WO1984001112A1

WO1984001112A1 - Oil refiner with separable vaporization and filtering elements

Info

Publication number: WO1984001112A1
Application number: PCT/US1983/001374
Authority: WO
Inventors: Loyie Sims
Original assignee: Loyie Sims
Priority date: 1982-09-13
Filing date: 1983-09-12
Publication date: 1984-03-29
Also published as: JPS59501738A; EP0118557A1

Abstract

A by-pass refining device (10) for an internal combustion engine has separate vaporization and filtering portions. The vaporization element (12) is formed of stamped metal members assembled together to define a vaporization chamber (16) and a pressure chamber (38). The vaporization element (12) has a filtered oil inlet (20). The filtering element is a detachable filter cartridge (48) containing a porous filtering material (54) and having a filtered oil outlet (95). The filtered oil inlet (20) of the vaporization canister (14) and the filtered oil outlet (95) of the filter cartridge (48) are both mating, threaded fittings which allow the vaporization element (12) and filter cartridge (48) to be screwed together. The vaporization element (12) can be mounted in an engine compartment of the vehicle and the disposable cartridge (48) can be threadably engaged therewith. Alternatively, the disposable cartridge (48) can be remotely located and coupled to the vaporization element (12) by a hose (47) having appropriate threaded fittings. To enhance the filtering capability a plurality of disposable cartridges (48) can be threadably engaged in series and coupled to a single vaporization element (12).

Description

OIL REFINER WITH SEPARABLE VAPORIZATION AMD FILTERING ELEMENTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Serial Number 281,338, filed July 8, 1981.

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to by-pass oil refining devices for internal combustion engines. By-pass oil refining devices are coupled to the crankcase of an internal coinbustion engine in an alternative path of lubricating oil flow in automotive vehicles and other machines employing internal combustion engines. Oil refiners percolate oil through a porous filter material and heat the oil to vaporize and remove volatile contaminants, such as water and fuel.

Description of the Prior Art

Contaminated lubricating oil used in internal combustion engines and other equipment is a principal cause of excessive wear and deterioration of engine parts and related equipment. At present, most internal combustion engines employ only a conventional mechanical filter for extracting materials such as dirt, carbon, soot, metal particles and other similar foreign material from lubricating oil. Liquid contaminants such as condensates, water and fuel, are often emulsified in the lubricating oil and cannot be separated by a conventional filter. It is therefore necessary for the lubricating oil of internal combustion engines using such conventional mechanical filters to be changed at regular intervals in order to minimize engine damage by contaminants entrained therein.

In recent years the increasing worldwide price of petroleum products has made it imperative for refining systems to be developed which will recondition lubricating oil so that it may be used and reused indefinitely. In this way only small amounts of additional lubricating oil are required by engine usage.

The problem of liquid contaminants has been recognized, and some efforts have been made to develop devices which use heat as a mechanism for separating oil and contaminants. Exemplary previous devices of this type include Schwalge, U.S. Patent Nos. 2,635,759, 2,785,109 and 2,839,196; Barrow, U.S. Patent No. 3,550,781; Priest, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,616,885 and 4,006,084; Forsland, U.S. Patent No. 4,146,475; and my prior U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 281,338, filed July 8, 1981.

Certain problems have existed which have heretofore prevented the widespread use of oil refiners in automotive vehicles. One problem characteristic of conventional oil refiners is the considerable cost of such units. To achieve the removal of both solid and liquid entrained contaminants, it has been necessary to devise elaborate vaporization chambers. Conventional vaporization chambers are formed of intricate cast and machined steel or iron parts. Such intricate structures are quite expensive to manufacture and are quite heavy as well. However, it heretofore has been considered necessary to utilize such structures in order to properly define flow patterns within the oil refiner to drive the volatile contaminants from the oil.

Another problem which has existed with conventional oil refiners is the unavailability of adequate space beneath the hood of a vehicle in the engine compartment within which to position an oil refiner of adequate oil treating capacity. Conventional oil refiners have all employed vaporization and filtering sections which are housed or coupled together in a single structure. Vehicles with larger engines require oil refiners which are correspondingly more voluminous, since a greater volume of oil must be treated than is the case with smaller vehicle engines. However, because larger engines are more massive, space under the vehicle hood in the vicinity of the engine is invariably at a premium. The larger, conventional oil refiners which have heretofore been necessary to properly decontaminate the volume of lubricating oil contained within the engine are sometimes too large to fit in the space available under the vehicle hood.

A further problem with conventional oil refiners is the need for a large number of different oil refiner models, of different size, to accommodate vehicle engines of different sizes. It has been necessary for dealers of automotive vehicle oil refiners to stock numerous different models of oil refiners in order to be in a position to provide oil refiners for a large number of vehicles. Each vehicle must have an oil refiner with a filtering section of sufficient volume to filter the lubricating oil used in the engine. However, the volume of the oil refiner cannot be so large as to exceed the space available in the vehicle engine compartment. As a consequence, it has been necessary to perform a great deal of custom designing of oil refiners for particular vehicles. The limited marketability of any particular model of oil refiner has increased the unit cost of each model, while at the same time increasing the cost to the dealer by requiring a large inventory of different models of oil refiners.

SUMMABY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improved oil decontaminating device formed of separable vaporization and filter elements. The vaporization element is mounted by a bracket to the body structure of an automotive vehicle in the engine compartment of the vehicle. The vaporization element is a reuseable component of the oil decontaminating device and is not changed or replaced. The filter element is a detachable, disposable cartridge which is removably coupled to the vaporization element. The filter cartridge is changed periodically as entrapped, solid contaminants build up under the porous filtering material located therein. The disposable filter cartridge is removably coupled to the vaporization element. The only other connection to the disposable filter cartridge is to an oil inlet line. Where the vaporization chamber element and the filter cartridge are directly connected together, the filter cartridge is not connected to the vehicle body. The disposable filter cartridge is thereby easily replaced by merely uncoupling the contaminated oil inlet tube leading thereto and disengaging the filter cartridge from the vaporization element. The old filter cartridge is then discarded and a new filter cartridge is releasably coupled to the vaporization element. The contaminated oil inlet duct is then attached to the contaminated oil inlet of the new filter cartridge and the decontaminating device of the invention is again fully operable.

