OIL FILTER

Abstract

The application discloses an oil filter (102, 402) comprising an external filter (106) and an internal filter (108). The internal filter is arranged inside the external filter and defines a cavity (104) between them. The cavity is fluid-connected to an outlet (112). The internal filter further comprises an inlet that is fluid-connected to an interior of the internal filter.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The registration concerns an oil filter. BACKGROUND

[0002] Electric vehicles often have one or more oil filters that filter the oils used for lubricating and / or cooling motors, gears, and the like. Oil filters remove wear debris from the circulating oil, thereby reducing premature wear of these moving parts.

[0003] Since the oil passes through a filter fabric, a pressure drop in the oil flow across the filter is unavoidable. This pressure drop is undesirable because it reduces the fluid flow and thus the amount of oil available for lubrication / cooling, or the oil change rate.

[0004] To reduce system stress and ensure sufficient oil flow, it is desirable to minimize this pressure drop. This is typically achieved by increasing the surface area of ​​a filter, allowing more oil to pass through it in a given period. This necessitates the use of larger, bulkier filters. However, the surface area of ​​such oil filters is limited by space constraints, meaning filters can only be enlarged to a certain extent. Filters must also remain removable and replaceable during regular maintenance. SUMMARY

[0005] According to the disclosure, an oil filter is provided comprising an outer filter and an inner filter. The inner filter is arranged within the outer filter, defining a cavity between them. This cavity is fluid-connected to an outlet, and the inner filter further comprises an inlet in fluid-connected to its interior. Advantageously, the oil filter provides two independent fluid flow paths, resulting in increased filtration performance compared to other similarly sized oil filters. Furthermore, the oil filter can continue to function even if one of the two independent fluid flow paths becomes blocked.

[0006] Advantageously, there are two flow paths from the outside of the oil filter to the outlet. Optionally, one of the two flow paths runs from the outside of the oil filter through the outer filter, into the cavity, and out of the outlet. Furthermore, optionally, a second flow path runs from the outside into the interior of the inner filter, through the inner filter, into the cavity, and out of the outlet. In this way, the two flow paths only meet when the fluid enters the cavity.

[0007] Preferably, the external filter and the internal filter are attached to a cap and arranged such that an oil flow path to the internal filter is provided via the cap. This ensures that the internal filter is accessible only via a path independent of the fluid entering the external filter.

[0008] Conveniently, the cap of one or both of the internal or external filters is removable, allowing the cap to be retained and reused when changing the filter.

[0009] The cap is appropriately provided with an interface (202) so that a tool can act on the cap to assist in removing and / or inserting the oil filter via the cap.

[0010] Preferably, the cap provides a fastening device for attaching the oil filter to a vehicle in order to hold the oil filter firmly to the vehicle.

[0011] The cap is conveniently attached to both the internal and external filters in a detachable manner.

[0012] The internal filter is conveniently nested inside the external filter to minimize the size of the oil filter.

[0013] Preferably, the internal and / or external filters have a cylindrical shape so that they can be easily nested inside one another. A corrugated arrangement can also be used to maximize the surface area.

[0014] Advantageously, the internal filter and / or the external filter have a frame to support a filter matrix, mesh or fabric.

[0015] The cavity is suitable only for a fluid that has passed through either the internal filter or the external filter.

[0016] Preferably, the outlet is provided on the external filter.

[0017] Advantageously, the outlet has a nozzle for connecting a pipe or other fluid line to convey filtered fluids away from the oil filter. The outlet may also suitably include a seal.

[0018] Preferably, the oil filter also includes a pressure relief valve to reduce the risk of the oil filter rupturing in the event of overpressure. Optionally, the pressure relief valve is provided within the internal filter. Suitablely, the pressure relief valve is distributed within the cavity and fluidically connected between the internal filter and the outlet.

[0019] Advantageously, the pressure relief valve is formed at least partially from the internal filter and / or the external filter, thereby minimizing the need for additional material.

[0020] Preferably, the external filter is arranged to allow oil to flow into the cavity outside the oil filter, and / or the internal filter is arranged to allow oil to flow in the center of the oil filter towards the external filter.

[0021] Suitablely, either the internal filter or the external filter has a platform arranged to support the pressure relief valve. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Embodiments of the invention are described below only by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. Figure 1 illustrates an oil filter. Fig. Figure 2 illustrates A) a perspective bottom view of an oil filter and B) a perspective top view of an oil filter. Fig. Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an oil filter. Fig. Figure 4 illustrates an alternative oil filter. Fig. Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternative oil filter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Certain terms are used in the following description for simplicity only and do not represent a limitation. The words "right," "left," "lower," "upper," "front," "back," "upward," "downward," and "downward" denote directions referenced in the drawings and refer to the described component when it is mounted and installed. The words "inner," "inward," "outward," and "outward" refer to directions toward or away from a designated center line or geometric center point of a described element (e.g., center axis), the respective meaning being readily apparent from the context of the description.

