Patent Description:
In the field of engines, such as engines for heavy construction vehicles, for example, a fluid filter is typically used to clean the fuel before the fuel is injected into the engine for combustion. A priming pump is generally connected to the fluid filter and operated to move the fuel through the fluid filter. For example, U. Patent Application Publication No. <CIT> describes a filter element and filter assembly for separating fluids having a canister configured to be coupled to a filter base. The filter base includes a mounting bracket having at least one hole for receiving a fastener for coupling the filter base to a machine. A challenge with existing fluid filter and priming pump configurations is that the fluid filter is configured to mount in only one orientation, the priming pump requires its own separate mounting system, and the orientations of the inlet(s) and outlet(s) of the priming pump are fixed. As a result, to have any flexibility concerning the orientation of the inlet(s) and outlet(s) in an installed condition, the priming pump must have multiple inlets and outlets to accommodate fluid inlet and outlet lines (fluid conduits) that may need to be connected on either of two opposite sides of the priming pump, depending on the particular mounting situation.

<CIT> discloses a fluid delivery system comprising a pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a fuel filter housing, a reservoir and several inlets which are required for fluid communication during operation of the pump assembly.

According to a first aspect, a fluid filter and priming pump assembly may include a fluid filter housing and a filter base attached to the fluid filter housing, the filter base including a priming pump configured to move fluid through the fluid filter housing. The filter base may include a first inlet oriented in a first direction, a second inlet oriented in a second direction different from the first direction, at least one of the first inlet and the second inlet being configurable to receive the fluid, an outlet configured to discharge the fluid, a first mount configured for mounting the filter base in a first orientation, and a second mount configured for mounting the filter base in a second orientation different from the first orientation. The filter base is further characterized in that said second direction is opposite said first direction and said second orientation is opposite said first orientation.

According to a second aspect, a filter base may include a first inlet oriented in a first direction; a second inlet oriented in a second direction different from the first direction; at least one of the first inlet and the second inlet being configurable to receive a fluid; an outlet configured to discharge the fluid; a first mount configured for mounting the filter base in a first orientation; a second mount configured for mounting the filter base in a second orientation different from the first orientation, wherein said second direction is opposite said first direction and said second orientation is opposite said first orientation. ; and an opening configured for attachment to a fluid filter housing.

According to a third aspect, a method of installing a filter base is disclosed wherein the filter base has a first inlet oriented in a first direction, a second inlet oriented in a second direction different from the first direction, at least one of the first inlet and the second inlet being configurable to receive a fluid, an outlet configured to discharge the fluid, a first mount configured for mounting the filter base to a machine in a first orientation, and a second mount configured for mounting the filter base to a machine in a second orientation different from the first orientation, wherein said second direction is opposite said first direction and said second orientation is opposite said first orientation. The method may include: determining a desired direction for the outlet to be oriented; selecting one of the first and second inlets to serve as an operable inlet based on the desired direction of the outlet; and mounting the filter base to the machine in either the first orientation or the second orientation using either the first mount or the second mount, respectively, such that the outlet is oriented in the desired direction.

<FIG> illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM>. Fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> may be used to filter fluids such as, for example, fuel, lubricants, coolants, and hydraulic fluid used by machines. Other uses may be contemplated.

As shown in <FIG>, a fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> may include a filter base <NUM> and a fluid filter housing <NUM> connected to filter base <NUM> via a connection <NUM>, such as a threaded connection, for example, although any suitable connection may be used. Filter base <NUM> may have a priming pump <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) configured to move fluid (such as fuel, for example) through fluid filter housing <NUM> and filter base <NUM>. Fluid filter housing <NUM> may have a fluid filter disposed therein to clean fluid that is passed through fluid filter housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, fluid filter housing <NUM> may include a drain valve <NUM> that may be closed during normal operation and may be opened to facilitate draining fluid from fluid filter housing <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, filter base <NUM> may include a first inlet <NUM> oriented in a first direction on a first side of filter base <NUM> to receive incoming fluid as shown by arrow <NUM>, a second inlet <NUM> oriented in a second direction on a second side of filter base <NUM> to receive incoming fluid as shown by arrow <NUM>, and an outlet <NUM> configured to discharge fluid as shown by arrow <NUM>. In <FIG>, each of inlet <NUM> and outlet <NUM> is shown with a hose connector, which is not shown in <FIG> for clarity. According to the invention, the first direction is opposite the second direction. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the term "opposite" as used herein should be understood to encompass configurations in which the directions or components stated to be opposite one another are not exactly opposite but are approximately so. Similarly, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the term "the same" as used herein should be understood to encompass configurations in which the directions or components stated to be the same are not identical but are approximately so. As illustrated, outlet <NUM> may be oriented in the same direction as the first inlet <NUM>; however, in some embodiments, outlet <NUM> may be oriented in the same direction as the second inlet <NUM> or in another suitable orientation. One of the inlets <NUM>, <NUM> may be open to fluid flow, and the other of the inlets <NUM>, <NUM> may be closed, depending on which side of filter base <NUM> the fluid inlet line needs to be connected for the particular installation. In some embodiments, each of the inlets <NUM>, <NUM> may initially include a closure (e.g., a plug) in the originally manufactured condition that is removable or penetrable by a user (e.g., by drilling or piercing) to open the desired inlet <NUM> or <NUM> once the desired operable inlet has been selected for the particular installation. In other embodiments, the desired inlet <NUM> or <NUM> may be known at the time of manufacture, and the appropriate inlet <NUM> or <NUM> may be opened at the time of manufacture. Although only one outlet <NUM> is shown, more than one outlet may be provided in some embodiments. For example, another outlet may be oriented in a direction opposite the direction of outlet <NUM> or another suitable direction. Filter base <NUM> may also include one or more plugs <NUM> configured to close one or more unused openings of filter base <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG> and <FIG>, filter base <NUM> may include a first mount <NUM> having a plurality of bosses <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (e.g., internally threaded bosses configured for receiving externally threaded mounting bolts) or other suitable mounting connections configured for mounting fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> to a machine in a first orientation. Filter base <NUM> may also include a second mount <NUM> having a plurality of bosses <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (e.g., internally threaded bosses configured for receiving externally threaded mounting bolts) or other suitable mounting connections configured for mounting fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> to a machine in a second orientation different from the first orientation. According to the invention, the second orientation is opposite (e.g., rotated about <NUM> degrees) from the first orientation. Mount <NUM> or mount <NUM> may be used to mount fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> to a machine either directly or via a bracket such as bracket <NUM>, for example (see <FIG>), such that holes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of bracket <NUM> are aligned with corresponding holes of bosses <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or bosses <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In either the first orientation or the second orientation, an inlet (either inlet <NUM> or inlet <NUM>) is available for connection to a fluid inlet line, according to whichever side of fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> such connection is needed. Thus, a single configuration of fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> may accommodate machines that have a fluid inlet line approaching from either side of fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM>, and fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> may be installed with a single mount (e.g., mount <NUM> or mount <NUM>) rather than two separate mounts (one for each of filter base <NUM> and fluid filter housing <NUM>). From the perspective of the outlet <NUM>, fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> may be placed in whichever orientation is desired for outlet <NUM> to connect to the fluid outlet line, and regardless of which orientation is thereby selected, an inlet <NUM> or <NUM> will be suitably positioned for connection to the fluid inlet line. Fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> may thus be reversible for any desired mounting orientation.

