U.S. patent number RE48,573 [Application Number 16/527,890] was granted by the patent office on 2021-06-01 for oil filter assembly having rotation type drain pin.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mahle International GmbH. The grantee listed for this patent is Mahle International GmbH. Invention is credited to Sangpil Byun, Giwon Park.
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United States Patent |
RE48,573 |
Byun , et al. |
June 1, 2021 |
Oil filter assembly having rotation type drain pin
Abstract
An oil filter module may include a casing and a filter therein.
The oil filter module may also include a cap coupled to the casing,
and including a drain nipple protruding downward from a portion of
the cap corresponding to a bottom support plate of the filter with
a drain hole formed in the drain nipple. The oil filter module may
further include a drain pin coupled to the drain nipple so as to be
removable so that the drain hole is open or closed by the drain
pin. A rotation groove having a rotating axis of the casing may be
formed in a lower surface of the bottom support plate. The drain
hole may be formed at a position corresponding to the rotation
groove, and the drain pin may be seated at one end thereof onto a
bottom of the rotation groove when the drain pin is coupled to the
drain nipple.
Inventors: |
Byun; Sangpil (Ansan-Si,
KR), Park; Giwon (Ansan-Si, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mahle International GmbH |
Stuttgart |
N/A |
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Mahle International GmbH
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005316359 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/527,890 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
14939818 |
Nov 12, 2015 |
9718010 |
Aug 1, 2017 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 13, 2014 [KR] |
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10-2014-0158180 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D
35/30 (20130101); B01D 35/153 (20130101); B01D
35/16 (20130101); B01D 35/005 (20130101); B01D
29/21 (20130101); B01D 35/147 (20130101); B01D
2201/291 (20130101); B01D 2201/4015 (20130101); B01D
2201/4084 (20130101); B01D 2201/4076 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01D
35/00 (20060101); F02M 37/22 (20190101); B01D
35/147 (20060101); B01D 35/16 (20060101); B01D
29/21 (20060101); B01D 35/153 (20060101); B01D
35/30 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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202005002955 |
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Jul 2006 |
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DE |
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102007009352 |
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Aug 2008 |
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DE |
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102009049868 |
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Apr 2011 |
|
DE |
|
102014000715 |
|
Jul 2015 |
|
DE |
|
3034147 |
|
Jun 2016 |
|
EP |
|
2003512165 |
|
Apr 2003 |
|
JP |
|
2004346929 |
|
Dec 2004 |
|
JP |
|
100775520 |
|
Nov 2007 |
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KR |
|
102012007926 |
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Jul 2012 |
|
KR |
|
1020120079269 |
|
Jul 2012 |
|
KR |
|
10-1190220 |
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Oct 2012 |
|
KR |
|
Other References
English Abstract for JP 2004346929A. cited by applicant .
English Abstract for JP 2003512165A. cited by applicant .
English abstract provided for KR-10-1190220. cited by applicant
.
European Search Report for EP15194123 dated May 20, 2016. cited by
applicant .
English Abstract for DE202005002955U1. cited by applicant .
English Abstract for DE102014000715A1. cited by applicant .
English Abstract for KR100775520B1. cited by applicant .
International Search Report for PCT/EP2015/076463, dated Jul. 15,
2016. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Kaufman; Joseph A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fishman Stewart PLLC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An oil filter .[.module.]. .Iadd.assembly .Iaddend.comprising:
.[.a casing having an open end; a filter installed in the casing
and including:.]. a pipe-shaped support frame having a plurality of
openings in a sidewall thereof; a filter paper enclosing an outer
surface of the support frame; an upper support plate coupled to the
support frame and configured to cover an upper end of the filter
paper; and a bottom support plate coupled to the support frame and
configured to cover a lower end of the filter paper; a cap
.[.threadedly coupled to the casing to cover the open end of the
casing, the cap.]. .Iadd.configured to rotate relative to the
bottom support plate and .Iaddend.including a drain nipple
protruding downward from a portion of the cap corresponding to the
bottom support plate, with a drain hole formed in the drain nipple;
and a drain pin coupled to the drain nipple so as to be removable
so that the drain hole formed in the drain nipple is opened or
closed by the drain pin, wherein an annular rotation groove having
a rotating axis of the .[.casing.]. .Iadd.cap .Iaddend.as a central
axis thereof is formed in a lower surface of the bottom support
plate, the drain hole is formed at a position corresponding to the
rotation groove, and the drain pin is seated at one end thereof
onto a bottom of the rotation groove when the drain pin is coupled
to the drain nipple.
