JP2007291939A - Oil filter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and quickly drain oil from the inside of an oil filter so structured that the oil therein can be drained to a drain flow passage when the oil is changed or an oil element is changed. <P>SOLUTION: A filter cap 8 is detachably fitted to the top of the filter cover 12 of the oil filter. A pressing part 82 is formed at the lower end of the filter cap 8. When the filter cap 8 is fitted, the pressing part 82 imparts a pressing force to an oil element 2 through a spring 76 to close a drain flow passage 5 by a closing plate 6 disposed under the oil element 2. When the oil is changed, the pressing force is released by merely removing the filter cap 8 and the drain flow passage 5 is opened, and an oil filler opening 15 is opened to the top of the filter cover 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil filter applied to, for example, a lubrication system (engine oil circulation system) of an automobile engine. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in an oil filter having a configuration in which engine oil (hereinafter simply referred to as oil) inside a filter can be extracted from a drain flow path at the time of engine oil replacement or oil element replacement.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an oil filter in an automobile engine is provided with an oil filter for removing impurities and dust contained in oil that circulates in an oil circulation path and lubricates and cools parts of the engine. Many of these oil filters are directly attached to the engine body, and one type of attachment form is known as an inverted type disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below. The inverted oil filter has an oil inlet and an oil outlet on the bottom surface, lower side surface, and the like of the filter casing, and is attached to, for example, an upper portion of a cylinder head. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of a conventional general inverted oil filter will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a conventional inverted oil filter. As shown in this figure, this type of oil filter has a configuration in which a substantially cylindrical oil element b is accommodated in a filter casing a.

  The filter casing a includes a cylindrical casing body a1 formed integrally with an engine body (for example, a cylinder head), and a filter cover a2 that is detachably attached to the upper portion of the casing body a1.

  In addition, an oil introduction path c, an oil outlet path d, and a drain flow path e extending from the engine body communicate with the inside of the filter casing a. The oil introduction path c communicates with a space s1 on the outer peripheral side of the oil element b, and an anti-drain valve c1 for preventing the oil in the filter casing a from flowing backward to the engine body when the engine is stopped. It is installed. The oil lead-out path d is a path for leading the oil filtered by the oil element b toward the engine body. A center pipe f in which an oil introduction hole f1 is formed on the side surface of the upper end portion and the internal space s2 communicates with the oil lead-out path d is provided at the center portion in the filter casing a. The drain flow path e is a passage for extracting oil from the filter casing a at the time of oil replacement or oil element replacement, and is provided with an auto drain valve e1.

  A disc-shaped closing plate g is disposed at the bottom of the internal space of the filter casing a. As shown in FIG. 8, in a state where the oil element b is held at a predetermined mounting position, the closing plate g is pressed against the bottom surface in the filter casing a by the oil element b, thereby closing the drain passage e. Has been. As a structure for holding the oil element b at this predetermined mounting position, a hold member a3 is integrally attached to the inner surface of the filter cover a2. The hold member a3 includes a pressing plate a4 that presses the upper end of the oil element b downward while the filter cover a2 is attached to the casing body a1, and the pressing plate a4 moves the oil element b downward. By being pressed, the closing plate g closes the drain flow path e. Further, a recess a5 is formed on the bottom surface in the filter casing a, and a biasing force upward (in a direction away from the bottom surface in the filter casing a) is applied to the closing plate g in the recess a5. A spring a6 is accommodated. The opening position of the oil introduction path c with respect to the filter casing a is set on the outer peripheral side of the closing plate g, and this oil introduction is possible even when the closing plate g is pressed against the bottom surface in the filter casing a. The path c is in communication with the space s1.

  With this configuration, when the engine is operating, the oil introduced from the oil introduction path c into the filter casing a (the space s1) passes through the oil element b as indicated by an arrow I in the drawing. At this time, impurities and dust contained in the oil are removed (oil is filtered). Thereafter, the oil flows down the space s2 in the center pipe f through the oil introduction hole f1 of the center pipe f and is led out from the oil lead-out path d toward the engine body.

  On the other hand, when the oil element b is clogged, the oil introduced into the filter casing a wraps around the outer periphery of the hold member a3 as indicated by the broken line arrow II in the figure, and the center pipe f After being introduced into the internal space s2 of the center pipe f from the upper end opening, the oil is led out from the oil lead-out path d toward the engine body. As a result, the oil circulation operation is continuously performed, and the oil pressure is secured and the oil element b is prevented from being damaged. In order to allow such bypass flow of oil, openings a7 and a8 are formed in the hold member a3 and the pressing plate a4. Further, in a situation where the oil element b is not clogged, oil is not introduced into the internal space s2 from the upper end opening of the center pipe f (so that oil does not bypass the oil element b). A filter safety valve f2 is provided at the upper end opening of the center pipe f.

  At the time of oil replacement or oil element replacement, the filter cover a2 is removed from the casing body a1 as shown in FIG. As a result, the pressing force that the pressing plate a4 pressed the oil element b downward is released, and the closing plate g is lifted from the bottom surface in the filter casing a by the urging force of the spring a6. Open. As a result, as shown by an arrow III in the figure, the oil in the filter casing a is extracted toward the oil pan through the drain passage e. The oil extraction operation in the filter casing a is performed together with the drain plug extraction operation provided on the oil pan.

