US5022986A — Manifold and disposable filter assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 353 words

A manifold and filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage, wall means separating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, said wall means having a hole separated from said passages extended through the wall means, said hole open to top and bottom sides of the housing and having an axis, a first flange having a first cylindrical inside surface surrounding a first pocket having an axis generally parallel to the axis of said hole, an inlet port in said housing open to the inlet passage and the first pocket, a second flange having a second cylindrical inside surface surrounding a second pocket having an axis generally parallel to the axis of said hole, an outlet port in said housing open to the outlet passage and said second pocket, a filter cartridge mounted on said housing having a chamber for receiving fluid from said inlet passage, filtering said fluid, and directing said fluid toward the outlet passage, said cartridge having filter means located in said chamber for filtering said fluid, said filter cartridge including a first tubular member having a passage open to the filter means, first seal means mounted on the first tubular member located in sealing engagement with the first inside surface of the first flange when the first tubular member is located in the first pocket and the passage therein is aligned with the inlet port, said filter cartridge including a second tubular member having a passage open to the filter means, second seal means mounted on the second tubular member located in sealing engagement with the second inside surface of the second flange when the second tubular member is located in the second pocket and the passage therein is aligned with the outlet port, post means extended through said hole in the housing, and means connected to the cartridge cooperating with the post means and housing to retain the first and second tubular members in the first and second pockets and maintain the first and second seal means in sealing relation with the first and second inside surfaces.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 353 words

A manifold and filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage, wall means separating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, said wall means having a hole separated from said passages extended through the wall means, said hole open to top and bottom sides of the housing and having an axis, a first flange having a first cylindrical inside surface surrounding a first pocket having an axis generally parallel to the axis of said hole, an inlet port in said housing open to the inlet passage and the first pocket, a second flange having a second cylindrical inside surface surrounding a second pocket having an axis generally parallel to the axis of said hole, an outlet port in said housing open to the outlet passage and said second pocket, a filter cartridge mounted on said housing having a chamber for receiving fluid from said inlet passage, filtering said fluid, and directing said fluid toward the outlet passage, said cartridge having filter means located in said chamber for filtering said fluid, said filter cartridge including a first tubular member having a passage open to the filter means, first seal means mounted on the first tubular member located in sealing engagement with the first inside surface of the first flange when the first tubular member is located in the first pocket and the passage therein is aligned with the inlet port, said filter cartridge including a second tubular member having a passage open to the filter means, second seal means mounted on the second tubular member located in sealing engagement with the second inside surface of the second flange when the second tubular member is located in the second pocket and the passage therein is aligned with the outlet port, post means extended through said hole in the housing, and means connected to the cartridge cooperating with the post means and housing to retain the first and second tubular members in the first and second pockets and maintain the first and second seal means in sealing relation with the first and second inside surfaces.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 60 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said cartridge includes a sleeve surrounding a chamber, said filter means being located in said chamber, said sleeve having an end, and an end member mounted on said end of the sleeve, said first and second tubular members being joined to the end member, and said post means being joined to the end member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: the first and second seal means each includes at least one O-ring.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The assembly of claim 3 wherein: said first and second tubular members have grooves accommodating said O-rings.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said post means is located between said first and second tubular members.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 45 words

The assembly of claim 5 wherein: the lateral distance between the axis of the post means and the axis of the first tubular member is greater than the lateral distance between the axis of the post means and the axis of the second tubular member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said cartridge includes a transparent sleeve surrounding a chamber, said filter means being located in said chamber whereby the filter means can be visually inspected.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 135 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said cartridge includes a sleeve surrounding a chamber, said sleeve having first and second ends, a first end member secured to the first end of the sleeve, a second end member secured to the second end of the sleeve, said filter means located in said chamber and extended between said first and second end members, means on the first end member engagable with said filter means to locate the filter means relative to the first end member, means on the second end member engagable with the filter means to locate the filter means relative to the second end member, said filter means having a filter passage open to the second end member, said second end member being joined to said first and second tubular members and said post means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The assembly of claim 8 wherein: the filter means comprises an elongated cylindrical filter having said filter passage.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The assembly of claim 9 wherein: the means on the first end member engagable with the filter means comprises annular rib means engagable with said cylindrical filter.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The assembly of claim 9 wherein: the means on the second end member engagable with the filter means comprises annular rib means engagable with said cylindrical filter.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 58 words

