AU8326087A

AU8326087A - Liquid filter apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU8326087A
Application number: AU83260/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Evan A. Edwards; Richard Mayo
Original assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Current assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date: 1986-11-04
Filing date: 1987-10-29
Publication date: 1988-06-01
Also published as: WO1988003431A1

Description

LIQUID FILTER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a disposable liquid filter supported by an open mounting holder allowing simple replacement of the filter. Description of the Prior Art

Most liquid filters are installed by the user in a steel housing which is a part of the filter and of the liquid path through it. Such a prior art housing typically has inlet and outlet pipe connections and is itself a pres¬ sure vessel with a heavy cover clamped in place to make the unit leak proof and to safely contain the liquid pressure. For some applications, for example, where the liquid pres- sure does not exceed 75 psi, it may be more convenient and less expensive to have a disposable filter unit in- its own plastic housing adapted for direct hose connection^'s at inlet and outlet.

The prior art includes U.S. Patents 3,529,726 to Keenan; 3,820,661 to Pages; and 4,505,816 to Wozniak et al. Keenan discloses a filter assembly including a tie rod mounting holder and filter unit, the filter unit being removable from the holder by loosening the tie rods. Pages discloses a filter assembly, also held together by tie rods, and including a filter element having a plurality of axial fluid channels. These channels in Pages are open at both ends for a continuous fluid flow in series from one to another. Wozniak et al. discloses a filter assembly having radial flow channels in one of its end caps. While these items of prior art variously relate to some of the elements ■ of this invention, i.e., tie rods, removable and replace¬ able filter unit, and radial flow end caps, they do not relate to the combination or the principle of operation of this invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be summarized as a liquid filter apparatus, for connection to inlet and outlet liquid lines, and including a mounting holder and a removable disposable filter unit mounted in the holder. The disposable filter unit includes bottom and top end caps, with a core tube plugged at both ends and a concen¬ tric outer tube sealed to and extending between the end caps. The top and bottom end caps and the outer tube are made of a plastic material for economy and disposability. A filter element between the core tube and the outer tube stands on radial ribs extending upward from the bottom end cap and is spaced from the top end cap by similar radial ribs extending downward from the top end cap, these ribs . creating radial flow channels above and below the filter element. The filter element is a wound spiral of a sandwich including a flat filter sheet material and a corrugated impermeable polymeric separator sheet, forming a plurality of axial flow channels. Some of these axial flow channels are open at the top to receive liquid from the top radial flow channel and closed at the bottom, and some of the axial flow channels are closed at the top and open at the bottom to discharge liquid into the bottom radial flow channel. Filter action is by radial flow, through the filter material, from the open-top^' channels to the open- bottom channels. The mounting holder includes upper and lower mounting plates and tie rods between them to releas- ably hold the filter unit together and to permit easy removal and replacement of the filter unit. The mounting plates and tie rods give strength to the filter unit., preventing liquid pressure from blowing off the end caps. Means are provided to verit_yair from the filter unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation view of the filter and mounting holder of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top vie of the upper mounting holder of FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a partial front view of the mounting holder of FIG. 2.

Figure 4 is a schematic top view, somewhat ^'enlarged, of a filter element according to this invention. Figure 5 is a still further enlarged schematic detail of FIG. 4.

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the top end cap. Figure 7 is a top view of the bottom end cap. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing, the mounting holder and filter of this invention are shown in combination, the mounting holder being generally indicated at 2 and the filter unit at 20. Mounting holder 2 includes an upper mounting plate 4 fastened to a stationary support means such as flanged brackets exemplified at 6, and a similar lower mounting plate 8 which hangs from upper plate 4 on four tie rods 10. Tie rods 10 include wing nuts 12 at their tops by which the assembly is tightened for normal operation and loosened for removal and replacement of the filter 20. Each of the mounting plates is somewhat "C" shaped, having an open aperture 14 facing forward of the apparatus (see also FIG. 2) . A pair of upper channel beam^'s or cross bars 16 extend across the top of upper plate 4, ^' one extending -between the two tie rods 10 at the rear and one extending between the two tie rods 10 at the front.^" Similarly, a pair of lower channel beams or cross bars 18 extend across the bottom of lower plate 8, one extending between the two tie rods 10 at the rear and one extending between the two tie rods 10 at the front. Cross bars 16 and 18 bear on their respective upper and lower mounting plates by means of the tie rods 10 and wing nuts 12 pro¬ viding longitudinal strength to the mounting plates. Cross bars 16 and 18 in the front of the unit are mounted for rotation on one of the front tie rods so they can be swung open when the wing nuts are loosened to permit placement and removal of the filter 20. The upper front cross bar 16 includes depending heel piece 17 to fill the space of the open aperture 14 when the mounting holder is closed. A similar heel piece, not shown, is mounted atop the lower front cross bar 18 for the same purpose. This makes the mounting plate-heel combination flush at top and bottom. Thus, when the filter is in place and the mounting holder is clamped over it, the end surfaces of the top and bottom end caps are substantially in total contact with the flush mounting plate-heel combination at top and bottom. This prevents distortion of the filter and the consequent breaking of seals when hydraulic pressure is applied.

