Abstract:
A fluid filter comprising a housing having walls defining a cavity, a particulate filter medium contained in a first portion of the cavity, an ion exchange member contained in a second portion of the cavity, wherein the particulate filter medium and the ion exchange member at least partially define a parallel fluid pathway for fluid entering the housing cavity, wherein a first portion of the fluid pathway by-passes the particulate filter medium and passes through the ion exchange member without passing through any particulate filter medium in the housing, and wherein a second portion of the fluid pathway passes through the particulate filter medium.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/827,970, filed Oct. 3, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to ion exchange members, to particulate filter members and to ion exchange members and particulate filter members arranged within a common housing. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Ion exchange assemblies and particulate filter assemblies are known. Such known ion exchange assemblies and particulate filter assemblies are provided as separate assemblies and are fluidly connected to one another by a separate piece, such as a flow regulator or a flow separator disposed between the ion exchange assembly and the particulate filter assembly. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,379, assigned to Wix Filtration Corp., describes one type of a flow separator which can be used between a conventional filter assembly and a particulate filter assembly. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A fluid filter comprising a housing having walls defining a cavity, a particulate filter medium contained in a first portion of the cavity, an ion exchange member contained in a second portion of the cavity, wherein the particulate filter medium and the ion exchange member at least partially define a parallel fluid pathway for fluid entering the housing cavity, wherein a first portion of the fluid pathway by-passes the particulate filter medium and passes through the ion exchange member without passing through any particulate filter medium in the housing, and wherein a second portion of the fluid pathway passes through the particulate filter medium. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a combination ion exchange and particulate filter in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an ion exchange member in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the ion exchange member of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional of a combination ion exchange and particulate filter assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a combination ion exchange particulate filter assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Referring now to the Figures, a combination ion exchange and particulate filter assembly  10  (“filter assembly”) is shown in accordance embodiments of the invention. With reference to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , filter assembly  10  generally includes a housing  12 , an ion exchange member  14 , a particulate filter member  16  (“filter member”) and a cover plate  18 . 
         [0011]    In an embodiment, housing  12  includes a sidewall  20  that defines a cavity  22  (see  FIG. 4 ) within housing  12 . In an embodiment, cavity  22  houses ion exchange member  14  and filter member  16  therewithin. Cover plate  18  is attached to an end of housing  12  to retain ion exchange member  14  and filter member  16  within housing  12  as will be described hereinafter. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , in an embodiment, cover plate  18  includes a circumferential sidewall  26  that extends axially inward, toward filter member  16  and defines an opening  28 . In an embodiment, opening  28  is a fluid port for filtered fluid (fluid filtered from at least one of filter member  16  and/or ion exchange member  14 ) to egress from housing  14 , filter member  16  and/or ion exchange member  14 . Radially exterior to sidewall  26 , cover plate  18  further defines one or more apertures  30  that extend through cover plate  18 . In an embodiment, aperture(s)  30  defines a fluid port for unfiltered fluid to enter into housing  12  and potentially become filtered by at least one of filter member  16  and ion exchange member  14  and subsequently pass through opening  28 . While apertures  30  defined by cover plate  18  have been described to allow fluid to enter housing  12 , various configurations for such fluid entrance will become obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art after consulting this disclosure and the invention should not be limited to the particular configuration disclosed herein. Also, the function of apertures  30  and opening  28  can be reversed so that incoming fluid can enter through opening  28 , and apertures  30  function as exit portals. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment and as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , cover plate  18  includes a gasket  32  affixed to an exterior side thereof. In an embodiment a radially interior surface of sidewall  26  can include threads such that filter assembly  10  can threadably engage a corresponding threaded element (not shown). It will become appreciated that in such an embodiment, filter assembly  10  can be spun onto the threaded element (not shown) for convenient attachment thereto. It will also be appreciated that the foregoing embodiment is exemplary and the invention should not be limited to the foregoing connective system. 
