초록 ▼

A filter assembly having a replaceable coalescing filter in which contaminants are separated from fuel, oil, or the like. The filter assembly has an outer housing that may be constructed from a cylindrical metal container and a top metal plate. A filter element is attached in a cantilever manner to

A filter assembly having a replaceable coalescing filter in which contaminants are separated from fuel, oil, or the like. The filter assembly has an outer housing that may be constructed from a cylindrical metal container and a top metal plate. A filter element is attached in a cantilever manner to the metal plate, by chemical bonding and/or mechanical locking, solely by way of an support member. The filter element is thus suspended from the plate leaving a clearance space between the bottom filter cap and the bottom of the filter container. No elements are disposed in the clearance space, thus maximizing the efficiency of the filter. The support member may be made of rubber or similar material suitable for sealing the inner and outer fuel chambers and for chemically bonding to the metal housing. The upper end cap of the filter element also may be chemically bonded to the element support. As an alternative, the support member may be a metal or plastic screw lock that engages threads on both the metal plate and the upper end cap of the filter element.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A filter assembly comprising:a metal housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an imperforate sidewall connecting said top wall to said bottom wall, said top wall having a central hole therethrough that communicates with an interior portion of the filter assembly, sai

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A filter assembly comprising:a metal housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an imperforate sidewall connecting said top wall to said bottom wall, said top wall having a central hole therethrough that communicates with an interior portion of the filter assembly, said hole being defined by a first inwardly facing surface for replaceably mounting the filter assembly;a filter element, including an upper end cap, a filter medium having first and second ends, and a lower end cap, wherein said first and second ends of said filter medium are in contact with and fixedly attached to said upper and lower end caps, respectively;an inner fuel chamber disposed inside said filter element, and communicating with said hole;an outer fuel chamber disposed between an outer periphery of the filter element and said metal housing; anda support member having a first portion fixedly attached to said top wall of said housing and a second portion fixedly attached to said upper end cap of said filter element, wherein said first portion is radially spaced apart from the central hole in the top wall of said housing, wherein at least one of said first and second portions are fixedly attached to said top wall and said upper end cap, respectively, by a chemical bonding agent.