2. The oil filter .[.module.]. .Iadd.assembly .Iaddend.according to
claim 1, wherein the drain pin comprises: a pin body inserted into
the drain hole in a force-fitting manner; a slide block seated on
the bottom of the rotation groove and formed on a first
longitudinal end of the pin body in a block shape such that the
slide block can slide along the rotation groove when the cap is
rotated.[.in a direction in which the cap is threadedly rotated.].;
.Iadd.and .Iaddend. a handle provided on a second longitudinal end
of the pin body and exposed outside the drain nipple.[.; and a
sealing element provided to enclose an outer surface of the pin
body.]..
3. The oil filter .[.module.]. .Iadd.assembly .Iaddend.according to
claim 2, wherein the rotation groove is formed such that a width of
a bottom surface of the rotation groove is less than a width of an
entrance into the rotation groove, a longitudinal length of the
slide block is greater than the entrance width of the rotation
groove, and a lateral width of the slide block is less than the
entrance width of the rotation groove.
4. The oil filter .[.module.]. .Iadd.assembly .Iaddend.according to
claim 3, wherein the slide block is made of a material having an
elasticity higher than a reference value, and when the drain pin is
oriented such that a longitudinal direction of the slide block
corresponds to a .[.diameter.]. .Iadd.radial .Iaddend.direction of
the rotation groove, a longitudinal end of the slide block comes
into contact with an inner sidewall of the rotation groove.
5. The oil filter .[.module.]. .Iadd.assembly .Iaddend.according to
claim 3, wherein a longitudinal end of the slide block has a curved
shape corresponding to a curvature of the inner sidewall of the
rotation groove.
6. The oil filter .[.module.]. .Iadd.assembly .Iaddend.according to
claim 2, wherein a marking slot having a length in a diameter
direction of the drain nipple is formed in a protruding end of the
drain nipple, the handle has a plate shape extending downward, and
when the drain pin is oriented such that a longitudinal direction
of the slide block corresponds to a diameter direction of the
rotation groove, opposite lateral sides of the handle corresponds
to .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.marking groove.
7. The oil filter .[.module.]. .Iadd.assembly .Iaddend.according to
claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.2.Iaddend., wherein .[.a longitudinal end of
the slide block has a curved shape corresponding to a curvature of
the inner sidewall of the rotation groove.]. .Iadd.the drain pin
further comprises a sealing element provided to enclose an outer
surface of the pin body.Iaddend..
.[.8. The oil filter module according to claim 3, wherein a marking
slot having a length in a diameter direction of the drain nipple is
formed in a protruding end of the drain nipple, the handle has a
plate shape extending downward, and when the drain pin is oriented
such that a longitudinal direction of the slide block corresponds
to a diameter direction of the rotation groove, opposite lateral
sides of the handle corresponds to the marking groove..].
.[.9. The oil filter module according to claim 4, wherein a marking
slot having a length in a diameter direction of the drain nipple is
formed in a protruding end of the drain nipple, the handle has a
plate shape extending downward, and when the drain pin is oriented
such that a longitudinal direction of the slide block corresponds
to a diameter direction of the rotation groove, opposite lateral
sides of the handle corresponds to the marking groove..].
.[.10. The oil filter module according to claim 5, wherein a
marking slot having a length in a diameter direction of the drain
nipple is formed in a protruding end of the drain nipple, the
handle has a plate shape extending downward, and when the drain pin
is oriented such that a longitudinal direction of the slide block
corresponds to a diameter direction of the rotation groove,
opposite lateral sides of the handle corresponds to the marking
groove..].
