Patents by Inventor Steven J. Merritt
Steven J. Merritt 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).
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Publication number: 20120000170Abstract: A filter element, and filter apparatus, include a filter pack, a seal member, and a seal support frame operatively connecting the seal member to the filter pack. The seal support frame includes an annular extension, which is preferably canted at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis, for supporting the seal member. The seal support frame also preferably includes a first end thereof including the annular extension, and a second end thereof spaced from the first end thereof along the longitudinal axis, with the first and second ends of the seal support frame joined by a hub of the outer peripheral sidewall of the seal support frame to define a cavity within the seal support frame for receiving the filter pack. The first and second ends of the seal support frame, and the filter pack are preferably joined and sealed to one another by a single bead of adhesive.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: BALDWIN FILTERS, INC.Inventors: Gene W. Brown, Steven J. Merritt
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Patent number: 8083938Abstract: A filter assembly, filter element and methods are provided. The filter assembly includes a filter base in which a filter element is mounted. The filter element includes a bypass valve carried by the filter element that operates independent of and free of interaction with the filter base. Methods include providing an entirely new bypass valve for the filter assembly by inserting a filter element including a complete bypass valve into the filter base such that bypass valve structures of the filter base are rendered useless or superfluous.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2009Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Kristopher W. Lepine, Steven M. Todd, Steven J. Merritt
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Patent number: 8048187Abstract: A filter element includes a filter media pack, a frame, an annular seal, and a sealing means independent of the annular seal, attaching the filter media pack and the frame. The means of sealing an interface between the filter media pack and the frame include molding a filter media pack seal, plastic welding outer wraps of filter media pack to the frame, and securing the filter media pack and the frame using a bead of adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Merritt, Chad Banzhaf, Kyle Swanson
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Patent number: 8042694Abstract: A filter media including a gathered sheet of porous filter material, is provided, together with an apparatus and method for fabricating such a gathered sheet of porous filter material. An improved filter apparatus incorporating such gathered porous filter material is also provided. By gathering the porous filter material, rather than forming convolutions through corrugating or pleating, as was done in the past, a desirable convoluted shape is achieved with little or no compression of the filter media.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2004Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Greg Driml, Steven J. Merritt
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Publication number: 20110226406Abstract: A filter element includes a filter media pack, a frame, an annular seal, and a sealing means independent of the annular seal, attaching the filter media pack and the frame. The means of sealing an interface between the filter media pack and the frame include molding a filter media pack seal, plastic welding outer wraps of filter media pack to the frame, and securing the filter media pack and the frame using a bead of adhesive.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Merritt, Chad Banzhaf, Kyle Swanson
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Publication number: 20110197556Abstract: A filter element, and filter apparatus, include a filter pack, a seal member, and a seal support frame operatively connecting the seal member to the filter pack. The seal support frame includes an annular extension, which is preferably canted at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis, for supporting the seal member. The seal support frame also preferably includes a first end thereof including the annular extension, and a second end thereof spaced from the first end thereof along the longitudinal axis, with the first and second ends of the seal support frame joined by a hub of the outer peripheral sidewall of the seal support frame to define a cavity within the seal support frame for receiving the filter pack. The first and second ends of the seal support frame, and the filter pack are preferably joined and sealed to one another by a single bead of adhesive.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Gene W. Brown, Steven J. Merritt
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Publication number: 20110174724Abstract: A fluted filter element may include one or more bridging elements to provide resistance to telescoping of the layers of the fluted filter element. The bridging elements are attached to one or both of the filter faces via adhesives, and/or mechanical means, and may also take the form of one or more beads of adhesive applied across one or both ends of the filter element. The adhesive beads may include a flexible element, such as a string, or strip of material embedded in the adhesive bead.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventor: Steven J. Merritt
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Patent number: 7959703Abstract: A filter element includes a filter media pack, a frame, an annular seal, and a sealing means independent of the annular seal. The frame is integrally secured to the fluted filter media pack with material of the frame integrally bonding the frame thereto.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Merritt, Chad Banzhaf, Kyle Swanson
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Patent number: 7959701Abstract: A fluted filter element may include one or more bridging elements to provide resistance to telescoping of the layers of the fluted filter element. The bridging elements are attached to one or both of the filter faces via adhesives, and/or mechanical means, and may also take the form of one or more beads of adhesive applied across one or both ends of the filter element. The adhesive beads may include a flexible element, such as a string, or strip of material embedded in the adhesive bead.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2007Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventor: Steven J. Merritt
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Publication number: 20110100898Abstract: A fluid filter includes a base plate, a canister, and filtering media contained in the canister for filtering fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port. Notches are formed into an outer periphery of the base plate. An annular bead of the canister side wall is partially formed into the notches to provide a torque locking mechanism between the base plate and the canister. The terminating lip portion of the canister is wrapped around the outer face of the base plate and formed into an annular trough to directly secure the base plate to the canister. The annular trough includes a diverging outer wall that provides a narrow contact interface between the terminating lip portion and the retention corner of the base plate to thereby reduce moment loads induced therebetween as a result of high fluid pressures in the filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Timothy L. Krull, Steven J. Merritt, Steven M. Todd
