초록 ▼

This invention relates to a filter assembly for removing material that is entrained in a gas stream. The filter assembly comprises a housing which comprises head and body parts, with an inlet port in the head part for a gas stream to flow into the housing, the head and body parts having formations w

This invention relates to a filter assembly for removing material that is entrained in a gas stream. The filter assembly comprises a housing which comprises head and body parts, with an inlet port in the head part for a gas stream to flow into the housing, the head and body parts having formations which enable them to be connected to one another and separated by relative rotation. The filter assembly further comprises a filter element which can be fitted within the housing. The filter element comprises a wall of a filtration medium which defines a hollow space for a gas stream to flow from the space through the wall to be filtered, and an end cap with an inlet which can be sealed to the inlet port in the head part of the housing to provide a flow path for a gas stream to be supplied from the inlet port in the housing to the said space. The filter element fits into the body part of the housing, and the end cap and the body part have interengaging formations in the form of at least one rib and at least one groove, arranged so that the rib can be slid into the groove when the filter element is fitted into the body part, and so that the filter element rotates with the body part relative to the head part.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A filter assembly for removing material that is entrained in a gas stream, which comprises: a. a housing which comprises head and body parts, with an inlet port in the head part for a gas stream to flow into the housing, the head and body parts having formations which enable

What is claimed is: 1. A filter assembly for removing material that is entrained in a gas stream, which comprises: a. a housing which comprises head and body parts, with an inlet port in the head part for a gas stream to flow into the housing, the head and body parts having formations which enable them to be connected to one another and separated by relative rotation, b. a filter element which can be fitted within the housing, comprising a wall of a filtration medium which defines a hollow space for a gas stream to flow from the space through the wall to be filtered, and an end cap with an inlet which can be sealed to the inlet port in the head part of the housing to provide a flow path for a gas fluid stream to be supplied from the inlet port in the housing to the said space, in which the filter element fits into the body part of the housing, and in which the end cap and the body part have interengaging formations in the form of at least one rib and at least one groove, arranged so that the rib can be slid into the groove when the filter element is fitted into the body part, and so that the filter element rotates with the body part relative to the head part. 2. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which there are at least two ribs, and at least two corresponding grooves. 3. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the ribs are approximately equally spaced apart. 4. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the rib is provided on the end cap of the filter element and the groove into which the rib can slide is provided on the body part of the housing. 5. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the inlet on the end cap of the filter element has a compressible O-ring seal for forming a fluid tight seal to the inlet port in the head part of the housing. 6. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the inlet on the end cap of the filter element is provided by a flow conduit which extends into the head part of the housing when the assembly is assembled. 7. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which the flow conduit has a compressible O-ring seal for forming a fluid tight seal with the head part of the housing. 8. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the rib and the groove is tapered so that the security of the engagement of the rib in the groove against rotation of the filter element relative to the housing base part is increased by increasing the depth to which the rib is received in the groove. 9. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the leading edge of the rib is rounded and the trailing edge of the rib tapers inwardly towards a sharp point or edge. 10. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the rib is arranged within the assembly so that it causes a change in the direction of flow of gas which flows over it, towards the gas outlet from the assembly. 11. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the rib flares outwardly from the leading edge towards the trailing edge, in order to direct the flow of the gas fluid stream past an obstruction between the rib and the gas outlet from the assembly. 12. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 11, in which the rib is approximately V-shaped when viewed in cross-section, perpendicular to the axis of the assembly. 13. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 12, in which the V-shaped rib has a flat top surface. 14. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the body part of the housing fits within with the head part of the housing where they are connected to one another. 15. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the formations on the head and body parts of the housing are cooperating screw threads so that as the head and body are rotated relative to each other they are caused to move axially relative to each other. 16. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter element includes a drainage medium which surrounds the filtration medium, and which can retain liquid that has been coalesced by the filtration medium. 17. A filter element for collecting material that is entrained in a gas stream, which has a wall of a filtration medium which defines a hollow space within it so that a gas stream can flow through the wall to be filtered, the element including first and second ends, with an end cap at the first end with an inlet for a gas stream to be supplied to the space within the wall, in which the end cap has a formation in the form of at least one rib or one groove, arranged so that the rib or groove can cooperate with a groove or rib respectively provided in a body part of a filter assembly when the filter element is fitted into the body part, and so that the filter element rotates with the body part relative to a head part of the filter assembly, wherein the rib is tapered from a broader, trailing end located closer to the first end of the element to a narrower, leading end, located closer to the second end of the element. 18. A filter element as claimed in claim 17, in which the rib can be slid into the groove, when the filter element is fitted into the body part. 19. A filter element as in claim 17, in which the rib is approximately V-shaped when viewed in cross-section, perpendicular to the axis of the assembly. 20. A filter element as in claim 19, in which the V-shaped rib has a flat end surface. 21. A filter element as in claim 20, wherein the flat end surface of the rib is flush with a flat end surface of the end cap. 22. A filter element for collecting material entrained in a fluid stream, including a ring of filter media with first and second ends circumscribing a central longitudinal axis and defining a central cavity, the element including an end cap at the first end with an opening for a fluid stream communicating with the central cavity, wherein the end cap has a formation in the form of a rib arranged around the periphery of the end cap so that the rib can cooperate with a groove provided in a body part of a filter assembly when the filter element is fitted into the body part, and so that the filter element rotates with the body part relative to a head part of the filter assembly when the body part and head part are assembled together, wherein the first rib is tapered from a rounded leading edge located closer to the second end of the element to a sharp trailing point or edge located closer to the first end of the element. 23. A filter element for collecting material entrained in a fluid stream, including a ring of filter media with first and second ends circumscribing a central longitudinal axis and defining a central cavity, the element including an end cap at the first end with an opening for a fluid stream communicating with the central cavity, wherein the end cap has a formation in the form of a first rib arranged around the periphery of the end cap so that the first rib can cooperate with a groove provided in a body part of a filter assembly when the filter element is fitted into the body part, and so that the filter element rotates with the body part relative to a head part of the filter assembly when the body part and head part are assembled together, wherein the first rib is tapered from a broader, trailing end located closer to the first end of the element, to a narrower, leading end, located closer to the second end of the element in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the element. 24. A filter element as in claim 23, wherein the first rib is approximately V-shaped when viewed in cross-section, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the assembly. 25. A filter element as in claim 23, wherein the V-shaped first rib has a flat end surface. 26. A filter element as in claim 25, wherein the flat end surface of the first rib is flush with a flat end surface of the end cap. 27. A filter element as in claim 25, and further including at least one other rib spaced around the periphery of the first end cap, apart from the first rib, having a configuration tapered from a rounded leading edge located closer to the second end of the element, to a sharp point or edge located closer to the first end of the element. 28. A filter element as in claim 23, wherein the end cap includes a curved conduit extending from the opening to a mouth, the mouth being located in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the element, and opening radially outward at a location circumferentially aligned with the first rib.