Abstract: The combination of a gas-pressure-driven pump jet nozzle or alternatively Coanda effect nozzle with an impactor nozzle(s) in an air-oil separator for separating oil from blow-by gasses from a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, or for separating liquid aerosol from gas, in general. Such combination enhances impaction efficiency and enables operation at higher pressure differentials (or pressure drop) (“dP”) without causing excessive backpressure in the air-oil separator.

Abstract: According to a set of embodiments, the filtration system includes a housing with a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. A pump is in fluid communication with the fuel outlet. A fuel tank is in fluid communication with the fuel inlet. A thermal recirculation valve includes a thermal recirculation valve inlet and a thermal recirculation valve outlet. The thermal recirculation valve inlet receives heated fuel and the thermal recirculation valve outlet is in fluid communication with the fuel tank. A fluid passage is between the thermal recirculation valve inlet and the thermal recirculation valve outlet. A passage blocking mechanism having a first position and a second position. The passage blocking mechanism is structured to prevent fluid flow through the fluid passage when in the first position. The passage blocking mechanism is structured to allow fluid flow through the fluid passage when in the second position.

Abstract: A heated filter shell assembly for a fuel filtration system includes a filter shell defining a cavity sized to accommodate at least a portion of a fluid filtration cartridge and a cartridge receiving aperture at a first end. A heating element is disposed within the cavity and is operatively coupled to the filter shell adjacent to a second end of the filter shell. A feed wire is operatively coupled to the heating element at a feed wire first end and is configured for electrical energy receiving communication with an energy source at a feed wire second end.

Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to an automatic drain system for use with a fluid water separator. The automatic drain system includes a liquid-in-fuel sensor. The liquid in-fuel sensor is configured to detect a liquid level in a water sump. The solenoid has an open state and a closed state. A control unit is configured to activate the solenoid in response to a signal from the liquid-in-fuel sensor. Activation of the solenoid causes the solenoid to go from the closed state to the open state. The automatic drain system is placed in a condition for allowing fluid flow through the automatic drain system from the water sump.

Abstract: An air intake system having an air filter and a cyclonic pre-cleaner is described. The cyclonic pre-cleaner includes a plurality of fins that cause the air flowing through the pre-cleaner to go from a substantially axial flow to a substantially swirling flow. As the air flow through the pre-cleaner increases, the air is swirled at a faster rate, and some contaminant particles in the air will be forced out of the flow of air before reaching the air filter. The air intake system includes a blower unit having a motor, an impeller, and a controller. The blower unit structured to selectively draw more air through the air intake system to increase the flow of air through the pre-cleaner thereby increasing the efficiency of the pre-cleaner.

Abstract: Various example embodiments relate to rotating coalescers. One embodiment includes a housing comprising a first housing section having a blowby gas inlet structured to receive crankcase blowby gases from a crankcase. The housing further comprises an oil outlet. The rotating coalescer includes an endcap and filter media. The filter media is arranged in a cylindrical shape and is coupled to and positioned between the crankcase blowby gases passing through the filter media by coalescing and separating oils and aerosols contained in the crankcase blowby gases. The rotating coalescer includes a hollow shaft extending through the housing and positioned radially inside of the filter media. The hollow shaft forms a blowby gas outlet structured to route filtered crankcase blowby gases out of the housing. The rotating coalescer further includes a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A filter apparatus is described that has a torque limiting device, which may be a clutch mechanism, and which provides a protective function for a filter, so as to protect a filter from being over tightened and to thereby prevent damage to filter components. The clutch mechanism can also eliminate or reduce the need for torque measurement of certain filter components. The clutch mechanism can be located on one of the fluid filter, a filter head which engages the fluid filter, or a combination of both the fluid filter and the filter head.

Abstract: A “no filter, no run” filtration system that is designed to verify that a filter cartridge is present to safe-guard against damage to fuel injectors, associated fuel components, etc. and engine malfunctions. Fuel flow to the engine is prevented altogether or permitted in an amount insufficient to allow engine operation if a filter cartridge is not installed, and an appropriately designed filter cartridge is required to be used in order to permit sufficient fuel flow for engine operation. In one embodiment, a flow restriction valve is provided that includes a ball.

Abstract: A Spin-on filter assembly that can be used with both suction-side and pressure-side filtration systems is described. The filter assembly screws onto a filter mounting head. The filter mounting head is part of a filtration system that provides fluid to be filtered to the filter assembly. The filter assembly filters the fluid to be filtered through a filter media contained within the filter assembly and provides the filtered fluid back to the filter mounting head. The filter assembly includes an upper seal that seals the clean side of the filter media from the dirty side of the filter media when the filter assembly is connected to the filter mounting head in an installed position. The upper seal includes a sealing ridge that has an elongated shape and is flexible such that the filter assembly can be used on both pressure-side and suction side applications in filtration systems.

Abstract: A filter assembly that includes a filter housing with a housing interlocking feature, a filter cover with a filter cover interlocking feature, and a filter element with a filter element interlocking feature is disclosed. The filter element is positionable within the filter housing, and the filter cover is attachable to a top portion of at least one of the filter element and the filter housing. The housing interlocking feature, the filter cover interlocking feature, and the filter element interlocking feature are interlockable with each other and extend in a nonplanar configuration along at least one side of the filter element when the filter housing, the filter cover, and the filter element are assembled together.

