Air filter assembly in combination with motor vehicle generator

Claim 2

An air filter assembly in combination with and joined to a motor vehicle generator, said air filter assembly comprising: (a) an adaptor plate and connecting means rigidly connecting said adaptor plate to one end of said generator, said adaptor plate including an aperture positioned and arranged to provide air flow communication between the assembly and said generator; (b) an air filter element; and, (c) a housing enclosing a chamber, said housing including: (i) an air outlet aperture communicating between said chamber and said adaptor plate aperture; (ii) a plurality of air inlet apertures communicating between said chamber and the atmosphere surrounding said housing; and, (iii) a circular threaded collar threadably engaged to said adaptor plate; said air filter element being removably disposed in said chamber between said air outlet aperture and said plurality of air inlet apertures for directing cooling air flow to said generator, while excluding particulate foreign matter from said cooling air flow.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises a sleeve snugly positioned around the periphery of one end of the generator, said adaptor plate being circumferentially affixed to an end of said sleeve.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2, further comprising gasket means for sealing engagement around said collar between said adaptor plate and said housing.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 3, further comprising means affixed to said housing for assisting in the tightening of said housing against said adaptor plate.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said air filter element is an annular, pleated, paper element.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises at least one bolt threadably received by the generator.

Claim 8

The combination as defined in claim 6, further comprising gasket means for sealing engagement around said collar between said adaptor plate and said housing.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 7, further comprising means affixed to said housing for assisting in the tightening of said housing against said adaptor plate.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said air filter element is an annular, pleated, paper element.

Claim 11

An air filter assembly in combination with and joined to a motor vehicle generator, said air filter assembly comprising: (a) an adaptor, including: (i) a sleeve joined to one end of said generator; (ii) an adaptor plate having a first side, a second side, and an aperture positioned and arranged to provide air flow communication between the assembly and said generator, said first side being circumferentially affixed to an end of said sleeve; and, (iii) a first threaded collar affixed to said second side of said plate around said aperture; (b) an air filter element; and, (c) a housing enclosing a chamber, said housing including: (i) an air outlet aperture communicating between said chamber and said adaptor plate aperture; (ii) a plurality of air inlet apertures communicating between said chamber and the atmosphere surrounding said housing; and (iii) a second threaded collar affixed around said air outlet aperture and threadably engaged to said first collar; said air filter element being disposed in said chamber between said air outlet aperture and said plurality of air inlet apertures for directing cooling air flow to said generator, while excluding dust from said cooling air flow.

Claim 12

An air filter assembly in combination with and joined to a motor vehicle generator, said air filter assembly comprising: (a) an adaptor, including: (i) a sleeve joined to one end of said generator; (ii) an adaptor plate having a first side, a second side, and an aperture positioned and arranged to provide air flow communication between the assembly and said generator, said first side being circumferentially affixed to an end of said sleeve; and, (iii) a first threaded collar affixed to said second side of said plate around said aperture; (b) an air filter element; and, (c) a housing enclosing a chamber, said housing including: (i) an air outlet aperture communicating between said chamber and said adaptor plate aperture; (ii) a plurality of air inlet apertures communicating between said chamber and the atmosphere surrounding said housing; and (iii) a second threaded collar affixed around said air outlet aperture and threadably engaged to said first collar; said air filter element being disposed in said chamber between said air outlet aperture and said plurality of air inlet apertures for directing cooling air flow to said generator, while excluding dust from said cooling air flow.

Claim 13

An air filter assembly in combination with and joined to a motor vehicle generator, said air filter assembly comprising: (a) an adaptor, including, (i) an adaptor plate having an aperture positioned and arranged to provide air flow communication between the assembly and said generator, (ii) at least one bolt joined to said generator for rigidly affixing said adaptor plate to one end of said generator; (iii) a first threaded collar affixed to said plate around said aperture; (b) an air filter element; and, (c) a housing enclosing a chamber, said housing including: (i) an air outlet aperture communicating between said chamber and said adaptor plate aperture, (ii) a plurality of air inlet apertures communicating between said chamber and the atmosphere surrounding said housing; and, (iii) a second threaded collar fixed around said air outlet aperture and threadably engaged to said first collar; said air filter element being disposed in said chamber between said air outlet aperture and said plurality of air inlet apertures for directing cooling air flow to said generator, while excluding dust from said cooling air flow.

Claim 14

An air filter assembly in combination with and joined to a motor vehicle generator, said air filter assembly comprising: (a) an adaptor, including, (i) an adaptor plate having an aperture positioned and arranged to provide air flow communication between the assembly and said generator, (ii) at least one bolt joined to said generator for rigidly affixing said adaptor plate to one end of said generator; (iii) a first threaded collar affixed to said plate around said aperture; (b) an air filter element; and, (c) a housing enclosing a chamber, said housing including: (i) an air outlet aperture communicating between said chamber and said adaptor plate aperture, (ii) a plurality of air inlet apertures communicating between said chamber and the atmosphere surrounding said housing; and, (iii) a second threaded collar fixed around said air outlet aperture and threadably engaged to said first collar; said air filter element being disposed in said chamber between said air outlet aperture and said plurality of air inlet apertures for directing cooling air flow to said generator, while excluding dust from said cooling air flow.

Claim 15

The combination as defined in claim 10 or 11, further comprising gasket means for sealing engagement around said collars between said plate and said housing.

Claim 16

The combination as defined in claim 10 or 11, further comprising means affixed to said housing for assisting in the tightening of said housing against said plate.

Claim 17

The combination as defined in claim 10 or 11, wherein said air filter element is an annular, pleated, paper element.

Claim 18

The combination as defined in claim 10 or 11, wherein said filter element has a selected pore size in the range of about 0.4 to 0.6 millimeters.

Claim 19

The combination as defined in claim 10 or 11, wherein said filter element is an annular, pleated, paper element having a selected pore size in the range of about 0.4 to 0.6 millimeters and a selected guage thickness in the range of about 0.0016 to about 0.0021 inches.