Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
J ~ 7 ~
IMPROVED FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY AND CART~IDGE
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BACKGROUND OF T~IE INVENTION
The invention relates in general to filtration and
liquid/liquid and gas/liquid separation, and in particular,
to an assembly for removing solids, liquids and/or gases
from a liquid or gas flow.
More specifically, without restriction to -the particular
use which is shown and described, this invention relates
to an improved filter assembly and cartridge to subject
a liquid or gas to filtering, coalescing, and separation
to remove solids, emulsified liquids and/or gases there~rom.
The invention of the application includes a replaceable
cartridge capable of superior filtering and separation to
return a purified liquid or gas to a fluid system.
In numerous situations, a continuous liquid or gas
phase is subject to the accumulation of contaminants in
the form of solid particles, liquids and/or gases, which
must be subjected to filtration and separation as attempted
by numerous techniques of the prior art. The contaminating
material may, for example, be present as a solid, liquid, or
gas within a gas media, or dispersed as a solid, liquid or
gas within a liquid. In one specific situation, the presence
of foreign matter is prevalant in the fuel system used in
conjunction with vehicle engines of many types. The oil
in the fuel system of a diesel engine is particularly
vulnerable to the presence of contaminants. Such con-
taminants in diesel fuel may be in the form of solids,
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1 1 ~'7 ~
such as dirt, rust particles and the like, or constitute
water existing as a dispersed phase within the fuel.
Fuels, such as diesel oil, demonstrate a natural affinity
to water, because of which water is commonly emulsified
within the fluid. The normal turbu:Lent nature of a
conventional pump acting to deliver fuel to the engine
contributes to the emulsified nature of the water particles
within the continuous fuel phase. This widely dispersed
liquid is generally difficult to separate from the fluid
in such an èmulsified state. The presence of contaminating
solids and dispersed liquids wlthin the continuous fuel phase
is capable of interfering with the efficient operation of
the engine and require removal from the fuel.
Many devices have been employed in the prior art in an
effort to effectively remove or reduce the amount of con~
taminating solids, li~uids and/or gases, present in liquids
or gas, such as, for example, in the form of diesel oils
and the like. One type of well known purifying technique
used in conjunction with the fuel line of a vehicle applies
filtering elements as a means to purify the fuel for
satisfactory utilization by the engine. Filtration alone,
however, is not effective in removing the contaminating
liquids dispersed throughout the fuel, although filtering
can, in certain situations, be effective for removing solids.
Other prior art devices have been directed to centrifugal
type systems by which separation of contaminants from the
fuel is obtained by subjecting the fluid to a swirling
action. Al-though such techniques are capable of a degre~ of
satisfactory separation of foreign material from a fluid,
these devices do not offer an efficient and relatively
'~'
~ 2.
inexpensive approach to the problem of removal of
contaminants.
Many devices in the prior art have relied upon the
phenomenon of coalescing dispersed liquid ~rom a fluid
as a means to overcome the problems inherent in the
accumulation of liquid in a fuel line. Such coalescin~
devices rely on a coalescing material to coalesce the
liquids into droplets which are more readily separated
from the fuel than in the dispersed state. The prior art
coalesclng dèvices have been deficient in providlng an
economical and trouble free device that is capable of
highly efficient removal of dispersed liquids in all
demand ranges of the vehicle engine. Some of the prior
art devices may operate satisfactory at low flow ra-tes
through the separator, but as the engine output increases,
the flow rate becomes greater and efficiency of coalescing
and separation then suffers in such devices resulting in
water particles, and the like, being delivered to the engine.
The overall deficiency of such coalescing systems has
resulted, in part, from the ineffective cooperation between
the incoming flow and the coalescing stage.
Moreover, known coalescing-type apparatus have failed
to provide or not provided sufficient filtration of solids
prior to entry to the coalescing stage, because of which
the coalescing operation becomes less efficient due to the
3.
7 ~ ~
interfering presence of solids. The prior art coalescing
devices have not further provided effective filtration and
separation at all flow rates through the separator, with a
resulting decrease of efficiency. Accordingly, the known
techniques of filtering and separating contaminants from a
fluid, such as a diesel oil and the like, have not attained
the optimum level of efficiency to accomplish removal of
solids, dispersed liquids and gases from a fuel at all
demand levèls of the engine.
