Heat exchange – With solids separator for exchange fluid
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-01
2001-04-17
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
With solids separator for exchange fluid
C165SDIG009, C165S051000, C123S1960AB, C184S104300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216772
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for the filtration and cooling of a liquid medium. The present invention is particularly intended for use in the field of motor vehicles, in particular for the filtration and cooling of oil that is utilized for lubrication of a gearbox.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a manner which is well known, oil is used in the field of motor vehicles for lubrication of, for example, the vehicle gearbox. For purification of the oil, an oil filter is normally used, through which the oil is caused to flow. During filtration, contaminants (for example in the form of solid particles) in the oil are separated from the liquid phase. The reason for this is that the oil is caused to pass through a porous layer in the oil filter, by means of which the contaminants remain in that layer.
For filtration of oil in the gearbox of a heavy goods vehicle, a so-called “spin-on-filter” is normally used, which is normally arranged on the outside of the gearbox and is connected to inlets and outlets for the oil that flows through the gearbox. The filter is constructed as a container, normally made of sheet metal, which contains an oil-filtering element in the form of a porous filtering material, through which the oil is fed. When the filter has been used for a period of time, it must be renewed, in which case the entire spin-on-filter is discarded and exchanged for a new filter. In this connection, the term “spin-on” refers to the fact that the filter-exchange is carried out by means of the filter being provided with a threaded portion, by means of which the filter can be screwed on directly during such an exchange.
Furthermore, in the case of trucks, there is in some cases also a need for cooling of the oil in the gearbox. In particular, such a need generally arises in countries having a warm climate, or in places where driving takes place in exceptionally exposed environments, for example in mines. According to known techniques, cooling of the oil is in this case carried out by means of an oil cooler being mounted between the gearbox pump and the oil filter. The oil that is utilized in the gearbox will thus be fed through the oil cooler, in which the oil is cooled down and is filtered in the oil filter. To this end, the oil cooler is provided with connections for an inlet and an outlet for a suitable refrigerant, for example water. In this case, the oil that is passing through the cooler can be cooled by the cooling water which is flushed through the cooler.
Although today's oil filters normally operate satisfactorily, they still have certain drawbacks. For example, the known type of spin-on-filter is not suitable to use due to environmental reasons, since the entire filter, including its casing, must be discarded when the filter must be renewed.
An additional drawback with this known technique is that the oil that is fed into the filter is relatively cold due to the fact that it has just passed through the cooler. Since cold oil is comparatively viscous, this provides for inferior flow through the oil filter. Furthermore, the oil that is fed through the oil cooler is contaminated, i.e. it is supplied directly from the gearbox and contains contaminants, for example in the form of particles. There is therefore a risk of these contaminants blocking the oil cooler, which can result in costly and undesirable breakdowns.
One of the objects of the present invention is thus to provide an improved device for cooling and filtration of a liquid medium, particularly oil, that is utilized in a motor vehicle, wherein the above-mentioned drawbacks are eliminated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, this and other objects have now been accomplished by the discovery of apparatus for treatment of a liquid lubricant in a supply of the lubricant comprising a filter having a first side and a second side, an inlet for supplying the lubricant from the supply of lubricant to the first side of the filter, whereby the lubricant can pass through the filter to the second side of the filter, the second side of the filter comprising a cavity, a lubricant cooler disposed downstream of the cavity, whereby the lubricant can pass from the cavity through the lubricant cooler for cooling therein, an outlet for the treated lubricant, and a connector for transporting the lubricant from the lubricant cooler to the outlet, the connector being disposed within the cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the connector comprises a detachable tube.
In accordance with one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus includes a filter housing surrounding the filter, the filter housing adapted for mounting proximate to the supply of the lubricant, the lubricant cooler adapted for mounting on the housing distal from the supply of the lubricant, and the filter housing including at least one aperture for passing the lubricant from the filter to the lubricant cooler. In a preferred embodiment, the filter housing includes a tubular portion extending into the lubricant cooler, the tubular portion including at least one aperture whereby the cooled lubricant can pass from the lubricant cooler into the tubular portion. Preferably, the connector is detachably mounted within the tubular portion and at the outlet.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the filter is removably mounted within the filter housing.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the supply of lubricant includes a lubricant pump for pumping the lubricant to the inlet, the inlet including a passageway and a normally closed valve for selectively opening the passageway, whereby the normally closed valve is selectively opened when the pressure in the inlet exceeds a predetermined value. In a preferred embodiment, the passageway is in fluid communication with the supply of the lubricant.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, a gear box for a vehicle has been discovered comprising the above apparatus, the liquid lubricant comprising oil flowing in the gear box.
The present invention is intended to be used for filtration and cooling of a liquid medium which preferably, but not exclusively, can constitute lubricating oil for a lubricated component, such as a gearbox. The present invention comprises an inlet for supply of the liquid medium to a filtering component, which defines a cavity to which filtered medium is guided. The present invention also comprises a cooling device and an outlet for supply of the medium back to the filtering component. A basic principle of the present invention is that the cooling device is arranged downstream of the cavity, wherein the cavity is connected to the cooling device and the cooling device is connected to the outlet. Due to the fact that the cooling device is arranged downstream of the filtering component, the entire amount of liquid medium will be filtered before it reaches the cooling device. Since the medium is filtered when it flows through the filtering device, there is basically no risk of contaminants accumulating and blocking the cooling device.
An additional advantage of the present invention is that it provides for an improved flow through the filtering component, which is due to the fact that the liquid medium is normally warm when it exits the gearbox and flows towards the filtering component. This, in turn, provides for an improved flow and an increased percolation through the filtering component, which in turn results in more effective filtration.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the filtering component is arranged as a detachable part in a protector for the filter; i.e., the filtering component constitutes an insertion filter. This creates an environmental advantage, since only the filtering component, which for example can be produced from paper, has to be discarded in connection with a filter-exchange.
In this connection, the term “filtering component” refers to the component, for exampl
Lazarus Ira S.
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
McKinnon Terrell
Volvo Lastvagnar AB
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