Rotating container

Abstract

A rotary container for a filter assembly is provided, the rotary container comprising: a rotor body rotatable about a rotation axis; and a socket, the socket being integral with or coupled to the rotor body and extending from the socket along the rotation axis. The socket has an abutment surface, against which a cooperating surface abuts in use to inhibit movement of the rotary container relative to the cooperating surface and parallel to the rotation axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotating container. The present invention particularly, but not necessarily, relates to a rotating container for a filter assembly. Background Art

[0002] Filter assemblies are known to be used to remove pollutant particles from the lubricating oil circuit of an internal combustion engine. They are also known to separate particulate matter from liquids and to separate liquids of different densities from each other in various industrial processes. Typically, a filter assembly comprises a housing having a rotor supported therein to rotate around a main shaft, which provides an axis of rotation. A working fluid (from which pollutants are to be removed), such as engine oil, is supplied at elevated pressure along the rotor axis of rotation. Subsequently, a pressurized fluid is ejected tangentially from the rotor, causing the rotor to rotate. When the working fluid flows through the rotating rotor, denser pollutants or particles are separated therefrom by centrifugal force and retained in the rotor, typically as a cake adhered to the inner surface of the rotor. The ejected fluid is discharged to a sump.

[0003] Since retained contaminant particles accumulate in the rotor, it is necessary to replace or maintain the rotor at appropriately regular intervals to ensure continued cleaning effectiveness of the filter assembly. Maintaining the rotor typically requires removing it from the housing. If the filter assembly is in situ, maintenance and replacement of the rotor may be time consuming and difficult due to limited available space. It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to at least reduce the problems associated with one or more known devices. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a rotary container for a filter assembly, the rotary container comprising: a rotor body rotatable about a rotation axis; and a socket integral with or coupled to the rotor body and extending from it along the rotation axis, the socket having an abutment surface against which a cooperating surface abuts in use to inhibit movement of the rotary container relative to the cooperating surface and parallel to the rotation axis. When installed as part of a filter assembly, the device can assist in removing the rotary container.

[0005] The socket may extend from the rotor body in a first direction away from the rotor body.The abutment surface may preferably be configured such that, in use, the cooperating surface abuts to inhibit movement of the rotary container relative to the cooperating surface in a direction opposite to the first direction.

[0006] The abutment surface may be at least partially disposed on or coupled to one or more protrusions extending radially from the socket relative to the rotation axis. Additionally or alternatively, the abutment surface may be at least partially disposed in or coupled to one or more recesses or grooves extending radially into the socket relative to the rotation axis. The abutment surface may be a discontinuous surface extending around the socket. In some embodiments, the socket may include one or more elastically deformable portions, the abutment surface being disposed on or coupled to the elastically deformable portions so that the abutment surface can be radially moved relative to the rotation axis by deformation of the one or more elastically deformable portions. The one or more elastically deformable portions may each be a radially deformable finger having a free end farthest from the rotor body. The abutment surface may be at least partially disposed on or coupled to one or more free ends of each of the radially deformable fingers. One or more radially deformable fingers may each taper away from the rotor body. A plurality of the one or more elastically deformable portions may be spaced apart around the socket in the middle of a plurality of substantially non-deformable portions.

[0007] Optionally, one or more of the substantially non-deformable portions may each be a substantially non-deformable finger. One or more of the elastically deformable portions may each include a corresponding cam surface, each of which may be deformed by a force acting parallel to the axis of rotation against the corresponding cam surface. One or more of the cam surfaces may each be arranged on or coupled to one or more of the protrusions. The cross-section of the socket may be substantially circular. The rotary container may be self-powered in that the rotor body may have a drive nozzle for ejecting a pressurized working fluid from the drive nozzle to cause rotation of the rotor body by a reaction force.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter assembly, comprising: a housing having a main body and a closing member detachably attached to the main body to hold a rotary container in the housing, the closing member being detachable from the main body to allow the rotary container to be removed from the housing; and a connector for releasably coupling the closing member to the rotary container so that the rotary container can be at least partially removed from the housing by separation of the closing member and the main body. The closing member can be detached from the main body by rotation of the closing member relative to the main body. The connector is a snap-fit ​​connector. The filter assembly may include a rotary container.

[0009] In some embodiments, the rotary container can be a rotary container as described above, the socket at least partially forms the connector, and the closing member includes the cooperating surface, so that the abutment of the abutting surface and the cooperating surface inhibits the rotary container from moving relative to the cooperating surface to releasably couple the closing member to the rotary container. The closing member may include a sleeve for receiving the socket to rotatably support the rotary container in the housing, the sleeve including the cooperating surface. The sleeve may include the cooperating surface at the open end of the sleeve. The closing member may include a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly including the sleeve.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a filter assembly is provided, comprising: a housing having a main body and a closing member detachably attached to the main body to hold the rotary container in the housing, the closing member being separable from the main body by rotation of the closing member relative to the main body to allow the rotary container to be removed from the housing; and a locking member releasably engaged with the housing to inhibit rotation of the closing member relative to the main body. The locking member can inhibit accidental separation of the closing member from the main body. In some embodiments, the locking member can be releasably engaged with the housing by snap-fit ​​engagement. The locking member can be releasably engaged with the main body to inhibit rotation of the locking member relative to the main body.