         [0014]    With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , filter member  16  comprises a filter media  34  and first and second end caps  36 ,  38  provided on axial ends of filter media  34 . Filter media  34  defines an interior portion  41  between end caps  36 ,  38 . In an embodiment, filter media  34  is formatted to filter unwanted particulates or the like present within the fluid passing therethrough. In an embodiment, a support  40  (such as a tube or the like) is provided radially interior to the filter media that generally extends between first and second end caps  36 ,  38 . While a support  40  separate from first end cap  36  and second end cap  38  is shown and described based on this disclosure, it is to become appreciated that either one of said caps may define support  40  and the invention should not be limited to the exemplary embodiment. Moreover, it will be recognized that support  40  may be wholly omitted and the invention may be practiced without support  40 . 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, support  40  is a tube and can include radial apertures (not shown) for permitting filtered fluid to enter interior portion  41  after passing through the filter media  34 . Thereafter, fluid residing in interior portion  41  can exit through first end cap  36  and opening  28 . Thus, as the fluid stream enters housing  12  via apertures  30  resident on cover plate  18 , fluid can pass through filter media  16  and egress from housing  12  through support  40  and first end cap  36 . In an embodiment, the fluid that passes through filter media  16  does not correspondingly pass through ion exchange member  14  and vice versa such that the flow of entering fluid is split in a parallel flow path. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, first end cap  36  is formatted to sealingly engage cover plate  18 . Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , a support element  42  may be provided between cover plate  18  to facilitate such engagement and remove stress exerted upon first end cap  36 . In an embodiment, second end cap  38  is, likewise, formatted to sealingly engage ion exchange member  14 . In an embodiment, second end cap  38 , defines a recessed portion  44  (see  FIG. 4 ) for facilitating fluid acceptance from ion exchange assembly into flow conduit  40  as will be discussed hereinafter. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , ion exchange member  14  comprises a canister  50  having sidewalls  52  extending between a first end  54  and a second end  70 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment, first end  54  of ion exchange member  14  includes a projection  46  formatted to correspond with recessed portion  44  of second end cap  38  and flow conduit  40 . In an embodiment, projection  46  defines an outlet fluid port adapted for fluid communication between flow conduit  40  and ion exchange member  14  such that fluid can egress from ion exchange member  14  and enter into an interior portion of filter element  10 . In an embodiment, this entrance of fluid into the interior portion  41  of filter element  10  allows such fluid to bypass the filter media  34 . It is to be understood that while projection  56  can be omitted and the invention practiced there without, such a projection  56  facilitates improved connection between ion exchange member  14  and the interior portion  41  of filter member  16 . Referring now to  FIG. 4 , in an embodiment a washer  60  can be provided between surfaces of filter member  16  and ion exchange member  14 . In an embodiment, washer  60  is made of a cork material, however, other types of materials can be used for such washers  60  can be substituted therefor and the invention should not be so limited thereby. 
         [0018]    With reference now to  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment, second end  70  of ion exchange member  14  defines an inlet fluid port for  72  for allowing fluid to enter ion exchange member  14 . In an embodiment, a biasing element  74  can be provided between second end  70  of ion exchange member  14  and housing  12 . In an embodiment and as shown by the drawings, the biasing means can be a coil spring, however, other types of biasing means  74  may be substituted therefor. It is appreciated that the biasing means restricts unwanted displacement between ion exchange member  14  and filter member  16 . It is appreciated that other restriction means may be substituted therefor and the foregoing restriction means should not be used to limit the inventive scope of the following claims. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, canister  52  contains ion exchange material, for example, ion exchange resin. In an embodiment, the ion exchange resin may be provided in a bead format. In an embodiment, such resin beads are provided to absorb acid present in the fluid passing therethrough. In an embodiment, such acid removal facilitates increased life of the fluid. 
         [0020]    As will be understood by the foregoing structure and as described hereinabove, in an embodiment, the fluid flow through the filter member  16  is parallel with the fluid flow through the ion exchange member  14 . It is appreciated that, among other factors, the density of the filter element media  34  and the size of fluid inlet port  72  of ion exchange member  14  can be modified to accommodate a desired volumetric fluid flow ratio between the fluid passing through the filter member  16  and the fluid passing through the ion exchange member  14 . It is to be understood that the modification thereof is, generally, application specific. In an embodiment, the filter assembly  10  is arranged such that about ninety percent (90%) by volume of the fluid entering housing will pass through the filter media  34  and about ten percent (10%) by volume will pass through the ion exchange member  14 . 
         [0021]    An exemplary method for assembling filter assembly  10  will now be described. For brevity, a single method for assembly is described, but it will be appreciated that upon considering the principles outlined herein, and the familiarizations gleaned thereby, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various modifications can be made to this exemplary method for assembly such that the invention should not be limited to the exemplary embodiment and is entitled to the full scope and breadth contemplated hereby and according to the scope of the claims that follow. 
         [0022]    In an embodiment, the method is as follows: (1) cover plate  18  (with or without gasket) is placed on a surface; (2) support element  42  is placed on top of cover plate  18 ; (3) filter member  16  is placed on top of support element  42 ; (4) washer  60  is placed on top of filter member  16  to create a seal between the filter member  16  and ion exchange member  14 ; (5) ion exchange member  14  is placed on top of the washer  60 ; biasing element  74  is placed on top of the ion exchange member  14 ; (6) housing  12  is placed over the entire assembly and seamed to cover plate  18 . In an embodiment, the seam between housing  12  and cover plate  18  is a double seam. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another combination ion exchange and particulate filter assembly  100  (“filter assembly”) is shown in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention. With reference to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , filter assembly  100  includes a housing  112 , an ion exchange member  114 , a particulate filter member  116  (“filter member”) and a cover plate  118 . 
