Filter assemblies and valves for filter assemblies

Abstract

A filter assembly may include a valve which includes a valve member and a sleeve. The valve member moves between a first position and a second position in response to rotation of the sleeve.

1 . A filter assembly comprising: 
 a plastics housing having an interior, an exterior, an inlet port, and an outlet port;    a filter element in the interior of the housing and including a filter medium;    a passage extending between the interior and the exterior of the housing; and    a valve including a valve member and a rotatable sleeve, wherein the valve member is located within the passage and is movable between a first position in which fluid flow along the passage is permitted and a second position in which the valve member seals the passage and fluid flow along the passage is prevented and wherein the valve member moves axially between the first and second positions in response to rotation of the sleeve.    
   
   
       2 . The filter assembly of  claim 1  wherein the valve includes a pin and a slot which receives the pin, the engagement of the pin in the slot causing the valve member to move axially between the first and second positions in response to rotation of the sleeve.  
   
   
       3 . The filter assembly of  claim 2  wherein the slot is in the sleeve.  
   
   
       4 . The filter assembly of  claim 1  wherein the passage includes first and second portions, the valve member sealing the second portion in the second position.  
   
   
       5 . The filter assembly of  claim 4  wherein the second portion of the passage has a smaller diameter than the first portion.  
   
   
       6 . The filter assembly of  claim 4  wherein the passage includes a third portion which extends through the valve member, the first portion and the third portion of the passage fluidly communicating in the first position.  
   
   
       7 . The filter assembly of  claim 4  wherein the first portion of the passage includes a plurality of spaced ribs.  
   
   
       8 . The filter assembly of  claim 1  wherein the valve member is connected to the sleeve and the sleeve moves axially with the valve member.  
   
   
       9 . A filter assembly comprising: 
 a plastics housing having an interior, an exterior, an inlet port and an outlet port;    a filter element in the interior of the housing and including a filter medium;    a passage which extends between the interior and the exterior of the housing, the passage having a first portion and a second portion; and    a valve including a rotatable sleeve, a pin, a slot, and a valve member, wherein the valve member moves between a first position in which the valve member is in the first portion of the passage and the valve is open and a second position in which the valve member is sealed within the second portion of the passage and the valve is closed, and wherein the valve member moves axially in the passage in response to rotation of the sleeve and engagement of the pin in the slot.    
   
   
       10 . The filter assembly of  claim 9  wherein the pin and the slot are arranged with the sleeve and the housing to move the valve member axially in response to rotation of the sleeve and engagement of the pin in the slot.  
   
   
       11 . The filter assembly of  claim 9  wherein the slot is in the sleeve.  
   
   
       12 . The filter assembly of  claim 9  wherein the valve member is connected to the sleeve.  
   
   
       13 . The filter assembly of  claim 9  wherein the slot is in the sleeve, the pin is on the housing, and the valve member is connected to the sleeve and wherein the sleeve and the valve member move axially in response to rotation of the sleeve and engagement of the pin in the slot.  
   
   
       14 . The filter assembly of  claim 9  wherein the passage includes a third portion which extends through the valve member and wherein the third portion and the first portion of the passage fluidly communicate in the first position.  
   
   
       15 . The filter assembly of  claim 9  wherein the valve member includes a blind end and wherein the blind end of the valve member is sealed within the second portion of the passage in the second position.  
   
   
       16 . The filter assembly of  claim 9  wherein the first portion of the passage includes a plurality of ribs.  
   
   
       17 . The filter assembly of  claim 9  wherein the pin and the slot are arranged with the sleeve and the housing, the valve member is connected to the sleeve, the valve member includes a blind end which is sealed within the second portion of the passage in the second position, and the passage includes a third portion which extends through the valve member, the third portion and the first portion of the passage fluidly communicating in the first position.  
   
   
       18 . The filter assembly of  claim 9  wherein the second portion of the passage has a smaller diameter than the first portion.  
   
   
       19 . A valve for a filter assembly comprising a passage member, a sleeve member surrounding the passage member, and a valve member having a passage and extending in to the passage member from an end thereof, one member including a pin and another member including a co-operating slot such that rotation of the sleeve member results in axial movement of the valve member between a first position in which the valve member opens the passage member for fluid connection with the passage in the valve member and a second position in which the valve member closes the passage member.  
   
   
       20 . A valve according to  claim 19  wherein the pin is carried on an exterior surface of the passage member and the slot extends helically partially around the sleeve member.  
   
   
       21 . A valve according to  claim 19  wherein, in the second position, the valve member sits in and seals against a circumference of the passage member, closing the passage member, and, in the first position, the valve member does not seal against the circumference of the passage member, opening the passage member.  
   
   
       22 . A valve according to  claim 19  wherein the passage member includes a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion, the valve member closing the smaller diameter portion in the second position thereof.  
   
   
       23 . A valve according to  claim 22  wherein the valve member includes a blind end, the blind end entering the smaller diameter portion in the second position to close the passage member.  
   
   
       24 . A valve according to  claim 22  wherein the valve member carries a seal which seals against the smaller diameter portion in the second position.  
   
   
       25 . A valve according to  claim 22  wherein the valve member lies within the larger diameter portion in the first position.  
   
   
       26 . A valve according to  claim 22  wherein the larger diameter portion includes a plurality of ribs within said passage member, the ribs guiding the seal into the smaller diameter portion as the valve member moves to the second position.  
   
   
       27 . A valve according to  claim 26  wherein the valve member carries a seal and the seal includes an O-ring carried in a groove on the valve member and wherein the ribs keep the O-ring in the groove when the valve member is in the first position.  
   
   
       28 . A valve according to  claim 19  wherein the valve member includes a blind end and wherein the valve member passage includes an axially extending portion leading to a connector and a radially extending portion connecting the axial portion to an exterior surface of the valve member spaced from the blind end.  
   
   
       29 . A valve according to  claim 19  wherein the sleeve member surrounds an exterior surface of the passage member and a seal is provided between the sleeve member and the exterior surface of the passage member.  
   
   
       30 . A valve according to  claim 29  wherein the seal includes an O-ring carried in a groove on the exterior surface of the sleeve member.  
   
   
       31 . A valve according to  claim 19  wherein the sleeve member is connected to the valve member.