[0011] Optionally, the locking member can be axially moved relative to the body into and out of a locked position in which rotation of the locking member relative to the housing is inhibited. The locking member can be axially moved relative to the body between the locked position and a released position in which the locking member can be rotated relative to the body to release the locking member from engagement with the body. The locking member can be releasably engaged with the closing member to inhibit rotation of the locking member relative to the closing member. The locking member can be axially moved relative to the closing member into and out of the locked position.

[0012] In some embodiments, the locking member can be releasably engaged with the closing member by inserting the locking member into the open end of the closing member. The locking member can be releasably engaged with the closing member because the locking member achieves a shape fit with at least a portion of the closing member to inhibit rotation of the locking member relative to the closing member. The closing member may include a first configuration having a non-circular cross-section and / or the locking member may include a second configuration complementary to the first configuration to at least partially provide the shape fit. The first configuration may be a non-circular orifice. The locking member may include a body portion. The locking member may include one or more lugs that extend radially from the body portion to achieve releasable engagement of the locking member with the body.

[0013] One or more of the lugs may each include a hook portion to enable releasable engagement of the locking member with the body by abutting against one or more retaining surfaces of the body. One or more of the lugs may each be elastically deformable so that the respective hook portion is each radially movable relative to the body portion by deformation of the respective lug. Optionally, the body may include one or more rotation inhibiting surfaces against which, in use, one or more of the lugs may each abut to inhibit rotation of the locking member relative to the body. In the release position, one or more of the lugs may each be deformed by rotation of the locking member relative to the body to enable release of the locking member from engagement with the body. The locking member may have a single-piece construction.

[0014] In certain embodiments, the body and the closure member include corresponding threaded portions that can cooperate with each other to detachably attach the body to the closure member. The closure member can be detachably attached to the body by inserting the closure member into the open end of the body. The closure member can be sealed against the body by an elastic seal extending along the circumference of the closure member. The filter assembly can include a rotary container within the housing. Optionally, the rotary container can be self-powered in that the rotary container can include a rotor body having a drive nozzle for ejecting a pressurized working fluid from the drive nozzle to cause rotation of the rotary container by a reaction force.

[0015] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary container for a filter assembly, the rotary container comprising: a rotor body rotatable about a rotation axis; and a spigot having a non-circular cross section, the spigot being integral with or coupled to the rotor body and extending from the device along the rotation axis for engagement with a bearing. The device can inhibit rotation of the spigot when engaging with a bearing in the filter assembly, thereby reducing wear of the spigot.

[0016] In some embodiments, the non-circular cross-section may be a polygonal cross-section. The socket may include one or more fingers, each having a free end farthest from the rotor body, and the fingers may at least partially define the circumference of the socket. One or more of the fingers may each include a substantially flat surface that at least partially defines the circumference of the socket. One or more of the fingers may each taper away from the rotor body. A plurality of the one or more fingers may be spaced around the socket in the middle of a plurality of gaps separating adjacent fingers. The rotary container may be self-powered in that the rotor body may have a drive nozzle for ejecting a pressurized working fluid from the drive nozzle to cause rotation of the rotor body by a reaction force.

[0017] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a filter assembly is provided, comprising: a rotary container; a shell having a main body and a closing member detachably attached to the main body to hold the rotary container in the shell, the closing member being detachable from the main body to allow the rotary container to be removed from the shell; and a socket having a non-circular cross-section, the socket being integral with or connected to the rotary container, the socket being engageable with a bearing to rotatably support the rotary container to the shell.

[0018] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter assembly comprising: a housing having a body and a closure member detachably attached to the body to hold a rotary container within the housing, the closure member being detachable from the body to allow the rotary container to be removed from the housing; and a spigot having a non-circular cross section, the spigot being integral with or coupled to the housing, the spigot being engageable with a bearing to rotatably support the rotary container to the housing. The filter assembly may include a rotary container.

[0019] Alternatively, the closure member may be detachable from the body by rotation of the closure member relative to the body. The rotating container and the spigot may be as described above and the bearing may be integral with or coupled to the closure member. The bearing may include a sleeve with which the spigot may engage, the sleeve being rotatable relative to the closure member and configured to inhibit rotation of the spigot relative to the sleeve.

[0020] Features described above with reference to one aspect of the invention are to be understood to be compatible with features described above with reference to other aspects of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, the filter assembly having a locking member shown in a locked position;

[0023] Figure 2 Shown separately from the filter assembly Figure 1 A perspective view of a locking member;

[0024] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Another cross-sectional view of a filter assembly of FIG. 1 , wherein the locking member is shown in a released position.

