Patents by Inventor Allen Buhr Wright

Allen Buhr Wright has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8157989
    Abstract: A filter includes a housing having a cavity. A media pack, which includes a filter media, is arranged within the cavity and includes a central opening extending between opposing ends of the media pack. A center tube is arranged within the central opening and extends out of the central opening beyond one of the ends to provide a first end. A relief valve is supported on the first end. The filter cartridge assembly is installed into the housing with the relief valve in sealing engagement with a tapping plate of the housing. The relief valve performs the function of a seal between the filter cartridge assembly and the tapping plate in addition to performing pressure relief functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Purolator Filters NA LLC
    Inventors: Allen Buhr Wright, L. Steven Cline, Brian Glenn Yates
  • Patent number: 8152996
    Abstract: A filter is provided having a housing that includes a cavity. A center tube includes first and second ends spaced from one another. A seat extends radially from the center tube and is arranged between the first and second ends. A media pack is arranged within the cavity and supported on the seat such that the center tube extends through a central opening of the media pack. An anti-drainback valve is supported on the seat and is in sealing engagement with the center tube and the media pack. The housing includes a tapping plate that provides an inlet and outlet. An annular lip of the anti-drainback valve is in sealing engagement with the tapping plate when in a closed position in which the engine is shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Purolator Filters NA LLC
    Inventors: Allen Buhr Wright, L. Steven Cline, Brian Glenn Yates
  • Patent number: 7959804
    Abstract: A filter media includes a media pack having a central opening that extends between opposing ends of the media pack. A support member, such as a center tube, extends through the central opening and supports one of the opposing ends. A second support member, such as a guide, is secured to the second support member and supports the other of the opposing ends. The guide loads the components within the filter to provide desired sealing. The guide is provided by flexible plastic tabs in one example and by an elastomeric grommet in another example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Purolator Filters NA LLC
    Inventors: Allen Buhr Wright, L. Steven Cline
  • Patent number: 7857970
    Abstract: A filter media includes a media pack having a central opening that extends between opposing ends of the media pack. A support member, such as a center tube, extends through the central opening and supports one of the opposing ends. A second support member, such as a filter cartridge assembly guide, is secured to the second support member and supports the other of the opposing ends. In one example, the center tube includes a seat that extends radially outwardly from an axially body of the center tube to support the media pack. The first and second support members are secured by an interlocking connection of any suitable configuration. The disclosed arrangement can be used to reduce the number of components required for providing a large number of filter cartridge assembly. Each of a plurality of media packs provide different heights. A first support member is selected to support one of the opposing ends. A second support member is selected to accommodate the height of the selected media pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Purolator Filters NA LLC
    Inventors: Allen Buhr Wright, L. Steven Cline
  • Publication number: 20080142427
    Abstract: A filter media includes a media pack having a central opening that extends between opposing ends of the media pack. A support member, such as a center tube, extends through the central opening and supports one of the opposing ends. A second support member, such as a guide, is secured to the second support member and supports the other of the opposing ends. The guide loads the components within the filter to provide desired sealing. The guide is provided by flexible plastic tabs in one example and by an elastomeric grommet in another example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Purolator Filters NA LLC
    Inventors: Allen Buhr Wright, L. Steven Cline
  • Patent number: 7168572
    Abstract: A filter for a fluid system includes a housing having an interior cavity. A filter media is disposed in the housing and defines a central opening. A center tube assembly is arranged within the central opening and includes discs which are stackable upon one another. Each disc includes a central portion having base received by an inner wall of the central portion of the adjacent disc. An outer portion extends radially outwardly from the central portion and is positioned adjacent to the filter media. The central portion, base, and outer portion may include openings to permit the flow of fluid through the center tube assembly. The center tube assembly provides the desired structural integrity while permitting fluid to flow through the center tube. The present invention center tube assembly may be produced by a plastic molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Purolator Filters NA LLC
    Inventors: Ledu Quoc Nguyen, Allen Buhr Wright
  • Patent number: 6962256
    Abstract: A filter for a fluid system includes a housing having an interior cavity. A filter media is disposed in the housing and defines a central opening. A center tube assembly is arranged within the central opening and includes discs which are stackable upon one another. Each disc includes a central portion having base received by an inner wall of the central portion of the adjacent disc. An outer portion extends radially outwardly from the central portion and is positioned adjacent to the filter media. The central portion, base, and outer portion may include openings to permit the flow of fluid through the center tube assembly. The center tube assembly provides the desired structural integrity while permitting fluid to flow through the center tube. The present invention center tube assembly may be produced by a plastic molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ledu Quoc Nguyen, Allen Buhr Wright
  • Publication number: 20040238437
    Abstract: A filter for a fluid system includes a housing having an interior cavity. A filter media is disposed in the housing and defines a central opening. A center tube assembly is arranged within the central opening and includes discs which are stackable upon one another. Each disc includes a central portion having base received by an inner wall of the central portion of the adjacent disc. An outer portion extends radially outwardly from the central portion and is positioned adjacent to the filter media. The central portion, base, and outer portion may include openings to permit the flow of fluid through the center tube assembly. The center tube assembly provides the desired structural integrity while permitting fluid to flow through the center tube. The present invention center tube assembly may be produced by a plastic molding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Ledu Quoc Nguyen, Allen Buhr Wright