MX2008009305A - Method and apparatus for reinforcing a sealing collar - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reinforcing a tubular-shaped sealing collar, extending from a filter cartridge are provided, by embedding, or substantially encapsulating, a reinforcement element within the tubular-shaped sealing collar, for resisting a change in circumference of at least a portion of the tubular-shaped collar. The collar may be formed from a resiliently compressible foam material, and the reinforcement element may be formed from a substantially non-compressible material.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REINFORCING A SEALING NECKLACE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the filtration of particulate matter from a fluid, such as air with trapped dust entering the inlet of an engine or a compressor, and more particularly to provide a seal on a filter interface with a fluid supply system external to the filter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In certain applications, such as in the air intake of an engine or an air compressor, it has been common practice to provide some type of filtering apparatus, to remove dust, soot, sand, or other particulate matter from the air. of admission, to prevent particulate matter from causing harm, and to promote a prolonged life of an engine or compressor. These filtering apparatuses often include a tubular shaped housing having an inlet for unfiltered air, and a clean air outlet, with the clean air outlet being operatively connected to the engine or compressor air intake. These filtration apparatuses also typically include a filter cartridge, which has a filter pack formed of filter media through which the air must flow as it passes between the unfiltered air inlet and the clean air outlet of the apparatus. of filtration. These filtering apparatuses are also typically configured in such a way that the filter cartridge can be removed for cleaning, or exchange, after a predetermined operating time. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,730,769 to Dungs et al, discloses an air filter, for cleaning the combustion air of an internal combustion engine, having a cylindrical housing provided with an unfiltered air inlet and an exhaust air outlet. clean air, with the clean air outlet being mounted substantially concentric on an axial end face of the housing. An extension tube extends towards the housing in the clean air outlet. A filter insert includes a radial package on its end face, with the package being configured to slide towards the central tube of the clean air outlet. The opposite end face of the filter insert is closed. The radial package is provided with a sealing rib which freely moves in the radial direction. Experience has shown, however, that a sealing rib which freely moves in the radial direction, or as taught by Dungs, does not provide an adequate seal in some applications, particularly where the system can operate at a difference of Relatively high pressure through the filter cartridge, or under conditions where the interval between cleaning or exchanging the filter cartridge is sufficient to make the filter media of the filter cartridge dirty sufficiently to create a high pressure difference to through the filter cartridge. Experience has shown that this tendency of a freely movable radial seal to leakage becomes more prevalent as the diameter of the seal enlarges to provide greater flow capacity of a filter cartridge. In an attempt to provide a seal configuration that is more suitable for use in filters having greater flow capacity, while still providing some measure of compressibility in a radial direction, some prior filter elements, such as those shown in US Pat. Nos. 6,149,700 and 6,306,193 Bl, by Morgan et al., Have provided an extended external coating, which surrounds the external bent ends of folded filtration means, such that a portion of an end cap of the elastic compressible material at an axial end of the The filter element rests radially between and radially compresses between the outer skin and a flow tube when the filter element is attached to a filter housing. The addition of external coating, as required between the 700 patents, and 193 by Morgan, adds, undesirably, complexity and cost to the manufacture and disposal of the used filter elements. Morgan's patents also disclose that the outer coating is made of an expanded wire mesh, or a screen, or perforated metal. The use of those metal components is particularly undesirable in filter elements that are designed, and / or that are required by government regulations, to be incinerable. It is desirable, therefore, to provide an improved method and apparatus for reinforcing a seal in a filtration apparatus, which overcomes one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art method and sealing apparatus, discussed above, which also provides a better method and apparatus in a conductive manner to provide a greater flow capacity through the filtration apparatus in which the invention is practiced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for reinforcing a tubular sealing collar, extending from a filter cartridge, substantially embedding, or encapsulating, a reinforcing element within the tubular sealing collar, to resist a change in the circumference of at least a portion of the tubular shaped collar. By embedding the reinforcing element within the tubular sealing collar, a radially acting seal is provided in a shape capable of handling high flow rates and pressure differences through the sealing collar, while providing ease of installation and removal of the filter cartridge. In one form of the invention, a tubular-shaped collar, which extends from a filter cartridge about a connection axis of the filter cartridge, and which has a body of elastic material defining a circumference of the tubular-shaped collar around of the connecting shaft, includes a reinforcing element included within the tubular sealing collar, to resist a change in the circumference of at least a portion of the tubular-shaped collar about the connecting shaft. The collar of substantially tubular shape can be formed of an elastically compressible foam material, and the reinforcing element can be formed of a substantially non-compressible material. Where the reinforcing element defines a circumference of the reinforcing element about the connection axis, the tubular-shaped collar can be formed of a plastic foam material, and the reinforcing element can be formed of a material that is substantially resistant to a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element around the connection axis. The reinforcing element can be formed of a plastic material, or other materials that are easily incinerable. The resistance of the reinforcing element to a change in the circumference thereof, around the connection axis, can be adjusted by selectively reducing the cross-sectional areas of portions of the reinforcing element. The tubular sealing collar can be formed of an elastic material having a capacity to resist a change in the circumference of at least a portion of the tubular sealing collar, and the reinforcing element can be configured to have a greater capacity than the elastic material to resist a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element around the connection axis.

In some forms of the invention, the elastic material of the tubular sealing collar body can be used to anchor the reinforcing element within the body of the sealing collar. Openings can be provided through the reinforcing element, to extend through a portion of the elastic material of the sealing collar body. In some forms of the invention, the reinforcing element can be configured as a ring of substantially tubular shape, placed around the connection axis. The substantially tubular shaped ring may include an interruption in it. A ring of substantially tubular shape, according to the invention, may also include one or more changes in the configuration of the cross section of certain portions thereof. The cross-sectional area of the tubular-shaped ring can be reduced, in one or more selected areas thereof, by providing one or more openings that extend through one or more selected areas of the reinforcing element. The invention can be practiced in various ways, such as a method for reinforcing a tubular sealing collar, a filtration apparatus including a tubular sealing collar, according to the invention, or as a filter cartridge according to the invention. to the invention.

Other aspects, objectives, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming part of the specification illustrate various aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a partially cut-away perspective illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, in the form of a filter cartridge; FIGURES 2 and 3 are transverse, partial, amplified cuts of a portion of a sealing collar of the exemplary embodiment of the filter cartridge shown in FIGURE 1, with FIGURE 2 illustrating the sealing collar just prior to coupling with a outlet tube, and FIGURE 3 showing the outlet tube and the collar are sealed in full engagement with each other; and FIGURES 4-6 are cross-sectional illustrations showing various alternative configurations of a reinforcing member included within a sealed collar body of the type illustrated in the exemplary embodiments of FIGURES 1-3. Although the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit this to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGURE 1 shows a first embodiment of a filtration apparatus according to the invention, in the form of a filter cartridge 100. The exemplary embodiment of the filter cartridge 100 takes the generally form of a straight circular cylinder having a generally tubular shaped media pack 102, which forms a substantially tubular shape closed at an axial end thereof by a closed end layer 104, and having a tubular sealing collar 106 extending from one end axial opposite thereof, about an insertion axis 108 that extends generally along the center line of the filter cartridge 100. The tubular sealing collar 106 has a body 110, formed of an elastic material, as a polyurethane foam. An inner surface, forming a radial seal 112, of the body 110 of the sealing collar 106, defines a circumference of the collar 106 about the insertion axis 108. The tubular sealing collar 106 also includes a reinforcing element 114 included within of the body 110 of the tubular sealing collar 106, in such a manner that the reinforcing element 114 is substantially encapsulated within the body 110 of the tubular sealing collar 106. Even when the tubular sealing collar 106 is formed of an elastic foam material, however, has some inherent ability to resist a change in the circumference of the inner surface forming the radial seal 112 of the sealing collar 106, and a portion 116 of the sealing collar 106 positioned between the inner surface 112 of the body 110 of the sealing collar 106 and a radially internal surface of the reinforcing element 114. In the exemplary embodiment, the refining element erzo 114 is formed of a material which has a greater ability to resist a change in the circumference of the portion 116 of the body 110 of the tubular collar 106, about the insertion axis 108, which the portion of the body 116 would have if the reinforcement 114 was not present. As a result, when an outlet tube 118, as shown in FIGURE 2, is operatively attached to the tubular sealing collar 106, in a manner shown in FIGURE 3, the reinforcing element 114 prevents the collar from forming tubular 106 expands circumferentially, to a greater extent than if the reinforcing element 114 were not included within the body 110 of the tubular sealing collar 106. The degree to which the reinforcing element 114 restricts the circumferential expansion of the body 110 of the tubular shaped sealing collar 106 can be selectively adjusted, during the design and manufacture of the exemplary embodiment, to provide a desired level of reinforcement of the body 110 of the tubular sealing collar 106. In some forms of the invention, for example, it may be desirable to form the reinforcing element 114 of a metallic material, such as steel, aluminum or brass or a rigid plastic, for example, to provide a very high degree of resistance to the expansion of the circumference defined by the internal surface 112 of the body 110 of the tubular sealing collar 106 In other embodiments of the invention, it may be desirable to use a material for the reinforcement element 114, which has a degree to give it, such as polypropylene, for example. The degree of reinforcement provided by the reinforcing element 114, can be further adjusted, by locally reducing the cross-sectional area of the reinforcing element 114, in certain selected areas thereof, by, for example, piercing the reinforcing element 114 with holes. 120, in the manner shown in Figure 1. Those reductions in the cross-sectional area can be advantageous, for example, where it is desired to use a reinforcing element 114 having a thickness of which it is conducive to maintain the shape and position of the member. reinforcing element 114, within a mold used to allow the body 110 of the tubular sealing collar 106 to be formed around the reinforcing element 114. By selecting the reduction of the thickness of the wall of the reinforcing element 114, in certain areas located thereon, a reinforcing element having a greater thickness may be used, to provide the desired structural strength to facilitate the the reinforcement element 114 in the body 110 of the tubular collar 106, while still providing a lower resistance to a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element than would be achieved if the cross-sectional area of the reinforcement element 114 remained constant to through its circumference. Conversely, where a reinforcing element 114 would otherwise have a thickness, a desired level of restriction on a change in circumference, which was too much to retain its shape and / or position during the reinforcement embedding process. in the body 110 of the tubular sealing collar 106, the ability to locally reduce the thickness of the reinforcing element 114, in certain selected areas thereof, allows the reinforcing element 114 to be generally thick enough to be easily handled during the incrustation or inclusion of the reinforcement element 114 in the body 110, while still providing the desired degree of resistance to a change in the circumference of the reinforcing element 114 and the tubular sealing collar 106. Those having experience in the technique, they will recognize that the selection of a material and configuration of the reinforcement element 114 will generally be made, on the basis of the desired resultant radial force produced by the tubular sealing collar 106, according to the invention, against the exit collar 118, for a given application, to provide a flow and pressure capacity according to the invention. what is desired for the filter cartridge 100. Other factors, however, can also influence the selection of materials for the reinforcing element 114. For example, where it is desired that a filter cartridge 100, according to the invention, be incinerable In a substantially complete manner, it may be desirable and / or necessary to use incinerating materials, such as plastics, for the reinforcing element 114 in place of metallic materials. Those skilled in the art will also readily recognize, that a reinforcing element, according to the invention, can be configured in a wide variety of alternative shapes, which, although substantially tubular, differ somewhat or even considerably from the element 114 shown in FIG. FIGURES 1-3 and described above. For example, in the alternative exemplary embodiment of a filter cartridge 200 shown in FIGURE 4, the reinforcing element 202 has a somewhat truncated conical shape, having a circumference at an outer, distal end 204 thereof, which is larger that a circumference at an inner end 206, thereof, where the reinforcing element 202 is attached to a filter pack 208 of the filter cartridge 200. As a result of this arrangement, the resistance to a change in the circumference of the portion 210 of the body 212 of the tubular-shaped collar 214 of the second exemplary embodiment of the filter cartridge 200 is less resistant to change, at a distal edge thereof, when an outlet tube (not shown) is first attached to the distal end of the collar. sealing tubular form 214, to facilitate therefore the initial coupling between the exit collar and the tubular collar 214, with resistance to a change in the circumference of the portion 210 of the body 212 ementing as the outlet tube moves further towards the tubular collar 214, towards the filter pack 208. A reinforcing element, according to the invention, can take an almost unlimited variety of other forms, in the practice of the invention. As shown in FIGURE 5, for example, a reinforcing element 302 has a curved cross-section profile in a third exemplary embodiment of a filter cartridge 300. As illustrated in FIGURE 6, a reinforcing element, in accordance to the invention, it may also be constituted of multiple pieces 402, 404, in a fourth exemplary embodiment of a filter cartridge 400, according to the invention. Multiple reinforcement elements, placed in a substantially concentric manner with each other, can also be used to provide a progressively increasing resistance to a change in the circumference of the sealing collar. A reinforcing element 114, according to the invention, may also include other means for adjusting the resistance to change in the circumference, such as corrugations, impressions or other changes formed in the cross-sectional shape along its circumference, and to provide a desired resistance to the change in the circumference of the reinforcing element. These changes can be evenly distributed, or localized, along the circumference. Particularly, where a tubular sealing collar, according to the invention, has a non-circular shape, such as a racing track shape, or a rectangular shape, for example, it may be desirable to locally alter the configuration of the reinforcing element. to achieve a total performance of the tubular sealing collar that is particularly well suited to give an application of the invention. In some embodiments of the invention, the elastic material forming the body of the tubular sealing collar is used to anchor the reinforcing element within the body of the tubular sealing collar. For some combinations of materials used in the formation of the body and reinforcement element, there may be a natural adhesion between the elastic material of the body and the material used to form the reinforcing element. In other words, one or more openings, such as the holes 120 shown in FIG. 1, may be provided in the reinforcing elements, for extension through a portion, or portions of the elastic material of the sealing collar body. Although the exemplary embodiments described herein, as shown in FIGURE 1, take on substantially the shape of a cylinder of a straight circular shape, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can also be practiced effectively in filtering apparatus, and filter cartridges having other cross-sectional shapes, such as a racetrack or rectangular shape. It will also be recognized that a tubular sealing collar, according to the invention, does not need to be located at an axial end of a filter cartridge. In some forms of the invention, for example, a tubular sealing collar, having a reinforcing element, according to the invention, may extend radially outwards, for example, from a filter element. In those cases, the tubular sealing collar can define a connecting shaft along which the sealing collar moves to slide the sealing collar over and into a connecting tube, or on the other hand, a connecting tube. Connection can be moved along the connecting shaft above, or towards the sealing collar.

It will further be recognized that, although the exemplary embodiments described and illustrated herein include a tubular sealing collar, according to the invention, in an outlet connection, the invention can be effectively employed in an inlet connection, in other embodiments of the invention. Those having skill in the art will further recognize that although all the exemplary embodiments described herein, specifically show a tubular sealing collar, having an internal radial surface thereof, adapted to receive a connection therein, in other embodiments of the invention. In the invention, the respective arrangement of the tubular sealing collar and the connecting tube can be reversed, such that a radially outer surface of the tubular sealing collar can be adapted to engage an inner surface of a connecting tube. The use of the terms "a" and "a" and "the" and similar referents in the context of the description of the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) should be constructed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated here or clearly contradicted by the context. The terms "comprising", "having", "including" and "containing" should be constructed as open terms (ie, meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless it is made notice something else. The exposure of ranges of values herein is intended only to serve as an abbreviated method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise stated here, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually exposed. in her. All methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise stated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by the context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (eg, "as") provided herein, is intended only to better illustrate the invention and not to impose limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be constructed as an indicator of any elements not claimed as essential for the practice of the invention. Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors to carry out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description. The inventors expect the experts to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors claim that the invention is practiced otherwise than specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter of the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable laws. In addition, any combination of the elements described above in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by the context.

Claims (16)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following: CLAIMS 1. A method for reinforcing a tubular sealing collar, which extends from a filter cartridge around a connecting shaft of the filter cartridge, and which has a body of elastic material defining a circumference of the collar around the connecting shaft, the method is characterized in that it comprises, including or embedding a reinforcing element within the tubular sealing collar, to resist a change in circumference of at least a portion of the tubular collar about the connecting shaft. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises forming the substantially tubular collar of an elastically compressible foam material, and forming the reinforcing element of a substantially non-compressible material. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcement element defines a circumference of the reinforcement element around the connection axis, and the method further comprises forming a tubular collar of a plastic foam material and the element of reinforcement of a material that is substantially resistant to a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element around the connection axis. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises forming the tubular collar of a plastic material. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises adjusting the strength of the reinforcement element to a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element around the connection axis, selectively reducing the cross-sectional area of portions of the element of reinforcement. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises forming the tubular sealing collar of an elastic material having the ability to resist a change in circumference and at least a portion of the tubular sealing collar, and forming the reinforcement element to have a greater capacity than the elastic material to resist a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element around the connection axis, and to use the elastic material to anchor the reinforcement element inside the body of the sealing collar of tubular shape. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises providing one or more openings through the reinforcing element for the extension therethrough of a portion or portions of elastic material of the body of the sealing collar. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises forming the reinforcing element as a ring of substantially tubular shape, placed around the connection axis, forming the ring substantially tubularly so as to include an interruption in and forming the ring of substantially tubular shape so as to include one or more reductions in the cross-sectional area thereof, and reduce the cross-sectional area of the tubular-shaped ring in one or more selected areas thereof by providing one or more openings extending through one or more selected areas of the reinforcing element. 9. A filtration apparatus, characterized in that it comprises: a filter cartridge, defining a connection axis or insertion of the filter cartridge, and including a filtering element, and a sealing collar in tubular form, extending from the filter cartridge around the connection shaft or insertion of the filter cartridge; the tubular sealing collar having a body of elastic material defining a circumference of the collar about the connection axis; also having the tubular sealing collar a reinforcement element embedded or included within the body of the tubular sealing collar, to resist a change in the circumference of at least a portion of the collar. tubular around the connection or insertion axis. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the collar of substantially tubular shape is formed of an elastically compressible foam material, and the reinforcing element is formed of a substantially non-compressible material. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the reinforcing element defines a circumference of the reinforcement element around the connection axis, the tubular collar is formed of a plastic foam material, and the reinforcement element is formed of a material that is substantially resistant to a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element around the connection axis. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that in addition the tubular collar is formed of a plastic material. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the reinforcing element defines a cross-sectional area thereof, with selected portions of that cross-sectional area being selectively reduced in the area, to adjust the strength of the reinforcing element. to a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element around the connection axis. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the tubular sealing collar is formed of an elastic material having a capacity to resist a change in the circumference of at least a portion of the tubular sealing collar, and the material of the tubular sealing collar. which the reinforcing element is formed has a greater capacity than the elastic material to resist a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element around the connection axis. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the elastic material operatively anchors the reinforcing element within the body of the tubular sealing collar and, where the reinforcing element includes openings thereon for extension therethrough. of portions of the elastic element. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the reinforcing element is a ring of substantially tubular shape, placed around the connecting shaft, where the body of the tubular sealing collar includes a distal end thereof , and defines an axial length of the collar extending from the filtering element to the distal member of the collar body, and the reinforcing element is configured to provide a resistance different to a change in the circumference of a portion of the collar in the form tubular about the connecting axis at one or more points along the axial length of the collar, and where, the reinforcing element and the body are cooperatively configured to provide an entrance area of the collar that provides less resistance to a change in the circumference of a tubular portion of the collar around the connecting shaft at the distal end of the collar, when the The cartridge moves along the insertion axis during the installation of the filter cartridge, thereby facilitating the operative connection of the filter cartridge to a fluid system.