[0025] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A side view of a filter assembly in which the locking member is shown in a locked position.

[0026] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Another side view of the filter assembly, wherein the locking member is shown in a released position.

[0027] Figure 6 for Figure 1 An enlarged area of ​​a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 , showing a spigot of a rotor container according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0028] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A perspective view of a socket of , showing the socket engaged with the bearing in cross-section to make the socket visible. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Figure 1A filter assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The filter assembly 10 has particular application in motor vehicles, for example for cleaning engine oil in an engine lubrication system. However, other applications are also contemplated, for example for oil recovery and food manufacturing.

[0030] The filter assembly 10 includes a housing 12 having a main body 14 and a closing member 16. The closing member 16 is detachably attached to the main body 14. As in the illustrated embodiment, the closing member 16 can be detachably attached to the main body 14 by inserting the closing member 16 into the open end 18 of the main body 14. The open end 18 can be the bottom side end of the main body 14, that is, the end that can be approached from below during use. The open end 18 can be defined by the annular wall 18a of the main body 14, that is, it is defined. In order to achieve the attachment of the closing member 16 to the main body 14, each of the main body 14 and the closing member 16 can include corresponding threaded portions 14a, 16a. Therefore, the main body 14 and the closing member 16 can be detachably attached to each other by threaded engagement, that is, the main body 14 and the closing member 16 can be screwed together and unscrewed by the user. However, in alternative embodiments, any suitable device for attaching the closing member 16 to the main body 14 can be used, for example, each of the main body 14 and the closing member 16 can be configured to form a bayonet connection. As in the illustrated embodiment, the closure member 16 may be separated from the body 14 by at least partially rotating the closure member 16 relative to the body 14 .

[0031] The filter assembly 10 further includes a rotary container 20 and a locking member 22. The rotary container 20 includes a rotor body 24 that can rotate around an axis of rotation 26. (The references to axial movement, axial extension, etc. herein are at least approximately parallel to the axis of rotation 26. The references to radial movement, radial extension, etc. herein are at least approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation 26). The rotary container 20 and the rotor body 24 can rotate together around the axis of rotation as a whole. The rotary container 20 further includes a lower socket 28 and an upper socket 30. Each of the lower socket 28 and the upper socket 30 can be connected or integrated with the rotor body 24 and extend axially from it along the axis of rotation 26. Therefore, the lower socket 28 and the upper socket 30 are colinear. It should be understood that the lower socket 28 can extend from the lower end of the rotor body 24, and the upper socket 30 can extend from the upper end of the rotor body 24, i.e., opposite to the lower socket 28. The rotary container 20 is retained in the housing 12 by attaching the closing member 16 to the main body 14. In some embodiments, the body 14 can position and support the upper socket 30 in the housing 12. In addition or alternatively, the closing member 16 can position and support the lower socket 28 in the housing 12. To this end, the body 14 and the closing member 16 can be provided with corresponding bearings 34, 36, which are configured to receive the lower socket 28 and the upper socket 30, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the bearings 34, 36 are shown as multi-part components. However, the bearings 34, 36 can be any device suitable for allowing the rotary container 20 to rotate relative to the housing 12, for example, one or each of the bearings 34, 36 can be an aperture or recess configured to receive one of the lower socket 28 and the upper socket 30. The closing member 16 can be separated from the body 14 to achieve the removal of the rotary container 20 from the housing 12.

[0032] The attachment of the closure member 16 to the body 14 may form a fluid-tight volume 32 that surrounds the rotary container 20 in use. To this end, the closure member 16 may be fluid-tightly abutted against the body 14 by an elastic seal 38 extending along the circumference of the closure member 16. In some embodiments, the elastic seal 38 may alternatively be provided on the body 14.

[0033] The filter assembly 10 may further include a fluid supply conduit 50 extending through the center of the rotor body 24 (i.e., extending along the axis of rotation 26) for supplying a working fluid, i.e., a fluid to be cleaned / filtered, such as engine oil, to the inner chamber 46 of the rotor body 24. The inner chamber 46 may be fluidically connected to the fluid supply conduit 50 by one or more through holes 52 disposed in the side wall of the fluid supply conduit 50. The through hole 52 may extend through the side wall substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation 26. The inlet conduit 54 may extend through the closure member 16 to supply the working fluid from the inlet port 56 to the fluid supply conduit 50. In use, the working fluid may be supplied to the inlet port 56 at an elevated pressure to flow from the inlet port 56 to the through hole 52 via the inlet conduit 54 and the fluid supply conduit 50. The working fluid leaves the through hole 52 and enters the inner chamber 46 of the rotor body 24. As in the illustrated embodiment, the rotary container 20 may be self-powered, i.e., the pressurized supply of the working fluid may drive the rotation of the rotor body 24. To this end, the rotor body 24 may further include a pair of diametrically opposed drive nozzles 58 in fluid connection with the inner chamber 46 of the rotor body 24. The drive nozzles 58 are each disposed at a radial distance from the axis of rotation 26 (about which the rotor body 24 can rotate) and are configured such that the working fluid exits the inner chamber 46 through the drive nozzles 58 in a direction generally tangential to the rotor body 24. It should be understood that the tangential ejection of the working fluid under elevated pressure results in a reaction force that causes the rotor body 24 to rotate about the axis of rotation 26.

