GB2418872A - A filter assembly operable with one or two filter elements - Google Patents

A filter assembly operable with one or two filter elements Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2418872A
GB2418872A GB0422140A GB0422140A GB2418872A GB 2418872 A GB2418872 A GB 2418872A GB 0422140 A GB0422140 A GB 0422140A GB 0422140 A GB0422140 A GB 0422140A GB 2418872 A GB2418872 A GB 2418872A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
filter
assembly
filter member
oil
lubrication circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0422140A
Other versions
GB0422140D0 (en
GB2418872B (en
Inventor
Michael James Watts
Keith William Barter
Michael Willcock
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ford Global Technologies LLC
Original Assignee
Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ford Global Technologies LLC filed Critical Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority to GB0422140A priority Critical patent/GB2418872B/en
Publication of GB0422140D0 publication Critical patent/GB0422140D0/en
Priority to DE102005045930.7A priority patent/DE102005045930B4/en
Publication of GB2418872A publication Critical patent/GB2418872A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2418872B publication Critical patent/GB2418872B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D27/00—Cartridge filters of the throw-away type
    • B01D27/14—Cartridge filters of the throw-away type having more than one filtering element
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
    • B01D29/01—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with flat filtering elements
    • B01D29/018—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with flat filtering elements ring shaped
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
    • B01D29/50—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition
    • B01D29/52—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition in parallel connection
    • B01D29/54—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition in parallel connection arranged concentrically or coaxially
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
    • B01D29/50—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition
    • B01D29/56—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition in series connection
    • B01D29/58—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition in series connection arranged concentrically or coaxially
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
    • B01D29/96—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor in which the filtering elements are moved between filtering operations; Particular measures for removing or replacing the filtering elements; Transport systems for filters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D35/00—Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
    • B01D35/12—Devices for taking out of action one or more units of multi- unit filters, e.g. for regeneration
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D35/00—Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
    • B01D35/14—Safety devices specially adapted for filtration; Devices for indicating clogging
    • B01D35/147—Bypass or safety valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
    • F01M11/00—Component parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01M1/00 - F01M9/00
    • F01M11/03—Mounting or connecting of lubricant purifying means relative to the machine or engine; Details of lubricant purifying means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
    • F01M1/00—Pressure lubrication
    • F01M1/10—Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters
    • F01M2001/105—Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters characterised by the layout of the purification arrangements
    • F01M2001/1057—Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters characterised by the layout of the purification arrangements comprising a plurality of filters, parallel or serial

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Lubrication Details And Ventilation Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Abstract

An oil filter assembly for an internal combustion engine (Fig 4, 5) is disclosed in which first and second filter members 10, 20 respectively are initially connected to a lubrication circuit of the engine to remove debris from the oil. When a predetermined event occurs, first filter 10 is removed and second filter 20 is re-attached to the lubrication circuit. The removed filter 10 is used to remove large sized debris from the oil such as metal fragments produced during manufacture and the second filter 20 is used to remove small debris such as soot from the oil. The oil flows as indicated by arrows 30 and returns to the lubrication circuit as indicated by arrows 33.

