Patent ID: 6334950
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: B01D,F01M,Y10S

Abstract:
A self-contained oil filter replacement assembly carried on a self-powered vehicle for providing filtered oil to an engine for the vehicle, comprising:(a) a plurality of oil filters supported on said vehicle, with at least one of said filters selected to be in fluid communication with said engine; (b) an oil pump, in fluid communication with said oil filters and said engine, for circulating oil to said engine through said at least one selected oil filter but not all of said plurality of oil filters; (c) at least one sensor for monitoring at least one operating parameter related to the operation of the vehicle and generating a signal indicative of the magnitude of said operating parameter, with the engine being effective to filter oil so long as the magnitude of the operating parameter remains within a predetermined range of values having a lower operating and an upper operating value; (d) fluid passage responsive to said operating parameter exceeding a predetermined limit within which said at least one selected oil filter is intended to function, for directing oil flow through at least one oil filter not previously receiving oil flow and blocking fluid flow through at least one filter previously receiving oil flow, when an operating parameter limit has been reached; (e) a cartridge having a plurality of chambers, and each said chamber having at least one oil filter mounted therein in sealing relationship with said chamber, said chambers constituting part of said fluid passage; and, (f) wherein said fluid passage includes an indexing plate mounted to said cartridge and rotatable with respect to said cartridge, and having at least one portal aligned with a chamber within which said at least one selected oil filter is supported, and said at least one selected filter being sealed from said remaining chambers and remaining oil filters.