Abstract: A replacement filter element having a removable pin attached to the filter elements is described. The removable pin is attached to the filter element via a first interference fit. When the replacement filter element is installed into a filtration system having a drain valve with an internal draft, the removable pin seals onto the drain valve and forms a second interference fit between the drain valve and the pin. The pin seals an opening in the drain valve. The second interference fit is stronger than the first interference. Accordingly, when the replacement filter element is removed from the filter housing (e.g., during a service event of the replacement filter element), the pin detaches from the replacement filter element and remains positioned within the drain valve thereby preventing fluid from leaking from the housing when the filter element is removed. The pin permanently plugs the drain valve once installed.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a filtration system. The filtration system includes a housing having a drain. A filter element is positioned within the housing. The filter element comprises a first endplate and a second endplate. Filter media is positioned between the first endplate and second endplate. A dual lip seal member is coupled to the second endplate. The dual lip seal member includes a first protrusion that extends radially outward around an outer surface of the dual lip seal member. A second protrusion extends radially outward around the outer surface of the dual lip seal member. The dual lip seal member is configured to prevent fluid to be filtered from exiting the housing through the drain when the filter element is in an installed position. The dual lip seal member permits residual fluid to exit the housing through the drain when the filter element is displaced from the installed position.

Abstract: A fuel water separator filter that is configured as a filter-in-filter construction with multiple water separating layers to separate water from the fuel. The fuel water separator filter is configured for use on a suction side of a fuel pump, and includes a neck with a radially outward facing seal that in use seals with the filter housing. The filter housing is formed with an isolated water sump that in use is isolated from water that is stripped from the fuel by the first stage of the outer filter.

Abstract: A rotating coalescer having an ejected coalesced liquid separating device is described. The separating device prevents re-entrainment of liquid into a stream of filtered gas. The rotating coalescer includes a rotating filter element or coalescing cone stack positioned within a rotating coalescer housing. The outer surface of the rotating filter element or the outlet of the coalescing cone stack is displaced from the inner surface of the rotating coalescer housing. The gap between the rotating filter element or the coalescing cone stack and the rotating coalescer housing allows for ejected coalesced liquid, such as oil, to accumulate on the inner surface of the rotating coalescer housing for drainage and allows for filtered gas, such as air, to exit through a clean gas outlet of the rotating coalescer housing.

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly for filtering a fuel-liquid mixture comprises a filter cartridge and a return tube. The filter cartridge comprises a filter media and a housing. The filter media defines an open central region therein. The housing contains the filter media. The return tube extends into the central region of the filter media. The return tube collects and drains liquid from a bottom inner region of the filter media.

Abstract: Described herein is a continuous process for modifying the properties of polyester and polyester based fibers, such as a poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) fiber, comprising subjecting the PBT fiber to alkaline hydrolysis, and optionally further comprising functionalizing the PBT fiber by solution grafting such as fluorination. The alkaline hydrolysis and optionally subsequent functionalization such as fluorination process can be continuous, following the melt blowing/spinning or spun-bonding process. Also described is a nonwoven PBT fiber mat obtained by the surface modification process. Further described is a filtration device comprising the nonwoven PBT fiber mat.

Abstract: A filter monitoring system and method are described. The filter monitoring system includes a module or circuit installed on an internal combustion engine or within a vehicle powered by the internal combustion engine. The filter monitoring system monitors the operation of the various filtration systems present on the engine to determine an amount of service life remaining and a loading percentage for various filter cartridges installed in the filtration systems of the internal combustion engine. The filter monitoring system determines the loading percentage and predicts remaining service life of a given filter cartridge via a time-based manner (e.g., based on the installation date of the filter cartridge and filter cartridge life specifications) and a pressure differential based manner (e.g., based on a determination of pressure drop across the filter cartridge).

Abstract: A filter system including a designated filter cartridge having a geometric projection, a flow restriction valve that controls fluid flow out of a filter system, and a priming pump configured to prime the filter. The flow restriction valve. The flow restriction valve includes at least on fluid flow check valve configured to allow the priming pump to prime the filter system.

Abstract: Filtration systems having filter elements having an axial seal member with a variable cross-section are described. The variable cross-section is matched by the non-planar sealing surfaces of the housing and housing cover that receive the filter elements. The non-planar sealing surfaces of the housing and the housing cover prevent proper filtration system function when an unauthorized replacement filter element having a flat axial seal member is installed in the housing.

Abstract: An attachment and retaining mechanism is described for removably attaching a rotating filter element to a rotating shaft. The rotating filter element includes a filter media that is driven by a drive mechanism that rotates the rotating shaft. The filter element is removably attached to the rotating shaft such that the filter element and filtration system can be periodically replaced and/or serviced. In some arrangements, the drive shaft includes a D-shaped section that interacts with a mating section of the filter element sleeve of the rotating filter element. In other arrangements, the drive shaft includes at least one flat drive surface.