SUMMARY OF THæ INVENTIO~
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention
to improve the filtration and separation of solids, liquids
and/or gases from a liquid or gas media.
A further object of this invention is to provide a
fluid filter assembly having a removable cartridge which
is capable of effective removal of solids in the fluid.
Another object of this invention is to provide a fuel
filter assembly and removable cartridge by which dispersed
liquids and/or gases are separated from a gas or liquid.
A still further object of this invention is to attain
effective filtration, coalescing, and separation of solias,
liquids, and gases from a fluid by passing through a filtering
and coalescing media in an inward radial direction.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an
improved fluid filter assembly having a readily replaceable
cartridge assembly capable of an extended lifetime of service.
~ 3 f~7~'7~
Still another object of this invention is to provide
a fluid filter assembly which includes a separator to insure
that coalesced liquids are substantially removed from the
fuel.
A still further object of this invent.ion is to provide
a fuel filter assembly and cartridge which effectively collects
coalesced liquids separated from t1~e fuel.
.These and other objects are attained in accordance with
the present invention wherein there is provided an improved
fluid filter assembly and cartridge for removing solids,
liquids, and/or gas from a fluid medi.a, such as a liquid
or gas. The invention of the application may be utilized
in a variety of applications where separation and removal
of solids, liquids and/or gases from a continuous liquid or
gas phase is necessary. Although the invention may be used
to filter solids and separate a liquid from a fuel, the fluid
filter assembly and cartridge herein disclosed may also be
; used to accomplish two, three or four phase liquid separation,
. gas/liquid separation or. gas filtration, as conditions
dictate. For example, the invention may be employed to remove
. solids and/or moisture or other liquid from a gas, such as
air being supplied to a pneumatic compressor, to remove
contaminating liquids or gases in natural gas, propane and
the like, to remove oil or other contaminating liquid from
bilge water, and numerous other particular.applications.
Tn a specific use of the invention, the fuel filter
assembly and cartridge is adapted to be attached to the fuel
linP of a vehicle. In such use, contaminated fuel is
directed in a substantially radially inward direction through
an annular cartridge means having filtering and coalescing
5.
I J 6~ ~'7 ~
stages. The filtering stage of the invention effectively
removes and retains solids from the flow and introduces
fuel, free of solids, radially through the coalescing
stage. In the coalesciny stage, emulsified liquids, such
as water and the like, agglomerate to form droplet~ which
increase in size during inward movement~ The dispersed
liquid is thus transformed in the coalescing staye oE the
invention into a physical state of sufficient size and
weight to be separatecl from the fuel and collected in a
containment ves~el as needed during operation of the vehicle.
A separator is positioned in operative relationship to the
coalescing stage to insure complete separation of the coalesced
liquid from the fuel, even at higher flow rates through the
filter assembly.
The separator of the fuel filter assembly and cartridge
herein disclosed is impermeable to any coalesced liquid carried
by the fuel ana acts to deflect agglomerated water away from
its surface to be collected by the containment vessel. At
the same time, the separator is fuel permeable to permit the
fuel to flow unimpeded to the outlet of the assembly. Through
its filtering, coalescing, and separating functions, the
invention of the application achieves greatly improvea removal
of foreign substances from the fuel system of an engine, or
in other uses where such efficient filtration and separation
is desirable
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further objects of the invention, together with additional
features contributing thereto ana advantages accruing therefrom,
will be apparent in the following description of preferred
embodiments of the invention, which are shown in the
accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate
corresponding parts throughout, wherein:
"
~16'~ J~
FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded side view of a first
embodiment of a cartridge having a separable separator member
; for use in the fuel filter assembly and cartridg~ of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the fuel ~ilter
assembly of the invention employing the cartric1ge of FIG. l;
FIG. 3 is a sectivnal top view of the cartridye assembly
of FIG. 1 within the fuel filter assembly taken along lines
3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a bottom schematic view of the cartridge ,
assembly of FIG. 1 with-the separator member in an inserted
position therein;
FIG. 5 is a bottom schematic illustration of the contain-
. ment vessel of the fuel filter assembly and cartridge of theinvention taken along.lines 5-5 of FIG. 2;
.FIG. 6 is a top schematic illustration of the fuel filter
. assembly of FIG. 2 with the cartridge and body cap member
removed;
.FIG. 7 is a perspective side ill.ustration of another
embodiment of a cartridge for use in the fuel fllter assembly
and cartridge of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the fuel filter
.assembIy and cartridge of the invention employing the
. modified cartri~ge of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a top sectional ~iew of the fuel filter
assembly and cartridge taken ~lony lines 7-7 of FIGo 8; and
FIG~ 10 is a.bottom schematic view of the cartridge
of FIG. 7 used in the fuel filter assembly and cartridge
of FIG. 8.
