CA1156940A

CA1156940A - Fluid filter assembly

Info

Publication number: CA1156940A
Application number: CA000379757A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Philip B. Loudin; Denver C. Hamman
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 1980-08-18
Filing date: 1981-06-15
Publication date: 1983-11-15
Also published as: GB2082080A; ZA814048B; IT1194087B; IT8123465A0; ES260036U; BR8104591A; FR2490735A1

Abstract

Case 3628 FLUID FILTER ASSEMBLY

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a fluid filter assembly which includes a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a filter cartridge receiving cavity between the inlet and the outlet.
A filter cartridge is arranged to be received within the cavity.
The filter cartridge includes a corrugated filter medium and a support structure for supporting the filter medium. The corrugated filter medium has marginal edges molded and embedded within the support structure for being supported by the support structure. The support structure and the housing are in peripheral sealing engagement about the filter medium for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through the filter medium.

Description

Case 3628 BA CKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to fluid filter assemblies and more particularly to new and improved fluid filter assemblies havlng a corrugated filter medium to provide substantial filtering area and long ~ilter life.

Filter assemblies having corrugated filter mediums have been in long use and are thus well known in the prior art. Filter assernblies of this type exhibit the distinct advantage of providing considerable filter area within a comparal;ively small case or enclosure. As a result, such filters have a long life requiring only infrequent replacement.

One application where corrugated filters are especially adaptable for use is in an automobile, By virtue of their long life, the use of corrugated filters in automobiles is consistent with the objective of automobile manufacturers to lengthen service intervals.

Unfortunately, prior art corrugated filters are not suitable for every filtering application found in an automobile. For example, prior art corrugated filters have been found to be unsuitable for filtering large amounts of water from fuel of the type including energy conserving alcohol additives. The corrugated filter mediums of the prior art have been formed from paper material which rapidly deteriorates in the presence of alcohol and water.
..~

Case 3628 As a result, filter mediums formed frorn materials other than paper have been proposed. However, such proposals have been nearly summarily discarded as not being commercially feasible because of either the high cost of the filter medium material or the high cost of the required encasements for such materials.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fluid filter assembly having a corrugated filter medium.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a filter assembly wherein the filter medium does not deteriorate in the presence of alcohol and water.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a filter assembly which is low in cost to manufacture.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a filter cartridge for such a filter assembly wherein the filter cartridge is a unitary structure.

Case 3628 SUMMAP 7 ~`)F THE INVENTIC)N
.., ... , _ .

The invention therefore provides a fluid filter assembly comprising a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a filter cartridge receiving cavity between the inlet and the outlet. A filter cartridge is arranged to be received wi'thin the cavity and includes a corrugated filter medium and a support structure for supporting the filter medium. The corrugated ~ilter medium has marginal edges molded and embedded ~
within the support structure for being supported by the support structure. The filter assembly further includes means for directing all of the fluid to be filtered thro~lgh ~he corrugated filter medium.

The present invention further provides a filter cartridge comprising a corrugated filter medium and support means for supporting the filter medium. The support means is molded about the filter medium along the peripheral margins of the filter medium with the peripheral margins of the filter medium belng embedded into the support means for forming a unitary assembly.

Case 36213 ~ B:RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA WINGS

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by making reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawmgs, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify identical elements, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side plan view of a fluid filter assembly structured in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fluid filter assembly of Fig.
l;
Fig. 3 is a cros~sectional view, to a larger scale, taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a Qlter cartridge embodying the present invention and which may be utilized in the Muld filter assembly of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a side plan view of a Eluid filter assembly structured in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the fluid filter assembly of Fig. 6;

Case 3628 Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along linl- s 8-6 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of a filter cartridge errbc~lying the present invention and which may be utilized s in the fluid filter assembly of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of a fluid filter assembly constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the p~esent invention; and Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Case 3628 DESCRIPTION OF TEIE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now initially to Figures 1 and 2, the fluid filter assembly 10 of the ffrst embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 5 includes a housing 12 formed by a container portion 14 and a cover ps:rtion 16 The housing 12 in the con$ainer portion 14 defines a fluid inlet 18 wherein.
fluid to be filtered is received, and a fluid outlet 20 from which the filtered fluid passes.

In Fi~ures 3 and 4 it will be noted that the container portion 14 of the housing 12 defines a filter cartridge receiving cavity 22. Within the cavity 22 there is disposed a filter cartridge 24. The cartridge 24 is disposed within the cavity 22 between the inlet 18 and the outlet 20.

