US4372847A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel filter assembly and cartridge
Assignee: Purolator Products Inc
•
Filing: 1981-08-24
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Granted: 1983-02-08
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Expires: 2001-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A fuel filter assembly and cartridge for filtering, coalescing and separating solids, liquids, and gases from a fluid flow including a housing adapted to a removable cartridge. The cartridge is in the form of an annular member having an outer annular filtering section to remove solids an an inner annular coalescing section to cause emulsified liquids to form readily removable droplets in the flow. A separator is situated within the inner periphery of the coalescing section to deflect coalesced liquid for separation while permitting passage of the purified fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew D. Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:10
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D36/00; B01D36/003; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/04; B01D17/045; B01D17/08; B01D17/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
An assembly for removing contaminants from a fluid comprising housing means forming a fluid receiving chamber, said housing means having an inlet port for introducing a continuous fluid phase having particulate material and emulsified liquids to be removed to said fluid receiving chamber, said housing means having an output port to direct the fluid to a utilization point, cartridge means operatively positioned in said fluid receiving chamber and adapted to be selectively removed for replacement, said cartridge means having at least two concentrically arranged annular sections to receive the fluid introduced through said inlet port in successive order and in a substantially radial inward direction, the outer section of said annular sections including filtering means to filter the particulate material from said fluid introduced through said inlet port, said filtering means having a filter media disposed therein, the inner section of said annular section including coalescing means to coalesce the emulsified liquids in said continuous fluid phase, said coalescing means having a coalescing material to cause said emulsified liquid to coalesce into droplets in the continuous fluid phase, a separator assembly having an annular fine mesh screen, said screen being concentrically arranged within said coalescing means in spaced relationship thereto, said separator preventing the passage of the droplets formed by said coalescing section and permitting the continuous fluid phase to pass therethrough, said cartridge means being solely supported in substantially spaced relationship to said housing on an annular raised position creating sealed contact between the bottom of said cartridge means and said housing, containment means coupled in fluid communication beneath said housing means to collect the coalesced liquid, fluid passage means positioned within said separator and being in fluid communication with said outlet port to direct the continuous fluid phase passing through said separator to a utilization point, and said fluid passage means includes a standpipe disposed within said separator assembly in concentric spaced relationship to said fine mesh screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
An assembly for removing contaminants from a fluid comprising housing means forming a fluid receiving chamber, said housing means having an inlet port for introducing a continuous fluid phase having particulate material and emulsified liquids to be removed to said fluid receiving chamber, said housing means having an output port to direct the fluid to a utilization point, cartridge means operatively positioned in said fluid receiving chamber and adapted to be selectively removed for replacement, said cartridge means having at least two concentrically arranged annular sections to receive the fluid introduced through said inlet port in successive order and in a substantially radial inward direction, the outer section of said annular sections including filtering means to filter the particulate material from said fluid introduced through said inlet port, said filtering means having a filter media disposed therein, the inner section of said annular section including coalescing means to coalesce the emulsified liquids in said continuous fluid phase, said coalescing means having a coalescing material to cause said emulsified liquid to coalesce into droplets in the continuous fluid phase, a separator assembly having an annular fine mesh screen, said screen being concentrically arranged within said coalescing means in spaced relationship thereto, said separator preventing the passage of the droplets formed by said coalescing section and permitting the continuous fluid phase to pass therethrough, said cartridge means being solely supported in substantially spaced relationship to said housing on an annular raised position creating sealed contact between the bottom of said cartridge means and said housing, containment means coupled in fluid communication beneath said housing means to collect the coalesced liquid, fluid passage means positioned within said separator and being in fluid communication with said outlet port to direct the continuous fluid phase passing through said separator to a utilization point, and said fluid passage means includes a standpipe disposed within said separator assembly in concentric spaced relationship to said fine mesh screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the emulsified liquids are carried in a fluid having a different specific gravity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said filter material is in the form of pleated paper treated with a hydrophobic substance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said coalescing material includes a fiberglass material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said separator is integrally coupled to said cartridge means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