[0024] Furthermore, the terms "connected," "fastened," "coupled," and "mounted" used herein are intended to encompass both direct connections between two elements without any intervening elements and indirect connections between elements where one or more other elements are intervening. The terminology includes the words explicitly mentioned above, their derivatives, and words with similar meanings.

[0025] Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the use of ordinal adjectives such as "first", "second", and "third", etc., merely indicates that reference is made to different instances of the same objects, without implying that the objects thus described must be in a particular order, be it temporal, spatial, rank-wise, or otherwise.

[0026] The same reference symbols are used throughout to represent identical features.

[0027] This application relates to oil filters. This application discloses an oil filter having parallel filter paths. Two concentric or otherwise nested filter cylinders (inner and outer filters) define an intermediate oil path (i.e., a cavity). A fluid outlet is provided that connects the cavity to the outside of the filter. It should be noted that the term "filter cylinder" is not to be considered as restrictive or even descriptive of the shape of the nested filters. Any suitable polyhedral shape can be described by the nested filters. The filters can describe different shapes relative to each other.

[0028] There is no "general external inlet" as such; the entire filter is immersed in a bath of pre-filtered oil. The filters themselves constitute the "general external inlet," although a general external fluid inlet is not excluded. Here, "external inlet" refers to an inlet designed to allow fluid from outside the oil filter to flow into the oil filter.

[0029] Referring to the figures (it should be noted that the filter mesh is not shown in the figures to avoid unnecessary obscuration; the optional frame provided for holding the mesh or filter material is shown), the internal filter has an internal filter inlet in fluid connection with an interior of the internal filter to allow fluid access to the internal filter for filtration. The internal and external filters are arranged as concentric cylinders; for example, the inlet to the internal filter can simply be an open end of the cylinder forming the internal filter. Therefore, there are two flow paths for fluids through the oil filter 102.

[0030] With respect to the external filter 106, the liquid passes through an external filter wall to the cavity 104, and from the cavity 104 the liquid can exit through the outlet 112. With respect to the internal filter 108, the liquid passes through the internal filter inlet, where it then abuts an internal filter wall. The liquid then passes through the internal filter wall to the cavity 104, where it can then exit through the outlet 112.

[0031] A fluid flow is provided to allow ambient oil to flow simultaneously through the inner and outer filters. After passing through the filters, the oil exits via the outlet. Oil can therefore flow to the outlet either through the outer cylinder wall or through the inner cylinder wall. A flow path is provided to allow oil to bypass the outer filter and flow to the inner filter. The oil filter is therefore designed with parallel filter paths. The use of nested inner and outer filters increases the filter surface area and allows more oil to pass through the filter in a given time, thus reducing the pressure drop observed with a similarly sized single oil filter. The oil filter is also minimized in size.The oil filter also has a pressure relief valve to bypass the oil path through the oil filter in case of overpressure.

[0032] With reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows an oil filter 102 for use in an electric vehicle. The oil filter has an outer filter 106 and an inner filter 108. The inner filter is located inside the outer filter (i.e., the inner filter is nested within the outer filter). The two filters are spaced apart, so that a cavity 104 is defined between the inner filter and the outer filter. The cavity can only be accessible to fluid that has passed through either the inner filter or the outer filter. Therefore, a seal, wall, or other barrier to the fluid may be present to bridge any gap between the inner filter and the outer filter when they are nested. The cavity is fluid-connected to an outlet 112 to allow oil that has been filtered through either the inner filter or the outer filter to exit the oil filter and be routed to other systems within the vehicle.If the oil filters are made of a flexible material (e.g., a fabric or mesh), a support cage may be provided for both the internal and external filters to ensure that each filter retains its shape.

[0033] The filter material can be chosen to remove dirt of a predefined size; for example, the filter material may be able to prevent micro-sized particles from passing through the filter.

[0034] The external and internal filters can be attached to a cap 110, or the filters can be independent of the cap. When a cap is used, the internal and external filters are arranged so that an oil flow path is provided around the external filter and to the internal filter via the cap, for example, through a cap opening. For instance, the cap can be attached directly to the internal filter, and the external filter can be attached further downstream of the internal filter. A fluid flow path can be provided from outside the oil filter (bounded by the external filter) to the interior of the oil filter, which is bounded by the internal filter. One or more ribs can be provided for connecting the cap to the internal filter.

[0035] The cap, if present, provides a fastening means for securing and / or mounting the oil filter to a suitable opening in the vehicle. The cap may have a thread, a bayonet fitting, or another suitable coupling means that is compatible with a corresponding coupling means on the vehicle. An additional seal (e.g., an O-ring) may be provided between the cap and the vehicle to prevent oil from leaking through the opening.

[0036] The cap can be permanently or removablely attached to the internal and / or external filter. A snap-fit ​​connection may be provided between the components. The cap, internal filter, and external filter can be supplied as a single unit.

[0037] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the cap can be provided with an interface 202 to accommodate a tool to enable removal of the oil filter by attaching the tool to the interface, it being understood that this interface is optional or can take any other suitable form to enable removal of the oil filter by the appropriate tool (e.g., wrench, hex key, screwdriver).

