Liquid purification or separation – Filter – Within flow line or flow line connected close casing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-01
2001-07-10
Savage, Matthew O. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Filter
Within flow line or flow line connected close casing
C210S450000, C210S453000, C210SDIG009, C220S322000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257417
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to housings or containers for automotive oil filters, particularly to such housings designed for permanent or long-term installation on an engine, and having a removable end cap to facilitate replacement of an oil filter element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most automotive oil filters currently on the market include a paper filter element enclosed within an integral metal container; the container includes a metal base for attaching the assembly to an engine. When such a filter is replaced, disposal and recycling are complicated by the metal parts, which require special equipment for crushing, etc. Disposal, including reclamation of oil contained within the used filter, is much simplified when only the paper filter element requires recycling.
Previous efforts to provide a housing for a replaceable filter include those described by Brown et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,785; by Ernst et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,633; and by Brieden et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,425. Each of the patents referred to discloses a housing having a screw-on cap or cover. What is needed, therefore, is an oil filter housing with a cap that does not require a threaded assembly, and which may be quickly and easily removed and replaced during oil changes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the problems outlined in the preceding section by providing a filter housing which replaces a standard oil filter unit. Installed on an engine and left in place, the housing allows only the paper filter element to be replaced. Because filters currently in use have an integral metal housing, the new housing simplifies recycling; i.e., only the paper filter element requires disposal when the engine oil and filter are replaced.
Mounted to an engine in the same way as a standard disposable oil filter, the invention includes a cylindrical housing or container for a paper filter element. The housing's base is threaded onto an engine in the same way as a disposable can-type oil filter, and a removable end cap allows easy replacement of the filter element. Costs are reduced because only the paper element is replaced, while the metal housing remains in place on the engine.
The invention includes a filter housing with a base at one end; the base has a threaded orifice for mounting the housing on an engine. A cap or cover with an attached spring clamp closes the end of the housing through which the filter element is inserted. Arms on the spring clamp extend alongside the housing wall, and engage locking lugs on the perimeter of the wall to hold the cover in place. A band with a ramped surface surrounds the housing adjacent the locking lugs; when the spring arms are pushed against the ramp, the clamp arms are forced outward, disengaging the locking lugs so the cover can be easily removed. An effective seal is provided between cover and housing by a gasket having two sealing surfaces.
In view of the above, it is an object of this invention to provide an oil filter housing which eliminates can-type filters and allows replacement of the filter element only.
A further object is to provide a housing for standard internal oil filter elements now used in the automotive filter industry.
Another object is to provide a filter housing which facilitates replacement of an oil filter and eliminates recycling of can-type filters.
Another object is to provide a filter housing which reduces costs by allowing replacement of the paper filter element only.
Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is compact, durable, simple, efficient, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to install.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2631750 (1953-03-01), Laucks
patent: 3036711 (1962-05-01), Wilhelm
patent: 3298528 (1967-01-01), Franck
patent: 4228011 (1980-10-01), Cote, Jr.
patent: 4298204 (1981-11-01), Jinkins
patent: 4473471 (1984-09-01), Robichaud et al.
patent: 5078877 (1992-01-01), Cudaback et al.
patent: 5762788 (1998-06-01), Gullett
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