US Patent:
20030226337, Dec 11, 2003
Inventors:
Mark Zaffetti - Suffield CT, US
Thomas Vatter - Holyoke MA, US
Shoufeng Hu - South Windsor CT, US
Donald Army - Enfield CT, US
International Classification:
B01D050/00
Abstract:
A water separator is provided for use in an environmental control system that includes first and second housing portions at least partially defining an interior cavity. A coalescer assembly that may include a mesh material is disposed within the interior cavity for separating water from the air flowing through the interior cavity. First and second interlocking features, which may include a plurality of circumferentially arranged tabs received in the slots of circumferentially arranged flanges, secure the housing portions together. The tabs and flanges interlock with one another in response to moving the first and second housings relative to one another from and open position to a closed position in which the housing portions are secured to another. In this manner, V-band coupling of the prior art may be eliminated and the service time of the water separator may be reduced.