r
~ ~ 6~
DESCRIPTIVN O:F' THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
_
Referri.ng ko FIGS~ 1 to 6, there is illustrated a first
embodiment of the improved fluid filter assembly and cartridge
of the invention, generally designated by reference numberal 1.
The fluid filter assembly 1 is capable of hig~ly effective
filtering, coalescing and separation to remove particles,
liquids, and gases :Erom a fluid such as, for example, the
fuel in the fuel system of an engine for an automobile,
truck, off-highway vehicle, aircraft, marine craft, and the like,
1~ or other applications, apart from fuel systems, involving
marine, industrial or other uses.
Although the fluid filter assembly and cartridge 1
is described for purposes of illustration for use to remove
impurities from the fuel supplied to-a vehicle engine, it
should be understood that the invention of the application
is not limited to such exclusive use and may be utilized in
numerous other applications where removal of contaminants
and the like, in the form of dispersed particles, liquids
and/or gases, from a liquid or gas is desirable. The inven-
tion may purify natural gas, propane, bilge water, air inpneumatic systems, and the like, in which unwanted solids,
liquids, or gases may be carried. The invention of the
application is further not limited to single phase separation,
but may be used in a situation where two, three or four
phase liquid separation, gas liquid separation or gas
filtration is reguired.
In the specific.use disclosed herein, fluid filter
assembly 1 in the form of a fuel filter ana cartridge, in-
cludes a body 2 having an upper wall 3 in the form of a
surface of revolution to define a cartridge receiving
! 3 ~;7 .7'7~
chamber 4 therein. An integral lower cylindrical wall 5
is coupled to the upper wall 3 and is adapted to be attached
to a containment vessel or bowl in a manner to be described.
The walls 3 and 5 may be constructed from any suitable
material, such as, for example, a metal, plastic, and
the like. An inlet port 7 is formed through a portion of
the upper wall 3 and is provided with internal threads 8
to permit the inlet port to be coupled to a conduit of the
fuel system (not shown) of a vehicle to introduce a flow of
fuel, having contaminants to be removed, into the cartridge
receiving chamber 4.- Although the fuel ilter assembly 1
may be employed in conjunctlon with the fuel system of any
internal combustion engine, the invention of the application
is particularly useful in removing foreign material from
the diesel oil for a diesel engine. Diesel fuel is particularly
subject to contamination due to the presence of solid material
in the form of dirt, rust, and the like, and emulsi~ied
liquids such as water, generally having a different specific
gravity than the diesel fuel. The contaimanted fuel is
normally delivered to the inlet port ~ through the action
of a conventional fuel pump ~not shown) forming a component
of the engine fuel system. The flow rate through the unit
is established by the fuel pump in conjunction with the
instantaneous fuel requirements of the engine~
An outlet port 9 is provided beneath the inlet port 7
through a portion of the lower wall section 5 and is
similarly provided with internal threads 10 permitting
attachment to another conduit of the fuel system to direct
10 .
I ~ ~3 ~
purified fuel to a utilization point, generally to be
supplied to the engine during .its operation. The bottom
of the cartridge receiving chambe;r 4 is definea by a
horizontal wall 11., formed with an upper annular shaped
riage 12, circumferentially extending about the vertical
axis of the body 2.. An outlet passaye 13 is integrally
couplea to the underside of ihe lower wall 12 in ~luid
communication with outlet port 9. The outlet passage 13
creates a fluid passage laterally of the body 2 to a point
adjacent its vertical center line. An integrally formed
standpipe 14 extends upward through the.lower wall 11 to
a positi.on in an upper portion.of the cartridge receiving
chamber 4. The standpipe 14 creates a fluid passage in
communicati~n.with outlet passage 13 and lS provided with
a stanapipe inlet port 15.through which the flow of fuel,
having been purified .in a manner to be described herein,
is directea downward through the standpipe 14 and laterally
through passage 13 for egress from port 9 for utilization
in the vehicle engine.
A plurality of containment vessel ports 16 in the form
of arcuate, open segments are disposed about standpipe 14
through bottom wall 11 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Each
of the ports 16 is separated by respective narrow portions
16' of the bottom wall 11 and extend about the vertical
- centerline of the body 3 from points adjacent opposite sides
11 .
7~ ~
of flow passage 13. The ports 16 pr~vide drainage openings
for the liquid separated from the fuel in the cartridge
receiving chamber 4 during use of fuel filter assembly 1
of "~e invention. A containment vessel or bowl 20 is
removably attached-by a threaded coupling 21 to the bottom
end portion of the wall 5, whereby the coupling 21 may be
sealed th.rough the use of a suitable elastomeric O-ring 22
and the like. ~he containment vessel 20 may be constructed
.from numerous materials, such as, for example, plastic,
steel, bronze, and the like.
As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the containment vessel
. 20 incl.udes an upper cylindrical portion 22 and a lower
; frusto-conical hottom wall 23, which terminates with an outlet
neck 24 fitted wlth a suitable drain plug or valve 25. Plug
25 permits drainage of the liquid collected in the interior
chamber formed by containment vessel 20. Although ~he draln
plug 25 is illustrated.as a conventional, manually operated
drain valve capable of alternatively blocking or draining
liquid through outIet neck 24, it is within the scope of
the invention to fit the outlet neck 24 with an automatically
operatea val~ing mechanism controlled by a suitable liquid
level aetector disposed within containment vessel 20 of the
type as will be described.
The ~ontainment vessel 20 may manually or automatically
be drained througll neck 24 on a periodic basis upon a
12
7 ~1 .
predetermined quantity of liquid being collected. As shown
in FIG. 2, a conventional conduc1i~ity pxobe 26may be dis-
posed through the upper portion 22 of the containment vessel
20 to provide the vehicle opexator with a visua';or audio
signal, through suitable circuitry (not shown), that a pre-
determined level of liquid within the containment vessel has
accumulated reyuiring drainage. Alternatively~ the probe
26 may be `coupled to an electrical circuit (not shown) which
applies an electrical signal to an automatically operated
drain valve (not shown) positloned in ~utlet neck 24 to open
and close the valve as conditions dictate. The amount of
fluid collected in containment vessel 20 may be also
determined visually, when the containment vessel 20 is
constructed of a transparent material. It is further within
the scope of the invention to use other types of well known
liguid level detectors within vessel 20, oth~r tha~ the
conductivity probe 26 as illustrated in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 5, th~ upper cylindrical portion 22
of the containment vessel 20 is formed by a plurality of
downwardly aisposed rib sections 26 interconnected by a
plurality of wall segments 27. Although a majority of the
segments 27 possess a curved cross-sectional configuration,
one or more segments 28 possess a flat shape. The flat
surface created by the one or more segments 28 achieves
improved sealing relationship between conductivity probe
L1
26 and the wall of the containment vessel 20, by insuring
.positive contact between the wall of segment 28 and an O~ring
29 and the like employed as a sea.l for the mounting of the
probe.
The top of housing assem~ly 2 is covered by a cap member
30 having a dome-shapea configuration. A plurallty of lower
threads 31 are formed within the downward extending portion
of cap member 30 and are adapted to engage threads 32 formed
on the periphery of the upper portion 3 of the body 2. The
10 cap 30 may be removed to provide access to the cartridge
chamber 4 to permlt removal and replacement of the cartridge
.mounted therein as needed during use.of the device. The
sealing relationship between the ~ap 30..and body 2 is enhanced
b~.a suitable O-ring 33 positioned adjacent the threaded
coupling therebetween.. .The dome-shaped cap 30 is provided
with a ~umber of outer rib secti.ons 34 extending from an
~pper rim 35 of the cap 30 downward to near its bottom edge.
