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Claims  |
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I claim:
1. A fluid filter for attachment to a filter mount of an engine,
comprising:
(a) a filter media;
(b) a housing, for the filter media consisting essentially of a
substantially cylindrical side wall, a closed first end and an open second
end;
(c) complementary interengageable locking means formed radially on the open
second end of the filter housing and the filter mount for engaging the
filter housing and the filter mount, including a plurality of first
members formed on the inside of the filter housing and a plurality of
second members formed on the filter mount,
wherein the plurality of first members includes a first set of
circumferentially spaced flanges fixedly attached to the inside of the
cylindrical side wall of the filter housing,
wherein the plurality of second members includes a second set of
circumferentially spaced flanges formed on the filter mount, and
wherein each of the plurality of first members combines with a
corresponding one of the plurality of second members to removably engage
the filter housing relative to the filter mount; and
(d) sealing means positioned circumferentially between the cylindrical side
wall of the filter housing at the second, open end and the filter mount
for creating a fluid seal therebetween.
2. The fluid filter as recited in claim 1, wherein the sealing means is an
annular O-ring positioned between the inner wall of the filter housing and
the filter mount interior thereof.
3. The fluid filter as recited in claim 1, wherein the sealing means is an
annular O-ring positioned between the outer wall of the filter housing and
the filter mount exterior thereof.
4. A fluid filter for attachment to a filter mount, comprising:
(a) a filter media;
(b) a housing for the filter media;
(c) complementary interengageable locking means formed radially on the
filter housing and the filter mount for engaging the filter housing and
the filter mount, including a plurality of first members formed on the
inside of the filter housing and a plurality of second members formed on
the filter mount,
wherein the plurality of first members includes a first set of
circumferentially spaced flanges formed on an inner wall of the filter
housing,
wherein the plurality of second members includes a second set of
circumferentially spaced flanges formed on the filter mount, and
wherein each of the plurality of first members combines with a
corresponding one of the plurality of second members to removably engage
the filter housing relative to the filter mount; and
(d) sealing means positioned circumferentially between the filter housing
and the filter mount for creating a fluid seal therebetween, the sealing
means being an annular O-ring positioned between the inner wall of the
filter housing and the filter mount interior thereof,
wherein the sealing means further comprises a flexible, annular member
positioned between the inner wall of the filter housing and the filter
mount interior thereof which is movable between a first, non-sealing
position and a second, sealing position when the O-ring is under pressure.
5. A fluid filter for attachment to a filter mount, comprising:
(a) a filter media;
(b) a housing for the filter media;
(c) complementary interengageable locking means formed radially on the
filter housing and the filter mount for engaging the filter housing and
the filter mount, including a plurality of first members formed on the
inside of the filter housing and a plurality of second members formed on
the filter mount,
wherein the plurality of first members includes a first set of
circumferentially spaced flanges formed on an inner wall of the filter
housing,
wherein the plurality of second members includes a second set of
circumferentially spaced flanges formed on the filter mount, and
wherein each of the plurality of first members combines with a
corresponding one of the plurality of second members to removably engage
the filter housing relative to the filter mount, and
(d) sealing means positioned circumferentially between the filter housing
and the filter mount for creating a fluid seal therebetween, the sealing
means being an annular O-ring positioned between the outer wall of the
filter housing and the filter mount exterior thereof,
wherein the sealing means further comprises a flexible annular member
positioned between the outer wall of the filter housing and the filter
mount exterior thereof which is movable between a first, non-sealing
position and a second, sealing position when the O-ring is under pressure.
6. A fluid filter for attachment to a filter mount, comprising;
(a) a filter media;
(b) a housing for the filter media;
(c) complimentary interengageable locking means formed radially on the
filter housing and the filter mount for engaging the filter housing and
the filter mount, the locking means including a plurality of bolts
attached to the filter mount and a corresponding plurality of holes formed
in a plate attached to the filter housing; and
(d) sealing means positioned circumferentially between the filter housing
and the filter mount for creating a fluid seal therebetween.
7. The fluid filter as recited in claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of
bolts is engaged resiliently by a spring associated with each of the
plurality of holes.
8. The fluid filter as recited in claim 7, wherein the sealing means
comprises an annular O-ring positioned between the inner wall of the
filter housing and the filter mount interior thereof.
9. The fluid filter as recited in claim 8, wherein the sealing means
comprises an annular O-ring positioned between the filter housing and the
filter mount exterior thereof.
10. A fluid filter for attachment to a filter mount, comprising:
(a) a filter media;
(b) a housing for the filter media;
(c) complementary interengageable locking means formed radially on the
filter housing and the filter mount for engaging the filter housing and
the filter mount, the locking means including a plurality of bolts
attached to a plate attached to the filter housing and a corresponding
plurality of holes formed in the filter mount; and
(d) sealing means positioned circumferentially between the filter housing
and the filter mount for creating a fluid seal therebetween.
11. The fluid filter as recited in claim 10, wherein each of the plurality
of bolts is engaged resiliently by a spring associated with each of the
plurality of holes.
12. The fluid filter as recited in claim 11, wherein the sealing means
comprises an annular O-ring positioned between the inner wall of the
filter housing and the filter mount interior thereof.
13. The fluid filter as recited in claim 12, wherein the sealing means
comprises an annular O-ring positioned between the filter housing and the
filter mount exterior thereof.
14. A method for attaching a fluid filter to a filter mount of an engine,
comprising the following steps:
(a) forming a fluid filter having--
(i) a filter media;
(ii) a housing for the filter media, consisting essentially of a
substantially cylindrical side wall, a first closed end and a second, open
end,
(iii) complementary interengageable locking means formed radially on the
second open end of the filter housing and the filter mount, including a
plurality of first members formed interiorally of the filter housing and a
plurality of second members formed on the filter mount, and
(iv) sealing means positioned circumferentially between the cylindrical
side wall of the filter housing and the filter mount;
(b) forming the plurality of first members as a first set of
circumferentially spaced flanges fixedly attached to the inside of the
cylindrical side wall of the filter housing and the plurality of second
members as a second set of circumferentially spaced flanges on the filter
mount;
(c) inserting the first set of flanges between the second set of flanges;
and then
(d) turning the filter housing in a first direction relative to the filter
mount to interengage the complementary locking means by combining each of
the plurality of first members with a corresponding one of the plurality
of second members to removably engage the filter housing and the filter
mount with a seal formed between the cylindrical side wall of the filter
housing and the filter mount.
15. A method for attaching a fluid filter to a filter mount on an engine,
comprising the following steps:
(a) forming a fluid filter having--
(i) a filter media,
(ii) a housing for the filter media,
(iii) complimentary interengageable locking means formed radially on the
filter housing and the filter mount, including a plurality of bolts on the
filter mount and a corresponding plurality of holes in a plate attached to
the filter housing, and
(iv) sealing means positioned circumferentially between the filter housing
and the filter mount; and
(b) inserting each of the plurality of bolts into one of the corresponding
plurality of holes; and
(c) turning the filter housing to engage the filter housing and the filter
mount.
16. A method for attaching a fluid filter to a filter mount on an engine,
comprising the following steps:
(a) forming a fluid filter having--
(i) a filter media,
(ii) a housing for the filter media,
(iii) complimentary interengageable locking means formed radially on the
filter housing and the filter mount, including a plurality of bolts in a
plate attached to the filter housing and a corresponding plurality of
holes in the filter mount, and
(iv) sealing means positioned circumferentially between the filter housing
and the filter mount; and
(b) inserting each of the plurality of bolts into one of the corresponding
plurality of holes; and
(c) turning the filter housing to engage the filter housing and the filter
mount. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a fluid filter, such as a disposable-type, oil
filter, and a method for attaching same in sealing relation to a filter
mount on an engine.
The type of fluid filter now commonly used as an oil filter for motor
vehicles is the "spin-on," disposable-type, because it is relatively
inexpensive to mass produce and easy to install and replace. Such a
spin-on, disposable-type, fluid filter is shown in FIG. 1 herein and is
indicated generally by reference number 10. This filter 10 includes a
housing 11 having a cylindrical side wall 12, a shaped closed end 14 for
cooperation with a filter wrench (not shown), and an opposite, open end 15
covered with an end plate or wall 16 having oil flow openings 18 formed
therein to allow oil to flow into the filter 10. An annular, resilient,
sealing gasket 20 is retained in an annular channel 22 formed on the end
wall 16 for cooperation with a flat sealing surface 24 of a filter mount
26 to which the filter 10 is attached. The filter mount 26 is formed on an
engine 28 and also includes oil flow openings 34. Located centrally of the
end wall 16 is a threaded aperture 30 which receives a threaded stud 32
carried by the filter mount 26.
During normal operation, flow of oil is from the engine 28, through the oil
flow openings 34 formed in filter mount 26, into the oil flow openings 18
formed in the end wall 16, through an antidrain back and bypass valve (not
shown), through the filter media 36, through the center tube (not shown),
through the central aperture 30, into the hollow interior 38 of the stud
32 and back to the engine 28. In the "bypass" mode, the antidrain back and
by pass valve causes the oil to bypass the filter media 36 and the center
tube.
The common and continuing problems of this conventional spin-on, disposable
filter are discussed below.
First, when the filter 10 is attached to the filter mount 26, friction,
twisting, and compressive forces act on the sealing gasket 20 positioned
between the end wall 16 and the filter mount 26. As a result, the sealing
gasket 20 can become deformed or can be caused to lie "off-center" of the
channel 22. In addition, the quality of the seal deteriorates with time
and temperature aging of the sealing gasket 20 requires a high torque to
remove the filter 10.
Second, the sealing gasket 20 is of the compression type where the
hydraulic load works against the sealing surface 24 of the filter mount 26
and the performance of the sealing gasket 20 is a function of the
stiffness of the end wall 16. Operational performance is worsened when the
sealing gasket 20 is placed at the outer edge of the traditional end wall
16 because the hydraulic load acts to deflect and separate the filter
mount sealing surface 24 from the end wall 16. Hence, the sealing gasket
20 must expand to fill this ever-increasing gap. One known technique for
improving the strength of the sealing gasket 20 is to incorporate a
peripheral, metal ring therein, as taught by co-assigned U.S. Pat. No.
4,473,471, issued to Robichaud et al., however, such a ring cannot fully
compensate for this expansion.
Third, installation of the conventional filter 10 is not foolproof. The
filter 10 should be torqued after the sealing gasket 20 contacts the
filter mount 26; however, it is not possible to positively determine
proper contact of the sealing gasket 20 in most conventional
installations.
Fourth, due to the great pressures encountered during operation, it is
necessary to manufacture the area of attachment of the filter 10 to the
filter mount 26, i.e., the end wall 16, from a material whose thickness
and strength can withstand these pressures. Of course, a filter design
requiring a thick, strong material for the area of attachment results in
high raw material and manufacturing costs.
Fifth, since conventional wisdom has counseled that the area of attachment
should be at the center of the end wall in the form of corresponding
threaded members, the means for sealing the space between the filter and
the filter mount has necessarily been restricted to the area surrounding
the corresponding threaded members. As a result, manufacturing design
freedom and the efficiency of the sealing means has suffered.
Sixth, the total raw material cost of the filtration process components,
i.e., filter media 36, related adhesives, etc., is less than a third of
the total raw material cost of each filter 10. The remaining two-thirds of
the cost is related to the non-filtration process components, i.e., the
sealing gasket 20, end wall 16, etc. Due to this disproportional cost
ratio, it is highly desired to minimize the cost of the non-filtration
process components.
Seventh and finally, the conventional fluid filter 10 requires machining or
cutting of various filter parts, such as the threaded stud 32 and central
aperture 30. The goal of generating high volume production of fluid
filters including thick end walls 16 having quality threads, i.e., without
leaving traces of chips and burrs, has posed serious, longstanding
problems in the industry.
Thus, it can be seen that the known fluid filters have fluid sealing
problems, necessarily demand that relatively thick metal be used in the
area of attachment, and are relatively expensive and difficult to
manufacture. None of the known prior art fluid filters have the novel
features of the invention disclosed herein which overcome these
disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the above-mentioned disadvantages in known fluid filters and
the methods of attachment related thereto, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a fluid filter whose area of attachment to the filter
mount is moved radially outward from the center thereof, thus eliminating
the end plate, allowing greater freedom in manufacturing design and
providing greater overall efficiency of the sealing means.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid filter,
whose non-filtration components can be manufactured less expensively than
their conventional counterparts.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid filter
whose components do not require any machining or cutting, but instead are
formed in a press using flatstock.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid filter and
method for attaching same capable of producing an extremely effective seal
between the filter and the filter mount.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid filter and
method for attaching same which are relatively simple and have a minimal
number of components and steps, respectively, thereby ensuring low-cost,
mass-production.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid filter and
method for attaching same capable of easy assembly, thereby enhancing
low-cost mass-production.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid filter
which can be attached to a filter mount quickly via a relatively easy and
fool-proof attaching method.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid filter and
method for attaching same capable of providing positive indication of
proper installation.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid filter
and method for attaching same capable of prolonging the life and
effectiveness of the sealing gasket.
To achieve the foregoing objects and in accordance with the purpose of this
invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a
fluid filter and a method for attaching same in sealing relation to a
filter mount. The fluid filter includes: a filter media; a housing for the
filter media; complimentary, radial, interengageable locking means formed
on the filter and the filter mount for engaging the filter with the filter
mount; and sealing means positioned radially outward of the locking means
between the filter and the filter mount. The locking means may include a
first set of circumferentially spaced flanges attached to the inner wall
of the housing and a second set of circumferentially, alternatingly
spaced, flanges formed on the filter mount, or vice versa. The locking
means may instead include a plurality of bolts attached to the filter
mount and a corresponding plurality of holes formed in a plate attached to
the inner wall of the filter, or vice versa. The sealing means may include
an annular O-ring positioned between the housing and the filter mount. The
method includes the steps of forming either of the above-described fluid
filters, and either inserting the first set of flanges between the second
set of flanges, or inserting each of the plurality of bolts into one of
the plurality of corresponding holes, respectively, and turning the filter
a quarter turn to engage the filter and the filter mount.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from
the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The
objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by
means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out
in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional, spin-on, disposable-type,
oil filter and the method for attaching same to a filter mount;
FIG. 2 is a side, cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a top, cross-sectional view of the present invention shown in
FIG. 2 taken along lines 3--3;
FIG. 4 is a side, cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top, cross-sectional view of the present invention shown in
FIG. 4 taken along lines 5--5;
FIG. 6 is a side, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present
invention; and
FIG. 8 is a side, cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is shown in FIGS. 2-8 herein and includes generally a
fluid filter indicated by reference numeral 50, a filter mount 62 and a
sealing means 64.
The fluid filter 50 includes a housing 52 provided internally thereof with
a filter media 54 terminating in an end cap 55 and forming a center tube
57. The housing 52 is closed at a first end (not shown), as is
conventional, and is open at a second end 56. The housing 52 can be made
according to co-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,265, issued to Dye et al.,
which eliminates the need for a seam in the housing 52. The fluid filter
50 also comprises an antidrain back and bypass valve 58 which can be made
according to co-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,706, issued to Pickett et al.
The valve 58 is welded to an end cap 55 and is sealed by resilient gasket
59 against the filter mount 62.
In direct contrast to the conventional, spin-on, disposable-type, fluid
filter 10 discussed above, the present invention eliminates the need for
an end plate 16 and the threaded central aperture 30 to permit screwing of
the fluid filter 10 onto a threaded stud 32 associated with a filter mount
26. Instead, the present invention includes: complimentary interengageable
locking means 60 formed radially on the filter 50 and a base or filter
mount 62 of an engine 63 for engaging the filter 50 with the filter mount
62; and sealing means 64 positioned between the housing 52 of the filter
50 and the filter mount 62, as will now be described.
In the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
the locking means 60 includes a first set of circumferentially spaced
projections or flanges 70 attached to the inner wall 72 of the housing 52
via, e.g., welds 71 and a second set of circumferential, alternatingly
spaced receptacles or flanges 74 formed on the filter mount 62. The set of
flanges 70 may be a hoop lock band which is roll formed from flatstock
into a circular "T" section, gapped to allow interface with the gapped
filter mount 62 and welded to the housing 52. In this embodiment, the
number of flanges 70 and 74 shown is, respectively, four, but other
numbers could be used.
By eliminating the conventional end plate, the traditional support area for
the sealing gasket is also eliminated. However, the present invention uses
unique sealing means which provides a seal superior to that of the
conventional sealing gasket.
In this first embodiment, the sealing means 64 may include an annular
O-ring 75 positioned circumferentially within a curved end 76 of the inner
wall 72 of the housing 52 to abut the filter mount 62. With this sealing
means 64, the "high" pressure seal is now circumferential and the pressure
and forces exerted tend to actually increase the seal's effectiveness.
Therefore, although the pressure is the same in the conventional filter
and the filter of the present invention, the force tends to blow out the
conventional gasket, but creates a greater seal with the present
invention.
More particularly, the present invention emphasizes use of the hoop
strength of the housing 52 itself for creating an effective pressure
boundary or seal, as opposed to the conventional filter which makes the
sealing gasket responsible for withstanding the pressures exerted and
maintaining an effective fluid seal. The housing 52 of the present
invention has excellent hoop strength to withstand the pressures, whereas
the conventional sealing gasket must be pre-loaded against the filter
mount and end plate, both of which deflect under pressure. Pre-load for
the conventional sealing gasket is accomplished by screwing the end plate
closer to the filter mount, thereby compressing the sealing gasket
therebetween. The filter mount and the end plate exert further pressure on
the sealing gasket when they deflect under pressure. With the present
invention, if the locking means 60 deflects, the sealing means 64 is
unaffected. In contrast, with the conventional filter, when the filter
mount and the end plate deflect, the seal may be broken. Accordingly, the
present invention has satisfied a longstanding goal in fluid filter
design, i.e., separating the problems associated with sealing from the
problems associated with attachment.
FIGS. 2 and 3 also illustrate the method for attachment of this first
embodiment. The first step involves forming the filter 50 having locking
means 60 and sealing means 64, described above. The second step includes
inserting the first set of flanges 70 between the second set of flanges
74, as shown in FIG. 3. Finally, the third step involves merely turning
the filter 50 a quarter turn to lockingly engage the first and second sets
of flanges 70 and 74. At least one flange of the first set of flanges 70
includes a detent 78 and at least one of the flanges of the second set of
flanges 74 includes a corresponding stop 80, which together prevent
turning of the filter 50 relative to the filter mount 62 more than a
quarter turn. As can be seen, installation is quicker and less guesswork
regarding proper torque is required with the present invention than with
the conventional filter, since the filter 50 requires only a quarter turn
for full and proper installation.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the above-described
structure is merely reversed, such that the first set of circumferentially
spaced flanges 70 is formed on the inner wall 72 of the housing 52 and the
second set of circumferentially spaced flanges 74 is formed on the filter
mount 62. The same sealing means 64 could also be used.
The method of attachment of this second embodiment is similar to that of
the first embodiment in that the first set of flanges 70 is inserted
between the second set of flanges 74 and the filter 50 is turned a quarter
turn to engage the filter 50 and the filter mount 62.
During operation of the first and second embodiments described above, the
normal flow of oil is from the engine 63, through the oil flow openings
100 in the filter mount 62, through the filter media 54, through the
center tube 57, into the antidrain back and bypas valve 58, into the
central opening 102 formed in the filer mount 62 and back into the engine
63. In the "bypass" mode, the antidrain back and bypass valve 58 causes
the oil to bypass the filter media 54 and the center tube 57.
In a third embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking means 60 includes
a plurality of bolts 110 attached to the filter mount 62 via nuts 112 and
a corresponding plurality of elongated holes 114 having one end larger
than the other formed in a plate 116 attached to the housing 52. Each hole
114 is associated with a wave or bevel spring 118 to resiliently receive
each bolt 110. In this embodiment, the number of bolts 110 and hole 114
combinations shown, respectively, is three, although other numbers can be
used. The sealing means 64 may again include an annular O-ring 120 held
within a curved end 122 of the inner wall 124 of the housing 52 to abut
the filter mount 62.
FIGS. 4 and 5 also illustrate the method of attachment of this third
embodiment. The first step is to form a filter 50 according to the third
embodiment described above. Second, each of the plurality of bolts 110 is
inserted into the large end of the corresponding holes 114 formed in the
end wall 116 against the spring 118 and filter 50 is turned one quarter
turn to move each bolt 110 into the smaller end of each hole 114, which
resultantly engages the filter 50 and the filter mount 62. The spring 118
acts as a detent load.
In a fourth embodiment, the locking means 60 can merely be the reverse
structure of the third embodiment, including the plurality of bolts 110
attached to the plate 116 via the nuts 112 and a corresponding plurality
of holes 114 formed i | | |
