WO2006094096A1

WO2006094096A1 - Improved features for containing liquid filter arrangements; and, methods

Info

Publication number: WO2006094096A1
Application number: PCT/US2006/007366
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey Thomas May; David P. Welzant; Thomas A. Boeckermann; Dennis Michael Deedrich; Randall William Heibenthal
Original assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-03-01
Filing date: 2006-02-28
Publication date: 2006-09-08

Abstract

Arrangements and methods for storage and disposition of filter elements are described. In general the method involves provision of a shipping and storage container having a removable cover, for access to an interior. A new service cartridge can typically be stored and shipped within the container, for use. When the service cartridge is removed from the interior, typically the used cartridge for which it is selected to replace, is placed within the container for storage and handling.

Description

IMPROVED FEATURES FOR CONTAINING LIQUID FILTER ARRANGEMENTS; AND, METHODS

This application is being filed on 28 February 2006, as a PCT International Patent application in the name of Donaldson Company, Inc., a U.S. national corporation, applicant for the designation of all countries except the US, and Jeffrey Thomas May, David P. Welzant, Thomas A. Boeckermann, Dennis Michael Deedrich, and Randall William Heibenthal, all citizen of the U.S., applicants for the designation of the U.S. only, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/657,654, filed March 1, 2005.

Technical Field

The disclosure generally concerns liquid filters. In particular, the disclosure relates to constructions and arrangements for storing and disposing of liquid filter arrangements.

Background

Liquid filters employed in a variety of applications including fuel systems, fuel/water separators, hydraulic systems and engine lubrication systems. Such filter assemblies generally include a filter cartridge within a can or a housing. In general, liquid filter arrangements are provided in either a spin-on form or a bowl/cartridge form. In a spin-on form, the filter cartridge is received within a can from which it is not normally removed, during servicing. Rather the entire can is spun onto or attached to a filter head or other componentry and is replaced in its entirety during servicing. Examples of such arrangements are described in U.S. 4,369,113; 4,834,885; 5,104,537; 5,895,574; and, 6,345,721; the complete disclosures of these five references being incorporated herein by reference.

In bowl/cartridge arrangements, the filter cartridge is a serviceable component, received within a housing bowl or can. The housing bowl or can is then attached to a filter head, during operation. Examples of bowl/cartridge filter arrangements are described for example in U.S. 6,752,924; and, 6,322,697; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. With bowl/cartridge arrangements, there is an issue of disposing of the used, dirty, serviceable filter cartridge. Improvements and approaches for handling a storage of used filter cartridges, are desired.

Summary of the Disclosure The present disclosure concerns features and techniques useable with respect to liquid filter arrangements.

In general, the techniques have features that relate storage and disposal of filter cartridges. The techniques relate to the provision of a container in which a new (unused) serviceable filter cartridge is stored and shipped during use. When the serviceable filter cartridge is used to replace a used filter cartridge, the used filter cartridge is placed in the same container, for disposal. The container contains residual liquid and contaminant on the used filter cartridge.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-section view of a liquid filter arrangement including a serviceable filter cartridge.

Fig. 2 is a schematic side perspective view of a serviceable filter cartridge used in the arrangement of Fig. 1, stored within a containment arrangement according to the present disclosure. Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the assembly of Fig. 2, showing a cover and filter cartridge removed from a container base.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, analogous to Fig. 3, but also showing a bottom covering component separated from the container.

Detailed Description I. The Arrangement of Figs.

The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for storing serviceable filter cartridges before and after use. In Fig. 1, a schematic depiction of a serviceable filter cartridge in use, in a liquid filter system, is shown, for background. The particular arrangement depicted in Fig. 1 is shown and described in detail in U.S. Provisional Application entitled "Improved Features for Liquid Filter Arrangements; Resulting Filter Components and Assemblies; and, Methods" filed March 1, 2005, under Express Mail No. EV 495871377 US. The complete of the application referenced in the previous sentence is incorporated herein by reference. It is noted that techniques described herein can be used with a variety of alternate systems, the system of Fig. 1 being an example.

Herein, an overall description of the arrangement of Fig. 1 is shown, to provide additional background for the utilization of arrangements and techniques according to the present disclosure.

The reference numeral 1, Fig. 1, generally indicates a liquid filter assembly. The depiction of Fig. 1 is schematic. Techniques and principles according to the present disclosure can be used with a wide variety of liquid filter arrangements, including for example arrangements that are configured for lubrication (oil) filters; fuel filters; fuel/water separators; and, hydraulic filters.

Referring to Fig. 1, the liquid filter assembly 1 includes an inlet cover

4, a bowl or housing bottom 5, and an internally received filter cartridge 6. The filter assembly 1 depicted, as a result, is a bowl/cartridge assembly in which the filter cartridge 6 is a service part, positioned in an interior 5 a of the housing or bowl

5. By the term "service part" it is meant that the cartridge 6 is removed from the housing 5 and replaced, in normal use. During servicing, the housing or bowl 5 is removed from the cover piece 4 and the cartridge 6 is removed from interior 5 a and is replaced with a new or refurbished cartridge 6. The housing or bowl 5 would then be replaced on the cover piece 4.

The cover piece 4 would typically comprise a portion of a filter head or related assembly that would remain mounted on equipment, during servicing.

Referring still to Fig. 1, the cover 4 is generally configured to: provide for an inlet flow of liquid to be filtered, into the interior 5 a of the housing 5; and, to receive filtered liquid from the interior 5a, to pass it back into a liquid circulation system of the equipment involved. Referring to Fig. 1, at 10 a central flow conduit is shown. For the particular assembly depicted, conduit 10 is an inlet flow conduit 11 through post 12 to receive liquid to be filtered from the circulation loop, directing same into interior 6a of cartridge 6. This unfiltered liquid is then filtered by passage through filter media

15 of cartridge 6, into annular space 18. The filtered liquid would then flow from annular space 18 around the filter cartridge 6 and out through exit port 20 in cover piece 4. Herein, conduit 10 will sometimes be referred to as a central flow conduit, due to its positioning. Port 20 will sometimes be referred to as a second flow conduit spaced radially from the first, central, flow conduit.

Typically, within volume 5 a, cartridge 6 is sealed to post 12, to prevent undesired flow of unfiltered liquid between region 6a and annulus 18, without passage through media 15 of filter cartridge 6. In some instances bypass flow arrangements can be provided, to allow for a controlled bypass flow around media 15, should the filter cartridge 6 become unacceptably included. For the particular example shown schematically in Fig. 1, no bypass arrangement is depicted, although one could be used. As a result of the features characterized above, the serviceable filter cartridge 6 is generally configured for "in-to-out" flow. By "in-to-out" in this context, it is meant that during normal operation, filtering flow goes from an interior of the cartridge 6a to exterior, identified at annulus 18. The techniques described herein for storage, shipping and handling, can be applied for arrangements that are configured for "out-to-in" flow, i.e., in opposite flow direction. However they are particularly convenient for use within in-to-out flow arrangements, since sediment and other contaminant will generally be contained within the cartridge 6 as opposed to around the outside.

Still referring to Fig. 1, it is noted that housing or bowl 5 is secured to cover piece 4 by a threaded arrangement 22. This provides for convenient service access, since bowl 5 would simply be unthreaded from cover piece 4, to provide service access to interior 5a and cartridge 6. O-ring 22a provides for a seal between bowl 5 and cover piece 4. It is noted that alternate methods of attachment can be used. In general terms, the cartridge 6 comprises media 15, typically arranged in a pleated form 23, although alternatives are possible. The media 15 is generally configured in a tubular shape, around open central volume 6a. The media 15 has opposite ends 15 a, 15b and is positioned secured to, and in extension between, opposite end caps 25, 26. The media 15 can be potted to the opposite end caps 25, 26 with sealant; or, the end caps 25, 26 can be molded in place on media ends 15 a, 15b respectively or be thermally bonded in place. The media 15 defines an inner edge 15c and an outer edge 15d. The inner edge 15c, for pleated media 23, would comprise inner pleat tips 23a; and, the outer edge 15d for pleated media 23 would comprise outer pleat tips 23d. The cartridge 6 depicted is inner liner free, and includes an outer roving 24. The media 15 when pleated, can include a pleated support screen on one or both sides. The media selection is a matter of choice for the intended application of use.

Although alternatives are possible, for the arrangement 1 shown in Fig. 1, end cap 26 is a closed end cap, meaning it has no apertures therethrough in flow communication with region 6a. End cap 25, on the other hand, is an open end cap, defining central opening 28, to allow flow between region 6a and conduit 10. In the example of Fig. 1, the flow direction of unfiltered liquid, again, is from conduit 10 toward region 6a and then through media 15 into annulus 18, although alternatives are possible. A flow pattern of unfiltered liquid into central region 6a, then through media 15, and into annulus 18, again is generally referred to herein as a "in-to-out" flow pattern.

For the particular cartridge 6 depicted, end cap 26 is provided with an outwardly directed skirt 30. Skirt 30 can be configured to help center the cartridge 6 in the housing 5.

The assembly 1 depicted in Fig. 1, includes an advantageous seal arrangement in central aperture 28 for engagement with post 12 the cover piece 4, which is the subject of U.S. Provisional Application entitled "Improved Features for Liquid Filter Arrangements; Resulting Filter Components and Assemblies; and, Methods; filed March 1, 2005, under Express Mail No. EV 495871377 US, incorporated herein by reference. The seal arrangement includes a wiper seal 28a and a projection/receiver arrangement 28b, although alternatives are possible.

For the above description, it will be understood that after normal use, cartridge 6 is removed from housing or bowl 5, and is replaced. When the cartridge 6 is removed, during servicing, it generally includes: wet residual liquid thereon from the filtering operation; and, residual contaminant. When an "in-to-out" flow configuration as shown is used, the contaminant is typically contained within interior 6a. Of course when "out-to-in" flow cartridges are used, the exterior would also include contaminant thereon. In the next section, techniques and arrangements for storage and handling of the filter cartridge 6 are described. II. Storage, Shipment and Disposal of Serviceable Filter Cartridges; Figs. 2-4. In Fig. 2, a storage, shipment and disposal assembly 100 is depicted, having a cartridge 6 positioned therein. The assembly 100 comprises a container 101 having an outer side wall 102, bottom or bottom piece 103 and removable cover 104.

In some arrangements, the wall 102 will be transparent, to allow for viewing of a cartridge 6 inside. However in other applications the wall 102 will be non-transparent. Typically wall 102 will be of a material that can support printing thereon, for printed information relevant to the cartridge 6 in its use. Bottom piece 103 is a cover secured to the wall 102 in a manner that will not leak. Sonic welding or various adhesives can be used for this. In some applications, bottom or bottom piece 103 would be formed integral with side wall 102, although typically it will be attached.

Cover 104, on the other hand, is typically removable from the wall 102. The cover typically and preferably is closed, i.e., impervious to liquid flow therethrough, when in place, i.e., it contains no open liquid flow apertures.

In a typical use, cartridge 6 would be stored and shipped, within assembly 100. When it is desired to use the cartridge 6 to replace a used cartridge, cover 104 would be removed, new cartridge 6 would be removed from the interior 101 a of container 101, and would be installed for use. The used cartridge, from the equipment being serviced, would then be slipped into interior 101a of container 100 and cover 104 would be replaced. As a result, the used cartridge, with residual contaminant and liquid thereon, is securely stored within container 101 for storage, shipment and disposition. In Fig. 3, the step of removing cover 104 for handling of cartridge 6 is shown. In Fig. 4, the assembly 100 is depicted with end cap 103 separated from side wall 102. Again this would not typically be an operation conducted during normal use, because end piece 103 would typically be attached permanently during assembly. From review of the drawings, it will be understood that the particular side wall 102 depicted, is tubular, and generally has a circular cross-section. Alternate configurations are possible.

A variety of materials can be utilized for the side wall 102. Typically a plastic material that can withstand conditions of hot liquid from a filtering operation and caustic materials, will be preferred. (Typically it must withstand up to at least 300⁰F, 15O⁰C, for many applications.) Typically and preferably plastic materials that can be heat sealed to one another or otherwise adhered to one another, will be preferred for the side wall 102 and base 103. The cover 104 would typically and preferably be provided with a snap fit engagement, for secure engagement with a side wall 102.

Typically the wall thickness of side wall 102 will be within the range of 0.2 - 1.6 mm, although alternatives are possible.

Preferably the container 101 is configured so that the cartridge 6 cannot shape or tip appreciably therein. This can be accomplished by providing a clearance circumferentially around the cartridge to the side wall 102 of no greater than about 20 mm, typically not more than 10 mm, although alternatives are possible.

In some instances, the service operation will involve the replacement of a used o-ring. When such is the case, assembly 100 would typically include within the container 101, a replacement o-ring. The container 101 can be easily sized to accommodate such an o-ring.

One useable polymeric material for the container 101 is a PET copolymer, particularly for the side wall 102. A variety of alternate materials (and composites) can of course be used for the container side wall 102 and end pieces 103, 104. The same polymer need not be used for the side wall 102 and ends 103, 104.

In a service operation according to the present disclosure, the order of steps is not critical, except of course that: the new cartridge must be removed from the container before the used cartridge can be put in the container; and, the cover must be removed from the container, for a cartridge to be placed in, or be removed from, the container.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of servicing a liquid filter assembly by replacement of a used liquid filter cartridge therein; the method including the steps of:

(a) providing a combination comprising:

(i) a container having a bottom, side wall and a removable cover; the side wall comprising a plastic material; and (ii) a new liquid cartridge positioned within the container, the liquid filter cartridge comprising a tubular extension of media;

(b) opening the container to remove the new liquid filter cartridge therefrom; and, removing the used serviceable filter cartridge from a liquid filter assembly; and

(c) installing the new filter cartridge from the combination into the liquid filter assembly being serviced; and, placing used filter cartridge from the liquid filter assembly into the storage container, and closing the storage container with the removable cover.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the method of servicing includes replacement of a used o-ring seal; and

(b) the combination includes a new o-ring seal within the container.

3. A method according to any one of claims 1 -2 wherein:

(a) the side wall of the storage container comprises a transparent plastic material.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein:

(a) the side wall of the storage container includes printing thereon.

5. A combination comprising:

(a) a liquid cartridge comprising an extension of media;

(b) a storage container having a bottom, side wall and a removable cover having no open liquid flow apertures therein;

(i) the side wall having a tubular shape; (c) the liquid filter cartridge being positioned in the container, and the container being sized to provide for a clearance circumferentially around the liquid filter cartridge, of no greater than 20 mm.

6. A combination according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) the side wall of the storage container has a circular cross-section.

7. A combination according to any one of claims 5 and 6 wherein: (a) the side wall of the storage container comprises plastic.

8. A combination according to any one of claims 5-7 wherein:

(a) the side wall of the storage container comprises transparent plastic.

9. A combination according to any one of claims 5-8 wherein:

(a) the liquid cartridge is a used liquid cartridge including residual liquid and contaminant.