270 words
A fuel filter and separator assembly comprising housing means forming a fuel filter and separator chamber, said housing means having an inlet coupled to the fuel system on a vehicle to introduce a flow of fuel into said chamber subject to the presence of solid and liquid contaminants, said housing means further having an outlet to deliver the fuel to an engine, cartridge means removably mounted in said chamber, said cartridge means having an outer annular filter section and an inner concentrically arranged coalescing section, said flow of fuel introduced into said inlet being adapted to be directed substantially radially inward through said filter section to remove the solid contaminants and through the coalescing section to coalesce the liquid contaminants into droplets, an annular liquid separator concentrically disposed within said cartridge means in spaced relation thereto and defining an inner fuel receiving chamber, said separator preventing the passage of coalesced liquids therethrough and permitting passage of the fuel, said separator having a substantially annular screen, said annular screen being operatively affixed to a lower base member having a central opening, containment means coupled to said housing means beneath said cartridge means and said separator to receive and collect said droplets, fluid passage means in fluid communication with said fuel receiving chamber and coupled to said outlet to direct substantially contaminant free fuel to the engine, said fluid passage means includes a standpipe disposed concentrically within said opening of said separator, and said annular screen being spaced from said standpipe with said base member in contact with said standpipe to provide substantially sole support of said separator apart from said cartridge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
270 words
A fuel filter and separator assembly comprising housing means forming a fuel filter and separator chamber, said housing means having an inlet coupled to the fuel system on a vehicle to introduce a flow of fuel into said chamber subject to the presence of solid and liquid contaminants, said housing means further having an outlet to deliver the fuel to an engine, cartridge means removably mounted in said chamber, said cartridge means having an outer annular filter section and an inner concentrically arranged coalescing section, said flow of fuel introduced into said inlet being adapted to be directed substantially radially inward through said filter section to remove the solid contaminants and through the coalescing section to coalesce the liquid contaminants into droplets, an annular liquid separator concentrically disposed within said cartridge means in spaced relation thereto and defining an inner fuel receiving chamber, said separator preventing the passage of coalesced liquids therethrough and permitting passage of the fuel, said separator having a substantially annular screen, said annular screen being operatively affixed to a lower base member having a central opening, containment means coupled to said housing means beneath said cartridge means and said separator to receive and collect said droplets, fluid passage means in fluid communication with said fuel receiving chamber and coupled to said outlet to direct substantially contaminant free fuel to the engine, said fluid passage means includes a standpipe disposed concentrically within said opening of said separator, and said annular screen being spaced from said standpipe with said base member in contact with said standpipe to provide substantially sole support of said separator apart from said cartridge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fuel filter and separator assembly according to claim 6 wherein said separator is an annular member having substantial portions in the form of a screen element being impermeable to coalseced liquids and permeable to the fuel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel filter and separator assembly according to claim 6 wherein said separator is integrally attached to said cartridge means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fuel filter and separator assembly according to claim 6 wherein said housing means includes a removable top to provide access to said cartridge means in said fuel filter and separator chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
217 words
A removable cartridge for use within a housing of a fuel filter assembly comprising an annular outerfilter section and an inner coalescing section concentrically arranged in substantially contact relationship within said filter section thereto, said filter and coalescing section defining a central chamber, a perforated shell disposed in surrounding relationship to said annular outer section to form an outer surface to receive an incoming flow of fluid, an upper cap member being affixed to a first end position of said perforated shell, said filter section, and said coalescing section to enclose an end of said chamber, said cap member having means affixing said perforated shell, said filter section, and said coalescing section in integral relationship thereto, a bottom member affixed to the end portion of said perforated shell, said filter section, and said coalescing section and having a central opening in fluid communication with said chamber, said bottom cap member having flat annular sealing means adapted to create sealing relationship between the cartridge and a raised portion of the housing of the fuel filter assembly, said filter section being formed by pleated filter material treated with a water repellent substance, and said coalescing section includes a coalescing material to cause liquid contaminants in the fuel introduced radially inward through said coalescing section to coalesce therefrom for separation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
217 words
