Patent ID: 6576129
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A liquid filter assembly for connection to a filter head, the filter assembly comprising a filter cartridge and a pressure vessel, wherein the filter cartridge comprises:a cartridge housing having a housing wall surrounding and defining an interior volume receiving filter media, the cartridge housing having a top end, a bottom end, a longitudinal axis, and a housing wall outer diameter; a neck extending up from said top end generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, the neck having an outer neck wall surrounding and defining a neck interior, the outer neck wall having a lower end connected to said top end of the cartridge housing, an upper end, and a neck outer diameter that is smaller than said housing wall outer diameter; wherein said housing wall has a wall thickness that can withstand without rupturing an internal pressure of no greater than 10 pound per square inch higher than atmospheric pressure; and wherein said outer neck wall has a thickness that can withstand without rupturing an internal pressure of greater than 475 pounds per square inch above atmospheric pressure; and wherein the pressure vessel has a pressure vessel wall surrounding and defining an interior cavity receiving the filter cartridge so that the pressure vessel wall covers the entire filter cartridge except for the neck, wherein the pressure vessel wall extends to said lower end of the outer neck wall to cover the cartridge housing top end; and wherein the neck comprises a liquid inlet passage for receiving liquid from a filter head inlet port and a liquid outlet passage for conveying liquid to a filter head outlet port, both said inlet passage and said outlet passage being in said neck interior, and the neck further comprises an inlet seal for sealing the neck to the filter head inlet port and an outlet seal for sealing the neck to the filter head outlet port; so that liquid enters and leaves the filter cartridge internal to the neck and does not contact said top end of the cartridge housing and does not contact said pressure vessel.