Abstract:
A filter media is for fluid to pass therethough. A filter element includes a holding member for holding the filter media. A filter case houses the filter element, having a fluid inlet positioned on a side relative to the filter element, and having a fluid outlet positioned on another side relative to the filter element. A support member extends between the holding member and the filter case. The support member is opposed to one member of the filter case and the holding member with a space between the support member and said one member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-097051 filed on Apr. 3, 2007; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a fluid filter applicable to, for example, an automatic transmission. 
         [0003]    A related oil filter includes a filter case housing a filter media and having a combination of two split pieces, ribs holding the filter media to the filter case, and protrusions extending from the filter case and contacting the ribs (Refer to Patent Document 1). 
         [0004]    Oil flows into the filter case from the inlet, passing through the filter media, and flows out from an outlet of the filter case. 
         [0005]    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-353783 
         [0006]    When a negative pressure is caused in the filter case, the filter case tends to be deformed inwardly. The protrusions support the filter case, preventing the deformation of the filter case. 
         [0007]    On the other hand, while the split pieces of the filter case are subjected to vibration-welding, the protrusions and the filter case become worn by friction of each other, thus causing a foreign matter (burr). 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention is directed to a fluid filter capable of supporting the filter case and preventing the cause of a foreign matter. 
         [0009]    An aspect of the invention provides a fluid filter including the following components. The filter includes a filter media for fluid to pass therethough. The filter includes a filter element including a holding member for holding the filter media. The filter includes a filter case housing the filter element, having a fluid inlet positioned on a side relative to the filter element, and having a fluid outlet positioned on another side relative to the filter element. The filter includes a support member extending between the holding member and the filter case. The support member is opposed to one member of the filter case and the holding member with a space between the support member and said one member. 
         [0010]    The support member may extend from the filter case toward the holding member. 
         [0011]    The support member may extend from the holding member toward the filter case. 
         [0012]    According to the features of the invention, fluid flows into the filter case from the fluid inlet, passing through the filter media, flowing out outside of the filter case from the fluid outlet. 
         [0013]    In addition, the flow velocity of the fluid increases, and when a negative pressure is caused in the filter case, the filter case tends to be deformed inwardly. The support member abuts against one member of the holding member and the filter case to support the filter case. 
         [0014]    During the welding of the filter case, the support member are opposed to one member of the holding member and the filter case with a space between the support member and said one member, which are free from friction of each other and prevents the cause of a foreign matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an oil filter according to a first embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the oil filter; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  is an exploded upper perspective view of the oil filter illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  is an exploded lower perspective view of oil the filter; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a broken-off sectional view of the oil filter illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3B  is a broken-off perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4A  is an exploded upper perspective view of an oil filter according to a second embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4B  is an exploded lower perspective view of the filter; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5A  is a broken-off sectional view of the oil filter illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5B  is a broken-off perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6A  is an exploded upper perspective view of an oil filter according to a third embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6B  is an exploded lower perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7A  is a broken-off sectional view of the oil filter illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7B  is a broken-off perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8A  is an exploded upper perspective view of an oil filter according to a fourth embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 8B  is an exploded lower perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9A  is a broken-off sectional view of the oil filter illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9B  is a broken-off perspective view of the filter; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10A  is an exploded upper perspective view of an oil filter according to a fifth embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIG. 10B  is an exploded lower perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11A  is a broken-off sectional view of the oil filter illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 10B ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 11B  is a broken-off perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0037]      FIG. 12A  is an exploded upper perspective view of the oil filter according to a sixth embodiment; 
           [0038]      FIG. 12B  is an exploded lower perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0039]      FIG. 13A  is a broken-off sectional view of the oil filter illustrated in  FIGS. 12A and 12B ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 13B  is a broken-off perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0041]      FIG. 14A  is an exploded upper perspective view of an oil filter according to a seventh embodiment; 
           [0042]      FIG. 14B  is an exploded lower perspective view of the filter; 
           [0043]      FIG. 15A  is a broken-off sectional view of the oil filter illustrated in  FIGS. 14A and 14B ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 15B  is a broken-off perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0045]      FIG. 16A  is an exploded perspective view of an oil filter according to an eighth embodiment; 
           [0046]      FIG. 16B  is an exploded lower perspective view of the oil filter; 
           [0047]      FIG. 17A  is a broken-off sectional view of the oil filter illustrated in  FIGS. 16A and 16B ; and 
           [0048]      FIG. 17B  is a broken-off perspective view of the oil filter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0049]    Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0050]    With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an oil filter  1  includes a case  11  as a filter case, a cover  12  as a filter case joined to the case  11 , and a filter element  13  located between the case  11  and the cover  12 . The oil filter  1  has a longitudinal direction (extending direction of a rib  133 ), a transverse direction normal to the longitudinal direction, and a transverse position in the transverse direction. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  3 A and  3 B, the rectangular case  11  includes a bottom wall  111 , a side wall  112  extending upward from the outer circumference of the bottom wall  111 , and a flange  113  extending outward from the end of the side wall  112 . The bottom wall  111  has an inlet  111   a  for taking oil in. The bottom wall  111  has a rectangular support walls  111   b  as support members longitudinally aligned with each other. 
