Filter and bypass valve arrangement

Claim 2

In a fluid supply system having fluid reservoir means for containing fluid utilized in said supply system, a combined filter and by-pass apparatus comprising; filling spout means for supplying fluid to said reservoir means, said spout means having inlet and outlet means, first chamber means in communication with said spout means outlet means, normally closed valve means having inlet means in communication with said first chamber means and outlet means in communication with said reservoir means, said valve means including housing means removably secured to said spout means, primary fluid filtering means having inlet means in communication with said first chamber means and having outlet means in communication with said reservoir means, said combined filter and by-pass apparatus being disposed at least partially within said reservoir means and positioned such that all fluid entering said supply system must pass through said first chamber means before entering said reservoir means, said normally closed valve means including a valve member secured within said valve housing means by retainer means, said valve member being manually removable from said valve housing means through said spout inlet means, said retainer means including bail means for coacting with lug means and recess means to retain said valve member within said housing means.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said valve member has a head portion and a stem portion, and means normally biasing said valve member to a position in which said valve means inlet means is closed.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 further including secondary filter means for providing gross fluid filtration, said secondary filter means being disposed downstream of said valve means inlet means and in direct fluid communication with said valve means outlet means.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 wherein said secondary filter means includes a basket member which is removably secured to said stem portion for movement therewith.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 wherein said primary filtering means include a filter housing having a filter element disposed therein, and wherein said spout means include bore means formed in a rigid member, and wherein said filter housing, said rigid member and said valve housing means are attached together for unitary removal from said reservoir means.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5 wherein said filtering means further include cup-like mounting means for said filter element, said mounting means having centrally disposed aperture means therein, said filter housing having passage means therein which communicate directly with said reservoir means, said aperture means and said passage means being substantially aligned, said mounting means and said filter element coacting to form second and third coaxially disposed chambers within said filter housing, said aperture means being in direct fluid flow communication with said second chamber and said first chamber means being in communication with said third chamber.

Claim 8

In a fluid supply system having fluid reservoir means for containing fluid utilized in said supply system, a combined filter and by-pass apparatus comprising; filling spout means for supplying fluid to said reservoir means, said spout means having inlet and outlet means, first chamber means in communication with said spout means outlet means, normally closed valve means having inlet means in communication with said first chamber means and outlet means in communication with said reservoir means, primary fluid filtering means having inlet means in communication with said first chamber means and having outlet means in communication with said reservoir means, said combined filter and by-pass apparatus being disposed at least partially within Said reservoir means and positioned such that all fluid entering said supply system must pass through said first chamber means before entering said reservoir means, said valve means including a valve member having a head portion and a stem portion, and means normally biasing said valve member to a position in which said valve means inlet means is closed, secondary filter means for providing gross fluid filtration, said secondary filter means being disposed downstream of said valve means inlet means and in direct fluid communication with said valve means outlet means, said secondary filter means including a basket member which is removably secured to said stem portion for movement therewith, said valve means including housing means secured to said spout means and said valve member and said basket member being removably secured within said housing member by retainer means, said retainer means including bail means for coacting with lug means and recess means to retain said valve member with said housing means.

Claim 9

In a fluid supply system having fluid reservoir means for containing fluid utilized in said supply system, a combined filter and by-pass apparatus comprising; filling spout means for supplying fluid to said reservoir means, said spout means having inlet and outlet means, first chamber means in communication with said spout means outlet means, normally closed valve means having inlet means in communication with said first chamber means and outlet means in communication with said reservoir means, primary fluid filtering means having inlet means in communication with said first chamber means and having outlet means in communication with said reservoir means, said combined filter and by-pass apparatus being disposed at least partially within Said reservoir means and positioned such that all fluid entering said supply system must pass through said first chamber means before entering said reservoir means, said valve means including a valve member having a head portion and a stem portion, and means normally biasing said valve member to a position in which said valve means inlet means is closed, secondary filter means for providing gross fluid filtration, said secondary filter means being disposed downstream of said valve means inlet means and in direct fluid communication with said valve means outlet means, said secondary filter means including a basket member which is removably secured to said stem portion for movement therewith, said valve means including housing means secured to said spout means and said valve member and said basket member being removably secured within said housing member by retainer means, said retainer means including bail means for coacting with lug means and recess means to retain said valve member with said housing means.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 7 wherein said bail means includes two end portions which engage said recess means to retain said valve member within said housing means when said bail member means is disposed in a first predetermined position and which disengage said recess means to permit removal of said valve member and said bail means from said housing means when said bail means is disposed in a second predetermined position.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 8 wherein said first and second predetermined positions are spaced angularly 90* apart and when said lug means include notch means for locking said bail means in said second position.