Description

24 1 8872 - 1 A Filter Assembly for an Engine This invention relates to
internal combustion engines and in particular the removal of debris from the oil used for lubrication of such an engine.
It is well known such as from US Patent number 3,774,764 to provide a spin-on oil filter for an engine of the barrier type in which a filter element having a predetermined mesh size is used to remove debris from the lubrication oil. Such a filter is often known as a full flow filter because the entire oil flow to the engine is directed through the filter element.
Although such a filter is relatively efficient at removing large particles from the oil, it is disadvantageous to use such a barrier filter in a full flow situation to remove small particles such as soot. This is because to remove soot particles a filter element capable of capturing particles smaller than 2 microns is required and such a filter element will produce a large resistance to flow and hence requires a considerable amount of power to be used to drive the pump used to circulate the oil. The removal of soot from the oil is particularly important for diesel engines because soot accumulates in the oil of a diesel engine under many operating conditions. As the soot levels builds up it can have a detrimental effect on engine durability. To prevent excessive wear of the engine the oil must be changed before the soot in oil concentration reaches a critical predetermined limit. The soot build up rate varies based upon many factors including engine usage and engine age. In order to prevent excessive levels of soot occurring, and subsequent engine damage, the oil change interval has to be set based on soot build up in the oil for the worst likely case. This means that for many engines the oil is changed earlier than is necessary. - 2
It is therefore desirable to remove soot from the oil in order to prevent damage occurring to the engine and to extend the time between service intervals.
In order to overcome the disadvantages associated with a barrier type filter it is known from, for example, US Patent Number 4,284,504 to provide a centrifugal filter to remove debris from the oil. It is a problem when using a lo centrifugal filter that such a filter requires an unrestricted exit in order to function efficiently. This is because any backpressure will reduce the rotational speed of the centrifugal canister and so limit the effectiveness of filtration. It is therefore common practice to only use such a filter as a bypass filter and employ a barrier type filter for primary filtration. When so used the centrifugal filter is normally arranged to vent straight back into an oil reservoir or sump of the engine and oil is only passed through the centrifugal filter when excess pressure is produced by the oil pump. It will be appreciated that when using a centrifugal filter as a bypass filter it is only operating for some of the time and so it is important to have a barrier type filter in place during the period when the centrifugal filter is not operating, at least during initial running of the engine from new, in order to remove the debris from manufacture and to prevent the debris from being circulated repeatedly through the engine. such recirculation could have an adverse effect on engine wear or could cause oil lubrication passages to become blocked by the relatively large debris.
It is further known from, for example, US Patent Number 4,878, 924 to provide a vortex filter for an engine which utilises the production of strong vortices to separate debris from the oil. Such a filter is similar to a centrifugal filter in that it is less efficient at removing large debris but has the advantage compared to a centrifugal filter that it can be used in a full flow situation because it produces very little pressure drop and does not require an unrestricted outlet to function efficiently.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved oil filter arrangement for an engine.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is lo provided an oil filter assembly for an internal combustion engine having an oil lubrication circuit, the filter assembly comprising a first barrier filter member having a first attachment means to connect the first filter member to the lubrication circuit of the engine and a second attachment means for cooperation with an attachment means of a second filter member used to connect the second filter member to the first filter member wherein the first attachment means of the first filter member and the attachment means of the second filter member are the same so as to permit the first filter member to be removed from the lubrication circuit and the second filter member to be attached directly to the lubrication circuit.
The first barrier filter may have a barrier filter element capable of capturing debris no smaller than 10 microns in size. The filter element may have a mesh size in the range of 15 to 50 microns.
The second filter may be a centrifugal filter or may be a vortex filter.
The first attachment means may be formed at one end of the first filter member and the second attachment means may be formed at the opposite end of the first filter member. - 4
The first attachment means may be an external screw thread for cooperation with an internal screw thread used to connect a filter to the lubrication circuit. In which case, the external thread may be formed on a tube having a bore for transferring, in use, oil from the second filter member.
The second attachment means may be an internal thread.
The internal thread may be formed in the bore of the lO tube.
The attachment means of the second filter member may be an external screw thread that is the same as the screw thread formed on the first attachment means.