The assembly of claim 9 wherein: the means on the first end member engagable with the filter means comprises first annular rib means engagable with one end of the cylindrical filter, and the means on the second end member engagable with the filter means comprises second annular rib means engagable with the other end of the cylindrical filter.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 35 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said housing has annular shoulders surrounding the inlet port and outlet port, said tubular members having ends engagable with said shoulders when the cartridge is mounted on the manifold.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

The assembly of claim 1 including: at least one boss joined to said cartridge, said boss having a hole adapted to be opened to the chamber of the cartridge to drain fluid therefrom.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 83 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: the means cooperating with the post means includes a transverse bar secured to the post means, yoke means attached to the bar, and means mounted on the post means for holding the post means on the housing, said yoke engagable with the filter cartridge to hold the first and second tubular members in the first and second pockets and the first and second seal means under axial compression when the post means is mounted on the housing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 74 words

The assembly of claim 15 wherein: the filter cartridge has a bottom end, the yoke means is a U-shaped member having a bottom wall engagable with the bottom end of the filter cartridge, and pivot means securing the U-shaped member to said bar whereby the U-shaped member can be moved to locate the bottom wall away from the bottom end of the filter cartridge to permit removal of the filter cartridge from the housing.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 221 words

A manifold and filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage, wall means separating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, said wall means having at least one hole means separated from said passages extended through the wall means, said housing having a plurality of cylindrical inside surfaces surrounding pockets, port means in said housing open to said passages and said pockets allowing fluid to flow between said passages and pockets, filter cartridge means mounted on said housing having a chamber for receiving fluid from at least one of said passages, filtering said fluid, and directing said fluid to at least another of said passages, said cartridge means having filter means located in said chamber for filtering said fluid, said filter cartridge means including tubular members adapted to fit into said pockets having passages open to the chamber, seal means associated with the tubular members located in sealing engagement with the inside surfaces of the housing when the tubular members are located in the pockets and the passages in the tubular members are aligned with said port means, holding means connected to the cartridge means extended through said hole means in the housing, and means cooperating with the holding means and housing to retain the tubular members in the pockets.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 221 words

A manifold and filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage, wall means separating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, said wall means having at least one hole means separated from said passages extended through the wall means, said housing having a plurality of cylindrical inside surfaces surrounding pockets, port means in said housing open to said passages and said pockets allowing fluid to flow between said passages and pockets, filter cartridge means mounted on said housing having a chamber for receiving fluid from at least one of said passages, filtering said fluid, and directing said fluid to at least another of said passages, said cartridge means having filter means located in said chamber for filtering said fluid, said filter cartridge means including tubular members adapted to fit into said pockets having passages open to the chamber, seal means associated with the tubular members located in sealing engagement with the inside surfaces of the housing when the tubular members are located in the pockets and the passages in the tubular members are aligned with said port means, holding means connected to the cartridge means extended through said hole means in the housing, and means cooperating with the holding means and housing to retain the tubular members in the pockets.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 42 words

The assembly of claim 17 wherein: said cartridge includes a sleeve surrounding said chamber, said sleeve having an end, and an end member mounted on said end of the sleeve, said tubular members and holding means being joined to the end member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

The assembly of claim 17 wherein: the seal means each includes at least one O-ring.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

The assembly of claim 17 wherein: said holding means includes post means located between at least two of said tubular members.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

The assembly of claim 20 wherein: the lateral distance between the post means and a first tubular member is greater than the lateral distance between the post means and a second tubular member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

The assembly of claim 17 wherein: said cartridge includes a transparent sleeve surrounding said chamber whereby said filter means located in said chamber can be visually inspected.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 120 words

The assembly of claim 17 wherein: said cartridge means includes a sleeve surrounding said chamber, said sleeve having first and second ends, a first end member secured to the first end of the sleeve, a second end member secured to the second end of the sleeve, said filter means located in said chamber and extended between said first and second end members, means on the first end member engagable with said filter means to locate the filter means relative to the first end member, means on the second end member engagable with the filter means to locate the filter means relative to the second end member, said second end member being joined to said tubular members and said holding means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

The assembly of claim 17 wherein: said housing has annular shoulders surrounding the port means, said tubular members having ends engagable with said shoulders when the cartridge means is mounted on the housing.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 35 words

The assembly of claim 17 including: at least one boss joined to the cartridge means, said boss having a hole adapted to be opened to said chamber of the cartridge means to drain fluid therefrom.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 28 words

The assembly of claim 17 wherein: the holding means includes means releasably engagable with the filter means to allow the filter means to be removed from the housing.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 58 words

The assembly of claim 17 wherein: the holding means includes a post extended through said hole in the housing, and a bar secured to the post, and a yoke attached to the bar, said yoke engagable with the filter means to hold the filter means in assembled relation with the housing and the seal means under axial compression.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 73 words

The assembly of claim 27 wherein: the filter means has a bottom end, the yoke is a U-shaped member having a bottom wall engagable with the bottom end of the filter means, and pivot means securing the U-shaped member to said bar whereby the U-shaped member can be moved to locate the bottom wall away from the bottom end of the filter means to permit removal of the filter means from the housing.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 199 words

A manifold and filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage, wall means separating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, said housing having a plurality of cylindrical inside surfaces surrounding pockets, port means in said housing open to said passages and said pockets allowing fluid to flow between said passages and pockets, filter cartridge means mounted on said housing having a chamber for receiving fluid from at least one of said passages, filtering said fluid, and directing said fluid to at least another of said passages, said cartridge means having filter means located in said chamber for filtering said fluid, said cartridge means including tubular members adapted to fit into said pockets having passages open to the chamber, and seal means between the tubular members and the cylindrical inside surfaces of the housing when the tubular members are located in the pockets and the passages in the tubular members are aligned with said port means, and post means located between at least two of said tubular members connected to said cartridge means for holding the filter cartridge means on the housing with said seal means under compression.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 199 words

A manifold and filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage, wall means separating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, said housing having a plurality of cylindrical inside surfaces surrounding pockets, port means in said housing open to said passages and said pockets allowing fluid to flow between said passages and pockets, filter cartridge means mounted on said housing having a chamber for receiving fluid from at least one of said passages, filtering said fluid, and directing said fluid to at least another of said passages, said cartridge means having filter means located in said chamber for filtering said fluid, said cartridge means including tubular members adapted to fit into said pockets having passages open to the chamber, and seal means between the tubular members and the cylindrical inside surfaces of the housing when the tubular members are located in the pockets and the passages in the tubular members are aligned with said port means, and post means located between at least two of said tubular members connected to said cartridge means for holding the filter cartridge means on the housing with said seal means under compression.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 48 words

The assembly of claim 29 wherein: said cartridge includes a sleeve surrounding said chamber, said sleeve having an end, and an end member mounted on said end of the sleeve, said tubular members and means holding the cartridge means on the housing being joined to the end member.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 15 words

The assembly of claim 29 wherein: the seal means each includes at least one O-ring.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 14 words

The assembly of claim 31 including grooves in the tubular member accommodating the O-rings.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 33 words

The assembly of claim 29 wherein: the lateral distance between the post means and a first tubular member is greater than the lateral distance between the post means and a second tubular member.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 119 words

The assembly of claim 33 wherein: said cartridge includes a sleeve surrounding a chamber, said sleeve having first and second ends, a first end member secured to the first end of the sleeve, a second end member secured to the second end of the sleeve, said filter means located in said chamber and extended between said first and second end members, means on the first end member engagable with said filter means to locate the filter means relative to the first end member, means on the second end member engagable with the filter means to locate the filter means relative to the second end member, said second end member being joined to said tubular members and said post means.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 33 words

The assembly of claim 29 wherein: said housing has annular shoulders surrounding the port means, said tubular members having ends engagable with said shoulders when the cartridge means is mounted on the housing.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 32 words

The assembly of claim 29 wherein: the means holding the filter means on the housing include a releasably connector assembly operable to allow the filter means to be removed from the housing.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 268 words

A manifold and filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage, wall means separating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, said housing having a plurality of cylindrical inside surfaces surrounding pockets, port means in said housing open to said passages and said pockets allowing fluid to flow between said passages and pockets, filter cartridge means mounted on said housing having a chamber for receiving fluid from at least one of said passages, filtering said fluid, and directing said fluid to at least another of said passages, said cartridge means having filter means located in said chamber for filtering said fluid, said filter cartridge means including tubular members adapted to fit into said pockets having passages open to the chamber, and seal means between the tubular members, and the cylindrical inside surfaces of the housing when the tubular members are located in the pockets and the passages in the tubular members are aligned with said port means, and means connected to said cartridge means holding the filter cartridge means on the housing with said seal means under compression, said means holding the filter means on the housing including a releasably connector assembly operable to allow the filter means to be removed from the housing, the releasable connector assembly includes a bar located between the housing and filter means, means connecting the bar to the housing, and a yoke attached to the bar, said yoke engagable with the filter means to hold the filter means in assembled relation with the housing and the seal means under axial compression.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 268 words

