Liquid purification or separation – Filter – Within flow line or flow line connected close casing
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-02
2001-05-15
Savage, Matthew O. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Filter
Within flow line or flow line connected close casing
C210S450000, C029S505000, C029S509000, C029S525000, C029S888300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230900
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a filter assembly for filtering fluid, such as working fluid for an automatic transmission of an automobile and to a process for producing the filter assembly.
For filtering engine lubricating oil of an automobile, a filter assembly, in which a filter element is housed in a cylindrical filter case and the filter case is detachably attached to an exterior of an engine block of the automobile, has been typically used. On the other hand, a filter assembly for filtering the working fluid of the automatic transmission of the automobile (herein after called AT-fluid) is normally housed in an interior of a mission case because of limitations with respect to layout in the engine room of the automobile.
However, it has recently tried to detachably attach the filter assembly for the AT-fluid to the exterior of the mission case in order to facilitate maintenance or replacement as in the case of the filter assembly for the engine lubricating oil. In this case, since the pressure of the fluid to be filtered is relatively higher than that of the engine lubricating oil, e.g. the former is twice or three times as much as the later, and pressure fluctuation frequently occurs in the filter assembly, it is necessary to take particular measures to prevent leakage of the fluid in the filter assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a filter assembly capable of preventing leakage of fluid through a portion between an outer periphery of a set plate and an inner surface of a filter case, even if the fluid of high pressure, such as the AT-fluid, is introduced therein.
In order to obtain the above object, a filter assembly of the present invention comprises a filter case having an opening end portion; a filter element inserted into the filter case; a set plate mounted to the opening end portion of the filter case with press fitting and having an inlet and an outlet of fluid to be filtered; and a seal plate attached to the set plate and fixed to the opening end portion of the filter case by curling up an outer periphery portion thereof together with an edge portion of the opening end portion of the filter case.
According to the above filter assembly, since the set plate and the filter case tightly contact each other, it is possible to improve the sealing effect by the mechanical contact between the set plate and the filter case. Therefore, it is possible to provide the highly reliable filter assembly capable of preventing the leakage of the fluid through the outer periphery of the set plate, even if the fluid of high pressure, such as AT-fluid, is introduced into the filter case and the pressure fluctuation frequently occurs in the filter assembly.
In the above filter assembly, the filter case can comprise an outwardly expanded portion at the opening end portion thereof, and the set plate can be fitted into an inner surface of the expanded portion. Also, the filter case can be inwardly squeezed between the expanded portion and the edge portion thereof. These configurations allow the mechanical contact between the set plate and the filter case to be more tight to thereby ensure the sealing effect between them. Further, a sealant may be provided at a portion in which the filter case and the set plate contact each other to form a double seal for ensuring the sealing effect between the filter case and the set plate.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter assembly capable of preventing leakage of fluid through a portion at which a seal plate and a set plate contact each other.
In order to obtain the above object, a filter assembly of the present invention comprises a filter case having an opening end portion; a filter element inserted into the filter case; a set plate mounted to the opening end portion of the filter case and having an inlet and an outlet of fluid to be filtered; and a seal plate provided with an circular groove to hold an gasket, the seal plate being attached to the set plate at a position inwardly apart from the groove and being fixed to the opening end portion of the filter case by curling up an outer periphery portion outwardly apart from the groove thereof together with an edge portion of the opening end portion of the filter case.
According to the above filter assembly, since the seal plate is attached to the set plate at the position inwardly apart from the circular groove, it is possible to reduce dimensional errors of a gap between the seal plate and the set plate at a position behind the circular groove without influence of unevenness of a process for attaching the seal plate to the set plate, such as spot-welding. Therefore, it is possible to certainly seal up the gap and to thereby prevent the leakage of the fluid from the curling portion of the seal plate and the filter case through the gap between the seal plate and the set plate.
In the above filter assembly, a portion between the set plate and a surface of the seal plate behind the groove may be filled up with a sealant to ensure the sealing effect between the set plate and the seal plate.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a filter assembly capable of preventing leakage of fluid through a portion at which a seal plate and a set plate contact each other.
In order to obtain the above object, a filter assembly of the present invention comprises a filter case having an opening end portion; a filter element inserted into the filter case; a set plate mounted to the opening end portion of the filter case and having an inlet and an outlet of fluid to be filtered; and a seal plate attached to the set plate and fixed to the opening end portion of the filter case by curling up an outer periphery portion thereof together with an edge portion of the opening end portion of the filter case; wherein a portion, in which the filter case and the set plate contact each other, is formed so as to be sealed irrespective of dimensional errors thereof.
Further object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing a filter assembly capable of preventing leakage of fluid through a portion at which a seal plate and a set plate contact each other.
In order to obtain the above object, a process for producing a filter assembly of the present invention comprises the steps of inserting a filter element into a filter case; attaching a set plate which has an inlet and an outlet of fluid to be filtered to an opening end portion of the filter case equipped with the filter element; and fixing an outer periphery portion of a seal plate attached to the set plate by curling up the outer periphery portion together with an edge portion of the opening end portion of the filter case; wherein a portion, in which the filter case and the set plate contact each other, is sealed irrespective of dimensional errors thereof in the step of attaching the set plate.
According to the above filter assembly and the process for producing the filter assembly, since a gap between the filter case and the outer periphery of the set plate is sealed irrespective of dimensional errors thereof, it is possible to ensure the sealing effect between the set plate and the filter case. Therefore, it is possible to provide the highly reliable filter assembly capable of preventing the leakage of the fluid through the outer periphery of the set plate, even if the fluid of high pressure, such as AT-fluid, is introduced into the filter case and the pressure fluctuation frequently occurs in the filter assembly.
Still further objects, features and other aspect of the present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3305095 (1967-02-01), Hathaway
patent: 3473664 (1969-10-01), Hultgren
patent: 3490597 (1970-01-01), Casaleggi
patent: 3529721 (1970-09-01), Papp
patent: 3685658 (1972-08-01), Baldwin
patent: 4237015 (1980-12-01), Fearnhead
patent: 4855047 (1989-08-01), Firth
Hara Toshimi
Katagiri Keiichi
Morikawa Hiroshi
Savage Matthew O.
Toyo Roki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
Young & Thompson
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