Alternatively, the first attachment means may include an internal screw thread for cooperation with an external screw thread used to connect a filter to the lubrication circuit.
The internal thread may be formed in a tube having a bore for transferring, in use, oil from the second filter member. The second attachment means may be an external thread. The external thread may be formed on the tube.
The attachment means of the second filter member may be an internal screw thread that is the same as the screw thread in the first attachment means.
At least one seal may be interposed between the first and second filter members when the second filter member is attached to the first filter member.
At least one seal may be interposed between the lubrication circuit and the first filter member when the first filter member is attached thereto. - 5
The first filter member may be a spin-on filter.
The second filter member may be a spin-on filter.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for filtering the oil used to lubricate an internal combustion engine, the method comprising connecting first and second filter members to a lubrication circuit of lo the engine for filtering the lubrication oil of the engine until a predetermined event occurs and, when the predetermined event occurs, removing the first filter from the lubrication circuit and operating the engine subsequently with only the second filter to filter the oil.
The predetermined event may be a predetermined period of time after the engine is first run or may be a predetermined number of revolutions of the engine after the engine is first run or may be the first time the engine is serviced.
The first filter may be a membrane filter capable of filtering out debris greater than 10 microns in size.
The second filter may be a centrifugal filter or may be a vortex filter.
Advantageously, the second filter member may be connected to the lubrication circuit via the first filter member when both of the filter members are connected and may be directly connected to the lubrication circuit when the first filter member has been removed.
The first filter may be connected to the lubrication circuit by a threaded connection and the second filter mav - 6 be connected to the lubrication circuit by a threaded connection with the first filter member.
The first filter may be removed from the lubrication circuit by unscrewing it from the lubrication circuit and the second filter member may be screwed back in its place.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved filter assembly for an engine.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of which: Fig.1 is a side view of a first filter member is according to the invention; Fig.2 is a side view of a second filter member according to the invention; Fig.3 is a schematic cross section through a filter assembly according to the invention; Fig.4 is a schematic representation of a lubrication circuit for an engine using a filter assembly according to the invention; and Fig.5 is an alternative lubrication circuit to that shown in Fig.4 With reference to Fig.4 there is shown an internal combustion engine 5 having a lubrication circuit including an oil pump 3 arranged to pump oil from an oil reservoir or sump 6 through first and second filter members 10 and 20, through oil passageways (not shown) in the engine and return the oil to the sump 6. The oil pump 3 as shown is a variable flow pump and is electronically controlled by an - 7 - electronic control unit 2 so that the flow of oil can be varied according to the operating conditions of the engine and in order to optimise the filtration of the oil. It will however be appreciated that the oil pump could be a conventional engine driven pump.
The first filter element 10 is a membrane type having a filter element with a relatively coarse mesh size of between and 50 microns and is provided to capture large debris lo contained in the oil such as metal fragments remaining from the manufacture of the engine 5. The size of the mesh is important because with a membrane type of filter the finer the mesh the greater the resistance to flow and hence the more energy that needs to be used to pump the oil through the filter and so in most cases it is not practical to use this type of filter to filter out particles smaller than 10 microns.
The second filter element 20 is a vortex filter in which the oil entering the filter member 20 is caused to rotate rapidly forming strong vortices which are used to separate out small particles such as sub 2 micron soot particles. This type of filter is not very efficient at filtering out large particles and is only effective when the flow of oil through the filter member 20 is above a certain level. This is because at low flow rates insufficiently strong vortices are formed to cause separation of any entrained particles.
The purpose of the first filter member 10 is therefore to remove large particles from the oil and the second filter member 20 is used to remove small particles from the oil.
The first and second filter members 10 and 20 are full flow members in that all of the oil flow from the pump 3 passes through them before entering the engine 5. - 8
The first filter member 10 is only required during initial running of the engine 5 and can be removed after a predetermined event such as a predetermined number of engine operation, a predetermined number of engine revolutions or the first engine service occur. The construction of the first filter element 10 can therefore be produced in an economical manner as it is in effect a disposable item.
lo After the first filter member 10 is removed the second filter member 20 is used to remove soot or other products of combustion from the oil and the pump 3 is operated when required to optimise the flow through the second filter member 20 in order to achieve this.
