US1650774A - Apparatus for purifying lubricating oil - Google Patents

Description

Filed Jan,

R. L. SKINNER APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING LUBRICATING OIL- Patented Nov. 29, l927.

RALPH L. SKINNRR, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SKINNER AUTOMOTIVE DEVICE CO., INC., OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALIFOR- NIA.

APPARATUS FOR IPURIFYING LUBRICATING OIL.

Application filed January 13, 1923. Serial No. 612,537.

Devices are now going into use on internalcombustion engines or motors which withdraw the more or less contaminated or d1- luted oil from the motor by suction or otherwise, and which subject it to heat 1n a reclaiming or rectifying appliance whereby to drive off and to return to ,the engine the gasiiable elements or constituents of thel liuid mixture, leaving the reclaimed or puri iiedfoil to be delivered to the lubricating lsystem of the engine for reuse.

It has been found to be desirable to provide an automatic or other means to c'ontrol the amount or degree of heat to which such abstracted fluids, particularly the oil, are subjected in the rening or purifying device, and accordingly the present invention relates to means for the accomplishment of this purpose.

`When the engine is first started, and all of the parts, including the oil refining and storage tank, are comparatively cool or cold, it is desirable to subject the withdrawn, impure oil to a relatively large degree of heat, but in order not to overheat it under more normal or more heated conditions, means are provided to control the heating action.

To this end, in the preferredembodiment of the invention, a thermostat is employed to by-pass the oilaround the heater to prevent undue or excessive heating, the construction at times, however, vparticularly when the engine is first started, subjecting the oil to the whole heat available, although means other than a thermostat may be more or less satisfactorily employed' to accomplish this pur p In order that those skilled in this'art may have a full and complete understanding of this invention and its various structional and functional advantages, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, a preferred and 'desirable embodiment of the invention, like reference characters being used for the same parts throughout the 'several views. In this drawing,-

Fig. 1 is a partial, vertical central section through the improved appliance; Fig. 24 is a complete vertical section through the device at right angles to the section of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3 ofFig. 2, the parts being viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

lower parts and apertures inthemarginal section ofthe division wall.

At its lower end, chamber 11 has an oildischarge pipe leading back to the .lubricating system of the engine, as to the enginesump, such pipe being fitted with an upwardly-closing ball-valve 15, the opening descent of which is limited by a cross-pin or retainer 16.

The horizontal division or separating wall 12 has an integral, upstanding, annular wall 18 spacedv inwardly' from the cylindrical wall 13 and extended` up well into the upper compartment, A butv nevertheless leaving a substantiall gap. between its upper edge and the top wall of the chamber, all as is clearly shown in Figs. l and 2.

Also such member 12, which preferably has a dished or concave top surface 19, has two valve-ports 20 and 22 extended vertically therethrough inside of the wall 18, opening 250 being fitted with an upright pipe 21 projecting-into the upper compartment or chamber. 'v

These two valve-ports are designed to be opened and closed by a pair of spaced valves 23 and 24 mounted side by side on an arm 25 fulcrumed4 on .a pin 26 mounted in a bifurcated lug 27 projecting downwardly from the wall 12, such arm also carrying an air-inlet or relief valve 28 controlling an air-inlet port 29 opening sidewise through the edge of the element 12 to theouter air. Arm 25 and its valves are adapted to be snapped into their two different positions, raised or lowered, by a pair of coiled springs 31, 31, attached at one end to side wingsl 32, 32, on the arm, and at the other end to similar lateral elements 33, 33, on an arm 34; also rockingly mounted on the pin 26, this arm being oscillated as occasion requires by a link 35 connected thereto` and to a lever 36 fulcmlmed at 37 on al lug 38 depending from lthe member 12, the free end of such lever being pivotally connected to an upward extension on a float 39 in the lower chamber.

The lug 38 has a shoulder 41 limiting the descent or extent of downward movement of arm 34, and the part 12 has a shoulder 42 restricting the upward travel of element 34.

When the valves 23 and 24 are open, as they are normally, the air-valve 28 is closed, and vice versa, when the latter is open, the other two valves are closed.

By means of a pipe 44, the upper part of .the oil purifier is connected to the intake manifold of the engine or motor, or to any other suitable means producing a suction or sub-atmospheric pressure; the connection of such pipe to the tank also supporting a properly-shaped depending screen 45 located inside of the wall 18 but outside of the pipe 21.

The upper .part 13 of the oil purifier is encased or enclosed in a shell 46 constituting a heating jacket to which hot gases, such as the heated products of combustion from the engine or motor, are admitted and discharged trough the connecting pipes 47 and 48 The )element 12 has two diametricallyopposed horizontal openings fitted with pipes 51, 52, connected to the engine in any approved manner for drawing off therefrom the fluids to be treated in the tank, these two openings communicating with upwardlyopening, curved passages 53 and 54 between the walls 13 and 18 at the bottoms thereof, as is more clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

The circular wall 18, preferably, but not necessarily, midway y-between the passages 53 and 54, has an opening or port 55 through its lower portion, and the same wall near its upper edge has riveted or otherwise fastened thereto a two-metal thermostatic bar or strip 56 adapted when hot to assume the position shown in Fig. 2, thus opening the port 55, and designed when cool to close such port, as will be readily understood.

The appliance operates substantially as follows: v

When the internal-combustion engine or motor with which the appliance is associated is started, and assuming that the pipe 44 is connected to its intake manifold, a suitable suction or sub-atmospheric pressure is created throughout the piping system and the refining tank or trap, causing the aerated fluids` containing as substantial ingredients the contaminated lubricating oil and sonic unconsnnied liquid or gaseous fuel to be withdrawn from the engine, preferably from around its reciprocating pistons. and to bc delivered through the pipes 51 and 52 and passages 53 and 54 into tht` annular space between the circular walls 13 and 18.

Such space being substantially larger in cross section than the pipes, the lifting action on the fluids is somewhat reduced so that it takes some time for the fluids to fill the whole height of this space, whereupon they pass or flow inwardly over the top of wall 18.

At such commencementv of the action or operation of the engine, the port 55 is closed by the thermostatic valve 5G because the parts of the mechanism are cold and the fluids also are relatively colti.

The temperature increases in the encasing jacket by reason of the exhaust gases flowing through it.

Under these conditions, all of the heat in theJ jacket is needed to act on the fluids to gasify or vaporize their volatile constituents, thus purifying and reclaiming the liquid lubricating-oil.

The gases and vapors pass oil throu h the screen and through the pipe 44 to the intake manifold of the engine, where they are mixed with the fuel flowing to the engine and consumed therein, the refined or reclaimed oil discharging down through the port 22 into the lower storage part of the tank, the displaced air in the latter passing up through port 20 and pipe 21, where it becomes mixed with the gases and vapors without disturbing or interrupting the downward flow of oil into the lower compartment.

As the eneine and heated refining or purifying eham'ber continue in operation, less heat is required in the latter to fully perform the fluid-treating operation because the heater itself becomes hotter and the oil is also of a higher temperature.

Accordingly, when the temperature of the fluids or oil reaches a predetermined limit, say 225 Fahrenheit, for example, the thermostat valve 56 opens port 55 and all of the oil from then on is thus by-passed through this port out of contact with or. away from the heater into the central part of the upper chamber, -whereby under such circumstances the oil does not come into contact with the heater.

Thus the improved appliance gives adequate heat when starting without undue heating under normal running conditions.

When the engine stops and the suction ends, the fluids in the upper refining portion of the tank and in the pipes 5l and 52 recede or flow downwardly because they lack the lifting or sustaining action of the previously exerted suction.

Also, as the purifying tank becomes cooler, the valve 56'closes the port 55, ready for a resumption of the operations as described above when the cool engine is started.

The purified oil gradually accumulates in the lower chamber 11. and when it reaches a proper level` the float quickly closes the two valves 23 and 24, opening valve 28, thus preventing interference with the sub-atmospheric conditions in the upper refining part of the chamber while establishing an atmospheric condition in the lower storage compartment, causing an opening of valve 15 and a delivery of the oil to the engine, and as soon as the oat reaches a definite lower,

Various minor mechanical changes may be .incorporated "in the structure shown and described without departure froml the substance and essence of the invention, and without the saciificefaof any of its substantial benefits and advantages, this being merely onejdesirable embodiment of the invention, the latter being susceptible of other satisfactory incorporations in physical form.

rlhis 'patent is in part a continuation of my earlier pendino patent application, Serial No. 587,026,11ed september sth, 1922.

I claim:

l. lln an oil-rectifying appliance 'of the character described, the combination of an oil-refining chamber, a heater for said chamber means to cause fiuids to flow through said chamber, means to cause the `iuids entering said chamber to pass adjacent to said heater to be subjected to its action, means having a by-pass tory the fluids. traversing said chamber, and thermostatic means conaction of said heater thereon..

2. In an oil-refining appliance of the character described, the combination of an upper oil-purifying chamber, a lower storagecompartment, a valve-controlled connection between said chamber and compartment, means to cause the oil undergoing treatment to traverse said chamber and compartment, a heater for said oil-purifying chamber only, means to cause contaminated oil entering said chamber to pass adjacent to said heater to be subjected to its action, said means having a by-pass for said oil, and thermostatic means controlling said by-pass, whereby under certain temperature conditions said oil will be automatically permittedto travel through such lay-pass and inlarge measure escape the action of said heater thereon.

3. In an oil-refining appliance of the character described, the combination of a reining tank having an upper oil-purifying chamber, a lower storage-compartment, and a division wall between the two having a valve-coni trollecl connection between the chamber and compartment, said division wall having an ,upstanding wall inside of and spaced in-' standing wall having a by-pass port therethrough, a thermostatic valve automatically controlling said port, a heater encasing said oil-purifying chamber, means to discharge the contents of said storage-compartment, and means to deliver the gaseous and vapor contents separated from the impure oil in said oil-purifying chamber.v

4. ln an apparatus for rectifying impure lubricatingoil, the combination of a tank having an upper oil-refining chamber and a lower oil-storage compartment, a ported division wall between said chamber and compart-ment, valve-meanscontrolling said ports, a float in said compartment governing the action of said Valve-means, valve-means controlling the 'discharge of the purified oil from said compartment, means to admit impure oil into said chamber, means to apply suction to said chamber to facilitate the oilrefining action therein and to withdraw the gases and vapors, means to heat said chamber only, and baiie means in said chamber causing the entering oil to pass adjacent to the heated wall thereof and to form an oil-puritying space into which such heated oil passes.

ln an apparatus for rectifying impure lubricating` oil, the combination of a. tank having an upper oil-refining chamber and a lower oil-storage compartment, a ported division wall between said chamber and compartment, valve-means cont-rolling said ports, a `iioat in said compartment governing the action of said valve-means, valve-means controlling the ,discharge of the purified oil from said compartment, means to admit impure oil into said chamber, means to apply suction to said chamber to facilitate the nil-refining action therein and to withdraw the gases and vapors, means to heat said chamber only, baille means in said chamber causing the entering'oil to pass adjacent to the heated wall thereof andto form an oilpuritying space into which such'heated oil passes, said. baille means having a by-pass therethrough for the uids 'traversing the chamber, and thermostatic means controlling said bypass, whereby under certain -ternperature conditions said uids will be automatically caused to travel through. such bypass and in a large measure'escape the action oi said heater thereon.

6. In an apparatus for rectifying impure lubricating oil, the combination of a tank having an upper oil-refining chamber and a lower oil-storage compartment, a ported division wall betweenthe chamber and compartment, valve-means controlling said ports, a float in said compartment governing the action of said valve-means, valve-means controlling the discharge of purified oil from said compartment, means to admit impure oil into said chamber, means to apply suction to said chamber to facilitate the oil-refining action therein and to withdraw the gaaes and vapors` means to heat said chamber only, tions said oil will be automatically caused to said division wall having an upstanding travel through said luy-pass port and in a 10 baffle wall inside of and s aced inwardly large measure escape the action of .said away 'from the wall of said oi -rening chamheater thereon.

' ber, said baille Wall having a by-pass port In witness whereof I have hereunto set therethrough, and a thermostatic valve automy hand. matically controlling said by-pass port, whereby under certain temperature condi- RALPH L. SKINNER.

Images