.The ribs 34 act to facilitate-manual re val of the cap member
30, as needed to replace a cartridge in the cartridge chamber
4- :
A unitary cartridge assembly 40,-which i5 capable of
filtering and/or coalescing c~ntaminating solids, liquids,
and gases from the fuel, is designed to be removably received
in cartridge chamber 4 within the body 2. The cartridge
assembly 40 is in the form of an annular member having
14.
1 1 ~;7~
filtering and coalescing sections as will be described.
The cartridge assembly 40 is adapted to be inserted and
removed from the body 2 through t:he opening normally
closed by the cap memb~r 30, as s,hown in FIG~
The cartridge assembly includes an upper cartridge cap
41 formung a continuous surface 41' and a bottom annular
cap 42 creating a central opening 43 through which the
standpipe 14 extends upward. The outer circumferential
, wall of the cartridge assembly 4~ is defined by a surface
of revolution 44 in the form of a paper shell or similar
material. The shell 44 includes a plurality of perforations
45 situated at selected positions around the entire circum-
ference of the shell 44 to form multiple, circumferentially
disposed inlets to the cartridge assembly 40 for the flow
of fuel -introduced throuqh inlet 70
The bottom cap 42 of the cartridge assembly 40 includes
an elastomeric annular gasket 46,which is biased in sealing
contact against the annular rim 12 formed on the bottom wall
- 11 of the body 2. The cartridge assembly 40 is biased
downward into position in cartridge chamber 4 and into
contact with the rim 1;2 by means of a compression spring 47
The spring 47 is disposed between the upper cartridge cap
41 and the bottom o~ the cap member 30, having an annular
spring retention lip 48 as shown in FIG. 2. The spring 47
may be of any type of compression spring capahle of holding
15.
I i67,'74
the cartridge assembly 44 down in the biased position
illustrated in FIG. 2.
The cartriage assembly 40 includes an annular body
50 di~osed within the shell 44, such that fluid introduced
through perforations 45 is directed radially inward through
the annular body 50 to filter and coalesce impurities. The
annular body 50 of the cartridge assembly 40 surrounds a
central char~ber 50' in which the standpipe 14 is disposed
with standpipe inlet 15 being at an upper portion thereof.
The central chamber 50' is in fluid con~unication with con-
tainment vessel ~O through ports 16 to drain coalesced li~uid
separated from the flow of fluid. The ar~ular body 50 is
formed by an outer filtering section 51 and an inner coàlescing
section 52 which are arranged in concentric, substantially -
contacting relatlonship with each other. The ends of the she`11
44, filtering section 51, and coalescing section 52 are
affixed to the upper cartridge cap 41 ana lower cartridge
cap 42 by the use o a suitable adhesive 53, such a~ epoxy
and the like, to form a unitary cartridge structure.
The filtering ~ection 51, which is situated ir~mediately
adjacent the perforated paper jacket 45, is formed by a
pleated filter media 54 extending circumferentially about the
vertical centerline of b~dy 2 and is capable of removing
and retaining solid particles present in the flow of diesel
oil and the like. The pleated filtering media comprises a
16.
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7 ~ 7 l.l
conventional filtering material, sueh as a porous paper
treated with a silicone substance and the like, to render
the filter paper hydropho~ie in nature~ The filter media
is capable of filtering and retai.ning solid~ from the fuel
flow.and may be eonstructed to provide.filtration in a
predetermined range, such as coarr,e fil;tration, fine
filtration, or absolute filtration .from a large mucron
.size and bèlow. -
After passing through the filtering section 51 where
solids are filtexed from the flow, the fuel is passed sub-
stantially in a radial inward direction through coalescing
section 52. The coalescing sectlon 52, also having an annular
configuration, is situated i~ actual or near abutting rela-
tionship to the inner surface of the outer filtering section51. The eoaleseing seetion 52 is formed from any coalesciny
material that eauses emulsifie~ water or other fluids,
yenerally having a different specifie gravity than.Athe fuel,.
