Abstract:
One embodiment is a replaceable filter element including a filter media having a first end, a second end and an interior cavity, and an endplate coupled to the first end of the filter media, the endplate including a projection extending from the endplate, the projection including a first portion, a flange and a second portion, the first portion extending from the endplate to the flange, the second portion extending from the flange. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The technical field relates to replaceable filter cartridges and filtration systems including replaceable filter elements. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various apparatuses and methods have been utilized by the prior art for removing suspended contaminants from a contaminated fluid. In general, the contaminated fluid is passed through a porous filtering media by an external pressure or an external force. The pore size of the porous filtering media is selected to permit the passage of the fluid therethrough while inhibiting the flow of contaminants through the porous filtering media. The contaminants are blocked by the porous filter media while the fluid passes through the porous filter media. The fluid flowing through the filter media is purged of the contaminants. 
         [0003]    Replaceable filter cartridges and assemblies have proven to be useful components of filtration systems for a variety of applications including, for example, internal combustion engines such as diesel engines. Replaceable filter elements can be coupled with other components of filtration systems to provide assemblies operable to remove particulates and other undesirable matter from fluids. 
         [0004]    There is a need for the unique and inventive replaceable filter elements and filtration systems including replaceable filter elements disclosed herein. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In another embodiment of the present invention there is a replaceable filter element comprising a filter media having a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity. The filter element further includes an endplate connected to the first end of the filter media. The endplate including a projection extending from the endplate away from the filter media. The projection has a first portion, a flange and a second portion. The first portion extends from the endplate to the flange. The second portion extends from the flange. 
         [0006]    In one refinement of the embodiment the endplate further includes a plurality of ribs extending from the endplate. 
         [0007]    In another refinement of the embodiment further comprising a second endplate connected to the second end of the filter media. 
         [0008]    In another refinement of the embodiment the replaceable filter element is inserted into a filtration system housing and covered by a filtration system lid. The projection extends through an opening in the lid. The flange of the projection couples the filter element and the lid. 
         [0009]    In another refinement of the embodiment the endplate includes a sealing flange having a pair of axially extending circumferential ribs that are radially spaced apart from each other. 
         [0010]    In another refinement of the embodiment the lid engages the housing and a force between the lid and the housing forms a seal between the endplate and the housing. 
         [0011]    In another refinement of the embodiment a far end of the projection includes means for providing an indication to a user. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment of the present invention there is an apparatus comprising a replaceable filter element. The filter element includes a filter media having a first end and a second end. The filter element further includes a closed endplate connected to the first end of the filter media, and means for coupling the replaceable filter element to a lid. 
         [0013]    In one refinement of the embodiment the means for coupling the replaceable filter element to a lid includes a projection extending from the endplate. The projection includes a distal portion with an identification mark. 
         [0014]    In another refinement of the embodiment the projection is a frustoconical projection that includes a first portion, a flange and a second portion. The first portion extends from the endplate to the flange, the second portion extends from the flange. 
         [0015]    In another refinement the embodiment further comprises a lid. The replaceable filter element is coupled to the lid by the flange of the projection. 
         [0016]    In another refinement of the embodiment a second endplate is connected to the second end of the filter media. The closed endplate is connected to the first end of the filter media and includes a sealing flange radially outward from the filter media and having a pair of axially extending circumferential ribs that are radially spaced apart. 
         [0017]    In another refinement of the embodiment the closed endplate further includes a plurality of radial ribs that protrude axially away from the filter media. 
         [0018]    In another refinement of the embodiment the second endplate defines a centrally positioned opening. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment of the present invention there is a method of replacing a replaceable filter element in a filtration system including a housing, a replaceable filter element and a lid, the replaceable filter element being inserted into the housing and coupled to the lid, the lid being coupled to the housing. The method comprises decoupling the lid and the housing. The method further comprises removing the lid and the replaceable filter element from the housing, the lid and the replaceable filter element being coupled during the removing. The method further comprises decoupling the replaceable filter element and the lid. 
         [0020]    In one refinement of the embodiment the method further comprises coupling the lid and a second replaceable filter element. 
