Hydraulic spin-on filter cartridge having base plate supporting radially directed seal

A filter element is provided. The filter element is removably engaged with a filter head having an inlet and an outlet. The filter element includes an outer housing, a filter cartridge, and a baseplate. The filter element further includes a plurality of seals adapted to seal between the baseplate and the filter head, and between the baseplate and the filter cartridge.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to liquid filter arrangements, and more specifically to replaceable liquid filtration elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Systems utilizing fluid such as oil or other lubricating fluids often require the use of a filter. A filter is adapted to remove contaminants and impurities from the fluid. It is often desirable to have a filter element configured such that it may be easily replaced during periodic servicing. It is necessary for the replaceable portion of the filter to seal with non-replaceable portions. As such, a suitable arrangement of seals is provided to prevent fluid from bypassing the filter media of the filter element. If the fluid were permitted to bypass the filter media, the fluid would not be filtered rendering the filter element useless.

The invention provides improvements over the current state of the art over filters and filter elements.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides a filter element. The filter element is adapted to removably engage a filter head having an inlet and an outlet. The filter element has an inlet side in fluid communication with the inlet, and an outlet side in fluid communication with the outlet. The filter element comprises an outer housing, a filter cartridge, and a baseplate having a one-piece construction. The filter cartridge includes a closed end cap, an open end cap having a central aperture, and filter media extending therebetween. The filter media is arranged around and along a longitudinal axis such that it defines an inner cavity. An outer cavity is defined between an outer peripheral surface of the filter media and the outer housing. The inlet side includes the outer cavity, and the outlet side includes the inner cavity. The baseplate and the filter cartridge are non-removably secured within the outer housing.

The filter element further includes a first seal sealing between the open end cap and the baseplate, and a second seal adapted to seal between the baseplate and a first sealing surface of the filter head. The first and second seals are thus arranged to limit fluid communication between the inlet side and the outlet side when the filter element is installed on a filter head.

The filter element further includes a third seal, adapted to seal between the baseplate and a second sealing surface of the filter head. The third seal is adapted to limit fluid communication between the inlet side and an exterior of the outer housing when the filter element is installed on a filter head.

In a preferred embodiment, the filter element further includes a fourth seal, retained between the baseplate and the outer housing. The fourth seal is arranged to limit fluid communication between the inlet side and the exterior of the housing.

The baseplate defines a flow opening and at least one inlet port. Preferably, the flow opening extends axially through the central aperture of the open end cap. An outer peripheral surface of the flow opening provides a sealing surface for the first seal. Also preferably, the at least one inlet port is a plurality of inlet ports. The inlet ports are spaced around and radially outside the flow opening. Preferably, the inlet ports are in fluid communication with the outer cavity, and define the inlet side therewith. The flow opening is in fluid communication with the inner cavity, and defines the outlet side therewith.

The baseplate further defines a seal mount portion and an outer mounting portion. In a preferred embodiment, the seal mount portion extends axially away from the open and closed end caps, and defines an outwardly opening groove, adapted to retain the second seal.

Also in preferred embodiments, the outer mounting portion is adapted to removably engage the filter head. Preferably, the outer mounting portion is threaded, and is adapted to threadably engage the filter head. Also preferably, the outer mounting portion defines an inwardly opening groove, adapted to retain the third seal.

In some embodiments, the central aperture of the open end cap is surrounded by an axially depending portion. A radially inwardly extending portion is attached to an end of the axially depending portion, and defines a stepped configuration therewith. The stepped configuration is adapted to axially and radially support the first seal.

In some embodiments, the first flow opening is surrounded by an annular extending portion. The annular extending portion extends axially through the central aperture of the open end cap, such that a distal end of the annular extending portion is positioned axially between the open and closed end caps. The annular extending portion is further adapted to provide an axial sealing surface and a radial sealing surface for the first seal.

Thus in preferred embodiments, the filter element is adapted to filter fluid entering the outer cavity, travelling through the filter media, and out of the filter element through the inner cavity, in an “outside to inside” direction. The various seals arranged between the baseplate and the filter head, and between the baseplate and the outer housing attempt to prevent fluid from bypassing the filter media, and from leaking out of the filter element.

