GB2534854A

GB2534854A - Filter positioning system and method

Info

Publication number: GB2534854A
Application number: GB1501552.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Woloszyn Rafal; M Varu Anand
Original assignee: Caterpillar SARL
Current assignee: Caterpillar SARL
Priority date: 2015-01-30
Filing date: 2015-01-30
Publication date: 2016-08-10
Also published as: GB201501552D0

Abstract

A filter positioning system and a method therefore, the filter positioning system comprises a filter housing (20) comprising an open end, a closed end, a fluid inlet (22), and a fluid outlet (23). Locating means (26) for locating a filter (11) are provided in the filter housing (20) in a first configuration and adjusting means (30) for adjusting the locating means (26) cause a filter (11) to be located in the filter housing (20) in a second configuration. In use, a filter (11) with further locating means (12) may be mated with the locating means (26) for locating a filter (11) in the filter housing 20. The filter (11) may be lifted from the filter housing (20) for cleaning and servicing causing an actuating means (13) on an external surface of the filter (11) to actuate a trigger (33) to rotate the first locating means (26). The filter positioning system may be applied to air filters for diesel engines and facilitate more even wear of the filter (11) throughout its life.

Description

FILTER POSITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Technical Field

This disclosure is directed to a filter positioning system and a method therefor, and in particular to a filter positioning system for use with a filter on an internal combustion engine.

Background

Various components of an internal combustion engine may employ a filter, such as an air filter or an oil filter. For example, engine intake air is generally filtered before passing through a compressor. Filters used on industrial engines, particularly air filters, are often cylindrical in shape. Air intake is usually from only one side of the filter, hence the majority of build-up on the filter may occur in that region; this may result in uneven wear on the filter. It may also cause air filter damage due to extensive pressure on the filter material in the intake region.

Periodic servicing and cleaning may be required during the lifecycle of an air filter. The air filter may be removed from its location to undergo servicing and cleaning and then be reinserted thereafter.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a filter positioning system comprising: a -2 -filter housing comprising an open end, a closed end, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet; locating means for locating a filter in the filter housing in a first configuration; and adjusting means for adjusting the locating means to cause a filter to be located in the filter housing in a second configuration.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method for adjusting a configuration of a filter in a filter housing, the filter housing comprising locating means for locating the filter in the filter housing in a first configuration, the method comprising the steps of: removing the filter from the filter housing; reinserting the filter into the filter housing; and adjusting the locating means to cause the filter to be located in the filter housing in a second configuration; wherein the adjusting step occurs in response to either the removal step or the reinsertion step.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a known filter assembly; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly of Figure 1 with an embodiment of a filter positioning system according to the present invention. -3 -

Detailed Description

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a filter assembly 10 for use with a filter 11. The filter 11 may, for example, be an air filter, as is known in the art. However, the filter assembly 10 may alternatively be applied to other types of filters 11, such as oil filters.

The filter assembly 10 may comprise a filter housing 20 in which the filter 11 is located. The filter housing 20 may be shaped to complement the filter 11, and may be formed from metal or plastic. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the filter housing 20 may be generally cylindrical. The filter housing 20 may be hollow, such that the filter 11 may be located therein, and may have an open end and a closed end. The filter housing 20 may comprise a removable cap 21 for closing the open end of the filter housing 20 when the filter 11 is located therein. The filter housing 20 may further be provided with a fluid inlet 22 and a fluid outlet 23 for directing the substance to be filtered, e.g. air, through the filter 11. The fluid inlet 22 may be provided on a side wall of the filter housing 20. The fluid outlet 23 may be provided in the closed end of the filter housing 20.

Filter receiving means 24 may be mounted inside the filter housing 20 towards the closed end of the filter housing 20 having the fluid cutlet 23. The filter receiving means 24 may comprise a rotatable plate, as illustrated in Figure 2. The filter receiving means 24 may comprise mounting means 25, which may be in the form of an annular collar extending from a first surface of the rotatable plate -4 -and passing through the fluid outlet 23 of the filter housing 20.

The filter receiving means 24 may be provided with first locating means 26, for locating a filter 11 with respect to the filter receiving means 24. The first locating means 26 may comprise a locating pin, which may extend from a second opposing surface of the rotatable plate (see Figure 2).

Adjusting means 30 may be coupled to the mounting means 25 of the filter receiving means 24. The adjusting means 30 may comprise rotating means, such as a ratchet gear having a plurality of teeth (not shown), as shown in Figure 2. In the case of a ratchet gear, the ratchet gear may be provided with a biased holding pawl 32, which may mate with the teeth. The holding pawl 32 may restrict rotation of the ratchet gear to enable it to rotate in one direction only. A trigger 33 may be provided in the filter housing 20. The trigger 33 may comprise a switch. The switch may have a mechanical linkage 34 to a driving pawl 35 arranged to drive rotation of the ratchet gear. Alternatively, the switch may be electrically coupled to a driving pawl 35.

The filter 11 may comprise a pleated paper filter.