With reference to Fig.5 there is shown an alternative filter arrangement to that shown in Fig.4 as before the internal combustion engine 5 has a lubrication circuit including an oil pump 3 arranged to pump oil from a sump 6 JO through first and second filter members 10 and 200 and return the oil to the sump 6. As before the oil pump 3 is a variable flow pump and is electronically controlled by an electronic control unit 2 so that the flow of oil can be varied according to the operating conditions of the engine and in order to optimism the filtration of the oil.
As before, the first filter element 10 is a membrane type having a filter element with a relatively coarse mesh size of between 15 and 50 microns and is provided to capture large debris contained in the oil such as metal fragments remaining from the manufacture of the engine 5.
The second filter element 200 is a centrifugal filter in which the oil entering the filter member 200 is caused to rotate a filter unit used to separate out small particles such as sub 2 micron soot particles by means of centripetal - 9 - acceleration. This type of filter is not very efficient at filtering out large particles and is only effective when the flow of oil through the filter member 200 is above a certain level. This is because at low flow rates the filter unit will not rotate fast enough to cause separation of many entrained particles.
The purpose of the first filter member 10 is therefore to remove large particles from the oil and the second filter lo member 200 is used to remove small particles from the oil.
However unlike the first embodiment the first and second filter members 10 and 200 are not both full flow members and the second filter member 200 is connected to the lubrication circuit via a control valve 7 so that oil only passes through it when the valve 7 is open. The valve 7 may be electronically or pressure controlled.
During initial running of the engine 5 from new the oil flows primarily through the first filter member 10 and the valve 7 remains closed but occasionally when it is required to remove soot from the oil the valve 7 permits flow through the second filter member 200.
The first filter member 10 is only required during initial running of the engine 5 and can then be removed after a predetermined event such as a predetermined period of engine operation, a predetermined number of engine revolutions or the first engine service occur. Therefore as before the construction of the first filter element 10 can be produced in an economical manner as it is a disposable item.
After the first filter member 10 is removed the second filter member 20 is used to remove soot or other products of combustion from the oil and the pump 3 is operated when - 10 required to optimise the flow through the second filter member 20 in order to achieve this. It will be appreciated that after the first filter member 10 has been removed there will be no filter in the oil lubrication system for much of this time but this is not a problem for once the debris of manufacture has been removed there is very little debris produced by operating the engine 5 and what wear debris that is produced will be removed by the centrifugal filter 200 when it is operated. This has the advantage that when the lo first filter member 10 has been removed there is no additional resistance to oil flow when oil is not flowing through the second filter member 200 and so the energy required by the pump to provide the engine with a specific pressure is less than when a membrane filter is in place.
The second filter member 200 is only used occasionally and when it is used because a variable flow pump is used the flow therethrough can be optimised to provide optimum filtration of soot particles from the oil.
With reference to Figs 1 to 3 the first and second filter members 10 and 20 shown in Fig.4 will be described in greater detail.
The first filter member 10 comprises of a casing or housing 11 in which is housed a membrane filter element 15 having a mesh size of 35 microns. A number of pressure relief valves 16 are fitted to permit the bypassing of the membrane filter element 15 should it become blocked.
The casing has a number of apertures on its end face (not shown) to permit oil to flow into the housing 11 from an adapter plate (not shown) connected to the engine 5. The adapter plate has a number of apertures therein which are connected to an oil supply forming part of the lubrication circuit of the engine 5 and forms a threaded mounting for the first filter member 10 so that the first filter element is of a spin-on type. The adapter plate is similar to that shown in US Patents 3,774,764 and 4,284,504.
The adapter plate has a threaded bore (not shown) into which a tube 12 having an external thread 13 thereon on can be threadingly engaged to connect the first filter member 10 to the lubrication circuit of the engine 5. The externally threaded tube 12 forms a first attachment means used to lo connect the first filter member 10 to the lubrication circuit by cooperation with the adapter plate.
Inner and outer seals 41 and 40 are used to seal the first filter member 10 to the adapter plate when the first filter member 10 is fastened thereto.
The tube 12 extends through and is attached to the housing 11 and has a larger diameter portion at the opposite end to where the external thread 13 is formed. An internal thread is formed in the larger diameter portion of the tube 12. The internal thread is the same as the thread formed in the adapter plate. The tube forms a passageway which can be used to permit the flow of oil through the first filter element 10 from one side to the other and defines a second oil flow path that is separate from the flow path through the filter element 15.
