Advanced Performance Technology, Inc.

Richard Dye

John Lowsky

A filter assembly including a filter housing having a standpipe extending upwardly therethrough, in which is located a spring-biased flow element, and about which is received a replaceable filter element. A screw threaded cover is removably attached to the housing. The filter element includes an upper endcap, a center tube, a lower endcap and cylindrical filter media around the center tube. The lower endcap includes a central opening which receives upwardly therethrough the standpipe in sealed relation. A separate actuator with a projection formed to extend therefrom is located in the center tube, either fixedly or movably, below the upper endcap. When the filter element is placed over the standpipe, and the cover attached to the housing, the projection on the actuator pushes down against the spring-biased flow element, putting cavities formed in the flow element and openings formed in the standpipe in fluid communication. This alignment allows fluid to flow between an area inside the media adjacent the standpipe, to the interior of the standpipe, and out an outlet port of the housing. When the filter element is removed from the housing, for replacement with a new filter element, the projection is removed from the flow element, which returns to its original position to prohibit the fluid communication.

Fuel filter element with flow actuator

A one-piece plastic injection molded filter housing has a first end and a second open end. An injection molded end plate member includes a circumferential annular flange, and an inward annular projection. Opposing, one-piece plastic upper and lower end caps include spaced flanges to receive the respective ends of a filter media therebetween. The upper end cap also includes an upper annular projection. The upper end cap is mechanically, removably connected to the end plate member via corresponding threads or a protuberance/recess interference fit combination. The end plate member is fixedly connected to the housing via a rib that fits into a recess on the housing via an interference fit, or by spin welding. The method for manufacturing the filter includes the following steps: connecting a plastic upper end cap to the media to form a media element; removably, mechanically connecting the upper end cap to the end plate member; and fixedly connecting the end plate member to the second end of the housing.

Fluid filter and method for assembling same

A one-piece plastic injection molded filter housing having first and second open ends, the first end being threaded to receive a separate water collection bowl, and the second end including an external annular recess. An injection molded end plate member includes a circumferential annular flange with an interior annular rib formed thereon, and an inward annular projection with an external thread formed thereon. Opposing, one-piece plastic upper and lower end caps include spaced flanges to receive the respective ends of a filter media therebetween. The upper end cap also includes an upper annular projection that has an internal thread. A hollow plastic molded center tube is used inside a cylindrical paper media. The upper end cap is screwed into the end plate member via the corresponding threads. The rib has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the second end of the housing. Adhesive is applied to the rib and the end plate member is connected to the housing, so that the rib fits into the recess on the housing via an interference fit. The method for manufacturing the filter includes the following steps: forming the cylindrical paper media; inserting a plastic center tube into the cylindrical media and connecting the plastic upper and lower end caps to the media and center tube combination to form a media element; screwing the upper end cap onto the end plate member; and connecting the end plate member to the second end of the housing, so that the rib and recess cooperate to fix the end cap member on the housing via an interference fit.

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Warren, NJ, United States of America

Richard Dye