The oil decontaminating device, or refiner, of the present invention has a significant advantage over prior art devices in that all of the confining wall structure of both the vaporization element and the disposable filter cartridge is formed of stamped metal members assembled together. The oil refiner of the present invention totally avoids the use of cast steel or iron casings to form housing structures. Also, the expensive boring and other machining operations which are required in the manufacture of conventional oil refiners are totally avoided by the unique design and construction of the oil refiner of the present invention. As a consequence, the oil refiner of the present invention is far cheaper to manufacture than conventional oil refiners.

Another unique feature of the invention is that all of the interconnecting fittings within and between the detachable filter cartridge and the vaporization element are formed of tubular fittings which can be easily installed in apertures in the stamped metal members which form the housings for the vaporization element and the disposable filter cartridge. The vaporization nozzle and the decontaminated oil outlet fitting in the vaporization element and the contaminated oil inlet fitting and the filtered oil outlet fitting in the disposable filter cartridge are all formed of annular metal barrels, each having a collar for positioning in abutment against a wall of one of the stamped metal members around an aperture therethrough.

Each of the metal barrels has a neck remote from the collar for insertion through an aperture in a wall in one of the stamped metal members. Each barrel neck has an internally threaded portion projecting beyond the other side of the wall from the collar.

Each barrel has a weakened section intermediate the collar and the neck threads and spaced from the collar a distance at least as great as the thickness of the wall of the stamped metal member upon which the fitting is to be mounted. The barrel neck is inserted through the aperture in the wall and compression is exerted on the barrel. The compressive force required is achieved by engaging a bolt with the internal threads of the projecting portion of the neck of the barrel and tightening the bolt until the weakened section of the barrel collapses into a radially projecting flange. The collar and the radially projecting flange bear against opposite surfaces of the stamped metal member and thereby secure the fitting to the wall of the stamped metal member with the collar on one side of the wall and the flange on the other side. The bolt is then disengaged from the fitting and removed. The fitting which forms the vaporization nozzle in the vaporization element also serves as a fitting for the filtered oil inlet to the vaporization element.

The use of crimpable, thin tubular members for fittings avoids the use of expensive machine castings and greatly facilitates the manufacturing process in producing the oil refiner of the invention.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the detachable filter cartridge need not be located immediately adjacent to the vaporization element. Rather, the detachable filter cartridge may be removably located and coupled to the vaporization element by a connecting hose. In such an arrangement structural support for the detachable filter cartridge is provided by a bracket mounted on the body of the vehicle, and the detachable filter cartridge is merely slipped into and out of the bracket during installation and replacement. By allowing the filter cartridge and the vaporization element to be separated, the oil refiner of the invention is adaptable for use with vehicles that have insufficient space in the engine compartment to accommodate conventional oil refiners. Instead of requiring a single relatively large space in an engine compartment for installation of an oil refiner, the oil refiner of the invention may be used on vehicles as long as two separated, relatively small spaces are available. The oil refiner of the invention thereby achieves a high degree of adaptability to numerous vehicle engine compartment configurations and engine sizes. A further unique feature of the oil refiner of the invention is that the same components may be employed to achieve a variable capacity to accommodate different engine sizes. The detachable filter cartridges are constructed so that a plurality of cartridges may be mounted together in series or "piggy-back" fashion. One, two, or even more filter cartridges may be coupled to a single vaporization element. In a preferred embodiment of the invention each filter cartridge is provided with a threaded, male fitting at one end and a threaded female fitting having the same pitch and diamater as the male fitting in axial alignment with the male fitting at the opposite end. Several filter cartridges may thereby be threaded together. The threaded fitting of the filter cartridge at one end of the series is threadably engaged in the vaporization element, and the contaminated oil inlet conduit is threadably engaged with the exposed fitting of the series of filter cartridges at the other end.

When a plurality of filter cartridges are employed with a single vaporization element, the oil decontaminating capacity of the refiner of the invention is markedly increased. The oil must travel through all of the filter cartridges before reaching the vaporization element. A much greater volume of porous filtering material is therefore available to entrap solid contaminants in the oil.

When a plurality of filter cartridges are employed in series, it is desirable to periodically replace the filter cartridge nearest the contaminated oil inlet tube from the vehicle engine. The filter cartridge disposed in the position adjacent to the contaminated oil inlet tube will become saturated with solid contaminants more quickly than the filter cartridges closer to the vaporization element. Accordingly, in the preferred utilization of the invention employing a plurality of filter cartridges, the filter cartridge most closely adjacent to the contaminated oil inlet tube is removed and discarded. The opposite filter cartridge is disconnected from the vaporization element and a new filter cartridge is interposed between the vaporization element and the other filter cartridges. In this way each filter cartridge is progressively moved from coupled communication to the vaporization element toward the contaminated oil inlet tube, and ultimately discarded.

By providing an oil refiner which employs modular filter cartridges which may be coupled in series and remotely positioned relative to a vaporization element, the present invention allows a single model of an oil refiner to be utilized for virtually any automotive vehicle. Only the number and the positioning of the disposable filter cartridges is varied depending upon the vehicle with which the oil refiner is to be used.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the vaporization element is formed of a stamped metal, cup-shaped, vaporization chamber canister which has apertures therethrough to receive a filtered oil inlet fitting and a decontaminated oil outlet fitting both formed from crimped tubular members of the type heretofore described. Both of these fittings have internal, female threads for purposes of interconnecting the vaporization element to other structures. The canister is open at one end. The fitting forming the filtered oil inlet also serves as a vaporization nozzle having a constricting aperture therein. The filtered oil inlet vaporization nozzle is secured in an aperture in the stamped metal canister and partitions the vaporization element into a vaporization chamber above the nozzle and a pressure chamber below the nozzle. A stamped metal lid seals the open end of the canister. Preferably, the periphery of the stamped metal lid and the open end of the canister are formed into a releasable cup screw connection.

