초록 ▼

A filter assembly including a filter housing defining an interior chamber with an open end, a filter disposed within the interior chamber, and a cover removably positioned over the open end to enclose the interior chamber. The filter housing defines an axially-facing sealing surface spaced from the

A filter assembly including a filter housing defining an interior chamber with an open end, a filter disposed within the interior chamber, and a cover removably positioned over the open end to enclose the interior chamber. The filter housing defines an axially-facing sealing surface spaced from the open end. The filter includes a filter element and a flange element, with the flange element having a hook-shaped lip portion defining an axially-facing groove adapted to securely retain an O-ring seal therein. The cover includes an axially-extending sidewall portion and a laterally-extending flange portion, with the sidewall portion defining an outward taper adapted to retain an O-ring seal thereon. A clamp is used to bias the cover into sealing engagement with the open end of the filter housing. The cover in turn biases the flange element of the filter into sealing engagement with the axially-facing sealing surface of the filter housing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A filter assembly, comprising:a filter housing defining an interior chamber extending along an axis and having an open end, said filter housing defining an annular sealing surface facing an axial direction, said sealing surface defined by a protrusion extending inwardly into said interior chamber

1. A filter assembly, comprising:a filter housing defining an interior chamber extending along an axis and having an open end, said filter housing defining an annular sealing surface facing an axial direction, said sealing surface defined by a protrusion extending inwardly into said interior chamber and being spaced from said open end of said filter housing; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in communication with said interior chamber of said filter housing; a filter disposed within said interior chamber of said filter housing and including a filter element and a flange element, said flange element having a distal end portion that is turned over to form a hook-shaped lip portion defining a groove facing an axial direction when said filter is disposed within said interior chamber of said filter housing; a seal retained within said groove of said hook-shaped lip portion with a portion of said seal extending beyond a distal-most end of said hook-shaped lip portion for sealing engagement with said annular sealing surface of said filter housing; and a cover removably positioned over said open end of said filter housing to enclose said interior chamber. 2. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein said flange element is fabricated from a sheet material.3. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein said seal comprises an O-ring having an outer diameter, said groove having a groove width less than said outer diameter of said O-ring.4. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein said interior chamber of said filter housing is bound by a sidewall, said protrusion being formed by an inwardly deformed portion of said sidewall.5. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein said protrusion defines an axially-extending bearing surface, said flange element including an axially-extending collar portion cooperating with said axially-extending bearing surface to position said filter element within said interior chamber to form a substantially uniform gap between said filter element and said filter housing.6. The filter assembly of claim 5, wherein said collar portion includes a first axial section and a second axial section inwardly offset relative to said first axial section, said first axial section cooperating with said axially-extending bearing surface of said protrusion, said second axial section being operably attached to said filter element.7. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein said cover includes a lid portion and a retainer portion, said lid portion adapted to sealingly engage said open end of said filter housing to enclose said interior chamber, said retainer portion adapted to engage said hook-shaped lip portion of said flange element to sealingly engage said seal against said sealing surface of said filter housing.8. The filter assembly of claim 7, wherein said cover has an axial dimension, said retainer portion being movably coupled to said lid portion to provide adjustment of said axial dimension.9. The filter assembly of claim 8, wherein said retainer portion is threadedly coupled to said lid portion.10. The filter assembly of claim 1, further comprising an O-ring seal adapted for sealing engagement between said cover and said open end of said filter housing; andwherein said cover includes an axially-extending sidewall portion and a laterally-extending flange portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion, said sidewall portion defining an outward taper relative to said flange portion, said O-ring seal positioned about said sidewall portion adjacent said flange portion and being retained on said sidewall portion by said outward taper. 11. The filter assembly of claim 1, wherein said filter housing includes an inlet port disposed in fluid communication with said interior chamber and positioned between said open end and said sealing surface.12. A filter assembly, comprising:a filter housing defining an interior chamber extending along an axis and having an open end; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in communication with said interior chamber of said filter housing; a filter disposed within said interior chamber of said filter housing; a cover removably positioned over said open end of said filter housing to enclose said interior chamber, said cover including a lid portion having an axially-extending sidewall portion and a laterally-extending flange portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion, said sidewall portion defining an outward taper relative to said flange portion; and a seal adapted for sealing engagement between said laterally-extending flange portion and said open end of said filter housing, said seal positioned about said sidewall portion and being retained thereon by said outward taper. 13. The filter assembly of claim 12, wherein said filter housing defines a sealing surface facing an axial direction and axially spaced from said open end, said filter including a filter element and a flange element, said cover including a retainer portion adapted to maintain said flange element in sealing engagement with said sealing surface of said filter housing.14. The filter assembly of claim 13, wherein said retainer portion defines an annular bearing surface adapted to engage said flange element to maintain said flange element in sealing engagement with said sealing surface of said filter housing.15. The filter assembly of claim 13, wherein said flange element includes a hook-shaped lip portion defining a groove facing an axial direction when said filter is disposed within said interior chamber of said filter housing, said groove adapted to securely retain an O-ring seal therein.16. The filter assembly of claim 15, wherein said flange element is fabricated from a sheet material, said hook-shaped lip portion being formed by turning over a distal end portion of said flange element.17. The filter assembly of claim 13, wherein said cover has an axial dimension, said retainer portion being movably coupled to said lid portion to provide adjustment of said axial dimension.18. The filter assembly of claim 17, wherein said retainer portion is threadedly coupled to said lid portion.19. The filter assembly of claim 18, wherein one of said lid portion and said retainer portion includes an internally threaded sleeve, another of said lid portion and said retainer portion including an externally threaded nipple, said nipple threadedly engaging said sleeve to adjustably couple said lid portion to said retainer portion.20. The filter assembly of claim 19, further comprising a pressure relief device; andwherein said nipple and said sleeve cooperate to define a passageway in fluid communication with said interior chamber of said filter housing, said pressure relief device disposed in fluid communication with said passageway and adapted to selectively relieve pressure from said interior chamber. 21. The filter assembly of claim 13, wherein said interior chamber of said filter housing is bound by a sidewall, a portion of said sidewall being inwardly deformed to form a protrusion extending into said interior chamber, said protrusion defining said sealing surface of said filter housing.22. The filter assembly of claim 21, wherein said inwardly deformed portion of said sidewall is C-shaped.23. The filter assembly of claim 13, further comprising a clamp adapted to exert a biasing force onto said lid portion to provide said sealing engagement between said laterally-extending flange portion and said open end of said filter housing, said lid portion cooperating with said retainer portion to exert a biasing force onto said flange element to maintain said sealing engagement with said sealing surface of said filter housing.24. The filter assembly of claim 13, wherein said lid portion includes a first wall facing an axial direction, said retainer portion including a second wall facing an axial direction and spaced from said first wall to define a cavity therebetween, said fluid inlet of said filter housing arranged to direct fluid into said cavity between said first wall of said lid portion and said second wall of said retainer portion.25. The filter assembly of claim 24, wherein said second wall defines a number of openings for directing fluid flow into said filter element.26. The filter assembly of claim 24, wherein each of said first and second walls are dome-shaped.27. A filter assembly, comprising:a filter housing defining an interior chamber extending along an axis, said filter housing having an open end and an annular sealing surface facing an axial direction and axially spaced from said open end; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in communication with said interior chamber of said filter housing; a filter disposed within said interior chamber of said filter housing and including a filter element and an annular flange element extending about said filter element; a first seal disposed between said annular flange element of said filter and said annular sealing surface of said filter housing; a cover removably positioned over said open end of said filter housing to enclose said interior chamber, said cover including a lid portion and a retainer portion, said lid portion coupled to said retainer portion, said retainer portion defining an annular bearing surface; a second seal disposed between said lid portion and said open end of said filter housing; and a clamp adapted to exert a biasing force onto said lid portion to provide sealing engagement between said lid portion and said open end of said filter housing, said lid portion cooperating with said retainer portion to engage said annular bearing surface against said annular flange element of said filter to provide sealing engagement between said annular flange element of said filter and said annular sealing surface of said filter housing. 28. The filter assembly of claim 27, wherein said cover has an axial dimension, said lid portion being movably coupled to said retainer portion to provide adjustment of said axial dimension.29. The filter assembly of claim 28, wherein said lid portion is threadedly coupled to said retainer portion to provide adjustment of said axial dimension.30. The filter assembly of claim 29, wherein one of said lid portion and said retainer portion includes an internally threaded sleeve, another of said lid portion and said retainer portion including an externally threaded nipple, said nipple threadedly engaging said sleeve to adjustably couple said lid portion to said retainer portion.31. The filter assembly of claim 33, further comprising a pressure relief device; andwherein said nipple and said sleeve cooperate to define a passageway in fluid communication with said interior chamber of said filter housing, said pressure relief device disposed in fluid communication with said passageway and adapted to selectively relieve pressure from said interior chamber. 32. The filter assembly of claim 27, wherein said annular flange element has a hook-shaped lip portion defining a groove facing an axial direction when said filter is disposed within said interior chamber of said filter housing, said first seal being securely retained within said groove.33. The filter assembly of claim 27, wherein said lid portion includes an axially-extending sidewall portion and a laterally-extending flange portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion, said sidewall portion defining an outward taper relative to said flange portion, said second seal positioned about said sidewall portion and being retained thereon by said outward taper.34. The filter assembly of claim 27, wherein said first and second seals are O-rings.35. A filter assembly, comprising:a filter housing defining an interior chamber extending along an axis, said filter housing having an open end and an annular sealing surface facing an axial direction and axially spaced from said open end; a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in communication with said interior chamber of said filter housing; a filter disposed within said interior chamber of said filter housing and including a filter element and an annular flange element extending about said filter element; a first seal disposed between said annular flange element of said filter and said annular sealing surface of said filter housing; a cover removably positioned over said open end of said filter housing to enclose said interior chamber, said cover including a lid portion and a retainer portion, said lid portion including an axially-extending sidewall portion and a laterally-extending flange portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion, said axially-extending sidewall portion positioned within said interior chamber of said filter housing and engaged with said retainer portion, said retainer portion defining an annular bearing surface; a second seal disposed between said laterally-extending flange portion of said lid portion and said open end of said filter housing; and a clamp adapted to exert a biasing force onto said lid portion to provide sealing engagement between said lid portion and said open end of said filter housing, said lid portion cooperating with said retainer portion to engage said annular bearing surface against said annular flange element of said filter to provide sealing engagement between said annular flange element of said filter and said annular sealing surface of said filter housing. 36. The filter assembly of claim 35, wherein said lid portion is coupled to said retainer portion.37. The filter assembly of claim 35, wherein said sidewall portion of said lid portion defines an outward taper relative to said flange portion, said second seal positioned about said sidewall portion and being retained thereon by said outward taper.