.[.11. An oil filter module comprising: a casing having an open
end; a filter installed in the casing and including: a pipe-shaped
support frame having a plurality of openings in a sidewall thereof;
a filter paper enclosing an outer surface of the support frame; an
upper support plate coupled to the support frame and configured to
cover an upper end of the filter paper; and a bottom support plate
coupled to the support frame and configured to cover a lower end of
the filter paper; a cap threadedly coupled to the casing to cover
the open end of the casing, the cap including a drain nipple
protruding downward from a portion of the cap corresponding to the
bottom support plate, with a drain hole formed in the drain nipple;
and a drain pin coupled to the drain nipple so as to be removable
so that the drain hole formed in the drain nipple is opened or
closed by the drain pin, the drain pin including: a pin body
inserted into the drain hole in a force-fitting manner; a slide
block seated on the bottom of the rotation groove and formed on a
first longitudinal end of the pin body in a block shape such that
the slide block can slide along the rotation groove when the cap is
rotated in a direction in which the cap is threadedly rotated; a
handle provided on a second longitudinal end of the pin body and
exposed outside the drain nipple; and a sealing element provided to
enclose an outer surface of the pin body, wherein an annular
rotation groove having a rotating axis of the casing as a central
axis thereof is formed in a lower surface of the bottom support
plate, the drain hole is formed at a position corresponding to the
rotation groove, and the drain pin is seated at one end thereof
onto a bottom of the rotation groove when the drain pin is coupled
to the drain nipple..].
.[.12. The oil filter module according to claim 11, further
comprising a safety pin insertable in a through-hole passing
through the drain pin and the drain nipple to maintain the drain
pin in the drain hole..].
.[.13. The oil filter module according to claim 12, wherein the
through-hole is positioned below the sealing element..].
14. The oil filter .[.module.]. .Iadd.assembly .Iaddend.according
to claim 1, further comprising a safety pin insertable in a
through-hole passing through the drain pin and the drain nipple to
maintain the drain pin in the drain hole.
15. The oil filter .[.module.]. .Iadd.assembly .Iaddend.according
to claim 14, wherein the safety pin includes a handle at one end
and elastic elements configured to grab behind an edge of the
through-hole when the safety pin is fully inserted in the
.[.through-holes.]. .Iadd.through-hole.Iaddend..
.Iadd.16. The oil filter assembly according to claim 14, further
comprising an O-ring sealing element arranged on an outer
circumferential surface of the drain pin, wherein the through-hole
is positioned below the O-ring sealing element relative to the
bottom support plate..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The oil filter assembly according to claim 1, further
comprising a casing having an open end, wherein the cap is
threadedly coupled to the casing to cover the open end of the
casing..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The oil filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
drain pin includes a slide block at said one end seated on the
bottom of the rotation groove, and wherein the slide block
comprises a synthetic resin material..Iaddend.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application .Iadd.is a Reissue Application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/939,818, filed on Nov. 12, 2015, now U.S.
Pat. No. 9,718,010, issued on Aug. 1, 2017, which .Iaddend.claims
priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0158180, filed
Nov. 13, 2014, the contents of .Iadd.all of .Iaddend.which are
hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an oil filter assembly used for
filtering engine oil and in particular discloses that the oil
filter assembly on an oil filter combines a rotary drain pin used
for discharging engine oil.
BACKGROUND
As we all know, when an engine is driven, engine oil is supplied to
the friction parts of the engine to lubricate and cool them. As the
engine keeps on working, the engine oil is contaminated by oxides
and various impurities produced when metal particles, carbon
particles, and engine oil are oxidated. If the engine continues to
run when the engine oil is contaminated, rotating friction parts
such as crankshaft and oil cylinder are gradually worn out and
become damaged. If the conditions further worsen, these parts may
be sintered causing a risk of safety accidents.
As described above, it is very important to continuously keep
engine oil clean because it directly affects the service life and
performance of the engine. Therefore, an oil filter assembly needs
to be set on the engine oil circulation path to continuously keep
engine oil clean.
The following describes in detail the existing oil filter assembly
with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded oblique view of the existing oil filter
assembly and FIG. 2 shows the structure of the drain bolt installed
on the cap of the existing oil filter assembly.
The existing oil filter assembly comprises the following
structures: a casing (10), a replaceable oil filter (20) set in the
casing (10), and a detachable cap (30) combined at the opening (15)
of the casing (10). A first installation part (11) and a second
installation part (12) are formed on the other side of the casing
(10). The first installation part (11) is installed on the engine
side (not shown in the figure) with a plurality of connection
pieces, while the second installation part (12) is installed on the
engine oil cooler side (5) with a plurality of connection pieces.
In addition, a first oil return hole (11a) connected to the engine
(not shown in the figure) and a drain hole (11b) are formed on the
first installation part (11), while a second oil return hole (12a)
connected to the engine oil cooler (5) and an oil inlet hole (12b)
are formed on the second installation part (12). Therefore,
contaminated engine oil in the internal circulation of the engine
(not shown in the figure) flows through the first oil return hole
(11a) and the second oil return hole (12a) into the engine oil
cooler (5), and contaminated engine oil is cooled in the engine oil
cooler (5). After engine oil cooled in the engine oil cooler (5)
flows through the oil inlet hole (12b) into the casing (10) and is
filtered by the filter (20) in the casing (10), it is supplied to
the engine side (not shown in the figure) through the drain hole
(11b).
