Fluid contaminate filtration system including a filter, a contaminate particle trap, and a cold start fluid circulation system

• US 5,089,129 A
• Filed: 05/04/1990
• Issued: 02/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bernard B. Brigman
• Original Assignee: Bernard B. Brigman
• Inventors: Brigman, Bernard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sever, Frank
• Application Number:
  US07/518,721
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 210/222, 210/223, 210/333.1, 210/541, 210/542
• US Class Current: 210/223
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/06 Filters making use of electricity or magnetism ultrafiltration, microfiltration B01D61/14; electrodialysis, electro-osmosis B01D61/42; devices comprising filters and magnetic separators B03C1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 1/288 disposed at the outer circumference of a recipient
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 2201/18 Magnetic separation whereby the particles are suspended in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/03 Mounting or connecting of lubricant purifying means relative to the machine or engine; Details of lubricant purifying means filters B01D
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/1042 comprising magnetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/025 by prelubricating, e.g. using an accumulator

Abstract

A filter component for aiding in the removal of particulate matter from a circulating lubrication fluid. Several embodiments utilize magnetic attraction of particulate matter to remove the matter from the fluid. Removal of extremely small matter aids in the prevention of clogging of straining type filtering elements and further cleans the fluid. The magnetically attractive element will trap and remove particles which are of a size too small to be inhibited be straining type filter elements. The component can be implemented in a number of ways, alone, or in conjunction with a straining type filter element, such that the component attracts the particles away from the element and out of the fluid flow stream.

Claims

1. In a filter for removal of particulate matter from a fluid, having a housing, an entrance opening for ingress of said fluid, an exit opening for egress of said fluid after filtering and a microporous barrier for separating said housing into a first outer chamber in fluid communication with said entrance opening and a second inner chamber in fluid communication with said exit opening and linking said chambers in fluid communication through said barrier, the improvement comprising:

means for magnetically attracting and retaining said particulate matter, including a magnetic end cap member providing a magnetically attractive force adapted to surround one end of said filter remote from said entrance and exit openings and adjacent an exterior wall of said first chamber for attracting said particles toward said exterior wall of said first chamber remote from said barrier.

2. A filter according to claim 1, wherein said end cap is made of a permanently magnetic material.

3. A filter according to claim 1, wherein said end cap includes an electromagnetic element.

4. A filter according to claim 1, wherein said attracting means includes a magnetic element helically wound about the exterior surface of said filter.

5. A filter according to claim 4, wherein said helical element is comprises of a permanent magnetic material.

6. A filter according to claim 4, wherein said helical element includes an electromagnetic member.

7. A filter according to claim 1, wherein said attracting means includes a sleeve-like cover for surrounding said filter,

said sleeve-like cover including:

a metallic layer contacting said filter,

a magnetic layer including a helically wound electromagnetic coil, and

an outer insulator layer.

8. A filter according to claim 1, wherein said attracting means includes a plug insertable into a chamber in fluidic communication with said entrance opening and fluidically separated from said exit opening by said microporous barrier.

9. A filter according to claim 8, wherein said chamber is connected to said entrance opening by a fluidic passageway having a constricted flow cross-section.

10. A trap for the containment of particulate matter, comprising:

means for cooperating with a filtration system, including

a housing having a first entrance opening attached to a fluidic reservoir for the ingress of said particulate matter,

an isolation chamber within said housing for accommodation of said particulate matter, and

means for magnetically attracting said particulate matter from said reservoir through said opening and into said chamber.

11. The trap of claim 10, wherein said attachment means includes an elongated tube for passage of said particulate matter from said reservoir to said trap.

12. The trap of claim 11, wherein said tube is provided with means for adjusting the depth of said tube in said reservoir.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said tube has a flow cross-section so as to constrict the fluid communication between said reservoir and said trap so as to inhibit the return flow of said particulate matter from said trap to said reservoir.

14. The trap of claim 13, wherein said fluid reservoir includes a fluid pump pickup disposed within said reservoir, and

said tube extends into said reservoir in close proximity to said pickup, oriented so that an open end of said tube is adjacent said pickup means.

15. The trap of claim 10, further including means surrounding said trap for magnetically attracting said particulate matter.

16. A lubrication system for distributing lubrication fluid from a fluid reservoir to an engine galley, comprising:

means for cooperating with a filtration system, including

a fluid pump,

a first fluid line connecting said pump to said fluid reservoir,

a second fluid line connecting said pump to said engine galley, and

first actuation means for activating said pump during operation of said engine,

a filter fluidically connected between said second line and said engine galley and including a magnetically attractive element,

first switch means for activating said pump independent of the operation of said engine,

timer means for deactuating said switch means,

pressure sensitive switch means for activating said pump dependant upon the fluid pressure, and

control means for differentiating inputs from said first, second and third actuating means to derive a control signal therefrom, and for actuating said pump dependent upon said control signal.

17. In a filter for removal of particulate matter from a fluid, having a housing, an entrance opening and an exit opening located proximate a first end of said housing for ingress and egress of said fluid respectively, a microporous barrier for separating said housing into a first outer chamber in fluid communication with said entrance opening and a second inner chamber in fluid communication with said exit opening and linking said chambers in fluid communication through said barrier, and a fluid flow path from said entrance through said first chamber, said barrier, and said second chamber to said exit, the improvement comprising:

a third chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber and isolated from said fluid flow path and including means for magnetically attracting and retaining said particulate matter.

18. A filter according to claim 17, wherein said magnet and said chamber are removably mounted to said housing.

19. A trap for the containment of particulate matter, comprising:

means for cooperating with a filtration system, including

a housing having a first entrance opening and a second exit opening attached to a fluidic stream for passage of said fluid through said trap in a fluid stream,

an isolation chamber separated from said fluid stream within said housing for accommodation of said particulate matter, and

means for magnetically attracting said particulate matter from said fluid stream into said chamber.