Free-flow gas filter assembly

Claim 2

A gas filter assembly for filtering pressurized gas comprising a body with a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port with a central passageway extending downwardly from the inner end of the outlet port, a bowl attached to the bottom portion of the body, the bowl having a bottom opening that allows liquid to drain from the bowl, means for connecting the upper portion of the bowl to the lower portion of the body, means in the gas inlet port for connecting the gas inlet port to a gas line leading to a source of pressurized gas, means in the gas outlet port for connecting the gas outlet port to a downstream gas line, hollow longitudinal filter element means attached to the bottom of the body around the inlet to the central passageway for passing all gas flowing through the gas filter assembly therethrough, the filter element means comprising a filter element of porous filter material with pores that pass gas when the filter element is dry but swell on being wetted to prevent passage of water and gas therethrough, and drain means positioned at the bottom of the bowl for draining liquid from the bowl, comprising a float disposed in the bowl adjacent to the bottom opening, a valve extending through the float and the bottom opening, and a body, whereby the float rises as the liquid accumulates at the bottom of the bowl, thereby opening the valve and allowing the liquid to drain through the bottom opening, whereby when the liquid level in the bowl rises and covers the filter element, the filter element swells and prevents gas and liquid from flowing through the gas filter assembly.

Claim 3

The gas filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter element has a cylindrical wall extending upwardly from a flat bottom wall.

Claim 4

The gas filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the pores of the filter element have a pore size of about 10 microns.

Claim 5

The gas filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the porous filter material in the filter element comprises a water insoluble, water absorbent material.

Claim 6

The gas filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the water insoluble, water absorbent material is a hydrolyzed starch/acrylonitrile graft copolymer.

Claim 7

The gas filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the porous filter material in the filter element includes a carrier material.

Claim 8

The gas filter assembly of claim 6, wherein the carrier material is polyethylene.

Claim 9

A gas filter assembly for filtering pressurized gas comprising a body with a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port with a central passageway extending downwardly form the inner end of the outlet port, a bowl attached to the bottom portion of the body with a bottom opening that allows liquid to drain form the bowl, means connecting the upper portion of the bowl to the lower portion of the body, means in the gas inlet port for connecting the gas inlet port to a gas line leading to a source of pressurized gas, means in the gas outlet port for connecting the gas outlet port to a downstream gas line, hollow longitudinal filter element means attached to the bottom of the body around the inlet to the central passageway for passing all gas flowing through the gas filter assembly therethrough, the filter element means comprising a filter element of porous filter material with pores that pass gas when the filter element is dry but swell on being wetted to prevent passage of water and gas therethrough, and drain means positioned at the bottom of the bowl for draining liquid from the bowl, comprising a float disposed in the bowl adjacent to the bottom opening, a valve extending through the float and the bottom opening, and a body, whereby the float rises as the liquid accumulates at the bottom of the bowl, thereby opening the valve and allowing the liquid to drain through the bottom opening, whereby when the liquid level in the bowl rises and covers the filter element, the filter element swells and prevents gas and liquid from flowing through the gas filter assembly, the porous filter material in the filter element comprises a water insoluble, water absorbent material. the water insoluble, water absorbent material being a hydrolyzed starch/acrylonitrile graft copolymer. the porous filter material in the filter element including a carrier material, the carrier material is polyethylene, the filter element having a cylindrical wall extending upwardly form a flat bottom wall, and the pores of the filter element having a pore size of about 10 microns.

Claim 10

A gas filter assembly for filtering pressurized gas comprising a body with a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port with a central passageway extending downwardly form the inner end of the outlet port, a bowl attached to the bottom portion of the body with a bottom opening that allows liquid to drain form the bowl, means connecting the upper portion of the bowl to the lower portion of the body, means in the gas inlet port for connecting the gas inlet port to a gas line leading to a source of pressurized gas, means in the gas outlet port for connecting the gas outlet port to a downstream gas line, hollow longitudinal filter element means attached to the bottom of the body around the inlet to the central passageway for passing all gas flowing through the gas filter assembly therethrough, the filter element means comprising a filter element of porous filter material with pores that pass gas when the filter element is dry but swell on being wetted to prevent passage of water and gas therethrough, and drain means positioned at the bottom of the bowl for draining liquid from the bowl, comprising a float disposed in the bowl adjacent to the bottom opening, a valve extending through the float and the bottom opening, and a body, whereby the float rises as the liquid accumulates at the bottom of the bowl, thereby opening the valve and allowing the liquid to drain through the bottom opening, whereby when the liquid level in the bowl rises and covers the filter element, the filter element swells and prevents gas and liquid from flowing through the gas filter assembly, the porous filter material in the filter element comprises a water insoluble, water absorbent material. the water insoluble, water absorbent material being a hydrolyzed starch/acrylonitrile graft copolymer. the porous filter material in the filter element including a carrier material, the carrier material is polyethylene, the filter element having a cylindrical wall extending upwardly form a flat bottom wall, and the pores of the filter element having a pore size of about 10 microns.

Claim 11

A gas filter assembly for filtering pressurized gas comprising a housing having a chamber formed therein, a gas outlet port formed in the housing, a gas inlet port formed in the housing, means in the gas inlet port for connecting the gas inlet port to a gas line leading to a source of pressurized gas, and means in the gas outlet port for connecting the gas outlet port to a downstream gas line, hollow longitudinal filter element means positioned in the housing connected to said outlet for passing all gas entering the gas filter assembly therethrough, the filter element means comprising a filter element of porous filter material with pores that pass gas when dry but swell on being wetted to prevent passage of water and gas therethrough, and drain means positioned at the bottom of the bowl for draining liquid from the bowl, comprising a float disposed in the bowl adjacent to the bottom opening, a valve extending through the float and the bottom opening, and a body, whereby the float rises as the liquid accumulates at the bottom of the bowl, thereby opening the valve and allowing the liquid to drain through the bottom opening, whereby when the liquid level covers the filter element the filter element swells and closes its pores and prevents gas and liquid from flowing through the gas filter assembly.

Claim 12

A gas filter assembly for filtering pressurized gas comprising a housing having a chamber formed therein, a gas outlet port formed in the housing, a gas inlet port formed in the housing, means in the gas inlet port for connecting the gas inlet port to a gas line leading to a source of pressurized gas, and means in the gas outlet port for connecting the gas outlet port to a downstream gas line, hollow longitudinal filter element means positioned in the housing connected to said outlet for passing all gas entering the gas filter assembly therethrough, the filter element means comprising a filter element of porous filter material with pores that pass gas when dry but swell on being wetted to prevent passage of water and gas therethrough, and drain means positioned at the bottom of the bowl for draining liquid from the bowl, comprising a float disposed in the bowl adjacent to the bottom opening, a valve extending through the float and the bottom opening, and a body, whereby the float rises as the liquid accumulates at the bottom of the bowl, thereby opening the valve and allowing the liquid to drain through the bottom opening, whereby when the liquid level covers the filter element the filter element swells and closes its pores and prevents gas and liquid from flowing through the gas filter assembly.