Each filter cartridge is also formed of a stamped metal cup. A governor screen is located in the cup above a contaminated oil inlet into the structure of the cup. The governor screen is spaced above the contaminated oil inlet so as to define a plenum therebeneath in the bottom of the cup. Above the governor screen the cup is filled with a porous filtering material, such as cotton. Above the cotton filter there is a layer of a polish micron filter, another layer of a polish felt filter, and then another layer of the final polish micron filter. A screen is located above the filtering layers and a stamped, metal cartridge lid is located atop the screen. The cartridge lid extends to the walls of the cup-shaped body of the disposable cartridge, and the upper edges of the lid are turned over to interengage the walls of the cartridge cup to hold the cartridge lid in position.

A tubular externally threaded fitting of the type described is inserted into an aperture and crimped onto the cartridge lid at its center to define a filtered oil outlet. The threaded filtered oil outlet mates with the threaded fitting forming the filtered oil inlet of the vaporization chamber canister so that the detachable filter cartridge and the vaporization chamber canister can be screwed together. Alternatively, the vaporization chamber canister and the disposable filter cartridge can be coupled together by means of a hose having appropriate threaded fittings on both ends. In this way the filter cartridge can be located remotely from the vaporization chamber canister, if necessary.

The fitting which forms both the filtered oil inlet and the vaporization nozzle in the vaporization element is a unitary structure formed as an elongated, cylindrical deep drawn stamping, open at the bottom and having a transverse partition at the top. The fitting forming the vaporization nozzle divides the vaporization canister into a vaporization chamber above the partition in direct communication with the decontaminated oil outlet fitting in the wall of the canister, and a pressure chamber located beneath the vaporization partition and within the concave structure defined by the fitting forming the vaporization nozzle and the filtered oil inlet.

At the center of the raised vaporization nozzle partition there is a very small diameter orifice which forms a constriction for oil flow from the pressure chamber to the vaporization chamber. An atomizing screen is located atop the vaporization plate at its center above the constricting aperture. The lid of the vaporization chamber canister is deformed at its center to define a downwardly extending convex bulge in the roof of the vaporization chamber. The bulge is positioned directly above the atomizing screen, and the atomizing screen is configured to receive the convex bulge. As oil passes from the pressure chamber through the constricting aperture to the much lower pressure of the vaporization chamber, it is dispersed through the atomizing screen and atomized. The downwardly extending bulge in the vaporization chamber roof aids in the lateral dispersion of the oil through the atomizing screen and into the vaporization chamber.

An electrical resistance heater is located at the roof of the vaporization chamber and is powered by the vehicle electrical system. The electrical heater is formed in a loop and is held in position in the roof of the vaporization chamber by an annular retaining cover.

The lid of the vaporization chamber canister also includes a vent. The vent preferably has a check valve which allows vapor to escape from the vaporization chamber and which maintains the vaporization chamber at at least ambient atmospheric pressure. In this way an excessive pressure build-up in the vaporization chamber is avoided, since such a pressure build-up would hinder atomization of the oil entering from the pressure chamber. At the same time, the vaporization chamber is not allowed to fall below atmospheric pressure so that foreign material from outside of the refiner cannot be drawn into the vent to contaminate the oil. The invention may be described with greater clarity and particularity by reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of an embodiment of the invention showing the filter cartridge detached from and coupled to the vaporization chamber canister by a connecting hose.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the vaporization canister and detachable filter cartridge coupled directly together.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional elevation of the embodiment of the invention taken along the lines 3-3 in Fig. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of Fig. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational detail taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

FIG. 6 is an elevational detail taken at the lines 6-6 in Fig. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevational detail indicated at 7 in Fig. 1.

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevational detail indicated at 8 in Fig. 3. FIG. 9 is an exploded, side sectional view illustrating a fitting according to the invention before installation in an aperture on one of the stamped metal members of the vaporization element or filter cartridge.

FIG. 10 is an end view taken along the lines 10-10 in Fig. 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates the manner of installation of the fitting of Fig. 9.

FIG. 12 illustrates the fitting of Fig. 9 once installed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Fig. 1 illustrates an oil decontaminating refiner 10 which includes a vaporization element 12 formed of a stamped metal cup-shaped canister 14, a fitting 28 which serves as both a filtered oil inlet and a vaporization nozzle, a decontaminated oil outlet fitting 22, and a generally discshaped lid 24. The canister 14, the fittings 22 and 28 and the lid 24 are assembled together to define a vaporization chamber 16 in communication with the decontaminated oil outlet fitting 22. The fitting 28 also defines a pressure chamber 38 within its concave confines. The decontaminating oil refiner 10 also includes at least one detachable filter cartridge 48 which has a contaminated oil inlet fitting 20. The detachable filter cartridge 48 is removably coupled to the vaporization element 12 in communication with the fitting 28 which serves as a filtered oil inlet. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, a hose 47 is used to couple the vaporization element 12 to the detachable filter cartridge 48. Mounting brackets 17 are used to clamp the vaporization element 12 and the filter cartridge 48 to the walls of the engine compartment of an automotive vehicle.

The vaporization chamber canister 14 is a generally cup-shaped steel structure having a dome-shaped rise 41 defined in the center of the floor 40 thereof, and the fitting 28 forming the filtered oil inlet is located at the axial center of the canister 14.

