Method and apparatus for a parallel bypass filtration system for internal combustion engines and similar systems

• US 20120080384A1
• Filed: 11/01/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PARETO POINT INDUSTRIES, INC.
• Original Assignee: PARETO POINT INDUSTRIES, INC.
• Inventors: Reinosa, Adan
• Granted Patent: US 8,945,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/695
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 27/103 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/005 Filters specially adapted for use in internal-combustion engine lubrication or fuel systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/147 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/18 Heating or cooling the filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/306 Filter mounting adapter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 37/00 Processes of filtration processes specially adapted for filtering gases B01D46/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/10 Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/1014 comprising supply of additives
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/033 comprising coolers or heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/794 With means for separating solid material from the fluid

Abstract

The present invention teaches a method and apparatus to quickly and inexpensively implement advanced filtration to engines and systems using spin-on oil filter by using a system adapter sandwiched between the spin-on oil filter and the engine block affixed by a nipple adapter. The system adapter has the ability to make quick hydraulic connection to the inlet and outlet of a bypass grade or advanced filter, where oil is super cleaned, without modifications to the engine as is the paradigm by traditional bypass filtration systems and without removing any lubricant from the engine or system that the present invention is connected to, as is the paradigm of traditional bypass filtering systems. A differential pressure between said inlet and outlet side of the advanced filter is complemented by a Venturi effect made possible by the special architecture of the nipple adapter as oil rushes through the nipple adapter to the lubricating galleries of an engine or system, further aided by the kinetic energy of the lubricant passing through the system adapter. These effects are supplemented by a controlled system that can increase said differential pressure by a spring biased diaphragm or stopper or though a plurality of solenoid biased plunger control system to ensure bypass filtration flow during loaded conditions. When connected to the normally provided stud for the spin-on oil filter in an engine or system, the net effect of interest to the present invention is that by simply placing the adapter at the point of connection of the spin-on oil filter, many of the necessary plumbing associated with the traditional bypass filter installation is obviated, as is the energy and labor intensive process of seeking for a pressure point and a return of the oil. Where the benefits of fine filtration are available to the general public due to its easy and quick installation, size, functionality, eliminated plumbing and reduced labor requirements. The system includes accessories to alarm for no flow condition, plugged filters, heat exchangers, oil condition sensor, booster pumping, prelubrication, oil evacuation, oil additive makeup, parallel connection of coolers and other apparatus, among others.

Claims

1. A method for providing parallel bypass filtration in an internal combustion engine and similar systems, said engine and systems having a lubricant fluid, a normally provided filtering media connected upstream to a normally provided lubricant pump and downstream connected to a normally provided engine lubricating gallery, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing an adapter interposed between said engine and said filtering media for accessing an upstream hydraulic point and a downstream hydraulic point of said normally provided filtering media;

b. providing a first conduit means to access said upstream hydraulic point of said normally provided filtering media;

c. providing a second conduit means to access said downstream hydraulic point of said normally provided filtering media; and

d. connecting said adapter with said first conduit means to an upstream hydraulic point of a lubrication device and said second conduit means to a downstream hydraulic point of said lubrication device;

whereby said lubrication device is connected in parallel to said normally provided filter media quickly, without modifications to said engine, and without removing any amount of said lubricant fluid from said engine lubricating gallery.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said lubrication device in step d is a high efficiency filter.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said lubrication device in step d is a heat exchanger.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said adapter in step a is equipped with a plurality of magnets to perform magnetic filtration.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said lubrication device is a differential pressure indicator.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said adapter is equipped with a plurality of lubricant additive blocks.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said differential pressure indicator is equipped with alarm means to alert locally or wirelessly for abnormal operating conditions of said normally provided filtering media.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said lubrication device is a manifold further including a lubricant additive makeup reservoir and oil sampling port.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a filter load indicator and plurality of alarm conditions.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising said first and said second conduit means to fluidly connect an upstream and a downstream hydraulic point of a heat exchanger.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an oil or lubricant additive make up reservoir.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a spring biased valve to further increase a pressure differential between said upstream and downstream hydraulic points across said system adapter.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of solenoid operated plungers to further increase said pressure differential between said upstream and downstream hydraulic points across said system adapter.

15. The system adapter of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of additive time release blocks.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a flow detector in line with said first or second conduit means to detect lubricant flow and alarm means.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a hydraulic pump to inject said lubricant fluid into said engine lubricating galleries.

18. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a load detector for the purposes of detecting a differential pressure across said normally provided filter.

19. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an electric check valve in line with said first and second conduit means for the purposes of detecting flow through said first and second conduit means and send an alarm signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an environmental reservoir for the collection of used motor oil.

9. An apparatus for providing parallel bypass filtration to an internal combustion engines and similar systems, said engine equipped with a normally provided filtering media, a lubricating gallery, a lubricant fluid, said apparatus comprising:

a system adapter disposed between said normally provided filtering media and said engine to simultaneously fluidly connect to an upstream and a downstream hydraulic points of said normally provided filtering media;

a high efficiency filter; and

a first and a second conduit means to fluidly connect an upstream and a downstream hydraulic points of said high efficiency filter to said upstream and downstream hydraulic points of said normally provided filter, respectively;

whereby said engine is quickly equipped with said parallel bypass filtration, without modifications and sidestreaming of lubricant fluid in an energy efficient manner.