Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.

Nelson Industries, Inc.

Kenneth M Tofsland

Mark V Holzmann

Jeffrey S Morgan

Mark A Terres

Christopher E Holm

Chirag D Parikh

Jerald J Moy

Eric A Janikowski

Stephen L Fallon

Tadeusz Jaroszczyk

James Alan Debilzen

Rajath Martin

Eric G Gryttenholm

An axial flow element for use in a liquid separation system for an internal combustion engine includes a hub, a groove, a locking member, and a flat layer. The hub includes a cylindrical outer surface. The groove is disposed in the outer surface. The groove extends in a substantially longitudinal direction along the hub from a first end of the hub to a second end of the hub. The locking member is disposed in the groove. The flat layer is disposed between the hub and the locking member.

Methods of attaching a flat layer to a hub of an axial flow element

Air induction systems are for an internal combustion engine. The air induction systems comprise an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine. The air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner. A bellows connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position. The bellows has an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner. A spring is disposed in the bellows. The spring applies a biasing pressure on the bellows that encourages sealing between the bellows and at least one of the air intake plenum and the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position. A shield is provided that blocks inflow of rain water to the bellows when the air intake plenum is in the open position.

Air induction systems for internal combustion engines

Air induction systems are for an internal combustion engine. The air induction systems comprise an air intake plenum that conducts intake airflow to an air cleaner for cleaning prior to combustion in the internal combustion engine. The air intake plenum is movable with respect to the air cleaner between an open position separated from the air cleaner and a closed position connected to the air cleaner. A bellows connects the air intake plenum to the air cleaner when the air intake plenum is in the closed position. The bellows has an upstream first end that seals with the air intake plenum and a downstream second end that seals with the air cleaner.

An inertial separation air precleaner system includes a replaceable insert removably mounted to the precleaner and altering air flow velocity through the precleaner by changing flow area of the flowpath through the precleaner housing. The replaceable insert is replaceable with a different insert for the same precleaner housing, which different insert provides a different flow area through the precleaner housing, enabling a selectable precleaner efficiency vs. restriction trade-off as chosen by a user for a particular application, enabling tuning of precleaner performance by the user.

Cost-effective tunable precleaner

A pleated filter element extends axially between an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet along a plurality of axially extending bend lines forming axial flow channels. The bend lines taper in a transverse direction and define a plurality of axially elongated tetrahedron channels facing oppositely to each other.

Pleated filter element with tapering bend lines

A vortex air precleaner having snap-fit, self-sealing vortex tubes. Each vortex tube includes a flexible lip projecting laterally outward from the tube and spaced from an end of the tube. An annular shoulder is located between the lip and the tube end and spaced from the lip to provide a groove therebetween. The portion of the tube extending from the shoulder to the tube end is tapered inwardly and is formed with a plurality of longitudinal slits to provide the tube end portion with radial flexibility. When the tube end is inserted within an opening in the wall of the precleaner, the end portion will flex inwardly enabling the precleaner wall to be engaged with the groove, and the flexible lip engages the surface of the precleaner wall to provide a tight sealed joint.

Air precleaning apparatus

A cartridge-type liquid-gas separator having particular use for separating oil from air. The separator includes an outer casing containing an annular pleated first stage filter element and an annular second stage element located concentrically of the first stage element. The first stage filter element is composed of a coalescer section formed of unwoven fibrous material and a disloader section disposed downstream of the coalescer section and composed of multiple layers of fibrous material impregnated with a resin having low surface energy. The first stage element can also include a pair of screens, one located upstream of the coalescer section and a second located downstream of the disloader section. The second stage which is spaced downstream from the first stage is composed of a fibrous stripper layer followed by a screen. The entrained oil contained within the air is coalesced in the coalescer section to form larger size droplets and the disloader aids in discharging the droplets downwardly for collection in the center of the second stage filter unit, while the second stage strips any remaining oil droplets from the air.

Growing community of inventors

Stoughton, WI, United States of America

Kenneth M Tofsland