All of the inlet and outlet fittings to the oil refiner 10 are attached to the stamped metal members forming the housing structure of the vaporization element. 12 and the filter cartridge 48 in essentially the same manner. Figs. 9-12 illustrate the nature of the structure and the manner of attachment of all such oil refiner fittings. Fig. 9 illustrates a tubular fitting 201 which is formed as an annular metal barrel having a collar 202 of enlarged outer diameter and a narrower, projecting neck portion 203 axially projecting from the collar 202 for insertion through an aperture in a wall. The neck portion 203 has an extremity 204 which is internally threaded with threads 205. A section in the neck 203 of the barrel 201 is weakened by a reduced wall thickness, as indicated at 206 in Fig. 9. The weakened section 206 is located intermediate the collar 202 and the neck threads 205 and is spaced from the collar 202 a distance at least as great as the thickness of the wall through which the neck 203 of the barrel 201 is inserted. The collar 202 and the portion of the neck 203 immediately adjacent thereto is also internally threaded with threads 207. The pitch diameter of the threads 207 is greater than the pitch diameter of the threads 205.

The tubular fitting depicted in Fig. 9 also includes a rigid, annular retaining washer 208, having a central aperture therethrough and with a periphery curved as illustrated. The fitting also includes a toroidal rubber O-ring 209.

A collar 202 of the barrel 201 has an outer, radially projecting periphery larger than the outer diameter of the neck 203. The periphery of the collar 202 is of a generally disc-shaped configuration with external wrench flats 210 defined thereon. The wrench flats 210 allow the collar 202 to be immobilized from rotation during installation of the fitting depicted in Fig. 9. The fitting of Fig. 9 is installed in the manner depicted In Figs. 11 and 12. The annular retaining washer 208 is positioned between a wall 211 of a structure to which the fitting is to be attached and the collar 202. The resilient O-ring 209 is positioned between the retaining washer 208 and the wall 211. The collar 202 is then pressed snugly against the retainer washer 208 so that the retaining washer 208 captures the rubber O-ring 209 and presses it against the wall 211.

A bolt 212 having a threaded shank 214 is then inserted into the barrel 201. The neck 203 of the barrel 201 projects through an aperture in the wall 211 so that the weakened section 206 of the neck 203 is on the opposite side of the wall from the collar 202. The bolt 212 is engaged with the barrel 201 so that the male threads 214 on the bolt 212 are threadably interengaged with the female threads 205 on the extremity 204 of the neck 203. The bolt 212 is then rotated by means of a wrench or other tool to tighten the interengaged threads 205 and 214. The collar

202 is restrained from rotation by means of a wrench acting against the wrench flats 210.

As the bolt 212 is tightened, a compressive force is exerted on the barrel 201. This compressive force collapses the weakened section 206 in the neck 203 to form a radially projecting flange 215, as depicted in Fig. 12. The flange 215 bears against one side of the wall 211 and the collar 202 bears against the opposite side of the wall. The fitting is thereby tightly secured to the wall 211 with the collar 202 on one side and the flange 215 on the other. Thereafter, the bolt 212 is removed from the barrel 201.

A fitting 28 is formed in the manner described in association with Figs. 9-12. The fitting 28 includes a collar 202 and a flange 215 which secure the fitting 28 to the floor 40 of the vaporization chamber canister 14 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. While an annular retaining washer 208 and an O-ring 209 may be desirable to effectuate a fluid tight seal, they are not always necessary and have not been employed in the embodiment of the invention depicted in Figs. 1 and 3.

The fitting 28 serves both as a vaporization nozzle and as a filtered oil inlet. The fitting 28 defines a cavity beneath the vaporization partition 34. Oil leaves the pressure chamber 38 through the central orifice 140 defined in the vaporization partition 34.

The lid 24 is a stamped sheet metal disc on the underside of which an electrical resistance heating element 26 is mounted. The resistance heating element 26 is secured to the lid 24 by means of retaining cover 62. The lid 24 also Includes a breathing aperture 87, offset from the center and normally closed by a rubber plug 89. The center of the lid 24 is deformed to define a downwardly extending, bulbous bulge 66 in the roof 64 of the vaporization chamber 16.

The periphery of the lid 24 is depicted in detail in Fig. 7. The edge of the lid 24 is a turned over rim 68. The upper extremity of the cylindrical wall 70 of the metal canister 14 is deformed into a radially outwardly extending lip 72, defining an annular, uptfardly facing channel therewithin. An annular O-ring 74 is interposed between the lip 72 and the edge of the lid 24 to form a fluid tight seal therebetween. The O-ring 74 is maintained in compression to maintain a fluid tight seal by means of an encircling, articulated metal compression band 32, best depicted in Figs. 2 and 4. The metal retaining band 32 is formed of separate, articulated segments 35, 36 and 37, all defining generally trapezoidal shaped channels therewithin, as depicted in Fig. 7. Each of the segments 35, 36 and 37 extends over an arc of about 120°. The ends of each segment are deformed into overturned latching hooks 114. The latching hooks 114 capture opposing sides of a hinge ring 116 which has a generally square configuration, depicted in Fig. 6. The metal retaining band segment 35 is secured to the mounting bracket 17, as best depicted in Fig. 4. The segments 36 and 37 are joined in articulated fashion to the segment 35 by the hinge connection depicted in Fig. 6. The segments 36 and 37 are releasably connectable to each other by means of a conventional lever operated latching mechanism 118, best depicted in Figs. 2 and 4. The latching mechanism 118 includes an actuating lever 119. When the lever 119 is pulled radially outwardly to the phantom position depicted in Fig. 4, the retaining band segments 36 and 37 are released from each other and the oil refiner 10 can be removed from the metal retaining band 32. To reinstall an oil refiner 10, the refiner 10 is placed against the retaining band segment 35 so that the rim 68 and lip 72 are in contact with the structure of the metal band segment 35, as depicted in Fig. 7. The segments 36 and 37 are then hingedly swung toward each other on the hinges depicted in Fig. 6. The lever operated latching mechanism 118 is closed to the position depicted in solid lines in Fig. 4, thereby reducing the effective diameter of the annular channel defined by the retaining band segments 35, 36 and 37, which results in advancement of the lid 24 toward the lip 72 and compression of the O-ring 74.

