Centrifugal filter for removing soot from engine oil
First Claim
1. A centrifuge housing supporting a centrifuge rotor for rotation about a predetermined axis for removal of soot from engine oil, the centrifuge housing comprising:
- an inlet port connected to the engine to receive oil;
an inlet conduit feeding oil from the inlet port into the centrifuge rotor;
a restriction plug interposed along the inlet conduit providing a restriction controlling the oil feed rate into the centrifuge rotor wherein the restriction comprises a helical passage; and
an outlet port connected to the engine adapted to collect filtered oil from the centrifuge rotor and return the oil to the engine.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A centrifuge filter for removing soot from engine oil. The centrifuge filter includes a rotor adapted to be rotated inside a centrifuge housing by an electric motor or other means. The rotor preferably includes a reusable aluminum support casing and a disposable plastic cartridge. The plastic cartridge includes a trap with partition walls to prevent wave formation in the rotating liquid contained in the trap. The cartridge includes an annular inlet through its top end, a winding flow path through the cartridge and an outlet at the bottom. The centrifuge housing includes an isolated sealed rotor chamber. Using the venturi effect, air is evacuated from the rotor chamber to provide a partial vacuum to reduce air drag on the rotor. Resilient rubber vibration isolators are used to reduce vibrations and engine induced shock loads from reaching the rotating element. A side oil inlet is provided in the cartridge to receive unfiltered oil at a location offset from the axis of rotation. Oil is feed in through the top of the centrifuge cartridge and discharged out the bottom. The rotor is carried by bearings on a stationary central support shaft. Maintenance is performed through a removable lid on the top end of the rotor. A restriction plug is used to control flow into the rotor.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A centrifuge housing supporting a centrifuge rotor for rotation about a predetermined axis for removal of soot from engine oil, the centrifuge housing comprising:
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an inlet port connected to the engine to receive oil;
an inlet conduit feeding oil from the inlet port into the centrifuge rotor;
a restriction plug interposed along the inlet conduit providing a restriction controlling the oil feed rate into the centrifuge rotor wherein the restriction comprises a helical passage; and
an outlet port connected to the engine adapted to collect filtered oil from the centrifuge rotor and return the oil to the engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A centrifuge housing supporting a centrifuge rotor for rotation about a predetermined vertical axis for filtering fluid, the centrifuge rotor adapted to centrifugally separate contaminants from fluid, the centrifuge housing comprising:
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a support shaft axially aligned with the predetermined vertical axis;
spaced apart upper and lower bearings supported by the support shaft, the bearings carrying the centrifuge rotor for rotation about the predetermined axis;
a spring mechanism supported by the support shaft preloading the upper bearing vertically upward counteracting the weight of the centrifuge rotor, the spring mechanism being interposed between the bearings. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A centrifuge housing supporting a centrifuge rotor for rotation about a predetermined axis for removal of contaminant from fluid, the centrifuge housing comprising:
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support body adapted to mount to a vehicle having an internal centrifuge rotor chamber in which the centrifuge rotor is disposed for rotation;
a bearing support element carrying bearings supporting the centrifuge rotor for rotation about a predetermined axis;
a pair of spaced apart vibration isolators comprised of resilient rubber material supporting the bearing support element therebetween and interposed between the bearing support element and support body adapted to reduced vibrations from the support body to the bearing support element wherein the bearing support element and therefore the centrifuge rotor are adapted to move relative to the support body via shifts in the vibration isolators;
wherein the bearing support element comprises a support shaft, and upper and lower mounting brackets, each mounting bracket defining a cavity receiving an end of the support shaft, the bearings including an upper bearings set and a lower bearings set, each set having an inner race mounted to the drive shaft, each bracket being supported by one of the vibration isolators; and
wherein each vibration isolator is a tubular rubber ring including an outward projecting mounting flange, the tubular ring closely fitted over the mounting bracket and secured thereto by an expandable and retractable clamp ring, the mounting being clamped to the support body.
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11. A centrifuge housing supporting a centrifuge rotor for rotation about a predetermined axis for removal of contaminant from fluid, the centrifuge housing comprising:
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a support body adapted to mount to a vehicle having an internal centrifuge rotor chamber in which the centrifuge rotor is disposed for rotation;
a bearing support element carrying bearings supporting the centrifuge rotor for rotation about a predetermined axis;
at least one vibration isolator comprised of resilient rubber material interposed between the bearing support element and support body adapted to reduced vibrations from the support body to the bearing support element; and
further comprising an electrical motor carried by the at least one vibration isolator, the electrical motor fixed relative to the centrifuge rotor driving the centrifuge rotor about the predetermined axis, such that the electrical motor is movable relative to the support body through the vibration isolator. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A centrifuge housing supporting a centrifuge rotor for rotation about a predetermined axis for removal of contaminant from fluid, the centrifuge housing comprising:
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a support body adapted to mount to a vehicle having an internal centrifuge rotor chamber in which the centrifuge rotor is disposed for rotation;
a bearing support element carrying bearings supporting the centrifuge rotor for rotation about a predetermined axis;
at least one vibration isolator comprised of resilient rubber material interposed between the bearing support element and support body adapted to reduced vibrations from the support body to the bearing support element;
wherein the at least one vibration isolator supports the bearing support element, wherein the bearing support element and therefore the centrifuge rotor are adapted to move relative to the support body via shifts in the at least one vibration isolator; and
further comprising a side oil outlet axially offset above the centrifuge rotor adapted to feed unfiltered fluid into the centrifuge rotor through an annular inlet in the centrifuge rotor coaxial about the predetermined axis, the side oil inlet being carried by the at least one vibration isolator wherein the side oil outlet is continuously aligned in fixed relationship with the annular inlet during all shifts in the bearing support element and centrifuge rotor relative to the support body wherein oil spillage is prevented. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A centrifuge for removal of contaminant from fluid, the centrifuge comprising:
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a support housing defining a centrifuge rotor chamber in which the centrifuge rotor is adapted to rotate and including a support shaft on the predetermined axis having bearings mounted thereon carrying the centrifuge for rotation about the predetermined axis;
a centrifuge rotor being carried by the bearings for rotation about a predetermined axis; and
an electrical motor supported by the support housing comprising a stator supported by the outer support body and a rotor, the rotor comprising a drive sleeve coaxial about the support shaft holding a magnet, the drive sleeve fixed to the centrifuge rotor such that the rotor and drive sleeve rotate in unison. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification