US2879892A

US2879892A - Signaling means for oil filter

Info

Publication number: US2879892A
Application number: US323405A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hershal S Frakes
Original assignee: ERNEST A TAPP; JAMES F TAPP
Current assignee: ERNEST A TAPP; JAMES F TAPP
Priority date: 1952-12-01
Filing date: 1952-12-01
Publication date: 1959-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1976-03-31

Description

5: .1.0.000 i -Ol March 31, 1959 H. s. FRAKx-:s

SIGNALING MEANS FOR OIL FILTER United States Patent O SIGNALING MEANS FOR OIL FILTER Hershal S. Frakes, Kansas City, Kans., assigner of onethrd to James F. Tapp and one-third to Ernest A. Tapp, both of Jackson County, Mo.

Application December 1, 1952, Serial No. 323,405

2 Claims. (Cl. 210-90) This invention relates to improvements in accessory parts for internal combustion engines and relates more particularly to oil filtering means that is commonly employed in connection with such prime movers, the primary object being to provide an improved signaling assembly for indicating plugging of the filtering material and therefore the necessity of changing the filter cartridge.

It is common knowledge that lubricating oil filters of the above mentioned type are provided with a filtering element through which the oil is forced under pressure from the oil pump to the bearings. Periodic replacement of such element is necessary because the same becomes plugged or clogged with foreign matter removed from the oil, and failure to attend to such replacement is likely to cause serious damage to the engine bearings. i In accordance with this invention, therefore, it is an important aim to provide an electric signal, together with switching means that automatically energizes the circuit for the signal whenever the oil ceases to flow through the filtering element and by-passes the same in its flow to the bearings.

Another important object hereof is to provide a signal and switch structure therefor adapted especially for mounting on and operation in connection with a filter that has a by-pass in turn provided with a pressure responsive valve, the switching structure .hereof being associated with the valve for operation thereby.

Other objects include the way in which a reciprocable conductor is spring biased against the pressure-responsive valve forv movement therewith; the manner of connecting the movable conductor element in series with the electric circuit for the signal when the valve opens; the way in which the reciprocable conductor element is slidablyl mounted on a stationary conductor also in series with the circuit; and the mannerof mounting the stationaryA conductor upon and insulating the same from the oil filter container.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a substantially central, cross-sectional view through one form of oil filter showing the signaling means of the present invention operably mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on irregular line Il-II of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a central, cross-sectional view through another type of oil filter showing a slightly modified form of signaling means embodying the present invention.

As will hereinafter appear, the two forms of the invention are nearly identical and the same have been shown in connection with two differing types of filters to illustrate its universal adaptability.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, a filter broadly designated by the numeral consists of an outer container 12 that is open at its lowerrnost end and normally mounted on the internal combustion engine, shown fragmentarily in Fig. 1 and designated by the numeral 16, by means of a central fastening tube 18 passing through the container 12. When so mounted on the engine 16, the lowermost end of the container 12 is closed and placed in communication with a conduit 20 for directing the lubricating oil into the container 12 from the oil pump. The .Filtered oil emanating from the container 12 passes through the tube 18 to the engine bearings.

Filter it) chosen for illustration is a so-called fullllow type of filter in that all of the oil passing from the pump to the bearings is forced through cartridge 22 in the container 12 until filtering material 24 within the cartridge 22 becomes so clogged or plugged with foreign material removed from the oil as to obstruct free ow thereof. lt is noted that the cartridge 22 is perforated throughout and disposed in surrounding relationship to the tube 18. Cartridge 22 is also spaced from all of the inner walls ofthe container 12, and the tube 18 is provided with a. plurality of openings 26 for receiving the filtered oil from the cartridge 22, all as indicated by arrows in Fig. l of the drawing. v

While the oil 1s also pumped into the tube 18 at the uppermost end thereof through openings 26a, such oil normally cannot flow to the engine bearings because of the provision of a normally closed valve 28 in the tube 18 below the openings 26a. A spring 30 in the tube 18 beneath the valve 28 and resting on stop 32 traversing the tube 18 holds the valve 28 yieldably biased -agaiusta. stop sleeve 34 tightly fitted in the tube 18 below openings 26a.

When the cartridge 22 becomes plugged as above mentioned, the pressure of oil on the valve 28 will cause the latter to open against the action of spring 30 and the oil is therefore by-passed around the element 22 to the tube 18.

ln accordance with the present invention, there is provided means for indicating, either audibly, visually or otherwise, when such plugged condition of the element 22 exists. Such improved signal structure is responsive in its operation directly to the movement of valve 28 away from the stop 34.

Tube i8 is conventionally provided with a tight fitting plug 36 closing the uppermost end thereof and bearing tightly against a gasket 38 that seals the neck of container 12 when the tube 18 is drawn tight in the engine block 15. Plug 36 may, therefore, be tapped to threadedly receive a tube 4t) for mounting an elongated, rod-like conductor 42. insulating washers 44 and 46 separate the conductor 42 from the tube 40 and serve to rigidly mount the conductor pin 42 in the tube 40.

