GB2373457A - A filter with releasable housing portions - Google Patents
A filter with releasable housing portions Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2373457A GB2373457A GB0106797A GB0106797A GB2373457A GB 2373457 A GB2373457 A GB 2373457A GB 0106797 A GB0106797 A GB 0106797A GB 0106797 A GB0106797 A GB 0106797A GB 2373457 A GB2373457 A GB 2373457A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- filter
- housing
- inlet
- outlet
- closure element
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002828 fuel tank Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000014509 gene expression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D35/00—Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
- B01D35/30—Filter housing constructions
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2201/00—Details relating to filtering apparatus
- B01D2201/30—Filter housing constructions
- B01D2201/301—Details of removable closures, lids, caps, filter heads
- B01D2201/305—Snap, latch or clip connecting means
Abstract
The filter, such as a fuel filter for use in a vehicle, has two separable housing parts 4 and 6. A cylindrical filter element 8 is accommodated within the housing and is engaged by a closure element 22 at one end cap 10 of the element and by a boss 36 at another end cap 12. The closure element prevents fuel entering the centre of the filter element. An array of barbs (26, figure 3) project from the closure element to engage with a segmented skirt which is formed integrally with housing part 4. Spaces left between segments of the skirt allow a communication between an inlet spigot 14 and a region outside the filter element to enable fuel to flow through the filter prior to exiting the housing via the boss and outlet spigot 16. The housing parts are retained together by means of a screw thread 18 and the inlet and outlet are in axial alignment.
Description
A FILTER
This invention relates to a filter and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with a filter for automotive use, such as a fuel filter.
5 Disposable in-line fuel filters are known which comprise a casing, for example of plastics material, having inlet and outlet connectors for fitting the filter in a fuel line. Filter media is provided in the casing, so that fuel flowing through the casing between 10 the inlet and the outlet must pass through the filter media. The casing is permanently closed, for example by welding, and so it is not possible to gain access to the filter media without destroying the casing.
With time, the pores in the filter media become 15 blocked. When this happens, the filter is discarded in its entirety, to be replaced by a new filter. This is wasteful, since, although the filter media may no longer perform adequately, the casing will not normally have reached the end of its life. Also, disposal of 20 the discarded filter in an environmentally sound manner is not easy, since separation of the casing and the filter media is difficult owing to the welded construction of the casing.
According to the present invention there is 25 provided a filter comprising a housing accommodating a filter element, the housing comprising first and second housing parts which are releasably connected together, the filter having an inlet provided in the first housing part and an outlet provided in the second 30 housing part.
Because the housing parts are separable, a used filter element can be discarded and replaced by a new filter element, while re-using the housing. Also, on final disposal of the filter as a whole, the housing 35 and the filter element can be separated easily and disposed of separately, using a disposal process
-2- suitable for the materials of which they are made.
The filter element is preferably of cylindrical form, and disposed within the housing with its opposite ends adjacent the inlet and the outlet respectively.
5 At one end, the casing may make sealing contact with the filter element to provide communication between the interior of the filter element and the adjacent inlet or outlet. At the other end, a closure element may be provided which closes the other end of the filter 10 element, while communication is provided between the adjacent inlet or outlet, and the interior of the casing surrounding the filter element.
Thus, in a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, fluid entering the housing through the 15 inlet is directed to the region of the interior of the housing situated outside the filter element, and then flows through the filter media of the filter element, to the interior of the filter element and thence to the outlet. 20 The closure element is preferably a component formed separately from the housing. The closure element may be fitted to the housing by means of cooperating latching means. In a preferred embodiment, the latching means comprises a segmented skirt 25 projecting inwardly of the housing and surrounding the respective inlet or outlet, and cooperating barbs projecting from a closure plug of the closure element.
Engagement between the skirt and the barbs serves to retain the closure element with respect to the housing, 30 while permitting relative movement between the closure element and the housing.
Spaces between the segments of the skirt provide communication between the adjacent inlet or outlet and the region of the housing outside the filter element.
35 The connection between the first and second housing parts may be provided by screw threads
permitting easy separation and reconnection of the housing parts.
The ends of the filter element are substantially of the same construction. This means that the filter 5 element can be fitted either way up in the housing without affecting performance.
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way lo of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a fuel filter; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the fuel filter taken on the line II-II in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of part of 15 the fuel filter.
The filter shown in the drawings comprises a housing 2 made up of an upper housing part 4 and a lower housing part 6, both made of a suitable plastics material. The expressions "upper" and "lower" refer to 20 the orientation of the filter as shown in the drawings, which is not necessarily the orientation of the filter in use.
A filter element 8 is accommodated within the housing 2. The filter element is of generally 25 cylindrical form, and comprises a pleated filter media, for example of paper, having end caps 10, 12 at its opposite ends. The end caps may, for example, be made from a foamed plastics material moulded directly on to the ends of the filter media. An inlet connector in 30 the form of a spigot 14 is provided on the housing part 4, and an outlet connector in the form of a spigot 16 is provided on the housing part 6. These spigots 14 and 16 are disposed, respectively, adjacent the end caps 10 and 12 of the filter element 8, and are aligned 35 with each other.
The two housing parts 4 and 6 are retained
-4- together by means of a screw-threaded connection 18 which includes an O-ring seal 20.
The interior of the filter element is closed at its upper end by means of a closure element 22, shown 5 in greater detail in Figure 3. The closure element 22 may be made from the same material as the housing parts 4 and 6, and comprises a closure plug 24 which fits within the central opening of the end cap 10. An array of barbs 26 project upwardly from the closure plug 24 10 and cooperate with a segmented skirt 28 which is formed integrally with the housing part 4 and surrounds the opening of the spigot 14. Each segment of the skirt 2 8 terminates at a barb 30. Thus, the closure element 22 is fitted to the housing part 4 by pushing it upwardly 15 towards the spigot 14, so causing the barbed projections 26 and the barbs 30 of the segments of the skirt 28 to interengage. Spaces 32 are left between the segments of the skirt 2 8, which provide communication between the inlet spigot 14 and the 20 region of the interior of the housing 2 outside the filter element 8, as indicated by the arrows 34.
At the lower end of the housing, a boss 36 is formed integrally with the lower housing part 6. This boss 36 projects into the opening ir1 the lower end cap 25 -12 in a sealing-tight manner, so providing communication between the interior of the filter element 8 and the outlet spigot 16.
In use, the filter shown in the Figures is fitted in a fuel line by connecting the inlet spigot 14 to a 30 pipe leading from the fuel tank and by fitting the outlet spigot 16 to a pipe leading to a carburettor, fuel injection system or other fuel supply arrangement for the engine of the vehicle. Fuel entering the filter through the inlet spigot 14 is prevented from 35 entering the interior of the filter element 8 by the closure element 22, and instead flows through the
_ A spaces 32 in the directions indicated by the arrows 34 to the outer periphery of the filter element 8. The fuel then flows through the filter media of the filter element 8 to reach the interior of the filter element 5 8, from which it flows through the boss 36 to the outlet spigot 16.
Over time, impurities in the fuel will build up on the filter media of the filter element 8, and eventually these impurities will adversely affect the 10 flow through the filter. When that happens, or otherwise at regular service intervals, the filter element 8 can be replaced by separating the housing parts 4 and 6 by means of the screw-threaded connection 18, removing the old filter element 8 and replacing it 15 by a new one. The filter element 8 can be disposed of by any appropriate means, for example by incineration.
As shown, the end caps 10, 12 are of identical form to each other, the filter element 8 being symmetrical about its median plane. Consequently, 20 fitting of the replacement filter element 8 is substantially foolproof, since it does not matter which way up in the housing 2 the filter element 8 is placed.
Thus, both the plug 24 and the boss 36 are a tight fit within either end of the filter element 8.
25 - At the end of the life of the filter as a whole (or of the vehicle in which it is fitted) the housing and the filter element can be separated and disposed of separately. Thus, the filter element 8 can be incinerated, as mentioned above, while the housing 2 30 and the closure element 22, if made of a suitable plastics material, can be recycled.
The manufacture of the upper housing part 4 and the closure element 22 as separate components which are subsequently fitted together enables these components 35 to be manufactured relatively economically using conventional moulding technology.
-6- It will be appreciated that the invention may be applied to variants of the filter shown in the Figures.
For example, the upper housing part 4 may comprise both an inlet spigot similar to the spigot 14 and a return 5 connector for returning excess fuel to the fuel tank.