As will be noted in figures 3 through 5, the filter cartridge 24 includes a corrugated filter medium 26 and a support structure 28. The support structure 28 comprises a pair of sidewalls 30 and 32, a peripheral rim 34 which is secured to the sidewalls 30 and 32, and a plurality of support ribs 36. Preferrably, the corrugated filter medium 26 is formed from plastic and take~ the fo~m of a plast~c me9h or Z cloth. Also, for reasons to be explained hereinafter, the support structure as for the filter medium 26 is also formed from moldable plastic material so ~at during the for~mation of the filter cartridge 24, a unitary asæembly results.

Case 3628 As best seen in Figure 5, the filter medium 26 includes a plurality of corrugations havin~ fold lines 40 extendin~ between the sidewalls 30 and 32 of the support structure 28. The support ribs 36 also extend between and are substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls 30 and 32.

During the formation of the filter cartridge 24, th,e corrugated filter medium may be loaded into a suitable mold wherein the finished filter cartridge 24 is formed. I)uring the molding operation, the support structure 28 is molded about the corrugated filter medium 26 so that the marginal edges or perpherial margins 38 of the filter medium 26 are molded and embedded into the sidewalls 30 and 32 of the support structure 28. Also, during the molding operation the support ribs 36 are formed in such a manner that the fold lines 40 of the corrugated filter medium 26 are also molded and embedded into the support ribs 36. Of course, the perpherial rim 36 of the support structure 28 is also formed during the molding operation 60 that, as a result, the support structure 28 and the corrugated filter medium 26 form a unitary filter cartridge assembly.

Referring now spacifically to :Figures 3 axld 4, it can there be seen that the filter cartridge 24 is received within the cavity 2Z of the housing 12. The housing 12, within the container portion 14, includes an inner perpherial recess 42 which is dlmensioned for making sealing surface contact with the rim 34 of the cartridge 24.
The rim 34 may be secured within the recess 42 by means well known in the art such as ultr~sonic hondin~, The coYer portion 16 i.5 arranqed to be received over -the container portion 14 iM b..road surEace sealing contact therewith and with a substantial portion o~ the rim 34 of the cartrldge 24. Again, th.e co~er portion 16 may be secured -to the container portion 14 by well known means such as ultrasonic bond~ng.
The filter cartridge 24 is recevied within the filter cartridge receiving cavit~ 22 so that the sidewall 30 is spaced from the inlet 18 to define a first channel 44. The sidewall 30 by being integral ~ith.the rim 34 caus:es all of the fluid enter-ing the inlet 18 to b.e directed downwardly through the first channel 44. The bottom of the filter cartridge 24 is also spaced from th.e bottom wall 15 o~ the container portion 14 to provide a space 46 through ~hich the fluid flows into the filter cartridge 24. Because the peripheral rim 34 of the cartridge extends beyond the sidewalls 30 and 32 and the corrugated filter medium 26, and with the rim 34 beiny in continuous sealing engagement with the recess 42, all of the fluid flowing into the inlet 18, through channel 44, and into space 46 is directed through the filter medium 26.
The cover 16 of the housing is spaced above the rim 34 to define a second channel 48 from which the filtered fluid exits the filter cartridge 24. A substantially vertical side channel 50 then conducts the filtered fluid from the channel 48 to the outlet 20.
Preferably, the container portion 14 and cover portion 16 .~
~.

Case 362B

of the housing 12 are formed Erom a plastic material to facilitate the heretofore referred to ultrasonic bonding for finally assembling the fluid filter assembly. :Because the filter cartridge 24 is a molded unitary structure and because the housing 12 may be formed from a plastic material, the fluid filter assembly 10 may be manufactured at low cost. Furthermore, because the filter medium 26 is not a paper material, the filter medium will not deteriorate in the presence of alcohol and water as has been the case with prior art paper corrugated filters.

Referring now to Figures 6 through 9 wherein a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, it will be noted that the fluid filter assembly 60 there illustrated includes a generally cylindrical housing 62 comprising a pair o~ housing portions 64 and 66. The housing portions 64 and 66 define a fluid inlet 68 and a fluid outlet 70 respectively and a seal line 72 which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing 62. Each of the housing portions 64 and 66 includes a circum-ferential or annular outer rim 74 and 76 which may be integrally bonded together to maintain the assembly 60 in assembled

2 0 relation.

Referring now to F'igure 9, a filter cartriclge is there illustrated which may be utilized in the assembly 60 of Figure 6.
The filter cartridge 78 there illustrated includes a corrugated filter medium 80 and a support structure 82 for supporting the corrugated filter medium 80. The support structure 82 comprises Case ~628 ~l5~
a pair of sidewalls 84 and 86r a peripheral rim 88, and a pluralit~
of support ribs 90.

The filter cartridge 78 of Figure 9 is preferably formed in the same manner as the filter cartridge of Figure 5 as previously discussed, However, it will be noted in Figure 8 that the corrugated filter medium 80 comprises a first set of fold lines 92 and a second fold lines 94 which extend between and are generally perpendicular to the sidewalls 84 and 86. The first set of fold lines 92 are substantially coplanar and the second set of fold lines 94 are substantially coplanar. However, only the first set of fold lines 92 are embedded within a corresponding pluralit~ of support ribs 90 as opposed to the stru~cture of the cartridge 24 of Flgure 5 which included support ribs for both sets of fold lines. As will become apparent hereinafter, the support ribs 90 and fold lines 92 are upstream from the second set of fold lines 94 with respect to the direction of fluld flow through the filter assembly.

Referring again to Figure 9, it can there be seen that the marginal edges or perpherial margins 95 of the corrugated filter medium 80 are embedded into the sidewalls 84 and 8t~ of the cartriclge support structure 82. Also~ the fold lines 92 are molded and embedded into the support ribs 90. As a result, because the cartridge 78 is formed during a molding operation wherein the filter medium 8Q is loaded into a suitable mold wi~h the support structure 82 being molded around and to the filter medium 80, a unitary cartridge assembly results.

Re~erring no~ to Figures 7 and 8, it can there he seen that the cartridge assembly 78 is recei~ed w-ith$:n a ~ilte.r cartridge recelving cavity~6 of the housing 62. Each o~ the housing portlons 64 and 66 ~ncludes a peripheral inner slot 98 which ïs di`mènsi.oned for recei~viny the peripheral rim 88 of the cartridge 78. As a resultt when the fluid filter assembly 60 is assembled, the ~ilter cartr:idge 78 is first slid in-to one o~ the housi`ng portions 64 or 66 with the rim 88 being received within the inner slot ~8 of that section.
Thereafter, the other section may be sli.d over the e.xposed half of the filter cartridge 78 with its slot 98 also receiving the rim 88. The housing portions 64 and 66 may then be brought together with. the outer rims 74 and 76 being brought into engagement for ultrasonic bonding. The slot ~8 may be dimensioned slï.ghtly smaller than the rim 88 so that the rim may-be received therein in sealed relation.

A~ a result, the rim 88 and housing 62 provide a peripheral seal about the corrugated filter medium 80. As will best be noted in Fi.gure 7, the filter cartridge 78 is suspended within the housing 62 with its sidewalls 84 and 86 spaced from the housi.ng and with the hottom wall 67 of the housing spaced from the bottom of the cartridge 78. All of the fluid to be filtered flowing into the inlet 68 is thereby directed through the coxrugated :Eilter medium 80. Also, all of the filtered fluid is then directecl out through the outlet 70. Fluid ~low through the Eilter is indicated by suitable arrows.

j .,j Case 3628 Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a further embodiment of a fluid filter having a corrugated filter medium therein in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The fluid filter assembly 100 there illustrated includes a housing 102 whioh comprises a main housing portion 104 and an end housing portion 106. The end housing portion 106 defines a fluid inlet 108 and the main housing portion 104 defines a ~luid outlet 110.

Within the housing 102 there is disposed a filter cartridge 112 which comprises a perpherial rirn 114 and a pair of sidewalls 116. The rim 114 is arranged to be received within perpherial recesses 116 and 118 of the main housing portion 104 and end housing portion 106 respectively. The rimll4 may be sealed within the recess formed by the joining f the housing portions 104 and 106 to define a fluid opening into the corrugated filter medium 120. The corrugated filter medium 120 includes a single corrugation as illustr~sted and has its marginal edges 122 embedded within the sidewall 116. The open end of the corrugated filter medium 120 is also embedded within the rim 114. Again, the filter cartridge 112 is preferably formed in a molding operation wherein the filter medium 120 is loaded into a suitable mold with the rim 114 and sidewalls 116 being molded about the filter medium 120 to provide a unitary structure.

Because the rim 114 is in sealed engagement with the housing 102, all of the fluid to be Eiltered flowing into inlet 108 must flow Case 3628 through the opening 130 defined by the rim 114 and through the corrugated filter medium 120. The filtered fluid then flows out through the outlet 110.

Again, the housing portions 104 and 106 may be formed from a plastic material to facilitate ultrasonic bonding at outer perpherial flanges 132 and 134.

From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that the present invention provides a new and improved fluid filter assembly of the type having a corrugated filter media. Because the filter cartridge incorporating the corrugated filter medium may be formed in a single molding operation, a unitary construction IS provided and the cartridges may be mass produced at a low manufacturing cost. Furthermore, because the filter rnedium need not be paper, the corrugated filter medium contemplated by the present invention will not deteriorate in the presence of alcohol and water. Furthermore, because the housings in which the filter cartridges are enclosed are also formed from a plastic material, the housings may be readily sealed through ultrasonic bonding or the like to provide 2~ a filter assembly which is low in weight and low in manufacturing cost.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, modiflcations may be made and it is therefore,intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of l;he Case 3628 ~'~S~

invention as defined by ~aid claims.

