Filters

Claim 2

In a fluid filter assembly of the kind comprising a generally cylindrical casing and end portions closing opposite ends thereof, a first opening defined in one of said end portions and a second opening defined in said cylindrical casing axially remote from said first opening, an open-ended tubular filter element located within said cylindrical casing with filter element open ends in abutting relation to said end portion so that in use fluid is constrained to flow between said first and second openings only through the tubular wall of said filter element, the improvement residing in said tubular filter element having a non-uniform diameter which decreases towards said second opening axially of said filter element from the open end thereof abutting said one end portion surrounding said first opening wherein the external diameter of the filter element closely approaches the internal diameter of the cylindrical casing, and said first opening has a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said filter element thereat, the further improvement wherein said filter element comprises first and second tubular parts of different diameters extending from said end portions into partly overlapping relation and defining a channel between their overlapped regions, and an impermeable member joining the overlapped free ends of said tubular parts and preventing communication between said first and second openings through said channel.

Claim 3

In a fluid filter assembly of the kind comprising a generally cylindrical casing and end portions closing opposite ends thereof, a first opening defined in one of said end portions and a second opening defined in said cylindrical casing axially remote from said first opening, an open-ended tubular filter element located within said cylindrical casing with filter element open ends in abutting relation to said end portions so that in use fluid constrained to flow between said first and second openings only through the tubular wall of said filter element, the improvement residing in said tubular filter element having a non-uniform diameter which decreases towards said second opening axially of said filter element from the open end thereof abutting said one end portion surrounding said first opening whereat the external diameter of the filter element closely approaches the internal diameter of the cylindrical casing, and said first opening has a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said filter element thereat, the further improvement wherein said filter element diameter decreases stepwise axially of said filter element, and an impermeable member is provided at each step to prevent communication between said first and second openings thereat.

Claim 4

In a fluid filter assembly of the kind comprising a generally cylindrical casing and end portions closing opposite ends thereof, a first opening defined in one of said end portions and a second opening defined in said cylindrical casing axially remote from said first opening, an open-ended tubular filter element located within said cylindrical casing with filter element open ends in abutting relation to said end portions so that in use fluid constrained to flow between said first and second openings only through the tubular wall of said filter element, the improvement residing in said tubular filter element having a non-uniform diameter which decreases towards said second opening axially of said filter element from the open end thereof abutting said one end portion surrounding said first opening whereat the external diameter of the filter element closely approaches the internal diameter of the cylindrical casing, and said first opening has a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said filter element thereat, the further improvement wherein said filter element diameter decreases stepwise axially of said filter element, and an impermeable member is provided at each step to prevent communication between said first and second openings thereat.

Claim 5

In a fluid filter assembly of the kind comprising a generally cylindrical casing and end portions closing opposite ends thereof, a first opening defined in one of said end portions and a second opening defined in said cylindrical casing axially remote from said first opening, an open-ended tubular filter element located within said cylindrical casing with filter element open ends in abutting relation to said end portions so that in use fluid is constrained to flow between said first and second openings only through the tubular wall of said filter element, the improvement residing in said tubular filter element having a non-uniform diameter which decreases towards said second opening axially of said filter element from the open end thereof abutting said one end portion surrounding said first opening wherein the external diameter of the filter element closely approaches the internal diameter of the cylindrical casing, and said first opening has a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said filter element thereat, the further improvement wherein said filter element is in the form of two truncated cones each having a base region and an apex region, said base regions being in abutting relating to said end portions from which they extend, said apex regions being contiguous, and a fluid tight joint between said apex regions, said second opening being located in said cylindrical casing adjacent said joint between said apex regions.

Claim 6

In a fluid filter assembly of the kind comprising a generally cylindrical casing and end portions closing opposite ends thereof, a first opening defined in one of said end portions and a second opening defined in said cylindrical casing axially remote from said first opening, an open-ended tubular filter element located within said cylindrical casing with filter element open ends in abutting relation to said end portions so that in use fluid is constrained to flow between said first and second openings only through the tubular wall of said filter element, the improvement residing in said tubular filter element having a non-uniform diameter which decreases towards said second opening axially of said filter element from the open end thereof abutting said one end portion surrounding said first opening wherein the external diameter of the filter element closely approaches the internal diameter of the cylindrical casing, and said first opening has a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of said filter element thereat, the further improvement wherein said filter element is in the form of two truncated cones each having a base region and an apex region, said base regions being in abutting relating to said end portions from which they extend, said apex regions being contiguous, and a fluid tight joint between said apex regions, said second opening being located in said cylindrical casing adjacent said joint between said apex regions.

Claim 7

In the air filter assembly of claim 3, the further improvement comprising the provision of a third opening defined in the other of said end portions opposite said first opening, said third opening having a diameter approaching the internal diameter of said base portion of said filter element abutting thereto.