Apparatus for extracting wear particles from used oil filters

• US 5,531,129 A
• Filed: 09/05/1995
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synetix Technologies
• Original Assignee: Synetix Technologies
• Inventors: Thornton, Janine M., Thornton, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US08/523,766
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 73/116, 73/863.23, 73/863.24, 73/863.81, 73/863.83, 73/863.85, 73/53.05, 73/53.07, 73/61.42, 73/64.56, 73/803.24, 210/409, 134/22.18, 134/113, 134/133, 134/135, 134/140, 134/144, 134/167 R, 134/168 R, 134/169 A
• US Class Current: 73/863.24
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 41/04 of rigid self-supporting filtering material

Abstract

An apparatus extracts standardized samples of wear particles from a series of used oil filters by rotating each oil filter while spraying a solvent fluid into the opening at the base of the oil filter. The apparatus includes a housing to hold the filter having a movable cover and a base that contacts the filter base and allows rotation of said filter. A crawler assembly within the housing cover initially translates along the axis of rotation toward the housing base until the filter is held between the crawler and the housing base. A motor associated with the crawler assembly (or the housing base) then rotates the filter. A shaft extending through the housing base into the filter opening carries a nozzle that directs a spray of fluid into the filter during rotation to rinse wear particles from the filter for subsequent analysis. A predetermined quantity of fluid is sprayed into each filter to produce a standardized sample. The interior of the housing also sprayed with fluid between consecutive filters to prevent cross-contamination.

Claims

1. An apparatus for extracting standardized samples of wear particles from a series of used filters, each filter having an opening extending from one end along an axis, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having an interior chamber for receiving said filter;

means for rotating said filter about said axis within said chamber;

means for spraying a predetermined quantity of fluid within said opening during said rotation of said filter to produce a standardized sample of said wear particles from each filter; and

means for rinsing said interior of said chamber of said housing between consecutive filters to prevent cross-contamination of samples.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said filter further comprises a base and an upper end at opposing ends of said axis, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:

a housing base for contacting said filter base while allowing rotation of said filter about said axis;

a crawler for initially translating along said axis toward said housing base until said crawler contacts said upper end of said filter to thereby hold said filter between said crawler and said housing base, and allowing rotation of said filter about said axis; and

a motor associated with one of said housing base and said crawler for rotating said filter about said axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising means for detecting contact between said crawler and said filter and for halting further translation of said crawler toward said filter.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said crawler further comprises a substantially conical, concave surface for contacting and centering said upper end of said filter about said axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a drain to allow removal of said fluid and wear particles from said chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for spraying of fluid comprise means to translate said spray along said axis of said filter.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for spraying fluid comprise:

a shaft extending along said axis having;

(a) a nozzle for directing a spray of fluid radially outward from said axis; and

(b) a central passage connected to said nozzle for delivering a flow of pressurized fluid; and

a motor for translating said shaft along said axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means for limiting the range of motion of said shaft depending upon the axial length of said filter opening.

9. An apparatus for extracting standardized samples of wear particles from a series of used filters, each filter having a base, an upper end, and an opening extending from said base along an axis toward said upper end, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having an interior chamber for receiving said filter;

a housing base for contacting said filter base and allowing rotation of said filter about said axis;

a crawler for initially translating along said axis toward said housing base until said crawler contacts said upper end of said filter to thereby hold said filter between said crawler and said housing base, said crawler further allowing rotation of said filter about said axis;

a motor associated with one of said housing base and said crawler for rotating said filter about said axis;

a shaft extending through said housing base for translation along said axis within said filter opening, said shaft having;

(a) a nozzle for directing a spray of fluid within said filter opening; and

(b) a central passage connected to said nozzle for delivering a flow of fluid; and

control means for causing said nozzle of said shaft to spray a predetermined quantity of said fluid for each filter to produce a standardized sample, and rinse said interior chamber of said housing with said spray of fluid between consecutive filters to prevent cross-contamination of samples.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for detecting contact between said crawler and said upper end of said filter to halt further translation of said crawler toward said filter.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said housing further comprises a drain to allow removal of said fluid and wear particles from said chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said nozzle directs said spray of fluid radially outward from said axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said crawler further comprises a substantially conical, concave surface for contacting and centering said upper end of said filter about said axis.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for limiting the range of motion of said shaft depending upon the axial length of said filter opening.

15. An apparatus for extracting standardized samples of wear particles from a series of used filters, each filter having a base, an upper end, and an opening extending from said base along an axis toward said upper end, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having;

(a) a base for contacting said filter base and allowing rotation of said filter about said axis;

(b) a movable cover defining an interior chamber in combination with said housing base for receiving said filter; and

(c) a drain associated with said housing base for draining fluid from within said chamber;

a crawler within said housing cover for initially translating along said axis toward said housing base until said crawler contacts said upper end of said filter to thereby hold said filter between said crawler and said housing base, said crawler further allowing rotation of said filter about said axis;

a motor associated with one of said housing base and said crawler for rotating said filter about said axis within said housing;

a shaft extending through said housing base for translation along said axis within said filter opening, said shaft having;

(a) a nozzle for directing a spray of fluid within said filter opening; and

(b) a central passage connected to said nozzle for delivering a flow of fluid;

means for limiting the range of motion of said shaft depending upon the axial length of said filter opening; and

control means for causing said nozzle of said shaft to spray a predetermined quantity of said fluid for each filter to produce a standardized sample, and rinse said interior chamber of said housing with said spray of fluid between consecutive filters to prevent cross-contamination of samples.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for detecting contact between said crawler and said upper end of said filter to halt further translation of said crawler toward said filter.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said crawler further comprises a substantially conical, concave surface for contacting and centering said upper end of said filter about said axis.