Thereafter, oil element replacement and oil injection are performed. As a specific operation, after draining the drain plug as described above, the oil in the oil circulation path is discharged, and then the oil element b is replaced with a new one. Then, the filter cover a2 is attached to the casing body a1 so as to be in the state shown in FIG. 8, and the drain hole of the oil pan is closed with a drain plug, and then a predetermined amount from the oil inlet provided in the cylinder head or the like. The oil is injected into the oil circulation path. In general, the case where both the oil change and the oil element exchange are performed and the case where only the oil exchange is performed are alternately performed every predetermined period or every predetermined vehicle travel distance.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-89819 JP 2000-126517 A

  By the way, in the conventional general inverted oil filter described above, the closing plate g is removed from the bottom surface in the filter casing a regardless of whether both oil replacement and oil element replacement are performed or only oil replacement is performed. In order to lift and open the drain flow path e, it was necessary to remove the filter cover a2 from the casing body a1.

  Normally, the connection position between the filter cover a2 and the casing main body a1 is substantially the center position in the height direction of the filter casing a. Therefore, in order to perform replacement without causing oil leakage, this position ( The filter cover a2 cannot be removed from the casing body a1 until the oil level of the oil drops to a position lower than the position where the filter cover a2 and the casing body a1 are connected). That is, as shown in FIG. 8, since the filter cover a2 and the casing body a1 are generally connected by screwing, the filter cover a2 is slightly loosened with respect to the casing body a1, and the screw fitting portion As the air gradually flows into the filter casing a from the gap, the oil surface height gradually decreases, and the oil surface height is lower than the connection position between the filter cover a2 and the casing body a1. You will wait to reach the position. For this reason, it takes a long time for the oil surface to reach a position lower than the connection position between the filter cover a2 and the casing main body a1, and as a result, the time required for the oil exchange and the oil element exchange becomes long. There was a malfunction.

  Further, there has been a demand for a configuration that enables oil in the filter casing a to be extracted with a small amount of work.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is to allow the oil inside the filter to be extracted by the drain passage when the oil element is replaced, as represented by the inverted oil filter. It is an object of the present invention to provide a configuration that enables oil to be extracted from a filter quickly and easily by an easy operation.

-Principle of solving the problem-
The solution principle of the present invention taken in order to achieve the above object is to provide an operation portion that can open and close the drain flow path as a separate member from the filter cover that is removed from the casing body when the oil element is replaced. Thus, the oil can be easily extracted from the filter casing during the oil change operation.

-Solution-
Specifically, according to the present invention, an oil element is housed in a filter casing having a filter cover detachably attached to an upper portion of a casing body, and a drain flow path is connected to the bottom surface of the filter casing. Is in a predetermined mounting position, a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing is applied to the oil element to restrict the mounting position of the filter casing, and the drain flow path is closed accordingly. The oil filter is assumed to be configured such that the filter cover is removed from the casing body when the oil element is replaced. The oil filter can be fixed at a predetermined fixing position with respect to the filter cover so that a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing is applied to the oil element. A drain channel opening / closing means that is movable from the fixed position or removable from the filter cover so as to release the pressing force toward the bottom and open the drain channel is provided near the top of the filter cover. .

  By this specific matter, it is possible to open the drain passage and to drain the oil in the filter casing only by moving the drain passage opening / closing means from the fixed position or removing it from the filter cover. And since the drain flow path opening / closing means is provided near the top of the filter casing, it becomes possible to drain the oil in the filter casing in a short time while avoiding leakage of the oil inside the filter casing. The time required for oil change and oil element change can be greatly shortened. In addition, since the oil in the filter casing can be extracted without performing a relatively labor-intensive operation such as removing the filter cover from the casing body, the operation when only oil replacement is performed can be simplified.

  More specific configurations include the following. When the oil element is housed in the filter casing having the filter cover detachably mounted on the upper part of the casing body, and the drain passage is connected to the bottom surface of the filter casing, and the oil element is in a predetermined mounting position. The oil element is applied with a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing to restrict the mounting position of the filter casing. Accordingly, the drain flow path is closed, and the filter cover is replaced when the oil element is replaced. An oil filter is assumed to be configured to be removed from the casing body. In the oil filter, an injection opening is formed in the vicinity of the top of the filter cover to inject oil when the oil is changed. On the other hand, when the injection opening is attached to the filter cover so as to close the injection opening, a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing is applied to the oil element, and the filter cover is opened to open the injection opening. In the removed state, a filter cap is provided that releases the pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing against the oil element and opens the drain passage.

  According to this specific matter, in addition to the action by the above-described solution means, it is not necessary to provide an oil injection opening in the engine body, and the oil surface is positioned at the upper end position of the filter casing (injection opening) during the oil injection operation. It is possible to inject the oil until a sufficient amount of oil can be injected.

  Specific examples of the structure for applying a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing to the oil element include the following. In other words, a hold member is interposed between the tip of the filter cap located inside the filter casing and the oil element while being attached to the filter cover, and the hold member is compressed by receiving a pressing force from the filter cap. Provide a spring. Then, the elastic force of the spring in the compressed state acts as a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing against the oil element.

  According to this specific matter, since the pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing is applied to the oil element by using the biasing force accompanying the elastic deformation of the spring, a dimensional error (processing error) is applied to the components of the oil filter. Etc.) can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the spring. For this reason, it is possible to satisfactorily obtain the closed state of the drain flow path when the oil element is regulated at the predetermined mounting position, while preventing damage to the constituent members of the oil filter.

  The following are mentioned as a structure in view of the attachment / detachment workability of the filter cap and the filter cover. That is, as the connection structure between the filter cover and the casing body and the connection structure between the filter cap and the filter cover, a screw-in type in which a male screw is formed on one side and a female screw is formed on the other side is employed. And each connection structure is made into a reverse screw mutually.

  When removing oil from the filter casing, it is necessary to remove only the filter cap and keep the filter cover from loosening from the casing body in order to prevent oil leakage from the connection between the filter cover and the casing body. It is. If the connection structure between the filter cover and the casing body and the connection structure between the filter cap and the filter cover are screw-in type that loosens by rotation in the same direction, the filter cover also rotates (rotates) with the rotation of the filter cap. Then, it loosens from the casing body and there is a concern about oil leakage. In this solution, since these connection structures are reverse screws, the rotation of the filter cap in the loosening direction is the rotation of the filter cover in the tightening direction. Therefore, when removing the filter cap, the oil is removed from the connection between the filter cover and the casing body. Leakage is avoided.

  In the present invention, the drain passage opening / closing means (filter cap), which is a separate member from the filter cover that is removed from the casing body when the oil element is replaced, can be used to extract oil from the filter casing during the oil replacement operation. ing. For this reason, it becomes possible to extract the oil in the filter casing without performing a relatively labor-intensive operation such as removing the filter cover from the casing body, and simplification of the operation when only oil replacement is performed. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a case where the oil filter according to the present invention is applied to a lubricating system of an automobile engine, particularly a V-type engine, and an oil introduction path, an oil lead-out path, and a drain flow path, which will be described later, are all at the lower part. The case where it is configured as a so-called inverted oil filter connected will be described.

(First embodiment)
−Configuration of oil filter−
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the oil filter according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view in which a part of the oil filter is broken. As shown in these drawings, the oil filter has a configuration in which a substantially cylindrical oil element 2 is accommodated in a filter casing 1, and is disposed on the upper surface of a cylinder head between V banks of a V-type engine. ing.

  The filter casing 1 includes a cylindrical casing body 11 integrally formed on the upper surface of the cylinder head, and a filter cover 12 detachably attached to the upper portion of the casing body 11. As a connection structure of the filter cover 12 to the casing body 11, a male screw 11 a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the casing main body 11, while a female screw 12 a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower end portion of the filter cover 12. Thus, the lower end portion of the filter cover 12 is screwed into the upper end portion of the casing body 11, whereby the filter cover 12 is integrally connected to the casing body 11. Thus, in a state where the filter cover 12 is integrally connected to the casing body 11, the two are substantially sealed between the two (the oil introduction path 3, with the filter cap 8 described later attached to the filter cover 12, A casing internal space (connected to the outside only in the oil outlet passage 4 and the drain passage 5) is formed.

  An oil introduction path 3, an oil outlet path 4, and a drain path 5 extending from the engine body are connected to the inside of the filter casing 1. As the opening positions of the passages 3, 4, and 5, the oil outlet passage 4 is set at a central portion of the filter casing 1, that is, a position concentric with the axis of the filter casing 1. The oil introduction path 3 is set so that a part of its inner peripheral surface is continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the casing body 11, that is, at a relatively outer position close to the inner peripheral surface of the casing body 11. Yes. On the other hand, the drain flow path 5 is located at a substantially intermediate position between the axial center position of the filter casing 1 and the inner peripheral surface position of the casing body 11, that is, the opening position of the oil introduction path 3. It is formed at a position close to the axis.

  The oil introduction path 3 is connected to a discharge side of an oil pump provided in the oil circulation system, and is configured to introduce oil discharged from the oil pump into a space S1 on the outer peripheral side of the oil element 2. . The oil introduction path 3 is provided with an anti-drain valve 31 for preventing the oil in the filter casing 1 from flowing back to the engine body (oil pump discharge side) when the engine is stopped.

  The oil lead-out path 4 is a path for leading the oil filtered by the oil element 2 after being introduced into the space S1 on the outer peripheral side of the oil element 2 toward the engine body. As a specific configuration for guiding the oil to the oil lead-out path 4, a center pipe 41 is disposed at the center portion in the filter casing 1. The center pipe 41 has an oil introduction hole 42 formed on the side surface of the upper end portion thereof, and the lower end of the internal space S2 extending in the vertical direction communicates with the oil outlet passage 4. That is, the oil filtered by the oil element 2 flows into the internal space S2 of the center pipe 41 from the oil introduction hole 42, flows down the internal space S2, and is discharged to the oil outlet path 4. The oil introduction holes 42 are formed at a plurality of locations (for example, 4 locations) in the circumferential direction of the center pipe 41. Further, oil is not introduced into the inner space S2 from the upper end opening of the center pipe 41 in a state where the oil element 2 is not clogged in the upper end opening of the center pipe 41 (oil is not contained in the oil element 2). 2), a filter safety valve 43 is provided.

  The drain passage 5 is a passage for extracting the oil in the filter casing 1 toward the oil pan at the time of oil replacement or oil element replacement. That is, the downstream end of the drain channel 5 is opened at the upper part of the oil pan. For this reason, the drain flow path 5 is closed so that the filtered oil will not bypass the engine body and be discharged to the oil pan except when the oil is changed or the oil element is changed. . A configuration for closing the drain channel 5 will be described later. The drain flow path 5 is provided with an auto drain valve 51 that is opened during the oil extraction operation.

  Next, a configuration for closing the drain channel 5 described above will be described. A disc-shaped closing plate 6 is disposed at the bottom of the internal space of the filter casing 1. The closing plate 6 has an opening 61 at the center, and the inner diameter of the opening 61 substantially matches the outer diameter of the center pipe 41 or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the center pipe 41. The closing plate 6 is arranged at the bottom of the internal space of the filter casing 1 with the center pipe 41 inserted through the opening 61. On the other hand, the outer diameter of the closing plate 6 is set smaller than the inner diameter of the casing body 11. As described above, the opening position of the drain flow path 5 is formed on the inner peripheral side (position close to the axis of the filter casing 1) with respect to the opening position of the oil introduction path 3. In the state in contact with the inner bottom surface 1 a, the closing plate 6 covers the entire upper end opening of the drain flow path 5, while covering only a part of the upper end opening of the oil introduction path 3. Yes. That is, even if the closing plate 6 contacts the bottom surface 1 a in the filter casing 1, the oil introduction path 3 is in communication with the space S 1 on the outer peripheral side of the oil element 2. In the state where the oil element 2 is held at a predetermined mounting position as shown in FIG. 1, the closing plate 6 is pressed against the bottom surface 1 a in the filter casing 1 by the oil element 2. The drain channel 5 is closed by a closing plate 6. The feature of this embodiment is the configuration for the oil element 2 to press the closing plate 6 toward the bottom surface 1a in the filter casing 1 in this way. Details of this configuration will be described later.

  A recess 13 is formed in the bottom surface 1 a in the filter casing 1, and the recess 13 is attached upward (in a direction away from the bottom surface 1 a in the filter casing 1) with respect to the closing plate 6. A spring (coil spring or leaf spring) 14 for applying force is accommodated. As described above, in the state where the oil element 2 is held at the predetermined mounting position, the closing plate 6 is pressed against the bottom surface 1 a in the filter casing 1 by the oil element 2. It is in the state compressed between the bottom face of this and the closing plate 6.

  Next, a configuration that is a feature of the present embodiment, a configuration that presses the oil element 2 toward the bottom surface 1a in the filter casing 1 to hold the oil element 2 at the predetermined mounting position, and a holding at the predetermined mounting position. A configuration for canceling the state will be described.

  The filter cover 12 includes a holding member 7 for pressing the upper surface of the oil element 2 and a filter cap 8 attached to an opening (oil injection opening) 15 formed at the top of the filter cover 12. . Hereafter, the structure and function of each member 7 and 8 are demonstrated.

  The hold member 7 is held in the internal space of the filter cover 12. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the hold member 7 includes a disk-shaped pressing plate 71 having an outer diameter that substantially matches the inner diameter of the lower portion of the filter cover 12, and the pressing plate. And a spring holding portion 72 integrally formed on the upper surface of 71.

  A locking protrusion 12b that slightly protrudes toward the inner peripheral side is formed immediately above the female screw 12a on the inner peripheral surface of the filter cover 12. The locking projections 12b may be continuously formed over the entire inner peripheral surface of the filter cover 12, or may be intermittently formed at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface. The holding member 7 is held in the internal space of the filter cover 12 by the pressing plate 71 being locked above the locking protrusion 12 b. And in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the pressing plate 71, first oil bypass holes 71a, 71a,... Penetrating in the thickness direction (vertical direction) are formed at a plurality of locations (for example, four locations in the circumferential direction). Has been. Further, a center bypass hole 71b (see FIG. 1) penetrating in the thickness direction (vertical direction) is formed at the center of the pressing plate 71.

  On the other hand, the spring holding portion 72 is composed of two inner and outer annular projections 73 and 74 erected on the upper surface of the pressing plate 71. An annular spring accommodating space 75 is formed between the outer peripheral projection 73 and the inner peripheral projection 74, and the spring 76 is accommodated in the spring accommodating space 75. As the spring 76, a leaf spring formed in a spiral shape with the axis of the spring holding portion 72 (corresponding to the axis of the filter casing 1) as the axis, or a plurality of locations extending in the extending direction of the spring accommodating space 75 A relatively small-diameter coil spring or the like disposed in the can be applied. In addition, the outer peripheral projection 73 and the inner peripheral projection 74 have a plurality of second oil bypass holes 73a, 73a,..., 74a, 74a,. It is formed at four locations across the direction).

  Further, as described above, the filter cap 8 is detachably attached to the oil injection opening 15 formed at the top of the filter cover 12. Specifically, the filter cap 8 is provided with a cylindrical gripping portion 81 at the upper end portion, and a cylindrical pressing portion 82 is integrally formed on the lower end surface of the gripping portion 81. The outer peripheral surface of the gripping portion 81 is knurled over the entire peripheral surface so that the operator can easily grip it. Further, the outer diameter of the pressing portion 82 is set slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the gripping portion 81, and the diameter of the spring accommodating space 75 formed in the spring holding portion 72 of the holding member 7. The dimensions are approximately the same as the dimensions.

  A female screw 15 a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the oil injection opening 15, while a male screw 82 a that can be screwed into the female screw 15 a is formed on the upper half of the outer peripheral surface of the pressing portion 82 of the filter cap 8. Has been. For this reason, the filter cap 8 can be attached to the top of the filter cover 12 by inserting the pressing portion 82 of the filter cap 8 into the oil injection opening 15 and screwing the male screw 82 a into the female screw 15 a of the oil injection opening 15. It has a possible configuration. In the attached state of the filter cap 8, the oil injection opening 15 is closed, and the inside of the filter casing 1 is substantially sealed (only the oil introduction path 3, the oil lead-out path 4, and the drain flow path 5 are exposed to the outside). Connected). The male screw 82a of the filter cap 8 and the female screw 15a of the oil injection opening 15 are opposite to the male screw 11a of the casing body 11 and the female screw 12a of the filter cover 12. Specifically, in a plan view of the filter casing 1, the clockwise rotation of the filter cover 12 is the tightening direction (attachment direction to the casing body 11), and the counterclockwise rotation is the loosening direction (casing body 11). Removal direction). On the other hand, in the filter cap 8, the counterclockwise rotation is the tightening direction (attachment direction to the filter cover 12), and the counterclockwise rotation is the loosening direction (removal direction from the filter cover 12). ing.

  In the state where the filter cap 8 is attached to the top of the filter cover 12 as described above, the lower end portion of the pressing portion 82 of the filter cap 8 is inside the spring accommodating space 75, that is, as shown in FIG. Then, it enters between the outer peripheral protrusion 73 and the inner peripheral protrusion 74 and applies a downward pressing force toward the spring 76 accommodated in the spring accommodating space 75. At this time, the spring 76 applies a downward pressing force to the pressing plate 71 of the holding member 7 while being compressed and deformed, so that the oil element 2 receives a downward pressing force from the pressing plate 71. As a result, the oil element 2 presses the closing plate 6 downward against the biasing force of the spring (a spring that applies an upward biasing force to the oil element 2) 14, and the closing plate 6 is in the filter casing 1. The drain channel 5 is closed by being pressed against the bottom surface 1a. That is, as the filter cap 8 is screwed into the oil injection opening 15 of the filter cover 12, the pressing force is blocked in the order of the pressing portion 82 of the filter cap 8, the spring 76, the pressing plate 71 of the hold member 7, and the oil element 2. Acting on the plate 6, the closing plate 6 closes the drain flow path 5. In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower surface of the pressing plate 71 of the holding member 7 is not in contact with the locking projection 12 b of the filter cover 12, and the urging force due to the elastic deformation of the spring 76 is effective. It acts on the closing plate 6 via the oil element 2.

-Oil filter operation description-
Next, the operation of the oil filter configured as described above will be described.

<During normal oil circulation operation>
During operation of the engine, as indicated by an arrow I in FIG. 1, oil discharged from an oil pump provided in the oil circulation system is introduced from the oil introduction path 3 into the filter casing 1 (the space S1). . This oil flows over the circumferential direction of the internal space of the filter casing 1 and passes through the oil element 2. At this time, impurities and dust contained in the oil are removed and the oil is filtered (purified). Thereafter, the oil flows down the space S2 in the center pipe 41 through the oil introduction hole 42 formed in the upper end portion of the center pipe 41, and is led out from the oil lead-out path 4 toward the engine body. By circulating the oil between the oil pump, the oil filter, and the engine body, the engine is operated while lubricating and cooling each part of the engine by the oil.

<When oil element 2 is clogged>
On the other hand, when clogging occurs in the oil element 2 and the oil flow resistance increases, the oil introduced into the filter casing 1 as shown by the broken line II in FIG. After passing through the first oil bypass hole 71 a formed in the pressing plate 71 and flowing into the upper side of the pressing plate 71, the outer peripheral projection 73 and the inner peripheral projection 74 constituting the spring holding portion 72 are respectively formed. The second oil bypass holes 73a, 73a,..., 74a, 74a,. Thereafter, the oil is introduced into the inner space S2 of the center pipe 41 through the center bypass hole 71b and the filter safety valve 43 formed in the center portion of the pressing plate 71, and then directed from the oil lead-out path 4 toward the engine body. Will be derived. Accordingly, the oil circulation operation is continuously performed, and the oil pressure is secured and the oil element 2 is prevented from being damaged (deformation of the oil element 2 due to a significant increase in the oil pressure on the outer peripheral side of the oil element 2).

<When changing oil>
Next, an operation at the time of oil replacement (when the oil element 2 is not replaced), which is one of the features characterized in the present embodiment, will be described.

  When a predetermined period of time has passed since the last oil change (for example, when the oil element 2 was also changed at the same time as the previous oil change) or when a predetermined vehicle travel distance has been reached and an oil change is necessary, As shown in FIG. 3, the filter cap 8 is removed from the filter cover 12 by the operator's manual work. In this case, in this embodiment, the filter cap 8 is rotated clockwise in plan view.

  When the filter cap 8 is removed, the internal space of the filter casing 1 is opened to the atmosphere. An oil injection opening 15 that is opened by removing the filter cap 8 is formed at the top of the filter casing 1. That is, the internal space of the filter casing 1 is opened to the atmosphere above the oil level of the oil inside the filter casing 1. For this reason, even if the filter cap 8 is removed, the oil inside the filter casing 1 does not leak out.

  When the filter cap 8 is removed, the pressing portion 82 of the filter cap 8 retreats (retracts upward) from the spring 76 as the filter cap 8 moves upward. The pressing force that the pressing plate 71 of the member 7 pressed the oil element 2 downward is released. For this reason, the drain plate 5 is opened when the closing plate 6 is lifted from the bottom surface 1 a in the filter casing 1 by the biasing force of the spring 14 accommodated in the recess 13 in the bottom surface 1 a in the filter casing 1. . As a result, as indicated by an arrow III in FIG. 3, the oil in the filter casing 1 is extracted toward the oil pan through the drain passage 5. The oil in the filter casing 1 is actually discharged from the drain passage 5 when the drain plug provided at the bottom of the oil pan is removed.

  By removing the drain plug, all the oil in the filter casing 1 is discharged from the drain flow path 5, and after the oil in the oil circulation path is discharged from the drain hole of the oil pan, the drain hole is drained by the drain plug. The oil is injected and new oil is injected. This oil injection operation is performed from the oil injection opening 15 opened by removing the filter cap 8. At this time, since the filter cap 8 is removed as described above, the internal space of the filter casing 1 and the drain passage 5 are in communication with each other. For this reason, when oil is injected from the oil injection opening 15, the oil is introduced from the internal space of the filter casing 1 into the oil pan through the drain passage 5. Further, when the oil level reaches the position where the oil introduction hole 42 of the center pipe 41 is formed during the oil injection operation, a part of the oil passes through the internal space S2 of the center pipe 41 from the oil introduction hole 42 and the engine body. It will be introduced to the side.

  When a predetermined amount of oil is injected and the oil injection operation is completed, the filter cap 8 is attached to the filter cover 12 by an operator's manual operation. That is, the pressing portion 82 of the filter cap 8 is inserted into the oil injection opening 15, and the filter cap 8 is attached to the top of the filter cover 12 by screwing the male screw 82 a into the female screw 15 a of the oil injection opening 15. In this case, in this embodiment, the filter cap 8 is rotated counterclockwise in plan view.

  As the filter cap 8 is moved downward by the mounting operation of the filter cap 8, the lower end portion of the pressing portion 82 of the filter cap 8 enters the inside of the spring accommodating space 75, and this spring accommodating A downward pressing force is applied to the spring 76 accommodated in the space 75. At this time, the spring 76 applies a downward pressing force to the pressing plate 71 of the holding member 7 while being compressed and deformed, so that the oil element 2 receives a downward pressing force from the pressing plate 71. As a result, the oil element 2 presses the closing plate 6 downward against the urging force of the spring 14, and the closing plate 6 is pressed against the bottom surface 1a in the filter casing 1 as shown in FIG. Thus, the drain channel 5 is closed, and the oil inside the filter casing 1 is prevented from being discharged from the drain channel 5. The above operation completes the oil change operation.

<When replacing oil element 2>
Next, an operation when the oil element 2 is replaced will be described. Generally, when the oil element 2 is replaced, the oil is also replaced at the same time.

  A predetermined period of time has passed since the last oil change (for example, when the oil element 2 was not changed at the previous oil change), or a predetermined vehicle travel distance has been reached, and the oil change and the oil element 2 need to be changed. In this case, first, the filter cap 8 is removed from the filter cover 12 by the operator's manual work as in the case of the oil change described above (see FIG. 3). As a result, the pressing force of the pressing plate 71 of the holding member 7 pressing the oil element 2 downward is released as described above, and the spring 14 accommodated in the recess 13 of the bottom surface 1a in the filter casing 1 is released. The drain passage 5 is opened when the closing plate 6 is lifted from the bottom surface 1 a in the filter casing 1 by the urging force. As a result, as indicated by an arrow III in FIG. 3, the oil in the filter casing 1 is extracted toward the oil pan through the drain passage 5. Also in this case, since the internal space of the filter casing 1 is opened to the atmosphere above the oil level of the oil inside the filter casing 1, the oil inside the filter casing 1 does not leak out.

  By removing the drain plug provided at the bottom of the oil pan, all the oil in the filter casing 1 is discharged from the drain flow path 5, and the oil in the oil circulation path is discharged from the drain hole of the oil pan. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the filter cover 12 is removed from the casing body 11. In this case, in this embodiment, the filter cover 12 is rotated counterclockwise in plan view. By removing the filter cover 12, the upper portion of the casing body 11 is opened. Thereafter, the oil element 2 accommodated in the casing body 11 is replaced with a new one.

  After the oil element 2 is replaced, the filter cover 12 is attached to the casing body 11 to obtain the state shown in FIG. In this case, in this embodiment, the filter cover 12 is rotated in the clockwise direction in plan view. In this state, the oil injection operation is performed. This oil injection operation is performed from an oil injection opening 15 that is open because the filter cap 8 has not yet been attached. At this time, since the internal space of the filter casing 1 and the drain flow path 5 are in communication with each other, when oil is injected from the oil injection opening 15, the oil flows from the internal space of the filter casing 1 to the drain flow path. It will be introduced into the oil pan through 5.

  When a predetermined amount of oil is injected and the oil injection operation is completed, the filter cap 8 is attached to the filter cover 12 by an operator's manual operation. That is, the pressing portion 82 of the filter cap 8 is inserted into the oil injection opening 15, and the filter cap 8 is attached to the top of the filter cover 12 by screwing the male screw 82 a into the female screw 15 a of the oil injection opening 15.

  As the filter cap 8 is moved downward by the operation of attaching the filter cap 8 as in the case of the oil change described above, the lower end portion of the pressing portion 82 of the filter cap 8 becomes the spring accommodating space. The pressure enters the interior of 75 and applies a downward pressing force toward the spring 76 accommodated in the spring accommodating space 75. At this time, the spring 76 applies a downward pressing force to the pressing plate 71 of the holding member 7 while being compressed and deformed, so that the oil element 2 receives a downward pressing force from the pressing plate 71. As a result, the oil element 2 presses the closing plate 6 downward against the urging force of the spring 14, and the closing plate 6 is pressed against the bottom surface 1a in the filter casing 1 as shown in FIG. Thus, the drain channel 5 is closed, and the oil inside the filter casing 1 is prevented from being discharged from the drain channel 5. With the above operation, the replacement operation of the oil element 2 and the oil replacement operation are completed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the drain flow path 5 is removed by removing the filter cap 8 even when only oil exchange is performed or when both oil exchange and oil element exchange are performed. It is possible to open and extract the oil in the filter casing 1 toward the oil pan. That is, the interior space of the filter casing 1 can be opened to the atmosphere above the oil level height position of the oil inside the filter casing 1, and the drain passage 5 can be opened simultaneously with this atmosphere opening operation. Yes. For this reason, it is possible to drain the oil in the filter casing 1 in a short time while avoiding the oil inside the filter casing 1 from leaking, and the time required for the oil replacement and the oil element replacement is greatly reduced. Can be achieved. Further, when only oil replacement is performed, a relatively labor-intensive operation such as removing the filter cover 12 from the casing body 11 is not necessary. For this reason, it becomes possible to perform the oil draining operation at the time of oil replacement with a small labor.

  Moreover, since the oil injection opening 15 is formed in the filter casing 1, it is not necessary to provide the oil injection opening in the engine body. Conventionally, it is necessary to secure an installation space for the oil filter and a space for forming the oil injection opening in the engine body. However, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to secure a space for forming the oil injection opening. For this reason, the freedom degree of design of an engine main body can be expanded, for example, size reduction of an engine main body can be achieved. Further, since the oil injection opening 15 is formed at the top of the filter casing 1, the oil can be injected until the oil level reaches the upper end position of the filter casing 1 during the oil injection operation. In a conventional oil filter, when oil is to be injected from the oil filter, the connection position between the filter cover and the casing body is the substantially central position in the height direction of the filter casing, so the oil level is the upper end position of the casing body. Oil can only be injected until the point is reached. In this embodiment, even when oil is injected from the oil filter, a sufficient amount of oil can be injected, and insufficient oil injection can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the oil element 2 is pressed toward the bottom surface 1a in the filter casing 1 so as to hold the oil element 2 at the predetermined mounting position. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described here.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the oil filter according to the present embodiment. In this figure, members similar to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the holding member 7 according to the present embodiment is provided with an operating rod 77 that is slidable relative to the spring holding portion 72 in addition to the pressing plate 71 and the spring holding portion 72. It has been. Hereinafter, each part 71,72,77 is demonstrated.

  The pressing plate 71 is locked to the upper side of the locking projection 12b formed on the inner peripheral surface of the filter cover 12 in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above, whereby the hold member 7 is locked to the filter cover 12. Is held in the interior space. And in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the pressing plate 71, first oil bypass holes 71a, 71a,... Penetrating in the thickness direction (vertical direction) are formed at a plurality of locations (for example, four locations in the circumferential direction). Has been. Further, a center bypass hole 71b penetrating in the thickness direction (vertical direction) is formed at the center of the pressing plate 71.

  On the other hand, the spring holding portion 72 is formed of a cylindrical member erected at the center of the upper surface of the pressing plate 71, and a spring accommodating space 75 is formed therein. A coil spring 76 is accommodated in the spring accommodating space 75. The spring holding portion 72 is formed with a plurality of second oil bypass holes 72a penetrating in the radial direction (plate thickness direction) (for example, four locations in the circumferential direction). Furthermore, a protrusion 72 b for preventing the operation rod 77 from coming off is formed at the upper end of the spring holding portion 72 so as to protrude toward the inner peripheral side.

  The operation rod 77 is a member inserted from the opening 12 c formed at the top of the filter cover 12 to the inside of the spring holding portion 72 (spring accommodating space 75). Specifically, the operation rod 77 is provided with a flat plate-shaped gripping portion 77a at an upper end portion, and a substantially cylindrical pressing rod 77b is integrally formed on the lower end surface of the gripping portion 77a. A locking flange 77c protruding outward in the horizontal direction is formed at the lower end portion of the pressing rod 77b, and this locking flange 77c is locked to the protrusion 72b of the spring holding portion 72 as shown in FIG. This is intended to prevent it from coming off.

  A locking projection 77d having a substantially arc-shaped cross section extends in the circumferential direction on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the operation rod 77. Further, an air passage 77e is formed inside the pressing rod 77b. The air passage 77e has one end (upper end in the drawing) at a plurality of locations (four locations in the circumferential direction) immediately above the locking projection 77d and the other end (lower end in the drawing) at the pressing rod 77b. Opened at the lower end of each. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, when the operating rod 77 is pushed into the filter casing 1, the locking projection 77d is locked to the lower edge of the opening 12c of the filter cover 12 and is operated at this position. While the rod 77 is held, one end side of the air passage 77e is closed by the filter cover 12 (end surface of the opening 12c). On the other hand, when the operating rod 77 is pulled out from the filter casing 1 as shown in FIG. In this state, one end side of the air passage 77e is located outside the filter cover 12 and faces the atmosphere, so that air is introduced into the filter casing 1.

  With the above configuration, in the oil filter according to the present embodiment, when the operation rod 77 is pushed into the filter casing 1 (FIG. 5), the inside of the filter casing 1 is substantially sealed (oil And the lower end portion of the pressing rod 77b faces downward toward the spring 76 accommodated in the spring accommodating space 75. Apply pressing force. At this time, the spring 76 applies a downward pressing force to the pressing plate 71 of the holding member 7 while being compressed and deformed, so that the oil element 2 receives a downward pressing force from the pressing plate 71. As a result, the oil element 2 presses the closing plate 6 downward against the biasing force of the spring (a spring that applies an upward biasing force to the oil element 2) 14, and the closing plate 6 The drain channel 5 is closed by being pressed against the bottom surface 1a of the tube. In this state, the oil circulation operation described above is performed. Also in FIG. 5, a normal oil circulation operation is indicated by an arrow I, and an oil circulation operation when the oil element 2 is clogged is indicated by a broken arrow II.

  On the other hand, when the operation rod 77 is pulled out from the filter casing 1 during oil replacement or oil element replacement (FIG. 6), the inside of the filter casing 1 is in communication with the atmosphere via the air passage 77e. At the same time, as the operating rod 77 moves upward, the pressing force that the pressing plate 71 of the holding member 7 presses the oil element 2 downward is released, and the bottom surface in the filter casing 1 is released. When the closing plate 6 is lifted from the bottom surface 1a in the filter casing 1 by the urging force of the spring 14 accommodated in the recess 13a, the drain passage 5 is opened. As a result, as indicated by an arrow III in FIG. 6, the oil in the filter casing 1 is extracted toward the oil pan through the drain passage 5.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the opening 12c formed in the filter cover 12 does not serve as an oil injection opening. Therefore, the oil injection operation at the time of oil replacement is performed at a location different from that of the oil filter. This is done from the oil injection opening provided (for example, an oil injection opening formed in the cylinder head).

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to open the drain flow path 5 by simply pulling out the operating rod 77 from the filter casing 1 and draw out the oil in the filter casing 1 toward the oil pan. That is, as in the first embodiment described above, the interior space of the filter casing 1 is opened to the atmosphere above the oil level of the oil inside the filter casing 1, and the drain flow is performed simultaneously with this release operation. The path 5 can be opened. For this reason, it is possible to drain the oil in the filter casing 1 in a short time while avoiding the oil inside the filter casing 1 from leaking, and the time required for the oil replacement and the oil element replacement is greatly reduced. Can be achieved. Further, it is possible to perform the oil draining operation at the time of oil replacement with a small labor such as pulling out the operating rod 77 from the filter casing 1.

(Modification)
As a modification of the above-described second embodiment, a filter cover 12 provided with an oil injection opening 15 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, a boss 12 d is provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the filter cover 12, and its internal space is used as an oil injection opening 15. A female screw 15 a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the oil injection opening 15, and the oil injection opening 15 is opened and closed by applying a detachable bolt 83 to the oil injection opening 15. Yes. That is, when changing the oil, the operation rod 77 is pulled out as shown in FIG. 7, and the oil inside the filter casing 1 and the oil in the oil circulation path are discharged from the drain hole of the oil pan, and then the bolt 83 is removed to remove the oil. The injection opening 15 is opened and the oil injection operation is performed.

  According to this modification, in addition to the effect of the second embodiment, it is not necessary to provide an oil injection opening in the engine body, and the oil level is at the upper end position of the filter casing 1 during the oil injection operation. It is possible to inject the oil until a sufficient amount of oil can be injected.

-Other embodiments-
In each of the embodiments described above, the case where the present invention is applied to a lubrication system for an automotive V-type engine has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, but can be applied to a lubrication system of an in-line engine for automobiles, or can be applied to a lubrication system of engines other than automobiles.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to an oil filter in which both the oil introduction path 3 and the oil outlet path 4 are connected to the bottom surface 1a of the filter casing 1 has been described. The present invention can also be applied to those connected to these passages.

It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the oil filter which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the disassembled perspective view which fractured | ruptured a part of oil filter. It is sectional drawing of the oil filter which shows the state from which the filter cap was removed from the filter cover. It is sectional drawing of the oil filter which shows the state by which the filter cover was removed from the casing main body. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 illustrating an oil filter according to a second embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the oil filter which shows the state by which the operating rod was pulled out in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6 in a modified example of the second embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the conventional oil filter. It is sectional drawing which shows the state from which the filter cap was removed from the filter cover in the conventional oil filter.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Filter casing 1a Bottom surface 11 Casing main body 12 Filter cover 15 Oil injection opening 2 Oil element 5 Drain flow path 7 Hold member 76 Spring 77 Operation rod (Drain flow path opening / closing means)
8 Filter cap (drain flow path opening / closing means)

Claims (4)

When the oil element is housed in the filter casing having the filter cover detachably mounted on the upper part of the casing body, and the drain passage is connected to the bottom surface of the filter casing, and the oil element is in a predetermined mounting position. The oil element is applied with a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing to restrict the mounting position of the filter casing. Accordingly, the drain flow path is closed, and the filter cover is replaced when the oil element is replaced. In the oil filter configured to be removed from the casing body,
The oil element can be fixed at a predetermined fixing position with respect to the filter cover so that a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing is applied to the oil element. An oil filter characterized in that a drain channel opening / closing means that is movable from the fixed position or removable from the filter cover so as to release and open the drain channel is provided near the top of the filter cover. . When the oil element is housed in the filter casing having the filter cover detachably mounted on the upper part of the casing body, and the drain passage is connected to the bottom surface of the filter casing, and the oil element is in a predetermined mounting position. The oil element is applied with a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing to restrict the mounting position of the filter casing. Accordingly, the drain flow path is closed, and the filter cover is replaced when the oil element is replaced. In the oil filter configured to be removed from the casing body,
In the vicinity of the top of the filter cover, an injection opening for injecting oil when changing oil is formed,
When the injection opening is attached to the filter cover so as to close the injection opening, it applies a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing to the oil element and is removed from the filter cover to open the injection opening. An oil filter comprising a filter cap that releases a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing against the oil element in an opened state to open the drain passage. In the oil filter according to claim 2,
A hold member is interposed between the oil cap and the tip of the filter cap located inside the filter casing when attached to the filter cover. The hold member is compressed by receiving a pressing force from the filter cap. An oil filter characterized in that a spring is provided, and the elastic force of the spring in the compressed state acts as a pressing force toward the bottom surface of the filter casing against the oil element. In the oil filter according to claim 2 or 3,
The connection structure between the filter cover and the casing body and the connection structure between the filter cap and the filter cover are configured as a screw-in type in which a male screw is formed on one side and a female screw is formed on the other side. An oil filter characterized by a reverse screw.

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