JP7646470B2 - Oil Filter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an oil filter that filters oil.

Patent Document 1 discloses an oil filter with a relief valve. Below, the reference symbols used in Patent Document 1 will be used in parentheses to briefly explain the oil filter in Patent Document 1.

The filter material (2) of the oil filter is made of filter paper that is pleated and rolled into a cylindrical shape. A cylindrical punched metal (1) is fitted into the hollow center of the filter material (2), and the filter material (2) is supported from the inside by the cylindrical punched metal (1). Both ends of the filter material (2) in the axial direction are attached to end plates (15, 16), respectively, and these end plates (15, 16) sandwich the filter material (2). The filter material (2), end plates (15, 16) and punched metal (1) are housed in a bottomed cylindrical case (3), and the opening of the case (3) is closed by a plate (9). An outlet (8) that leads to the inside of the punched metal (1) is formed in the center of the plate (9), and multiple inlets (7) that lead to the area between the outer periphery of the filter material (2) and the inner periphery of the case (3) are formed around the outlet (8). A relief valve (11) is attached to the center of one of the end plates (15). The relief valve (11) is an assembly consisting of multiple parts (12, 13, 14, 17).

Oil introduced into the inside of the case (3) through the inlet (7) passes from the outer circumference to the inner circumference of the filter material (2), and the filtered oil is discharged through the outlet (8). When the filter material (2) is not clogged, the oil pressure around the filter material (2) is low and the relief valve (11) is closed. When the filter material (2) is clogged, the oil pressure around the filter material (2) increases and the relief valve (11) opens. As a result, the oil around the filter material (2) flows through the relief valve (11) to the inside of the filter material (2) without passing through the filter material (2). This ensures the flow of oil.

JP 2009-219975 A

The relief valve (11) of the oil filter in Patent Document 1 is an assembly consisting of multiple parts (12, 13, 14, 17), which makes the oil filter structure complex.

Therefore, the present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide an oil filter with a simple structure.

To solve the above problems, an oil filter is provided that includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a filter material arranged in a cylindrical shape along the circumferential direction and accommodated in the housing, a seal sandwiched between a first inner surface of the housing facing one end of the filter material in the axial direction and one end of the filter material and arranged along the circumferential direction, a partition arranged in a cylindrical shape along the circumferential direction at the other end of the filter material in the axial direction, and an elastic body attached to the filter material, pressing the partition against a second inner surface of the housing facing the other end of the filter material, and elastically deforming when a load is applied in a direction away from the second inner surface of the housing, the inlet being formed in the housing so as to communicate with a region of the hollow of the housing that is radially outward of the seal, the partition, and the filter material, and the outlet being formed in the housing so as to communicate with a region of the hollow of the housing that is radially inward of the seal, the partition, and the filter material.

When the filter becomes clogged, the pressure of the oil introduced through the inlet into the area radially outside the seal, partition, and filter increases. As a result, the elastic body cannot withstand the oil pressure, and the partition separates from the second inner surface of the housing. As a result, the oil flows through the gap between the partition and the second inner surface of the housing to the inside of the partition and filter, and is then discharged through the outlet. This ensures the flow of oil.

Therefore, the combination of the partition and the elastic body functions as a relief valve, which means there is no need to provide a separate relief valve in the oil filter, and the oil filter has a simple structure and a small number of parts.
In addition, the oil filter has a simple structure because the partition is provided in a cylindrical shape along the circumferential direction at the other axial end of the filter material, and the function of the relief valve is realized simply by attaching the elastic body to the filter material.

Preferably, the partition is made of a rubber elastic material.

As a result of the above, there is a high level of sealing between the partition and the second inner surface of the housing. This means that there is no need to provide a separate sealing member, and the oil filter has a simple structure and a small number of parts.

Preferably, the elastic body is a coil spring wound in a spiral shape around the inner circumference of the filter medium.

As a result of the above, the filter material is supported from the inside by the elastic body. Therefore, the shape of the filter material is maintained by the elastic body. Since the elastic body has both the function of pressing the partition against the second inner surface of the housing and the function of supporting the filter material, the number of parts in the oil filter can be reduced.

Preferably, the oil filter further includes an end plate that is provided at one end of the filter medium so as to cover the one end of the filter medium, and the seal and the end plate are integrated.

As a result of the above, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and assembly steps required for the oil filter.

Preferably, the oil filter further includes a second end plate that is provided at the other end of the filter material so as to cover the other end of the filter material, and the partition and the second end plate are integrated.

As a result of the above, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and assembly steps required for the oil filter.

