End caps with peripheral grooves for tubular filter elements and process for making the same

Claim 2

A FILTER ELEMENT END CAP HAVING AT LEAST ONE PERIPHERAL GROOVE, FOR USE IN CAPPING TUBULAR FILTER ELEMENTS, WHICH COMPRISES A COMPOSITE OF ABUTTING CONCENTRIC COMPONENTS CAPABLE OF BEING BONDED TOGETHER IN ONE PIECE; OF WHICH COMPONENTS TWO ABUTTING COMPONENTS PROVIDE THE SIDES OF EACH PERIPHERAL GROOVE AND ONE OF THESE TWO COMPONENTS PROVIDES THE BASE; THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUCH COMPONENTS BEING AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF PERIPHERAL GROOVES, PLUS ONE; AND THE OUTERMOST COMPONENT IS AN ANNULUS; THE COMPOSITE HAVING ONE FACE SHAPED TO BE BONDED TO ONE END OF A TUBULAR FILTER ELEMENT IN A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL TO CAP THE TUBULAR ELEMENT, AND HAVING ANOTHER FACE SHAPED TO ATTACH THE CAPPED FILTER ELEMENT IN FLUIDFLOW CONNECTION TO A FLUID SYSTEM IN A FLUID-TIGHT SEAL, WITH A SEALING ELEMENT IN AT LEAST ONE PERIPHERAL GROOVE, THE PERIPHERAL GROOVES HAVING FIXED DIMENSIONS AFTER BONDING TOGETHER OF THE CONCENTRIC COMPONENTS, AND HAVING SMOOTH SIDES AND BASE FOR FLUID-TIGHT SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH A SEALING ELEMENT AND A FLUID SYSTEM.

Claim 3

An end cap according to claim 1, having one peripheral groove and two concentric components.

Claim 4

An end cap according to claim 1, having two peripheral grooves and three concentric compOnents.

Claim 5

An end cap according to claim 1, in which the components nest together in closely abutting relation to form the end cap composite.

Claim 6

An end cap according to claim 1, in which the components are bonded together by an adhesive.

Claim 7

An end cap according to claim 1, in which the components are bonded together by fusion.

Claim 8

An end cap according to claim 1, in which the components are bonded together by solvent bonding.

Claim 9

An end cap according to claim 1, in which the components are bonded together by spin welding.

Claim 10

An end cap according to claim 1, in which the innermost component is an annulus.

Claim 11

An end cap according to claim 1, in which the innermost component is a disk.

Claim 12

An end cap according to claim 1, having an internal support to improve dimensional stability of the abutting concentric components.

Claim 13

An end cap according to claim 11, in which the support is a metal ring.

Claim 14

An end cap according to claim 11, in which the support is disposed between abutting concentric components.

Claim 15

An end cap according to claim 11, in which the support is disposed at the inner periphery of the annular component that is innermost.

Claim 16

An end cap according to claim 1, in which each component''s height, taken with the other annuli or disk of the end cap composite, corresponds in the aggregate to the thickness of the end cap composite, each component''s diameter and width, taken with the other annuli or disk of the end cap composite, correspond in the aggregate to the breadth and span of closed area of the end cap composite, one exterior surface of at least one annulus provides one exterior surface of the end cap composite, another exterior surface of each annulus is provided with an outwardly extending peripheral projection constituting one side wall of a peripheral groove, and the peripheral projections of two abutting components define both sides of the groove, with a ledge adjacent such projection on one of such components defining the base of the groove, the ledge on one component being arranged to abut a projecting portion of the next adjacent component, so that there are no flash lines and parting lines in the base of the annulus, the components of the composite together defining one or more peripheral grooves with smooth sides and a smooth base, the other end surface of at least one of the components providing the other end surface of the end cap composite.

Claim 17

A filter end cap comprising a composite according to claim 1 of a plurality of abutting concentric components, and all held together to form one piece.

Claim 18

A process for forming filter end caps having at least one peripheral groove, for use in capping tubular filter elements, which comprises assembling a composite of abutting concentric components of which two abutting components provide the sides of each peripheral groove and one of these two components provides the base, the total number of such components being at least equal to the number of peripheral grooves plus one, and the outermost component is an annulus, and adhering the components of the composite together to form a one-piece filter end cap in which the peripheral grooves have fixed dimensions and smooth sides and base for fluid-tight sealing engagement with a sealing element and a fluid system.

