GB2082080A

GB2082080A - Fluid filter

Info

Publication number: GB2082080A
Application number: GB8124910A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 1980-08-18
Filing date: 1981-08-14
Publication date: 1982-03-03
Also published as: FR2490735A1; IT8123465A0; ES260036U; IT1194087B; ZA814048B; CA1156940A; BR8104591A

Abstract

A fluid filter for a motor vehicle includes a housing 12 defining an inlet 18, and an outlet 20 and enclosing a filter cartridge 24 comprising a corrugated plastics filter medium 26 whose edges are moulded into a support structure which comprises end walls 30, (32) and a rim 34. Walls 30, (32) may be joined by integral ribs extending along the fold lines. The support structure and the housing are in peripheral sealing engagement, with rim 34 located in recess 42, for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through the filter medium. In Figures 10, 11 (not shown) the cartridge has only one fold and resembles a bag of rectangular section. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fluid filter assemblies The present invention is generally directed to fluid filter assemblies and more particularly to new and improved fluid filter assemblies having a corrugated filter medium to provide a substantial filter area and along filter life.

Fluid filter assemblies having a corrugated filter have long been in use and are thus well known in the prior art. Filters of this type exhibit the distinct advantage of providing considerable filter area within a comparatively small case or enclosure. As a result, corrugated filters can have a long life requiring only infrequent replacement.

One application where corrugated filters are especially adaptable for use is in an automobile. By virtue of their long life, the use of corrugated filters in automobiles is consistent with the objective of automobile manufacturers to lengthen service intervals. Unfortunately, prior art corrugated filters are not suitable for every filtering application found in an automobile.

In accordance with the present invention, a fluid filter assembly comprises: a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a filter cartridge receiving cavity between said inlet and said outlet; a filter cartridge arranged to be received within said cavity, said filter cartridge including a corrugated filter medium and a support structure for supporting said filter medium, said corrugated filter medium having marginal edges moulded and embedded within said support structure for being supported by said support structure; and means for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through said corrugated filter medium.

Protection is also sought for the filter cartridge per se.

Preferably, the corrugated filter medium is not formed from paper material which rapidly deteriorates in the presence of alcohol and water, and would thus be unsuitable for filtering large amounts of water from fuel of the type including energy conserving alcohol additives, but is instead formed of plastics material.

By moulding the support structure of plastics material about the pre-positioned corrugated filter medium of plastics material it is possible to produce the filter cartridge as a particularly cheap and reliable unitary structure.

Three fluid filter assemblies, each incorporating a filter cartridge, in accordance with the present invention, will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a side view of a fluid filter assembly structured in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the fluid filter assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, to a larger scale, taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, to the same scale as Figure 3, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the filter cartridge utilized in the fluid filter assembly of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side view of a fluid filter assembly structured in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the fluid filter assembly of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of the filter cartridge utilized in the fluid filter assembly of Figure 6; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional side view of a fluid filter assembly constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 10.

Referring now initially to Figures 1 and 2, the fluid filter assembly 10 of the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 5 includes a housing 12 formed by a container portion 14 and a cover portion 16. The housing 12 in the container portion 14 defines a fluid inlet 18 wherein fluid to be filtered is received, and a fluid outlet 20 from which the filtered fluid passes.

In Figures 3 and 4 it will be noted that the container portion 14 of the housing 12 defines a filter cartridge receiving cavity 22. Within the cavity 22 there is disposed a filter cartridge 24. The cartridge 24 is disposed within the cavity 22 between the inlet 18 and the outlet 20.

As will be noted in Figures 3 through 5, the filter cartridge 24 includes a corrugated filter medium 26 and a support structure 28. The support structure 28 comprises a pair of sidewalls 30 and 32, a peripheral rim 34which is secured to the sidewalls 30 and 32, and a plurality of support ribs 36. Preferably, the corrugated filter medium 26 is formed from a plastics material and takes the form of a plastics mesh or cloth. Also, for reasons to be explained hereinafter, the support structure 28 for the filter medium 26 is also formed from moldable plastics material so that during the formation of the filter cartridge 24, a unitary assembly results.

As best seen in Figure 5, the filter medium 26 includes a plurality of corrugations having fold lines 40 extending between the sidewalls 30 and 32 of the support structure 28. The support ribs 36 also extend between and are substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls 30 and 32.

