US2168670A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Description

J. C. EVANS Aug. 8, 1939.

AIR CLEANER Filed March 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. C 54225 ATTORNEY.

engines.

Patented Aug. 8, 1 939 igan Application March 2; 1936, Serial No. 66,525

v I 2,168,670, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i I a cac'w I I mesne assignments, to King-.Seelcy Oorporation, Ann Arbor,'Mich., acorporatlon of lllich- 7: Claims. (01. 183-15) This invention relates to an" air cleaner, and particularly to an air cleaner of the sc-called oil bath type for use with internal combustion The invention is directed particularly to a cleaner of the type which has an outlet extending downwardly therefrom which "adapts the cleaner for association with the so-called down draft carburetor,'although the outlet tube may be taken from the top of the ,cleaner. The

cleaner comprises a sump for a cleansingliquid which is caught up by the moving air and separated threfrom; together with extraneous matter such as dirt and dust, by a filtering element. In the passenger automobile of today; the space under the hood where the engine is located is at a premium, so that-the size of the air cleaner is an important factor. However, in this type-of cleaner, if the same is made too small the volume of the filtering element will not be large enough to catch theoil, with the result that some oil may travel through the filter and on engine.

The present invention aims to provide a cleaner which can be made on relatively small proportions and yet one in which this undesirable action will notoccur. A further object of the invention is to provide/a cleaner so constructed that the cleaning liquid or oil is caught up by air, even to the though the engine is operating at low or idling speeds andthe air velocity'is low. Thus the air is efliciently washed even at-low engine speeds. Also, in conjunction with-"this, it is an aim of the invention to provide a cleaner wherein there will be no choking action on the engine and no oil gurgling. noises at low engine speeds. A further object of the invention-is to provide a cleaner of simplified'constriiction embodying a minimum number of parts. 3

Fig. l is a: vertical cross-sectional view taken through a cleaner constructedin accordance with the invention. 2 is an elevational view of the cleaner .of reduced size.

Fig.-3 is a detail viewpartly in section showing detailed structure. 4

Fig. 4 is a view showing the circular form of the cleaner --partly in section and with parts broken away showing certain structural features.

5 11 Fig. 5 is, a view looking into the lower casing member of the cleaner and showing the structure of a plate member.

I A 'downwardlyfextending air inlet tube of a carburetor is shown at I. The cleaner comprises; 55 a casing advantageously of circular form in horizontal section, the same being illustrated generally at 2,- having a circumferential side wall 3 and abottom 4. Through the bottom extends an outlet tube 5, the lower end of which may be so: slotted as at 6 and arranged to be fitted over the top of and contracted upon the tube I by aclanipi I. The outlet pipe may have an internally extending head 8 against 'which may rest a retain-' ing ring 9 L,-sha'ped'in cross section, which holds a gasket III for sealing against the top of the pipe 1. The bottom 4 is flanged and welded to the outlet tube 5 as at ll. The top of the tube 5 may have a flange l2. A yoke l3 has arms suitably attached to the pipe 5 as by means of a weld,.

as shown at l4, and this yoke carries a screw threaded stud l5 for receiving a winged nut I6.

The upper casing member comprises a top plate and a member depending therefromhaving a circumferential wall 2|, the upper end of which is flared outwardly, with the top plate and member 2| connected as at 22. This pro-; vides an annular air inlet 23 and an annular inlet passage 24. The lowermost end'of the de-' pending member is provided with a scalloped formation presenting alternating ridges and furrows 25 and 2t. The member has a lower portion of spider formation, the same being cut out to provide bridging members ofarms 2Lex-;

I sleeve 3i, as at 35. The extreme inner end is fashioned with a ledge 36 and depending part 31 for retaining a gasket 39 adapted to seat upon the flange l2. A filtering bodylllis carried by the" upper member and this filtering body presents a mass with a multiplicity of interstices, as for'example steel wool or the'like; Preferably this mass is constitued; by helical'windlngs of irregularly shaped or corrugated wire or strip. Whenfashioned'from such material the arms -21 and 32 amply support the same; as thewire or strip windings are capable of bridging-the. reinti-vely wide openings and the openings ll between th''arms 32.

"A plate member-generally indicated at 42 fits in the s mp portionof the lower casing member for which purpose the'outer peripheral edge may be""fashiohed with a flange- 43, the plate memg ber having a horizontal portion spaced above the bottom 4, and a'wall portion 44. rising therefrom andmaking substantial contact with the'underside ot the filter or legs 21. From the top ofthe wall the plate has an inwardly extending part 45 which preferably extendsinwardly and downwardly, and the plate has a central aperture 46 surrounding the tube 5 but of a larger diameter.

This plate divides the body of oil into a body thereabove which is in the path of air flow, and

7 in the space between the parts 44 and 45 as will presently appear. In the'lower scalloped portion of the upper member, a number of apertures 50 are provided, preferably located in the portions 25. The metal extends inwardly from the sealloped portions to the arms 21 for strength purposes, as will be seen in Figs. 1 and 4. Oil may therefore collect in the channel at and just above the scalloped formation. This oil may drain back into the air passageway through the apertures 50.

