Filter cartridge retention system

Details Filter cartridge retention system Filter cartridge retention system

1999-07-19

2001-02-13

Savage, Matthew O. (Department: 1723)

Liquid purification or separation

With repair or assembling means

C210S438000, C210S440000, C210S444000, C210SDIG009

Reexamination Certificate

active

06187188

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to fuel filters employed in connection with internal combustion engines. More particularly, the present invention relates to replaceable fuel filter cartridges for removing foreign particles and/or separating water from the fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine.
Fuel filter systems to which the invention relates commonly employ a disposable filter cartridge which is replaced at pre-established intervals of filter usage. The replaceable cartridge is conventionally secured to a base which forms inlet and outlet connections between the cartridge and the fuel supply system. Numerous retention systems have been employed for securing the filter cartridge to the base and allowing removal of the cartridge for replacement purposes.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,285, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, a disclosed fuel filter assembly comprises a base which mounts to the vehicle and a disposable filter cartridge which is suspended from the filter base. In this configuration, the cartridge is retained to the base by a threaded collar. The collar has a rim which retentatively engages against a protruding roll seam structure at the periphery of the cartridge housing. The cartridge is thus replaced by loosening the threaded collar and dismounting the filter cartridge.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,994, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the disposable filter cartridge is mounted to the base by a retainer collar. The base and the retainer collar have a pair of complementary spiral ramp-like structures. The retainer collar rotatably follows the ramp-like structures so that catches are positioned in slots of the base for locking the cartridge to the base. A spring biases the catch to the locked position. The spring is a spring washer which has an inscribed starlike configuration wherein one alternating set of spring leaves engages against the end of the cartridge and the second set is engageable against an adjacent surface of the base.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,284, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, a disposable filter cartridge is retained to the base by means of a spring-loaded collar. The collar carries a wave spring and has followers which ascend a spiral ramp of the base to secure the disposable cartridge in a positive locked position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the invention in a preferred form is a filter cartridge wherein the cartridge housing comprises a pair of sections which are joined along a peripheral roll seam. Portions of the housing and roll seam are radially offset to form integral retention tabs. In one embodiment, the housing is substantially symmetric about the central axis, and the retention tabs are equiangularly spaced about the axis. The tabs subtend a substantially equiangular arcuate extension. The equiangularly spaced retention tabs are preferably congruent and have substantially equal radii of curvature coaxial with the central axis. The roll seam may comprise alternating radial inner and outer arcuate segments. The inner segments have substantially equal radii of curvature, and the outer segments have substantially equal radii of curvature.
The base is preferably configured so that axial slots complementary with the retention tabs axially receive the retention tabs so that the cartridge may be secured to the base upon axial insertion and angularly rotating the cartridge. In one preferred embodiment, there are three equiangularly spaced retention tabs and three equiangularly spaced slots.
The housing may also comprise at least one arcuate slot having a profile coaxial with the central axis to receive an axial key of the base. In addition, the filter cartridge may also have a cylindrical side wall which comprises at least one arcuate protrusion which radially extends from the side wall. Thus the retention tabs may be incorporated into multiple levels of keying for identification and quality control purposes.
An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved retention system for securing a disposable cartridge to the base of a fuel filter and for efficiently releasing to allow removal of the cartridge for replacement purposes.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved retention system for a fuel filter cartridge which has an efficient and low cost construction.
A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved disposable filter cartridge having a retention structure to facilitate retaining the cartridge and releasing the cartridge in an efficient and reliable manner.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2568196 (1951-09-01), Kennedy
patent: 4857189 (1989-08-01), Thomsen et al.
patent: 5035797 (1991-07-01), Janik
patent: 5186829 (1993-02-01), Janik
patent: 5203994 (1993-04-01), Janik
patent: 2037661 (1970-12-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Filter cartridge retention system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Filter cartridge retention system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Filter cartridge retention system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2584485