         [0052]    The cover  12  includes a top wall  121 , a side wall  122  extending downward from the top wall  121 , and a flange  123  extending outward from the end of the side wall  122 . The top wall  121  has an inlet  121   a  on the right side. The top wall  121  has rectangular support walls  121   b  as support members longitudinally aligned with each other. The support walls  121   b  extends downward from the reverse side of the top wall  121 . 
         [0053]    The filter element  13  includes an outer frame  131 , a flange  132  extending outward from the outer frame  131 , a rib  133  as a holding member longitudinally extending so as to cross the outer frame  132 . The filter element  13  includes a filter media  134  housed in the outer frame  132  and held by the rib  133 . The flange  132  is interposed between the flange  113  of the case  11  and the flange  123  of the cover  12 . The filter media  134  is, for example, a filtering felt or a sheet such as a filter paper. This sheet is folded into a wave-shape. 
         [0054]    Here, the support walls  111   b ,  121   b , and the rib  133  are arranged in plane view on the straight line connecting the inlet  111   a  and the outlet  121   a . Accordingly, the support walls  111   b  are coincident with the rib  133  with regard to the transverse positions. The support walls  111   b  are opposed to the rib  133  with spaces S between them  111   b ,  133 . The support walls  121   b  are coincident with the rib  133  with regard to the transverse positions. The support walls  121   b  are opposed to the rib  133  with spaces S between them  121   b ,  133 . 
         [0055]    Next, a method of joining the case  11  and the cover  12  is described. 
         [0056]    With reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the flange  113  of the case  11  and the flange  123  of the cover  12  are fitted with each other with the filer element  13  placed between them  113 ,  123 . The flanges  113 ,  123  are vibrated and slid thereby being welded together. The support walls  111   b ,  121   b  are opposed to the rib  133  with the spaces S between them, so that the support walls  111   b ,  121   b  and the rib  133  are free from friction of each other, preventing the cause of a foreign matter. Instead of the vibration welding, supersonic welding or heat welding may be applied. 
         [0057]    Next, an operation of the oil filter  1  is described. 
         [0058]    For example, oil flows out of an automobile transmission to be taken into the case  11  through the inlet  111   a . The oil flows into a dust side of the filter media  134  in the case  11  and passes through the filter media  134 . The filter media  134  catches a foreign matter included in the oil to remove the foreign matter from the oil. The oil passes through a clean side of the filter media  134  to flow into the cover  12 . The oil flows out from the inlet  121   a  to return to the automatic transmission. 
         [0059]    The support walls  111   b ,  121   b  guide the oil longitudinally from the inlet  111   a  to the outlet  121   a . The spaces S between the support wall  111   b ,  121   b  and the rib  133  permit passing of the oil through them S and ensuring the flow passage of the oil so that a flow performance of the case  11  and the cover  12  are enhanced. 
         [0060]    When the flow velocity of the oil increases and a negative pressure is caused inside of the case  11  and the cover  12 , the bottom  111  of the case  11  and the top wall  121  of the cover  12  become deformed and curved inwardly. The support walls  111   b ,  121   b  abut against the rib  133  to support the bottom wall  111  of the case  11  and the top wall  121  of the cover  12 , respectively. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0061]    Hereafter, the similar reference characters are assigned to the similar components, and the descriptions are omitted. 
         [0062]    With reference to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  5 A, and  5 B, an oil filter  1 A is described. 
