Fluid filter with filter bypass valve and sealing surface on filter element side

Abstract

In a fluid filter with a housing and a filter element replaceably located in said housing, and with a filter by pads valve having a valve body held in the housing that is movable against the action of a spring from the closed position in which it cooperates with a sealing surface, into an open position in which it permits a fluid flow to bypass the filter element. The invention proposes that the sealing surface associated with the valve body be formed by the replaceable filter element.

1. A fluid filter, comprising
 a housing,  
 a replaceable filter element positioned within said housing, said filter element including first and second ends and a filtering surface positioned therebetween, and  
 a filter bypass valve including a valve body, mounting means for integrally mounting said valve body within said housing so as to remain mounted within said housing when the replaceable filter is replaced, said valve body being movable between a closed position, in which said valve body sealingly engages a sealing surface, and an open position in which said valve body permits fluid flow to bypass said filter element,  
 wherein said first end of said filter element forms said sealing surface for said valve body.  
 
     
     
       2. The fluid filter of  claim 1 , further comprising a support dome fixed within said housing and extending along a longitudinal axis, said valve body being positioned within said support dome for movement along the longitudinal axis of said support dome between said closed position and said open position. 
     
     
       3. The fluid filter of  claim 2 , wherein said filter element has an annular shape and is positioned to surround said support dome. 
     
     
       4. The fluid filter of  claim 3  wherein said first end of said filter element is an annular disk which forms said sealing surface for said valve body. 
     
     
       5. The fluid filter of  claim 2 , wherein said support dome includes guide means for guiding said valve body along the longitudinal axis of said support dome between said closed position and said open position. 
     
     
       6. The fluid filter of  claim 5 , wherein said valve body further comprises
 an elongated shaft which is guided by said guide means along the longitudinal axis of the support dome, and wherein said first end includes an end portion which is sealingly engagable with said sealing surface when said valve body is disposed in said closed position.  
 
     
     
       7. The fluid filter of  claim 6 , wherein said end portion is a flat plate. 
     
     
       8. The fluid filter of  claim 6 , wherein said end portion is convexly round in shape. 
     
     
       9. The fluid filter of  claim 6 , wherein said filter bypass valve further comprises means for biasing said valve body into said closed position. 
     
     
       10. The fluid filter of  claim 9 , wherein said guide means comprises an annular guide plate through which said elongated shaft is guided, said biasing means being positioned between said guide plate and said end portion of said valve body. 
     
     
       11. The fluid filter of  claim 9 , wherein said shaft of said valve body comprises one or more resilient tongues having retaining claws for engaging said guide means. 
     
     
       12. A fluid filter for an engine, comprising
 a carrier engagable with the engine,  
 a removable lid matable with said carrier,  
 a support dome attached to said carrier and extending along a longitudinal axis,  
 a replaceable filter element positioned around said support dome, said filter element including first and second ends and a filtering surface positioned therebetween, and  
 a filter bypass valve including a valve body, mounting means for integrally mounting said valve body within said support dome such that said valve body remains mounted within the support dome when the replaceable filter element is replaced and movable between a closed position, in which said valve body sealingly engages a sealing surface, and an open position in which said valve body permits fluid flow to bypass said filter element, said valve body being positioned within said support dome for movement along the longitudinal axis of said support dome between said closed position and said open position,  
 wherein said first end of said filter element is separable from said lid and forms said sealing surface for said valve body, and whereby removal of said lid from said carrier permits said filter element and thus said sealing surface to be removed from the carrier and support dome attached thereto.  
 
     
     
       13. The fluid filter of  claim 12 , wherein said filter element has an annular shape and is configured to surround said support dome. 
     
     
       14. The fluid filter of  claim 13 , wherein said first end of said filter element comprises an annular disk which forms said sealing surface for said valve body. 
     
     
       15. The fluid filter of  claim 12 , wherein said support dome comprises guide means for guiding said valve body along the longitudinal axis of said support dome between said closed position and said open position. 
     
     
       16. The fluid filter of  claim 15 , wherein said valve body comprises an elongated shaft which is guided by said guide means along the longitudinal axis of the support dome, and an end portion which is sealingly engagable with said sealing surface when said valve body is disposed in said closed position. 
     
     
       17. The fluid filter of  claim 16 , wherein said end portion is convexly round in shape. 
     
     
       18. The fluid filter of  claim 16 , wherein said filter bypass valve further comprises means for biasing said valve body into said closed position. 
     
     
       19. The fluid filter of  claim 18 , wherein said guide means comprises an annular supporting plate through which said shaft is guided, said biasing means being positioned between said guide plate and said end portion of said valve body. 
     
     
       20. The fluid filter of  claim 19 , wherein said supporting plate is reinforced along its inner edge. 
     
     
       21. The fluid filter of  claim 20 , wherein said supporting plate comprises a flange formed along its inner edge. 
     
     
       22. The fluid filter of  claim 18 , wherein said shaft of said valve body comprises one or more resilient tongues having retaining claws, said retaining claws engaging said supporting plate to maintain said valve body within said support dome when said filter element is removed from the fluid filter. 
     