During the formation of the filter cartridge 24, the corrugated filter medium may be loaded into a suitable mold wherein the finished filter cartridge 24 is formed. During the molding operation, the support structure 28 is molded about the corrugated filter medium 26 so that the marginal edges or peripheral margins 38 of the filter medium 26 are molded and embedded into the sidewalls 30 and 32 of the support structure 28. Also, during the molding operation the support ribs 36 are formed in such a manner that the fold lines 40 of the corrugated filter medium 26 are also molded and embedded into the support ribs 36. Of course, the peripheral rim 34 of the support structure 28 is also formed during the molding operation so that, as a result, the support structure 28 and the corrugated filter medium 26 form a unitary filter cartridge assembly.

Referring now specifically to Figures 3 and 4, it can there be seen that the filter cartridge 24 is received within the cavity 22 of the housing 12. The housing 12,within the container portion 14, includes an inner peripheral recess 42 which is dimensioned for making sealing surface contact with the rim 34 of the cartridge 24. The rim 34 may be secured within the recess 42 by means well known in the art such as ultrasonic bonding. The cover portion 16 is arranged to be received over the container portion 14 in broad surface sealing contact therewith and with a substantial portion of the rim 34 of the cartridge 24.

Again, the cover portion 16 may be secured to the container portion 14 by well known means such as ultrasonic bonding.

The filter cartridge 24 is received within the filter cartridge receiving cavity 22 so that the sidewall 30 is spaced from the inlet 18 to define a first channel 44.

The sidewall 30 by being integral with the rim 34 causes all of the fluid entering the inlet 18 to be directed downwardly through the first channel 44.

The bottom of the filter cartridge 24 is also spaced from the bottom wall 15 of the container portion 14 to provide a space 46 through which the fluid flows into the filter cartridge 24. Because the peripheral rim 34 of the cartridge extends beyond the sidewalls 30 and 32 and the corrugated filter medium 26, and with the rim 34 being in continuous sealing engagement with the recess 42, all of the fluid flowing into the inlet 18, through channel 44, and into space 46 is directed through the filter medium 26.

The cover 16 of the housing is spaced above the rim 34 to define a second channel 48 from which the filtered fluid exits the filter cartridge 24. A substan tiallyvertical side channel 50 then conducts the filtered fluid from the channel 48 to the outlet 20.

Preferably, the container portion 14 and cover portion 16 of the housing 12 are formed from a plastics material to facilitate the heretofore referred to ultrasonic bonding for finally assembling the fluid filter assembly. Because the filter cartridge 24 is a molded unitary structure and because the housing 12 may be formed from a plastics material, the fluid filter assembly 10 may be manufactured at low cost.

Furthermore, because the filter medium 26 is not a paper material, the filter medium will not deteriorate in the presence of alcohol and water as has been the case with prior art paper corrugated filters.

Referring now to Figures 6 through 9 wherein a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, it will be noted that the filter assembly 60 there illustrated includes a generally cylindrical housing 62 comprising a pair of housing portions 64 and 66. The housing portions 64 and 66 define a fluid inlet 68 and a fluid outlet 70 respectively and a seal line 72 which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing 62. Each of the housing portions 64 and 66 includes a circumferential or annular outer rim 74 and 76 which may be integrally bonded together to maintain the assembly 60 in assembled relation.

Referring now to Figure 9, a filter cartridge is there illustrated which may be utilized in the assembly 60 of Figure 6. The filter cartridge 78 there illustrated includes a corrugated filter medium 80 and a support structure 82 for supporting the corrugated filter medium 80. The support structure 82 comprises a pair of sidewalls 84 and 86, a peripheral rim 88, and a plurality of support ribs 90.

The filter cartridge 78 of Figure 9 is preferably formed in the same manner as the filter cartridge of Figure 5 as previously discussed. However, it will be noted in Figure 8 that the corrugated filter medium 80 comprises a first set of fold lines 92 and a second set of fold lines 94 which extend between and are generally perpendicular to the sidewalls 84 and 86.

The first set of fold lines 92 are substantially coplanar and the second set of fold lines 94 are substantially coplanar. However, only the first set of fold lines 92 are embedded within a corresponding plurality of support ribs 90 as opposed to the structure of the cartridge 24 of Figure 5 which included support ribs for both sets of fold lines. As will become apparent hereinafter, the support ribs 90 and fold lines 92 are upstream from the second set of fold lines 94 with respect to the direction of fluid flow through the filter assembly.

Referring again to Figure 9, it can there be seen that the marginal edges or peripheral margins 95 of the corrugated filter medium 80 are embedded into the sidewalls 84 and 86 of the cartridge support structure 82. Also, the fold lines 92 are molded and embedded into the support ribs 90. As a result, because the cartridge 78 is formed during a molding operation wherein the filter medium 80 is loaded into a suitable mold with the support structure 82 being molded around and to the filter medium 80, a unitary cartridge assembly results.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, it can there be seen that the cartridge assembly 78 is received within a filter cartridge receiving cavity 96 of the housing 62. Each of the housing portions 64 and 66 includes a peripheral inner slot 98 which is dimensioned for receivig the peripheral rim 88 of the cartridge 78. As a result, when the fluid filter assembly 60 is assembled, the filter cartridge 78 is first slid into one of the housing portions 64 or 66 with the rim 88 being received within the inner slot 98 of that section. Thereafter, the other section may be slid over the exposed half of the filter cartridge 78 with its slot 98 also receiving the rim 88. The housing portions 64 and 66 may then be brought together with the outer rims 74 and 76 being brought into engagement for ultrasonic bonding. The slot 98 may be dimensioned slightly smaller than the rim 88 so that the rim may be received therein in sealed relation.

As a result, the rim 88 and housing 62 provide a peripheral seal about the corrugated filter medium 80. As will best be noted in Figure 7, the filter cartridge 78 is suspended within the housing 62 with its sidewalls 84 and 86 spaced from the housing and with the bottom wall 67 of the housing spaced from the bottom of the cartridge 78. All of the fluid to be filtered flowing into the inlet 68 is thereby directed - through the corrugated filter medium 80. Also, all of the filtered fluid is then directed out through the outlet 70. Fluid flow through the filter is indicated by suitable arrows.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a further embodiment of a fluid filter having a corrugated filter medium therein in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The fluid filter assembly 100 there illustrated includes a housing 102 which comprises a main housing portion 104 and an end housing portion 106. The end housing portion 106 defines a fluid inlet 108 and the main housing portion 104 defines a fluid outlet 110.

Within the housing 102 there is disposed a filter cartridge 112 which comprises a peripheral rim 114 and a pair of sidewalls 116. The rim 114 is arranged to be received within peripheral recesses 117 and 118 of the main housing portion 104 and end housing portion 106 respectively. The rim 114 may be sealed within the recess formed by the joining of the housing portions 104 and 106 to define a fluid opening 130. The corrugated filter medium 120 includes a single corrugation as illustrated and has its marginal edges 122 embedded within the sidewalls 116. The open end of the corrugated filter medium 120 is also embedded within the rim 114.

Again, the filter cartridge 112 is preferably formed in a molding operation wherein the filter medium 120 is loaded into a suitable mold with the rim 114 and sidewalls 116 being molded about the filter medium 120 to provide a unitary structure.

Because the rim 114 is in sealed engagement with the housing 102, all of the fluid to be filtered flowing into inlet 108 must flow through the opening 130 defined by the rim 114 and through the corrugated filter medium 120. The filtered fluid then flows out through the outlet 110.

Again, the housing portions 104 and 106 may be formed from a plastics material to facilitate ultrasonic bonding at outer peripheral flanges 132 and 134.

From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that the present invention provides a new and improved fluid filter assembly of the type having a corrugated filter medium. Because the filter cartridge incorporating the corrugated filter medium may be formed in a single molding operation, a unitary construction is provided and the cartridges may be mass produced at a low manufacturing cost. Furthermore, because the filter medium need not be paper, the corrugated filter medium contemplated by the present invention will not deteriorate in the presence of alcohol and water. Furthermore, because the housings in which the filter cartridges are enclosed are also formed from a plastics material, the housings may be readily sealed through ultrasonic bonding or the like to provide a filter assembly which is low in weight and low in manufacturing cost.

Claims

1. A fluid filter assembly comprising: a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a filter cartridge receiving cavity between said inlet and said outlet; a filter cartridge arranged to be received within said cavity, said filter cartridge including a corrugated filter medium and a support structure for supporting said filter medium, said corrugated filter medium having marginal edges molded and embedded within said support structure for being supported by said support structure; and means for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through said corrugated filter medium.

2. An assembly as defined in Claim 1 wherein said housing and said support structure are arranged for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through said corrugated filter medium.

