bypass condition; and j. said cover member including a wall located opposite said tab from said window to define a downwardly opening pocket around said tab, said pocket forming an air pocket to resist entry of fluid therein.