The baseplate further includes a retaining portion, which is adapted to non-removably secure the filter cartridge within the outer housing. In preferred embodiments, the retaining portion abuts the open end cap to retain the filter cartridge.

In another preferred embodiment, the outer housing defines a lip portion, which partially envelops the outer mounting portion of the baseplate. As such, the lip portion non-removably secures the baseplate within the outer housing.

The baseplate is securely retained by the lip of the outer housing, and in turn the baseplate securely retains the filter cartridge within the outer housing. As such, the filter element can be removed from a filter head in a single unit for the purposes of servicing or replacing.

In another aspect, a filter is provided. The filter includes the various preferred embodiments of the filter element of the first aspect discussed above, and further includes a filter head having an inlet and an outlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate an embodiment of a spin-on filter element10. The filter element10is removably attached to a filter head90, and is adapted to filter fluid flowing from an inlet92, through the filter element10, and then through an outlet94. When it is desired that the filter element10be serviced or replaced, it may be threadably removed from the filter head90, discarded, and then a new filter element10is threadably installed on the filter head90.

The filter element10is comprised of an outer housing12, a filter cartridge40, and a baseplate60. The filter cartridge40and the baseplate60are non-removably secured within the outer housing12. The outer housing defines a closed end14, an open end16, and a generally annular sidewall15extending axially therebetween. The outer housing12is adapted to securely retain the baseplate60therein. In preferred embodiments, the outer housing12further defines a lip20, proximate the open end16. The lip20is adapted to securely retain the baseplate60within the outer housing12by providing an axial abutment abutting an axial end of and enveloping an outer peripheral surface of the baseplate60.

The filter cartridge40is comprised of a closed end cap42, an open end cap44, and filter media54. The filter media54is an annular tube that extends axially between the closed and open end caps42,44, and around and along a longitudinal axis56, defining an inner cavity50therein. When the filter element10is assembled with the filter cartridge40positioned within the outer housing12, an outer cavity52is formed radially between an outer periphery of the filter media54and an inner surface of the sidewall15.

With additional reference toFIG. 3, The open end cap44defines a central aperture48in fluid communication with the inner cavity50. In a preferred embodiment, the central aperture48is surrounded by and/or defined by an axially depending portion41. The axially depending portion41has a radially inwardly extending portion43attached thereto, proximate an end thereof forming a stepped configuration. The stepped configuration defines a shelf46, which axially and radially supports and provides a sealing surface for a first seal72, which seals with the baseplate60.

With reference now toFIGS. 2-5, the structural details of the baseplate60are discussed. The baseplate60is a one-piece construction. A one-piece construction is meant to refer to a structure made out of a single piece of material. A body having a one-piece construction such as the baseplate60is typically molded or machined from a single piece of suitable material. The baseplate60is further made of a suitable rigid material, including but not limited to a rigid metal or plastic.

The baseplate60, having a one-piece construction, is fully independent of the open end cap44in this embodiment. Independent in this context is intended to refer to two separate components that are nondestructively removable from each other. Nondestructively removable means that the components may be physically separated from each other without causing any damage to either. For example, absent the outer housing12, the filter cartridge40and the baseplate60could be physically separated from each other without causing damage to either component, as illustrated in the partial exploded view inFIG. 3.

The baseplate60is comprised of a flow opening62, a seal mount portion66, a retaining portion68, a plurality of inlet ports70, and an outer mounting portion64. The baseplate60is shown inFIGS. 2, 3 and 5carrying or cooperating with a plurality of seals72,74,76, and78. However, the seals should be understood to be independent of the structure of the baseplate60. The seals72,74,76, and78are generally retained between and provide a seal between the baseplate60and other structures of the filter10, as discussed in further detail below.

