Oil sump with integral filter

Details Oil sump with integral filter Oil sump with integral filter

2000-06-07

2001-09-18

Lithgow, Thomas M. (Department: 1724)

Liquid purification or separation

Structural installation

Closed circulating system

C210S172300, C210S460000, C210S474000, C210S493300, C210S493500, C184S006240

Reexamination Certificate

active

06290843

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to oil sumps with integral filters and more particularly, the present invention relates to a transmission oil sump with an integral filter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical transmission oil sump is configured as a stamped steel pan bolted to the transmission case with a separate gasket between the pan and transmission case. Typically, a separate filter element is situated in the sump and connected to the inlet of a suction pump to filter oil as the oil is drawn from the sump and recirculated back through the transmission. By having separate components, the current arrangement requires assembly steps at the transmission factory, which separate assembly steps provide an opportunity for assembly errors, increased labor costs, and expense. In addition, stamped steel pans in and of themselves are relatively expensive. Moreover, the steel is expensive to recycle. An additional consideration is weight savings because by saving weight, fuel consumption and the resulting pollution is reduced. Over the years, enormous weight savings are accomplished by the cumulative effect of reducing weight in numerous small components wherein the weight reduction is sometimes in the form of ounces rather than pounds.
An approach is to make transmission oil sumps from plastic. Again, weight considerations are important. Accordingly, where components would not be robust because they are shielded from impacts by other components, they may be of lightweight construction. If components are of lightweight construction, then there need to be associated structures, also lightweight, which negate any problems which may occur due to lightweight construction. Therefore, savings in weight also may make desirable structural configurations which permit weight savings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned considerations, the present invention is directed to an arrangement for filtering recirculating transmission oil, comprising an upper sump and a lower sump wherein both the upper and lower sumps are concave and have floors. The floor of the upper sump has a major opening therethrough which receives a filter element that filters transmission oil pooled in the upper sump as that oil flows through the major opening to the lower sump. The return pump inlet communicates with the lower sump and is adapted to connect to the inlet of a suction pump for recirculating transmission oil to the transmission in which the filtering arrangement is used.
In a further aspect of the invention, the return pump inlet is a tubular member which extends through a minor opening in the floor of the upper sump into the lower sump.
In still a further aspect of the invention, the lower and upper sumps are made of a lightweight material such as a plastic material.
In an additional aspect of the invention, the lower and upper sumps are made of plastic and are welded or otherwise bonded to one another.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4352737 (1982-10-01), Taniguchi
patent: 5853577 (1998-12-01), Gizowski et al.
patent: 5863424 (1999-01-01), Lee
patent: 6013179 (2000-01-01), Laughlin et al.
patent: 6143169 (2000-11-01), Lee
patent: 08-021303(A) (1996-01-01), None

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