to coalesce and form droplets which increase in size during
inwara travel through the coalescing media. Typicallyj sueh
coalescing material causes emulsified liquid particles, dis-
: persed in the continuous fluid phase, to agglomerate and
form aroplets which increase in size during inward tra~el
through the coalescing section 52. The droplets.of water
and the like fo~ned in coalescing section ~2, either fall by
gravity to the bottom of the chamber 50' or are carried
,
~ :16~77~
radially inward from the coalesci~g section 52 by the flow
of fuel. The droplets carried by the fuel flow inward are
separated therefrom in the invention of the application by
a separator member 60, which prevents passage of the coalesced
liquia, but permits passage of the contaminant free fuel oil
and the like. Generally~ many heavier droplets of water
fall to the bottom of the chamber.without contact with the
.. separator member 60, particularly under low rate conditions,
while the.lighter droplets may be carried by the flow to
the separator member. However, higher flow rates through
the ~uel assembly 1, induced by the fuel pump acting to
meet increased demands;of the engine, tend to carry some
- . of the even heavier.droplets into contact with the separator
member 40
As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the separator member
. 60 comprises an annular structure separably coupled to
~he cartridge assembly 40 in ~ngagement means 601 carried
thereby.- The separator member 60 is disposed in concentric
relationship to standpipe 14 within chamber 50~ and is supported
by the inner periphery of a lower ring member 61a of member
. 60 frictionally engaging a portion of the standpipe 14 to
suspend the separator member in the position shown in FIG. 2.
- .The outer peripehry of *he separator member 60 is spaced from
the inner surface of the coalescing section 52 and is spaced
from the outer periphery of standpipe 14 as shown in FIG. 2.
18.
t~
The separator member 60 includes an annular frame having ring
member 61a and an upper ring member 61b interconnected by a
plurality of spaced:longitudlnal reinforcing segments 62
. fo_~in,.peripheral openings 63. ~he positioning of top ring
- 61b in engagement means 60l of cartridge cap 41 and lower
- 61a in frictional engagement on standpipe 14 substantially
blocks fluid communication through the upper and lowex ena
of the separ~tor member 6Q. The o;penings 63 are covered
by fine mesh screen elements 64 formed by a separating
hydrophobic media, such as metal, plastic, treated ~aper or
similar material-capable .of preven$ing the droplets of
coalesced liquids from passing therethrough, but being
permeable.to the passage of the fuel therethrough. The
screen 64 separates the droplets.o~ liquid contacting the
. separator member 60 rom the uel. by deflection and causing
:;. the agglomerated.liquid.to fall by gravity downward in
chamber 50' between,the cartridge assembly.40 and the
separator member 60 as~shown in FIG. 2; The droplets thus
. drain from chamber 4 through ports 16 into containment
.20 vessel 20 after passing through ~he screen element 64. The
.purifi~d -fuel flows upward through stanapipe inlet 15 to
outlet port 9 for delivery to the vehicle engine.
In operation, a.flow of fuel i5 introduced through
the inlet port 7 by.the action of the engine fuel pump. The
fuel may carry emulsified liquids, such as ~ater and the
like, and particulate materials in the form of rust, dirt
and similar solids. The fiuid entering -the inlet 7 sub-
stantially fills the chamber surrounding cartridge ~ssembly
40 and is airected radially through the outer perforated
. 19.
.
(
I ~ 6 '7 ~
shell 44 of the cartridge. The fuel passes in a substantially
inward direction through the filterin~ section 51, in which
stage the solids are removed from the fluid and retained by
the filtering media. The xemaining fuel, containing emlllsified
contaminants, such as water, then passes through the coalescing
section 52~ Coalescing section 5Z acts to coalesce the liquids
dispersed in the continuous fuel phase to agglomerate and form
droplets which become laryer in size during travel through
the coalescing section.
The heavier droplets-fall by gravity to the bottom
cartriage chamber 4 while the remaining droplets contact the
- screen 64 of the separator member 60. The number of droplets
actually contacting the separator member 60 is largely aependent
on the flow rate through the filter assembly l ana other
conditions. The coalescea liquid is deflected by the hydro-
phobic screen elements 64 and falls downward to be drained
into the containment vessel 20 through ports 16. The purified
fuel, which is permitted to pass through the separator member
60, ent~rs the space about the standpipe and flows through
the standpipe inlet 15 and downward to the outlet p~rt 9 for
delivery to the vehicle engine. Thus, the solids in the fuel
are removed by the filtering section 51 while the liquid
contaminants form droplets in coalescing section 52 that
are separated from the fuel flow by gravity and thP aid of
the separator member 60, if in contact therewith.
