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.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for making a filter element by spinning fibers from one or more dies onto a collector, including designated combinations providing designated filter characteristics.

Abstract: A multi-layer filter including a first media layer surrounded by a second media layer, a third media layer surrounding the second media layer, and at least one retainer disposed between the first and second media layers or between the second and third media layers. The first, second and third media layers surround the central axis of the filter. The filter has multiple media layers in a compact package, providing increased media surface area which allows greater contaminant holding capacity, lower pressure drop, and lower face velocity.

Abstract: A method is provided for servicing a filter, and structure is provided disabling assembly of the filter unless an authorized replacement filter element is used.

Abstract: Fluid flow surge protection is provided for a filter by increasing upstream plenum fluid volume. In one embodiment, an accumulator or transfer mechanism transfers or trades downstream plenum fluid volume to or for upstream plenum fluid volume.

Abstract: A coalescer is provided minimizing trade-offs among high removal efficiency, low pressure drop, long service life, and small size.

Abstract: A container (1) for releasing a chemical additive (7) in a fluid material selected from a lubricant or hydraulic fluid composition comprises a fluid material-impermeable casing (3) having a hollow interior and an additive composition (7) comprising at least one fluid material-soluble additive. The additive (7) is held within the container (1) by a least one fluid material-permeable element (11) provided at or near an opening (13) in the casing (1) and is effective to provide for release of additive(s) (7) into the fluid material. Methods of releasing additives (7) into fluid material are also provided.

Abstract: One embodiment is a filter element including an outer filter media and an inner filter media. The outer filter media is operable to remove particulates present in a flow of fluid and/or coalesce water contained in the flow of fluid. The inner filter media is operable to remove particulates from the flow of fluid, separate water form the flow of fluid, and remove particulates from the flow of fluid. Other embodiments include unique apparatus, devices, systems, and methods relating to fuel filters and filtration. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present application shall become apparent from the detailed description and figures included herewith.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and algorithms for monitoring and indicating filter life. In particular, the disclosed systems, methods, and algorithms may be utilized for monitoring and indicating the useful life of a filter in an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A filtration device is provided that includes a filter component and an additive component. The filter component includes concentrically arranged filtering elements disposed in a filter-in-filter configuration. The additive component includes at least one additive material that is introduced into a working fluid to be filtered. The filter component and additive component provide an assembly for a filtration system that would filter a variety of working fluids. The filter component and additive component provides an assembly that can filter fluids more efficiently. As a result, fluids may enjoy, for example, extended drainage intervals and thereby reduce component wear.

Abstract: A gas-liquid rotating coalescer includes first and second sets of one or more detent surfaces on a rotary drive member and a driven annular rotating coalescing filter element which engagingly interact in interlocking mating keyed relation to effect rotation of the coalescing filter element by the rotary drive member. Designated operation of the coalescer requires that the coalescing filter element include the second set of detent surfaces. A coalescing filter element missing the second set of detent surfaces will not effect the noted designated operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for servicing a filter, and structure is provided disabling assembly of the filter unless an authorized replacement filter element is used.

Abstract: Disclosed are coalescing media for coalescing a mixture of two phases, namely a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. The disclosed coalescing media has multiple layers with distinct porosities, where an interior layer of the coalescing media has a higher porosity than the layers immediately adjacent to the interior layer. The disclosed media may be utilized in coalescers, coalescing systems, or coalescing methods for removing the dispersed phase from the mixture.

Abstract: A process, system, and component configuration are described that discourages customer acceptance/use of will-fit, reconditioned, and counterfeit product components, by determining whether or not a serviceable product component is genuine. If a component is determined to not be genuine, then appropriate action may be taken to warn operators and document such findings. For example, one or more markers are disposed or otherwise put on the subject serviceable product component and serves as a targeted feature, and/or a particular characteristic of the filter itself is identified as the targeted feature. A sensor is used to detect the targeted feature and obtain information unique to the serviceable product component. The targeted feature(s) identifies the particular serviceable component as genuine and forms the basis for determining whether a genuine component has been installed. In some circumstances, a fluid filter product is the component that is the subject detection.

Abstract: A filtration device is provided that includes a filter component and an additive component. The filter component includes concentrically arranged filtering elements disposed in a filter-in-filter configuration. The additive component includes at least one additive material that is introduced into a working fluid to be filtered. The filter component and additive component provide an assembly for a filtration system that would filter a variety of working fluids. The filter component and additive component provides an assembly that can filter fluids more efficiently. As a result, fluids may enjoy, for example, extended drainage intervals and thereby reduce component wear.

Abstract: A closed crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine includes a return duct with a variably controlled air-oil coalescer. In a turbocharger version, cleaned separated air is provided to the turbocharger inlet, and the coalescer is variably controlled according to a given condition of the turbocharger and/or the engine and/or the coalescer.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine crankcase ventilation rotating coalescer includes an annular rotating coalescing filter element, an inlet port supplying blowby gas from the crankcase to the hollow interior of the annular rotating coalescing filter element, and an outlet port delivering cleaned separated air from the exterior of the rotating element. The direction of blowby gas is inside-out, radially outwardly from the hollow interior to the exterior.

Abstract: A water separator and particulate filter with a first or outer stage configured to coalesce water from fluid such as fuel, and a second or inner stage configured to separate coalesced water from the fluid and also remove fine solid contaminants from the fluid. The coalescing stage includes a pleated cylinder of polymeric media. The pleated cylinder has pleat valleys and downstream pleat tips, and release sites defined at the downstream pleat tips. The separator stage includes a non-pleated cylinder of polymeric media surrounding and in contact with outer pleat tips of a multi-layer pleated cylinder.

Abstract: Disclosed are modular filter-in-filter elements, namely an outer filter element and an inner filter element which may be assembled to form a filter cartridge for use in separation methods and systems. The outer filter element typically functions as a coalescing element and the inner element typically functions as a particulate filter element. The disclosed filter cartridges may be structured for separating water from a hydrocarbon-based liquid fuel as the fuel moves through the cartridge from outside to inside.

Abstract: A method is provided for servicing a filter, and structure is provided disabling assembly of the filter unless an authorized replacement filter element is used.