초록 ▼

A filter includes a housing with multiple flow passages and filter elements providing volume-efficient bottom-in, top-out flow or top-in, bottom-out flow. In another embodiment, parallel filtering flow paths are provided with multiple filter elements having respective overlapped sections axially ali

A filter includes a housing with multiple flow passages and filter elements providing volume-efficient bottom-in, top-out flow or top-in, bottom-out flow. In another embodiment, parallel filtering flow paths are provided with multiple filter elements having respective overlapped sections axially aligned, with at least one filter element having a radial extension section non-axially aligned with another of the filter elements.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A filter comprising a housing having a bottom and a top, each having a respective port therethrough, one of said ports being an inlet port, the other of said ports being an outlet port, a plurality of filter elements in said housing, each defining a respective filtering flow

What is claimed is: 1. A filter comprising a housing having a bottom and a top, each having a respective port therethrough, one of said ports being an inlet port, the other of said ports being an outlet port, a plurality of filter elements in said housing, each defining a respective filtering flow path therethrough from said inlet port to said outlet port, said filtering flow paths being in parallel with each other, said housing having a fluid flow path therethrough selected from the group consisting of: a) bottom-in, top-out; and b) top-in, bottom-out providing space efficiency and greater use of existing volume in designated applications, wherein said fluid flow path through said housing is split into plural branches, each provided by a respective said parallel filtering flow path through a respective said filter element, and comprising first and second said filter elements, and first and second said branches, wherein fluid flows through said outlet port from a merge point of said first and second branches, said first branch flowing through said first filter element to said merge point, said second branch flowing through said second filter element to said merge point, said second branch having at least a first bend therealong, said first bend being upstream of said second filter element such that fluid flow turns at least once while traversing from said inlet port to said second filter element, said first branch having at least first and second bends therealong, each of said first and second bends of said first branch being downstream of said first filter element such that fluid flow turns at least twice while traversing from said first filter element to said outlet port, wherein: said second branch has a second bend; said second bend of said second branch is downstream of said second filter element; said first branch has a third bend; said third bend of said first branch is downstream of said second filter element and downstream of said first and second bends of said first branch and downstream of said first filter element. 2. A filter comprising a housing having a bottom and a top, each having a respective port therethrough, one of said ports being an inlet port, the other of said ports being an outlet port, a plurality of filter elements in said housing, each defining a respective filtering flow path therethrough from said inlet port to said outlet port, said filtering flow paths being in parallel with each other, said housing having a fluid flow path therethrough selected from the group consisting of: a) bottom-in, top-out; and b) top-in, bottom-out providing space efficiency and greater use of existing volume in designated applications, wherein said fluid flow path through said housing is split into plural branches, each provided by a respective said parallel filtering flow path through a respective said filter element, and comprising first and second said filter elements, and first and second said branches, wherein fluid flows through said inlet port and splits into said first and second branches, said first branch flowing through said first filter element, said second branch flowing through said second filter element, wherein in combination said first branch has at least one bend downstream of said first filter element, and said second branch has at least two bends upstream of said second filter element, wherein: said first branch has at least two bends, one downstream of said first filter element and another upstream of said first filter element; said second branch has at least three bends, all upstream of said second filter element. 3. A filter comprising a housing having distally opposite ends each having a respective port therethrough providing an inlet port and an outlet port, respectively, a plurality of filter elements axially spaced from each other in said housing along an axial direction along an axis, each defining a respective filtering flow path therethrough from said inlet port to said outlet port, said filtering flow paths being in parallel with each other, at least two of said filter elements having respective overlapped sections axially aligned with each other, at least one of said two filter elements having a radial extension section non-axially aligned with the other of said two filter elements, and comprising a third said filter element axially spaced from said two filter elements, said third filter element having an overlapped section axially aligned with at least a designated one of said overlapped sections of said two filter elements, said third filter element having a radial extension section non-axially aligned with at least a selected one of said two filter elements. 4. The filter according to claim 3 wherein said overlapped section of said third filter element is axially aligned with both of said overlapped sections of said two filter elements. 5. The filter according to claim 4 wherein said radial extension section of said third filter element is non-axially aligned with only one of said two filter elements and is axially aligned with the other of said two filter elements.