         [0021]    In another refinement of the embodiment the method further comprises coupling the lid and the housing, the lid and the second replaceable filter element being coupled during the coupling. 
         [0022]    In another refinement of the embodiment the method further comprises decoupling the lid from the housing includes rotating the lid relative to the housing. 
         [0023]    In another refinement of the embodiment the decoupling the replaceable filter element and the lid includes applying force to a projection of the replaceable filter element which extends through an opening in the lid. 
         [0024]    In another refinement of the embodiment the decoupling consists essentially of applying force to a projection of the replaceable filter element which extends through an opening in the lid. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment of the present invention there is a replaceable filter cartridge comprising a substantially annular filter media extending along an axis and defining an internal cavity. The filter media is sandwiched between a closed top endcap and a bottom endcap. The top endcap has a bottom end and top end. The top end has a substantially centrally positioned axially extending appendage. At least a portion of the bottom end is adjacent to the filter media. The bottom end defining a sealing flange. 
         [0026]    In one refinement of the embodiment the sealing flange includes a pair of axially extending circumferential ribs, the circumferential ribs being spaced apart from one another radially. 
         [0027]    In another refinement of the embodiment the top end includes a plurality of radial ribs that extend axially away from the filter media. The appendage has a distal portion with an indicator mark. 
         [0028]    In another refinement of the embodiment the bottom endcap defines a centrally positioned aperture. 
         [0029]    Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a replaceable filter element. 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a filtration system lid. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2A  is an alternate view of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of a filtration system housing. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a filtration system. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 5 and 5A  are sectional views of portions of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a filtration system lid and housing. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a filtration system. 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a filtration system. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a vehicle including an engine and a filtration system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0040]    For purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated embodiments, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
         [0041]    With reference to  FIG. 1  there is illustrated a preferred replaceable filter element or cartridge  100  including filter media  110 , endplate  120  connected to one end of filter media  110 , and endplate  130  connected to another end of filter media  110 . In the illustrated embodiment, filter media  110  is a substantially annular and pleated configuration extending from a first end to a second end and defining an interior cavity. In the illustrated embodiment, filter media  110  is preferably sandwiched between and embedded within endplate  120  and endplate  130 . Other embodiments contemplate other filter media configurations including, for example, stack disc bypass filter media configurations or other filter media configurations. 
         [0042]    Endplate  130  preferably includes a peripheral sealing flange  131  that extends radially outward. Flange  131  provides sealing capabilities to endplate  130 , further details of which are discussed below with respect to  FIG. 5A . Endplate  130  also preferably includes ribs  132  that extend axially from endplate  130  away from filter media  110 . Ribs  132  provide structural reinforcement and force transfer capabilities to endplate  130 . As illustrated in other figures described herein, a circular rib  232  on the internal surface of the lid sits atop the ribs  132  and pushes them down. This assists in providing a uniform seal via, for example, a face seal provided by the combination of the housing and its interface with concentric axially extending radially outer rib  152  and radially inner rib  153  of sealing flange  131  (see  FIG. 5A ). 
         [0043]    Endplate  130  also includes a male protrusion  140  which extends from endplate  130 . A portion  141  of protrusion  140  extends from endplate  141  to a flange  143 . Another portion  145  of protrusion  140  extends from flange  143  to an end or tip  147  of protrusion  140 . Tip  147  preferably includes a visual and/or tactile indicator  149 . A wide variety of information might be provided on tip  147 . Examples of such information include part number, the original equipment manufacturer (such as a logo or trademark), performance rating of filter (such as a filtration level of 10 microns, 20 microns, etc.), or other information relating to the type or model of replaceable filter element  100 , or other information regarding replaceable filter element  100  useful to the customer or user. In one embodiment, protrusion  140  has a generally frustoconical shape. A variety of other shaped projections are also contemplated as within the scope of the invention including, but not limited to, cylindrical. Endplate  130  is preferably a unitary structure formed of a composite or plastic material such as thermoplastic. Other embodiments contemplate that endplate  130  could be formed of multiple pieces coupled together, for example, protrusion  140  and/or other portions of replaceable filter element  100  could be a separate piece coupled to endplate  140 . 
         [0044]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 2A  there is illustrated a preferred filtration system lid  200 . Lid  200  includes an aperture  210  that preferably further includes a flange  212  on its interior surface. Lid  200  also includes rotational locks  220  including recesses  222 , lips  224 , and recesses  226 . Lid  200  further includes ribs  230  and ring  232  extending from the interior surface of lid  200 , and hex nut  205  and ribs  206  extending from the exterior surface of lid  200 . 
         [0045]    With reference to  FIG. 3  there is illustrated a portion of filtration system housing  300  including body  370  surrounding a receptacle  372  and a center post  390 . A number of openings  380  and associated tabs  381  are also included in housing  300 . 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIG. 4  there is illustrated a filtration system  400  including housing  300 , lid  200  coupled to housing  300 , and replaceable filter element  100  positioned within housing  300  and coupled with lid  200 . Housing  300  includes an inlet (not illustrated) for unfiltered fluid, an outlet  310  for filtered fluid, drain outlet  320 , drain valve  340 , and electrical input  330 , which could provide one or more power circuit elements operable, for example, to power a heating element (not illustrated) and one or more information circuit elements operable, for example, to send and/or receive information to one or more sensors (not illustrated). The coupling of lid  200  and replaceable filter element  100  includes projection  140  extending though opening  210 , for example, as illustrated and described below in connection with  FIG. 5 . The coupling of lid  200  and housing  300  includes the mating of tabs  381  and locks  220 , for example, as further illustrated in  FIG. 5A , and may include other couplings, for example, threaded couplings, sealing ridges on a lid or housing, additional rotating locking couplings, bayonet-type couplings, detent couplings, or snap couplings, or combinations and variations of the foregoing and other couplings. 
         [0047]    With reference to  FIG. 5  there is illustrated a section view of a portion of system  400  illustrating the interfacing of replaceable filter element  100  and lid  200 . Replaceable filter element  100  and lid  200  have been positioned with ribs  132  contacting ring  232 , and projection or appendage  140  extending though opening  210 . Flanges  212  and  143  have been coupled, for example, by application of force sufficient to cause the flanges to slide past one another to the illustrated position. Flanges  212  and  143  preferably provide a seal effective up to a predetermined pressure, after which pressure release may occur. A portion of projection including end  147  and indicator  149  extends from the lid  200  a selected distance, for example, a distance sufficient to provide a means of decoupling flanges  212  and  143  by the application of a decoupling force, permitting separation of lid  200  and replaceable filter element  200 . Additional decoupling structures are contemplated, for example, interference fits, snap fits, displaceable elements, deformable elements, threaded elements, latch elements, or combinations and variations of the foregoing. 
         [0048]    With reference to  FIG. 5A  there is illustrated a section view of a portion of system  400  illustrating the interfacing of lid  200  and housing  300 . As stated above, tabs  381  have mated and are retained by locks  220 . The coupling of lid  200  and housing  300  preferably provides a predetermined force operable to form a seal  500  between replaceable filter element  100  and housing  300  by lid  200 , for example by sealing flange  131  being forced toward a housing  300 . Sealing flange  131  includes two downwardly extending concentric axial ribs, a radially outer rib  152  and a radially inner rib  153 . These ribs preferably snap fit around a corresponding portion of housing  300  to form a seal  500 . 
         [0049]    With reference to  FIG. 6  there are illustrated filter system lid  600  and filter system housing  630 . Filter system lid  600  includes an opening  629  formed therein which could be the same or similar to the openings in filter system lids  200  described above. Filter system lid  600  also includes fastening elements  620  which includes fastener  622  that pass through retaining members  621 . Filter system lid  600  also includes alignment pins  625  which are operable to align lid  620  with housing  630 . Filter system housing  630  includes the receptacle  636  and an outlet in the form of a substantially hollow center post  637 . Housing  630  also includes alignment contour  635  which is operable in connection with alignment posts  625  to align lid  600  relative to housing  630 . By rotating the lid  600  to the left or the right, the posts  625  are axially displaced upward by contact with the alignment contour  635  of housing  630 . Thus, the substantially V-shaped alignment contour permits easier separation of the lid  600  from the housing  630  by rotation of the lid. Housing  630  also includes fastening elements  631  which receive nuts such as nut  632  that can couple with fasteners  622 . 