The metal retaining band 32 and the lever operated latching mechanism 118 are conventional devices which are commercially available.

The bracket 17, depicted in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, includes a main structural mounting yoke 170, with conventional bolt and rubber washer assemblies 171 associated therewith. The bolt and rubber washer assemblies 171 are used to attach the yoke 170 to the fire wall or other structure in the engine compartment of an automotive vehicle.

The main structural yoke 170 embraces a positioning yoke 172. The yoke 172 has outwardly projecting ears which are secured to the ears of the yoke 170 by means of conventional bolt, washer and nut assemblies 173. The yoke 172 can be adjusted to hold the oil refiner 10 at a selected orientation to conform to the space requirements within the engine compartment of the automotive vehicle. To adjust the axial inclination of the oil refiner 10, the bolt and nut assemblies 173 are loosened, the yoke 172 is positioned as desired relative to the yoke 170 and the bolt and nut assemblies 173 are tightened to immobilize the yokes 170 and 172 relative to each other. The fitting 28 is a deep drawn, stamped steel structure having an annular collar 202 at its base. The fitting 28 is deformed as previously described so as to form a flange 215 which, together with the collar 202, secures the fitting 28 to the floor 40 of the vaporization element 12. Atop the vaporization partition 34 of the vaporization nozzle formed by the fitting 28, there is a generally dome shaped atomization screen 124, depicted in Figs. 1 and 3. The screen 124 has a cylindrical skirt 126 that extends down the outside surface of the vaporization partition. When the canister lid 24 is in position, tightened onto the canister 14 by means of the metal retaining band 32 and lever operated latching mechanism 118, as depicted in Fig. 2, the downwardly depending convex bulbous protrusion 66 of the lid 24 bears against the atomization screen 124. The apex of the atomization screen 124 may be configured with an arcuate depression therein to receive the protusion 66.

At the very center of the vaporization partition 34 there is a constricting orifice 140 which is only about .040 inches in diameter. As oil is forced upward from the pressure chamber 38 through the constricting orifice 140 it strikes the upper portion of the atomization screen 124 and the convex protrusion 66. The oil is deflected radially outwardly through the interstices in the frustoconical walls of the atomization screen 124. The convex protrusion 66 aids in the lateral dispersion of the oil through the atomization screen 124 into the vaporization chamber 16.

The atomized droplets of oil dispersed through the atomization screen 124 collect on the upper surface of the floor 40 and on the outer surface of the fitting 28 to reform as a liquid. The liquid oil collects and is ultimately discharged from the vaporization element 12 through the decontaminated oil outlet fitting 22 mounted in the cylindrical wall of the canister 14. The outlet fitting 22 is formed as explained in association with Figs. 9-12. A curved outlet spout 43, which at one extremity has a male nipple, is threadably engaged with the threads 207 of the decontaminated oil outlet fitting 22, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

Figs. 1, 3 and 5 illustrate a vent 18 which is formed of a valve housing 134 that encompasses the check valve associated with the vent 18. The check valve allows vapor to escape from the vaporization chamber 16 and serves to maintain the vaporization chamber 16 at at least ambient atmospheric pressure. The valve housing 134 has a male nipple which is threadably engaged with an interiorly threaded retaining collar 135. An elbow-shaped vent passageway 136, depicted in Figs. 1 and 3, is defined within the valve housing 134 and has a lower vent inlet port 138 in communication with the vaporization chamber 16 and an upper vent exhaust port 144. A buoyant stopper, in the form of a nylon sphere 142 is positioned in the vent passageway 136 to block the vent inlet port 138 unless pressure in the vaporization chamber 16 exceeds ambient external pressure. The sphere 142 also blocks the exhaust port 144 when liquid in the vent passageway 136 floats the sphere 142 to the level of the exhaust port 144 at the upper extremity of the vent passageway 136. Accordingly, oil cannot escape from the vent 18 even when the oil refiner 10 is tipped or when oil floods the vaporization chamber 16.

The detachable oil filter cartridge 48 is of a generally drum-shaped configuration and has a floor 50 with a dome 52 defined thereon. At the center of the dome the contaminated oil inlet fitting 20 is secured at an axial aperture in the dome 52 in the manner previously described. The contaminated oil inlet fitting 20 has female threads 207 which are of the same pitch diameter and thread configuration as the threads 207 in the filtered oil inlet 28 in the vaporization element 12. The fitting 20 is adapted to receive a male inlet nipple 147 to which a contaminated oil inlet hose 149 is connected, as depicted in Fig. 2.

The oil filter cartridge 48 also has a governor feed screen 79, which Is of a generally conical shaped configuration, as depicted in Figs. 1 and 3. The governor feed screen is a stamped metal structure with a multiplicity of apertures defined therein. The governor feed screen is spaced above the contaminated oil inlet fitting 20 so as to define a plenum therebeneath. The governor feed screen 79 promotes the uniform distribution of oil throughout the detachable oil filter cartridge 48 by insuring equal pressure throughout the cross section of the detachable oil filter cartridge 48 beneath the governor feed screen 79.

Above the governor feed screen 79, the filter cartridge 48 is filled with a porous filtering material, preferably cotton, indicated at 54 in Figs. 1 and 3. Above the cotton filter 54 there are several layers of filtering media having interstices of fine, selected dimensions. Two layers of polish micron filter paper are separated by a layer 88 of felt. Above the uppermost layer of filter paper there is a screen 90. An annular lid 92 is positioned atop the screen 90 and is held to the upper edges of the upright walls 98 of the filter cartridge 48 by a turned over lip 100.