[0034] As the working fluid flows through the rotating rotary container 20, centrifugal force causes the separation of the contaminant materials in the working fluid. The separated contaminant materials can accumulate in the inner chamber 46 of the rotor body 24, mainly as a cake adhering to the inner surface of the inner chamber 46 or adhering to the liner disposed therein. The fluid leaving the rotor body 24 can be discharged to the storage tank through the outlet port 44 and leave the filter assembly 10. When contaminants accumulate in the inner chamber 46, the filter assembly 10 must be maintained, for example, cleaning or replacing the rotary container 20. To maintain the filter assembly 10, the rotary container 20 may have to be removed from the housing 12. The removal of the rotary container 20 from the housing 12 requires the closure member 16 to be separated from the main body 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure member 16 is rotatable, for example, it can be unscrewed in a first direction by the user relative to the main body 14 to achieve the necessary separation. The first direction can be clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0035] The problem is that the rotation of the closing member 16 relative to the main body 14 may be caused by the vibration of the filter assembly 10. The vibration may occur due to the rotation of the rotor body 24 in the housing 12. This induced rotation of the closing member 16 is undesirable because it may cause the closing member 16 to be accidentally separated or opened from the main body 14, thereby causing the working fluid to leak from the filter assembly 10. The leaked working fluid may be flammable and may cause a fire. In addition, as in the illustrated embodiment, the undesirable rotation of the closing member 16 relative to the main body 14 may be aggravated by the weight of the rotating container 20 acting downward on the closing member 16. The undesirable rotation of the closing member 16 can be suppressed by the locking member 22. To this end, the locking member 22 is releasably engaged with at least a portion of the housing 12 to suppress the rotation of the closing member 16 relative to the main body 14, as described in more detail below.

[0036] The locking member 22 can be releasably engaged with at least a portion of the housing 12 by a snap-fit ​​engagement. As in the illustrated embodiment, the locking member 22 can be releasably engaged with the body 14 by a snap-fit ​​engagement. The snap-fit ​​engagement is advantageous because it can facilitate rapid construction, i.e., assembly and / or maintenance of the filter assembly 10 without the use of tools, and can reduce the number of loose and / or separate component parts that make up the filter assembly 10. It should be understood that various types of snap-fit ​​engagements are possible, such as cantilever snap-fit ​​engagements, twist snap-fit ​​engagements, and annular snap-fit ​​engagements. (Described herein is a non-limiting means for providing a cantilever snap-fit ​​engagement of the locking member 22 to the housing 12.)

[0037] As shown in the drawings, the locking member 22 can be releasably engaged with the closing member 16. More specifically, the locking member 22 can be releasably engaged with the closing member 16 by inserting the locking member 22 into the open end of the closing member 16. The releasable engagement of the locking member 22 with the closing member 16 can inhibit the locking member 22 from rotating relative to the closing member 16 in at least one direction. Additionally or alternatively, the locking member 22 can be releasably engaged with the main body 14. The locking member 22 can be releasably engaged with the main body 14 so that the rotation of the locking member 22 relative to the main body 14 is inhibited in at least one direction. Therefore, when the locking member 22 is simultaneously engaged with the closing member 16 and the main body 14, the locking member 22 can be inhibited from rotating relative to the main body 14 in a first direction and inhibited from rotating relative to the closing member 16 in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. Therefore, the rotation of the closing member 16 relative to the main body 14 in the first direction can be inhibited to prevent the closing member 16 from accidentally separating or opening from the main body 14.

[0038] Figure 2An embodiment of a locking member 22 is shown. In order to achieve a releasable engagement of the locking member 22 with the closure member 16, at least a portion of the locking member 22 may achieve a shape fit with a portion of the closure member 16, i.e., the profile and / or shape of the locking member 22 may allow a tight engagement of the locking member 22 with the closure member 16. To this end, the locking member 22 may include a first configuration 60 and the closure member 16 may include a second configuration 62, which is complementary to the first configuration 60. It should be understood that the shape fit of the locking member 22 with the closure member 16 may inhibit relative rotation of the two parts. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first configuration 60 may be non-circular, for example, polygonal. The first configuration 60 may be an aperture extending through a portion of the locking member 22. In some embodiments, the circumferential surface of the locking member 22 may achieve a shape fit with a surface of the closure member 16. Additionally or alternatively, the locking member 22 may include one or more radially extending ribs 48, which may engage with complementary recesses in the closure member 16. As shown in the drawings, the locking member 22 may be a single-piece structure. The locking member 22 may be molded from a plastic material.

