Abstract:
A spin-on filter cartridge includes a housing, a filter media, first end cap, and a thread ring. The thread ring extends between an open mouth of the housing and the first end cap. The thread ring is a single-piece structure having a first region, a second region, and a third region. The first region is secured to the housing. The second region is axially and radially spaced from the first region. The second region is threaded for selective attachment to a suitably threaded filter head. The third region is axially spaced from the first and second regions. The third region defines a fluid aperture arrangement therethrough. The second and third regions are radially spaced from the housing wall. A filter assembly includes a filter head having a spud and a threaded wall. A spin-on filter cartridge is operably mounted and dismounted on the filter head. Methods of installing and servicing includes fluids filters of the type described.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELDS  
       [0001]     This disclosure concerns generally a fluid filter. In particular, this disclosure relates to a disposable filter for spinning on (or threadably connecting) to a filter head for uses for engine lubrication fluids, fuel, or hydraulic fluids.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Filters have been employed in a variety of applications including hydraulic systems and engine lubrication systems. Such filter assemblies generally include a cylindrical filter element within a can or housing with a baffle or attachment plate at one end to connect the filter to a filter head, typically by a threaded joint. A central opening and several surrounding openings in the baffle direct flow through the filter and, in particular, the filter element. The flow can be in either an inside-out or an outside-in pattern.  
         [0003]     Various models and designs of filters have been known over the years. Continued improvements in filters are desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0004]     A spin-on filter cartridge is provided including a housing, filter media, a first end cap, and a thread ring. The thread ring extends between an open mouth of the housing and the first end cap. The thread ring is a single-piece structure having a first region, a second region, and a third region. The first region is secured to the housing. The second region is axially and radially spaced from the first region. The second region is threaded for selective attachment to a suitably threaded filter head. The third region is axially spaced from the first and second regions. The third region defines a fluid aperture arrangement therethrough. The second and third regions are radially spaced from the housing wall.  
         [0005]     A filter assembly is provided including a filter head having a spud and a threaded wall. A spin-on filter cartridge is constructed and arranged to be operably mounted and dismounted on the filter head. The filter cartridge can be one as summarized herein.  
         [0006]     In other aspects, methods of installing and servicing includes fluids filters of the type described. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a filter assembly including a filter cartridge secured to a filter head, constructed according to principles of this disclosure; the cross-section taken along the line  1 - 1  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the filter assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the filter cartridge of  FIG. 1  removed from the filter head;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a system incorporating the filter assembly of  FIGS. 1-3 ; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the filter cartridge of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     A. Overall Assembly; Systems of Use  
       [0012]     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a fluid filter assembly  10 . Filter assembly  10  is particularly adapted for filtration of liquid, for example oil, as for example in a lube system for an over the highway truck. The filter assembly  10  includes a filter cartridge or element  12  operably oriented on a filter block or filter head  16 , typically by threadably connecting (i.e., screwing or “spinning on”). In the one depicted, the filter cartridge  12  includes filter media  13  operably oriented in a can or housing  14 .  
         [0013]     The filter assembly  10  is utilized in a filtering system. The filtering system includes a supply for supplying dirty fluid to the filter assembly  10  through an inlet  22  of the filter head  16 . The fluid enters and is filtered or cleaned by the filter element  12 . The cleaned fluid exits the filter head  16  at an outlet  24 .  
         [0014]     In reference now to  FIG. 4 , one application for the filter assembly  10  is to remove particulate matter from oil that is used on an engine  28  for vehicles such as an over the highway truck. Other applications for the filter assembly  10  include farm equipment, construction equipment, skidders, loaders, off-road vehicles, automobiles, industrial machines, and other devices that require the filtering of fluids. Additionally, the filter assembly  10  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 others.  
       B. Improved Filter Assembly  10   
       [0015]     In reference now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the filter cartridge  12  includes housing  14 . The filter housing  14  has an interior volume  32  designed to hold the filter media  13  therein. The filter housing  14  generally has a mouth  34  ( FIG. 3 ) at an open first end  35  ( FIG. 3 ), a surrounding wall  37 , and a closed bottom  39  at a second end  36 . Preferably, the housing  14  is of generally thin-walled construction having sufficient rigidity to withstand the pressure experienced during typical filtering operations. Housing  14  is typically metal, or other suitable materials, such as a strong non-metal; if housing  14  is metal, it is typically formed by stamping or drawing.  