The end face of the housing 11 adjacent the larger diameter portion of the tube 12 has a number of circumferentially spaced apertures (not shown) which permit oil that has passed through the filter element 15 to exit the housing 11. The internal thread in the larger diameter portion of the tube 12 forms a second attachment means used to connect the second filter member 20 to the first filter member 10. - 12
The second filter member 20 has a casing 21 in which is formed various vanes (not shown) used to promote the formation of vortices within the casing 21.
A tube 22 is fastened to one side of the casing 21 having an external thread formed thereon which is the same as that formed on the first filter member 10. The bore of the tube 22 communicates with the inside of the casing 21.
The casing 21 has a number of apertures (not shown) formed therein surrounding the tube 22. The apertures are used to permit the flow of oil from the first filter element into the second filter element 20.
]5 Inner and outer seals 51 and 50 are used to sealingly connect the first and second filter members 10 and 20 when the second filter member 20 is fastened to the first filter member 10 by threaded engagement of the tube 22 with the threaded aperture in the larger diameter portion of the tube 12.
The first and second filter members 10 and 20 are both therefore in the form of spin-on filters which can be easily attached or removed from the lubrication circuit.
It will be appreciated that the opposite type of thread forms could be used to connect the first and second filter members together that is to say the adapter plate could be formed with an external thread form and the second filter member could be formed with an internal thread form or some other type of fixing could be used such as a twist lock fastening. In every case what is important is that the fixing used to fasten the first filter member 10 to the adapter plate or lubrication circuit is the same as that used to fasten the second filter member 20 to the first filter member 10. This allows the first filter member 10 to - 13 be removed and the second filter member 20 to be fastened directly to the adapter plate or lubrication circuit after the first filter member has been removed.
When the two filter members 10, 20 are in both in place and connected to the lubrication circuit with oil flowing therethrough, the oil will flow from the lubrication circuit into the first filter member 10, as indicated by the arrows on Fig.3, through the filter element 15, as indicated by lo the arrows 31, into the second filter member 20, as indicated by the arrows 32, be caused to rotate within the casing 21 to throw debris outwards from the oil and will enter the tube 12, 22 and return to the lubrication circuit, as indicated by the arrows 33.
When the first filter member 10 is not in place and the second filter member 20 is connected directly to the lubrication circuit the oil will flow from the lubrication circuit into the second filter member 20 be caused to rotate within the casing 21 to throw debris outwards from the oil and will enter the tube 22 and return to the lubrication circuit.
The first filter member 10 can be made in a very economical manner because it is only required for the initial running of the engine 5 and it is intended that after a predetermined event has occurred the first filter member 10 will be removed from the lubrication circuit and only the second filter member 20 will remain. The second filter member can be made such that any debris that collects therein can be washed out periodically or can be constructed to be a disposable part in either event the replacement of this component is likely to occur after an extended period of time has elapsed because it has only to remove soot or other small wear debris from the oil. - 14
It is therefore intended that a filter assembly according to the invention will be used in the following manner. After manufacture of the engine 5 the first and second filter members 10 and 20 will both be connected to the lubrication circuit of the engine 5 so that any large debris resulting from the manufacturing process will be captured by the first filter member 10. If required the pump can be operated at higher flow rates to assist with the removal of soot from the oil by the second filter member 20.
After a predetermined event has occurred which could be a predetermined number of hours of engine running since new or a predetermined number of engine revolutions since new or when the first service is performed or any other suitable event, the first filter member is removed from the lubrication circuit and the second filter member is reconnected to the lubrication circuit. The engine 5 is then run until it is determined that the second filter member 20 needs to be emptied or replaced. During this period the pump 3 is operated primarily at low flow rates and pressures to provide lubrication for the engine 5 but is occasionally operated at a higher flow rate and pressure to optimise the removal of soot from the oil.
Therefore in summary the invention provides an improved oil filter assembly for an engine that enables the integrity of the engine to be preserved during initial operation from new but then permits better removal of soot particles from the oil and the use of less energy during normal use to provide lubrication for the engine by replacing a conventional membrane type filter unit with a filtration member that uses centripetal acceleration to remove small particles without producing high back pressures.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example l - 15 - with reference to a number of specific embodiments it is not limited to these embodiments and that various alternative embodiments or modifications to the disclosed embodiments could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. - 16