     
       23. The fluid filter of  claim 12 , wherein said filter element is removably attached to said lid such that removal of said lid from said carrier removes said filter element from the fluid filter. 
     
     
       24. A filter element suitable for use with a fluid filter of an engine, the fluid filter having a housing, a dome coupled to the housing for supporting the filter element, and a filter bypass valve disposed within the housing and having a valve body secured to the support dome, the valve body being movable against the action of a resistance element mounted between said valve body and said support dome wherein said valve body is disposed between a closed position where the valve body engages a sealing surface of a valve seat to form a fluid tight seal and an open position where the valve body disengages the sealing surface to permit fluid to bypass the filter element, wherein the filter element comprises a lower end disk, an upper end disk having a tubular portion defining an open middle area, wherein said tubular portion extends toward the lower end disk and terminates at a free end, an annular filter media disposed between the lower end disk and upper end disk, wherein said free end of said tubular portion forms said valve seat having said sealing surface positioned and adapted to engage, in use, the valve body, and wherein the filter element is adapted to be removably and replaceably mounted within the housing and excludes any tubular support members non- removably positioned within the annular filter media and between the upper and lower end disks.   
     
     
       25. A filter element according to  claim 24 , further comprising a recess in said filter element for seating the dome. 
     
     
       26. A filter element according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve seat has a concave shape for sealing with a convexly rounded surface of said valve body. 
     
     
       27. A filter element according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve seat has a flat shape for sealing with a flat surface of said valve body. 
     
     
       28. A method of providing a fluid filter for an engine, comprising the steps of
   disposing a replaceable filter element within a housing, said filter element having first and second ends and a filtering surface positioned therebetween,        providing a filter bypass valve having a valve body within the housing, the valve body adapted to remain within the housing when the filter element is removed from the housing,        the valve body adapted to move between a closed position where the valve body sealingly engages a sealing surface, and an open position where the valve body permits fluid flow to bypass the filter element, and        providing said first end of said filter element with said sealing surface for said valve body and said valve body engages said sealing surface by said step of disposing such that said sealing surface is adapted to remain with said filter element when said filter element is removed from said housing.     
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of mounting a support dome within the housing, the dome extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the valve body is positioned within the support dome for movement along the longitudinal axis between the closed and open positions. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of guiding the valve body along the longitudinal axis of the support dome between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of configuring the first end of the filter element as an annular disk. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of biasing the valve body into the closed position. 
     
     
       33. A method of removing and replacing a filter element suitable for use with a fluid filter of an engine, the fluid filter having a housing, a dome coupled to the housing for supporting the filter element, and a filter bypass valve disposed within the housing and having a valve body secured to the support dome, the valve body being movable against the action of a resistance element mounted between said valve body and said support dome wherein said valve body is disposed between a closed position where the valve body engages a sealing surface to form a fluid tight seal and an open position where the valve body disengages the sealing surface to permit fluid to bypass the filter element, the method comprising the steps of
   removing said filter element from said fluid filter such that said sealing surface is separated from said valve body, and        positioning the filter element to engage the valve body such that an end plate of the filter element forms the sealing surface.     
     
     
       34. A filter element suitable for use with a fluid filter of an engine, the fluid filter having a housing, a dome coupled to the housing for supporting the filter element, and a filter bypass valve disposed within the housing and having a valve body secured to the support dome, the valve body being movable against the action of a resistance element mounted between said valve body and said support dome wherein said valve body is disposed between a closed position where the valve body engages a sealing surface of a valve seat to form a fluid tight seal and an open position where the valve body disengages the sealing surface to permit fluid to bypass the filter element, wherein the filter element comprises a lower end disk, an upper end disk having a tubular portion defining an open middle area, wherein said tubular portion extends toward the lower end disk and terminates at a free end, a filter surface disposed between the lower end disk and upper end disk, wherein said free end of said tubular portion forms said valve seat having said sealing surface positioned and adapted to engage, in use, the valve body, said upper end disk having a housing engaging surface co- located with said tubular portion in the form of a circumferential, radially inwardly - facing rib arranged around said tubular portion and wherein the filter element is adapted to be removably and replaceably mounted within the housing.   
     
     
       35. A filter element suitable for use with a fluid filter of an engine, the fluid filter having a housing, a dome coupled to the housing for supporting the filter element, and a filter bypass valve disposed within the housing and having a valve body secured to the support dome, the valve body being movable against the action of a resistance element mounted between said valve body and said support dome wherein said valve body is disposed between a closed position where the valve body engages a sealing surface of a valve seat to form a fluid tight seal and an open position where the valve body disengages the sealing surface to permit fluid to bypass the filter element, wherein the filter element comprises a lower end disk, an upper end disk having a tubular portion defining an open middle area, wherein said tubular portion extends toward the lower end disk and terminates at a free end, a filter surface disposed between the lower end disk and upper end disk, wherein said free end of said tubular portion forms said valve seat having said sealing surface positioned and adapted to engage, in use, the valve body, said upper end disk having a housing engaging surface in the form of upwardly extending clips formed on the upper end disk and wherein the filter element is adapted to be removably and replaceably mounted within the housing.