Gas separation – With means securing or retaining separating media – Internal frame or support means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-04-17
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Gas separation
With means securing or retaining separating media
Internal frame or support means
C055S502000, C055S503000, C055S504000, C055S383000, C123S19800E
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217627
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an air cleaner for motor vehicles. In particular, the present invention relates to devices and methods for inserting a cam operated drawer style air filter element in a housing and positioning the filter in the housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known to provide an air cleaner for purifying raw air before mixing the raw air with fuel. Such known air cleaners typically include an air filter element disposed between a top shell and a bottom shell. The bottom shell typically includes an air intake and the top shell typically includes an air exhaust, which leads to an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. In operation, such known air cleaners provide for the intake of raw air, the purification of the raw air and the routing of the purified air to the air exhaust. However, a problem with such known air cleaners is the leakage of raw air from the bottom shell to the air exhaust before passing through the filter element.
In an attempt to overcome the problem of air leakage, some known air cleaners include a seal disposed between abutting top and bottom shells. Compression of the seal is accomplished by exerting a significant compressive force on the shells and coupling the shells together to maintain the compressive force. According to some known arrangements, the shells may be permanently coupled, such as by welding, to maintain the compressive force. However, permanently coupling the shells with a filter inside has the disadvantage of preventing access to the filter element for repair or replacement.
According to other known arrangements, the shells may be temporarily coupled together using many screws evenly spaced around the periphery of the air cleaner to maintain the compressive force. To repair or replace the filter element, the screws are unfastened, the filter element is repaired or replaced and the screws are then refastened. However, this operation has the disadvantage of requiring a significant amount of time and may result in the uneven compression of the seal, which compounds the problem of air leakage.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved air cleaner that is capable of establishing an adequate seal to impede raw air from bypassing a filter element. It would also be advantageous to have an air filter element capable of rapid replacement in an air cleaner. It would further be advantageous to have a method of rapidly installing a filter element in an air cleaner.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air cleaner for purifying air. The air cleaner includes a housing having a first shell coupled to a second shell. The air cleaner also includes an air filter element disposed within the second shell and having a first side and a second side. Also, the air cleaner includes a flexible seal disposed between the first side of the filter and the first shell of the housing. At least one cam is rotatably mounted to the second shell and adapted to selectively engage the second side of the filter to compress the seal between the first side of the filter and the first shell of the housing.
The present invention further relates to an air filter for filtering combustion air for an internal combustion engine disposed in a housing, the housing has a first shell mounted to a second shell. An inlet is mounted to the first shell, and an outlet is mounted to the second shell. At least one cam is rotatably mounted to the second shell. The air filter includes a container adapted to be selectively engaged by the cam. The air filter also includes a filter element adopted to filter the combustion air having a first side and a second side, the second side of the filter element being supported by the container. Also, the air filter includes a flexible seal disposed between the first side of the filter element and the first shell. The seal forms a closure between the filter element and the first shell to increase the amount of air directed through the air filter.
The present invention further relates to a method of installing an air filter in an air cleaner. The air cleaner includes a housing. The housing has a first shell with an inlet and mounted to a second shell having an outlet. The air cleaner also includes an air filter having a first side and a second side. The air cleaner also includes a flexible seal disposed between the first side of the air filter and the first shell of the housing. Also, the air cleaner includes at least one cam rotatably mounted in the housing. The method includes sliding the filter into the second shell. The method also includes rotating the cam to engage the second side of the filter. Also, the method includes moving the filter toward the first shell. The method also includes compressing the seal between the first side of the filter and the first shell.
It is an object of this invention to provide an air cleaner that is capable of establishing an effective seal to impede the leakage of air in the air cleaner. It is also an object of this invention to provide an air filter element capable of rapid replacement in an air cleaner. It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of rapidly installing an air filter in an air cleaner. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following FIGURES, the detailed description and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5125941 (1992-06-01), Ernst et al.
patent: 5605554 (1997-02-01), Kennedy
patent: 5725624 (1998-03-01), Ernst et al.
patent: 5740774 (1998-04-01), Kennedy
Hoffmann Chris
Vyskocil Frank
Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Hoey Betsey Morrison
Siemens Canada Limited
Simmons David A.
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