[0038] Outlet 112 may be provided on the external filter. The outlet may include a fitting that allows a pipe or other fluid line to be connected to the outlet to transport filtered oil to other systems of the vehicle. The outlet may be fitted with a suitable seal (e.g., an O-ring) to ensure that oil does not intentionally bypass the oil filter and that oil can only pass through the internal filter, the external filter, or through a pressure relief valve in the oil filter.

[0039] Furthermore, a pressure relief valve 114 is provided, as is the case in Fig. Figure 3 shows the pressure relief valve located inside the oil filter, although its position within the oil filter can vary. Fig. 3. The pressure relief valve is part of the internal filter, although alternative designs are also available. The one in Fig. The pressure relief valve shown in Figure 3 bypasses the oil filter and allows the fluid to flow directly from outside the oil filter to outlet 112. A preloading device closes an opening within the internal filter, which, when open, provides a direct fluid path to the outlet. The preloading device can be any suitable means, provided that it can be overloaded (and thus the pressure relief valve opened) by an increase in oil pressure above a threshold. The preloading device could, for example, be a spring.

[0040] According to Fig. 4 and Fig. In Figure 5, an alternative oil filter 402 is provided. Identical elements are designated with the same reference numerals as the first oil filter 102 disclosed herein, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication. The oil filter 402 differs from the oil filter 102 by Fig.1. The pressure relief valve 404 is distributed within the cavity 104 and fluidically connected between the internal filter and the outlet. Both the internal and external filters thus contribute to the structure of the pressure relief valve 404. The pressure relief valve is therefore at least partially formed from the frames that comprise the internal and external filters. This provides a platform for a support structure for the pretensioning device (e.g., stepped legs). The support structure provides a bearing surface for the pretensioning device and prevents it from detaching, as well as a solid surface on which the pretensioning device can be compressed or otherwise overcome. This design requires less material and fewer parts.

[0041] The oil filters disclosed herein may be made of any suitable material, which is usually (but not exclusively) plastic.

[0042] Experts in the field understand that the foregoing detailed examples are merely illustrative and in no way limiting, and that various changes and modifications are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Various modifications to the detailed examples described above are possible.

[0043] Throughout the description and claims of this patent application, the words "comprising" and "containing," and their variations, mean "including, but not limited to," and are not intended to exclude or exclude any other proportions, additions, components, integers, or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this patent application, the singular includes the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the patent application is to be understood as including both the plural and the singular unless the context otherwise requires.

[0044] Features, integers, properties, compounds, chemical units, or groups described in connection with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example of the invention are to be understood as applicable to any other aspect, embodiment, or example described herein, provided they are not incompatible with it. All features disclosed in this patent application (including all accompanying claims, abstracts, and drawings) and / or all steps of a method or process so disclosed may be combined in any combination, except for combinations in which at least some of these features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not limited to the details of the aforementioned embodiments.The invention extends to any novel feature or novel combination of the features disclosed in this patent application (including the attached claims, abstract or drawings) or to any novel feature or novel combination of the steps of a method or process so disclosed.

Claims

[1] Oil filter (102, 402), comprising: an external filter (106), an internal filter (108), the internal filter is arranged inside the external filter and defines a cavity (104) in between, the cavity is fluid-connected to an outlet (112), wherein the internal filter further has an inlet in fluid-connected to an interior of the internal filter. [2] Oil filter according to claim 1, comprising two flow paths from an outside of the oil filter to the outlet, and optionally wherein One of the two flow paths leads from the outside of the oil filter through the external filter into the cavity and out of the outlet, and / or A second of the two flow paths leads from the outside into the interior of the internal filter, through the internal filter, into the cavity and out of the outlet. [3] Oil filter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer filter and the inner filter are attached to a cap (110) and arranged such that an oil flow path to the inner filter is provided via the cap, and wherein optionally the cap of one or both, the internal filter or the external filter, is removable, and / or the cap is provided with an interface (202), and / or The cap provides a fastening device to attach the oil filter to a vehicle, and / or The cap is detachably attached to both the internal and external filters. [4] Oil filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the internal filter is nested within the external filter and optionally wherein: the internal filter and / or the external filter have a cylindrical shape, and / or the internal filter and / or the external filter have a frame, and / or the cavity is only accessible to a fluid that has passed through either the internal filter or the external filter. [5] Oil filter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outlet is provided on the external filter, and optionally wherein: the outlet has a nozzle, and / or The outlet also has a seal. [6] Oil filter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the oil filter further comprises a pressure relief valve (114, 404), and wherein the pressure relief valve is optionally provided in the internal filter, and / or the pressure relief valve is distributed within the cavity and fluid-connected between the internal filter and the outlet, and / or The pressure relief valve is formed at least partially from the internal filter and / or the external filter. [7] Oil filter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the outlet is provided on the external filter. [8] Oil filter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the external filter is arranged to allow oil to flow into the cavity from outside the oil filter. [9] Oil filter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the internal filter is arranged to allow oil to flow in the center of the oil filter towards the external filter. [10] Oil filter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein either the internal filter or the external filter has a platform arranged to support the pressure relief valve.

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