A short, tubular conductor 48 is slidably mounted on the conductor 42 within the sleeve 34 and is held yieldably biased against the valve 28 of insulating material'by a spring S6 coiled about the pin 42. The vertically reciprocable conductor 4S is provided with a lateral ear 51 that is normally spaced above the metallic sleeve 34 when valve 2S is closed, as shown in Fig. l, but which is adapted to engage the sleeve 34 upon downward movement of the valve 28 away from the sleeve 34 to an open position against the action of spring 30. It is understood that when the valve 28 moves to the open position, the conductor 48 acts as a follower under the influence of the spring 50.

The electrical signal may consist of any suitable device, and therefore a lamp 52 has been chosen for illustration and shown in series with the automobile battery 54 and with the pin 42, the latter being provided with clamping nuts 56 for wire 58. When the movable conductor 48 of the switching device is in engagement with the sleeve 34, the circuit through signal 52 is closed from battery 54 through the signal 52, wire 58, conductors 42 and 48, sleeve 34, metallic tube 18, and metallic plug 36 to ground.

The full-how filter of Fig. 3 is designated by the numeral and differs slightly from filter 10 in that it is mounted by means of a bracket 102, and oil inlet 3 120 isf at the side of container'V 112, tube 118 providing the oil outlet in the same manner as in filter 10. AV metallic ball valve 128 is employed instead of the disc type valve 28 of insulating material, valve 128 being biased to the closed position by spring 130 in the'tube 118.-

Openings 126 normally receive the oil from cartridge 122, but when the latter becomes clogged, the oil is by-passed into tube 118 through openings 126a. and thence past valve 128. Conductor pin 142 is mounted precisely as above described relative to conductor pin 42,` and reciprocable conductor 148,. slidable on the pin 142, is biased against the valve 128 by a spring 150 coiled about the pin142. Reciprocable conductor 148 is provided with a lateral ear 151 that extends into one of the openings 126:1 formed in stop or seat 134 for valve 128. Inasmuch` as valve 128 is metallic, it is necessary to provide insulation 135 on the lowermost end of the pin 142 to separate the latter from the valve 128, and this element 135 cornprises the only essential difference between the assembly of Fig. 1 and that of Fig. 3.

Here again, when valve 128 opens, the reciprocable conductor 148 will follow therewith by energy of spring 150 until the lateral ear 151 engages the stop 134 to establish a closed circuit through signaling means 152.

It is now apparent that a positive indication of inoperability of the filtering cartridge has been provided; that the same is universally adaptable for many types of filters; and that it can be applied to existing filters of the type herein set forthwith only a slight modification of the component parts thereof. As long as the by-pass valves remain closed and the oil is being pumped through the filtering material of thev cartridges, the circuit through the signaling meanswill Aremain open. The moment,I however, that .the oilis by-pas'sed around the filtering cartridge by virtue of its becoming plugged and the bypassv valves open in response to the oil pressure, the switching means will operate to close the electric circuit for the signal and immediately notify the user of the engine thatrthe cartridge should be replaced. Y Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. 'In a signaling device adapted for insertion in a standard full flow oil filter having a container provided with a top, said container having an oil inlet and an oil outlet, filtering material in the container through which saidl oil is forced under pressure, an oil by-pass line connecting said inlet with said outlet, a valve Seat in said by-pass, and a pressure-responsive valve in said seat, said valve normally being in engagement with the seat and shift'able in the direction of liow of the oil when the material becomes obstructed so as to force the oil through said by-pass, the Vimprovement which comprises an electrical switch having a stationary contact mounted in the top and extending into the container, remote from said valve, there being provided electrical insulating material between the top and said contact, a movable clement on said contact, said element being electrically conductivev and normally in engagement with said valve, means insulating said movable element from said valve, resilient means between the top and said element for holding the latter biased toward the valve, and a metallic stop within the path of travel of the movable element for limiting the extent of movement of said element as the valve shifts to an open position and said resilient means. moves the element against the stop.

2. In a signaling device adapted for insertion in a standard full ow of oil filter having a container provided with a top, said container havingy an oil inlet and an oil outlet, filtering material in the container through which said oil is forced under pressure, an oil by-pass line connecting said inlet with said outlet, a valve seat in said by-pass, and a pressure-responsive valve in said seat, said valve normally being in engagement with the seat and shiftable in the direction of flow ofv the oil when the material becomes obstructed so as to force the oil through said bypass, an electrical signal, and an electric-circuit for said signal, the improvement which comprises a switch for closing the circuit to energize theV signal when the valve is opened by oil flowing through said by-pass, said switch including a stationary conductor rod adapted for connection in series with the circuit, said rod being mounted on the top and extending into the container remote from said valve, there being provided electrical insulating material between the top and said stationary conductor, a movable conductor' slidingly mounted on the ro'd and in electrical contact therewith, said movable conductor being normally in engagement with said value, means insulating .said movable conductor from said valve, a spring on the rod and bearing against thev conductor for holding the latter biased toward the valve, and a metallic stop Within the path of travel of the movable conductor for limiting the extent of movement of said movable conductor as the valve shifts to the open position and said spring moves the movable conductor against the stop, said stop being adapted for connection in series with said circuit for closing the later to energize the signal when the movable conductor is against the stop.

ReferencesCited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,411,802 Mosher Apr. 4, 1922 2,348,651 Schelly May 9, 1944 2,638,581 Marvel May 12, 1953 2,685,371 Gretzinger Aug. 3, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 806,635 `France Sept. 28, 1936 450,104 Great Britain July 10, 1936