[0039] As shown in the drawings, the locking member 22 may include a body portion 40 and one or more lugs 42. The body portion 40 may be annular. The lugs 42 may extend radially from the body portion 40. The lugs 42 may each include a corresponding hook portion 42a. The hook portion 42a may be formed at or coupled to the free end 42a of the lug 42, i.e., the end of the lug 42 farthest from the body portion 40. The hook portion 42a may allow each lug 42 to extend around the annular wall 18a at the open end 18 of the body 14 to engage with a corresponding radially extending structure 64 coupled to or integral with the circumferential surface of the body 14. Each radially extending structure 64 may extend radially from or into the circumferential surface of the body 14. Each radially extending structure 64 may form one or more rotation inhibiting surfaces 66 (see, for example, Figure 4 ), the corresponding lug 42 abuts against the rotation inhibiting surface 66 to inhibit the rotation of the closure member 16 relative to the body 14, that is, each of the rotation inhibiting surfaces 66 can block (i.e., interrupt) the circumferential path of the lug 42 extending around the body 14. This is described in more detail below. One or more rotation inhibiting surfaces 66 can be surfaces that are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation axis 26.

[0040] Additionally or alternatively, the lugs 42 may enable releasable engagement of the locking member 22 with the body 14, i.e., the lugs 42 may be configured to cooperate with the body 14 to releasably engage the locking member 22 with the body 14 such that axial movement of the locking member 22 relative to the body 14 is inhibited in at least one direction. More specifically, the lugs 42 may abut against one or more retaining surfaces 68 integral with or coupled to the body 14 to prevent the locking member 22 from being released from engagement with the body 14. To this end, the retaining surfaces 68 may obstruct the axial path of the lugs 42. In addition to or in lieu of the one or more rotation inhibiting surfaces 66, each of the radially extending formations 64 may form one or more retaining surfaces 68. The one or more retaining surfaces 68 may be surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation 26.

[0041] At least a portion of each lug 42 may be elastically deformable, i.e. flexible / tough. Thus, radial movement of the hook portion 42a may be permitted by deformation of the lug 42. This radial movement may allow the locking member 22 to be released from engagement with the body. This is described in more detail below. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the locking member 22 may have a one-piece structure.

[0042] Figure 6 and 7 An embodiment of the lower spigot 28 is shown. The lower spigot 28 may have an abutment surface 70, which is configured to abut against a cooperation surface 72. The abutment surface 70 abuts against the cooperation surface 72 to inhibit the axial movement of the rotary container 20 relative to the cooperation surface 72. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooperation surface 72 is formed as a part of the lower bearing 34. More specifically, the cooperation surface 72 may be provided as an annular surface extending around the surface of a sleeve 74, which forms a part of the lower bearing 34 and can rotate therein. Therefore, since the lower bearing 34 may be provided as a part of the closing member 16, the abutment surface 70 abuts against the cooperation surface 72 to inhibit the axial movement of the rotary container 20 relative to the closing member 16. Therefore, in the case where the lower spigot 28 is engaged with the lower bearing, the separation of the closing member 16 from the body 14 can remove the rotary container 20 from the housing 12. The lower spigot 28 may include one or more protrusions 76 extending radially therefrom, wherein the abutment surface 70 is integral with or coupled to the one or more protrusions 76. However, in some embodiments, the abutment surface 70 may be provided at least in part by one or more recesses extending radially into the lower socket 28. This may be in addition to or in lieu of at least a portion of the abutment surface 70 provided by the protrusion 76. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the abutment surface 70 may be a discontinuous surface.

[0043] In some embodiments, the lower socket 28 may include one or more fingers 78a, 78b extending away from the rotor body 24, i.e., each finger 78a, 78b having a free end farthest from the rotor body 24. As shown in the accompanying drawings, each finger 78a, 78b may extend substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 26. The fingers 78a, 78b together may define (i.e., define) or surround an opening 80, which may be an opening of the fluid supply conduit 50. Additionally or alternatively, the fingers 78a, 78b may define the circumference of the socket. The circumference may be non-circular, i.e., the lower socket 28 may have a non-circular cross-section. To this end, each of the fingers 78a, 78b may include a substantially flat surface, which may be the radially outermost surface of each respective finger 78a, 78b. It should be understood that each respective substantially flat surface may be inclined relative to the surface of the adjacent fingers 78a, 78b. The fingers 78a, 78b may abut against each other, or there may be gaps between at least a plurality of adjacent fingers 78a, 78b. In order to accommodate the lower socket 28 of non-circular cross-section, the sleeve 74 may have a shape complementary to the shape of the lower socket 28. This arrangement inhibits the rotation of the lower socket 28 within the sleeve 74 when it is received in the sleeve 74, thereby reducing wear on the lower socket 28.

[0044] A subset of one of the one or more fingers 78a can be elastically deformed radially by a radial force applied thereto, i.e., flexible / tough. A subset of the radially elastically deformable fingers 78a can include three fingers. The radially deformable fingers 78a can provide one or more elastically deformable portions of the lower socket 28. However, in alternative embodiments, the elastically deformable portions can be provided by any suitable means, for example, by narrowing a portion of the lower socket 28. Each radially elastically deformable finger 78a can taper away from the rotor body 24, i.e., narrow in a radial direction away from the rotor body 24, and this can provide the required elastic deformability. Additionally or alternatively, a subset of the fingers 78b can be substantially non-deformable at least in the radial direction, i.e., rigid. Therefore, the substantially non-deformable fingers 78b can provide one or more non-deformable portions of the lower socket 28. The elastically deformable portions and the non-deformable portions can be alternately arranged around the lower socket 28, i.e., each elastically deformable portion can be spaced apart around the socket in the middle of the substantially non-deformable portion.

[0045] Each of the protrusions 76 and / or the recesses may be at least partially disposed on or may be at least partially coupled to one or more of each elastically deformable finger-shaped member 78a. Each of the protrusions 76 and / or the recesses may be disposed at the free end of the radially elastically deformable finger-shaped member 78a. However, alternatively, each of the protrusions 76 and / or the recesses may be disposed at any suitable position along the length of one or more of the radially elastically deformable finger-shaped members 78a. Thus, it will be appreciated that by deformation of the radially elastically deformable finger-shaped member 78a, the abutment surface 70 may be radially movable. This deformation may be caused by a force acting radially inwardly and applied to the radially elastically deformable finger-shaped member 78a or a portion thereof.

[0046] When the filter assembly 10 is constructed, the rotary container 20 can be inserted into the body 14 of the housing 12 through the open end 18. When the rotary container 20 is inserted into the body 14, it can be guided into place by the guide ribs 82 connected to the inner surface of the housing 12 or integral therewith. When the rotary container 20 is positioned in the housing 12, the guide ribs 82 can help the upper spigot 30 to align with the upper bearing 36. One or both of the upper spigot 30 and the upper bearing 36 can be configured to frictionally engage with the other. When the rotary container 20 is fully inserted into the housing 12, the upper spigot 30 can be frictionally engaged with the upper bearing 34 to support the weight of the rotary container 20, that is, to inhibit the rotary container 20 from falling off from the housing 12 under the action of its weight. Such a device can help the construction of the filter assembly 10 because the rotary container 20 may not need to be kept in place when the construction of the filter assembly 10 is continued and / or completed. However, in contrast, such an arrangement may impede disassembly of the filter assembly 10, for example, for maintenance and / or repair, as the frictional engagement of the upper spigot 30 with the upper bearing may make it difficult to extract the rotary container 20 from within the housing 12.

[0047] When the rotary container 20 is received in the body 14 of the housing 12, the closing member 16 can be releasably attached to the housing 12 to form a fluid-tight volume 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the closing member 16 is screwed into the open end 18 of the body 14. When the closing member 16 is attached to the body 14, the lower socket 28 can engage with the lower bearing 34. More specifically, in certain embodiments, the lower socket 28 can engage with the sleeve 74 of the lower bearing 34. When the lower socket 28 is initially, i.e., partially engaged with the lower bearing 34, the elastically deformable portion, such as the radially elastically deformable finger 78a, can be caused to elastically deform. In the illustrated embodiment, when the lower socket 28 is engaged with the lower bearing 34, the protrusion 76 of the radially elastically deformable finger 78a contacts the inner wall of the sleeve 74 to push radially inward, even if the radially elastically deformable finger 78a is deformed. This is because the outermost diameter of the lower socket 28 including the protrusion 76 is greater than the innermost diameter of the sleeve 74. To assist the engagement of the lower socket 28 with the lower bearing 34, each protrusion 76 may include a cam surface 84 that is inclined relative to the inner wall of the sleeve 74. Thus, when the lower socket 28 is introduced into the sleeve 74, a force will again act in the axial direction on each cam surface 84 to initiate radially inward deflection of the protrusion 76 and the radially elastically deformable finger-shaped member 78a. The radially inward deflection of the radially elastically deformable finger-shaped member 78a allows the closure member 16 to move axially relative to the lower socket 28 in the first axial direction.

[0048] Once the closure member 16 is releasably attached to the housing 12, the lower socket 28 can fully engage the lower bearing 34. Thus, the lower socket 28 can be axially moved relative to the sleeve 74 such that the projections 76 have been axially moved beyond a portion of the inner wall of the sleeve 74 that defines (i.e., delimits) the innermost diameter of the sleeve 74. In the illustrated embodiment, the projections 76 are retained within the sleeve 74 and radially aligned with a portion of the inner wall of the sleeve 74 that has a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the outermost diameter of the lower socket 28. The inherent elasticity of the radially elastically deformable fingers 78a allows them to return to their undeformed state when radially aligned with a portion of the sleeve 74 to have a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the outermost diameter of the lower socket 28. Thus, each projection 76 moves radially outward.