Claim 19

A process for forming filter end caps having at least one peripheral groove, for use in capping tubular filter elements, which comprises assembling a composite of abutting concentric components of which two abutting components provide the sides of each peripheral groove and one of these two components provides the base, the total number of such components being at least equal to the number of peripheral grooves plus one, and the outermost component is an annulus, and adhering the components of the composite together to form a one-piece filter end cap in which the peripheral grooves have fixed dimensions and smooth sides and base for fluid-tight sealing engagement with a sealing element and a fluid system.

Claim 20

A process according to claim 17, which comprises adhering one open end of a tubular element to the end cap at the same time as the composite is adhered together in one piece.

Claim 21

A process according to claim 18, which comprises embedding an open end of a tubular element in one side of the composite at the same time as that side is fused to bond the composite together, while maintaining the remainder of the composite above the softening point thereof, whereby each component of the composite can be molded true to the desired configuration of the peripheral groove, without any danger of distortion of the groove or end cap during the bonding of the components together and to the tubular filter element.

Claim 22

A tubular end-capped filter element comprising, in combination, a filter sheet material formed in a closed configuration having at least one open end, and an end cap composite having at least one peripheral groove and comprising a plurality of abutting concentric components; of which two abutting components provide the sides of each peripheral groove and one of these two components provides the base; the total number of such components being at least equal to the number of grooves, plus one; and the outermost component is an annulus; having at least two concentric components adhered together and to the filter sheet material in a fluid-tight seal and closing off at least one open end of the tubular filter element.

Claim 23

A tubular end-capped filter element comprising, in combination, a filter sheet material formed in a closed configuration having at least one open end, and an end cap composite having at least one peripheral groove and comprising a plurality of abutting concentric components; of which two abutting components provide the sides of each peripheral groove and one of these two components provides the base; the total number of such components being at least equal to the number of grooves, plus one; and the outermost component is an annulus; having at least two concentric components adhered together and to the filter sheet material in a fluid-tight seal and closing off at least one open end of the tubular filter element.

Claim 24

A tubular end-capped filter element in accordance with claim 20, in which the end cap composite is formed of thermoplastic resin, the open end of the filter sheet being embedded in the end cap composite to a depth of from about 10 percent to about 90 percent of the cap thickness and the thermoplastic cap material permeating the sheet material from face to face thereof thereby forming a continuous leakproof matrix of filter and thermoplastic resin at the interface between the end cap and the filter sheet material, ensuring a leakproof seal therebetween.

Claim 25

An end cap having at least one peripheral groove, for use in capping tubular filter elements, which comprises a composite of abutting concentric components of thermoplastic resinous material capable of being bonded together in one piece by softened integration of the thermoplastic resinous material, of which components two abutting components provide the sides of each peripheral groove and one of these two components provides the base; the total number of such components being at least equal to the number of grooves, plus one; and the outermost component is an annulus, the peripheral grooves having fixed dimensions after bonding together of the concentric components, and having smooth sides and base for fluid-tight sealing engagement with a sealing element and a fluid system.

Claim 26

An end cap having at least one peripheral groove, for use in capping tubular filter elements, which comprises a composite of abutting concentric components of thermoplastic resinous material capable of being bonded together in one piece by softened integration of the thermoplastic resinous material, of which components two abutting components provide the sides of each peripheral groove and one of these two components provides the base; the total number of such components being at least equal to the number of grooves, plus one; and the outermost component is an annulus, the peripheral grooves having fixed dimensions after bonding together of the concentric components, and having smooth sides and base for fluid-tight sealing engagement with a sealing element and a fluid system.

Claim 27

An end cap according to claim 22, in which the components are bonded together by heat softening.

Claim 28

An end cap according to claim 22, in which the components are bonded together by solvent bonding.

Claim 29

An end cap according to claim 22, in which the components are bonded together by spin welding.

Claim 30

A tubular end capped filter element comprising, in combination, a filter sheet material formed in a closed configuration having at least one open end; at least one end cap adhered to the filter sheet material in a fluid-tight seal and closing off at least one open end; and, attached to at least one end cap, an end cap composite having at least one peripheral groove and comprising a plurality of abutting concentric components, of which two abutting components provide the sides of each peripheral groove, and one of these two components provides the base; the total number of such components being at least equal to the number of grooves, plus one; and the outermost component is an annulus.

