Bowl-cartridge filter having interlock mechanism and methods

Abstract

A bowl-cartridge filter includes a filter cartridge and a bowl. The filter cartridge includes an interlock arrangement that is oriented to engage the filter bowl, when the filter cartridge is mounted in the filter bowl, and the bowl is rotated in a direction to remove the bowl-cartridge filter from a filter head. The filter bowl includes a cooperating interlock arrangement that engages the interlock arrangement on the filter cartridge. Example embodiments include cog arrangements, which include a plurality of projecting teeth. Various shapes for the teeth are possible, including house-shaped, truncated A-shaped, and pie wedged shape.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A bowl-cartridge filter arrangement configured for operable installation onto a filter head by rotation in a first direction and removal from the filter head by rotation in an opposite, second direction; the bowl-cartridge filter arrangement comprising: 
 (a) a filter bowl having an interior surface; said filter bowl including a filter bowl interlock arrangement extending from said filter bowl interior surface; 
 (i) said filter bowl interlock arrangement including at least three teeth;  
 (ii) said bowl includes an open end and a closed end; said filter bowl interlock arrangement extending from said interior surface of said closed end;  
   (b) a disposable cartridge filter operably mounted in and selectively removable from the bowl; the filter cartridge comprising: 
 (i) an extension of filter media; said extension having a first end and an opposite second end;  
 (ii) a first end cap secured to said extension of filter media at said first end; and  
 (iii) a second end cap secured to said extension of filter media at said second end; 
 (A) the second end cap including a solid, non-porous end wall defining a closed surface;  
 (B) the second end cap including a projection extending from the end wall in a direction toward the first end cap;  
 (C) the second end cap including a filter cartridge interlock arrangement; 
 (1) the filter cartridge interlock arrangement engaging said three teeth of said filter bowl interlock arrangement.  
 
 
   
     
     
         22 . A bowl-cartridge filter arrangement according to  claim 21  wherein: 
 (a) said filter cartridge interlock arrangement includes at least three teeth extending from said second end cap; 
 (i) said three teeth of said filter cartridge interlock arrangement engaging said three tooth of said filter bowl interlock arrangement.  
   
     
     
         23 . A bowl-cartridge filter arrangement according to  claim 21  wherein: 
 (a) said bowl includes a threaded region adjacent to said open end for releasable attachment to a filter head.    
     
     
         24 . A bowl-cartridge filter arrangement according to  claim 22  wherein: 
 (a) said three teeth of said filter cartridge interlock arrangement extend from an outer surrounding wall of the second end cap.    
     
     
         25 . A method of servicing a bowl-cartridge filter operably installed on a filter head; the bowl-cartridge filter including a bowl and a cartridge filter selectively removable from the bowl; the cartridge filter including an extension of filter media between first and second opposite end caps; the method including: 
 (a) rotating the bowl relative to the filter head to release the bowl from the filter head;    (b) while rotating the bowl relative to the filter head, simultaneously rotating the cartridge filter relative to the filter head; 
 (i) wherein the step of simultaneously rotating the cartridge filter relative to filter head includes using an interlock arrangement on the bowl to urge an interlock arrangement on the cartridge filter in a rotary motion; 
 (A) the bowl interlock arrangement including at least three teeth;  
 (B) the bowl includes an open end and a closed end; the filter bowl interlock arrangement extending from the interior surface of said closed end;  
 (C) the cartridge filter including first and second opposite end caps; 
 (1) the second end cap including a solid, non-porous end wall defining a closed surface;  
 (2) the second end cap including a projection extending from the end wall in a direction toward the first end cap; and  
 (C) the second end cap including the cartridge filter interlock arrangement.  
 
 
   
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein: 
 (a) the cartridge filter interlock arrangement includes at least three teeth extending from the second end cap;    (b) said step of simultaneously rotating includes engaging the three teeth of the filter cartridge interlock arrangement against the three teeth of the filter bowl interlock arrangement.    
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein: 
 (a) the step of rotating the bowl relative to the filter head to release the bowl from the filter head includes releasing a threaded region adjacent to the open end of the bowl from the filter head.    
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein: 
 (a) the at least three teeth of the filter cartridge interlock arrangement includes at least three teeth extending from an outer surrounding wall of the second end cap; and    (b) said step of simultaneously rotating includes engaging the at least three teeth of the filter cartridge interlock arrangement extending from the outer surrounding wall of the second cap against the three teeth of the filter bowl interlock arrangement.    
     
     
         29 . A filter cartridge for use in a bowl-cartridge filter; the bowl-cartridge filter configured for operable installation onto a filter head by rotation in a first direction and removal from the filter head by rotation in an opposite, second direction; the bowl-cartridge filter including a bowl and a cartridge filter for selective mounting in and removal from the bowl; the filter cartridge comprising: 
 (a) an extension of filter media; said extension having a first end and an opposite second end;    (b) a first end cap secured to said extension of filter media at said first end; and    (c) a second end cap secured to said extension of filter media at said second end; 
 (ii) the second end cap defining a central portion adapted to receive a projection from a bowl; and  
 (iii) the second end cap including a filter cartridge interlock arrangement including a plurality of spaces open to vertical motion adapted to receive a plurality of projections from a bowl through vertical engagement, when the filter cartridge is operably positioned in a bowl.  
   
     
     
         30 . A filter cartridge according to  claim 29  wherein: 
 (a) the filter cartridge interlock arrangement further includes a plurality of teeth; each tooth of said plurality of teeth being spaced apart by a respective one of said spaces of the plurality of spaces.    
     
     
         31 . A filter cartridge according to  claim 29  wherein: 
 (a) the plurality of spaces circumscribed the central portion of the second end cap.    
     
     
         32 . A filter cartridge according to  claim 29  wherein: 
 (a) the extension of filter media comprises cellulose.