In preferred embodiments, the flow opening62is provided by an axially extending annular portion98(seeFIG. 3). The annular portion98extends axially through the central aperture48of the open end cap44and into the internal cavity50. As such, an axial distal end100of the annular portion98is axially recessed into the central cavity and axially interposed between the open and closed end caps42,44. The first seal72provides a seal between an outer peripheral surface of the annular portion98and the stepped portion46of the open end cap44, preventing fluid bypass therebetween.

The seal mount portion66extends axially away from the filter cartridge40and provides a sealing surface for a radially outward directed second seal74. In preferred embodiments, the seal mount portion66defines a radially outwardly opening annular groove67, which is adapted to axially retain and radially support the second seal74. The second seal74forms a radial seal with a radially inward directed sealing surface of the filter head90when the filter element10is installed thereon (see e.g.FIG. 2).

In a preferred embodiment, a retaining portion68of the baseplate60operably axially abuts an axially outward facing surface45of the open end cap44. Further, because the baseplate60is permanently secured within the outer housing12, the axial abutment between the retaining portion68and the open end cap44securely and permanently retains the filter cartridge40within the outer housing12. In some embodiments, the first seal72has sufficient resiliency and flexibility that it is compressed during operation of the filter, and a gap47between the retaining portion68and the open end cap44is closed. In other embodiments, the first seal78may not be sufficiently resilient and flexible to allow the gap47to close. In these embodiments, the axial abutment of the seal72with the stepped configuration46and the retaining portion68permanently secures the filter cartridge40within the outer housing12.

The retaining portion68extends radially between and integrally connects the annular portion98with the outer mounting portion64. The annular portion98forms a central hub from which the retaining portion68radially outwardly extends in a spoke-like pattern. The spoke-like pattern defines the plurality of inlet ports70, which define a flow path that permits inlet fluid to flow from the inlet92to the outer cavity52, as indicated by flow arrow110(FIG. 2). In the illustrated embodiment, the baseplate60must be sealed to the filter cartridge40and, particularly, to the open end cap44to prevent fluid from undesirably bypassing between the inlet and outlet sides of the filter.

The outer mounting portion64is adapted to removably engage the filter head90. In preferred embodiments, the outer mounting portion64defines a threaded region which is adapted to threadably engage the filter head90. However, other removably engagable structures are contemplated, including fasteners and interlocking forms adapted to interlock with the filter head90. The outer mounting portion64also defines a radially inwardly opening groove69, which retains a third seal76. This third seal76extends radially inward and radially seals against a sealing surface of the filter head90, which faces radially outward. The third seal76prevents inlet fluid from flowing between the filter head90and the outer mounting portion64, and leaking.

When the filter element10is mounted to the filter head90, flow opening62is in operable fluid communication with the internal cavity50of the filter media54and with the outlet94in the filter head90. This fluid path defines an outlet side of the filter element10and filter head90. The inlet ports70are in operable fluid communication with the outer cavity52and the inlet92. This fluid path defines an inlet side of the filter element10and filter head90. As such, the inlet flow110flows through the inlet ports70and generally between the second and third seals74,76.

Thus, in the embodiment shown, the filter cartridge40is adapted to filter fluid as it flows radially in an outside-to-inside direction. In other embodiments, a filter cartridge may be adapted to filter fluid from an inside to outside direction. In such an alternative embodiment, the flow opening62would be arranged in operable fluid communication with an inlet, and the inlet ports70would be arranged in operable fluid communication with an outlet.

Thus the first and second seals72,74help to prevent fluid communication between an inlet side of the filter (including the inlet94, the inlet ports70, and the outer cavity52) and an outlet side of the filter (including the inner cavity50, the flow opening62, and the outlet64). The third seal76helps to prevent fluid communication between the inlet side of the filter and the exterior of the outer housing12.

Optionally, a fourth seal78may also be retained between the sidewall15and an outer peripheral surface of the outer mounting portion64. This seal78prevents fluid communication between the inlet side of the filter element and the exterior of the outer housing12.

The various seals disclosed herein are preferably an o-ring type seal having circular or rectangular cross-sectional profiles, but other suitable types of seals such as chevron-shaped seals and wiper seals are also contemplated.