The filter (20) comprises filter paper (21) corrugated along the
circumference and a support supporting the filter paper (21). In
addition, a top support plate (22a) and a bottom support plate
(22b) are respectively equipped at the top and bottom of the
support to support the top and bottom of the filter paper (21), and
a flow path (23) which engine oil passes by is formed along the
centre of the support.
The cap (30) can detachably be combined with the opening (15) of
the casing (10), an external screw part (30a) is formed on the
external circumferential surface of the top of the cap (30), and
the external screw part (30a) is combined with the internal screw
part formed on the internal circumferential surface of the opening
(15). In addition, a sealing element (16) is set between the cap
(30) and the casing (10), and the cap (30) and the casing (10) are
combined in a sealing manner. A bypass valve (40) is formed at the
bottom of the flow path (23) of the support, and the bypass valve
(40) is combined with the inner side at the centre of the cap
(30).
In addition, the nut boss (35) at the centre of the bottom of the
cap (30) protrudes downwards, and the metallic drain bolt (50) can
detachably be combined with the drain hole (33) in the boss (35). A
metallic nut fitting (34) is integrated on the internal
circumferential surface of the drain hole (33) by means of
insertion and injection and an internal screw part (34a) is formed
on the internal circumferential surface of the nut fitting (34).
Next, since the external screw part (50a) of the metallic drain
bolt (50) is detachably combined with the internal screw part (34a)
of the nut fitting (34) in screwed connection mode, the drain bolt
(50) can firmly be fixed to the drain hole (33) side of the cap
(30). Further, a sealing element (55) is set between the external
circumferential surface of the drain bolt (50) and the internal
circumferential surface of the nut fitting (34) to ensure the
tightness between the drain bolt (50) and the nut fitting (34).
A connecting groove (52), where a wrench can be inserted, is formed
at the centre of the head end (51) of the drain bolt (50) and an
internal screw part (50a) is formed on the external circumferential
surface of the drain bolt (50). As described above, the external
screw part (50a) can detachably be combined with the internal screw
part (34a) of the drain hole (33). Therefore, when the operator
turns the drain bolt (50) to remove it from the cap (30), the drain
hole (33) in the cap (30) is opened and engine oil inside said oil
filter assembly is discharged out through said drain hole (33).
However, as described above, if the drain bolt (50) is combined
with the drain hole (33) in screwed connection mode, when said
drain bolt (50) is removed, engine oil flows out of the cap (30),
and the drain bolt (50), the working tool, and the hands of the
operator get contaminated with engine oil. In addition, it takes a
long time to remove the drain bolt (50), and engine oil leaks when
the drain bolt (50) is slightly loosened under the action of an
external force. These are all disadvantages of the existing oil
filter assembly.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
(Patent document 0001) KR 10-1190220 B1
SUMMARY
To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is
intended to provide an oil filter assembly which integrates the
drain pin and the filter so that the separation of said drain pin,
not desired by the operator, will not happen, said drain pin can
quickly be removed to improve the operation efficiency, and the
drain bolt or the tool can be prevented from being contaminated
with engine oil.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the oil filter assembly in
the present invention comprises the following structures: a casing
with an open end; a filter which is inserted in said casing and
further comprises a pipe support having a plurality of openings in
the side wall, filter paper surrounding the external
circumferential surface of said support, a top support plate which
is combined with said support and can cover the top of said filter
paper, and a bottom support plate which is combined with said
support and can cover the bottom of said filter paper; a cap which
is combined with said casing in screwed connection mode and can
cover the open end of said casing, with the drain nipple having a
drain hole protruding downward from the position corresponding to
the bottom support plate; a drain pin which is detachably combined
with said drain nipple to open/close the drain hole in said drain
nipple. In addition, an annular rotation groove with the rotation
axis of said casing being its central axis is formed on the bottom
surface of said bottom support plate and said drain hole is formed
in the position corresponding to said rotation groove. When said
drain pin is combined with said drain nipple, one end is placed on
the bottom surface of said rotation groove.