A removable cartridge for use within a housing of a fuel filter assembly comprising an annular outerfilter section and an inner coalescing section concentrically arranged in substantially contact relationship within said filter section thereto, said filter and coalescing section defining a central chamber, a perforated shell disposed in surrounding relationship to said annular outer section to form an outer surface to receive an incoming flow of fluid, an upper cap member being affixed to a first end position of said perforated shell, said filter section, and said coalescing section to enclose an end of said chamber, said cap member having means affixing said perforated shell, said filter section, and said coalescing section in integral relationship thereto, a bottom member affixed to the end portion of said perforated shell, said filter section, and said coalescing section and having a central opening in fluid communication with said chamber, said bottom cap member having flat annular sealing means adapted to create sealing relationship between the cartridge and a raised portion of the housing of the fuel filter assembly, said filter section being formed by pleated filter material treated with a water repellent substance, and said coalescing section includes a coalescing material to cause liquid contaminants in the fuel introduced radially inward through said coalescing section to coalesce therefrom for separation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The removable cartridge according to claim 10 further including annular separator means concentrically arranged within said filter section and said coalescing section, said separator means being supported by said bottom cap member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The removable cartridge according to claim 11 wherein said separator means includes a fine mesh screen deflecting passage of the coalesced liquid and permitting passage of the fuel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
295 words
A fuel filter and separator assembly comprising housing means forming a fuel filter and separator chamber, said housing means having an inlet coupled to the fuel system of a vehicle to introduce a flow of fuel into said chamber subject to the presence of solid and liquid contaminants, said housing means further having an outlet to deliver the fuel to an engine, cartridge means removably mounted in said chamber, said cartridge means having an outer annular filter section and an inner concentrically arranged coalescing section, said flow of fuel introduced into said inlet being adapted to be directed substantially radially inward through said filter section to remove the solid contaminants and through the coalescing section to coalesce the liquid contaminants into droplets, an annular liquid separator concentrically disposed within said cartridge means in spaced relation thereto and defining an inner fuel receiving chamber, said separator preventing the passage of coalesced liquids therethrough and permitting passage of the fuel, said housing means having a lower floor defining a portion of said chamber, said floor having an upper annular raised portion, containment means coupled to said housing means beneath said cartridge means and said separator to receive and collect said droplets, fluid passage means in fluid communication with said fuel receiving chamber and coupled to said outlet to direct substantially contaminant free fuel to the engine, said containment means includes a vessel having a plurality of wall portions separated by a plurality of downwardly extending rib sections, said wall portions defining at least a portion of the peripheral wall of said vessel, some of said wall portions having a curved cross-sectional configuration, and at least one of said wall portions including a flat configuration adapted to mount a level detector through said vessel in sealed relationship thereto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
295 words
A fuel filter and separator assembly comprising housing means forming a fuel filter and separator chamber, said housing means having an inlet coupled to the fuel system of a vehicle to introduce a flow of fuel into said chamber subject to the presence of solid and liquid contaminants, said housing means further having an outlet to deliver the fuel to an engine, cartridge means removably mounted in said chamber, said cartridge means having an outer annular filter section and an inner concentrically arranged coalescing section, said flow of fuel introduced into said inlet being adapted to be directed substantially radially inward through said filter section to remove the solid contaminants and through the coalescing section to coalesce the liquid contaminants into droplets, an annular liquid separator concentrically disposed within said cartridge means in spaced relation thereto and defining an inner fuel receiving chamber, said separator preventing the passage of coalesced liquids therethrough and permitting passage of the fuel, said housing means having a lower floor defining a portion of said chamber, said floor having an upper annular raised portion, containment means coupled to said housing means beneath said cartridge means and said separator to receive and collect said droplets, fluid passage means in fluid communication with said fuel receiving chamber and coupled to said outlet to direct substantially contaminant free fuel to the engine, said containment means includes a vessel having a plurality of wall portions separated by a plurality of downwardly extending rib sections, said wall portions defining at least a portion of the peripheral wall of said vessel, some of said wall portions having a curved cross-sectional configuration, and at least one of said wall portions including a flat configuration adapted to mount a level detector through said vessel in sealed relationship thereto.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-02-07 | 1986-08-09 | 1987-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-02-07 | 1990-08-09 | 1991-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-02-07 | 1994-08-09 | 1995-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |