Patents Examined by Benjamin Kurtz
  • Patent number: 9089795
    Abstract: An endcap including a first plate member including a radial inner portion, a radial outer portion, and defining a longitudinal axis. The endcap also includes a flange disposed between the radial inner and outer portions of the first plate member and projecting axially along the longitudinal axis in a first direction. The endcap also includes a first seal member disposed adjacent the flange. The first seal includes a first portion thereof engaged with an axial facing surface of the first plate member and a second portion thereof engaged with a radially facing surface of the flange. The endcap further includes a second plate member disposed radially outward of the radial outer portion and a second seal member disposed adjacent the second plate member including at least a portion thereof axially spaced from the axially facing surface of the first plate member in a second direction along the longitudinal axis opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignees: Caterpillar Inc., Advanced Filtration Systems, Inc., Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Salvador, Randall W. Heibenthal, Dennis M. Deedrich, David B. Harder, John R. Hacker, Richard J. Eisenmenger
  • Patent number: 9084950
    Abstract: A fluid filter including: an upper case provided with an outlet hole; a lower case provided with an inlet hole; and a filter element held between the upper case and lower case, wherein the outlet hole and the inlet hole are arranged opposite to each other. The filter element includes a first filter material which is folded and arranged in a communication part connecting the outlet hole and the inlet hole, and a second filter material which is folded and spaced apart from the communication part, and the retention interval L1 of the first filter material in the fold line direction is smaller than the retention interval L2 of the second filter material in the fold line direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Saito, Haruaki Sakata, Toshiaki Mori
  • Patent number: 9067154
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a filter replacement kit that includes a filter cartridge. The filter cartridge includes a filter body, a filter media disposed within the filter body, a neck portion having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a cartridge engagement mechanism on the neck portion for engaging a manifold assembly. The cartridge engagement mechanism includes at least one filter engagement surface. The filter replacement kit also includes compatibility indicia indicating that the filter cartridge is compatible with at least one appliance. The at least one appliance includes the manifold assembly including a manifold engagement mechanism having a manifold engagement surface with first and second horizontal portions, and an angled portion disposed between and joining the first horizontal portion to the second horizontal portion, wherein the filter engagement surface is non-congruent to the manifold engagement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Matt R. Branscomb, Jeffrey M. Maki, Jeremy A. Schmoll, Jon P. Kragness
  • Patent number: 9056268
    Abstract: A filter and filter media configured and arranged for placement in a fuel stream is disclosed. The filter and filter media allow for filtering of liquid fuels, such as diesel fuel. In certain embodiments the filter media includes a media fiber (such as glass) and a binder fiber (such as bicomponent) that combine to create a media structure having low solidity and relatively low compressibility, and which contain a pore structure that avoids premature fouling of the filter by fuel degradation products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek O. Jones, Keh B. Dema, Stephen M. Larsen, Mike J. Madsen, Andrew J. Dallas, Yehya A. Elsayed, Chuanfang Yang
  • Patent number: 9044695
    Abstract: A filter device has a filter housing (1) receiving a filter element (11) defining a longitudinal axis and being in the form of a filter cartridge. An end cap (19) forms an enclosure for the relevant end rim of the filter material (23, 25). The end cap fixes the position of the filter element (11) in its functional position by being on an element receiver (13) that interacts with the bottom part (7) of the filter housing (1). The element receiver (13) and the assigned end cap (19) of the filter element (11), on their parts (17 and 15) coming into engagement with one another in the functional position of the filter element are provided with shaped irregularities matched to one another to enable the engagement in a positional relationship directed towards one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Hydac Filtertechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Sann, Volker Backes
  • Patent number: 9038830
    Abstract: A filter device is disclosed. The device includes at least one substantially flat filter media that may be encapsulated between non-permeable films. Some embodiments comprise ports for introducing a fluid to be filtered and for evacuating the filtered fluid. Various substrates may be employed therein in cooperation with the at least one filter media to enhance device performance. Also disclosed are various apparatuses configured to contain at least one filter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Lucas
  • Patent number: 9033158
    Abstract: The present invention provides molded activated carbon, and the molded activated carbon is produced by molding a mixture containing powdery activated carbon (a) having a median particle size of 80 ?m to 120 ?m and a standard deviation ?g of 1.3 to 1.9 in a particle size distribution and a fibrous binder (b). The molded activated carbon of the present invention has excellent removability for free residual chlorine, volatile organic compounds, CAT, and 2-MIB and excellent turbidity filterability, and is for use as a water purifier cartridge or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: KURARAY CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroe Yoshinobu, Satoru Arita, Shuji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9028702
    Abstract: A filter element is provided with a snorkel that facilitates bleeding of air along the outside periphery of a tubular filter media pack to a bleed chamber contained within the filter element. This may be employed in fuel filtration applications during installation and removal of filter elements whereby air can be temporarily trapped in a housing containing the filter element. The snorkel thus vents the air along the outside of the filter element and then into a bleed chamber where it can be communicated to a standpipe having an isolated bleed passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy R. Allen, James N. Marshall
  • Patent number: 9023203
    Abstract: A liquid filter including a filter housing, a ring filter insert and a cover. The housing bottom contains an outlet for emptying the housing when the filter insert is removed. The filter insert includes a filter material body surrounded by front panels. A blocking element for the outlet is arranged on one front panel, and positioning elements are provided on the filter insert and on the housing. The positioning elements include an inclined plane and an engaging radially protruding nose. The inclined plane is arranged on one and the nose is arranged on the other of the filter housing part and the ring filter insert. When the ring filter insert is rotated relative to the filter housing, the inclined plane and the nose are moved in relation to each other such that they slide along each other and engage the blocking element with the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hengst SE & Co., KG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Ardes
  • Patent number: 9022229
    Abstract: A filtering membrane has a supporting structure comprising filaments and is coated with a dope to produce a polymeric membrane layer. Some or all of the filaments comprise a second polymer that is soluble or swellable in a solvent of the dope. The supporting structure may be braided with yarns. One or more yarns may comprise filaments comprising the second polymer. In one example, a braided tubular support is coated with a dope based on PVDF in NMP. Some or all of the yarns of the braid are made of bi-component core-sheath PET-PVDF filaments. With as few as 4% of the yarns in the braid made of the bicomponent filaments, peel strength and pull force of the membrane is improved relative to a braid made entirely of PET yarns. In experimental examples, unpeelable composite membranes were produced. The membrane may be used, for example, for water or wastewater filtration applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kristof Vizvardi, Marcell Marschall, Andras Gyorgy Pozsgay, Zoltan A. Fekete
  • Patent number: 9004291
    Abstract: A fluid filter including: an upper case member having a flow outlet; a lower case member having a flow inlet; a filter element having a folded filter material and a holding frame which holds the circumferential part of the filter material and is sandwiched between the upper case member and the lower case member; and a reinforcing member provided to extend in a direction crossing the ridge line direction of the folds of the filter material, the reinforcing member is provided in such a manner that, when the height of the folds is defined as h1, the lower end thereof is positioned above a position of 0.6 h1 from the upper end of the folds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Saito, Haruaki Sakata, Toshiaki Mori
  • Patent number: 8961792
    Abstract: A fluid strainer is disclosed for use in a fluid piping system, the fluid strainer having a first valve chamber and a second valve chamber. The first valve chamber can have a strainer inlet and contain first and second angled members, and the second valve chamber can have a strainer outlet and contain third and fourth angled members. A first pivotable seal can be movable within the first valve chamber into sealing engagement against either of the first or second angled members, and a second pivotable seal can be movable within the second valve chamber into sealing engagement against either of the third or fourth angled members. A first strainer chamber can be in communication with the first angled member and the third angled member, and a second strainer chamber can be in communication with the second angled member and the fourth angled member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Titan Flow Control, Inc.
    Inventor: Ashvin D. Desai
  • Patent number: 8960448
    Abstract: A two-layered osmosis membrane contains a support layer and a rejection layer. The support layer, in which a mesh is embedded, is made of a phase separation polymer and has a thickness of 50 to 200 ?m. The rejection layer, which adheres to the support layer, is made of a thin film composite polymer and has a thickness of 0.05 to 3 ?m. The mesh, which is embedded in the support layer, has an open area of 30 to 70%, a mesh size of 60-300 mesh, and a thickness of 45-150 ?m. Also disclosed is a method of making the above described membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: How Yong Ng, Wei Duan
  • Patent number: 8955690
    Abstract: An unclogging filter apparatus has an irrigation outlet and a flushing outlet. A filtering element moves between at least an operational position and a flushing position. When the filtering element is in the operational position substantially all of the fluid flowing into the apparatus is directed out the irrigation outlet, while the filtering element is disposed for removing a particle from the fluid flowing into the apparatus. When the filtering element is in the flushing position, the filtering element is disposed for flushing the particle out the flushing outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Amirim Products Development & Patents Ltd.