The central portion of the lid 92 is configured into a dome 93 at the center of which an aperture is defined to receive a filtered oil outlet fitting 95, formed in the manner depicted and described in association with Figs. 9-12. The filtered oil outlet fitting 95 differs in structure from the fittings previously described only in that it is equipped with external male threads thereon so that the projecting neck portion of the fitting barrel forms a male nipple. The male nipple defined on the filtered oil outlet fitting 95 has the same thread pitch diameter and thread configuration as the nipple 147. The vaporization element 12 and the detachable filter cartridge 48 may be assembled as depicted in Fig. 3. The detachable filter cartridge 48 is removably coupled to the vaporization element 12 in communication with the filtered oil inlet fitting 28 of the vaporization element 12. The male threads on the projecting nipple of the filtered oil outlet fitting 95 of the disposable cartridge 48 have the same diameter and thread pitch as the female threads 207 on the filtered oil inlet fitting 28 of the vaporization element 12. Also, the filtered oil outlet fitting 95 of the cartridge 48 and the filtered oil inlet fitting 28 of the vaporization element 12 are axially aligned. The filtered oil outlet fitting 95 of the cartridge 48 is threadably secured to the threads 207 of the filtered oil inlet fitting 28. Preferably, a rubber O-ring gasket 102 is provided in an annular channel defined on the upper surface of the annular lid 92 of the cartridge 48 when the filtered oil outlet fitting of the cartridge 48 is screwed into the filtered oil inlet fitting of the vaporization element 12, the O-ring gasket 102 is compressed so that the filter cartridge 48 is releasably and removably secured to the canister 14 with a fluid tight seal therebetween. The dome 41 of the underside of the floor 40 of the canister 14 has a geometric configuration which readily adapts to and receives the dome 93 of the cartridge 48, as depicted in Fig. 3.

At least one oil filter cartridge 48 is removably secured to the canister 14 in each oil refiner 10. Depending upon the size of the engine, it may be desirable for additional disposable cartridges 48 to be employed so as to accommodate the necessary volume of oil to be filtered. Such an arrangement is depicted in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, two oil filter cartridges 48 are connected In series in "piggy-back" fashion, and the uppermost cartridge 48 is coupled to the canister 14 of the vaporization element 12. The dome 52 of each disposable filter cartridge 48 has the same geometric configuration as the dome 41 of the canister 14, so that successive disposable filter cartridges 48 may be connected together in series, as depicted in Fig. 3. The contaminated oil inlet fitting 20 of each filter cartridge 48 has female threads 207 of the same configuration and pitch diameter as the filtered oil inlet fitting 28 of the vaporization element 12. Any number of disposable cartridges 48 may thereby be threadably connected to a single vaporization element 12, although when more than two cartridges 48 are employed an additional bracket 17, a metal retaining band 32, and a lever operated latching mechanism 118 between cartridges may be necessary.

When the oil refiner 10 of the invention is utilized in the fashion depicted in Fig. 3, the canister 14 is secured to the structure of the vehicle engine compartment by means of a bracket 17, the yoke 172 of which is spot welded to the metal retaining band segment 35. The disposable oil filter cartridges 48 are threadably engaged to each other by screwing together the mating contaminated oil inlet fitting 20 of the uppermost cartridge and the filtered oil outlet fitting 95 of the lowermost cartridge. A rubber O-ring gasket 102 provides a fluid-tight seal therebetween. The uppermost filter cartridge 48 is then screwed in mating engagement into the female threads 207 of the filtered oil inlet fitting 28 on the vaporization element 12. A suitable conduit 149 is coupled from the engine to the contaminated oil inlet fitting 20 of the lowermost filter cartridge 48 by means of a nipple 147 and a compression band 151. Similarly, the decontaminated oil outlet fitting 22 is threadably engaged with an appropriate fitting such as the spout 43, leading to return the decontaminated oil to the engine. In some instances only a single filter cartridge

48 is necessary. In such an arrangement, the lowermost filter cartridge 48 would be deleted from the arrangement of Fig. 3.

In some automotive vehicles there is insufficient room at a single location to accommodate both the vaporization element 12 and the oil filter cartridge 48. The refiner 10 of the invention may still be utilized in such vehicles by employing the connecting hose 47, depicted in Fig. 1. The connecting hose 47 has a stiffening, annular insert 75 with male threads thereon at one end and a stiffening annular insert 76 with female threads thereon at the other end. Conventional compression bands 77 hold the inserts 75 and 76 in the ends of the hose 47, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Using the hose 47, the filter cartridge 48 can be remotely located from the vaporization element 12 while still remaining in flow communication with the filtered oil inlet 46 of the vaporization element 12 through the hose 47. Thus, the vaporization element 12 can be mounted in the engine compartment where there is sufficient room to receive it, but inadequate room to receive both the vaporization element 12 and the filter cartridge 48. Similarly, the filter cartridge 48 may be mounted at a remote location where the volume of space available would be insufficient to accommodate both the vaporization element 12 and the filter cartridge 48.

It can be seen that numerous variations of assembly of the components of the oil refiner 10 are possible. Two possible assembly configurations are depicted in Figs. 1 and 3, respectively. Alternatively, a single oil filter cartridge 48 might be employed in direct threaded engagement with the canister 14, in the manner depicted in Fig. 3. Alternatively, two or more filter cartridges 48 might be coupled together serially in the manner depicted in Fig. 3, but remotely located from the vaporization element and connected thereto by the hose 47 in the manner depicted in Fig. 1. Other assembly configurations are also possible. To achieve this modular form of construction, it is necessary for the threaded male fittings, including the filtered oil outlet fitting 95 of the cartridge 48, the insert 75 of the hose 47, and the contaminated oil inlet nipple 147 of the filter cartridge 48, to be of the same thread pitch and diameter. Likewise, the female fittings, including the contaminated inlet fitting 20 of the oil filter cartridge 48, the insert 76 of the hose 47, and the filtered oil inlet fitting 28, must likewise be of the same thread pitch and diameter. Since the decontaminated oil outlet fitting 22 does not connect with any of the other fittings in the oil refiner 10, it need not necessarily be of the same size.