Preferably, the oil filter further comprises a second end plate provided at the other end of the filter medium so as to cover the other end of the filter medium, and the second end plate is spaced apart from the second inner surface of the housing, forming a gap between the second end plate and the second inner surface of the housing.

As described above, the pressure of the oil in the gap between the second end plate and the second inner surface of the housing acts on the second end plate. When the filter medium is not clogged, the oil pressure in the gap is low, and the elastic body can withstand the load caused by the oil pressure. When the filter medium is clogged, the oil pressure in the gap is high, and the elastic body cannot withstand the load caused by the oil pressure. As a result, the second end plate, the partition, and the filter medium are displaced away from the second inner surface of the housing. Then, the oil passes through the gap between the partition and the second inner surface of the housing, ensuring the flow of oil.

According to the present invention, there is no need to prepare a relief valve in the oil filter in addition to the partition and elastic body, and the oil filter has a simple structure and a small number of parts.

FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the axial direction of the oil filter. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the axial direction of the oil filter. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the axial direction of a modified oil filter.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below has various limitations that are technically preferable for implementing the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment and illustrated examples.

(1) Configuration of the Oil Filter Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the oil filter 1. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the central axis of the oil filter 1. The direction along the central axis of the oil filter 1 is called the axial direction, the direction along the circumference of the central axis is called the circumferential direction, and the direction along the radius from the central axis is called the radial direction. The central axis of the oil filter 1 is also the central axis of the housing 2 and the filter medium 30, which will be described later.

The oil filter 1 is installed in equipment having an internal combustion engine, such as an automobile. The oil filter 1 captures sludge in lubricating oil (hereinafter simply referred to as oil) to clean the oil. The oil filter 1 is detachable from the equipment such as an automobile, and a deteriorated oil filter 1 is replaced with a new oil filter 1.
The oil filter 1 includes a housing 2 and a filter unit 3 .

(1-1) Housing The housing 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape around the central axis so as to have a cylindrical hollow around the central axis. Both ends of the housing 2 in the axial direction are closed.

The housing 2 is an assembly consisting of a housing body 21, a cover 22, and a sealing material 23.

The housing body 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom. In other words, the housing body 21 has a cylindrical portion 21a that is formed along the circumferential direction and surrounds the hollow space, and a bottom portion 21b that closes the end of the cylindrical portion 21a in the axial direction. The end of the cylindrical portion 21a opposite the bottom portion 21b is open. The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 21a forms the outer peripheral surface of the housing 2. The outer surface of the bottom portion 21b forms the end face of the housing 2 in the axial direction, and the inner surface of the bottom portion 21b forms the inner bottom of the housing body 21.

The cover 22 covers the opening of the housing body 21 and is attached to the opening by a sealing material 23. The outer surface of the cover 22 forms the end face of the housing 2 in the axial direction. The cover 22 is shaped like a ring. The cover 22 has a plurality of inlets 22a, outlets 22b, and bosses 22c. The cover 22 is formed by integrally molding the inlets 22a, outlets 22b, and bosses 22c.

The outlet 22b is formed in the center of the cover 22. The inlets 22a are formed around the outlet 22b at intervals in the circumferential direction. The boss 22c surrounds the outlet 22b on the inner surface of the cover 22 and protrudes from the inner surface of the cover 22 toward the inner bottom of the housing body 21.

The sealing material 23 is shaped like a ring. The sealing material 23 is fixed to the outer surface of the cover 22 around the row of inlets 22a along the circumferential direction. The outer periphery of the sealing material 23 is fixed to the edge of the opening of the housing body 21 by crimping. In the housing 2, the inlets 22a and the outlets 22b are arranged radially inward of the sealing material 23.

(1-2) Filter Unit The filter unit 3 is accommodated in the housing 2 so as to be coaxial with the housing 2. The filter unit 3 is an assembly made up of a filter medium 30, a first end member 40, a second end member 50, and an elastic body 60. Inside the housing 2, the first end member 40, the filter medium 30, and the second end member 50 are lined up in this order from the cover 22 toward the bottom 21b of the housing body 21. The elastic body 60 is attached to the inside of the filter medium 30.

(1-3) Filter material The filter material 30 is provided in a cylindrical shape along the circumferential direction. Therefore, a space 31 is formed in the center of the filter material 30, which is open at both ends of the filter material 30 in the axial direction. For example, the filter material 30 is made of a nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, or paper filter paper that is pleated and wound around a central axis parallel to the pleat fold line. Alternatively, the filter material 30 is made of a porous material or a foamed resin material formed into a cylindrical shape.

The filter material 30 is housed in the housing 2 so as to be coaxial with the housing 2. Therefore, one end of the filter material 30 in the axial direction faces the inner surface of the cover 22, and the other end of the filter material 30 in the axial direction faces the inner bottom of the housing body 21. Here, the inner surface of the cover 22 corresponds to the first inner surface of the housing 2 facing one end of the filter material 30 in the axial direction, and the inner bottom of the housing body 21 corresponds to the second inner surface of the housing 2 facing the other end of the filter material 30 in the axial direction.

The outer diameter of the filter material 30 is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 21a of the housing body 21, and the outer periphery of the filter material 30 is spaced apart from the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 21a of the housing body 21. Therefore, a gap 2a is formed between the outer periphery of the filter material 30 and the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 21a.
The space 31 in the center of the filter medium 30 communicates with the outlet 22b of the cover 22 via a hole 42 in a first end plate 41 and an inner area of a seal 44, which will be described later.

The length of the filter material 30 in the axial direction is shorter than the length of the housing 2 in the axial direction. One end of the filter material 30 in the axial direction is spaced apart from the inner surface of the cover 22, and the other end of the filter material 30 in the axial direction is spaced apart from the inner bottom of the housing body 21.

(1-4) First end member The first end member 40 is a molded product of a rubber elastic material. The first end member 40 is attached to one end of the filter medium 30 in the axial direction in the housing 2. The first end member 40 closes one end of the filter medium 30 in the axial direction. The first end member 40 connects the space 31 at the center of the filter medium 30 to the outlet 22b. The first end member 40 separates the area between the cover 22 and the filter medium 30 (specifically, the gap 2b described later) from the flow path from the space 31 at the center of the filter medium 30 to the outlet 22b (specifically, the area radially inside the seal 44 described later). The first end member 40 has a first end plate 41 and a seal 44.

(1-5) First End Plate The first end plate 41 is attached to one end of the filter medium 30 so as to cover one end of the filter medium 30 in the axial direction. As a result, one end of the filter medium 30 is blocked by the first end plate 41. The first end plate 41 is spaced apart from the cover 22, and a gap 2b is formed between the first end plate 41 and the cover 22. The gap 2b communicates with the inlet 22a. The gap 2b communicates with the gap 2a on the outer circumferential side.

The first end plate 41 is ring-shaped, and a hole 42 is formed in the center of the first end plate 41. The hole 42 is connected to the space 31 in the center of the filter medium 30.

(1-6) Seal The seal 44 is integrally molded with the first end plate 41 along the edge of the hole 42 of the first end plate 41. The seal 44 bulges from the first end plate 41 toward the cover 22, being rolled radially inward. The seal 44 surrounds the boss 22c of the cover 22, and the boss 22c is fitted into the seal 44. The seal 44 is sandwiched between one end of the filter medium 30 in the axial direction and the inner surface of the cover 22 around the boss 22c. The seal 44 separates the inner area of the seal 44 from the gap 2b between the cover 22 and the first end plate 41.

(1-6) Second end member The second end member 50 is a molded product of a rubber elastic material. The second end member 50 is attached to the other end of the filter medium 30 in the axial direction in the housing 2. The second end member 50 closes the other end of the filter medium 30 in the axial direction. The second end member 50 divides the area between the bottom 21b of the housing body 21 and the filter medium 30 into a radial inner area of the second end member 50 (more specifically, a space 55 described later) and a radial outer area of the second end member 50 (more specifically, a gap 2c described later). The second end member 50 includes a second end plate 51, a partition 54, and an elastic body receiver 58.

(1-7) Second End Plate The second end plate 51 is attached to the other end of the filter medium 30 so as to cover the other end of the filter medium 30 in the axial direction. As a result, the other end of the filter medium 30 is blocked by the second end plate 51.
The second end plate 51 is spaced apart from the inner bottom of the housing body 21, and a gap 2c is formed between the second end plate 51 and the inner bottom of the housing body 21. The gap 2c communicates with the gap 2a on the outer circumferential side.

The second end plate 51 is ring-shaped, and a hole 52 is formed in the center of the second end plate 51. The hole 52 is connected to the space 31 in the center of the filter medium 30.

(1-8) Partition The partition 54 is integrally formed with the second end plate 51 along the edge of the hole 52 of the second end plate 51, and is formed cylindrically along the circumferential direction. The space 55 inside the partition 54 communicates with the space 31 inside the filter medium 30 through the hole 52 of the second end plate 51. The partition 54 protrudes from the first end plate 41 toward the inner bottom of the housing body 21. The tip of the partition 54 contacts the inner bottom of the housing body 21. The partition 54 separates the space 55 inside the partition 54 from the gap 2c between the first end plate 41 and the inner bottom of the housing body 21.