Said drain pin comprises the following structures: a body which is
inserted into said drain hole in fit mode; a slide block which is
located at one lengthwise end of said body and placed on the bottom
surface of said rotation groove and can slide along said rotation
groove as said cap rotates in the screwed connection direction; a
handle which is located at the other lengthwise end of said body
and is exposed to the outside of said drain nipple; a sealing
element which surrounds the external circumferential surface of
said body.
The entrance width of said rotation groove is smaller than the
bottom surface width, the .[.lateral.]. .Iadd.longitudinal
.Iaddend.length of said slide block is greater than the entrance
width of said rotation groove, and the .[.longitudinal length.].
.Iadd.lateral width .Iaddend.of said slide block is smaller than
the entrance width of said rotation groove.
Said slide block is made of a material with elasticity above the
standard value. When said drain pin rotates to keep said slide
block .[.laterally.]. .Iadd.longitudinally .Iaddend.aligned to the
radial direction of said rotation groove, the .[.lateral.].
.Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.end of said slide block touches the
internal side wall of said rotation groove.
The .[.lateral.]. .Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.end of said slide
block .[.is in the.]. .Iadd.has a .Iaddend.curved shape and the
curvature is the same as that of the internal side wall of said
rotation groove.
Marking grooves are formed in the radial direction of said drain
nipple on the protruding end, said handle is extended downward and
is in the shape of a plate, and when said drain pin rotates to keep
said slide block .[.laterally.]. .Iadd.longitudinally
.Iaddend.aligned to the radial direction of said rotation groove,
the two widthwise ends of said handle are matched to said marking
grooves.
The oil filter assembly in the present invention integrates the
drain pin and the filter so that the separation of said drain pin,
not desired by the operator, will not happen, said drain pin can
quickly be removed to improve the operation efficiency, and the
drain bolt or the tool can be prevented from being contaminated
with engine oil.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded oblique view of the existing oil filter
assembly.
FIG. 2 shows the structure of the drain bolt installed on the cap
of the existing oil filter assembly.
FIG. 3 is a vertical section view of the oil filter assembly in the
present invention.
FIG. 4 is an oblique bottom view of the cap of the oil filter
assembly in the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an oblique bottom view of the combined drain pin and
filter.
FIG. 6 is an oblique view of the drain pin.
FIG. 7 is an oblique view of the drain pin sliding along the
rotation groove when the cap is combined with the casing in screwed
connection mode.
FIG. 8 is a horizontal section view of the slide block installed in
the rotation groove.
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show the service state of the oil filter
assembly in the present invention.
FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the inventional oil filter
assembly with an additional safety pin.
FIG. 12 shows a drain pin with a through-hole for a safety pin.
FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a possible safety pin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following describes in detail an embodiment of the oil filter
assembly in the present invention with reference to the
drawings.
FIG. 3 is a vertical section view of the oil filter assembly in the
present invention, FIG. 4 is an oblique bottom view of the cap of
the oil filter assembly in the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an
oblique bottom view of the combined drain pin and filter.
The oil filter assembly in the present invention is a device which
filters engine oil supplied to a vehicle engine and then supplies
the filtered oil to the engine again. The oil filter assembly
comprises the following structures: a casing (100) with an open end
(lower end in FIG. 1), a filter (200) inserted into said casing
(100), a cap (300) which is combined with said casing (100) in
screwed connection mode and can cover the open end of said casing
(100), with the drain nipple (310) having a drain hole (312)
protruding downward from the position corresponding to the bottom
support plate (240), and a drain pin (400) which is detachably
combined with said drain nipple (310) to open/close the drain hole
(312) in said drain nipple (310).
Said drain hole (312) is formed at the bottom surface of the cap
(300). If the casing (100) and the cap (300) are filled with engine
oil, the engine oil contained by said casing (100) and cap (300)
will be discharged out through said drain hole (312) when the drain
pin (400) is removed and the drain hole (312) is opened. On the
contrary, as shown in FIG. 3, after the drain pin (400) is inserted
into the drain nipple (310), engine oil flowing into the casing
(100) and the cap (300) will not leak out if the drain hole (312)
is closed, and engine oil filtered by the filter (200) is
re-supplied to the engine. When engine oil flowing into the casing
(100) and the cap (300) passes the filter (200) and is re-supplied
to the engine, the flow path of engine oil is the same as that in
the existing oil filter assembly. Therefore, a detailed description
of the filtering principle and flow path of engine oil is omitted
here.
