Liquid purification or separation – Structural installation – Closed circulating system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-29
2001-02-06
Lithgow, Thomas M. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Structural installation
Closed circulating system
C210S172300, C210S493300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183632
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an arrangement for filtering liquid in a device having a sump pan. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an arrangement for filtering liquid in a device having a sump pan wherein the liquid passes through a filter media before being recirculated back through the device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In almost any type of modem machinery, it is desirable to advantageously use space by conserving space when possible. This is especially the case with vehicles. Exemplary of such a situation are vehicle transmissions and vehicle lubricating oil pans. Vehicle transmissions include an oil sump which fits under the valve body of the transmission. In certain cases, the pleat height of the filter may touch the bottom surface of the sump pan or be too close to the bottom surface of the pan to allow unrestricted flow of transmission oil to an oil collection location where an inlet tube withdraws filtered oil from the sump for recirculation in the transmission.
In vehicles, it is desirable to orient the panels of a pleated filter media so as to provide baffles which interrupt the flow within a sump pan away from the inlet tube so that the transmission is not intermittently starved when the vehicle is cornered or otherwise abruptly accelerated. This is accomplished by having filter media which extends in a direction which is perpendicular to or at least has a component which is perpendicular to the direction of the acceleration. In order to maximize the effectiveness of the filter media panels as baffles, it is preferable to have a filter media which is as high as possible within the sump pan, however this interferes with the ability of filtered oil to flow to the inlet tube for recirculation.
While these problems are of apparent significance with respect to transmissions and lubricating oil pans of vehicles, these problems also arise in other types of machinery in which liquids such as lubricating oils, hydraulic oils, fuels and coolant liquids are employed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned considerations, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a new and improved arrangement for filtering liquids wherein liquids accumulate in a sump for recirculation.
In view of this feature and other features, the present invention is directed to an arrangement for filtering a liquid wherein the liquid accumulates in a sump pan after being used in a device wherein the sump pan has an opening through the top thereof and a closed bottom. A filter media, having a selected height with peaks and valleys, is disposed within the sump pan between the top and bottom of the sump pan wherein the liquid passes through the filter media before accumulating on the closed bottom of the sump pan. At least one shallow channel is formed in the closed bottom of the shallow pan and extends across the bottom to a collection location adapted to be aligned with the inlet tube of the device, whereby liquid flows to the location after passing through the media for recirculation by the device.
In further aspects of the invention, there is a well in the channel at the collection location and in still a further aspect of the invention, there are a plurality of channels.
Further aspects of the invention include utilizing a pleated filter media having panels extending across the bottom of the panel in a first direction and having channels which extend transversely with respect to the filter media in a selected direction.
In a more specific aspect of the invention, the arrangement is used in an oil sump of a vehicle for filtering oil, the sump being associated with a transmission or being associated with an oil pan for the lubrication system of an engine.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3168468 (1965-02-01), Jagdmann
patent: 4352737 (1982-10-01), Taniguchi
patent: 4804466 (1989-02-01), Cooper et al.
patent: 4995971 (1991-02-01), Droste et al.
patent: 5863424 (1999-01-01), Lee
patent: 6013179 (2000-01-01), Laughlin et al.
patent: 10-272312 (1998-10-01), None
Dana Corporation
Lithgow Thomas M.
Millen White Zelano & Branigan P.C.
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