         [0024]    In an embodiment housing  112  includes a sidewall  120  that defines a cavity  122  within housing  112 . In an embodiment, cavity  122  houses ion exchange member  114  and filter member  116  therewithin. Cover plate  118  is attached to an end of housing  112  to retain ion exchange member  114  and filter member  116  within housing  112 . 
         [0025]    In an embodiment, cover plate  118  includes a circumferential sidewall  126  that extends axially inward, toward filter member  116  and defines an opening  128 . In an embodiment, opening  128  is a fluid port for filtered fluid (fluid filtered from at least one of filter member  116  and/or ion exchange member  114 ) to egress from housing  114 , filter member  116  and/or ion exchange member  114 . Radially exterior to sidewall  126 , cover plate  118  defines one or more apertures  130  that extend through cover plate  118 . In an embodiment, the one or more apertures  130  define a fluid port for unfiltered fluid to enter into housing  112  and potentially become filtered by at least one of filter member  116  and ion exchange member  114  and subsequently egress from housing  114  via opening  128 . While apertures  130  defined by a cover plate  118  have been described to allow fluid to enter housing  112 , various configurations for such fluid entrance will become obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art after consulting this disclosure and the invention should not be limited to the particular configuration disclosed herein. It should also be recognized based on this disclosure, that the function of one or more apertures  130  and opening  128  can be reversed so that incoming fluid can enter through opening  128  such that apertures  130  thereafter function as exit portals for this fluid. 
         [0026]    In an embodiment and as described hereinbefore, cover plate  118  may include a gasket  132  affixed to an exterior side thereof. In an embodiment, a radially interior surface of sidewall  126  can include threads such that filter assembly  110  can threadably engage a corresponding threaded element (not shown). It will become appreciated in that such an embodiment filter assembly  110  can be spun onto the threaded element (not shown) for convenient attachment thereto. It will also be appreciated that the foregoing embodiment is exemplary and the invention should not be limited to the foregoing connective system. 
         [0027]    With continued reference to  FIG. 5 , filter member  116  comprises a filter media  134  and first and second end caps  136 ,  138  provided on axial ends of filter media  134 . In an embodiment, filter media  134  is formatted to filter unwanted particulates or the like present within the fluid passing therethrough. Without limiting the breadth of the foregoing, in an embodiment, a support  140  (such as a tube or the like) is provided radially interior to the filter media and generally extends between first and second end caps  136 ,  138 . In an embodiment, first end cap  36  defines an opening at a central portion that sealingly corresponds with opening  128  defined by cover plate  118 . The other end cap  138 , sealingly and selectively closes off filter media  34 . In an embodiment, second end cap  138  defines an imperforate reception well  139 , which will be discussed hereinafter. In an alternative embodiment, and as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a bypass valve may be used in conjunction with the end cap  138 . In an embodiment, bypass valve allows fluid to pass through second end cap  138  when the pressure within housing reaches a pre-determined limit. 
         [0028]    It is seen from the drawings, that the first end cap  136  and the second end cap  138  define a core  141  or interior area. It will become appreciated, that for fluid to enter into interior area  141 , it must first pass through filter media  134 , or through the bypass valve. 
         [0029]    In an embodiment, ion exchange member  114  is disposed within interior area  141 . In accordance with this configuration, fluid first passes through filter media  134  before entering ion exchange member  114 . 
         [0030]    In an embodiment, ion exchange member  114  is arranged within interior area  141  proximate to an end  143  of interior area  141  closer to opening  128 . In an embodiment, ion exchange member  114  defines an outer diameter that correspondingly engages with an inner diameter of flow conduit  140 . Based on this disclosure, various alternative configurations and positions for the ion exchange filter  114  will become readily recognizable and the invention should be entitled to the full breadth encaptured thereby. 
         [0031]    For example and among others, ion exchange member  114  may be disposed anywhere within interior cavity  141 . It is to be appreciated that ion exchange member  114  may be disposed within cavity to selectively control a ratio of fluid passing through ion exchange member  114 . It will become understood, that this ratio and the position of ion exchange member  114  is application specific and the invention should not be so limited thereby. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, ion exchange member  114  may be a bay of ion exchange resin. Ion exchange member  14  may be a canister as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . These and other ion exchange member  114  variations should become readily apparent upon considering this disclosure. 
         [0033]    The present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to embody the invention in specific forms other than those of the exemplary embodiments described above. This may be done without departing from the spirit of the invention. The exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by the preceding description.