Claims (32)

  1. Claims 1. An oil filter assembly for an internal combustion engine having
    an oil lubrication circuit, the filter assembly comprising a first barrier filter member having a first attachment means to connect the first filter member to the lubrication circuit of the engine and a second attachment means for cooperation with an attachment means of a second filter member used to connect the second filter lo member to the first filter member wherein the first attachment means of the first filter member and the attachment means of the second filter member are the same so as to permit the first filter member to be removed from the lubrication circuit and the second filter member to be attached directly to the lubrication circuit.
  2. 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first barrier filter has a barrier filter element capable of capturing debris no smaller than 10 microns in size.
  3. 3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the filter element has a mesh size in the range of 15 to 50 microns.
  4. 4. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the second filter is a centrifugal filter.
  5. 5. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the second filter is a vortex filter.
  6. 6. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the first attachment means is formed at one end of the first filter member and the second attachment means is formed at the opposite end of the first filter member. - 17
  7. 7. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the first attachment means is an external screw thread for cooperation with an internal screw thread used to connect a filter to the lubrication circuit.
  8. 8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the external thread is formed on a tube having a bore for transferring, in use, oil from the second filter member.
    lo
  9. 9. An assembly as claimed in claim 7 or in claim 8 wherein the second attachment means is an internal thread.
  10. 10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 when dependent upon claim 8 wherein the internal thread is formed in the bore of the tube.
  11. 11. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10 wherein the attachment means of the second filter member is an external screw thread that is the same as the screw thread formed on the first attachment means.
  12. 12. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the first attachment means includes an internal screw thread for cooperation with an external screw thread used to connect a filter to the lubrication circuit.
  13. 13. An assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the internal thread is formed in a tube having a bore for transferring, in use, oil from the second filter member.
  14. 14. An assembly as claimed in claim 12 or in claim 13 wherein the second attachment means is an external thread.
  15. 15. An assembly as claimed in claim 14 when dependent upon claim 13 wherein the external thread is formed on the tube. - 18
  16. 16. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10 wherein the attachment means of the second filter member is an internal screw thread that is the same as the screw thread in the first attachment means.
  17. 17. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16 wherein at least one seal is interposed between the first and second filter members when the second filter member is lo attached to the first filter member.
  18. 18. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17 wherein at least one seal is interposed between the lubrication circuit and the first filter member when the first filter member is attached thereto.
  19. 19. An assembly as claimed in any of clams 1 to 18 wherein the first filter member is a spin-on filter.
  20. 20. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19 wherein the second filter member is a spin-on filter.
  21. 21. A method for filtering the oil used to lubricate an internal combustion engine, the method comprising connecting first and second filter members to a lubrication circuit of the engine for filtering the lubrication oil of the engine until a predetermined event occurs and, when the predetermined event occurs, removing the first filter from the lubrication circuit and operating the engine subsequently with only the second filter to filter the oil.
  22. 22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the predetermined event is a predetermined period of time after the engine is first run. - 19
  23. 23. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the predetermined event is a predetermined number of revolutions of the engine after the engine is first run.
  24. 24. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the predetermined event is the first time the engine is serviced.
  25. 25. A method as claimed in any of claims 21 to 24 lo wherein the first filter is a membrane filter capable of filtering out debris greater than 10 microns in size.
  26. 26. A method as claimed in any of claims 21 to 25 wherein the second filter is a centrifugal filter.
  27. 27. A method as claimed in any of claims 21 to 25 wherein the filter is a vortex filter.
  28. 28. A method as claimed in any of claims 21 to 27 wherein the second filter member is connected to the lubrication circuit via the first filter member when both of the filter members are connected and is directly connected to the lubrication circuit when the first filter member has been removed.
  29. 29. A method as claimed in any of claims 21 to 28 wherein the first filter is connected to the lubrication circuit by a threaded connection and the second filter is connected to the lubrication circuit by a threaded connection with the first filter member.
  30. 30. A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein the first filter is removed from the lubrication circuit by unscrewing it from the lubrication circuit and the second filter member is screwed back in its place. -
  31. 31. An oil filter assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
  32. 32. A method for filtering the oil used to lubricate an internal combustion engine substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB0422140A 2004-10-06 2004-10-06 A filter assembly for an engine Expired - Fee Related GB2418872B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0422140A GB2418872B (en) 2004-10-06 2004-10-06 A filter assembly for an engine
DE102005045930.7A DE102005045930B4 (en) 2004-10-06 2005-09-26 Method of filtering the oil used to lubricate an internal combustion engine