    Inventor: Amir Cohen
  • Patent number: 8945388
    Abstract: A filter has first and second filter media (2, 3). The filter media define a flow space (4) between them receiving a device (5) for separation and flow guidance and dividing the flow space such that a functional space (25, 26) is disposed adjacent to the first or the second filter medium. The first filter medium (2) defines a hollow space (21) toward the outside, and the second filter medium (3) defines a hollow space (22) toward the inside. Each of the hollow spaces (21, 22) can be connected to at least one fluid duct (23, 24). The flow space (4) including the two functional spaces (25, 26) can be connected to at least one further fluid duct (27) that is separated in a fluid-tight manner from the other fluid ducts (23, 24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hydac Filtertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Dewes
  • Patent number: 8945387
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane element may be used in a pressure vessel similar to those used with spiral wound elements, optionally as a replacement for a spiral wound element. A connecting sleeve is used to connect the insides of adjacent elements to each other or to one or more fittings in communication with the outside of the pressure vessel. The element has hollow fiber membranes suspended between two potting heads spaced apart by a cross flow tube that is open at the outside faces of both potting heads. The potting heads are each adapted to slide into an end of a connecting sleeve. A module has one or more hollow fiber elements located inside of a pressure vessel. At least one port is provided in communication between the outsides of the one or more elements and the outside of the vessel. An aerator may be provided on the bottom of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Nicholas William H. Adams
  • Patent number: 8939293
    Abstract: Composite membranes that are adapted for separation, purification, filtration, analysis, reaction and sensing. The composite membranes can include a porous support structure having elongate pore channels extending through the support structure. The composite membrane also includes an active layer comprising an active layer material, where the active layer material is completely disposed within the pore channels between the surfaces of the support structure. The active layer is intimately integrated within the support structure, thus enabling great robustness, reliability, resistance to mechanical stress and thermal cycling, and high selectivity. Methods for the fabrication of composite membranes are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Synkera Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Routkevitch, Oleg G. Polyakov
  • Patent number: 8936161
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a control valve filter device, including: a belt-like frame body curved into a ring shape so that its ends face each other, the frame body having an opening; a filter member provided in the opening of the frame body; an engagement claw extended from one of each of both corresponding lateral portions of the faced ends of the frame body; and a concave portion provided at the other of each of the both corresponding lateral portions of the faced ends of the frame body, so as to be engaged by the engagement claw, each concave portion being formed laterally of the opening of the frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Piolax, Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8932464
    Abstract: Static dissipaters for eliminating static electricity in fuel filter assemblies and fuel filter assemblies including static dissipaters are provided. The static dissipaters are in the form of a static dissipation sleeve that is disposed around the outside of a fuel pump within a fuel filter assembly. The static dissipation sleeve has one or more protrusion portions that protrude radially from the surface of the static dissipation sleeve and provide contacts for static dissipation of static electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL Purolator Filters LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Byrd, L. Steven Cline
  • Patent number: 8932465
    Abstract: A filter within a filter cartridge design is described that includes a sealing structure on an endplate of an outer filter element. Generally, the sealing structure includes an annular flange on the endplate that can directly seal against an interior surface of a housing when the filter cartridge is assembled for use. During filtration, the annular flange prevents a working fluid from bypassing the outer filter element. The sealing flange can seal with the housing in a press fit engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Wells, Terry W. Shults, Ismail C. Bagci, Dean Olson, Zemin Jiang, Kevin C. South, Peter K. Herman, Hendrik N. Amirkhanian, Jeffrey B. Sharp, David P. Genter, Norman C. Blizard, Melvin Douglas McCormick, Jeffrey A. Husband, Wassem Abdalla, Michael J. Connor, Barry M. Verdegan, Donna Butler, Chad T. Brummitt