In such an embodiment, the inlet spigot may be offset from the centreline, in which case the segmented skirt 28 would not necessarily surround the inlet spigot, but may surround the return connector or be dispensed with 10 entirely. Also, although connectors in the form of the spigots 14, 16 have been shown, it will be appreciated that other forms of connector may be used.
Claims (14)
1. A filter comprising a housing accommodating a filter element, the housing comprising first and second housing parts which are releasably connected together, 5 the filter having an inlet provided in the first housing part and an outlet provided in the second housing part.
2. A filter as claimed in claim 1, in which the filter element is of cylindrical form and is disposed 10 within the housing with its opposite axial ends adjacent the inlet and the outlet respectively.
3. A filter as claimed in claim 2, in which one end of the filter element is closed by a closure element provided within the housing.
15
4. A filter as claimed in claim 3, in which the closure element comprises a separate component fitted to the housing.
5. A filter as claimed in claim 4, in which the closure element is fitted to the housing by cooperating 20 latching means provided on the housing and the closure element.
6. A filter as claimed in claim 5, in which the latching means comprises a segmented skirt projecting inwardly of the housing and surrounding the respective 25 inlet or outlet, and cooperating barbs projecting from a closure plug of the closure element.
7. A filter as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the latching means permits relative displacement between the closure element and the housing.
30
8. A filter as claimed in claim 6 or 7, in which spaces provided between the segments of the skirt provide communication between the adjacent inlet or outlet and the interior of the casing surrounding the filter element.
35
9. A filter as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, in which the housing makes sealing contact with the
other end of the filter element to provide communication between the interior of the filter element and the adjacent inlet or outlet.
10. A filter as claimed in any one of the - 5 preceding claims, in which the first and second housing parts are retained together by means of a screw threaded connection.
11. A filter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which opposite ends of the filter 10 element are of substantially identical form.
12. A filter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the inlet and the outlet are aligned with each other.
13. A filter as claimed in any one of the 15 preceding claims, which is a fuel filter.
14. A filter substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0106797A GB2373457A (en) | 2001-03-19 | 2001-03-19 | A filter with releasable housing portions |
| FR0203313A FR2822081A1 (en) | 2001-03-19 | 2002-03-18 | FILTER, PARTICULARLY FOR THE FUEL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE |
| DE2002111936 DE10211936A1 (en) | 2001-03-19 | 2002-03-18 | filter |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0106797A GB2373457A (en) | 2001-03-19 | 2001-03-19 | A filter with releasable housing portions |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0106797D0 GB0106797D0 (en) | 2001-05-09 |
| GB2373457A true GB2373457A (en) | 2002-09-25 |
Family
ID=9911035
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0106797A Withdrawn GB2373457A (en) | 2001-03-19 | 2001-03-19 | A filter with releasable housing portions |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE10211936A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2822081A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2373457A (en) |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3622007A (en) * | 1969-07-24 | 1971-11-23 | Gen Metal Products Corp | Fuel filter |
| GB2307422A (en) * | 1995-11-27 | 1997-05-28 | Knecht Filterwerke Gmbh | Screw cap with centring means for a filter insert |
| GB2349438A (en) * | 1999-02-24 | 2000-11-01 | Delta Eng Holdings Ltd | Connection with screw thread and snap fit connection means |
| GB2356825A (en) * | 1999-10-29 | 2001-06-06 | Delphi Tech Inc | A fuel filter with suspended filter element |
-
2001
- 2001-03-19 GB GB0106797A patent/GB2373457A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2002
- 2002-03-18 FR FR0203313A patent/FR2822081A1/en active Pending
- 2002-03-18 DE DE2002111936 patent/DE10211936A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3622007A (en) * | 1969-07-24 | 1971-11-23 | Gen Metal Products Corp | Fuel filter |
| GB2307422A (en) * | 1995-11-27 | 1997-05-28 | Knecht Filterwerke Gmbh | Screw cap with centring means for a filter insert |
| GB2349438A (en) * | 1999-02-24 | 2000-11-01 | Delta Eng Holdings Ltd | Connection with screw thread and snap fit connection means |
| GB2356825A (en) * | 1999-10-29 | 2001-06-06 | Delphi Tech Inc | A fuel filter with suspended filter element |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE10211936A1 (en) | 2002-09-26 |
| FR2822081A1 (en) | 2002-09-20 |
| GB0106797D0 (en) | 2001-05-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |