US3682320A

US3682320A - Filter assemblies

Info

Publication number: US3682320A
Application number: US139807A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth Holyoak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: ZF International UK Ltd
Priority date: 1971-05-03
Filing date: 1971-05-03
Publication date: 1972-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-08

Abstract

This invention relates to a filter assembly of the kind including a head (which may be a separate part or which may be formed integrally with another part such as an engine block) having an inlet and an outlet, together with a filter unit which is attachable to the head and which is arranged in use to receive a fluid entering said inlet, the fluid then being filtered by the filter unit before flowing out of the outlet. The head is formed with an axially directed annular rim having on its inner surface an annular groove in which is located a retaining clip in the form of a length of wire. The filter unit has at one end a laterally outwardly projecting lip and the depth of the groove in relation to the thickness of the wire is such as to permit the lipped end of the filter unit to be inserted into the axially direction rim of the head and past the retaining clip. Means are also provided to draw together the ends of the retaining clip after the filter unit has been thus inserted so that the clip will engage the lip of the filter unit while a portion of the clip remains within the groove to prevent detachment of the filter unit from the head.

Description

United States Patent Holyoak 51 Aug. 8, 1972 FILTER ASSEMBLIES [72] Inventor: Kenneth Holyoak, MistraL'Swinton Rise, Ravenshead, Nottingham, En gland 221 Filed: May 3,1971 21 Appl. 190.; 139,807

Primary Examiner-Reuben Friedman Assistant Examiner-R. W. Burks Attorney-Holman & Stern including a head (which may be a separate part or I which may be formed integrally with another part such as an engine block) having an inlet and an outlet, together with a filter unit which is attachable to the head and which is arranged in use to receive a fluid entering said inlet, the fluid then being filtered by the filter unit before flowing out of the outlet. The head is formed with an axially directed annular rim having on its inner surface an annular groove in which is located a retaining clip in the form of a length of wire. The filter unit has at one end a laterally outwardly projecting lip and the depth of the groove in relation to the thickness of the wire is such as to permit the lipped end of the filter unit to be inserted into the axially direction rim of the head and past the retaining clip. Means are also provided to draw together the ends of the retaining clip afier the filter unit has been thus inserted so that the clip will engage the lip of the filter unit while a portion of the clip remains within the groove to prevent detachment of the filter unit from the head.

3 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures ABSTRACT This invention relates to a filter assembly of the kind PATENTEU 8 I973 3,682,320

I la

INVENT I? 7 ATTORNEYS FILTER ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to a filter assembly of the kind including a head (which may be a separate part or which may be formed integrally with another part such as an engine block) having an inlet and an outlet, together with a filter unit which is attachable to the head and which is arranged in use to receive a fluid (i.e. a liquid or gas) entering said inlet, the fluid then being filtered by said filter unit before flowing out of said outlet. The object of the present invention is to provide in a filter assembly of the kind specified improved means for attaching the filter unit to the head.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a filter assembly of the kind specified wherein the head is formed with an axially directed annular rim having on its inner surface an annular groove in which is located a retaining clip in the form of a length of wire, the filter unit having at one end a laterally outwardly projecting lip and the depth of said groove in relation to the thickness of said wire being such as to permit said lipped end of the filter unit to be inserted into the axially directed rim of the head and past the retaining clip, means being also provided to draw together the ends of the retaining clip after the filter unit has been thus inserted so that the clip will engage said lip of the filter unit whilst a portion of the clip remains within said groove to prevent detachment of the filter unit from the head.

Conveniently, the means for drawing together the ends of the retaining clip comprise a nut and bolt, said ends of the clip being bent to form a pair of radially projecting loops through which the shank of the bolt extends.

One example of a filter assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein FIG. 1 is a part-sectional elevation of the filter assembly,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged scrap view showing a detail of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is a view showing means whereby the ends of the retaining clip can be drawn together.