20.
~6777~1
~ eferring now to FIGS. 7 thxough 10, there is illuskrated
another embodin~nt of the fuel filter assembly and cartridge
of the invention which utilizes a modified cartridge 10~.
The fuel filter assembly 1' of thle embodiment of FIGS. 7
through.10 is.provided with substantially the same structural
components accomplishing the same functions as that described
.. in connection with the preceding embodiment of FIGS. l to 6.
Fuel-~ilter assembly 1 includes body 2', containment vessel
20', upper cap 30', bottom wall 11' having ports 16l, stand-
pipe 14' and other identical parts to the preceding embodiment.The fluid flow through .the filter asseMbly 100 is identical
to that disclosed in relation to the invention of FIGS.
through 6,-with the fuel flowing into port 7' and egressing
from outlet port 9'.
The modified ~artridge assembl~. 100 of the embodiment of
FIGS. 7 through 10 i.~ formea with an integral separator .
member 101 to separate coalesced liquid from the fuel by per-
forming the same function as separatox member 60 of FIGS..1
to 6. The cartridge assembly 100 of FIGS. 7 through 10
includes an upper cap 41' and a lower cap 42' having a gas~et
46', similar to that described with reference to the cartridge
assembly 40 of the preceding embodiment. The outer periphery
of~.the cartridge assembly 100 of the embodiment of ~IGS. 7
through 10 is defined by an annular continuous perforated
sheet 44' surrounding an annular filtering section 51' having
~ ~ 67~7'~
a pleated ilter media. The coalescing section 52~ of the
cartridge assemhly lO0 is also situated adjacent the filtering
section 51' and includes a suitable coalescing material.
The lower annular cap 42 ' for~; a standpipe receiving
. opening 42a and supports ~he separator men~ex lOl by means of
an inner upturned end portion 102 as shown in FIG. 7, such
. that the separator l~l is carried as an integral part of the
cartriage assembly lO0. The upper portion of the outer
shell 44', filtering section 51', and coalescing section 52l
are affixed by an adhesive to the underside of the upper cap
41', along with a retention element lOla which receives the
. upper ena of separator member lOl. The separator member lOl
is integrally situated in the unitary cartridge ass~mbly lO0
at a position spaced from the inner surface of coalescing
section 52' to permit effective separation-:of:the~coalesced
: liquid. The droplets of coalesced liquid created in the
coalescing section 52' drop downward in chamber 4 in a
similar manner as the preceding embodiment. A plurality of
drainage segments 105 are provided in lower cap 42', and
are arranged beneath the falling droplets to permit the
coalesced liquid to arain downward to the ports l6' for
collection in the containment vessel 20'. The purified
fuel then flows to the standpipè inlet 15' and aownward
.. through the standpipe for delivery to the engine in a manner
as previously aescribed.
22.
7 76'77~7l~
In the foregoing description, the invention of the
application has been described in detail as a single unit
to remove impurities from a fuel. The fluid filter 1
may also be employed as a fuel filter or other use with
additional units (not shown) mounted in parallel or other
relationship to each other to function simultaneously or
alternatively, in a sequential mode as each fluid filter
becomes incapable of further filtration or separation after
extended use. In the latter sequential operation of a
plurality of units of the invention, suitable manual or
automatic flow control means, may bè relied upon to deliver
or cease delivery to a particular assembly.
The fluid filter assembly may also comprise a large unit
having a plurality of separate internal filtering, coalescing,
and separating components of the type described with reference
to the preceding embodiments. In addition, in certain
applications~ the filter assembly 1 can be operated in a
manner, such that contarninants separated are removed
through the outlet while the utilized flow is directed
through the bottom of the filter assembly. Such modifica-
tion may be utilized in particular situations, such as, for
example, to remove contaminating oil from bilge water being
discharged into a natural body of wa-ter and the like.
While the invention has been aescribed with reference
to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and
equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without
23.
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II~7~
departing from the scope of the invention. In addition,
many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the invention
without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be li.mited
to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode
contemplated fo.r carrying out this invention, but that
the invention will include all embodiments falling within
the scope of the appended claims.
24.
