Patents by Inventor Steven Cline

Steven Cline 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).

  • Publication number: 20090178962
    Abstract: A fluid filter is described, having a filter body defining a cavity for a filter element, a first end cap for fitting on one end of the filter body, having an integrated single piece anti drain back valve and seal, and a second end cap for fitting on an opposite end of the filter body, having an integrated combination relief valve element that includes supports for the filter element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: PUROLATOR FILTERS NA LLC
    Inventors: Rajan AHUJA, Travis Canup, L. Steven Cline
  • Publication number: 20090178964
    Abstract: A fluid filter and an end cap of the fluid filter are described. The filter may be a spin on oil filter, which includes a combination dual valve element defining an integral anti-drain back valve and an integral relief valve, a retainer assembly for maintaining the combination dual valve element in position in the end cap, relative to the filter. The combination dual valve element includes a ADB sealing lip forming an anti-drain back valve portion, and a RV sealing lip forming a relief valve portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: PUROLATOR FILTERS NA LLC
    Inventors: L. Steven CLINE, Travis CANUP, Rajan AHUJA
  • Publication number: 20090057216
    Abstract: A delivery device for a chemical additive is provided for an oil filter. A carrier supporting a chemical additive is arranged within a central opening of a pleated filter media. The carrier interlocks with a center tube, also arranged within the central opening, that supports that filter media. The carrier includes fingers that axially and radially locate the carrier to prevent movement of the carrier within the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: PUROLATOR FILTERS NA LLC
    Inventors: L. Steven CLINE, Jeremy J. RAMSEY
  • Patent number: 7473355
    Abstract: A delivery device for a chemical additive is provided for an oil filter. A carrier supporting a chemical additive is arranged within a central opening of a pleated filter media. The carrier interlocks with a center tube, also arranged within the central opening, that supports that filter media. The carrier includes fingers that axially and radially locate the carrier to prevent movement of the carrier within the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Purolator Filters NA LLC
    Inventors: L. Steven Cline, Jeremy J. Ramsey
  • 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: 7060184
    Abstract: A filter apparatus comprises a filter element to be positioned in an interior region defined by a housing. The filter element comprises a quick-drain valve member to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through a quick-drain outlet defined by the housing when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Steven Cline, Henry L. Neufeld, Bryant L. Richie
  • Patent number: 6936161
    Abstract: A fluid filter apparatus includes a filter element located in a filter chamber formed in a filter housing. A valve unit is located in a passageway formed in the filter housing to control flow of fluid into or out of the filter chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Timothy Alan Byrd, L. Steven Cline
  • Patent number: 6896803
    Abstract: A filter apparatus comprises a ring secured to a filter cover so as to engage a center tube extending within a filter element to retain the center tube and the filter element. A method of assembling a filter apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Steven Cline, Henry L. Neufeld
  • Publication number: 20050077220
    Abstract: A fluid filter includes a housing having a tapping plate with a first aperture. A center tube is arranged in the housing proximate to the tapping plate. The center tube includes a second aperture. An elastomeric valve assembly is arranged between the center tube and the tapping plate. The valve assembly comprises an integrated, one-piece relief valve and anti-drain back valve. The anti-drain back valve is arranged adjacent to the first aperture for selectively blocking the first aperture to prevent fluid from exiting the inlet side of the filter during pressure drops. The relief valve is arranged adjacent to the second aperture for selectively blocking the second aperture to permit fluid to flow past the relief valve during high pressure conditions such as cold starts. A generally concave conical spring radially biases the relief valve closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventor: L. Steven Cline
  • Publication number: 20040238422
    Abstract: A filter apparatus comprises a housing, a filter element, and an anti-drainback valve. The anti-drainback valve comprises a support member and a valve member coupled to the support member for movement between a normally closed position blocking a flow of fluid out of the housing through an inlet formed in the housing and an opened position allowing a flow of fluid through the inlet into the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Brian R. Launer, L. Steven Cline, Allen B. Wright
  • Publication number: 20040232063
    Abstract: A filter apparatus comprises a filter element to be positioned in an interior region defined by a housing. The filter element comprises a quick-drain valve member to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through a quick-drain outlet defined by the housing when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: L. Steven Cline, Henry L. Neufeld, Bryant L. Richie
  • Publication number: 20040188346
    Abstract: A filter apparatus comprises a ring secured to a filter cover so as to engage a center tube extending within a filter element to retain the center tube and the filter element. A method of assembling a filter apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: L. Steven Cline, Henry L. Neufeld
  • Patent number: 6790356
