JP4887239B2 - Filter element - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a filter element used for a fluid filter for filtering fluid such as engine lubricating oil.

  In engine oil (lubricating oil) for engine lubrication, solid components (dust) such as metal powder and carbon generated by driving the engine are captured by an oil filter to reduce grinding wear in each part of the engine. ing. As the oil filter, there is a so-called full flow type oil filter that only filters the lubricating oil supplied to the engine. Furthermore, a bypass oil filter having a higher filtration accuracy than that of the full-flow oil filter (with a finer filter medium) is used to circulate the lubricating oil between the oil pan and the oil pan in an oil feeding circuit separate from the full-flow oil filter. There is a combination type (a combined type of a full flow filter and a bypass oil filter) in which fine dust is removed only by reducing the wear of the engine (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In such a bypass oil filter, as described above, the filtration accuracy of the filter element is made higher than that of the full-flow oil filter for the purpose of removing solids and fine particles such as carbon that cannot be captured by the full-flow oil filter. Since the impurities in the lubricating oil can be sufficiently filtered, the filter element is replaced more frequently than the full-flow type oil filter to prevent a decrease in filtration efficiency.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-192419

  However, in such a bypass oil filter, the lubricating oil is not introduced in a uniform flow with respect to the entire filter element, and the entire filtration area is difficult to be effectively utilized. Therefore, depending on the cylindrical axis direction (vertical direction) of the filter element. There is a problem in that the degree of clogging varies, the deterioration of the filter element becomes uneven, and the filtration efficiency decreases. Furthermore, due to partial deterioration of the filter element, the entire filter cannot be used uniformly, and the life of the filter element becomes shorter than the original service life, and the filter element must be frequently replaced. there were.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a filter element that can reduce clogging of the filter element, reduce the replacement frequency, and improve the filtration efficiency. Objective.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a filter element according to the present invention has an element arrangement space inside and an inflow hole (for example, oil inflow hole 13 in the embodiment) and an outflow hole communicating with the element arrangement space and the outside. In the cylindrical filter case in which (for example, the oil outflow hole 14 in the embodiment) is formed, the element disposition space is divided into an inflow space communicating with the inflow hole and an outflow space communicating with the outflow hole. The filter element is detachably mounted in the element arrangement space with one of the two end portions in the direction being close to the inflow hole, and the cylindrical filter medium and the tube flow An inner tube having a hole and formed in a shape along the inner peripheral surface of the filter medium, and covering both ends of the filter medium and the inner tube in the cylindrical axis direction Is composed of a provided endplates, in a state of being mounted in between the elements disposing space of the filter case, the fluid introduced to the inlet space from the inlet hole, the tube flow holes to the outflow space is passed through a filter medium The inner tube is configured so as to flow out, and the tube circulation hole is provided only at substantially the center with respect to the cylindrical axis direction.

  According to the filter element relating to the present invention, the fluid to be filtered can be introduced into the entire filter medium in a uniform flow, so that the degree of clogging of the filter element (filter medium) can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in filtration efficiency due to partial deterioration of the filter element, and the entire filter medium can be used uniformly, so that it can withstand long-term use and the filter element is frequently replaced. Will be improved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of an oil filter (bypass oil filter) 1 that applies the filter element according to the present invention and filters engine oil, which is an example of a fluid, will be described with reference to FIG. The oil filter 1 has an element disposition space 15 inside, a filter case 10 in which an oil inflow hole 13 and an oil outflow hole 14 for communicating the element disposition space 15 and the outside are formed, and an element disposition space. 15 is divided into an inflow space 15 a communicating with the oil inflow hole 13 and an outflow space 15 b communicating with the oil outflow hole 14, and a filter element 20 that is detachably mounted in the element disposition space 15.

  The filter case 10 includes a filter head 11 and a case main body 12. The element arrangement space 15 is formed in the inflow space 15a in the element arrangement space 15 formed inside the filter head 11 and the case main body 12. Further, a filter element 20 that bisects the flow space 15b is disposed.