Claims

Case 3628 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

Claim 1. A fluid filter assembly comprising: a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a filter cartridge receiving cavity between said inlet and said outlet; a filter cartridge arranged to be received within said cavity, said filter cartridge including a corrugated filter medium and a support structure for supporting said filter medium, said corrugated filter medium having marginal edges molded and embedded within said support structure for being supported by said support structure and means for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through said corrugated filter medium.
Claim 2. An assembly as defined in Claim 1 wherein said housing and said support structure are arranged for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through said corrugated filter medium.
Claim 3. An assembly as defined in Claim 2 wherein said housing and said support structure are in fluid sealing engagement about said filter medium for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through said corrugated filter medium.
Claim 4. An assembly as defined in Claim 3 wherein said support structure includes a pair of sidewalls and wherein the marginal edges of said filter medium adjacent said sidewalls are molded and embedded therein.
Claim 5. An assembly as defined in Claim 4 wherein said support structure includes a plurality of support ribs extending between and generally perpendicular to said sidewalls, wherein Case 3628 said corrugated filter medium includes a plurality of fold lines extending between and generally perpendicular to said sidewalls and wherein said filter medium fold lines are molded and embedded within said support ribs.
Claim 6. An assembly as defined in Claim 5 wherein said fold lines comprise first and second sets and wherein the fold lines of only one of said sets are molded within a corresponding plurality of said support ribs.
Claim 7. An assembly as defined in Claim 6 wherein said one-set of fold lines is disposed upstream from the other said set of bold lines with respect to the path of fluid flow from said inlet to said outlet.
Claim 8. An assembly as defined in Claim 4 wherein said support structure further comprises a peripheral rim secured to said sidewalls and wherein said housing includes means for receiving said rim in sealing engagement.
Claim 9. An assembly as defined in Claim 8 wherein said housing comprises a pair of mating housing portions, each said portion having an inner slot means for receiving said support structure rim in sealing engagement.
Claim 10. An assembly as defined in Claim 9 wherein said housing is substantially cylindrical upon the mating of said housing portions, wherein said portions are mateable along a seal line transverse to the longitudinal axis of said housing, and wherein Case 3628 said portions are arranged to slide over said filter cartridge with said rim within said inner slot and brought into mating engagement along said seal line
Claim 11. An assembly as defined in Claim 10 wherein each said housing portion includes an annular outer rim defining said seal line and wherein said rims are integrally bondable together to maintain said assembly in assembled relation.
Claim 12. An assembly as defined in Claim 4 wherein said support structure includes a peripheral rim secured to said side-walls and extending outwardly from said sidewalls and said filter medium, and wherein said housing includes a peripheral recess about said filter cartridge receiving cavity arranged to receive said support structure rim in sealed relation.
Claim 13. An assembly as defined in Claim 12 wherein said housing includes a container portion defining said inlet, said outlet, said filter cartridge receiving cavity and said peripheral recess and a cover portion arranged to be received over said container portion, said cover portion being arranged to enclose said peripheral recess and provide surface contact with said support structure peripheral rim for firmly fixing said filter cartridge within said cavity.
Claim 14 . A fluid filter comprising: a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a filter cartridge receiving cavity therebetween;
a filter cartridge arranged to be received within said cavity, said cartridge including a corrugated filter medium and support means Case 3628 for supporting said filter medium, said support means being molded onto said filter medium forming a unitary assembly with the peripheral margins of said filter medium embedded into said support means, and said support means and said housing being in peripheral sealing engagement about said filter medium for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through said filter medium.
Claim 15. A filter cartridge comprising: a corrugated filter medium; and support means for supporting said filter medium, said support means being molded about said filter medium along the peri-pheral margins of said filter medium with said peripheral margins being embedded into said support means for forming a unitary assembly.
Claim 16. A filter cartridge as defined in Claim 15 wherein said support means includes a pair of opposed sidewalls and wherein said peripheral margins of said filter medium adjacent said side-walls are molded and embedded therein.
Claim 17. A filter cartridge as defined in Claim 16 wherein said support means includes a plurality of support ribs extending between and generally perpendicular to said sidewalls, wherein said corrugated filter medium includes a plurality of fold lines extending between and generally perpendicular to said sidewalls, and wherein said filter medium fold lines are molded and embedded within said support ribs.
Claim 18. An assembly as defined in Claim 17 wherein said fold lines comprises respective first and second coplanar Case 3628 sets and wherein the fold lines of only one of said sets are molded within a corresponding plurality of said support ribs.
Claim 19. An assembly as defined in Claim 16 wherein said support means further comprises a peripheral rim secured to said sidewalls defining a passageway through which fluid to be filtered is passed through said filter medium.