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0422140A GB2418872B (en) 2004-10-06 2004-10-06 A filter assembly for an engine

Publications (3)

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GB0422140D0 GB0422140D0 (en) 2004-11-03
GB2418872A true GB2418872A (en) 2006-04-12
GB2418872B GB2418872B (en) 2009-09-30

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GB (1) GB2418872B (en)

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WO2010139961A1 (en) * 2009-06-05 2010-12-09 Hydrotechnik Uk Limited Filter medium with a multiplicity of different filter layers and use for testing filter media

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DE102007037525A1 (en) * 2007-08-09 2009-02-12 Joma-Polytec Kunststofftechnik Gmbh Oil filter system for internal combustion engine of motor vehicle, has filter element arrangement operated in different operating positions with filter effects, and controller for controlling arrangement depending on degree of contamination
DE102020112911A1 (en) 2020-05-13 2021-11-18 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Method for commissioning a unit and device
DE102020126166A1 (en) 2020-10-07 2022-04-07 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Method and lubricant conditioning device for use in a machine and motor vehicle

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JPH02144107A (en) * 1988-11-25 1990-06-01 Three Bond Co Ltd Oil filter
WO1997026448A1 (en) * 1996-01-16 1997-07-24 Hueber, Marc Filtering device, in particular for filtering internal combustion engine oil
US5698097A (en) * 1991-03-28 1997-12-16 Knecht Filterwerke Gmbh Oil filter including replaceable primary and secondary flow filter elements

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US3774764A (en) 1971-03-05 1973-11-27 Baldwin J Manuf Co Disposable spin-on type oil filters
US4284504A (en) 1979-10-09 1981-08-18 Hastings Manufacturing Company Centrifugal spin-on filter or separator and method of making and assembling the same
JPH01104315A (en) 1987-07-30 1989-04-21 Mitsubishi Oil Co Ltd Integrated separation/removal equipment of solid and/or gaseous foreign matter in lubricating oil
US6349693B1 (en) 2000-02-28 2002-02-26 Adan Reinosa Method and bypass filter apparatus for an internal combustion engine

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JPH02144107A (en) * 1988-11-25 1990-06-01 Three Bond Co Ltd Oil filter
US5698097A (en) * 1991-03-28 1997-12-16 Knecht Filterwerke Gmbh Oil filter including replaceable primary and secondary flow filter elements
WO1997026448A1 (en) * 1996-01-16 1997-07-24 Hueber, Marc Filtering device, in particular for filtering internal combustion engine oil

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010139961A1 (en) * 2009-06-05 2010-12-09 Hydrotechnik Uk Limited Filter medium with a multiplicity of different filter layers and use for testing filter media
GB2483199A (en) * 2009-06-05 2012-02-29 Hydrotechnik Uk Ltd Filter medium with a multiplicity of different filter layers and use for testing filter media

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0422140D0 (en) 2004-11-03
DE102005045930B4 (en) 2018-08-30
DE102005045930A1 (en) 2006-04-13
GB2418872B (en) 2009-09-30

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