         [0016]     The filter media  13 , in the embodiment shown, is generally a tubular extension  38 , depicted as cylindrical, of media  13  operably mounted in the interior volume  32  of the housing  14 . The media  13 , when in the form of tubular extension  38 , defines an open filter interior  44 . The tubular extension  38 , in the embodiment shown, has first and second opposite ends  43 ,  45 . The first end  43 , in the particular embodiment depicted, is secured to a first end cap  40 . The first end cap  40  defines an opening  50  ( FIG. 3 ), which is in communication with the open filter interior  44 . In the embodiment depicted, there is also a second end cap  42  secured to the second end  45  of the tubular extension  38 . The second end cap  42  is depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 3  as being closed. Typically, the filter media  13  is material such as cellulous, paper, non-woven material, synthetic material, and the like. The filter material  13  may be treated or coated to improve its filtering capabilities.  
         [0017]     In the one shown, the filter media  13  is pleated media  46 , generally paper. A perforated tubular inner liner  48  can be included to help support the media  13 . The inner liner  48  is surrounded, or circumscribed by, the tubular extension  38 . The inner liner  48  typically extends between the first and second end caps  40 ,  42 .  
         [0018]     A thread ring  52  extends between the open mouth  34  of the housing  14  and the first end cap  40 . In the embodiment shown, the thread ring  52  is a single piece construction  53 .  
         [0019]     In general, the thread ring  52  functions to both secure the filter cartridge  12  to the filter head  16  and permit the flow of fluid from the filter head  16  to the filter media  13 , when the filter assembly  10  is functioning in an outside to inward flow application. In the embodiment shown, the thread ring  52 , as a single piece construction  53 , has at least three regions. A first region  56  is secured to the housing  14 . In the embodiment shown, the housing  14  has an expanded diameter region  58  that terminates with a U-shaped bend  60 , formed as a portion bent over an end tip  62  of the first region  56 . The first region  56  defines a first diameter.  
         [0020]     The first region  56  of the thread ring  52  cooperates with the housing  14  to result in easier manufacturing with less variability and greater control then over prior art constructions. For example, the filter housing  14  defines a step or shoulder  90  between expanded diameter region  58  and diameter portion  92  of the housing  14 . Specifically, the expanded diameter region  58  is the portion of the housing  14  that is immediately adjacent to the mouth  34 . It has a diameter that is greater than the housing portion  92 . The step or shoulder  90  is a transition point between the region  58  and housing portion  92 . When the filter cartridge  12  is assembled, the shoulder  90  is used for helping with assembly. To assemble, first, the thread ring  52  is placed on a surface, such as a conveyor. Next, the filter media  13  with the first and second end caps  43 ,  45  is oriented on the thread ring  52 . Next, a spring  74  is oriented on the second end cap  45 . Next, the housing  14  is inserted over the assembly including the thread ring  52 , filter media  13 , and spring  74 . The thread ring  52  is pressed into the housing  14  until it stops on the shoulder  90 . Next, the assembly is inverted, and is followed by a seaming operation, in which the bend  60  is formed to be bent over the end tip  62  of the first region  56 .  
         [0021]     The single piece construction  53  of the thread ring  52  further includes a second region  64  both axially and radially spaced from the first region  56 . In preferred embodiments, the second region  64  is threaded along its inner surface  66  ( FIG. 3 ) to selectively mateably connect with mating threads on the filter head  16 . In the example depicted, the filter head  16  has a threaded wall  55  that mates with the inner threaded surface  66  of the second region  64 . The second region  64  defines a second diameter. In the embodiment shown, the second diameter is less than the first diameter of the first region  56 . In preferred arrangements, the second diameter is at least 70% of the first diameter, and in many preferred arrangements, is at least 75% of the first diameter.  
