초록 ▼

A fuel filter assembly includes a housing (12) with a removable element (24) mounted therein. The housing has an inlet port (14) in direct fluid communication with a chamber (18). The outlet port (16) is in direct fluid communication with a central standpipe (22). The standpipe has a flow element (4

A fuel filter assembly includes a housing (12) with a removable element (24) mounted therein. The housing has an inlet port (14) in direct fluid communication with a chamber (18). The outlet port (16) is in direct fluid communication with a central standpipe (22). The standpipe has a flow element (42) movable therein for controlling the condition of flow openings (36) in the standpipe. The element includes projections (88) for engaging recesses (90) in a cover (28) to selectively latch the element and cover together. The cover further includes a cover projection (82) for supporting a projection (78) on end cap (60) of the filter element, which opens flow into the standpipe only when the element is installed. When the element is removed, the flow element prevents the introduction of contaminants into the standpipe.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A filter subassembly comprising a filter element and a cover, said filter element including:a first imperforate circular end cap having an outer surface and an inner surface;a continuous ring of filter media circumscribing a central axis, said ring having an interior surf

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A filter subassembly comprising a filter element and a cover, said filter element including:a first imperforate circular end cap having an outer surface and an inner surface;a continuous ring of filter media circumscribing a central axis, said ring having an interior surface bounding an interior area, said ring bonded in fluid-tight relation to the inner surface of said first end cap, and said interior area being closed at an end thereof by the first end cap;a second circular end cap longitudinally disposed from said first end cap and bonded in fluid-tight relation to said media ring, said second end cap having an opening therethrough axially aligned with the central axis of the ring;a resilient seal circumferentially bounding the opening in the second end cap;said cover being disposed adjacent the outer surface of said first end cap; andlatching fingers unitary with said first end cap and cooperating between said cover and said first end cap for removeably coupling the filter element to the cover, said latching fingers disposed in radially-outward relation to said first end cap. [10.] The filter subassembly as in claim 1, wherein said cover further includes outwardly-projecting wing projections to enable said cover to be manually held and turned. The filter subassembly as in claim 1, wherein said latching fingers include locking portions, and said cover includes recesses to receive the locking portions of said latching fingers, said latching fingers being deformable upon engagement of said filter element with said cover such that said locking portions are received in said locking openings to connect the element to the cover, and deformable upon disengagement of said element with said cover to allow said locking portions to be removed from said locking openings to disconnect said element from said cover. The filter subassembly as in claim 11, wherein said latching fingers further include manually-engageable flats accessible when said cover is coupled to said end cap to enable said latching fingers to be manually manipulated to remove the filter element from the cover. The filter subassembly as in claim 1, wherein said latching fingers are spaced-apart from one another around a radial outer edge of the first end cap. The filter subassembly as in claim 1, wherein said latching fingers are accessible when said cover is coupled to said first end cap to enable said latching fingers to be manually manipulated to remove the filter element from the cover. A filter subassembly comprising a filter element and a cover, said filter element including:a first imperforate circular end cap having an outer surface and an inner surface;a continuous ring of filter media circumscribing a central axis, said ring having an interior surface bounding an interior area, said ring bonded in fluid-tight relation to the inner surface of said first end cap, and said interior area being closed at an end thereof by the first end cap;a second circular end cap longitudinally disposed from said first end cap and bonded in fluid-tight relation to said media ring, said second end cap having an opening therethrough axially aligned with the central axis of the ring;a resilient seal circumferentially bounding the opening in the second end cap;said cover being disposed adjacent the outer surface of said first end cap; andlatching fingers cooperating between said cover and said first end cap for removeably coupling the filter element to the cover, said latching fingers and said first end cap having cooperating structure comprising openings in said cover sized to accept the latching fingers to rotationally fix the filter element to the cover, said latching fingers disposed in radially-outward relation to said first end cap. A filter subassembly comprising a filter element and a cover, said filter element including:a first imperforate circular end cap having an outer surface and an inner surface;a continuous ring of filter media circumscribing a central axis, said ring having an interior surface bounding an interior area, said ring bonded in fluid-tight relation to the inner surface of said first end cap, and said interior area being closed at an end thereof by the first end cap;a second circular end cap longitudinally disposed from said first end cap and bonded in fluid-tight relation to said media ring, said second end cap having a standpipe opening therethrough axially aligned with the central axis of the ring;a resilient seal circumferentially bounding the opening in the second end cap;said cover including an imperforate cover wall disposed adjacent the outer surface of said first end cap; andaxially-extending latching means unitary with said first end cap for removeably connecting the filter element to the cover, said latching means disposed in radially-outward relation to said first end cap and said media ring. The filter subassembly as in claim 16, wherein said latching means is deformable, whereby said filter element can be engaged and disengaged from said cover by deforming said latching means. The filter subassembly as in claim 17, wherein said cover includes an outwardly-threaded portion around the periphery thereof for threaded engagement with a housing for enclosing the element. The filter subassembly as in claim 17, wherein said latching means includes manually-engageable flats accessible when said cover is coupled to said end cap to enable said latching means to be manually manipulated to remove the filter element from the cover.