Patent ID: 7615151
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: F02M

Abstract:
1. A filter with installation integrity comprising a housing containing a filter element, said housing having an inlet and an outlet and defining a fluid flow path through said filter element between said inlet and said outlet, said filter having a first installation condition providing desired filter integrity, and having a second installation condition, said fluid flow path including a fluid flow duct having a magnetically biased piston movable between a first position permitting fluid flow through said duct between said inlet and said outlet, and a second position at least partially blocking fluid flow through said duct between said inlet and said outlet, wherein said piston is in said first position when said filter is in said first installation condition, and wherein said piston is in said second position when said filter is in said second installation condition, said duct comprises a cage supporting and guiding said piston for movement between said first and second positions; one of said housing, said filter element and said cage has a magnetic actuation section proximate to and magnetically coupled to said piston when said filter is in said first installation condition, with magnetic coupling providing sufficient magnetic force to move said piston to said first position; said magnetic coupling is missing in said second installation condition, whereby there is insufficient magnetic force to move said piston to said first position, wherein said piston and said cage are cup-shaped members engaging each other in nested relation, and wherein, said piston moves along an axial direction between said first and second positions; said piston is an inner cup-shaped member, and said cage is an outer cup-shaped member; said piston inner cup-shaped member has a laterally spanning disk portion and a sidewall extending axially therefrom; said cage outer cup-shaped member has a laterally spanning disk portion and a sidewall extending axially therefrom; said sidewall of said piston inner cup-shaped member is axially slidable along and guided by said sidewall of said cage outer cup-shaped member; said disk portion of said piston inner cup-shaped member is adjacent said disk portion of said cage outer cup-shaped member when said piston is in said first position; said disk portion of said piston inner cup-shaped member is spaced from said disk portion of said cage outer cup-shaped member when said piston is in said second position.