Patent ID: 6023834
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: B01D,B21D,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of forming a fluid filter assembly, comprising the steps of:providing a filter housing having a closed end, and an open end defined by a circular periphery that is circumscribed by a radially extending flange formed from a metal material;placing a filter element within said housing;forming a cover assembly with first and second circular plates by interconnecting the two plates together such that said plates have mutually spaced apart outer edges that define a recess, the diameters of said first and second plates being larger than said flange and smaller than said inner periphery of said filter housing, respectively;seating an annular gasket around said recess in said cover assembly, wherein said seated gasket has an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of said housing periphery;inserting said cover assembly into the open end until said first plate overlies said flange of said filter housing and said periphery of said filter housing is adjacent to said recess, and the outer diameter of said gasket is spaced apart from the periphery of the housing for avoiding the application of shear forces to the gasket when said cover assembly is inserted into said housing periphery;radially deforming said flange of said housing inwardly into a C-shaped groove to compress said gasket into sealing engagement with said housing and to secure said cover assembly to said housing without thinning the metal material forming said flange, andfolding an outer edge of said first plate around an upper edge of said C-shaped groove of said housing flange,wherein said radial deformation step is performed before the step of folding said outer edge of said first plate.