Masking elements for dissolving oil improving body in an oil filter

• US 4,075,098 A
• Filed: 11/07/1975
• Issued: 02/21/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monroe Auto Equipment Company
• Original Assignee: Monroe Auto Equipment Company
• Inventors: Paul, George A., Bethell, Michael R., Hegel, Robert W., Utter, Allan D., Branham, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hart, Charles N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Therkorn, Ernest G.
• Application Number:
  US05/630,038
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 210/117, 210/130, 210/131, 210/136, 210/501, 210/502, 210/506, 210/507, 210/199, 210/206, 210/209, 210/167, 210/168, 252/9, 252/10, 252/11, 252/56 R, 252/59, 23/267 B, 23/267 D, 23/272
• US Class Current: 210/167.02
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 27/08 Construction of the casing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 27/103 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 27/106 Anti-leakage or anti-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 37/025 additives incorporated in the filter
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/1014 comprising supply of additives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/17 Twist-on

Abstract

An oil filter is disclosed as having a filter enclosure provided with oil inlet and outlet ports adapted for communication with the oil circulating system of an associated oil lubricated engine. Disposed within the enclosure is a filter element fabricated of any suitable filtering media. In addition to the filter element, a body of an oil soluble, relatively solid polymer having oil additives compounded therein is disposed within the enclosure. The polymer body is located within the enclosure so as to be in an area where minimum oil flow occurs, i.e. in a relatively non-turbulent oil flow area, which results in the polymer dissolving at a relatively uniform or linear rate so as to prevent undesirable concentrations of the additives during the effective service life of the filter. If desired, suitable baffle means may be interposed between the area of primary oil flow within the filter and the oil soluble polymer, whereby to provide for the controlled contact of the flow of turbulent oil within the filter with the polymer body and thereby assure the desired linear or uniform rate of polymer dissolution.

Claims

1. A spin-on type oil filter for an engine having a circulating oil lubrication system,

said filter including an enclosure having a filter element therein and oil inlet and outlet ports communicable with the lubrication system of the engine, whereby oil may flow from the lubrication system through said filter element and back into the lubrication system,

an oil soluble, relatively solid body disposed within said enclosure and having oil improver properties,

said body comprising a generally flat, annular member arranged concentrically within said enclosure at a position generally axially aligned with said filter element and at the opposite end thereof from said inlet and outlet ports,

means defining a fluid flow path along which oil flows within said enclosure between said filter element and said ports, and

a masking element independent of said enclosure and arranged at a position therein between a preselected surface portion of said annular member and a portion of said flow path so as to limit the disturbance of the concentration gradient between the oil and the member by the mechanical movement of the oil along said flow path, whereby said body will dissolve into the oil at a preselected rate over the service life of the oil,

said element comprising a generally radially disposed portion located directly adjacent the upper side of said member, and a generally axially disposed portion extending axially downwardly along the axially outermost part of said member.

2. An oil filter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is of a generally flat ring-shaped configuration, and wherein said masking element extends across one entire radial side of said body and a least partially along and adjacent at least a portion of said axial side of said body.

3. An oil filter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said axially extending portion of said masking element comprises a downwardly depending lip arranged circumjacent the outer periphery of said body and adapted to limit the surface area of said body to which said oil can make contact.

4. An oil filter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said masking element has portions thereof removed for controlling the magnitude of the surface area of said body which is exposed to oil flowing along said flow path.

5. An oil filter as set forth in claim 4 wherein said removed portions comprise a plurality of openings in said masking element.

6. An oil filter as set forth in claim 4 wherein said removed portions comprise a plurality of notches in said masking element.

7. An oil filter for an engine having a circulating oil lubrication system,

said filter including a generally cylindrically-shaped enclosure having an annular filter element therein,

a base plate at one end of said enclosure having a generally centrally located oil outlet opening and at least one oil inlet opening spaced radially from said outlet opening,

said filter being of the spin-on type and adapted to have said base plate mounted on a support structure having a mounting element threadably receivable within said outlet opening of said base plate,

a first oil passage within said enclosure communicating said oil inlet opening with the outer periphery of said filter element,

a second oil passage within said enclosure communicating the inner periphery of said filter element with said oil outlet opening,

a relatively solid annular body fabricated of an oil soluble material having oil improver properties and located in said enclosure so as to be contacted by oil flowing along one of said oil passages,

said body being of a generally flat ring-shaped configuration having upper and lower radial sides and inner and outer axial sides, and

a masking element disposed adjacent said body and comprising a radial portion extending along said upper radial side of said body and an axial portion comprising a lip portion depending downwardly along said outer axial side of said body, said masking element limiting the amount of surface area of said body exposed to the oil and resisting migration of portions of said body during dissolution thereof.