[0049] The transition between the inner wall portions of the sleeve 74 of different diameters forms a step 86. As in the illustrated embodiment, the step 86 can provide an abutment surface 70. Therefore, when the lower socket 28 is fully engaged with the lower bearing 34 and the radially elastically deformable finger 78a returns to its undeformed state, the step 86 can block, i.e., interrupt the axial path of the protrusion 76. This means that when the closing member 16 moves axially in the second axial direction relative to the lower socket 28, one or more protrusions 76 can abut against the step 86, and the second axial direction is opposite to the first axial direction. The device can inhibit the axial movement of the closing member 16 in the second axial direction relative to the lower socket 28. Therefore, once the lower socket 28 is fully engaged with the lower bearing 34, the device can inhibit the closure member 16 from separating from the rotary container 20. This has the advantage that when the filter assembly 10 is disassembled, the closing member 16 is separated from the body 14, for example, by unscrewing the closing member 16 from the body 14, the rotary container 20 can be taken out of the housing 12. Thus, the lower socket 28 may provide a connector to releasably couple the closure member 16 to the rotary container 20 such that the rotary container 20 can be at least partially removed from the housing 12 by separation of the closure member 16 and the body 14 .

[0050] In the case where the closure member 16 is releasably attached to the housing 12, the locking member 22 can be attached to the body 14 to inhibit accidental opening and / or separation of the closure member 16 from the body 14. In order to releasably attach the locking member 22 to the housing 12, the locking member 22 can be introduced into the open end of the closure member 16. In the illustrated embodiment, before the locking member 22 is introduced into the open end of the closure member 16, the attachment of the locking member 22 to the housing 12 can be assisted by the axial alignment of the lugs 42 with the retaining surface 68. Moreover, when the locking member 22 is releasably attached to the body 14, the lugs 42 can be deformed radially outward. The radial deformation of the lugs 42 can allow the hook-shaped portion 42a to axially move through the corresponding retaining surface 68. Once the hook-shaped portion 42a has moved axially through the corresponding retaining surface 68, the inherent elasticity of the lugs 42 returns them to their undeformed state, i.e., radially inward movement. The lugs 42 may be deformed radially outward by contact of the hook portions 42a with the circumferential surface of the body 14 and / or with the radially extending formations 64. To assist in the radially outward deformation of the lugs 42, the hook portions 42a may each include a respective cam surface.

[0051] With the locking member 22 releasably engaged with the body 14, axial movement of the locking member 22 can be inhibited by abutting each hook portion 42a against one or more corresponding retaining surfaces 68. Thus, the locking member 22 can be inhibited from releasing from engagement with the body 14, thereby ensuring that the locking member 22 remains engaged with the housing 12 during use. However, with the locking member 22 releasably engaged with the body 14, the locking member 22 can be axially moved into and out of the locked position relative to the body 14. The locked position is Figure 1 and 4 , wherein the rotation of the locking member 22 relative to the housing 12 is inhibited by the abutment of the lug 42 with the rotation inhibiting surface 66. The deadweight of the rotating container 20 can act on the closing member 16, and thus on the locking member 22 to maintain the locking member 22 in the locked position. In some embodiments, the locking member 22 can be axially movable relative to the body 14 between the locked position and the released position. The released position is Figure 3 and 5 . In the release position, the locking member 22 can be rotated relative to the body 14 to cause the locking member 22 to be released from engagement with the body 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking member 22 moves in a first axial direction, for example, upwardly from the locking position to the release position. In the release position, the circumferential path of the lug 42 extending around the body 14 can be clear, i.e., uninterrupted, by the rotation inhibition surface 66 in at least one direction thereof, for example, in the first direction. As in the illustrated embodiment, the locking member 22 can also move axially relative to the closing member 16. This is because in the case where the closing member 16 is detachably attached to the body 14, the closing member 16 may not move axially when the closing member 16 does not rotate relative to the body 14. Therefore, the locking member 22 can be axially moved into and out of the locking position relative to the closing member 16.

[0052] Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, to remove the rotary container 20 from the housing 12, for example, for cleaning / maintenance, the locking member 22 is moved from the locking position into the release position and rotated in a first direction relative to the body 14. This action moves the lugs 42 out of axial alignment with the corresponding retaining surfaces 68 and allows the locking member 22 to be released from the body 14. The rotation of the locking member 22 initiates the rotation of the closing member 16. Continued rotation of the closing member 16 in the first direction relative to the body 14 separates the closing member 16 from the body 14, thereby allowing the closing member 16 to be separated from the body. The separation of the closing member 16 from the body 14 extracts the rotary container 20 from the body 14.

[0053] The invention is not limited to the details of any of the foregoing embodiments. For example, some embodiments of the invention may not include the locking member 22. The invention extends to any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims and drawings), or to any novel step or any novel combination of steps of any method or process so disclosed. The claims should not be interpreted as covering only the foregoing embodiments, but also any embodiment falling within the scope of the claims.