3. An assembly as defined in Claim 2 wherein said housing and said support structure are in fluid sealing engagement about said filter medium for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through said corrugated filter medium.

4. An assembly as defined in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said support structure includes a pair of sidewalls and wherein the marginal edges of said filter medium adjacent said sidewalls are molded and embedded therein.

5. An assembly as defined in Claim 4 wherein said support structure includes a plurality of support ribs extending between and generally perpendicular to said sidewalls, wherein said corrugated filter medium includes a plurality of fold lines extending between and generally perpendicular to said sidewalls and wherein said filter medium fold lines are molded and embedded within said support ribs.

6. An assembly as defined in Claim 5 wherein said fold lines comprise first and second sets and wherein the fold lines of only one of said sets are molded within a corresponding plurality of said support ribs.

7. An assembly as defined in Claim 6 wherein said one-set of fold lines is disposed upstream from the other said set of fold lines with respect to the path of fluid flow from said inlet to said outlet.

8. An assembly as defined in Claim 4wherein said support structure further comprises a peripheral rim secured to said sidewalls and wherein said housing includes means for receiving said rim in sealing engagement.

9. An assembly as defined in Claim 8 wherein said housing comprises a pair of mating housing portions, each said portion having an inner slot means for receiving said support structure rim in sealing engagement.

10. An assembly as defined in Claim 9 wherein said housing is substantially cylindrical upon the mating of said housing portions, wherein said portions are mateable along a seal line transverse to the longitudinal axis of said housing, and wherein said portions are arranged to slide over said filter cartridge with said rim within said inner slot and brought into mating engagement along said seal line.

11. An assembly as defined in Claim 10 wherein each said housing portion includes an annular outer rim defining said seal line and wherein said rims are integrally bondable together to maintain said assembly in assembled relation.

12. An assembly as defined in Claim 4wherein said support structure includes a peripheral rim secured to said side-walls and extending outwardly from said sidewalls and said filter medium, and wherein said housing includes a peripheral recess about said filter cartridge receiving cavity arranged to receive said support structure rim in sealed relation.

13. An assembly as defined in Claim 12 wherein said housing includes a container portion defining said inlet, said outlet, said filter cartridge receiving cavity and said peripheral recess and a cover portion arranged to be received over said container portion, said cover portion being arranged to enclose said peripheral recess and provide surface contact with said support structure peripheral rimforfirmlyfixing said filter cartridge within said cavity.

14. A fluid filter comprising: a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a filter cartridge receiving cavity therebetween; a filter cartridge arranged to be received within said cavity, said cartridge including a corrugated filter medium and support means for supporting said filter medium, said support means being molded onto said filter medium forming a unitary assembly with the peripheral margins of said filter medium embedded into said support means; and said support means and said housing being in peripheral sealing engagement about said filter medium for directing all of the fluid to be filtered through said filter medium.

15. Afilter cartridge comprising: a corrugated filter medium; and support means for supporting said filter medium, said support means being molded about said filter medium along the peripheral margins of said filter medium with said peripheral margins being embedded into said support means for forming a unitary assembly.

16. Afilter cartridge as defined in Claim 15 wherein said support means includes a pair of opposed sidewalls and wherein said peripheral margins of said filter medium adjacent said sidewalls are molded and embedded therein.

17. Afilter cartridge as defined in Claim 16 wherein said support means includes a plurality of support ribs extending between and generally perpendicular to said sidewalls, wherein said corrugated filter medium includes a plurality of fold lines extending between and generally perpendicular to said sidewalls, and wherein said filter medium fold lines are molded and embedded within said support ribs.

18. Afilter cartridge as defined in Claim 17 wherein said fold lines comprises respective first and second coplanar sets and wherein the fold lines of only one of said sets are molded within a corresponding plurality of said support ribs.

19. Afilter cartridge as defined in Claim 16 wherein said support means further comprises a peripheral rim secured to said sidewalls defining a passageway through which fluid is passed through said filter medium.

20. A fluid filter assembly as defined in Claim 1, fluid filter as defined in Claim 14, or a filter cartridge as defined in Claim 15, wherein said corrugated filter medium is formed of a plastics material and is moulded and embedded within a plastics material forming said support structure or support means.

21. A fluid filter assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, Figures 6 to 9, or Figures 10 and 11, of the accompanying drawings.

22. Afluid cartridge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, Figures 6 to 9, or Figures 10 and 11, of the accompanying drawings.