The operation is as follows: The sump is to be filled with oil to the level substantially as indicated on Fig. 1, the oil sealing against the ridges 25 but leaving open passageways at the location of the furrows 26. When the engine creates a depression in the tube 5 air is drawn in through the passageway 24 and downwardly toward the oil sump. At moderate or high speeds the air is moving at such velocity as to whip the oil in the passageway above the plate 42, entrap some of the same and carry it into the filtering element. The plate 42 with its wall 44 defines the air passageway. The air moves downwardly then upwardly into the filter, as shown by the arrows. Thus dust and-dirt become wet with oil and the air cleansed thereby. The air velocity decreases in the filtering element, the oil is caught and entrapped therein with the clean air passing through the apertures 4|, and thence into the outlet pipe. The member 44 defines a quiescent zone leading back to the sump and to the oilundemeath the plate 42. Thus the oil may flow, as indicated, over the portion 45 of the plate and back into the sump. As the oil is whipped out of the passageway over the plate 42, the level of the oil in the quiescent zone is raised; and due to the vent holes 48, the-level of the oil may raise in the space between the wall 44 and part 45.

This increased head causes oil to move upwardly through the openings 41 into the air passageway. In this manner the oil has a complete circulation, and the sedimentis largely deposited in the bottom of the sump 4. No 011 istrapped in the filter, as all may flow therefrom through the apertures SI opposite the quiescent zone. 1

The scalloped formation is designed to facilitate the cleansing of the air and efiicient engine operation at lowengine speeds or idling speed.

At low speeds the rate of travel. of the air maymot be sufiicient to break the oil seal permanently, where, for example, there isa complete seal 01' the air pway. This results in a choking action on the engine and an intermediate breaking of the seal, and a gurgling noise may become audible. However, with the apertures 6| always openthe ail-is directed therethrough in streams, with suilicient velocity to pick up and atomize some of the oil and cm it upwardly into the filtering element; .01? course, at high speeds the seal-is well broken and most of the oil above the d plateflhasbeen displacemwith aresultant increase of head in the quiacent zone.

As'above mentioned, space is at a premium in I many cases, and onedanger in making air cleanersorsmalldimensionisthsttheoilwillbc carried through the filter and on into the engine. To meet this situation, the partition of member 44 has been positioned to restrict the air flow channel and to restrict the area of the filter into which air carries the Miami to increasethe quiescent zone. In other words, the rising member 44 is, in the present form, positioned so as to provide a generous quiescent zone or space between the tube 5 and the rising member 44. Thus, even though a large quantity of oil is in circulation and much oil enters the filter, yet this oil easily escapes from the air stream, due to the large quiescent zone, and flows back into the sump; therefore, the height and size of the filtering element may be reduced, and yet oil will not be drawn therethrough into the engine.

It will be noted that the member 45 extends inwardly and projects into the oil. This more or less seals off the quiescent zone so as to prevent air moving through the passageway 24 from passing through the apertures 41, thence through the quiescent zone into the filtering element.

The term oil has been used herein when reference was made to the cleansing liquid. Oil is ordinarily employed for this purpose, though other liquids may be used which may not technically be oil, and this term is intended to cover the same.

I claim:

1. An air cleaner comprising, a lower casing member adapted to receive a quantity of oil with its lower portion constituting an oil sump, an upper casing member carrying a filtering body telescoped into the lower casing member in spaced relation to form an annular air inlet for the passage of air downwardly toward the sump and for the passage of air upwardly through the filtering medium, air outlet means connecting into the upper casing member above the filtering body, the filtering medium being above the oil level in the sump, and a.plate member having a laterally extending portion below the normal oil level and a rising wall'portion extending upwardly and in substantial contact with the filtering medium to define an air passageway on one side and a quiescent zone on the other, said plate having an extending part projecting substantially from the top of the rising wall portion in a direction traversing the quiescent zone, with the free edge thereof projecting below the normal oil level, said plate having.

apertures therein for the fiow of oil from the lower portion of the sump into the air passageway.

2..An air cleaner comprising, a lower casing member having an outlet tube extending through its bottom and adapted to receive a quantity of oil with its lower portion constituting an oil sump, an upper casing member carrying a filtering body telescoped into the lower casing member in spaced relation to form an annular air inlet for the passage of air downwardly toward the sump and for the passage of air upwardly through the filtering medium, the upper casing member being in connection in its upper portion with the outlet tube, the filtering medium being above the oil level in the sump,

and a plate surrounding the outlet tube having an outer laterally extending portion submerged in the oil and an intermediate upwardly rising wall portion, the upper end of which makes substantial contact with the lower partof the filter,

wardly thereof, the inner portion of said plate extending angularly inwardly and downwardly and terminating in an edge surrounding the outlet tube, and spaced therefrom, the laterally extending portion of said plate having apertures therein for the flow of oil from the lower portion of the sump into the air passageway.