In this case, if the part where the drain hole (312) is formed is
manufactured thin, the following problem exists: after the drain
pin (400) is inserted and the drain hole (312) is blocked, said
drain pin (400) may incline to one side and easily fall into the
drain hole. Therefore, as shown in the embodiment, the part where
the drain hole (312) is formed on the bottom surface of said cap
(300) is preferably manufactured into a downward-extended pipe
shape so as to increase the area of contact with the drain pin
(400).
To prevent the drain pin 400 from unwished falling out of the drain
hole 312, a safety pin 700 can be provided, like shown in the FIGS.
3 and 11 to 13. The safety pin 700 is made of plastic, especially
as a one piece molded plastic element, and is inserted in a
through-hole 600, going through the drain nipple 310 and the
.[.safety.]. .Iadd.drain .Iaddend.pin .[.700.]. .Iadd.400.Iaddend..
The safety pin 700 also prohibits twisting of the drain pin 400, so
that the slide block 420 is fixed in the rotation groove 242. The
through-hole 600 crosses the .[.safety.]. .Iadd.drain .Iaddend.pin
.[.700.]. .Iadd.400 .Iaddend.below the sealing element 412, so that
the sealing effect of the sealing element 412 is not affected.
As it can be seen in FIG. 13, the safety .[.element.]. .Iadd.pin
.Iaddend.700 has elastic elements 800, which grab behind an edge of
the through-hole 600, when the safety pin 700 is fully inserted in
the through-hole 600, and thus provide a barrier for .[.extract.].
.Iadd.extracting .Iaddend.the safety pin 700 out of the
through-hole 600. To clamp the safety pin 700, it has a handle 900.
The through-hole 600 is going through the .[.safety.]. .Iadd.drain
.Iaddend.pin .[.700.]. .Iadd.400 .Iaddend.as well as through the
walls of the drain nipple 310. The safety pin 700 also prevents an
erroneous assembly, because it only can be inserted into the
through-hole 600, if the .[.safety.]. .Iadd.drain .Iaddend.pin
.[.700.]. .Iadd.400 .Iaddend.and the whole oil filter 200 is
assembled in a correct manner.
Further, compared with the drain bolt (50) combined with the cap
(30) in screwed connection mode in the existing oil filter assembly
shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the drain pin (400) which opens/closes
said drain hole (312) is combined with the drain nipple (310) in
fit mode in the oil filter assembly in the present invention and
thus the tightness of the drain hole (312) may decrease. Therefore,
the external circumferential surface of said drain pin (400) is
preferably equipped with an O-ring sealing element (412). In this
case, if the part where the drain hole (312) is formed is thin, the
sealing element (412) may fall off the internal circumferential
surface of the drain hole (312), depending on the insertion
distance of the drain pin (400), and thus, the drain hole (312) may
be opened, which is not desired by the operator. However, as shown
in the embodiment of the present invention, when the drain hole
(312) is formed in the drain nipple (310), the contact distance
between the drain pin (400) and the drain nipple (310) is extended.
Thus, even if the insertion distance of said drain pin (400) is
slightly changed, said sealing element (412) will still stay on the
internal circumferential surface of the drain hole (312) to
increase the reliability of the tightness of the drain hole
(312).
Further, in the oil filter assembly in the present invention, said
drain pin (400) is inserted into the drain nipple (310) in fit
mode, instead of screwed connection mode, and therefore the time
necessary for opening/closing the drain hole (312) can be reduced
significantly. Further, it is necessary to rotate the existing
drain bolt (50) for several turns before removing the existing
drain bolt (50), and therefore, engine oil will flow out and
contaminate said drain bolt (50), the working tool, or the hands of
the operator when said drain bolt (50) is removed. In the present
invention, however, when the drain pin (400) is pulled downward, it
can be separated from the drain nipple (310) instantaneously, and
therefore, engine oil will not flow out of the drain hole (312) and
contaminate the drain pin (400) or hands of the operator.
Further, said filter (200) comprises a pipe support (210) having a
plurality of openings in the side wall, filter paper (220)
surrounding the external circumferential surface of said support
(210), a top support plate (230) which is combined with said
support (210) and can cover the top of said filter paper (220), and
a bottom support plate (240) which is combined with said support
(210) and can cover the bottom of said filter paper (220). Further,
a bypass valve (500) is equipped at the bottom of the internal flow
path of the support (210), that is to say, when the service life of
said filter paper (220) ends and cannot filter engine oil normally,
engine oil supplied to the inside of said casing (100) moves to the
outside of said casing (100) in a roundabout way through the
internal flow path in the support (210). In this case, said casing
(100), support (210), and filter paper (220), top support plate
(230), and bypass valve (500) are essentially the same as those in
the existing oil filter assembly. A detailed description of these
structures is omitted here.
FIG. 6 is an oblique view of the drain pin (400), FIG. 7 is an
oblique view of the drain pin (400) sliding along the rotation
groove (242) when the cap (300) is combined with the casing (100)
in screwed connection mode, and FIG. 8 is a horizontal section view
of the slide block (420) installed in the rotation groove
(242).
After the drain pin (400) is inserted into the drain nipple (310),
said drain pin (400) can be lifted so that the top of the drain pin
(400) touches closely against the bottom surface of the bottom
support plate (240). When a vehicle is running, to keep the drain
pin (400) from separating from the drain nipple (310), namely, to
prevent the drain pin (400) from falling off, it is structurally
optimal that the top of the drain nipple (310) is snapped into the
bottom support plate (240). That is to say, when said drain pin
(400) is inserted into said drain nipple (310), the top of the
drain nipple is hung on or released from the bottom support plate
(240), depending on the rotation degree.
To achieve the above-mentioned combination, an annular rotation
groove (242) is formed on the bottom surface of said bottom support
plate (240), with the rotation axis of the casing (100) being the
central axis, and the entrance is narrower than the bottom surface
when said rotation groove (242) is manufactured. In this case, a
through-hole (244) can be formed in the external wall of said
rotation groove (242) to let engine oil run smoothly. Further, said
drain pin (400) comprises the following structures: a body (410)
inserted into said drain hole (312) in fit mode, a slide block
(420) which is located at one lengthwise end (top end in the
embodiment) of said body (410) and placed on the bottom surface of
said rotation groove (242) and can slide along said rotation groove
(242) as said cap (300) rotates in the screwed connection
direction, and a handle (430) which is located at the other
lengthwise end (bottom end in the embodiment) of said body (410)
and is exposed to the outside of said drain nipple (310) when said
body (410) is inserted into the drain nipple (310).
In this case, the .[.lateral.]. .Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.length
of said slide block (420) is greater than the entrance width of
said rotation groove (242), and the .[.longitudinal length.].
.Iadd.lateral width .Iaddend.of said slide block (420) is smaller
than the entrance width of said rotation groove (242). Therefore,
when said slide block (420) is .[.laterally.]. .Iadd.longitudinally
.Iaddend.aligned to the radial direction (see FIG. 9) of said
rotation groove (242), the slide block (420) will not be separated
from the rotation groove (242) and will remain inserted in said
rotation groove (242); when said slide block (420) is
.[.laterally.]. .Iadd.longitudinally .Iaddend.aligned to the
tangential direction (see FIG. 10) of said rotation groove (242),
the slide block (420) can be inserted into or removed from the
rotation groove (242).
In addition, when the slide block (420) of the drain pin (400) is
inserted into the rotation groove (242) on the bottom support plate
(240) and is supplied to an assembly factory, an assembler needs to
turn the cap (300) and combine the cap with the casing (100) in
screwed connection mode, with the lower end of the body (410)
inserted into the drain hole (312). However, if said rotation
groove (242) is manufactured into a single dented groove, it is
impossible to rotate the drain pin (400) and the cap (300)
together. Of course, when the drain pin (400) is installed on the
rotation axis of the cap (300), the cap (300) can also be rotated,
even if the rotation groove (242) is manufactured into a single
dented groove. In this case, the drain pin (400) and the bypass
valve (500) interfere with each other, however, and thus said cap
(300) needs to be manufactured in an elongate manner in the upward
and downward directions.
In the oil filter assembly in the present invention, even if the
drain pin (400) is set a certain distance away from the rotation
axis of the cap (300), said rotation groove (242) is preferably
manufactured into an annular groove with the central axis being the
rotation axis of the cap (300) so as to keep said drain pin (400)
rotating together with said cap (300) during the rotation of the
cap (300). As described above, when said rotation groove (242) is
manufactured into an annular groove, said slide block (420) will
.[.laterally.]. be .Iadd.longitudinally .Iaddend.aligned to the
radial direction of the rotation groove (242), that is to say said
slide block (420) remains hung in the entrance of the rotation
groove (242), and therefore said slide block (420) can rotate with
the rotation axis of the cap (300) being the central axis and the
cap (300) can rotate free of interference from the drain pin
(400).