  The filter head 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an opening below. The filter head 11 communicates with the outside and communicates with an oil inflow hole 13 through which oil flows into the element disposition space 15 (inflow space 15a) and the element disposition space 15 (outflow space 15b). An oil outflow hole 14 through which oil filtered by 20 flows out is formed. A first intermediate hole 16 and a second intermediate hole 17 for communicating the outflow space 15b and the oil outflow hole 14 are integrally connected to the filter head 11 so as to extend upward. A helicate 29 that can be screwed into a male screw 40 c formed at the tip of the center bolt 40 is fixed in the first intermediate hole 16 in an embedded state.

  The case body 12 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having an opening into which the filter element 20 can be inserted from above. The case body 12 is configured to be detachable from the filter head 11 by a center bolt 40. A bolt receiver 26 is disposed at the bottom of the case body 12. A through hole into which the center bolt 40 can be inserted is formed in the bolt receiver 26, and the head of the center bolt 40 is connected to the lower end of the bolt receiver 26. Department is receiving. Further, an O-ring 28 is disposed at the center of the lower end of the bolt receiver 40, and the head of the center bolt 40 is pressed and sealed so as to crush the O-ring 28. However, there is no leakage from the through hole of the bolt receiver 40 to the outside.

  A coil spring 27 is provided upright at the upper end of the bolt receiver 26 in the case body 12. One end of the coil spring 27 is supported by the bolt receiver 26, and the filter element 20 is interposed via a washer 34. Is biased toward the filter head 11 side. Note that a seal ring 19 for preventing oil leakage is provided at an attachment portion between the filter head 11 and the case body 12.

  The center bolt 40 includes a bolt head portion 40a that is in contact with the lower end portion of the bolt receiver 26, a bolt shaft portion 40b that extends upward from the head portion 40a and can be inserted into the filter case 10, and a bolt shaft portion 40b. It is comprised from the external thread 40c formed in the front-end | tip, and is formed longer than the full length of the case main body 12. FIG. A center bolt oil passage 42 is formed in the longitudinal direction in the center bolt 40 so as to communicate with the first intermediate hole 16 at the upper end portion, and a throttle for communicating the center bolt oil passage 42 and the outflow space 15b. The hole 41 is formed from the outside of the bolt shaft portion 40b. The throttle hole 41 suppresses the oil flow rate, prevents the oil flow rate introduced into the full flow type oil filter (not shown) from being insufficient, and does not hinder the supply of oil to the engine (not shown). I am doing so. In this manner, the outflow space 15b formed in the inner peripheral portion of the filter element 20 and the oil outflow hole 14 serve as the throttle hole 41, the center bolt oil passage 42, the first intermediate hole 16, and the second intermediate hole 17. It will be communicated via. Three examples of the configuration of the filter element according to the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the filter element 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a filter medium 21, an inner tube 30 arranged so that the outer periphery is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the filter medium 21, and the filter medium. 21 and disk-shaped upper and lower end plates 22 and 23 fixed so as to cover the upper and lower ends of the inner tube 30.

  The filter medium 21 is bent into a bellows shape with a certain bending width, and is held between the upper end plate 22 and the lower end plate 23, thereby forming a cross-shaped chrysanthemum shape. The inner periphery of the filter medium 21 is dimensioned so as to contact and contact the outer periphery of the inner tube 30.

  The inner tube 30 is for preventing the filter element 20 from being deformed by a differential pressure generated when oil passes through the filter element 20. The inner tube 30 is vertically moved from a punching metal or the like along the inner peripheral surface of the filter medium 21. It is formed in an elongated thin cylindrical shape. The inner tube 30 has a plurality of tube flow holes 32 through which the oil filtered by the filter medium 21 can flow out into the outflow space 15b, and has a perforated portion 30a located at the approximate center in the cylindrical axis direction. The upper non-hole part 30b which is integrally connected at the upper side and does not have the tube flow hole 32, and the lower non-hole part 30c which is integrally connected at the lower side and does not have the tube flow hole 32. . The tube flow holes 32 are formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction and the cylindrical axis direction in the perforated portion 30a. For this reason, the oil introduced into the filter medium 21 flows toward the perforated portion 32 having the tube flow holes 32 in the filter medium 21. That is, it flows from the entire outside of the filter medium 21 toward the inside center. In addition, it is preferable that the length in the longitudinal direction of the perforated portion 30 a (the opening range of the tube circulation hole 32) is less than half the total length of the inner tube 30.

