Spiral wound filter and method of making same

Claim 2

In a fluid filter including a housing having an inlet connector and an outlet connector for a fluid to be filtered, a middle tube located in the housing, a filter element arranged in the housing, the filter element consisting of a band-shaped filter material wound spirally around the middle tube to form a plurality of complete turns including an outermost complete turn and end faces of the filter element on opposite ends thereof, and a bottom cover cap which engages the filter element in the vicinity of an adjacent one of the end faces and which connects the adjacent end face to the outlet connector, the fluid filter also having a longitudinal axis, the improvement wherein the cover cap (18; 52; 62) is made of thermoplastic and has a peripheral welding surface (25) which extends transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the filter (10), and at least the outermost complete turn (29) of one end of said end faces of the filter element (17) is sealingly welded to the welding surface (25) of the cover cap (18; 52; 62).

Claim 3

The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the cover cap (18; 52; 62) has a circumferential step (24), the welding surface (25) being arranged on the circumferential step (24).

Claim 4

The improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein the welding surface has a radial width and the radial width of the welding surface (25) corresponds at least to a thickness of two turns (29) of the filter element (17).

Claim 5

The improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein the cover cap (18; 52; 62) has a sleeve-like peripheral portion (26) having at an at least partially conical inner wall (27).

Claim 6

The improvement as defined in claim 4, wherein the inner wall (27) of the cover cap (16; 52; 62) is welded to an outer surface (31) of the filter element (17).

Claim 7

The improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein the cover cap (18; 62; 62) has an exterior surface (28) located opposite the welding surface (25).

Claim 8

The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing has a bottom member and the cover cap (18; 52; 62) is shaped to bear against the bottom member (37) of the housing (11) over a major portion of the bottom member.

Claim 9

The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the cover cap (18; 52; 62) has a plurality of radial ribs (33) supporting the adjacent end face (22) of the filter element (17).

Claim 10

The improvement as defined in claim 8, wherein the welding surface (25) and a plurality of top edges of the radial ribs (33) extend essentially in one plane.

Claim 11

The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the outlet connector (16) comprises an outer connector piece (39) of the housing, a central tubular connector piece (38) of said cover cap (18), said central tubular connector piece (38) of said cover cap (18) projecting into said outer connector piece (39), and a threaded nut (41) received in the tubular connector piece (38).

Claim 12

The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing (11) comprises a housing part (12) and a lid (51) closing the housing part (12) at one end of the housing (11), the two connectors (15, 16) being provided in the lid (51).

Claim 13

The improvement as defined in claim 11, wherein the cover cap (62) has a tubular extended part (63) forming a water storage space (61 and a plurality of radial ribs (33) located in the tubular extended part (63), said water storage space (61) being connected to a water outlet (64).

Claim 14

The improvement as defined in claim 1, further comprising a napped trap filter (72) arranged in the cover cap (71) level with the welding surface (25), an outer edge of the napped trap filter (72) being melted into the welding surface (25).

Claim 15

Process for making a fuel filter comprising a housing having an inlet connector and an outlet connector for a fluid to be filtered, a middle tube located in the housing, a filter element arranged in the housing, the filter element consisting of a band-shaped filter material wound spirally around the middle tube to form a plurality of complete turns including an outermost complete turn and also end faces of the filter element on opposite ends thereof, and a thermoplastic bottom cover cap, which engages the filter element and which has a peripheral welding surface (25) which extends transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the filter (10), at least the outermost complete turn (29) of one of said end faces of the filter element (17) being sealingly welded to the welding surface (25) of the cover cap (18; 52; 62), said process including the steps of applying a heating punch (36) to the cover cap (18; 52; 62), partially melting the welding surface (25) with the heating punch, after said partially melting pressing the filter element (17) into the welding surface (25) and allowing the melting surface (25) to solidify to form a sealing connection with the filter element.

Claim 16

Process for making a fuel filter comprising a housing having an inlet connector and an outlet connector for a fluid to be filtered, a middle tube located in the housing, a filter element arranged in the housing, the filter element consisting of a band-shaped filter material wound spirally around the middle tube to form a plurality of complete turns including an outermost complete turn and also end faces of the filter element on opposite ends thereof, and a thermoplastic bottom cover cap, which engages the filter element and which has a peripheral welding surface (25) which extends transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the filter (10), at least the outermost complete turn (29) of one of said end faces of the filter element (17) being sealingly welded to the welding surface (25) of the cover cap (18; 52; 62), said process including the steps of applying a heating punch (36) to the cover cap (18; 52; 62), partially melting the welding surface (25) with the heating punch, after said partially melting pressing the filter element (17) into the welding surface (25) and allowing the melting surface (25) to solidify to form a sealing connection with the filter element.