As will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art, a method of installing a filter base <NUM> configured as described above to a machine may include determining a desired direction for the outlet <NUM> to be oriented; selecting one of the first and second inlets <NUM>, <NUM> to serve as an operable inlet based on the desired direction of the outlet <NUM>; and mounting the filter base <NUM> to the machine in either the first orientation or the second orientation using either the first mount <NUM> or the second mount <NUM>, respectively, such that the outlet <NUM> is oriented in the desired direction. The method may also include opening the operable inlet <NUM> or <NUM> by removing a plug or penetrating a closure thereof and connecting a fluid filter housing <NUM> to the filter base <NUM> to form a fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> as described herein. In some embodiments, such connecting may include fastening a threaded connection <NUM> to join fluid filter housing <NUM> and filter base <NUM> together. In some embodiments, the method may further include connecting the operable inlet <NUM> or <NUM> to a fluid inlet line and connecting the outlet <NUM> to a fluid outlet line.

In some embodiments, priming pump <NUM> may be an electric pump, and filter base <NUM> may include an electrical connector <NUM> configured for connecting priming pump <NUM> to an electrical power source. Of course, other types of pumps may be used, such as hydraulic pumps, for example.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, fluid may enter filter base <NUM> at inlet <NUM> as shown by flowpath <NUM> and may proceed downward into fluid filter housing <NUM> as shown by flowpaths <NUM> and <NUM>. Fluid may then proceed upward through fluid filter housing <NUM> and back into filter base <NUM> as shown by flowpath <NUM>. In a first mode of operation in which priming pump <NUM> is activated, the fluid may pass through priming pump <NUM> as shown by flowpath <NUM> and then be discharged from filter base <NUM> through outlet <NUM> as shown by flowpath <NUM>. In a second mode of operation in which priming pump <NUM> is not activated, the fluid may bypass priming pump <NUM> as shown by flowpath <NUM> and then be discharged from filter base <NUM> through outlet <NUM> as shown by flowpath <NUM>. Of course, other suitable flowpaths may be employed.

In some embodiments, fluid filter housing <NUM> and filter base <NUM> may be combined into an integral fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> as described herein at a location (for example, a pump and filter manufacturing facility) other than the place of installation (for example, a vehicle manufacturing or maintenance facility). In other embodiments, fluid filter housing <NUM> and filter base <NUM> may arrive separately at a place of installation. An installer may first assemble fluid filter housing <NUM> and filter base <NUM> into a fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> and then mount the fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> to a machine using mount <NUM> or mount <NUM>. Alternatively, in some embodiments, an installer may mount filter base <NUM> to a machine using mount <NUM> or mount <NUM> and then attach fluid filter housing <NUM> to filter base <NUM>. In some embodiments, a fluid filter and priming pump assembly <NUM> may be replaced as a unit. In other embodiments, if a used fluid filter housing <NUM> is worn out and needs to be replaced but the associated filter base <NUM> is still operable, for example, the used fluid filter housing <NUM> may be removed from the filter base <NUM> (which may remain installed), and a fresh fluid filter housing <NUM> may be attached to the filter base <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A fluid filter and priming pump assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a fluid filter housing (<NUM>); and
a filter base (<NUM>) attached to said fluid filter housing (<NUM>) and configured to move fluid through said fluid filter housing (<NUM>), said filter base (<NUM>) comprising:
a first inlet (<NUM>) oriented in a first direction,
a second inlet (<NUM>) oriented in a second direction different from said first direction,
at least one of said first inlet (<NUM>) and said second inlet (<NUM>) being configurable to receive said fluid,
an outlet (<NUM>) configured to discharge said fluid, a first mount (<NUM>) configured for mounting said filter base (<NUM>) in a first orientation, and
a second mount (<NUM>) configured for mounting said filter base (<NUM>) in a second orientation different from said first orientation
characterized in that
said second direction is opposite said first direction and said second orientation is opposite said first orientation.