Alternatively, it may be made from foam, such as polyurethane foam, or oiled cotton gauze. The filter 11 may be generally cylindrical, or any other suitable shape. The filter 11 may be generally tubular, such that the substance to be filtered, e.g. air, is filtered as it passes through the wall of the filter 11. The filter 11 may be closed at -5 -one end. The filter 11 may be provided with second locating means 12, for mating with the first locating means 26 on the filter receiving means 24. The second locating means 12 may be at the open end of the filter 11. As illustrated in Figure 2, the second locating means 12 may comprise a notch. In an alternative embodiment, the first locating means 26 may comprise a notch and the second locating means 12 may comprise a locating pin. The filter 11 may further comprise actuating means 13, for actuating the trigger 33. The actuating means 13 may comprise a protrusion (see Figure 2), which may be provided around the periphery of the filter 11; in the case of a cylindrical filter 11, the protrusion 13 may be annular.

The above-described embodiment is only one example of how the configuration of a filter 11 in a filter housing 20 can be forced to adjust automatically through the process of removing the filter 11 from, and then reinserting it into, the filter housing 20. However, other means could be used to achieve the same effect of causing an automatic adjustment of the configuration of a filter 11 in a filter housing 20 through the process of removal and reinsertion, wherein an adjustment of the configuration of the filter may comprise one or more of a positional change and/or a change in orientation.

Industrial Applicability

The filter positioning system has industrial applicability in the field of filters for engines, in particular internal combustion engines, and may be used with -6 -a variety of different internal combustion engines, such as diesel engines. The filter positioning system is particularly suited to be applied to air filters for diesel engines.

For use, a filter 11 may be inserted into the filter housing 20, and the second locating means 12 provided on the filter 11 mated with the first locating means 26 provided on the filter receiving means 24 in the filter housing 20. The cap 21 may then be fitted onto the filter housing 20.

Periodically, the filter 11 may be removed from the filter housing 20 for cleaning and servicing. To remove the filter 11 from the filter housing 20, first the cap 21 may be removed from the filter housing 20. The filter 11 may then be lifted out of the filter housing 20. Lifting the filter 11 from the filter housing 20 may cause the actuating means 13 on the external surface of the filter 11 to actuate the trigger 33. Actuation of the trigger 33 may, in turn, result in the actuation of the driving pawl 35, which may cause the adjusting means 30, and therefore the first locating means 26, to be rotated through a predetermined angle. An example of a suitable angle of rotation may be 90°. The holding pawl 32 may prevent rotation of the adjusting means 30 in the opposite direction.

When the filter 11 is replaced in the filter housing 20, following cleaning and servicing, the filter 11 may again be located in the filter housing 20 via the first and second locating means 26,12. However, the position of the first locating means 26, and therefore the configuration of -7 -the filter 11 in the filter housing 20, may now be rotated with respect to their former position/configuration by the predetermined angle. This may facilitate more even wear of the filter 11 throughout its life. -8 -

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A filter positioning system comprising: a filter housing comprising an open end, a closed end, 5 a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet; locating means for locating a filter in the filter housing in a first configuration; and adjusting means for adjusting the locating means to cause a filter to be located in the filter housing in a second configuration.
2. A filter positioning system according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means comprises rotating means.
3. A filter positioning system according to claim 2, wherein the rotating means comprises a ratchet gear.
4. A filter positioning system according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising filter receiving means located 20 in the filter housing, wherein the filter receiving means comprises the locating means.
5. A filter positioning system according to claim 4, wherein the filter receiving means comprises a rotatable 25 plate.
6. A filter positioning system according to claim 5 as dependent on claim 3, wherein the ratchet gear is coupled to the rotatable plate. -9 -
7. A filter positioning system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locating means comprises a locating pin extending into the filter housing.
8. A filter positioning system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a trigger which is operable to drive the rotating means.
9. A filter positioning system according to claim 8, wherein the trigger is operable to be actuated by removal of a filter from, or insertion cf a filter into, the filter housing.
10. A filter positioning system according to claim 8 or 15 claim 9, wherein the trigger comprises a switch.
11. A filter positioning system according to any one of claims 8 to 10 as dependent upon claim 2, wherein the trigger is mechanically coupled to a driving pawl to drive 20 the rotating means.
12. A filter positioning system according to any one of claims 8 to 10 as dependent upon claim 2, wherein the trigger is electrically coupled to a driving pawl to drive 25 the rotating means.
13. A filter positioning system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cap configured to close the open end of the filter housing.

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14. A filter assembly comprising: a filter positioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 13; and a filter comprising seccnd locating means; wherein the second locating means is configured to mate with the locating means.
15. A filter assembly according to claim 14 as dependent on claim 8, wherein the filter further comprises actuating 10 means for actuating the trigger.16. A filter assembly according to claim 15, wherein the actuating means comprises a protrusion around the periphery of the filter.
16. A filter assembly according to claim 14 or claim 15 as dependent on claim 8, wherein actuation of the trigger is based on at least one of remcval of the filter from or insertion of the filter into the filter housing.
17. A method for adjusting a configuration of a filter in a filter housing, the filter hcusing comprising locating means for locating the filter in the filter housing in a first configuration, the method comprising the steps of: removing the filter frorr the filter housing; reinserting the filter into the filter housing; and adjusting the locating means to cause the filter to be located in the filter housing in a second configuration; wherein the adjusting step occurs in response to either the removal step or the reinsertion step.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the removal step or the reinsertion step triggers the adjusting step.
19. A method according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the adjusting step comprises rotating the locating means with respect to the filter housing.