Passive pump filter

Abstract

A portable forced air heating unit provided with a filter cover. The filter cover reduces the dust and particulates that may enter the air intake filter of an air compressor or unit. The filter cover deflects particulates carried by the forced air. The filter cover may extend from the air compressor.

1 . A portable forced air heating unit comprising:
 an outer housing having an inlet end and an outlet end;   an air compressor, a motor, and a fan positioned within said outer housing, wherein said air compressor includes a filter opening defined by an upstream end surface, said filter opening having an air intake filter therein;   wherein said fan forces air in a longitudinal first direction from said inlet end to said outlet end;   a filter cover having an end plate with a longitudinal flange and skirt, wherein said end plate is semicircular in shape with an outer periphery having an curved edge connected by a straight edge, and said flange projects from said curved edge and said skirt projects from said straight edge, said flange and skirt circumscribing an outer periphery of said filter opening, wherein said skirt extends between said air compressor end surface and said end plate thereby said end plate is longitudinally spaced upstream from said air compressor end surface and radially disposed beyond said filter opening outer periphery creating a longitudinal gap radially across said air intake filter;   wherein said longitudinal flange of said filter cover extends longitudinally from said end plate in said longitudinal first direction and is radially spaced from an outer wall of said air compressor by said skirt towards said outer housing creating a radial gap, and a free end of said longitudinal flange, said skirt, and a cylindrical outer wall of said air compressor defines an inlet opening, said inlet opening in fluid communication with said air intake filter through said radial gap and said longitudinal gap, wherein said inlet opening faces substantially towards said outlet end of said outer housing thereby allowing air to enter said inlet opening in a longitudinal second direction, wherein said longitudinal second direction is opposite to said longitudinal first direction.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The portable forced air heating unit of  claim 1  wherein said inlet opening is circumferential in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The portable forced air heating unit of  claim 1  wherein inlet opening is longitudinally positioned downstream of said filter opening of said air compressor. 
     
     
         6 . The portable forced air heating unit of  claim 1  further including one or more tabs spacing said end plate from said end surface of said air compressor. 
     
     
         7 . A portable heater comprising:
 an outer housing having an inlet end and an outlet end;
 an air compressor, a motor, and a fan positioned within said outer housing, wherein said air compressor includes a cylindrical outer wall longitudinally extending from an upstream end surface, wherein said end surface includes a filter opening defined by an outer periphery, said filter opening is in fluid communication with an air intake filter; 
 wherein said fan forces air in a longitudinal first direction from said inlet end to said outlet end; 
 a filter cover having an end plate with a longitudinally extending flange and skirt, wherein said endplate is spaced upstream from said filter opening and wherein said flange and said skirt circumferential surrounds said outer periphery of said filter opening to define a longitudinal gap between said end surface of said compressor and said end plate of said filter cover, wherein said longitudinal gap further extends radially across said air intake filter between said flange and said skirt; 
 wherein said flange of said filter cover extends longitudinally from said end plate in said longitudinal first direction and is radially spaced from said outer wall of said air compressor towards said outer housing creating a radial gap in fluid communication with said longitudinal gap; 
 said flange, said skirt, and said cylindrical outer wall of said air compressor defining an inlet opening, wherein said inlet opening is circumferentially discontinuous about said cylindrical outer wall of said air compressor, said inlet opening is in fluid communication with said air intake filter through said radial gap and said longitudinal gap; and 
 wherein said filter cover is positioned upstream from said filter opening to deflect particulates from longitudinal entering said air intake filter in said longitudinal first direction. 
   
     
     
         8 . The portable heater of  claim 7  wherein said filter cover is longitudinally aligned with said filter opening and larger than said outer periphery of said filter opening. 
     
     
         9 . The portable heater of  claim 7  wherein said endplate is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal first direction. 
     
     
         10 . The portable heater of  claim 9  wherein said flange extends from said endplate upstream from said filter opening to a position downstream from said filter opening. 
     
     
         11 . The portable heater of  claim 7  wherein said filter cover extends from a first longitudinal position upstream from said filter opening to a second longitudinal position downstream from said filter opening. 
     
     
         12 . The portable heater of  claim 7  wherein said filter cover projects from said air compressor. 
     
     
         13 . The portable heater of  claim 7  wherein said filter cover defines a first directional flow of air into said air intake filter in a longitudinal second direction, wherein said longitudinal second direction is opposite to said longitudinal first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The portable heater of  claim 13  wherein said filter cover defines a second directional flow of air into said air intake filter, wherein said second directional flow of air flows in a radial direction that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal second direction. 
     
     
         15 . A portable forced air heating unit comprising:
 an outer housing having an inlet end and an outlet end;   an air compressor, a motor, a fan, and a filter cover positioned within said outer housing, wherein said air compressor includes a cylindrical outer wall longitudinally extending from an upstream end surface, wherein said air compressor includes an upstream facing filter opening in said upstream end surface, said filter opening includes an air intake filter therein;   wherein said fan forces air in a longitudinal first direction from said inlet end to said outlet end;   a filter cover defines an inlet opening longitudinally positioned downstream of a filter opening of said air compressor, wherein said inlet opening is circumferentially discontinuous about said cylindrical outer wall of said air compressor, said inlet opening receives a first directional flow of air into said air intake filter, wherein said first directional flow of air is in a longitudinal second direction substantially opposite to said longitudinal first direction of forced air; and   wherein said filter cover defines a second directional flow of air, wherein said second directional flow of air flows in a radial direction that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal second direction.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The portable forced air heating unit of  claim 15  wherein said filter cover includes an endplate and a longitudinally extending flange. 
     
     
         18 . The portable forced air heating unit of  claim 15  wherein said filter cover and said air compressor combine to define at least said first directional flow of air into said air intake filter. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The portable forced air heating unit of  claim 15  wherein said inlet opening faces downstream in said longitudinal first direction. 
     
     
         21 . A portable forced air heating unit comprising:
 a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end;   an air compressor, a motor, a fan, and a filter cover positioned within said housing, wherein said air compressor includes an upstream facing filter opening in said upstream end surface, said filter opening includes an air intake filter therein;   wherein said fan forces air in a longitudinal first direction from said inlet end to said outlet end;   a filter cover defining a longitudinal air channel, wherein said longitudinal air channel allows a first directional flow of air to be in upstream fluid communication with said air intake filter of said air compressor, wherein said first directional flow of air travels in a longitudinal second direction substantially opposite to said longitudinal first direction of forced air; and   wherein said filter cover deflects air particulates within forced air in said longitudinal first direction from entering said longitudinal air channel in said substantially opposite said longitudinal second direction.   
     
     
         22 . The portable forced air heating unit of  claim 21  further comprising a radial air channel in fluid communication between said air intake filter and said longitudinal air channel.