         [0050]    With reference to  FIG. 7  there is illustrated a filter system  700  which includes a replaceable filter element  710 , a lid  720 , and a housing  730 . Replaceable filter element  710  including a protrusion  740  that extends axially toward an end  747  that preferably includes a visual indicator  749 . Housing  700  includes a center tube  737  that extends through an opening  780  in the bottom endplate  770  of an embodiment of the replaceable filter cartridge of the present invention. The filtered fluid outlet in the form of center tube  737  includes a top end  750  with at least one aperture  760  substantially adjacent the top end  750 . In embodiments, for example, in which the filter system is a fuel filter system, the extension of the center tube  737  within the replaceable cartridge allows for a means to maintain a precise level of fuel within the housing during initial engine start up. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, various embodiments of the present invention have a closed top endplate in conjunction with a seal such that all fluid (filtered and unfiltered) is beneath the top endplate. Thus, control of the fuel level might also be accomplished with a flat top endplate, rather than a domed top endplate. The domed top endplate permits the center tube  750  to extend even further up the axis. Indeed, it should be understood that it is contemplated as within the scope of the invention that the center tube  750  and the protrusion  740  may be sized such that the center tube  750  extends into a hollow space within the protrusion  740  that is fluidly connected to the internal cavity of the filter media. 
         [0051]    With reference to  FIG. 8  there is illustrated a filter system  800  which includes a replaceable filter element  810 , a lid  820 , and a housing  830 . The coupling of replaceable filter elements  710  and  810  with lids  720  and  820 , respectively, could be the same or similar to the coupling of replaceable filter element  100  with lid  200  as described above. The coupling of lids  720  and  820  with housings  730  and  830 , respectively, could be the same or similar to the coupling of lid  200  with housing  300  as described above. Additional systems are also contemplated. In one additional system, a lid is coupled with a center post, for example, with a pair of engageable threads, and a replaceable filter element can be coupled and decoupled from the lid and center post. There may be one or more projections extending from the filter element, preferably through the lid for facilitating this coupling and/or decoupling. 
         [0052]    With reference to  FIG. 9  there is illustrated a vehicle  900 . Vehicle  900  could be a variety of types of vehicles, for example, a light duty truck, a medium duty truck, a heavy duty truck, a passenger vehicle, a bus, or an industrial or construction vehicle. Vehicle  900  includes an engine  910 , which is preferably a diesel engine but could be other types of internal combustion engines, and a filtration system  920  which is in flow communication with engine  910  and is operable to filter fluids to be provided to engine  910 . Filtration system  920  could be the same as or similar to filtration systems described above. 
         [0053]    The present invention relates generally to a combination of a filter cartridge and housing that can be used, for example, with internal combustion engines, such as diesel or gasoline powered engines. Such filter units are important since various fluids used in vehicle engines are susceptible to being contaminated by water, sand, dirt and other particulate materials. Impurities such as products of combustion, soot, moisture, dust, abrasion powder, etc. mix with the lubricating oil every moment during the operation of an automobile&#39;s engine and the impurities are filtered by the filter assembly. Thus, there are many applications for filters according to the present invention. For example, the filter assembly can be used for farm equipment, construction equipment, skidders, loaders, other off-road vehicles, heavy-duty highway trucks, automobiles, and other vehicles, industrial machines requiring hydraulic filtering, and all other equipment or mechanical devices that require the filtering of fluids. Additionally, the filter assembly can be used to remove foreign matter from a variety of different fluids. Examples of liquid fluids include hydraulic fluids, engine lubrication oil, diesel fuel, gasoline, engine coolant, automatic transmission fluid, and any other type of fluid. The filter assembly can also be used with gaseous fluids such as air and exhaust. 
         [0054]    While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or more preferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature so described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.