Liquid purification or separation – Magnetic
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-29
2001-08-07
Reifsnyder, David A. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Magnetic
C210S695000, C184S006250
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270667
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to oil filters that use permanent magnets, instead of (or as an adjunct to) paper filters, to remove micro particles (between 40 micro millimeter and about
1
micro millimeter) that cannot be removed by conventional paper filter, as well as to prevent the degradation process of oil with the magnetic array. This will extend the life of instruments, improve fuel efficiency, reduce air pollution, and reduce waste products from disposing the filter cartridges by replacing the conventional oil filters and strainers, which use paper filter, that are installed on automobiles, motor cycles, trains, boats, airplanes, industrial vehicles and machinery, etc.
Contemporary or traditional oil filters are available in two types: element-exchangeable, full-flow filters and spin-on oil filters. The element exchangeable, full-flow filter does not have a relief valve but the filter paper is replaceable. With spin-on filters, a relief valve element and casing are formed together, and the paper filter is integral to the device. Both types use paper as the primary filter element.
The present invention makes a distinction between oil filters that use a paper filtering element and those, such as the invention, that use permanent magnets (positioned like pole to like pole, with intermingling magnetic fields) as the agent for removing microscopic metallic particles from lubricating fluid. Contemporary or traditional oil filters utilize temporary, paper filtering elements that cannot remove particles smaller than approximately 40 micro millimeters. The present invention represents an improvement in the art through its ability to remove from lubricating oil the smallest measurable metallic particles.
Approximately 50 million new cars are manufactured around the world each year with an average operating span of 9.3 years in Japan, 11 years in the United States and 12 years in Germany. If an average ten-year automobile operating span is assumed, roughly 500 million automobiles are in use simultaneously around the globe. With this figure, and the additional assumption that oil filters (or their paper elements) are replaced once a year, the number of oil filters with paper elements used annually, exceeds 500 million. Add the fact that new cars come with paper filters installed, and the annual use of paper oil filter elements reaches nearly 600 million units. The average amount of paper used in one filter cartridge is approximately 23.5 grams. 80,000 tons of wood is required to produce 600 million, 23.5 gram paper filter elements. Additionally, 40 to 60 thousand tons of wood (or 40 to 60 thousand trees) is necessary every year to produce paper packaging for these oil filters. If we take into consideration motorcycles, industrial vehicles, hydraulic machinery, air compressor, etc., an estimated 200 thousand tons of wood (or 200 thousand trees) consumed each year just for the production and packaging of oil filters. Furthermore, the kind of long fiber used in filter paper is harvested primarily from coniferous trees, which grow comparatively slowly. Consequently, extending the life of lubricating oils and machinery, reducing fuel consumption and the emission of polluting gases, and decreasing the volume of waste from disposable, paper oil filters, are each significant elements in any environmental protection strategy. There is a need for a new kind of oil filter that will be a solution to these problems.
It is reported above that permanent magnets can be used to remove microscopic metallic particles from the lubricating oil of internal combustion engines such as those used in trucks, automobiles, motorcycles, and trains, etc. But there are two different approaches to appropriating permanent magnets for this purpose. One approach is to place multiple magnets such that their North and South poles face each other and let oil flow between them.
Another approach is to position multiple magnets such that each magnet's North pole faces to another magnet's North pole, and each magnet's South pole faces another magnet's South pole while oil flows between these opposing magnetic fields. Regarding this method, the inventor in question has submitted patent applications—“lubricant anti-deterioration device using magnets (publication#6-9984)” and “removal of magnetic metal particles in a liquid and anti-scaling with removal device (publication#2-36300)”—for the efficacious placement of repelling permanent magnets. Any of these devices are to be used together with oil filters that utilize paper elements and which purpose is to attract magnetic metal particles in motor oil, and to delay oil degradation by the imposition of magnetic fields. By combining the opposing magnet device and oil filters with paper elements, maximum oil cleaning and maintenance will be achieved.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, the new invention improves the state of the art by replacing oil filters that utilize paper filtering elements with filters that use magnets placed in repelling positions to remove metallic particles from engine oil.
The purpose of this invention is to remove microscopic metal particles from engine oil, to stabilize oil chemistry by preventing heat induced bond breakage, to maintain oil viscosity and prevent oil degradation. All this keeps oil in optimal condition for a longer time, which in turn keeps internal combustion engines, transmissions, decelerators and hydraulic machinery in optimal condition which leads to improved fuel economy, cleaner exhaust and longer engine life. The repelling magnet oil filter lasts the life of the vehicle and simply needs to be cleaned about every 60,000 miles. Collateral benefits of the invention includes the annual saving of hundreds of thousands of tons of timber ordinarily used in the manufacture of paper filters, the reduction of the waster disposal requirements associated with used paper filters or filter elements and the reduction of air pollution caused by toxic exhaust emissions.
A more specific objective of this invention is to replace paper elements of oil filters with disk shape magnets. The magnets are positioned the same distance from each other with magnetic fields opposed—North pole to North pole, and South pole to South pole. The distance between magnets should be at most one half of the distance the same magnets would be kept apart from each other when placed vertically stacked with repelling sides facing against each other (the lower magnet must be placed on a non-magnetic material). Placed between the magnets are position supporters composed of non-magnetic material drilled with holes to let oil flow through. This array of multiple permanent magnets is stacked equidistant in polar opposition by a non-magnetic, porous framework around a central tube. It is an oil filter that uses permanent magnets in place of paper filters for the purpose of preventing wearing at lubricated areas by attracting magnetic micro particles in lubricant and preventing oil degradation by the use of magnetic field.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an oil filter with disc-shaped magnets that will completely replace an existing paper oil filter.
A related objective of the present invention is to provide an oil filter with relatively large disc-shaped magnets which has the same or similar dimensions as the paper oil filter which it
Yet another related objective of the present invention is to provide an oil filter with relatively large disc-shaped magnets having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, the difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter, divided by the thickness at the disc-shaped magnet, being greater than or equal to 0.6.
Another related objective of the present invention is to provide an oil filter with relatively large disc-shaped magnets that will completely replace an existing paper oil filter without the use of a strainer element, which strainer element tends to clog and require cleaning with use of the oil filter.
Another objective of this in
Reifsnyder David A.
Trexler, Bushnell Giangiorgi, Blackstone & Marr, Ltd.
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