WO2016149739A1

WO2016149739A1 - A filter for the filtration of liquids

Info

Publication number: WO2016149739A1
Application number: PCT/AU2016/000102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Howard Dion BUTLER
Original assignee: Filter Pod Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2015-03-25
Filing date: 2016-03-24
Publication date: 2016-09-29

Abstract

A filter for the filtration of liquids includes a one piece filter housing that has an inlet at one end and an outlet at an opposite end. The filter housing has a first self-sealing coupling mounted to the inlet and a second self-sealing coupling mounted to the outlet. The first and second self-sealing couplings are for coupling to hoses for conveying liquids to and from the filter. The couplings each including respective first and second valves that are arranged to close when the first and second couplings are uncoupled. Within the housing there is located a filter medium. The filter housing and the filter medium form a sealed unit.

Description

A FILTER FOR THE FILTRATION OF LIQUIDS TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a filter for the filtration of liquids. In one non- limiting application an embodiment of the invention relates to a filter for filtering fuel for a dtese! engine. BACKGROUND

Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.

There is a large number of commercially available liquid filters. Current filter designs for the filtration of liquids, such as fuels and oil lubricants, include a filter housing and a filter medium contained within the housing, wherein the filter housing comprises at least two parts which can be separated to facilitate disassembly of the filter in order to provide for servicing of the filter, typically involving replacement of the filter medium. A problem with such known filter designs is that the fuel or lubricant is exposed to the environment when the filter housing is disassembled when servicing the filter. This leads to a risk of contamination of the fuel or lubricant often as a result of poor maintenance procedures or lack of cleanliness exercised by the technician attending to the maintenance.

This contamination of the fuel or lubricant may be caused by ingress of dirt or even dust or rain if the filter to be serviced is not located in a sheltered area. There is also a risk that should proper maintenance procedures not be followed, components of the filter may be assembled incorrectly or omitted leading to possible leakage or malfunctioning of the filter. it is an object of the present invention to provide a filter which does not suffer from the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a filter for the filtration of iiquids, the filter including:

a fiiter housing of unitary construction with an inlet at one end and an outlet at an opposite end thereof,

the fiiter housing having a first self-sealing coupling mounted to the iniet and a second seif-sealing coupling mounted to the outlet, said couplings for coupling to hoses for conveying the iiquids, said couplings each including respective first and second valves each arranged to close when the first and second couplings are uncoupled; and

a filter medium contained within the filter housing;

wherein the filter housing and the fiiter medium contained therein form a sealed unit. it is preferred that the first seif-sealing coupling inciudes a first quick release coupling component and the second self-sealing coupling inciudes a second quick release coupling component, wherein each of the first quick release coupling components and the second quick release coupling component is mounted to the filter housing In a preferred embodiment of the invention each of the first and second quick reiease coupling components are arranged to be releasabiy connectable to first and second quick release coupling components associated with hoses for conveying the liquid to and from the filter. The connections between the first and second coupling components and the first and second quick release coupling components associated with the hoses are preferably arranged to cause the valves to open to allow the flow of iiquid between the filter housing and the hoses. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the filter housing comprises two cup-shaped halves which are permanently joined along a continuous permanent joint.

The housing may be integrally formed with opposed, outwardly extending pipe sections.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the filter housing is of a cylindrical form and the filter housing and the outwardly extending pipe sections are coaxial.

The outwardly extending pipe sections may be formed with internal threads each receiving a respective one of the self-sealing couplings.

In use the filter may be coupled to the hoses one or more swivel connectors.

The filter housing is preferably made of a polymer material that is resistant to degradation by oils, fuels and lubricants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure 1. is a side view of an in-line filter for liquid fuels and oil lubricants, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the filter of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an exploded three-dimensional view of the filter of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side view of the filter in an installed configuration supported on a support bracket; and

Figure 5 is an exploded three-dimensional view of the filter of Figure 1 together with couplings and valves for connection to hose sections for conveying liquid fuel or oil lubricants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, an in-line filter for fuels and lubricants, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The filter 10 is of a type suitable for use with an internal combustion engine and comprises, broadly, a filter housing designated generally by the reference numeral 12, and a filter medium 14 contained within the filter housing. The filter 10 in this example is a fuel filter for the filtration of diesel fuel in a diesei engine. The filter housing has a rigid cylindrical unitary construction. More specifically, the filter housing comprises an upper end wall 16, an opposite lower end wall 18 and a cylindrical side wall 20 extending between the upper and lower end walls. The filter housing is of a high strength polymer material which is resistant to degradation when contacted by liquid fuels or lubricants.

The filter housing is produced from two cup-shaped housing halves 22.1 and 22.2 which are heat and sonic welded along a join line 24 so as to form a continuous permanent joint between the housing halves providing the filter housing with a unitary construction.

The filter housing includes internally screw-threaded pipe sections 26.1 and 26.2 which extend outwardly from the end wails 16 and 18 respectively, and which define iniet and outlet openings 28.1 and 28.2, respectively of the filter housing.

The filter medium 14 is in the form of interwoven nano-fibres and crystalline structures embedded within a paper base material. As the structure and composition of the filter medium is conventional, this is not described in any further detail herein. The filter further includes foraminous end plates 30 having inwardly extending centrally-located bosses 32 to which opposite ends of the filter medium are mounted for supporting the filter medium centrally within the filter housing.

