Liquid purification or separation – Flow – fluid pressure or material level – responsive – Fluid pressure responsive by-pass
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-17
2001-04-10
Walker, W. L. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Flow, fluid pressure or material level, responsive
Fluid pressure responsive by-pass
C210S443000, C210SDIG009
Reexamination Certificate
active
06214215
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a flexibly resilient sealing member for placement inside an oil filter assembly, and to an oil filter assembly incorporating same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sealing member having integral pressure relief valves formed therein, avoiding the need for supplemental pressure relief valves in a filter assembly, and to an oil filter assembly which incorporates the novel sealing member.
2. Description of the Background Art
Oil filters of many varieties are known. Some of these known oil filters incorporate flexibly resilient pressure relief valve members. Pressure relief valves are included in substantially all oil filter assemblies, to provide circulating engine oil an alternative route through an oil filter when a filter element is restricted due, for example, to dirt accumulation in the filter, or to high oil viscosity at a low operating temperature, such as on a cold start in a winter climate.
Some examples of known designs for oil filter assemblies can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,785,491 (Dudinec et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,484 (Walulik et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,378 (Cantoni), U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,429 (Bauer et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,579 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,527 (Covington), U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,987 (Mules) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,816 (Covington).
Although many designs for oil filter assemblies are known, a need still exists in the art for a relatively simple, straightforward and inexpensive sealing member for use in an oil filter assembly, which will provide an alternative route for oil to follow, to allow the oil to continue circulating through a filter assembly when restriction through the filter element exceeds a certain value, yet which will avoid the necessity of a conventional oil pressure relief valve having a mechanical spring therein. Preferably, such a sealing member would be economical to produce, and would lend itself to high-volume manufacturing operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a flexibly resilient sealing member, incorporating integral pressure relief valves therein, for use in an oil filter assembly.
A sealing member in accordance with the present invention, generally, includes a substantially annular body formed from a flexibly resilient material. The annular body has a cylindrical central bore, formed coaxially therethrough, for surrounding an oil filter outlet. The annular body also has an upper surface with a plurality of normally closed slits formed therein, and a shoulder portion formed around its top outer edge for sealing placement inside a hollow cylindrical filter element. The annular body further has a flow channel formed therethrough for each of the normally closed slits. Each of the flow channels extends downwardly from one of the normally closed slits, passes through the annular body, and terminates in an open inlet below the shoulder portion and outside of the central bore.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sealing member according to the present invention may also include an integral pedestal ring attached to the lower surface of the annular body, adjacent the annular bore, and extending downwardly therefrom. In this preferred embodiment, the sealing member further includes a transverse flange attached to the outer surface of the annular body below the shoulder portion, and extending outwardly therefrom, to act as a stop means for limiting entry of the sealing member into a filter element. In this embodiment, preferably, each of the flow channels extends from below the normally closed slit, down through the annular body, and terminates in an open inlet located below the transverse flange and radially outside of the pedestal ring.
The present invention also encompasses an oil filter assembly incorporating the sealing member hereof. An oil filter assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a generally cylindrical sealed housing having a floor with a central coaxial outlet formed therethrough, the floor further having a series of inlet holes formed therein arranged in a circular pattern surrounding the outlet. A porous cylindrical filter element is provided in the housing, the filter element having a hollow bore formed centrally therein. A seal is disposed at the top end of said filter element to prevent oil entering the filter element through the top end of the hollow bore. The oil filter assembly also includes the sealing member with the integrally formed pressure relief valves. The sealing member is disposed surrounding the central outlet of the housing, and below the oil filter element, with the top section of the sealing member fitting sealingly inside the hollow bore thereof.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flexibly resilient sealing member, having integrally formed pressure relief valves, and which is usable as one component of an oil filter assembly.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an oil filter assembly which incorporates the sealing member hereof.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method of bypassing a filter element in an oil filter when restriction of the oil filter element thereof exceeds a threshold limit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3785491 (1974-01-01), Dudinec et al.
patent: 4127484 (1978-11-01), Walulik et al.
patent: 4747378 (1988-05-01), Cantoni
patent: 5271429 (1993-12-01), Bauer et al.
patent: 5284579 (1994-02-01), Covington
patent: 5405527 (1995-04-01), Covington
patent: 5584987 (1996-12-01), Mules
patent: 5690816 (1997-11-01), Covington
patent: 6027640 (2000-02-01), Covington et al.
Berkey Richard J.
Wright Allen B.
Allied-Signal Inc.
Sorkin David
Walker W. L.
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