Claim 31

A tubular end capped filter element comprising, in combination, a filter sheet material formed in a closed configuration having at least one open end; at least one end cap adhered to the filter sheet material in a fluid-tight seal and closing off at least one open end; and, attached to at least one end cap, an end cap composite having at least one peripheral groove and comprising a plurality of abutting concentric components, of which two abutting components provide the sides of each peripheral groove, and one of these two components provides the base; the total number of such components being at least equal to the number of grooves, plus one; and the outermost component is an annulus.

Claim 32

A tubular end cap filter element according to claim 26, in which the end cap and the end cap composite are formed of thermoplastic resinous material, and are adhered together to form a one-piece end cap.

Claim 33

A filter element end cap having at least one peripheral groove, for use in capping tubular filter elements, which comprises a composite of abutting concentric components capable of being bonded together in one piece; of which components two abutting components provide the sides of each peripheral groove and one of these two components provides the base; the total number of such components being at least equal to the number of peripheral grooves, plus one; and the outermost component is an annulus; the composite having one face shaped to be bonded to one end of a tubular filter element end cap in a fluid-tight seal to complete the tubular element end cap, and having another face shaped to aTtach the capped filter element in fluid-flow connection to a fluid system in a fluid-tight seal, with a sealing element in at least one peripheral groove, the peripheral grooves having fixed dimensions after bonding together of the concentric components, and having smooth sides and base for fluid-tight sealing engagement with a sealing element and a fluid system.

Claim 34

A filter element end cap having at least one peripheral groove, for use in capping tubular filter elements, which comprises a composite of abutting concentric components capable of being bonded together in one piece; of which components two abutting components provide the sides of each peripheral groove and one of these two components provides the base; the total number of such components being at least equal to the number of peripheral grooves, plus one; and the outermost component is an annulus; the composite having one face shaped to be bonded to one end of a tubular filter element end cap in a fluid-tight seal to complete the tubular element end cap, and having another face shaped to aTtach the capped filter element in fluid-flow connection to a fluid system in a fluid-tight seal, with a sealing element in at least one peripheral groove, the peripheral grooves having fixed dimensions after bonding together of the concentric components, and having smooth sides and base for fluid-tight sealing engagement with a sealing element and a fluid system.

Claim 35

An end cap according to claim 28, having one peripheral groove and two concentric components.

Claim 36

An end cap according to claim 28, having two peripheral grooves and three concentric components.

Claim 37

An end cap according to claim 28, in which the components nest together in closely abutting relation to form the end cap composite.

Claim 38

An end cap according to claim 28, in which the components are bonded together by an adhesive.

Claim 39

An end cap according to claim 28, in which the components are bonded together by fusion.

Claim 40

An end cap according to claim 1, in which the components are bonded together by solvent bonding.

Claim 41

An end cap according to claim 28, in which the components are bonded together by spin welding.

Claim 42

An end cap according to claim 1, in which the innermost component is an annulus.

Claim 43

An end cap according to claim 1, in which the innermost component is a disk.

Claim 44

An end cap according to claim 28, having an internal support to improve dimensional stability of the abutting concentric components.

Claim 45

An end cap according to claim 28, in which the support is a metal ring.

Claim 46

An end cap according to claim 38, in which the support is disposed between abutting concentric components.

Claim 47

An end cap according to claim 38, in which the support is disposed at the inner periphery of the annular component that is innermost.

Claim 48

An end cap according to claim 28, in which each component''s height, taken with the other annuli or disk of the end cap composite, corresponds in the aggregate to the thickness of the end cap composite, each component''s diameter and width, taken with the other annuli or disk of the end cap composite, corresponds in the aggregate to the breadth and span of closed area of the end cap composite, one exterior surface of at least one annulus provides one exterior surface of the end cap composite, another exterior surface of each annulus is provided with an outwardly extending peripheral projection constituting one side wall of a peripheral groove, and the peripheral projections of two abutting components define both sides of the groove, with a ledge adjacent such projection on one of such components defining the base of the groove, the ledge on one component being arranged to abut a projecting portion of the next adjacent component, so that there are no flash lines and parting lines in the base of the annulus, the components of the composite together defining one or more peripheral grooves with smooth sides and a smooth base, the other end surface of at least one of the components providing the other end surface of the end cap composite.

Claim 49

A filter end cap comprising a composite according to claim 28 of a plurality of abutting concentric components, and all held together to form one piece.