Preferably, the vaporization canister 14 and the filter cartridge 48 are constructed to nest together. In the embodiments of the invention illustrated, the lower extremity of the filter cartridge 48 at the floor 50 has the same outer diameter as the lower extremity of the canister 14 at the floor 40 of the vaporization element 12. The lower extremity of the vaporization chamber canister 14 nests within the lip 100 of the lid 92 of the filter cartridge 48. The walls 70 of the vaporization chamber canister 14 are tapered downwardly with a slight draft, as are the walls 98 of the filter cartridge 48. The lower extremity of the vaporization chamber canister 14 thereby seats into the confines of the lip 100 in nesting fashion, and the rubber O-ring 102 is compressed therebetween to form a fluid-tight seal. The lower extremities of the vaporization chamber canister 14 and the oil filter cartridges 48 are of the same outer cross-sectional configuration, so that a plurality of oil filter cartridges 48 can seat in nested fashion, one within another, as illustrated in the arrangement of Figs. 2 and 3.

In the operation of the by-pass oil refiner 10, heated, contaminated oil is directed from an inlet tube 149 and up through a coupling into the contaminated oil inlet fitting 20 of a filter cartridge 48. The oil percolates up through the cotton filter 54 where the largest, solid contaminants are removed and entrapped. The oil then passes upward and flows through the micro-paper layers and the felt filter 80 therebetween where finer solid contaminants are removed from the flowing oil. The oil then flows, under pressure, through the filtered oil outlet fitting 95 of the filter cartridge 48 and into the filtered oil inlet fitting 28 of the vaporization element 12, either directly, as in the embodiment of Fig. 3, or through the hose 47, as in the embodiment of Fig. 1.

The oil is under pressure as it enters the pressure chamber 38 in the filtered oil inlet fitting 28 of the canister 14. The constricting orifice 140 restricts the flow of oil out of the pressure chamber 38 and increases the pressure therein. The hot, partially decontaminated oil in the pressure chamber 38 serves to aid in heating the vaporization partition 34 from beneath. As the oil emanates from the constricting orifice 140, it is ejected upward as a jet, striking the convex protrusion 66, which disperses the oil radially outwardly through the atomizing screen 124 to break the oil up into tiny droplets. As the oil leaves the constricting orifice 140, there is a sudden decrease in pressure, since the oil is no longer flowing through a constriction. The pressure in the vaporizing chamber 16 is therefore much lower than the pressure in the pressure chamber 38. Also, electrical resistance heating element

26 and the heat imparted to the vaporization nozzle fitting 28 by the partially decontaminated oil therebeneath, along with the reduced pressure, serve to vaporize liquid contaminants remaining in the oil. These vaporized contaminants are expelled through the vent 18.

As long as pressure in the vaporization chamber 16 remains above ambient atmospheric pressure, the expelled vapors are free to flow to the vent inlet port 138 through the vent passageway 136 to the vent outlet port 144. Should the pressure of the vaporization chamber 16 fall to atmospheric pressure, however, the nylon sphere 142 will drop to block the vent port 138 and prevent ambient air from being sucked into the vaporization chamber 16. Should the vaporization chamber 16 become flooded with oil, the nylon sphere 142 will float and plug the exhaust port 144 to prevent loss of oil through the vent 18.

The atomized droplets of oil collect on the floor 50 of the vaporization chamber to reform as a liquid. As the liquid level rises, the oil is discharged from the vaporization element 12 through the lateral outlet fitting 22 defined in the canister wall.

To service the vaporization element of the oil refiner 10, to replace a rubber O-ring gasket 74, or to check the atomizing screen 124, the latching lever 119 is pulled to the phantom position depicted in Fig. 4. This releases the latching mechanism 118 and allows the metal retaining band segments to be moved to the phantom positions depicted in Fig. 4. The lid 24 is thereby released and may be lifted from the open end of the vaporization chamber canister 14.

To replace the disposable filter cartridge 48, the contaminated oil conduit 149 and nipple 147 are disconnected from the contaminated oil inlet fitting 20 in the oil filter cartridge 48. The filter cartridge 48 is then threadably disengaged from communication with the vaporization chamber canister 14. If more than one oil filter cartridge 48 is utilized, it is the preferred practice to remove and discard the filter cartridge 48 closest to the source of the contaminated oil, and to insert a new filter cartridge in series with the other filter cartridges and in a position most remote from the source of the contaminated oil. Once the discarded oil filter cartridge 48 has been replaced, the remaining oil filter cartridges 48 are threadably engaged with each other, and either with the insert 76 of the hose 47, or directly with the filtered oil inlet fitting 28 of the canister 14. The contaminated oil inlet conduit 149 and nipple 147 are re-engaged with the lowermost contaminated oil inlet fitting 20 of the filter cartridge 48 closest thereto. The oil refiner 10 is then again ready for use.

Undoubtedly, numerous variations and modifications of the invention will become readily apparent to those familiar with oil refining devices. For example, a shell can be provided about the oil filter cartridges 48 and interconnected in threaded engagement, by means of a threaded retaining ring or otherwise, to the vaporization element 12. Such an arrangement may be employed to enhance the structural stability of the oil refiner 10. Other variations and modifications of the invention are likewise entirely feasible. For example, the inlet and outlet fittings used in the vaporization element and in the filter cartridge may be of the type which are commercially available and which are sold by the Hawthorne Stamping Co. Incorporated and TEK Mfg., both of Hawthorne, California, as part numbers PDE-14821-01, PDE-14821-02, PDE-14821-03, PDE-14821-04 and PDE-14815-01. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited to the specific embodiment and arrangements depicted and described, but rather is defined in the Claims appended hereto.