A manifold and filter assembly for filtering a fluid comprising: a housing having a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage, wall means separating the inlet passage from the outlet passage, said housing having a plurality of cylindrical inside surfaces surrounding pockets, port means in said housing open to said passages and said pockets allowing fluid to flow between said passages and pockets, filter cartridge means mounted on said housing having a chamber for receiving fluid from at least one of said passages, filtering said fluid, and directing said fluid to at least another of said passages, said cartridge means having filter means located in said chamber for filtering said fluid, said filter cartridge means including tubular members adapted to fit into said pockets having passages open to the chamber, and seal means between the tubular members, and the cylindrical inside surfaces of the housing when the tubular members are located in the pockets and the passages in the tubular members are aligned with said port means, and means connected to said cartridge means holding the filter cartridge means on the housing with said seal means under compression, said means holding the filter means on the housing including a releasably connector assembly operable to allow the filter means to be removed from the housing, the releasable connector assembly includes a bar located between the housing and filter means, means connecting the bar to the housing, and a yoke attached to the bar, said yoke engagable with the filter means to hold the filter means in assembled relation with the housing and the seal means under axial compression.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 73 words

The assembly of claim 37 wherein: the filter means has a bottom end, the yoke is a U-shaped member having a bottom wall engagable with the bottom end of the filter means, and pivot means securing the U-shaped member to said bar whereby the U-shaped member can be moved to locate the bottom wall away from the bottom end of the filter means to permit removal of the filter means from the housing.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 193 words

A filter cartridge comprising: a sleeve surrounding a chamber, said sleeve having first and second ends, first end member secured to the first end of the sleeve, a second end member secured to the second end of the sleeve, filter means located in said chamber and extended between said first and second end members, means on the first end member engagable with said filter means to locate the filter means relative to the first end member, means on the second end member engagable with the filter means to locate the filter means relative to the second end member, said filter means having a filter passage open to the second end member, said second end member including a first tubular member having a first passage open to said chamber, and a second tubular member having a second passage open to the filter passage, first seal means surrounding and mounted on the first tubular member, second seal means surrounding and mounted on the second tubular member and post means mounted on the second end member between the first and second tubular members for connection to a manifold for carrying fluid to and from said chamber.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 193 words

A filter cartridge comprising: a sleeve surrounding a chamber, said sleeve having first and second ends, first end member secured to the first end of the sleeve, a second end member secured to the second end of the sleeve, filter means located in said chamber and extended between said first and second end members, means on the first end member engagable with said filter means to locate the filter means relative to the first end member, means on the second end member engagable with the filter means to locate the filter means relative to the second end member, said filter means having a filter passage open to the second end member, said second end member including a first tubular member having a first passage open to said chamber, and a second tubular member having a second passage open to the filter passage, first seal means surrounding and mounted on the first tubular member, second seal means surrounding and mounted on the second tubular member and post means mounted on the second end member between the first and second tubular members for connection to a manifold for carrying fluid to and from said chamber.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 19 words

The filter cartridge of claim 39 wherein: the tubular sleeve is transparent whereby the filter can be visually inspected.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 19 words

The filter cartridge of claim 39 wherein: the filter means comprises an elongated cylindrical filter having said filter passage.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 28 words

The filter cartridge of claim 41 wherein: the means on the first end member engagable with the filter means comprises annular rib means engagable with said cylindrical filter.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 28 words

The filter cartridge of claim 41 wherein: the means on the second end member engagable with the filter means comprises annular rib means engagable with said cylindrical filter.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 59 words

The filter cartridge of claim 41 wherein: the means on the first end member engagable with the filter means comprises first annular rib means engagable with one end of the cylindrical filter, and the means on the second end member engagable with the filter means comprises second annular rib means engagable with the other end of the cylindrical filter.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 20 words

The filter cartridge of claim 41 wherein: the said first and second seal means each includes at least one O-ring.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 18 words

The filter cartridge of claim 45 wherein: said first and second tubular members have grooves accommodating said O-rings.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 34 words

The filter cartridge of claim 39 wherein: the lateral distance between the post means and the first tubular member is greater than the lateral distance between the post means and the second tubular member.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 37 words

The filter cartridge of claim 39 including: at least one boss joined to said first end member, said boss having a hole adapted to be opened to the chamber whereby fluid can be drained from said chamber.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-06-10	1994-12-10	1995-06-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-06-10	1998-12-10	1999-06-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-06-10	2002-12-10	2003-06-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Manifold and disposable filter assembly

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