(1-9) Elastic Body Receptacle The elastic body receiver 58 is provided on the inner periphery of the second end plate 51. The elastic body receiver 58 protrudes from the other end of the filter medium 30 in the axial direction toward the inside of the filter medium 30. The elastic body receiver 58 has a ring-shaped channel 59 along the circumferential direction. The position of the elastic body receiver 58 and the position of the partition 54 in the radial direction are aligned with each other, and the elastic body receiver 58 is provided continuously from the partition 54 in the axial direction.

(1-10) Elastic body The elastic body 60 is a coil spring wound in a spiral shape. The elastic body 60 is fitted into the space 31 inside the filter medium 30 and is provided along the inner circumference of the filter medium 30. The elastic body 60 supports the filter medium 30 from the inside of the filter medium 30. Therefore, the shape of the filter medium 30 is maintained in a cylindrical shape.

One end of the elastic body 60 is abutted against the cover 22 via the seal 44 of the first end member 40. The other end of the elastic body 60 is inserted into the channel 59 of the elastic body receiver 58 and abuts against the elastic body receiver 58. The elastic body 60, the partition 54, and the seal 44 are sandwiched between the inner surface of the cover 22 and the inner bottom of the housing main body 21, and the elastic body 60 is in a compressed state. The seal 44 is pressed against the inner surface of the cover 22 by the elastic force of the elastic body 60. Therefore, the gap between the seal 44 and the inner surface of the cover 22 is sealed.

The elastic body 60 receives a reaction force from the cover 22 via the seal 44, and urges the partition 54 by elastic force so as to press the partition 54 against the inner bottom of the housing body 21. Because the partition 54 is made of a rubber elastic material, the space between the partition 54 and the inner bottom of the housing body 21 is sealed.

The radial positions of the elastic body 60 and the partition 54 are aligned. Therefore, the elastic force of the elastic body 60 does not become a radial component of the force acting on the partition 54, and buckling and bending of the partition 54 are suppressed.

The elastic body 60 may be a spring other than a coil spring.

(2) Behavior of the oil filter (2-1) When the filter media is not clogged Oil flows through the inlet 22a into the gaps 2a, 2b, and 2c in the housing 2. As the oil passes from the outside to the inside of the filter media 30, the filter media 30 captures sludge in the oil, thereby filtering the oil. The filtered oil is discharged from the space 31 in the center of the filter media 30 through the inside of the boss 22c and the outlet 22b.

The oil pressure in gap 2c acts on the second end plate 51 as a load in the direction in which the partition 54 moves away from the inner bottom of the housing body 21. If the filter medium 30 is not clogged, oil passes through the filter medium 30 smoothly, and the oil pressure in gaps 2a, 2b, and 2c is low. Therefore, the elastic body 60 can resist the load caused by the oil pressure in gap 2c, and the elastic force of the elastic body 60 maintains the state in which the partition 54 is pressed against the inner bottom of the housing body 21.

(2-2) When clogging of the filter occurs When the oil filter 1 is used for a long time, clogging of the filter 30 occurs. Therefore, when oil flows into the gaps 2a, 2b, and 2c in the housing 2 through the inlet 22a, the oil pressure in the gaps 2a, 2b, and 2c increases. Therefore, the elastic body 60 cannot resist the load caused by the oil pressure in the gap 2c, and as shown in FIG. 3, the elastic body 60 is elastically deformed so as to be compressed by the load. Accordingly, the partition 54, the second end plate 51, the filter 30, and the first end plate 41 are displaced toward the cover 22, and the seal 44 is deformed so as to be crushed. Then, a gap 2d is formed between the partition 54 and the inner bottom of the housing body 21. The oil in the gaps 2a, 2b, and 2c flows through the gap 2d into the space 55 inside the partition 54, the hole 52 in the second end plate 51, and the space 31 in the center of the filter 30. The oil is discharged from the space 31 in the center of the filter medium 30 through the inside of the boss 22c and the outlet 22b. Therefore, even if the filter medium 30 becomes clogged, the flow of oil is ensured.

(3) Advantageous Effects The combination of the partition 54 and the elastic body 60 functions as a relief valve. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate relief valve in the oil filter 1, and the oil filter 1 has a simple structure and a small number of parts.

The elastic body 60 is assembled to the filter medium 30 simply by fitting it into the space 31 in the center of the filter medium 30. The partition 54 is assembled to the filter medium 30 simply by attaching the second end member 50 to the filter medium 30. This makes it easy to assemble the oil filter 1.