In addition, when said slide block (420) slides along the rotation
groove (242), the slide block is preferably manufactured into a
structure with polygonal edges to keep the slide block (420) always
.[.laterally.]. .Iadd.longitudinally .Iaddend.aligned to the radial
direction of the rotation groove (242) and one .[.lateral.].
.Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.end (422) of said slide block (420)
touching the internal side wall of said rotation groove (242). As
shown in FIG. 8, when one .[.lateral.]. .Iadd.longitudinal
.Iaddend.end (422) of said slide block (420) touches the internal
side wall of said rotation groove (242), even if an external force
is applied to said slide block (420) in the direction indicated by
the arrows, said slide block (420) will not rotate so that said
slide block (420) remains .[.laterally.]. .Iadd.longitudinally
.Iaddend.aligned to the radial direction of the rotation groove
(242) and revolves around the rotation axis of the cap (300).
Further, to keep one .[.lateral.]. .Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.end
(422) of the slide block (420) wholly touching the internal side
wall of the rotation groove (242), the .[.lateral.].
.Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.end (422) of said slide block (420) can
be manufactured into a curved shape and the curvature is the same
as that of the internal side wall of the rotation groove (212). As
described above, when the .[.lateral.]. .Iadd.longitudinal
.Iaddend.end (422) of the slide block (420) is manufactured into a
curved shape, said slide block (420) will not rotate at all in the
direction indicated by arrows in FIG. 8 and thus the reliability of
the combination between the slide block (420) and the rotation
groove (242) can further be improved.
When you remove said drain pin (400), you need to rotate said drain
pin (400). In this case, if said slide block (420) is made of a
material with almost no elasticity, such as a metal, you cannot
rotate said drain pin (400) since the edges of said slide block
(420) are snapped into the internal side wall of the rotation
groove (242). Therefore, said slide block (420) should be made of a
material with elasticity above the standard value, such as
synthetic resin, so that the edges of the slide block can cross the
internal side wall of the rotation groove (242) when you apply a
force, but said slide block will not rotate under the action of
vibrations of the engine.
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show the service state of the oil filter
assembly in the present invention.
To prevent the slide block (420) of the drain pin (400) from being
separated from the rotation groove (242), you should align the
.[.lateral.]. .Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.direction (the direction
with a larger length) of the slide block (420) to the radial
direction of the rotation groove (242), as shown in FIG. 9.
On the contrary, to separate the slide block (420) of the drain pin
(400) from the rotation groove (242), you should rotate the slide
block (420) and align the .[.lateral.]. .Iadd.longitudinal
.Iaddend.direction (the direction with a larger length) to the
tangential direction of the rotation groove (242), as shown in FIG.
10. However, it may be difficult for the operator to rotate the
drain pin (400) by a correct angle since said slide block (420) is
blocked by the cap (300) and the alignment cannot be confirmed
visually.
To this end, marking grooves (314) are formed in the radial
direction of the drain nipple (310) on the protruding end of the
drain nipple (310) and said handle (430) is manufactured into a
downward extended plate. When you rotate the drain pin (400) to
keep the .[.lateral.]. .Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.direction of the
slide block (420) aligned to the radial direction of the rotation
groove (242), you can set the two ends in the .[.amplitude.].
.Iadd.width .Iaddend.direction of the handle (430) aligned to said
marking grooves (314), as shown in FIG. 9. On the contrary, when
you rotate the drain pin (400) to keep the .[.lateral.].
.Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.direction of the slide block (420)
aligned to the tangential direction of said rotation groove (242),
you can set the two ends in the .[.amplitude.]. .Iadd.width
.Iaddend.direction of the handle (430) to be located between a pair
of marking grooves (314), as shown in FIG. 10.
As described above, when marking grooves (314) are formed on the
drain nipple (310), the operator can rotate the drain pin (400) by
a correct angle by confirming the direction of the handle (430) and
the positions of marking grooves (314), and then can easily
separate the drain pin (400) to discharge engine oil.
The present invention is described in detail above with reference
to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of
the present invention is not limited to a specific embodiment, but
should be explained according to the attached claims. Further,
those skilled in the art should understand that modifications and
variations can be made without departing from the scope of the
present invention.
* * * * *