Patent ID: 6273031
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: F01M

Abstract:
A lubrication system comprising a circulation system circulating lubricant to a machine, a filter in said circulation system and including a filter media element filtering said lubricant, said filter having a first inlet receiving lubricant from said machine, said filter having a first outlet returning lubricant to said machine, said filter having a second inlet receiving a cleaning fluid from a source of cleaning fluid, said filter having a second outlet exhausting said cleaning fluid and used lubricant, said filter media element having a clean side communicating with said first outlet and said second inlet, said filter media element having a dirty side communicating with said first inlet and said second outlet, said filter having a first flowpath therethrough from said first inlet through said filter media element in one direction to said first outlet, said filter having a second flowpath therethrough from said second inlet through said filter media element in the opposite direction to said second outlet, said first and second flowpaths having common but opposite direction portions through said filter media element, a used-lubricant tank for storing used lubricant therein, a first conduit connected between said source of cleaning fluid and said second inlet, a second conduit connected between said second outlet and said used-lubricant tank, a first shut-off valve in said first conduit, a second shut-off valve in said second conduit, a third conduit connected between said first outlet and said machine, and a third shut-off valve in said third conduit.