The filter 20 is an integral unit which fits into the mounting holder 2 and is laterally removable from it. Filter 20 includes a bottom end cap 22 (see also FIG. 7) having a central outlet port ^ιr0UT" which is adapted, as for example by pipe threads, for connection to an outlet liquid line. A similar top end cap 26 (see also FIG. 6) includes a central inlet port ^•■IN" which is also adapted, as for example by pipe threads, for connection to an inlet liquid line. Bottom end cap 22 includes a plurality of upstanding radial ribs 23 creating a plurality of radial outlet flow channels 24^"and supporting the filter element 40. Top end cap 26 includes a plurality of depending radial ribs 27 creating a plurality of radial inlet flow channels 28 over the filter element 40. An outer cylindrical tube 30 fits * within peripheral flange 32 in the bottom end cap 22 and peripheral flange 34 in the top end cap 26. These connections between outer tube 30 and the bottom and top end caps 22 and 26 are sealed with a sealant such as an electro-magnetically actuated polypropylene adhesive sealer or similar suitable sealing composition so that the filter unit is liquid-tight. The end caps and the outer tube are all of a plastic material such as polypropylene for economy and disposability. A normally closed vent passage 29 is provided in the top end cap 26 to remove air or gases from the system as necessary. The sealing engagement of the bottom end cap 22 with the outer tube 30, and the sealing engagement of the top end cap 26 with the outer tube 30, are all represented by deposits 50 of sealant at the respective locations of connection.

A filter element 40 (see also FIG. 4) is a spiral wound roll of a sandwich including a flat filter sheet material 43, interleaved with a corrugated polymeric separator sheet 41 resting on the tops of upstanding*ribs 23 of the bottom end cap. The corrugations of the filter element provide spacing between successive layers of the wound roll, which spaces are axial flow channels for the liquid passing through the filter. Alternate axial flow channels 42 are blanked off at the bottom, while successive alternate axial flow channels 44 are blanked off at the top so that fluid enters at the top of the open-top channels 42 and leaves at the bottom of the open-bottom channels 44. Filter action is by way of radial flow, through the filter material 43, from the open-top channels 42 to the open- bottom channels 44 as indicated in FIG. 5. The filter element 40 is formed around a core tube 46 which is sealed at its ends by plugs 48. This gives structural support to the filter element and prevents straight axial flow through its center from inlet to outlet. The blanking of the ends of the flow channels is formed by a hot melt plastic.

When a filter unit is to be changed, the-fluid system is shut down and disconnected at the inlet and outlet connections. Then the mounting holder 2.is opened by loosening the wing nuts and tie rods and the front cross bars are swung out* of the way. The filter unit 20 is then simply pulled forward out of the holder. A replacement filter unit 20 is then inserted, clamped in place, and connected to the liquid inlet and outlet lines.