[0054] In some embodiments, the features described above with reference to the lower socket 28 and the lower bearing 34 are also applicable to the upper socket 30 and the upper bearing 36, respectively. In addition, the sockets 28, 30 can be arranged on the housing 12 and the bearings 34, 36 can be arranged on the rotary container 20. The lower socket 28 can have a non-circular cross-section, which is defined by a single part, that is, it is defined, that is, it is not defined by the finger-shaped members 78a, 78b. In any case, the non-circular cross-section can be a polygonal cross-section, for example, a hexagonal cross-section. In some embodiments, the non-circular cross-section can be a semicircular cross-section. Of course, in some embodiments, the cross-section of the lower socket 28 can be circular. To this end, each of the finger-shaped members 78a, 78b can include a curved surface, which can be the radially outermost surface of each corresponding finger-shaped member 78a, 78b.

[0055] In some embodiments, the closure member 16 can be separated from the body 14 in other ways besides by rotation of the closure member 16 relative to the body 14. The locking member 22 can be releasably engaged with the closure member 16 by other means besides snap-fit ​​engagement. In addition, the present invention is not limited to self-powered filter assemblies such as those described above. In some embodiments, the filter assembly can include a drive device, such as an electric motor, which is configured to rotate the rotor body 24.

[0056] All features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims and drawings) and / or all steps of any method or process so disclosed may be combined in any combination, except combinations in which at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0057] Unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed in this specification (including any attached claims and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose. Therefore, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only an example of a general series of equivalent or similar features.

Claims

1. A rotary container for a filter assembly, the rotary container comprising: a rotor body rotatable about an axis of rotation; as well as a socket integral with or coupled to the rotor body and extending therefrom along the axis of rotation, the socket having an abutment surface against which a cooperating surface abuts in use to inhibit movement of the rotary container relative to the cooperating surface and parallel to the axis of rotation, The socket comprises a plurality of fingers extending axially and comprising a projection forming an abutment surface, a subset of the fingers comprising an elastically deformable portion elastically deformable in a radial direction relative to the rotation axis, such that the abutment surface can be radially moved relative to the rotation axis by deformation of the elastically deformable portion, and another subset of the fingers comprising a non-deformable portion that is rigid in the radial direction; The elastically deformable portion is spaced apart in the middle of the non-deformable portion and around the socket.

2. The rotary container according to claim 1, wherein: The socket extends from the rotor body in a first direction, and wherein the abutment surface is configured such that, in use, the cooperating surface abuts the abutment surface to inhibit movement of the rotary container in a direction opposite to the first direction.

3. The rotary container according to claim 1, wherein: The abutment surface is at least partially disposed on or coupled to one or more recesses or grooves extending radially into the socket with respect to the rotation axis.

4. The rotary container according to claim 1, wherein: The abutment surface is a discontinuous surface extending around the socket.

5. The rotary container according to claim 1, wherein: The fingers have free ends farthest from the rotor body.

6. The rotary container according to claim 5, wherein: The abutment surface is at least partially disposed on or coupled to one or more of the free ends of each finger.

7. The rotary container according to claim 6, wherein: One or more of the fingers each taper away from the rotor body.

8. The rotary container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: One or more of the resiliently deformable portions each include a respective cam surface, each of the resiliently deformable portions being deformed by a force acting parallel to the rotational axis against the respective cam surface.

9. The rotary container according to claim 8, wherein: One or more of the cam surfaces are each disposed on or coupled to one or more of the protrusions.

10. The rotary container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The socket is substantially circular in cross-section.

11. The rotary container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The rotary container is self-powered because the rotor body has a drive nozzle for ejecting a pressurized working fluid from the drive nozzle to cause rotation of the rotor body by reaction force.

12. A filter assembly comprising: a housing having a body and a closure member detachably attached to the body to retain a rotary container according to any one of claims 1 to 11 within the housing, the closure member being detachable from the body to allow removal of the rotary container from the housing; as well as A connector for releasably coupling the closure member to the rotary container such that the rotary container can be at least partially removed from the housing by separation of the closure member from the body.

13. The filter assembly of claim 12, wherein: The closure member is detachable from the main body by rotation of the closure member relative to the main body.

14. The filter assembly of claim 12, wherein: The connector is a snap-fit ​​connector.

15. A filter assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: The filter assembly includes a spin-on container.

16. The filter assembly of claim 15, wherein: The socket at least partially forms the connector, and the closure member includes the cooperating surface such that abutment of the abutment surface and the cooperating surface inhibits movement of the rotary container relative to the cooperating surface to releasably couple the closure member to the rotary container.

17. The filter assembly of claim 16, wherein: The closure member includes a sleeve for receiving the socket to rotatably support the rotary container in the housing, the sleeve including the cooperating surface.

18. The filter assembly of claim 17, wherein: The sleeve includes the cooperating surface at an open end of the sleeve.

19. The filter assembly of claim 18, wherein: The closure member includes a bearing assembly containing the sleeve.

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