JP2008115969A - Oil filter for automatic transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oil filter for an automatic transmission, which reduces the number of the parts, also reduces the size in the thickness direction, and prevents air from being sucked from a suction port of an oil introduction pipe. <P>SOLUTION: Filters 1A to 1C which are the oil filters for the automatic transmission installed in an oil pan 2 so as to be dipped in oil stored in the oil pan 2 are provided with: filter elements 3, 18 to filter oil; a filter chamber forming part (a lower case 4, an inner peripheral portion 14 of the oil pan, blocking plates 19a, 19b) to form the filter chamber S on a clean side through which oil filtrated with the filter elements pass, between the filter elements; and an oil conducting pipe 5 installed in the filter elements and/or the filter chamber forming part, and having the suction port 11 to open toward the inside of the filter chamber and a flowing-out port 12 to open toward the outside of the filter chamber. The filter elements are arranged so as to introduce and filtrate oil from the upper surface or the external side. The suction port of the oil introduction pipe is arranged to open at a part lower than at least part of the filter elements. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil filter for an automatic transmission, and more particularly, an oil for an automatic transmission that can reduce the number of parts and can be reduced in size in the thickness direction, and can prevent air from being sucked from an inlet of an oil introduction pipe. Regarding filters.

  Conventionally, as an oil filter for an automatic transmission, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, a filter element 106 is disposed between an upper case 103 having an outlet pipe 102 and a lower case 105 having an inlet pipe 104. Many oil filters 101 are generally known. And this oil filter 101 is arrange | positioned in the oil pan of an automatic transmission, and is immersed in the oil stored in an oil pan. In addition, the inlet 108 (suction port) is designed to prevent air from being sucked when the oil level fluctuates in the oil pan (indicated by a phantom line in FIG. 14) when the vehicle is turning or traveling on a slope. The opening is disposed at a position where the opening is always immersed in the oil. The outlet 109 (outlet) is disposed at a position determined by the shape of the valve body 110, the position of the oil pump, and the like. If air suction occurs, a problem occurs in hydraulic control or the like.

Here, in the oil filter, a flat plate or two folded bag-like filter elements (filter media) are often used. However, in order to reduce pressure loss and reduce the size, a fold-fold filter media is used as a resin frame. It is known to employ a filter element formed by insert molding (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, this filter element requires a mold and resin for insert molding, and there are problems such as an increase in the number of parts and an increase in the number of production steps. Further, in an oil filter including an upper case, a lower case, and a filtration element, the dimension in the thickness direction (vertical direction) becomes relatively large.

Therefore, a conventional oil filter for an automatic transmission that solves the above problem is known in which a lower case is omitted (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Patent Document 2 discloses an oil strainer in which the body 11 is provided with a pipe 13 having an inlet portion 13a opening inside the filtration chamber and an outlet portion 13b opening outside the filtration chamber.

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, the filter body 12 is provided so as to introduce oil from its lower surface and filtered, and the inlet portion 13a of the pipe 13 is provided so as to be positioned above the filter body 12. The inlet portion 13a is disposed at a position relatively away from the bottom wall of the oil pan. When the oil level fluctuates in the oil pan when the vehicle turns or travels on a plate, air is sucked in. There is a risk.

JP 2002-273116 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-85523

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described present situation, and can reduce the number of components and reduce the size in the thickness direction, and can prevent air from being sucked from the suction port of the oil introduction pipe. The purpose is to provide.

The present invention is as follows.
1. An oil filter for an automatic transmission provided in the oil pan so as to be immersed in the oil stored in the oil pan,
A filter element for filtering oil;
A filtration chamber forming portion that forms a clean filtration chamber through which the oil filtered by the filtration element passes, and the filtration element;
An oil outlet pipe provided in the filtration element and / or the filtration chamber forming section, and having a suction port opening inside the filtration chamber and an outlet opening opening outside the filtration chamber;
The filter element is arranged so as to introduce and filter oil from an upper surface or an outer surface thereof, and the suction port of the oil outlet pipe is arranged to open below at least a part of the filter element. An oil filter for an automatic transmission, characterized in that
2. The filter element includes a filter medium and a resin frame that supports the filter medium, and the oil outlet pipe is formed integrally with the resin frame. Oil filter for automatic transmission as described.
3. The filter element includes a filter medium and a resin frame that supports the filter medium, and the resin frame is fixed to an inner wall portion of the oil pan as the filter chamber forming section. Or 2. An oil filter for an automatic transmission as described in 1.
4). The lower part of the oil outlet pipe extends in an inclined manner in the vertical direction. To 3. An oil filter for an automatic transmission according to any one of the above.

According to the oil filter for an automatic transmission of the present invention, the oil returned into the oil pan is introduced into the filter chamber from the upper surface or the outer surface of the filter element exposed in the oil pan and filtered. The filtered oil flows out of the oil filter through the oil outlet pipe. In this oil filter, the filter element is arranged so that oil is introduced from the upper surface or outer surface thereof for filtration, and an oil outlet pipe is provided in the filter element and / or the filter chamber forming portion, so the upper case is omitted Thus, the number of parts can be reduced and the size can be reduced in the thickness direction. Further, since the suction port of the oil outlet pipe is arranged to open below at least a part of the filter element, the suction port is disposed at a position relatively close to the bottom wall of the oil pan. Even if the oil level fluctuates in the air, it is possible to prevent air from being sucked from the suction port of the oil outlet pipe.
Further, when the filter element includes a filter medium and a resin frame that supports the filter medium, and the oil lead-out pipe is formed integrally with the resin frame, the number of parts can be further reduced. it can.
In addition, when the filter element has a filter medium and a resin frame that supports the filter medium, and the resin frame is fixed to the inner wall of the oil pan as the filter chamber forming section, Since the chamber forming portion can be constituted by the inner wall portion of the oil pan, the lower case can be omitted in addition to the upper case, and the number of parts can be further reduced.
Furthermore, when the lower part of the oil outlet pipe extends while being inclined in the vertical direction, the inlet of the oil outlet pipe can be set at a position where air suction can be more reliably prevented.

1. Oil filter for automatic transmission The oil filter for automatic transmission according to the present embodiment is an oil filter provided in an oil pan so as to be immersed in oil stored in the oil pan, and the filtration element described below And a filtration chamber forming part and an oil outlet pipe.

The “filter element” is not particularly limited in its configuration, shape, material and the like as long as oil is filtered. The filter element is arranged so as to introduce oil from the upper surface or the outer surface thereof for filtration. That is, this filter element is arranged so that the upper surface or the outer surface thereof is exposed in the oil pan.
The “upper surface” means the upper surface in the vertical direction when the filter elements are horizontally disposed or inclined. In addition, the “outer side surface” intends a surface on the outer peripheral side when the cylindrical filter element is vertically arranged.

Examples of the filter element include (1) a form composed of a filter medium and a resin frame that supports the filter medium, and (2) a form composed only of the filter medium.
Examples of the shape of the filter medium include a fold shape, a sheet shape, a wave shape, a bag shape, a saddle shape, an umbrella tube shape, a chrysanthemum tube shape, and a cylindrical shape. Examples of the filtering material include non-woven fabric, woven fabric, and paper.
In the form (1), for example, a fold-like filter medium can be integrally insert-molded with the resin frame. Thereby, a filtration element can be reduced in size, ensuring a required filtration area.
In the form (1), for example, the resin frame is provided with a frame-shaped filter medium support part that supports the filter medium, and one side of the filter medium support part, and an oil outlet pipe described later is integrally formed. A tube support. As a result, the filter medium and the oil outlet pipe can be provided side by side, and the suction port of the oil outlet pipe can be arranged more simply so as to open below the filter element.

The “filter chamber forming portion” is not particularly limited in its configuration, shape, material, and the like as long as it forms a clean filter chamber through which the oil filtered by the filter element passes.
The filtration chamber forming section may be any partition that partitions the inside of the filter into the clean side and the dusty side. For example, a resin member, a metal member such as an iron plate, a filter medium member, a fine wire mesh, or the like can be employed.
Examples of the filtration chamber forming part include a lower case 4 (see FIG. 5) joined to the resin frame 8 of the filtration element 3 and an inner wall part 14 of the oil pan 2 joined to the resin frame 8 of the filtration element 3 (see FIG. 5). (See FIG. 8). The bonding form (fixed form) between the filtration chamber forming part and the resin frame can be appropriately selected according to the material of the joining member, etc., for example, vibration welding, ultrasonic welding, hot plate welding, laser welding, caulking, Examples thereof include screwing and bonding with an adhesive.
The filtration chamber forming portion can be, for example, upper and lower closing plates 19a and 19b that close the upper and lower openings of the center hole of the tubular filtration element 18 (see FIG. 9).

As long as the “oil outlet pipe” has a suction port that is provided in the filtration element and / or the filtration chamber forming part and opens to the inside of the filtration chamber and an outlet port that opens to the outside of the filtration chamber, its configuration and shape The material is not particularly limited.
The suction port of the oil outlet pipe is arranged so as to open below at least a part of the filter element. In particular, as the arrangement form of the oil outlet pipe, for example, (1) a form in which the suction port is opened below the filter medium constituting the filtration element (see FIG. 3), and (2) the suction port is the filtration. The form (refer FIG. 9) etc. which open below from the upper part of the filter medium which comprises an element can be mentioned.
Note that the phrase “opening below at least a part of the filtration element” means a state in which at least a part of the filtration element is located above the suction port in the vertical direction.

The oil outlet pipe can be formed integrally with the resin frame of the filter element, for example.
For example, the lower portion of the oil outlet pipe can be inclined and extended in the vertical direction.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to Examples 1 to 3 with reference to the drawings.

(Example 1)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, an automatic transmission oil filter 1 </ b> A according to the first embodiment (hereinafter also simply referred to as “oil filter”) includes a filter element 3, a lower case 4 ( It is exemplified as a “chamber forming portion”) and an oil outlet pipe 5.
As shown in FIG. 5, the oil filter 1 </ b> A is fixed to the valve body 6 or the oil pan 2 by an attachment stay or the like, and is disposed in the oil pan 2, and is stored in the oil stored in the oil pan 2. Soaked up.

The filter element 3 includes a fold-fold filter medium 7 made of a nonwoven fabric and a resin frame 8 in which the filter medium 7 is integrally formed by insert molding. The resin frame 8 includes a frame-shaped filter medium support portion 8 a that supports the filter medium 7, and a box-shaped tube support section that is disposed on one side of the filter medium support portion 8 a and opens below to support the oil outlet pipe 5. 8b. The filter medium support portion 8a is provided with a pair of opposed walls 9a and 9b that support both ends of the filter medium 7 in the ridge line direction.
In addition, when this oil filter 1A is arrange | positioned in the oil pan 2, the filtration element 3 is arrange | positioned horizontally or inclined so that return oil may be introduced and filtered from the upper surface of the filter medium 7 (refer FIG. 5).

  The lower case 4 is made of a resin and is formed in a box shape with the top opened. The upper peripheral edge 4a of the lower case 4 and the lower peripheral edge 8c of the resin frame 8 are brought into contact with each other and joined by vibration welding or the like. Between the lower case 4 and the filter element 3, a clean-side filter chamber S through which oil filtered by the filter medium 7 passes is formed. A part of the filtration chamber S is located below the filter medium 7 in the vertical direction. Further, a part of the filtration chamber S is constituted by the internal space 10 of the tube support portion 8b.

  The oil outlet pipe 5 is made of resin and is integrally formed with the pipe support portion 8 b of the resin frame 8. The oil outlet pipe 5 has a suction port 11 on the lower end side that opens to the inside of the filtration chamber S and an outlet port 12 on the upper end side that opens to the outside of the filtration chamber S. The suction port 11 is disposed so as to open below the filter medium 7 of the filter element 3. Further, the lower part of the oil outlet pipe 5 is inclined in the vertical direction and extends toward the central part in the longitudinal direction of the filter medium 7 (see FIG. 3), and the suction port 11 is used for turning the vehicle or traveling on a slope. In order to prevent air from being sucked when the oil level fluctuates in the oil pan 2 at times, the opening is disposed at a position where the opening is always immersed in the oil. Moreover, the outflow port 12 is arrange | positioned in the position determined by the shape of the valve body 6, the position of an oil pump, etc.

Next, the operation and effect of the oil filter 1A will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the return oil returned into the oil pan 2 is introduced into the filtration chamber S from the upper surface 7 a of the filter medium 7 exposed in the oil pan 2. In this way, when the oil passes through the filter medium 7, foreign matters, impurities, and the like contained in the oil are removed by the filter medium 7. The oil from which foreign matters and the like have been removed flows into the oil outlet pipe 5 from the suction port 11 and flows out of the oil filter 1A from the outlet 12.

As described above, in the oil filter 1 </ b> A of the first embodiment, the filter element 3 is horizontally arranged or inclined so as to introduce and filter oil from the upper surface 7 a of the filter medium 7, and the oil outlet pipe 5 is replaced with the filter element 3. Since the upper case can be omitted, the number of components can be reduced and the size can be reduced in the thickness direction. Further, since the suction port 11 of the oil outlet pipe 5 is disposed so as to open below the filter medium 7, the suction port 11 is disposed relatively close to the bottom wall of the oil pan 2. Even if the oil level fluctuates within 2, the air can be prevented from being sucked from the suction port 11 of the oil outlet pipe 5.
Further, in the oil filter 1A of the first embodiment, the lower part of the oil outlet pipe 5 is configured to extend while being inclined in the vertical direction, so that the suction port 11 of the oil outlet pipe 5 is more reliably sucked of air. It can be set to a position that can be prevented.

(Example 2)
Next, an oil filter 1B for an automatic transmission according to the second embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as “oil filter”) will be described. In the second embodiment, components that are substantially the same as those of the oil filter 1A of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, main differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the oil filter 1 </ b> B includes a filter element 3, an inner wall portion 14 of a resin oil pan 2 (illustrated as a “filter chamber forming portion” according to the present invention), and an oil outlet pipe 5. Configured. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the inner wall portion 14 of the oil pan 2 has a bottom wall portion 15 and a circumferential shape having substantially the same shape as the lower peripheral edge portion 8 c of the resin frame 8 rising from the bottom wall portion 15. It consists of a protrusion 16. The protrusion 16 of the oil pan 2 and the lower peripheral edge 8c of the resin frame 8 are abutted against each other and joined by vibration welding or the like. A clean-side filtration chamber S through which oil filtered by the filter medium 7 passes is formed between the inner wall 14 of the oil pan 2 and the filter element 3.

  As described above, the oil filter 1B of the second embodiment can exhibit substantially the same operation and effect as the oil filter 1A of the first embodiment, and the filtration chamber forming portion is configured by the inner wall portion 14 of the oil pan 2. Therefore, the lower case can be omitted in addition to the upper case, the number of parts can be further reduced, and the thickness can be reduced in the thickness direction.

(Example 3)
Next, an oil filter 1C for automatic transmission according to the third embodiment (hereinafter simply abbreviated as “oil filter”) will be described. In the third embodiment, components that are substantially the same as those of the oil filter 1A of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Main differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the oil filter 1 </ b> C includes a filter element 18, upper and lower closing plates 19 a and 19 b (illustrated as “filter chamber forming portion” according to the present invention), and an oil outlet pipe 5. Has been.

The filter element 18 is formed by forming a fold-fold filter medium 20 made of a nonwoven fabric into a wide-open umbrella tube shape. The upper and lower ends of the filter element 18 are made of resin so as to close the central hole, and disk-like upper and lower closing plates 19a and 19b are joined with an adhesive or the like. A clean-side filtration chamber S through which oil filtered by the filter medium 20 passes is formed between the upper and lower blocking plates 19a and 19b and the filter medium 20.
When the oil filter 1C is disposed in the oil pan 2, the cylindrical filter element 18 is vertically arranged so that return oil is introduced from the outer surface 20a of the filter medium 20 and filtered.

  A resin oil outlet pipe 5 is integrally formed at the center of the upper closing plate 19a. The oil outlet pipe 5 has a suction port 11 on the lower end side that opens to the inside of the filtration chamber S and an outlet port 12 on the upper end side that opens to the outside of the filtration chamber S. The suction port 11 is disposed so as to open below the upper side of the filter medium 20 of the filter element 18. The lower part of the oil lead-out pipe 5 extends while inclining in the vertical direction, and the suction port 11 serves as an air intake when oil level fluctuations in the oil pan 2 occur when the vehicle is turning or traveling on a slope. The opening is always disposed at a position soaked in the oil so as not to breathe. Further, the outlet 12 of the oil outlet pipe 5 is disposed at a position determined by the shape of the valve body, the position of the oil pump, and the like.

Next, the operation and effect of the oil filter 1C will be described.
The return oil returned into the oil pan 2 is introduced into the filtration chamber S from the outer surface 20 a of the filter medium 20 exposed in the oil pan 2. As described above, when the oil passes through the filter medium 20, foreign matters, impurities, and the like contained in the oil are removed by the filter medium 20. The oil from which foreign matters and the like have been removed flows into the oil outlet pipe 5 from the suction port 11 and flows out of the oil filter 1A from the outlet 12.

As described above, in the oil filter 1C according to the third embodiment, the cylindrical filter element 18 is vertically arranged so as to introduce and filter oil from the outer surface 20a of the filter medium 20, and the oil outlet pipe 5 is provided with a filter chamber. Since it is integrally formed with the closing plate 19a constituting the forming portion, the upper case and the lower case can be omitted, the number of parts can be reduced, and the size can be reduced in the thickness direction.
Further, in the oil filter 1 </ b> C of the third embodiment, the suction port 11 of the oil outlet pipe 5 is disposed so as to open below the upper part (part) of the filter medium 20. Since it is disposed at a position relatively close to the bottom wall, it is possible to prevent air from being sucked from the suction port 11 of the oil outlet pipe 5 even if the oil level fluctuates in the oil pan 2.
Further, in the oil filter 1C of the third embodiment, the lower part of the oil outlet pipe 5 is configured to extend while being inclined in the vertical direction, so that the suction port 11 of the oil outlet pipe 5 is more reliably sucked of air. It can be provided at a position where it can be prevented.

In the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention depending on the purpose and application. That is, in the first embodiment, the filter element 3 is formed by integrally forming the oil outlet pipe 5 on the box-shaped pipe support part 8b provided on one side of the filter medium support part 8a constituting the resin frame 8. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an oil outlet pipe is provided on the reinforcing intermediate wall 23 spanned between the opposing pieces of the filter medium support portion 8 b of the resin frame 8. It is good also as a filtration element formed by shape | molding 5 integrally.
Moreover, in the said Example 1, although the suction port 11 of the oil outlet pipe 5 opened below the lower surface of the filter medium 7, it was not limited to this, For example, the inlet 11 of the oil outlet pipe 5 is the filter medium. 7 and may be opened below the upper end side (part) of the filter medium 7.

  Moreover, in the said Example 2, although the form which welds the projection part 16 of the resin-made oil pan 2 and the resin frame 8 was illustrated, it is not limited to this, For example, as shown in FIG. A circumferential recess 25 having substantially the same shape as the lower peripheral edge 8c of the resin frame 8 is provided in the bottom wall of the metal oil pan 2, and the lower peripheral edge 8c of the resin frame 8 is inserted into the recess 25. The lower peripheral edge 8c may be bonded with an epoxy adhesive or the like. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, a circumferential convex portion 26 having substantially the same shape as the lower peripheral edge portion 8 c of the resin frame 8 is provided on the bottom wall portion of the metal oil pan 2 such as an iron plate. A circumferential seal member 27 made of rubber or the like is provided on the upper surface of the convex portion 26, and an appropriate portion of the lower peripheral edge 8c is bolted so that the lower peripheral edge 8c of the resin frame 8 is pressed against the seal member 27. It may be fixed 28.

Moreover, in the said Example 3, although what formed the fold-fold-shaped filter medium 20 which consists of a nonwoven fabric in the shape of an umbrella tube which spreads wide was illustrated as the filter element 18, it is not limited to this, For example, it consists of a nonwoven fabric. It is good also as a filter element formed by forming a fold-folded filter medium in the shape of a chrysanthemum flower cylinder.
In the third embodiment, the oil outlet pipe 5 is formed integrally with the upper closing plate 19a made of resin. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a metal such as filter paper, resin, or iron plate The oil outlet pipe may be bonded to the upper closing plate such as the above by an adhesive.
In the third embodiment, a guide piece corresponding to the fold shape of the filter medium may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the oil outlet pipe 5. Thereby, an equal pleat can be arranged easily.
Further, in the third embodiment, a locking portion 29 (see FIG. 9) for locking to a locked portion formed on the oil pan 2 and / or the valve body 6 or an attachment stay on the outer peripheral surface of the oil outlet pipe 5. May be provided. Thereby, the oil outlet pipe 5 can be easily positioned.

  Used as a filter for filtering oil for automatic transmissions such as vehicles.

1 is an exploded perspective view of an oil filter according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an oil filter according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the IV-IV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the oil filter according to the first embodiment. 6 is a plan view of an oil pan according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is the VII-VII sectional view taken on the line of FIG. FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of an oil filter according to a second embodiment. 6 is a perspective view of an oil filter according to Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a top view of the oil filter of other forms. It is the XI-XI sectional view taken on the line of FIG. Furthermore, it is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the oil filter of another form. Furthermore, it is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the oil filter of another form. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the conventional oil filter.

Explanation of symbols

  1A to 1C; oil filter, 2; oil pan, 3,18; filtration element, 4; lower case, 5; oil outlet pipe, 7,20; filter medium, 8; resin frame, 11; 14; inner wall of oil pan, 19a, 19b; closing plate, S; filtration chamber.

Claims (4)

An oil filter for an automatic transmission provided in the oil pan so as to be immersed in the oil stored in the oil pan,
A filter element for filtering oil;
A filtration chamber forming portion that forms a clean filtration chamber through which the oil filtered by the filtration element passes, and the filtration element;
An oil outlet pipe provided in the filtration element and / or the filtration chamber forming section, and having a suction port opening inside the filtration chamber and an outlet opening opening outside the filtration chamber;
The filter element is arranged so as to introduce and filter oil from an upper surface or an outer surface thereof, and the suction port of the oil outlet pipe is arranged to open below at least a part of the filter element. An oil filter for an automatic transmission, characterized in that   The oil filter for an automatic transmission according to claim 1, wherein the filter element includes a filter medium and a resin frame that supports the filter medium, and the oil outlet pipe is formed integrally with the resin frame.   The filter element includes a filter medium and a resin frame that supports the filter medium, and the resin frame is fixed to an inner wall portion of the oil pan as the filter chamber forming section. Oil filter for automatic transmission as described.   The oil filter for an automatic transmission according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a lower portion of the oil lead-out pipe extends while being inclined in a vertical direction.

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