Claims

We claim :

1. A liquid filter apparatus for connection to inlet and outlet liquid lines and including a mounting holder and an integral filter unit removably mounted in said holder: said filter unit including: a. a bottom end cap having a central outlet port adapted for connection to an outlet liquid line and including a plurality of upstanding radial ribs forming radial outlet

.flow channelsr b. a cylindrical outer tube in sealing engage¬ ment with said bottom end cap and extending upwardly therefrom; c. a top end cap mounted atop^* said outer tube and in sealing engagement therewith, said top end cap having a central inlet port adapted for connection to an inlet- liquid line and including a plurality of depending radial ribs forming radial inlet flow channels; d. a cylindrical filter element disposed within said outer tube between said end caps and spaced from said end caps by said radial ribs; said mounting holder including: e. a lower mounting plate adapted to support said bottom end cap and an upper mounting plate adapted to bear on said upper end cap, at least one of said mounting plates having an opening in one side thereof to permit the lateral insertion of said filter therein, one of said mounting plates being fixed to a stationary support means; and f. tie rods extending between said upper and lower mounting plates adapted for releasable clamping engagement to firmly hold said filter in place and to provide longitudinal strength to said filter apparatus.

2. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 1, further including means to vent air from said filter.

3. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 1, further including a central core tube around which said filter element, is disposed, said core tube being capped at its ends to prevent straight axial liquid flow rσ therethrough.

4. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 1, said mounting plates each having an opening in one side thereof to permit lateral insertion of said filter therein.

15 5. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 1 including means to effect a coplanar contact interface between said end caps and said mounting holder.

6. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 1 including means on said mounting holder to provide

20 a surface flush with said mounting plates for supporting contact with said end caps.

7. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 1 in which there are four of said tie rods, and further including upper cross bars extending between pairs

23. of said tie rods and lower cross bars extending between pairs of said tie rods, at least one of said cross bars including a heel for insertion into said opening of said mounting plate forming a flush surface therewith for contact with the contiguous one of said end caps. O 8. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 1 in which said filter element includes a porous filter material defining a plurality of axial flow channels, some of said axial flow channels being open at their tops to receive liquid from said radial inlet flow 5 channels and closed at their bottoms, and some of said axial flow channels being closed at their tops and open at their bottoms to discharge liquid into said radial outlet flow channels.

9. A liquid filter apparatus for connection to inlet and outlet liquid lines and including a mounting holder and a filter unit removably mounted in said holder: said mounting holder including upper and lower apertured mounting plates and a plurality of tie rods to releasably clamp said filter unit between said upper and lower plates; said filter unit including: a. top and bottom end caps each having a cen- ₀ tral port for connection to one of said liquid lines and each, including a plurality of inwardly facing radial ribs forming radial flow channels; b.. a cylindrical outer tube between said end ₅ caps and sealed therewith forming a liquid- tight filter housing; and c. a cylindrical filter element disposed within said housing and spaced from said end caps by said radial ribs, said_* filter element 0 including a porous filter material defining a plurality of axial flow channels, a number of said axial flow channels being open at their tops to receive liquid from the radial flow channels communicating therewith and 5 closed at their bottoms, others of said axial flow channels being closed at their tops and open at their bottoms to discharge liquid into the radial flow channels com¬ municating therewith, whereby filter action o is by way of radial flow through said filter material from those axial flow channels with open tops to those axial flow channels with open bottoms.

10. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in 5 Claim 9, further including means to vent air from said filter.

11. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 9, further including a central core tube around which said filter element is disposed, said core tube being capped at its ends to prevent straight axial liquid flow therethrough.

12. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 9, said mounting plates each having an opening in one side thereof to permit lateral insertion of said filter therein.

13. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 9 including means to effect a coplanar contact interface between said end caps and said mounting holder.

14. A liquid filter apparatus as defined in Claim 9 including means on said mounting holder to provide a surface flush with said mounting plates for supporting contact with said end caps.

15. An integral liquid filter unit for removable insertion into a mounting holder, said filter unit including: a. top and bottom end caps each having a cen¬ tral port for-connection to one of said liquid lines and each including a plurality of inwardly facing radial ri^'bs forming radial flow channels; b. a cylindrical outer tube between said end caps and sealed therewith forming a liquid- tight filter housing; and c. a cylindrical filter element disposed within said housing and spaced from said end caps by said radial ribs, said filter element including a porous filter material defining a plurality of axial flow channels, a number of said axial flow channels being open at their tops to receive liquid from the radial flow channels communicating therewith and closed at their bottoms, others of said axial flow channels being closed at their tops and open at their bottoms to discharge liquid into the radial flow channels com¬ municating therewith, whereby filter action is by way of radial flow through said filter material from those axial flow channels with cpen tops to those axial flow channels with open bottoms.

10

15

20

25

30

35