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Patent number: 7931725Abstract: A filter element and filter apparatus, and a method for fabricating a filter element, include a filter element having alternating layers of a face sheet material and a convoluted filter material, with the alternating layers forming substantially longitudinally oriented flutes that extend axially along, or past, a radially acting seal, into previously unused portions of the cavity of a filter housing. In some embodiments, structures such as struts extending partially across an outlet end of the filter element, or a rigid web formed by a layer of resin extending axially a potted length into pome of the flutes from the outlet end resist axially oriented pressure forces on the alternating layers.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Wydeven, Gene W. Brown, Steven J. Merritt
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Patent number: 7909954Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, for forming a filter element including a media pack in the form of a coiled fluted filter media, by winding the web of fluted filter media around a pair of tools of a mandrel. The tools engage the sides of the filter media. The tools define a major to provide the media pack with a oblong or elongated shape. The web may be fed at constant linear speed, and/or a motor may be controlled in a manner to provide constant driving torque to maintain a constant tension on the web. The winding apparatus and methods may include apparatus or methods to modify the feed path of the web to adjust the tension of the web as it is being wound. Further, the coiled media packs can be fixtured to prevent relaxation. A method may form various shaped media packs with the same apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Stan Johnston, Brian T. Ehrenberg, Kyle Swanson, Steven J. Merritt
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Publication number: 20110042295Abstract: A collapsible winding core for a filter element is provided. A fluted filter media is wound about the collapsible winding core having a cylindrical shape. Subsequently, the collapsible winding core is collapsed into a generally flat shape to from the filter element having a racetrack shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2009Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventor: Steven J. Merritt
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Patent number: 7850755Abstract: A fluid filter includes a base plate, a canister, and filtering media contained in the canister for filtering fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port. Notches are formed into an outer periphery of the base plate. An annular bead of the canister side wall is partially formed into the notches to provide a torque locking mechanism between the base plate and the canister. The terminating lip portion of the canister is wrapped around the outer face of the base plate and formed into an annular trough to directly secure the base plate to the canister. The annular trough includes a diverging outer wall that provides a narrow contact interface between the terminating lip portion and the retention corner of the base plate to thereby reduce moment loads induced therebetween as a result of high fluid pressures in the filter.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2005Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Timothy L. Krull, Steven J. Merritt
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Publication number: 20100282652Abstract: A filter assembly, filter element and methods are provided. The filter assembly includes a filter base in which a filter element is mounted. The filter element includes a bypass valve carried by the filter element that operates independent of and free of interaction with the filter base. Methods include providing an entirely new bypass valve for the filter assembly by inserting a filter element including a complete bypass valve into the filter base such that bypass valve structures of the filter base are rendered useless or superfluous.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2009Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: BALDWIN FILTERS, INC.Inventors: Kristopher W. Lepine, Steven M. Todd, Steven J. Merritt
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Publication number: 20100242425Abstract: A filter element includes a filter media pack and an axial seal member configured to axially seal against a filter housing. The axial seal member may be supported by and attached to the filter media pack by a media pack seal member. Alternatively, the axial seal member may be carried by a frame, which is attached to the filter media pack by the media pack seal member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Kyle Swanson, Chad Banzhaf, Steven J. Merritt
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Publication number: 20100192530Abstract: A filter element and filter apparatus, and a method for fabricating a filter element, include a filter element having alternating layers of a face sheet material and a convoluted filter material, with the alternating layers forming substantially longitudinally oriented flutes that extend axially along, or past, a radially acting seal, into previously unused portions of the cavity of a filter housing. In some embodiments, structures such as struts extending partially across an outlet end of the filter element, or a rigid web formed by a layer of resin extending axially a potted length into pome of the flutes from the outlet end resist axially oriented pressure forces on the alternating layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: BALDWIN FILTERS, INC.Inventors: Robert M. Wydeven, Gene W. Brown, Steven J. Merritt
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Patent number: 7753982Abstract: A filter element comprising a filter jacket, a fluted filter media, and an internal seal is provided. The filter jacket defines a filter jacket inner surface, a gravitational bottom, an upstream end, and a downstream end. The filter jacket includes a moisture release aperture disposed proximate the gravitational bottom. The fluted filter media resides within the filter jacket and defines a filter media outer surface. The fluted filter media comprises a planar sheet and a fluted material intermittently bonded together and collectively coiled to form a plurality of flutes. First and second selected ones of the plurality of flutes are closed proximate the upstream and downstream ends, respectively. The internal seal is formed between the filter jacket inner surface and the filter media outer surface. The internal seal is disposed within the filter jacket between the upstream and downstream ends. The moisture release aperture is located upstream of the internal seal.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventor: Steven J. Merritt
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Publication number: 20090320423Abstract: A filter element includes a filter media pack, a frame, an annular seal, and a sealing means independent of the annular seal. The frame is integrally secured to the fluted filter media pack with material of the frame integrally bonding the frame thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2008Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Merritt, Chad Banzhaf, Kyle Swanson
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Publication number: 20090320424Abstract: A filter element includes a filter media pack, a frame, an annular seal, and a sealing means independent of the annular seal, attaching the filter media pack and the frame. The means of sealing an interface between the filter media pack and the frame include molding a filter media pack seal, plastic welding outer wraps of filter media pack to the frame, and securing the filter media pack and the frame using a bead of adhesive.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2008Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: Baldwin Filters, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Merritt, Chad Banzhaf, Kyle Swanson