초록 ▼

A filter assembly for removing particles from a fluid which comprises first and second filters, each having a porous filter medium. The mean pore diameter of the porous filter medium of the second filter is greater than the mean pore diameter of the porous filter medium of the first filter. The filt

A filter assembly for removing particles from a fluid which comprises first and second filters, each having a porous filter medium. The mean pore diameter of the porous filter medium of the second filter is greater than the mean pore diameter of the porous filter medium of the first filter. The filter assembly further comprises structure for directing the fluid serially through the first filter and then through the second filter, a mechanism for sensing the temperature of the fluid, and a valve arranged in parallel with the first filter and serially with the second filter. The valve is coupled to the temperature-sensing mechanism so that at least a portion of the fluid is directed around the first filter in response to a predetermined fluid temperature. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the fluid is directed around the first filter when the fluid temperature is below a predetermined value.

대표청구항 ▼

A filter assembly comprising: a housing having an inlet for admitting a fluid, an outlet for exhausting the fluid, and a fluid flow path therebetween; upstream and downstream filtering means positioned in the housing in the fluid flow path, the upstream filtering means being spaced from the downstre

A filter assembly comprising: a housing having an inlet for admitting a fluid, an outlet for exhausting the fluid, and a fluid flow path therebetween; upstream and downstream filtering means positioned in the housing in the fluid flow path, the upstream filtering means being spaced from the downstream filtering means and each including a porous filter medium, the mean pore diameter of the porous filter medium of the upstream filtering means being smaller than the mean pore diameter of the porous filter medium of the downstream filtering means; and temperature-sensing means including temperature responsive valve for directing at least a portion of the fluid around the upstream filtering means and through the downstream filtering means when the temperature of the fluid is less than a predetermined temperature. A process for filtering a fluid comprising: sensing the temperature of the fluid; passing the fluid through a first porous filter medium and then through a second porous filter medium when the temperature of the fluid is greater than a predetermined temperature, the mean pore diameter of the second filter medium being greater than the mean pore diameter of the first filter medium; and directing at least a portion of the fluid to bypass the first porous filter medium and then through the second porous filter medium when the temperature of the fluid is less than the predetermined temperature.