    Abstract: An oil filter assembly comprising: an oil filter housing defining an oil filter chamber adapted to receive an oil filter element, the oil filter housing also defining a port; and a valve assembly received within the port, the valve assembly having a closed position and an open position for draining the chamber of oil associated with the oil filter element, the valve assembly comprising a spring, a valve and a casing disposed about the spring and the plunger. The casing may include a substantially annular lip retaining the valve in engagement with the casing. The casing defines a casing chamber and the lip retaining a collar of the valve within the casing chamber. The lip also may define a hole for receiving the stem or, in accordance with an alternative embodiment, for receiving a post or the like associated with the oil filter element. A method is also provided of producing an oil filter assembly having a housing defining an oil filter chamber adapted to receive an oil filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Timothy Alan Byrd, L. Steven Cline
  • Patent number: 6722507
    Abstract: A fluid filter assembly includes a valve assembly having a plunger with openings defined therein. The plunger includes a sealing portion and a non-sealing portion. The sealing portion sealingly engages a valve seat, while the non-sealing portion includes an opening which leads to a central passage through the plunger, the opening and central passage cooperating to direct the flow of fluid through the plunger and an associated spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Cline
  • Publication number: 20040035766
    Abstract: A fluid filter apparatus includes a filter element located in a filter chamber formed in a filter housing. A valve unit is located in a passageway formed in the filter housing to control flow of fluid into or out of the filter chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Timothy Alan Byrd, L. Steven Cline
  • Publication number: 20030178362
    Abstract: A fluid filter assembly includes a valve assembly having a plunger with openings defined therein. The plunger includes a sealing portion and a non-sealing portion. The sealing portion sealingly engages a valve seat, while the non-sealing portion includes an opening which leads to a central passage through the plunger, the opening and central passage cooperating to direct the flow of fluid through the plunger and an associated spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Steven Cline
  • Publication number: 20030173281
    Abstract: An oil filter assembly comprising: an oil filter housing defining an oil filter chamber adapted to receive an oil filter element, the oil filter housing also defining a port; and a valve assembly received within the port, the valve assembly having a closed position and an open position for draining the chamber of oil associated with the oil filter element, the valve assembly comprising a spring, a valve and a casing disposed about the spring and the plunger. The casing may include a substantially annular lip retaining the valve in engagement with the casing. The casing defines a casing chamber and the lip retaining a collar of the valve within the casing chamber. The lip also may define a hole for receiving the stem or, in accordance with an alternative embodiment, for receiving a post or the like associated with the oil filter element. A method is also provided of producing an oil filter assembly having a housing defining an oil filter chamber adapted to receive an oil filter element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Timothy Alan Byrd, L. Steven Cline
  • Patent number: 6572768
    Abstract: An oil filter apparatus comprises a housing formed to include an interior region and an aperture, a drainage valve positioned in the interior region for movement relative to the housing between an opened position allowing oil to drain out of the interior region through the aperture and a closed position blocking drainage of oil out of the interior region through the aperture, a filter module positioned in the interior region to filter oil, a valve actuator coupled to the filter module, and an anti-rotation device positioned to block rotation of the filter module relative to the housing to guide the valve actuator into communication with the drainage valve to move the drainage valve to the closed position when the filter module is installed in the interior region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Steven Cline, Ledu Quoc Nguyen, John W. Wall, Allen B. Wright
  • Patent number: 6488845
    Abstract: An oil filter assembly includes a filter housing and a release valve for regulating oil drainage from a filter chamber in the filter housing. A filter module is arranged in the filter chamber to engage the release valve. A first biasing element normally moves the release valve to an opened position allowing drainage of oil from the filter chamber to urge the filter module to cause the release valve to move against and overcome a biasing force generated by the first biasing element to the closed position when the filter module is installed in a oil-filtering position in the filter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Purolator Products NA, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry L. Neufeld, L. Steven Cline
  • Patent number: 4992166
    Abstract: A fluid filter and methods for manufacturing same are described. The fluid filter includes: a filter element; a plastic housing for the filter element; and a plastic closure member including fluid inlet holes, each having an axis which is angled outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the filter housing. The closure member and the housing can be connected by welding, or the housing and the closure member may include complementary interengageable locking means for engagement. One method of manufacture includes the steps of forming a plastic housing and closure member and spin welding them together. Another method includes the steps of: forming the housing and closure member with complementary interengageable locking members; aligning the locking members; and turning the housing to engage the housing and the closure member. With either method, the assembled filter is then spun onto a threaded stud on a filter mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Facet Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: John Lowsky, Scott Trierwiler, Steven Cline