         [0063]    A case  11 A includes support walls  111   c  as support members extending in plane view obliquely to the straight line connecting the inlet  111   a  and the outlet  121   a  or ribs  133 . 
         [0064]    A cover  12 A includes support walls  121   c  as support members extending in plane view obliquely to the straight line connecting the inlet  111   a  and the outlet  121   a  or the ribs  133 . A pair of support walls  121   c  located in the transverse direction comes closer to each other from the inlet  111   a  toward the outlet  112   a.    
         [0065]    A filer element  13 A includes the ribs  133  extending longitudinally in two rows. The ribs  133  and the support walls  111   c  are coincident with each other with regard to in the transverse positions. The ribs  133  and the support walls  121   c  are coincident with each other with regard to in the transverse positions. 
         [0066]    The support walls  111   c  are off from the ribs  133  to be opposed to the ribs  133  with spaces S between them  111   c ,  133 . The support walls  121   c  are off from the ribs  133  to be opposed to the ribs  133  with spaces S between them  121   c ,  133 . 
         [0067]    According to the above-described oil filter  1 A, when the case  11 A and the cover  12 A are welded together, the support walls  111   c ,  121   c  are opposed to the ribs  133  with the spaces S between them, which prevents a foreign matter from being caused during the welding. 
         [0068]    The spaces S permit passing of the oil through them S, ensuring a flow passage of the oil. 
         [0069]    When a negative pressure is caused in the case, the support wall  111   c ,  121   c  abut against the ribs  133  so as to support the bottom wall  111  of the case  11 A and the top wall  121  of the cover  12 A, respectively. 
         [0070]    The support walls  111   c ,  121   c  guide the oil obliquely to the straight line connecting the inlet  111   a  and the outlet  121   a  in plane view or the ribs  133 , allowing the oil to be gathered near to the straight line to flow it from the inlet  111   a  to the outlet  121   a.    
       Third Embodiment 
       [0071]    With reference to  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  7 A and  7 B, an oil filter  1 B is described. 
         [0072]    A case  11 B includes bar-shaped support protrusions  111   d  as support members extending upward from the bottom wall  111  and longitudinally arranged. A cover  12 B includes bar-shaped support protrusions  121   d  as support members extending downward from the top wall  121  and longitudinally arranged. 
         [0073]    The support protrusions  111   d ,  121   d  and the ribs  133  are arranged in plane view on the straight line connecting the inlet  111   a  and the outlet  121   a . Thus, the support protrusions  111   d  and the ribs  133  are coincident with each other with regard to the transverse positions. The ribs  133  and the support protrusions  111   d  are opposed to each other with spaces S between them  133 ,  111   d . The support protrusions  121   d  and the ribs  133  are coincident with each other with regard to the transverse positions. The ribs  133  and the support protrusions  121   d  are opposed to each other with spaces S between them  133 ,  121   d.    
         [0074]    According to the above oil filter  1 B, during the welding of the case  11 B and the cover  12 B, the support protrusions  111   d ,  121   d  are opposed to the rib  133  with the spaces S between them, which prevents a foreign matter from being caused during the welding. 
         [0075]    The spaces S permit passing of the oil through them, thus ensuring a flow passage of the oil. 
         [0076]    When a negative pressure is caused in the case, the support protrusions  111   d ,  121   d  abut against the ribs  133  so as to support the bottom wall  111  and the top wall  121  of the cover  12 B, respectively. 
       Fourth Embodiment 
       [0077]    With reference to  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B,  9 A and  9 B, an oil filter  1 C is described. 
         [0078]    A case  11 C includes a support cylinders  111   e  as support members extending upward from the bottom wall  111  and longitudinally arranged. The support cylinders  111   e  have recesses  111   e   1  recessed from the surface of the bottom wall  111 . 
         [0079]    The cover  12 C includes support cylinders  121   e  extending downward from the top wall  121  and longitudinally arranged. The support cylinders  121   e  have recesses  121   e   1  recessed from the surface of the top wall  121 . 