Claims

In the Claims :

1. An oil decontaminating device comprising a vaporization element formed of stamped metal members assembled together to define a vaporization chamber in communication with a decontaminated oil outlet and a pressure chamber in communication with a filtered oil inlet, and at least one detachable filter cartridge having a contaminated oil inlet and removably coupled to said vaporization element in communication with said filtered oil inlet.

2. An oil decontaminating device according to Claim

1 In which said filtered oil inlet of said vaporization element is a threaded fitting on one of said stamped metal members, and said filter cartridge has a filtered oil outlet threadably engageable with said filtered oil inlet of said vaporization element.

3. An oil decontaminating device according to Claim 2 in which said contaminated oil inlet of said filter cartridge is a threaded fitting having the same pitch and diameter as said filtered oil inlet of said vaporization element, whereby a plurality of said filter cartridges are engageable together in series for coupling to said vaporization element.

4. An oil decontaminating device according to Claim

2 further comprising a connecting hose having a fitting threadably engageable with said filtered oil outlet of said filter cartridge at one end and a fitting threadably engageable with said filtered oil inlet of said vaporization element at the other end, whereby said filter cartridges can be remotely located from said vaporization element and in flow communication therewith through said hose.

5. An oil decontaminating device according to Claim 1 in which said filter cartridge includes a filtered oil outlet and contains a porous filtering material and layers of micropaper separated by a layer of felt are located between said porous filtering material and said filtered oil outlet.

6. An oil decontaminating device according to Claim 4 in which said filter cartridge further includes a governor feed screen located below said porous filtering material and spaced above said contaminated oil inlet.

7. An oil decontaminating device according to Claim 1 further comprising a vent having a check valve associated therewith to allow vapor to escape from said vaporization chamber and to maintain said vaporization chamber at at least ambient atmospheric pressure.

8. An oil refiner according to Claim 1 wherein one of said stamped metal members of said vaporization element is a vaporization nozzle having a constricting aperture therein and separating said vaporization chamber from said pressure chamber, and further comprising an atomizing screen located on said vaporization nozzle atop said constricting aperture therein, whereby oil under pressure is dispersed from said pressure chamber to said vaporization chamber through said constricting aperture and through said atomizing screen.

9. An oil refiner according to Claim 8 in which one of said stamped metal members forms a roof of said vaporization chamber and is indented to define an internal convex protrusion within said vaporization element and said atomizing screen is configured to receive said convex protrusion, whereby said convex protrusion aids in lateral dispersion of said oil through said atomizing screen into said vaporization chamber.

10. An oil decontaminating device according to

Claim 1 in which the lower extremity of said vaporization element is of cylindrical cross section and said cartridge has an annular rim adapted to receive said lower extremity of said vaporization element in nesting fashion.

11. An oil decontaminating device according to

Claim 10 further comprising a resilient gasket interposed between said lower extremity of said vaporization element and said cartridge within said annular rim.

12. An oil decontaminating device according to Claim 10 in which the lower extremity of said filter cartridge has the same diameter as said lower extremity of said vaporization element, whereby a plurality of said filter cartridges are nestable together in tandem fashion.

13. An oil refiner for an internal combustion engine comprising a stamped metal vaporization chamber canister with a filtered oil inlet and a decontaminated oil outlet and having an open end, a metal vaporization nozzle having a constricting aperture therein and secured in said stamped metal canister to partition said filtered oil inlet from said decontaminated oil outlet, a stamped metal lid sealing said open end of said canister and carrying an electrical heating element and an oil filter cartridge containing a porous filtering material therein and having a contaminated oil inlet and a filtered oil outlet and removably secured to said canister so that said filtered oil outlet of said cartridge is in communication with said filtered oil inlet of said canister.

14. An oil refiner according to Claim 13 in which said filtered oil inlet of said canister and said filtered oil outlet of said filter cartridge are mating, threadably engageable fittings.

15. An oil refiner according to Claim 14 in which said contaminated oil inlet of said filter cartridge is a threaded fitting having the same thread configuration, pitch and diameter as said filtered oil inlet of said vaporization chamber canister.

16. An oil refiner according to Claim 13 further comprising a hose for connecting said filtered oil inlet of said vaporization chamber canister and said filtered oil outlet of said filter cartridge.

17. An oil refiner according to Claim 13 in which the periphery of said stamped metal lid and said open end of said canister are formed into a releasable cup screw connection.

18. An oil refiner according to Claim 13 in which the lower extremity of said vaporization chamber canister and the upper portion of said oil filter cartridge seat together in nesting fashion, and a fluid-tight seal is interposed therebetween.

19. An oil refiner according to Claim 18 in which the walls of said oil filter cartridge are tapered so that the lower extremity of said oil filter cartridge and the lower extremity of said vaporization canister have the same outer cross sectional configuration.

20. An oil refiner according to Claim 13 further comprising a governor feed screen located in said oil filter cartridge to define a plenum therebeneath.

21. A tubular fitting for an aperture in a wall comprising an annular metal barrel .having a collar for positioning in abutment against a wall around an aperture therethrough and a narrower neck projecting from said collar for insertion through an aperture in a wall and having an internally threaded portion projecting beyond the other side of said wall from said collar, and said barrel has a weakened section intermediate said collar and said neck threads and spaced from said collar a distance at least as great as the thickness of said wall through which said barrel is inserted, whereby compression of said barrel collapses said weakened section into a radially projecting flange thereby securing said fitting to said wall with said collar on one side of said wall and said flange on the other.

22. A tubular fitting according to Claim 22 wherein said collar is also internally threaded at a diameter greater than the diameter of the internally threaded portion of said neck.

23. A tubular fitting according to Claim 22 further comprising a rigid annular retainer for positioning between said wall and said collar, and a resilient sealing ring for positioning between said retainer and said wall.

24. A tubular fitting according to Claim 22 wherein said collar has external wrench flats defined thereon.