Liquid purification or separation – Filter – Movable medium
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-07-17
Reifsnyder, David A. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Filter
Movable medium
C210S167150, C210S305000, C168S006000, C494S046000, C494S060000, C494S068000, C494S069000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261455
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to filters and more particularly relates to oil filters for engine and vehicle applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Current heavy-duty diesel engines put a moderate amount of soot (a form of unburned fuel) into the oil pan. This soot is generated due to the fuel hitting the cold cylinder walls and then being scraped down into the oil sump when the pistons reciprocate in the cylinders. Up until recently, the nitrous oxide emission regulations in the USA and other countries have been high enough that the fuel injection timing could be such that the level of soot generated was not high. In typical applications, the soot level would be under 1% (by weight) of the engine oil at oil drain time. At these low levels, soot in the oil does not cause any wear problems.
Recently, there has been a move to significantly lower nitrous oxide emissions which requires much retarded fuel injection timing, which significantly increases the amount of soot being generated. At reasonable oil drain intervals, the soot level may be as high as 4 or 5% with retarded injection timing. When the soot level gets this high, lubrication at critical wear points on the engine becomes so poor that high wear results, significantly decreasing the miles to overhaul and causing high operator expense.
Thus, the engine manufacturer has two choices, suffer very high warranty costs and low miles to overhaul, or significantly lower oil drain intervals to keep high soot levels out of the oil. Neither of these choices is desirable, so there is a current strong need to have a means of getting the soot out of the oil, the subject of this invention.
A problem with removing the soot from oil is that it is very small in size—around 0.1 to 2.0 micrometers. To remove such small particles from oil using barrier filtration is not feasible due to the large filter size required and the very high probability that the filter will become plugged very rapidly due to trying to filter to such a fine level.
One way that is feasible to remove the soot from the oil is by using a centrifuge, a device that removes the soot from the oil using centrifugal force. This type of device is used to separate blood constituents from blood and has many other applications in typical laboratory applications. The use of a centrifuge for an engine brings a requirement of doing it in a very inexpensive and reliable manner with the centrifuge being easily changed at oil change time. Heretofore, centrifugal filters have not been able to sufficiently remove soot from oil, sufficiently retain the soot, nor reliable enough for use in engine and vehicle applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the general aim of the present invention to provide a highly practical and reliable filter for removing soot from oil in vehicle and engine applications to maintain or extend the drain intervals at which oil must be replaced for the engine.
In accordance with these and other objectives, the present invention is directed towards a centrifuge cartridge which can be rotated at high speeds in a stationary drive housing for removal of soot from oil in the filter chamber of the cartridge. The centrifuge cartridge generally has an outer housing having a predetermined axis of rotation. There are several aspects of the centrifuge cartridge which each provide for high practicality and reliability.
One aspect is the provision of a separate filter trap in the filter chamber to provide increased soot retention capabilities. The soot trap has multiple levels located at different radial distances from the rotational axis for oil to flow through before the oil can exit the cartridge. Each level has an outlet aperture for allow oil to pass to the next level and a deposit area which is located radially outside of the outlet aperture in order to filter heavier particles such as soot from the oil. The different levels may be provided by multiple concentric cylindrical walls, conical walls, a single sheet wrapped in a spiral configuration, or other appropriate configuration.
Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of a centrifuge cartridge which has an inlet at its top and an outlet at its bottom. An outlet conduit is provided in the centrifuge cartridge which extends the entrance of the outlet to the top of the filter cartridge. The outlet conduit ensures that oil does not drain when the cartridge is idle. The bottom outlet prevents oil from creating drag on the rotation of the cartridge and also keeps the cartridge clean which in turn facilitates cleaner service maintenance when changing filter cartridges.
Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of a beveled or conical contact surface which allows the cartridge to be precisely aligned and retained when inserted in the intended stationary drive housing.
Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of a side oil inlet located radially outward from the center axis of rotation. This allows a support element of the intended drive housing to extend through the cartridge without the need of introducing oil through the support element.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Brown Gene W.
Calcaterra Farrell F.
Merritt Steven J.
Baldwin Filters, Inc.
Leydig Voit & Mayer Ltd
Reifsnyder David A.
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