The filter assembly shown in the drawings includes a head conveniently formed as a die casting together with a filter unit 11 which comprises a casing 12 and a filter element 13. The head is provided with a fluid inlet 14 and an outlet 14a so that in use a fluid to be filtered will flow through the inlet 14 and thence into the casing 12 and through the filter element 13 before passing out through the aforesaid outlet.

As seen in FIG. 1 the head is formed with an axially directed annular rim 15 which is formed on its inner surface with an annular groove 16 (see FIG. 2) and in said groove is disposed a retaining clip 17 in the form of a length of resilient wire bent to a substantially circular form but with the ends of said length of wire being shaped to form radially projecting loops 18 as seen more particularly in FIG. 3 and which project through a notch or slot formed in the rim 15.

As seen in FIG. 1 the upper end of the filter unit 1 1 is provided with a laterally outwardly projecting lip 19 and the depth of said groove 16 in relation to the thickness or diameter of the retaining clip 17 is such as to permit the lipped end of the filter unit to be inserted into the rim 15 of the head, considering the aforesaid retaining clip 17 to be in a relatively unstressed condition. Thus as will be seen from FIG. 2 the lip 19 can be pushed past the retaining clip 17, the latter being expanded on or towards the outer surface of the groove 16 whilst the lip 19 is passing the clip 17. The lip 19 then engages an annular seal 20 of rubber or like material whilst the retaining clip 17 springs back to engage the underside of the lip 19 as seen in FIG. 2. Furthermore, as seen in the drawing the underside of said lip 19 is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the filter unit (the angle of such inclination preferably being within the range 30 so that tightening of the retaining clip 17 will have a cam or wedging action on the lip 19 to force the filter unit tightly into engagement with the seal 20.

Attachment of the filter unit 11 to the head 10 is completed by tightening the nut and bolt assembly indicated by

reference numerals

21 and 22 in FIG. 3. Thus the shank of the bolt 22 extends through the two wire loops 18, the head of the bolt being disposed on the outer side of one loop whilst the nut 21 is disposed on the outer side of the other loop. The two ends of the retaining clip can thus be drawn together by tightening the nut and bolt so that the retaining clip engages the filter unit 11 securely beneath the rim 19 thereof while a portion of said retaining clip 17 remains in the groove 16 to prevent detachment of the filter unit from the head 10. The construction is such, however, that the filter unit can very readily be changed when necessary. If desired, a number of slots or notches can be formed in the rim 15 at various positions around the circumference thereof so that the loops 18 can project through any desired slot or notch for locating the nut and

bolt assembly

21 and 22 at any convenient position on said circumference for ease of access by a tool.

A filter assembly as above-described avoids the use of an end plate which is commonly provided in hitherto known filter assemblies at the opposite end of the filter unit to the head and also avoids an axially extending central bolt and associated sealing elements for connecting together the head, filter unit and end plate.

I claim:

1. A filter assembly having a head which is formed with an axially directed annular rim having on its inner surface an annular groove in which is located a retaining clip in the form of a length of wire, the filter unit having at one end a laterally outwardly projecting lip and the depth of said groove in relation to the thickness of said wire being such as to permit said lipped end of the filter unit to be inserted into the axially directed rim of the head and past the retaining clip, means being also provided to draw together the ends of the retaining clip after the filter unit has been thus inserted so that the clip will engage said lip of the filter unit while a portion of the clip remains within said groove to prevent detachment of the filter unit from the head.

2. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for drawing together the retaining clip comprise a nut and bolt said ends of the clip being bent to form a pair of radially projecting loops through which the shank of the bolt extends.

3. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said outwardly projecting lip is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the filter unit within the range 30 60.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTEON Patent No. 3,682,320 Dated August 8, 1972 Inventor(s) Kenneth Holyoak It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[73] Assignee: Crosland Filters Limited,

Nottingham, England Signed and sealed this 6th day of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

3. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said outwardly projecting lip is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the filter unit within the range 30*- 60*.