         [0022]     The thread ring  52  further includes a third region  68  axially spaced from the first and second regions  56 ,  64 . In the embodiment shown, the third region  68  also defines a fluid aperture arrangement  70  ( FIG. 3 ) extending through the thread ring  52 . The fluid aperture arrangement  70  can include slots, cutouts, or any variety of holes in order to permit the flow of fluid entering the cartridge  12  from the filter head  16  through the thread ring  52 . In the embodiment shown, the fluid aperture arrangement  70  comprises a plurality of spaced holes  72  extending through the third region  68 . The third region  68  defines a third diameter, which in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , is between the first diameter and the second diameter. The second diameter is smaller than the third diameter and is typically at least 70% for example, at least 75% of the third diameter.  FIG. 5  shows an alternate embodiment for thread ring  52 ′, in which the third diameter is equal to the second diameter. The thread ring  52 ′ includes first region  56 ′, second region  64 ′, and third region  68 ′. The third region  68 ′ has third diameter equal to second diameter of the second region  64 ′.  
         [0023]     In the embodiment shown, the third region  68  is radially spaced from the housing wall  37 . This radial spacing allows a volume for the liquid to pass when it flows from the filter head  16  through the holes  72  and into the interior volume  32 , before flowing through the filter media  13  and out of the filter assembly  10  through the outlet  24 . In the embodiment shown, the second region  64  is also radially spaced from the housing wall  37 .  
         [0024]     A spring  74  extends between the second end  36  of the housing  14  and the second end cap  42 . While a coiled spring  74  is shown, of course, other biasing mechanisms could be used.  
         [0025]     The filter assembly  10  further includes a seal member  76  located between the first end cap  40  and the spud  78  of the filter head  16 . When the filter cartridge  12  is spun onto the filter head  16 , a seal member  76  will compress against the spud  78  and form a seal  80  between the filter cartridge  12  and the filter head  16 .  
         [0026]     A seal member  82  is located between the filter head  16  and the U-shaped bend  60  of the housing  14  to form another seal  83  between the filter head  16  and the housing  14 .  FIGS. 3 and 5  depict the filter cartridge  12  without the seal member  82 , for purposes of clarity in showing the remaining structure. It should be understood that preferred arrangements of the filter cartridge  12  include the seal member  82  as a part of the filter cartridge  12 .  
         [0027]     In  FIGS. 1 and 3 , note how an end  69  of the third region  68  of the thread ring  52  is axially engaged against the first end cap  40 . This arrangement prevents flow from passing anywhere other than through the fluid aperture arrangement  10 .  
       C. Methods  
       [0028]     In operation, the filter assembly  10  works as follows: in an outside to inside operation, fluid to be cleaned enters the filter head through inlet  22 . From there, it flows through the openings  72  in the thread ring  52  and into the open interior volume  32  of the filter housing  14 . From there, the fluid is forced to flow through the filter media  13  and into the open interior volume  44 . The fluid is prevented from bypassing the filter media  13  due to seal  80  formed between the end cap  40  and the spud  78  of the filter head  16 . The seal  83  between the housing  14  and the filter head  16  prevents leakage to the outside.  
         [0029]     From the open interior volume  44 , the cleaned fluid passes through the outlet  24  of the filter head  16 .  
         [0030]     After a period of operation, the filter media  13  will become occluded. The occluded filter media  13  will cause an increase in restriction. At such time, it will become appropriate to change and replace the filter assembly. In order to do this, the filter cartridge  12  will be released from the filter head  16  by unscrewing the filter cartridge  12  from the filter head  16 . This will release seals  80  and  83 . The old filter cartridge  12  is discarded and replaced with a new filter cartridge  12 . The new filter cartridge  12  is screwed onto the filter head  16  and filtering can then be restarted.  
         [0031]     A method of assembling a filter cartridge is provided. The method includes providing housing  14 . The housing  14  is generally cylindrical and includes closed bottom  36  and open mouth  34 . The housing  14  also defines shoulder  90  adjacent to the mouth  34 . The U-shaped bend will not be formed in the housing  14  at this stage. To assemble, first, the thread ring  52  is placed on a surface, such as a conveyor. Next, the filter media  13  with the first and second end caps  43 ,  45  is oriented on the thread ring  52 . Next, a spring  74  is oriented on the second end cap  45 . Next, the housing  14  is inserted over the assembly including the thread ring  52 , filter media  13 , and spring  74 . The thread ring  52  is pressed into the housing  14  until it stops on the shoulder  90 . Next, the assembly is inverted, and is followed by a seaming operation, in which the bend  60  is formed to be bent over the end tip  62  of the first region  56 .