  Rubber bushes 24 and 25 formed of an elastic member such as rubber are disposed at the center of the upper end plate 22 and the lower end plate 23, respectively. The rubber bushes 24 and 25 are respectively formed with through holes into which the center bolt 40 can be inserted. When the center bolt 40 is inserted into the through holes, the rubber bushes 24 and 25 are elastically opposed to the center bolt 40. The center bolt 40 is slidable in the vertical direction and has a certain holding force.

  The filter element 20 configured as described above is inserted into the filter case 10 and is urged toward the filter head 11 (upward) by the urging force of the spring 27, so that the filter element 20 is firmly held in the filter case 10. Will be.

  Next, a case where oil is filtered by the oil filter 1 to which the filter element 20 is attached will be described. In FIG. 1, the oil flow is represented by an arrow A. The oil flowing in from the oil inflow hole 13 formed in the filter head 11 first flows into an inflow space 15 a formed outside the filter element 20. Since the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the filter element 20 are covered with the upper and lower end plates 22, 23, oil does not flow from the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the filter medium 21, and the center bolt 40 Since the rubber bushes 24 and 25 are closely fitted to each other, the oil does not pass through the filter medium 21 and does not flow into the outflow space 15b. Therefore, the oil that has flowed into the inflow space 15a is always filtered through the filter medium 21, and flows into the outflow space 15b from the tube flow hole 32 of the inner tube 30.

  Further, since the tube circulation hole 32 is formed only in the substantially center of the cylindrical axis direction in the inner tube 30, the oil flowing from the entire outside of the filter medium 21 has a perforated portion 30 a in which the tube circulation hole 32 is formed. The inside of the filter medium 21 is distributed toward (inner center). Therefore, even if a large amount of oil flows into the filter medium part (upper non-hole portion 30b side) near the oil inflow hole 13 where oil is most likely to flow in, the oil can flow into the outflow space 15b from the upper non-hole portion 30b. Therefore, the oil flows in the filter medium 21 toward the perforated portion 30a, and the oil can flow in the filter medium 21 in a wider range to effectively use the filtration area. In this way, impurities such as dust mixed in the oil are filtered as the oil passes through the filter medium 21.

  The oil filtered by the filter medium 21 flows into the outflow space 15b through a large number of tube circulation holes 32 formed in the perforated portion 30a. The oil that has flowed into the outflow space 15b passes upward from the center bolt oil passage 42 while the flow rate is being throttled by the throttle hole 41 of the center bolt 40 above the inflow space 15b. Then, it flows into the second intermediate holes 16 and 17 and flows out of the oil filter 1 from the oil outflow hole 14.

  In addition, since the perforated part 30a which has the tube flow hole 32 is formed in the center of a cylindrical axial direction in the attachment of this filter element 20, and the filter element 20 becomes a vertically symmetrical structure, attachment of the filter element 20 is carried out. At this time, it may be attached from either the upper side or the lower side, and it is not necessary to worry about the direction of attachment, and the workability of replacing the filter element 20 is improved.

  Next, a second embodiment of the filter element according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the first embodiment, the tube circulation hole 32 is formed at the center in the cylindrical axis direction with respect to the inner tube 30. However, in the filter element 120 according to the second embodiment, the tube circulation hole 32 is formed in the inner tube. In 130, it forms in the lower part of a cylindrical-axis direction. That is, the perforated portion 130a in which a large number of tube circulation holes 32 are formed is provided in the lower portion of the inner tube 130 in the cylindrical axis direction, and the other portions of the inner tube 30 are not formed with the tube circulation holes 32. The structure is composed of the hole 130b.

  A case where oil is filtered by the oil filter 101 to which the filter element 120 configured as described above is attached will be described. In FIG. 2, the oil flow is represented by an arrow A. Oil that has flowed into the inflow space 15a from the oil inflow hole 13 formed in the filter head 11 is introduced from the entire outside of the filter medium 21, and flows in the filter medium 21 toward the lower inside where the perforated portion 130a is located. Become. As described above, the perforated portion 130a in which a large number of the tube circulation holes 32 are formed is provided in the lower portion of the inner tube 130 in the cylindrical axial direction that is farthest from the oil inflow hole 13, and thus is more than the perforated portion 130a. Even when oil is introduced into the upper part of the filter medium, the oil cannot flow from the non-porous part 130b, and therefore flows toward the inside and below where the perforated part 130a is located. Therefore, oil is easily introduced into the entire filter medium 21, and the entire filter medium 21 can be used in a wider range than the filter element 20 in the first embodiment, and variation in the degree of clogging can be further suppressed.

  The filter element 120 must be mounted in the filter case 10 with the perforated portion 130a on the lower side. The inner tube 131 is formed by the filter medium 21, the upper end plate 22, and the lower end plate 23. Since the whole is covered and the perforated portion 131 side (attachment direction) cannot be confirmed from the outside, it is preferable to attach an identification mark or the like so that the attachment direction of the filter element 120 can be confirmed.

  Next, a third embodiment of the filter element according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the same members as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the first and second embodiments, the tube flow hole 32 is formed only in a part of the range (for example, approximately the center in the cylindrical axis direction in the first embodiment) with respect to the inner tubes 30, 130. In the filter element 220 according to the third embodiment, a large number of tube flow holes 32 are formed on the entire surface of the inner tube 230 so that the hole diameter gradually increases as it goes downward in the inner tube 230.

  In the oil filter 201 to which the filter element 220 configured as described above is mounted, the oil flow resistance with respect to the tube flow hole 32 is large on the upper side of the inner tube 230 having the tube flow hole 32 with a small hole diameter, and the hole diameter is large. The resistance is reduced at the lower part of the inner tube 230 having the small tube flow hole 32. Accordingly, since the oil flow resistance with respect to the tube flow hole 32 decreases as it goes below the inner tube 230, the oil introduced from above the filter medium 21 flows into the lower part of the filter medium 21 with a low flow resistance, and the filter medium. 21 can be used in a wide range. It should be noted that the filter element 230 is preferably provided with an identification mark or the like so that the direction of attachment to the filter case 10 can be confirmed.

  As described above, according to the filter elements 20, 120, and 220 according to the present embodiment, the oil flows in a wide range to the filter medium 21, and the variation in the degree of clogging of the filter medium 21 can be suppressed. , 220 can be prevented from lowering the filtration efficiency due to partial deterioration, and the filtration area in the filter medium 21 is effectively used to extend the life, and the problem that the filter elements 20, 120, 220 are frequently replaced is improved. Is done.

  In the above-described embodiment, the throttle hole 41 is formed in the center bolt 40 so as to be positioned above the outflow space 15b. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The center bolt 40 may be formed so as to be located in the vicinity of the perforated portions 30a and 130a. However, when drilling the center bolt oil passage 42 communicating with the throttle hole 41 from the tip of the center bolt 40, the oil passage length of the center bolt oil passage 42 can be shortened as in the present embodiment. It is preferable that the throttle hole 41 is formed so that the position thereof is above the outflow space 15b.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the filter element according to the present invention is applied to a bypass oil filter for engine oil filtration has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a full-flow oil filter, an engine It can also be applied to other fluid filters such as fuel other than oil.

It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the oil filter provided with the filter element which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the oil filter provided with the filter element which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the oil filter provided with the filter element which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,101,201 Oil filter (bypass filter)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Filter case 11 Filter head 12 Case main body 15 Element arrangement | positioning space 15a Inflow space 15b Outflow space 20,120,220 Filter element 21 Filter medium 22 Upper end plate 23 Lower end plate 30,130,230 Inner tube 30a, 130a Perforated part 32 Tube distribution hole

Claims (1)

An inflow space that communicates the element disposition space with the inflow hole in a cylindrical filter case that has an element disposition space inside and has an inflow hole and an outflow hole that communicates the element disposition space with the outside. And an outflow space communicating with the outflow hole, and is detachably mounted in the element arrangement space so that either one of the two ends in the cylindrical axial direction is close to the inflow hole. A filter element,
A filter medium formed in a cylindrical shape;
An inner tube having a tube flow hole and formed in a shape along the inner peripheral surface of the filter medium;
The end plate provided to cover both ends of the filter medium and the cylindrical tube direction of the inner tube, respectively,
In a state of being installed in the element arrangement space, the fluid introduced into the inflow space from the inflow hole is configured to pass through the filter medium and to flow out from the tube circulation hole into the outflow space,
The filter element, wherein the inner tube includes the tube circulation hole only at a substantially center with respect to a cylindrical axis direction.

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