3. An air cleaner comprising, a lower casing I member having an outlet tube extending through the outlet tube, the filtering medium being above the oil level in the sump, and a plate surrounding the outlet tube having an outer laterally extending portion submerged in the oil and an intermediate upwardly rising wall portion, the upper end of which makes substantial contact with 4 the lower partof the filter, the said portion and rising wall defining an air passageway to the illtering body and the rising wall portion defining a quiescent zone inwardly thereof, the inner portion of said plate extending angularly inwardly and downwardly and terminating in an edge surrounding the outlet tube, and spaced therefrom and disposed below the normal liquid-level, the laterally extendingportion of said plate having apertures therein for the flow of oil from the lower. portion of the sump into the air passageway.

4. An air cleaner comprising, a lower casing' member having an outlet tube extending through its'bottom and adapted toreceive a quantity of oil with its lower portion constituting an oil sump, an upper casing member carrying a filtering body telescoped into the lower casing member in spaced relation to form an annular air 'inlet for the passage of air downwardly toward the sump and ,for the passage of air upwardly through thefile,

tering medium, the upper casing member being in connection in its upper portion with the outlet tube, the filtering medium being above the oil level in the sump, and a plate surrounding the outlet tube having an outer laterally extending portion submerged in the oil and an intermediate upwardly rising wall portion,'the upper end of which makes substantial contact with the lower part of the filter, the said portion and rising wall defining an air passageway to the filtering body and the rising wall portiondefining a quiescent zone inwardly thereof,.the inner portion of said plate extending angularly. inwardly and downwardly and terminating in an edge surrounding the outlet tube and spaced therefrom and disposed below the normal liquid level, the laterally extending portion of said plate having apertures therein for the-flow of oil from the lower portion of the sump into the air passageway, said plate having one or more vent. apertures therein substantially at the top of the rising wall portion.

5." An air cleaner comprising, a lower casing member having an outlet tube extending through its bottom and adapted to receive a quantity of oil with its lower portion constituting an oil sump, an upper casing member carrying a filtering body telescoped into the lower casing member in spaced relation to form an annular, air inlet for the passage of air downwardly toward the sump and for the passage of air upwardly through the fil e i g and spaced therefrom and disposed below the noring a lower wall'of scalloped or corrugated form,

3 medium, the upper casing member being connected in its upper portion to the outlet tube, the filtering body being above the oil level in the sump, and a plate surrounding the outlet tube having an outer laterally extending. portion sub-- 5 merged in the oil and an intermediate upwardly rising wall portion, the upper end of which makes substantial contact with the lower part of the filter, the said portion and rising wall defining an air passageway to the filtering body and the rising wall portion defining a quiescent zone inwardly thereof, the inner portion of said plate extend-' ing angularly inwardly and downwardly and terminating in an edge' surrounding the outlet tube 15 mal liquid level, the laterally extending portion of said plate having apertures therein for the flow of oil from the lower portion of the sump into the air passageway, said upper casing member hav- 2 portions of which substantially seal with the oil 0 at normal level and portions of which provide constantly open air passageways connecting the annular air inlet to the space below the filtering body- 6. 'In an air cleaner, a lower upwardly opening casing member adapted to receive oil and constituting an oil sump, an outlet tube extending through the bottom of the member, an upper casing member having inner and outer walls, a filtering body-positioned between the walls, the said outer wall telescoping into and in spaced relation with the lower casing member to provide an air passageway downwardly toward the sump, the outlet tube connecting into the upper casing mem- 5 her above the filtering body, means for guiding air from the inlet passageway upwardly toward the filtering body and located in part below the normal oil level in the sump, said means directing the air to a portion only of the filtering body and defining a quiescent zone between thesump and another portion of the filtering body for the flow ofoil from the filtering body back to the sump, means underlying and supporting the filtering body and forming, in conjunction with the outer wall of the upper casing, a channel formation, said upper casing member having apertures substantially in the channel formation for the flow of oil from the filtering body back into 'theair stream.

'1. An air cleaner for internal combustion engines comprising, a lower casing member with a substantially centrally disposed outlettube extending throughv the bottom thereof. said member being adapted to receive a quantity of oil and its lower portion constituting an oil sump, an upper member telescoping into the lower member in spaced relation to form an annular air inlet passageway, a filtering medium in the upper portion located substantially entirely above the oil, the outlet tube connecting into the upper portion above the filtering medium, said upper member having an annular wall extending downwardly into the' lowermember, the lower edge of said 7 wall being substantially of scalloped or corrugated c5 formation, with the ridges thereof substantially sealing with the oil when the same is at its normal level, and with furrows providing constantly open air passageways for the passage of air at low engine speeds, said scalloped formation having apertures therein substantially at the ridges for the flow of oil downwardly therethrough from the portion of the filtering'medium lying thereabove,

' JAMEBCLARK EVANS. I

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