Fluid filter assembly having a combination valve

Abstract

A filter assembly has a housing open at one end, with an annular filter media/core assembly disposed in the housing. An end plate having at least two inlet openings and an outlet opening is disposed in the open end of the housing. The end plate is affixed to a lid which is secured to the end of the housing. A combination valve is retained between the filter media/core assembly and the end plate. The combination valve has a first portion that cooperates with the first inlet opening in the end plate and a second portion cooperating with the second inlet opening. In use fluid will pass through the first inlet opening, the filter media/core assembly and be discharged from the housing through the outlet opening. When the filter media begins to clog, pressure will build and upon attainment of a predetermined pressure the second portion will open the second inlet opening and fluid flow can pass through the second inlet opening to the outlet opening, for discharge from the filter assembly and return to the engine, thereby bypassing the filter media. A spring is disposed between the end of the filter media remote from the end plate and the housing for biasing the filter media/core assembly toward the end plate to retain the combination valve in place.

1 . A filter assembly having a housing open at one end an annular filter media/core assembly disposed in said housing, an end plate secured to the housing and closing the open end thereof, the end plate having first inlet opening means, second inlet opening means and outlet opening means, the second inlet opening means comprising at least one flow channel formed in the end plate and communicating at one end with the first inlet opening means, a combination valve disposed between the annular filter media/core assembly and the end plate for controlling fluid flow through the first inlet opening means and the second inlet opening means, the combination valve including a first portion cooperating with the first inlet opening means and a second portion cooperating with the second inlet opening means, the second portion having more resistance to fluid flow than the first portion, whereby, in normal operation, the first portion will yield prior to the second portion and fluid flow will pass through the first inlet opening means, the annular filter media/core assembly and then be discharged through said outlet opening means and when the annular filter media/core assembly begins to clog, pressure upstream of the first portion will build and upon attainment of a predetermined pressure, the second portion will open the second inlet opening means and fluid flow can pass through the second inlet opening means and out the outlet opening means bypassing the annular filter media/core assembly.  
   
   
       2 . A filter assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the flow channel is a recess in the surface of the end plate facing the annular filter media/core assembly.  
   
   
       3 . A filter assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the combination valve comprises an annular member, with the first portion extending outwardly from a central portion and the second portion extending inwardly from the central portion, the second portion being stiffer than the first portion; the annular filter element engaging the central portion of the combination valve between the first portion and the second portion to retain the combination valve in place.  
   
   
       4 . A filter assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the end plate has an inclined portion inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing and a transverse portion transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing, the first inlet opening means being disposed in the inclined portion and the second inlet opening means being disposed at least in part in the transverse portion.  
   
   
       5 . A filter assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the first inlet opening means comprises a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       6 . A filter assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the second inlet opening means comprises a plurality of openings.  
   
   
       7 . A filter assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the first inlet opening means are comprised of a plurality of openings arranged concentrically around the axis of the filter assembly, and the annular filter/media core assembly bearing upon the combination valve to retain same in position against the end plate.  
   
   
       8 . A filter assembly as in  claim 3 , wherein the second portion has a surface engaging the end plate and a surface engaging the central core.  
   
   
       9 . A filter assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the flow channel is formed in the surface of the end plate.  
   
   
       10 . In a filter assembly having a housing open at one end, an annular filter media/core assembly disposed in said housing, and an end plate secured to the housing in the open end and closing the open end, an end plate having first inlet openings, second inlet openings and an outlet opening, and a combination valve disposed between the annular filter media/core assembly and the end plate for controlling fluid flow through the first and second inlet openings, the combination valve including a first portion cooperating with the first inlet openings and a second portion cooperating with the second inlet openings, the second portion having more resistance to fluid flow than the first portion, whereby in operation, the first portion will yield in response to minimum pressure and fluid flow will pass through the first inlet openings, the annular filter media/core assembly and then be discharged through the outlet opening and when the annular filter media/core assembly begins to clog, pressure will begin to build and upon attainment of a higher predetermined pressure, the second portion will open the second inlet openings and fluid flow can pass through the second inlet openings and out the outlet opening bypassing the annular filter media/core assembly, the improvement comprising the second inlet openings being defined by flow channels in the end plate, each flow channel communicating at one end to a first inlet opening.  
   
   
       11 . A filter assembly as in  claim 10 , wherein the flow channel is formed as a recess in the surface of the end plate facing the annular filter media/core assembly.  
   
   
       12 . A filter assembly as in  claim 10 , wherein the combination valve comprises an annular member, with the first portion extending outwardly from a central portion and the second portion extending inwardly from the central portion, the second portion being stiffer than the first portion; the annular filter element engaging the central portion of the combination valve between the first portion and the second portion to retain the combination valve in place.  
   
   
       13 . A filter assembly as in  claim 11 , wherein the end plate has an inclined portion inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing and a transverse portion transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing, the first inlet opening means being disposed in the inclined portion and the second inlet opening means being disposed at least in part in the transverse portion.  
   
   
       14 . An end plate for use in a filter assembly, said end plate having first inlet openings, second inlet openings and an outlet opening therein, said end plate having an inclined portion inclined with respect to the central axis of the end plate and a transverse portion transverse to the central axis of the end plate, the first inlet openings being disposed in the inclined portion and the second inlet openings being disposed at least in part in the transverse portion.