Oil recirculation system for engines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9714588-B2
Application number	US-201514793798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2015
Priority date	Jul 8, 2015
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

An oil recirculation system for an engine is disclosed. The oil recirculation system includes a first conduit coupled to the engine to receive an oil and a second conduit coupled to the engine to supply the oil to the engine. The oil recirculation system further includes a filtering device disposed between the first and second conduits. The filtering device includes a first housing member defining a first chamber therein. The first chamber is in fluid communication with the first conduit. The filtering device further includes a second housing member removably coupled to the first housing member and defines a second chamber therein. The second chamber is in fluid communication with the second conduit. The first and second chambers together define a passage to receive the oil therethrough. The filtering device further includes a filter member disposed in the passage to filter the oil flowing therethrough.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oil recirculation system for an engine comprising:
a first conduit coupled to the engine to receive an oil therethrough;
a second conduit coupled to the engine to supply the oil to the engine; and
a filtering device disposed between the first conduit and the second conduit, the filtering device comprising:
a first housing member defining a first chamber therein, the first chamber being directly connected with first conduit;
a second housing member removably coupled to the first housing member, the second housing member defining a second chamber therein, the second chamber being directly connected with second conduit, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber together define a passage to receive the oil therethrough; and
a filter member disposed in the passage to filter the oil flowing therethrough.

2. The oil recirculation system of claim 1 further comprising a first coupling member configured to be coupled with a first flange portion defined adjacent to a first end of the first housing member, wherein the first coupling member is further coupled to the first conduit.

3. The oil recirculation system of claim 2 , wherein the first flange portion defines a first channel configured to be in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing member and the first conduit.

4. The oil recirculation system of claim 1 further comprising a second coupling member configured to be coupled with a second flange portion defined adjacent to a first end of the second housing member, wherein the second coupling member is further coupled to the second conduit.

5. The oil recirculation system of claim 4 , wherein the second flange portion defines a second channel configured to be in fluid communication with the second chamber of the second housing member and the second conduit.

6. The oil recirculation system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first housing member defines a first mating surface adjacent to a second end thereof; and
the second housing member defines a second mating surface adjacent to a second end thereof, the second mating surface configured to abut the first mating surface of the first housing member;
wherein at least one of the first mating surface and the second mating surface comprises an annular groove configured to receive a sealing member therein.

7. The oil recirculation system of claim 6 , wherein:
the first housing member comprises a step portion adjacent to the second end thereof; and
the second housing member comprises a mating portion adjacent to the second end thereof, the mating portion configured to be removably engaged with the step portion of the first housing member.

8. The oil recirculation system of claim 7 further comprising threads defined on an outer surface of the step portion to engage with corresponding threads defined on an inner surface of the mating portion.

9. The oil recirculation system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member comprises a receiving portion configured to removably receive the filter member therein.

10. The oil recirculation system of claim 1 , wherein the filter member has a pore size varying from 60-80 microns.

11. A filtering device in an oil recirculation system of an engine, the oil recirculation system having a first conduit coupled to the engine to receive an oil therethrough and a second conduit coupled to the engine to supply the oil to the engine, the filtering device comprising:
a first housing member defining a first chamber therein, the first chamber being directly connected with first conduit;
a second housing member removably coupled to the first housing member, the second housing member defining a second chamber therein, the second chamber being directly connected with second conduit, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber together define a passage to receive the oil therethrough; and
a filter member disposed in the passage to filter the oil flowing therethrough.

12. The filtering device of claim 11 further comprising a first flange portion defined adjacent to a first end of the first housing member, the first flange portion defines a first channel configured to be in fluid communication with the first chamber of the first housing member and the first conduit.

13. The filtering device of claim 11 further comprising a second flange portion defined adjacent to a first end of the second housing member, the second flange portion defines a second channel configured to be in fluid communication with the second chamber of the second housing member and the second conduit.

14. The filtering device of claim 11 , wherein:
the first housing member defines a first mating surface adjacent to a second end thereof; and
the second housing member defines a second mating surface adjacent to a second end thereof, the second mating surface configured to abut the first mating surface of the first housing member;
wherein at least one of the first mating surface and the second mating surface comprises an annular groove configured to receive a sealing member therein.

15. The filtering device of claim 14 , wherein:
the first housing member comprises a step portion adjacent to the second end thereof; and
the second housing member comprises a mating portion adjacent to the second end thereof, the mating portion configured to be removably engaged with the step portion of the first housing member.

16. The filtering device of claim 15 further comprising threads defined on an outer surface of the step portion to engage with corresponding threads defined on an inner surface of the mating portion.

17. The filtering device of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member comprises a receiving portion configured to removably receive the filter member therein.

18. The filtering device of claim 11 , wherein the filter member has a pore size varying from 60-80 microns.

19. A method of inspecting an oil of an engine, the method comprising:
receiving the oil from the engine;
allowing the oil to pass through a filter member disposed between a first housing member and a second housing member of a filtering device, the filtering device disposed between a first conduit directly connected to the first housing member, and a second conduit directly connected to the second housing member, both coupled to the engine for circulating the oil; and
detaching the first housing member from the second housing member periodically to inspect the filter member.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising replacing the filter member based on the inspection.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Isenberg Walter S
• Storms Kevin P

Classifications

• F01M1/10 Primary

  Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters · CPC title

• F01M11/03

  Mounting or connecting of lubricant purifying means relative to the machine or engine; Details of lubricant purifying means (filters B01D) · CPC title

• F02B63/04

  for electric generators · CPC title

• F01M11/02

  Arrangements of lubricant conduits · CPC title

• F01M2001/1028

  characterised by the type of purification · CPC title