The filter housing includes first and second self-sealing couplings 34.1 , 34.2 mounted to the inlet and outlet pipe sections 26.1 and 26.2 respectively. The Inventor has found the commercially available British Standard Pipe (BSP) 3/8 " quick-release hydraulic couplings supplied by PIRTEK fluid transfer solutions of Longmeadow Business Estate East, 1609 Gauteng South Africa to be suitable for this purpose. Each coupling 34.1, 34.2 includes a male-male stud connector 36.1 , 36.2 having two externally-threaded opposed studs. One of the studs of each of the connectors 36.1 , 36.2 is screwed into a respective one of the pipe sections 26.1 and 26.2. The couplings 34.1 , 34.2 further include complementary male quick-release coupling components 38.1 , 38.2 respectively, which are screwed onto the other stud of each of the connectors 36.1 and 36.2 which are connectable to complementary female quick-release component 40.1 , 40.2. The male quick-release coupling components 38.1 , 38.2 include a poppet valve which prevents leakage from the filter housing when the male components 38.1 , 38.2 are not coupled to the female components 40.1 , 40.2. The poppet valve opens automatically when coupled to the female component. In use, the filter 10 is provided as a sealed unit for in-line installation in a fuel line. In Figure 4 of the drawings, the filter 10 is shown installed in a fuel line and supported on a bracket 50. The filter installation typically includes the quick-release female coupling components 40.1 , 40.2 which are coupled to the male quick-release coupling components 38.1, 38.2 at opposite ends of the filter housing, elbow components 42.1 , 42.2, additional male-male stud connectors 36.1 , 36.2 and associated washers 44.1, 44.2, non-return valves 46.1 , 46.2 and swivel connectors 48.1 and 48.2. Rubber fuel hoses 52.1, 52.2 are connected to the swivel connectors 48.1 and 48.2.

As the filter 10 is provided as a sealed unit, it is not possible to disassemble the filter housing and after a period of use, or if faulty, the entire filter is disconnected, removed and replaced with a new filter in accordance with the invention.

In order to remove the filter 10 for replacement, the quick-release female coupling components 40.1, 40.2 are uncoupled from the quick-release male coupling components 36.1, 38.2 and the filter is removed. Thereafter, in order to install a replacement filter, the couplings 34.1 , 34.2 at opposite ends of the replacement filter are coupled to the female coupling components 40.1 , 40.2. In this manner, the filter medium 14 is not exposed to risk of ingress of dirt or incorrect assembly as the Inventor envisages that the filters in accordance with embodiments of the invention, will be manufactured under controlled manufacturing conditions wherein the filters are properly assembled by suitably skilled workers under conditions wherein cleanliness is strictly maintained and controlled.

The self-sealing couplings 34.1 , 34.2 are simple to use and the poppet valves of the couplings prevent leakage of fuel from the filter housing and also prevent any ingress of dirt or moisture into the filter housing when the filter housing is disconnected from the female coupling components 40.1 , 40.2. While the filter 10 in this examp!e is adapted for use in the filtration of liquid fuels and oil lubricants, the Inventor envisages that filters in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, may also be used for the filtration of water or other liquids. In such cases, minor changes may be effected to the filter media and other components housed by the filter housing, in order to render filters suitable for the filtration of other liquids such as water.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term "comprises" and its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention. Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or exampie described herein unless incompatible therewith.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A filter for the filtration of liquids, the filter including:

a filter housing of unitary construction with an inlet at one end and an outlet at an opposite end thereof,

the filter housing having a first self-sealing coupling mounted to the inlet and a second seif-sealing coupling mounted to the outlet, said couplings for coupling to hoses for conveying the liquids, said couplings each including respective first and second valves each arranged to close when the first and second couplings are uncoupled; and

a filter medium contained within the filter housing;

wherein the filter housing and the filter medium contained therein form a sealed unit.

2. A filter according to claim 1 , wherein the first self-sealing coupling includes a first quick release coupling component and the second seif-seaiing coupling includes a second quick release coupling component, wherein each of the first quick release coupling component and the second quick release coupling component is is mounted to the filter housing

3. A filter according to claim 2, wherein each of the the first and second quick release coupling components are arranged to be releasabiy connectabie to first and second quick release coupling components associated with hoses for conveying the liquid.

4. A filter according to claim 3, wherein the connections between the first and second coupling components and the first and second quick release coupling components associated with the hoses are arranged to cause the valves to open to allow the flow of liquid between the filter housing and the hoses.

5. A filter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the filter housing comprises two cup-shaped halves which are permanently joined along a continuous permanent joint.

6. A filter according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is integrally formed with opposed, outwardly extending pipe sections.

7. A filter according to claim 6, wherein the filter housing is of a cylindrica! form and wherein the filter housing and the outwardly extending pipe sections are coaxial.

8. A filter according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the outwardly extending pipe sections are formed with internal threads each receiving a respective one of the self-sealing couplings.

9. A filter according to any one of the preceding claims coupled to the hose via at least one swivel connector.

10. A filter according to any one of the preceding claims comprised of a polymer material.