Donald I Thornton

US Patent:

47326719, Mar 22, 1988

Filed:

Aug 4, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/892567

Inventors:

Donald I. Thornton - Warwick RI
Richard H. Peyton - Berkley MA

Assignee:

Allied Corporation - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

B01D 2708
B01D 3518

US Classification:

210 86

Abstract:

A separating device for separating a pair of immiscible components from a fluid mixture, such as separating water from a diesel fuel oil/water mixture, includes a housing and a filter cartridge mounted on the housing such that the filter cartridge is oriented substantially horizontally. The housing includes an inlet fitting, an outlet fitting, and a sump for receiving the fluid component separated from the mixture. Because of the orientation of the housing, the coalesced water or heavier component of the fluid mixture tends to collect in the lower portion of the filter cartridge and drains into the sump, where it may be drained periodically. The lighter component or fuel oil is communicated to the outlet port or fitting.

US Patent:

46611320, Apr 28, 1987

Filed:

Aug 15, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/765782

Inventors:

Donald I. Thornton - Warwick RI
Clarke A. Rodman - East Providence RI

Assignee:

Allied Corporation - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

B01D 4602

US Classification:

55486

Abstract:

A fluid filter is formed by producing an air laid nonwoven batt comprising a randomly arranged mixture of thermoplastic fibers and fibers which are not thermoplastic. The batt is then cut into sections, and portions of the batt are heated to a temperature sufficient to partially fuse the fibers, thereby increasing the density of the portion of the batt which is heated. Accordingly, a gradient density filter may be produced having a progressively greater density from the fluid receiving side to the fluid expressing side, so that larger particles are trapped at the fluid receiving side and progressively smaller particles are trapped as the fluid flows through the media, with the finest particles being trapped at the fluid expressing side.

US Patent:

43714390, Feb 1, 1983

Filed:

Jun 12, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/273163

Inventors:

Donald I. Thornton - Warwick RI

Assignee:

Fram Corporation - East Providence RI

International Classification:

B01D 2708

US Classification:

210232

Abstract:

A filter assembly includes a housing for releasably locking to a base for enclosing a replaceable filter element. The base includes a support over which the housing is positioned. The support includes a plurality of radially extending guide pins. A plurality of radially movable jaws are mounted on the guide pins to releasably lock the housing to the base. A rotatable cam ring is coaxially mounted on the support and includes cam slots for receiving corresponding axially extending cam engaging portions of the jaws. The jaws move radially inwardly and outwardly to lock and unlock the housing from the base in response to rotation of the cam ring.

US Patent:

45004250, Feb 19, 1985

Filed:

Jun 13, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/620215

Inventors:

Donald I. Thornton - Warwick RI
Richard H. Peyton - Berkley MA

Assignee:

Allied Corporation - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

B01D 2700

US Classification:

210136

Abstract:

A separating device for removing water from a fuel oil/water mixture includes a cartridge comprising a filtering media and a sump. The cartridge is installed on a mounting head, which includes a pump and a pair of check valves to permit fluid to be drained from the sump by operation of the pump. A bypass passage permits fluid to bypass the check valves during normal operation of the device, but a plunger closes the bypass passage to permit operation of the pump to move fluid through the device.

US Patent:

47326778, Mar 22, 1988

Filed:

Sep 17, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/908442

Inventors:

Donald I. Thornton - Warwick RI

Assignee:

Allied Corporation - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

B01D 4602

US Classification:

210347

Abstract:

A fluid filter is disclosed which consists of a stack of discs which are formed form an air laid, nonwoven batt of randomly arrayed fibers. The batt includes a thermoplastic component to give the disc a self-supporting stiffness when molded. Each of the discs have radially extending contaminant collecting surfaces on the opposite sides thereof, and each have axially offset portions circumscribing the inner and outer diameters of the disc. Alternate disc in the stack are inverted, so that the axially offset portions on the inner and outer circumferences of the disc are brought into registration with one another. Accordingly, radially extending flow paths are defined between the disc to communicate fluid toward and away from the contaminant collecting surfaces. Ribs are provided on the contaminant collecting surfaces to maintain separation of the disc under dynamic flow conditions.

US Patent:

47724439, Sep 20, 1988

Filed:

Dec 10, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/940173

Inventors:

Donald I. Thornton - Warwick RI
Clarke A. Rodman - East Providence RI

Assignee:

Allied Corporation - Morristown NJ

International Classification:

B29C 5900

US Classification:

264119

Abstract:

A fluid filter is formed by manufacturing an air laid batt containing randomly disposed structural fibers and a thermoplastic binder fiber. The interstices between the fibers are fixed by applying a latex resin to the batt, thereby fixing the pore sizes of the filtering media before the filtering media is molded. The filtering media is then molded into shape by using a plunger to tuck the media into an open cavity mold. The mold may be heated and pressure may be applied to the batt to mold the batt.

US Patent:

41441680, Mar 13, 1979

Filed:

Oct 26, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/845756

Inventors:

Donald I. Thornton - Warwick RI

Assignee:

Fram Corporation - East Providence RI

International Classification:

B01D 3514

US Classification:

210130

Abstract:

A fluid filter, such as that used to filter engine oil in an automotive vehicle, is provided with a combination anti-drainback and relief valve. The relief valve permits oil to bypass the filter if the latter should become clogged, and the anti-drainback valve prevents oil from leaking from the filter when the vehicle engine is not operated. The combination anti-drainback/relief valve includes a shoulder which is disposed between the filtering medium and a supporting flange therefor carried by the base of the filter, and also includes an inwardly extending annular portion which normally closes passages through the flange which permit communication between the inlet and outlet of the filter, and an outwardly extending portion which seals against the base of the filter to trap fluid within the filter when the vehicle engine is off. The valve element includes a spring steel member which is encapsulated in rubber sealing material. The spring steel member includes a plurality of radially extending, circumferentially spaced, relatively movable fingers on the inner and outer peripheries thereof, and the rubber sealing material encapsulates both the fingers ad the spaces therebetween.

US Patent:

44008643, Aug 30, 1983

Filed:

Nov 13, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/321310

Inventors:

Richard H. Peyton - Berkley MA
Donald I. Thornton - Warwick RI

Assignee:

Fram Corporation - Providence RI

International Classification:

B21D 3900
B23P 1100

US Classification:

29508

Abstract:

A fluid filter (10) of the spin-on automotive type has a housing with a unitary closure member (18). The unitary, or one-piece, closure member (18) includes provision for mounting of the filter and for fluid flow therethrough. Two opposed annular flanges (78, 80) of the closure member receive between them the marginal edge (72) of the filter shell in a fluid-tight crimped engagement. This arrangement facilitates manufacture of the filter by providing support to the shell wall (68) during the crimping operation and also provides an exceptionally strong joint between the shell (12) and closure member (18). Another embodiment of the filter has a closure member (18) with a marginal edge (76) having a portion of reduced thickness which facilitates its crimped engagement with the filter shell (12). Methods of making such closure members attain a unitary closure member without welding operations.