Because the second end member 50 is a one-piece molded product of the second end plate 51, the elastic receiver 58, and the partition 54, the number of parts in the oil filter 1 is small, and the number of assembly steps for the oil filter 1 is also small. The fact that the first end member 40 is a one-piece molded product of the first end plate 41 and the seal 44 also contributes to reducing the number of parts and assembly steps for the oil filter 1.

Because the partition 54 is made of a rubber elastic material, the partition 54 functions as a seal, eliminating the need for separate sealing parts. The number of parts in the oil filter 1 is small, and the number of assembly steps for the oil filter 1 is also small.

The elastic body 60 serves both as an elastic member that presses the partition 54 against the inner bottom of the housing body 21 and as a support member that supports the filter material 30 from the inside. This allows the number of parts and assembly steps for the oil filter 1 to be reduced.

(4) Modifications Although the embodiment for carrying out the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment is intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, each component of the oil filter 1 may be modified from the above embodiment. Modifications from the above embodiment are described below. Two or more modifications described below may be combined and applied as far as possible.

(4-1)
In the above embodiment, the outlet 22b is formed in the center of the cover 22. Alternatively, the outlet 22b may be formed in the center of the bottom portion 21b of the housing body 21.

(4-2)
In the above embodiment, the inlet 22a is formed in the cover 22. Alternatively, the inlet 22a may be formed in the cylindrical portion 21a of the housing main body 21. Alternatively, the inlet 22a may be formed in a portion of the bottom portion 21b of the housing main body 21 that is located outside the partition 54.

(4-3)
In the above embodiment, the first end plate 41 and the seal 44 are made of a rubber elastic material. Alternatively, the seal 44 may be made of a rubber elastic material and the first end plate 41 may be made of a resin material or a metal material that is less likely to deform than the rubber elastic material. In this case, the seal 44 and the second end plate 51 are integrated by two-color molding, insert molding, or assembly.

(4-4)
In the above embodiment, the second end plate 51, the partition 54, and the elastic body receiver 58 are made of a rubber elastic material. Alternatively, the partition 54 may be made of a rubber elastic material, and the second end plate 51 and the elastic body receiver 58 may be made of a resin material or a metal material that is less likely to deform than the rubber elastic material. In this case, the second end plate 51, the partition 54, and the elastic body receiver 58 are integrated by two-color molding, insert molding, or assembly.

(4-5)
In the above embodiment, the second end plate 51, the partition 54, and the elastic body receiver 58 are made of a rubber elastic material. Of the second end plate 51, the partition 54, and the elastic body receiver 58, at least the partition 54 may be made of a resin material or a metal material that is less likely to deform than a rubber elastic material. In this case, in order to ensure airtightness between the partition 54 and the inner bottom of the housing main body 21, it is preferable that a rubber seal member 56 is provided at the tip of the partition 54 or on the inner bottom of the housing main body 21, as shown in FIG. 4.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 oil filter 2 housing 22a inlet 22b outlet 30 filter medium 41 first end plate 44 seal 51 second end plate 54 partition 60 elastic body

Claims (6)

a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
A filter medium provided in a cylindrical shape along a circumferential direction and accommodated in the housing;
A seal is sandwiched between a first inner surface of the housing facing one end of the filter medium in the axial direction and one end of the filter medium and is provided along the circumferential direction;
A partition provided cylindrically along the circumferential direction at the other end of the filter material in the axial direction;
An elastic body is attached to the filter medium, presses the partition against a second inner surface of the housing facing the other end of the filter medium, and elastically deforms due to a load in a direction in which the partition moves away from the second inner surface of the housing;
An oil filter in which the inlet is formed in the housing so as to communicate with an area of the hollow of the housing that is radially outer than the seal, the partition, and the filter material, and the outlet is formed in the housing so as to communicate with an area of the hollow of the housing that is radially inner than the seal, the partition, and the filter material. 2. The oil filter according to claim 1, wherein the partition is made of a rubber elastic material. 3. The oil filter according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is a coil spring wound in a spiral shape along an inner circumference of the filter medium. Further comprising an end plate provided at one end of the filter medium so as to cover the one end of the filter medium;
4. The oil filter according to claim 1, wherein the seal and the end plate are integrated together. Further comprising a second end plate provided at the other end of the filter medium so as to cover the other end of the filter medium;
5. The oil filter according to claim 1, wherein the partition and the second end plate are integrated together. Further comprising a second end plate provided at the other end of the filter medium so as to cover the other end of the filter medium;
5. The oil filter according to claim 1, wherein the second end plate is spaced from the second inner surface of the housing such that a gap is formed between the second end plate and the second inner surface of the housing.

Images