Fuel Filter Assembly and Cartridge

Abstract

A draw latch retainer is used to secure a filter cartridge to a filter head. A cam actuated retainer extends from the head to engage a keeper in the top of the cartridge. Rotation of the cam draws the retainer and cartridge axially toward the head into an installed position. The retainer extends through an aperture in the upper portion of the cartridge to apply a retention force against the bottom side of the keeper. The keeper and upper portion of the cartridge supporting the keeper are configured to transmit the retaining force laterally across the top of the cartridge. A pair of axial conduits project from the cartridge and mount O-ring seals for implementing an axial sealing interface with passages in the head.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A filter cartridge for mounting to a filter head, the filter cartridge comprising:
 a housing having a longitudinal axis, an open first end and defining a cavity;   filter element disposed in said housing and separating said cavity into an unfiltered region and a filtered region, said filter element configured so that fluid passes through the filter element between the unfiltered region and the filtered region;   a communication hub defining first and second axial fluid flow conduits in communication with the unfiltered region and the filtered region, respectively, and each conduit having an exterior circumferential sealing surface, said hub having a first surface facing axially away from said cavity and defining a central well and a second surface facing said cavity; and   a keeper module disposed over said communication hub, said keeper module spanning said first end and secured to said housing with said communication hub axially intermediate said filter element and said keeper module, said keeper module defining first and second openings through which said first and second conduits respectively extend and defining a retainer receiving aperture adjacent a split keeper, said split keeper comprising first and second keeper portions radially opposite one another about said receiving aperture, said split keeper is axially aligned with said central well, and said split keeper and aperture are located adjacent or on said longitudinal axis, wherein said aperture permits access to said split keeper from a location outside said cavity and said split keeper is configured to receive and distribute a retention force directed away from said cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein each conduit has an exterior sealing ring. 
     
     
         3 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said split keeper is integral with said keeper module. 
     
     
         4 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal axis passes through said aperture and said split keeper is offset from said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said keeper module having a ring mounted thereon, said ring having a plurality of axially extending keys defining a compatibility matrix. 
     
     
         6 . The filter cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the plurality of axially extending keys is a master key. 
     
     
         7 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said keeper module having a ring mounted thereon, said ring having a plurality of radially extending keys defining a compatibility matrix. 
     
     
         8 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said split keeper has a concave surface facing said cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising two reinforcement ribs projecting from said keeper module axially away from said cavity between said first and second openings radially opposite said receiving aperture. 
     
     
         10 . A filter assembly comprising:
 a head having a cartridge receptacle and defining a first axial passage and a second axial passage extending to said cartridge receptacle, said head supporting an eccentric and a retainer engaged with said eccentric and extending into said receptacle, said retainer including an arm terminating in a latch;   a filter cartridge received in said cartridge receptacle, said filter cartridge comprising:
 a housing, a filter element positioned within said housing having filter media arranged to separate an interior volume of said cartridge into unfiltered and filtered regions so that fluid passing through said filter media moves from said unfiltered to said filtered region, and 
 a communication hub substantially spanning a first end of said housing and engaged thereto, said hub having a first axial conduit in communication with said unfiltered region and having a circumferential sealing surface sealing with said first axial passage, a second axial conduit in communication with said filtered region and having a circumferential sealing surface sealing with said second axial passage, said hub defining a well; and 
 a keeper module disposed above said hub, joined to said housing and forming a retainer receiving aperture providing access to said well and a keeper adjacent said aperture, 
   wherein said retainer extends through said aperture into said well, said latch engages said keeper wherein rotation of said eccentric in a first direction draws the retainer toward the head to exert an axial retention force to secure said cartridge in said cartridge receptacle with said first axial passage in fluid tight communication with said first conduit and said second axial passage in fluid tight communication with said second conduit, and wherein rotation of said eccentric in a second direction releases the retainer away from the head.   
     
     
         11 . The filter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said latch has a concave surface generally facing said head, and said keeper comprises a convex surface generally disposed at said well and complementary to said concave surface. 
     
     
         12 . The filter assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a ramp projecting adjacent said aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The filter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said eccentric is configured with a valve, said valve closing a fluid passageway upon rotation of said eccentric in said second direction to release said latch from said keeper and said valve opening said fluid passageway when said eccentric is rotated in said first direction to engage said latch with said keeper and secure said cartridge to said head. 
     
     
         14 . The filter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said valve interrupts communication between said first axial passage and said first axial conduit or between said second axial passage and said second axial conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The filter assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said valve interrupts communication between said first axial passage and said first axial conduit and between said second axial passage and said second axial conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said lever includes a biasing member that pushes a ball towards a detent in said eccentric. 
     
     
         17 . The filter assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a set screw that forces said biasing member against said ball. 
     
     
         18 . A filter assembly comprising:
 a head having a cartridge receptacle and defining a first axial passage and a second axial passage extending to said cartridge receptacle, said head supporting a cam and a retainer extending into said receptacle, said retainer including an arm aligned along a longitudinal axis and terminating in a plurality of retaining shoulders extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   a filter cartridge received in said cartridge receptacle, said filter cartridge comprising:
 a housing, a filter element positioned within said housing having filter media arranged to separate an interior volume of said cartridge into unfiltered and filtered regions so that fluid passing through said filter media moves from said unfiltered to said filtered region, and 
 a communication hub substantially spanning a first end of said housing and engaged thereto, said hub having a first axial conduit in communication with said unfiltered region and having a circumferential sealing surface sealing with said first axial passage, a second axial conduit in communication with said filtered region and having a circumferential sealing surface sealing with said second axial passage, said hub defining a well; and 
 a keeper module disposed above said hub, joined to said housing and forming a retainer receiving aperture providing access to said well and a split keeper adjacent said aperture, 
   wherein said retainer extends through said aperture into said well, rotation of said filter cartridge about the longitudinal axis engages said retaining shoulders with said split keeper and rotation of the cam in a first direction draws the retaining shoulders toward the head to exert an axial retention force to secure said cartridge in said cartridge receptacle with said first axial passage in fluid tight communication with said first conduit and said second axial passage in fluid tight communication with said second conduit, and wherein rotation of the cam in a second direction opposite the first direction pushes the retaining shoulders away from the head and rotation of the filter cartridge about the longitudinal axis releases the shoulders from the split keeper.   
     
     
         19 . The filter assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said cam is configured with a valve, said valve closing a fluid passageway upon rotation of said cam in said second direction to release said latch from said keeper and said valve opening said fluid passageway when said cam is rotated in said first direction to engage said latch with said keeper and secure said cartridge to said head. 
     
     
         20 . The filter assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said valve interrupts communication between said first axial passage and said first axial conduit or between said second axial passage and said second axial conduit.