         [0080]    The support cylinders  111   e ,  121   e  and the ribs  133  are arranged in plane view on the straight line connecting the inlet  111   a  and the outlet  121   a . Thus, the support cylinders  111   e  and the ribs  133  are coincident with each other with regard to the transverse positions. The support cylinders  111   e  and the ribs  133  are opposed to each other with spaces S between them  111   e ,  133 . The support cylinders  121   e  and the ribs  133  are coincident with each other with regard to the transverse positions. The support cylinders  121   e  and the ribs  133  are opposed to each other with spaces S between them  121   e ,  133 . 
         [0081]    According to the above oil filter  1 C, during the welding of the case  11 C and the cover  12 C, the support cylinders  111   e ,  121   e  are opposed to the ribs  133  with the spaces S between them, which prevents a foreign matter from being caused during the welding. 
         [0082]    The spaces S permit passing of the oil through them, ensuring a flow passage of the oil. 
         [0083]    When a negative pressure is caused in the case, the support cylinders  111   d ,  121   d  abut against the ribs  133  so as to support the bottom wall  111  of the case  11 C and the top wall  121  of the cover  12   c , respectively. 
         [0084]    The recesses  111   e   1 ,  121   e   1  of the support cylinders  111   e ,  121   e  are recessed from the bottom wall  11  of the case  11 C and the top wall  121  of the cover  12 C, respectively, which prevents the case or the cover from being contacted with other members. 
       Fifth Embodiment 
       [0085]    With reference to  FIGS. 10A ,  10 B,  11 A and  11 B, an oil filter  1 D is described. 
         [0086]    A case  11 D includes supports  111   f  as support members arranged on the bottom wall  111  in two rows and longitudinally extending. Each support  111   f  includes support walls  111   f   1  arranged at a certain interval, and connection walls  111   f   2  extending between the support walls  111   f   1 . A cover  12 D includes supports  112   f  as support members arranged on the top wall  121  in two rows and longitudinally extending. Each supports  121   f  includes support walls  121   f   1  arranged at a certain interval, and connection walls  121   f   2  extending between the support walls  121   f   1 . 
         [0087]    Here, the supports  111   f ,  121   f  and the ribs  133  are arranged in plane view parallel to the straight line connecting the inlet  111   a  and the outlet  121   a . Thus, the support walls  111   f   1  of the case  11 D and the ribs  133  are coincident with each other with regard to the transverse positions. The support walls  111   f   1  of the case  11 D are opposed to the ribs  133  with spaces S between them  111   f   1 ,  133 . The support walls  121   f   1  of the cover  12 D and the ribs  133  are coincident with each other with regard to the transverse positions. The support walls  121   f   1  of the cover  12 D are opposed to the ribs  133  with spaces S between them  121   f   1 ,  133 . 
         [0088]    According to the above oil filter ID, during the welding of the case  11 D and the cover  12 D, the support walls  111   f   1 ,  121   f   1  are opposed to the ribs  133  with the spaces S between them, which prevents a foreign matter from being caused during the welding. 
         [0089]    The spaces S permits passing of the oil through them, ensuring a flow passage of the oil. 
         [0090]    When a negative pressure is caused in the case, the support walls  111   f   1 ,  121   f   1  abut against the ribs  133  so as to support the bottom wall  111  of the case  11 D and the top wall  121  of the cover  12 D, respectively. 
       Sixth Embodiment 
       [0091]    With reference to  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B,  13 A and  13 B, an oil filter  1 E is described. 
         [0092]    A case  11 E includes supports  111   f  as support members arranged on the bottom wall  111  in two rows and longitudinally extending. The supports  111   f  include support walls  111   f   1  arranged at a certain interval, and connection walls  111   f   2  extending between the support walls  111   f   1 . The case  11 E includes ribs  111   g  located on the bottom wall  111  and extending transversely to cross the connection walls  111   f   2 . The cover  12 E includes supports  121   f  as support members arranged on the bottom wall  111  in two rows and longitudinally extending. The supports  121   f  include support walls  121   f   1  arranged at a certain interval and connection walls  121   f   2  extending between the support walls  121   f   1 . The cover  12 E includes ribs  121   g  located on the top wall  121  and extending transversely to cross the connection walls  121   f   2 . 
         [0093]    The supports  111   f ,  121   f  and the rib  133  are arranged in plane view parallel to the straight line connecting the inlet  111   a  and the outlet  121   a . Thus, the support walls  111   f   1  of the case  11 E and ribs  133  are coincident with each other with regard to the transverse positions. The support walls  111   f   1  of the case  11 E are opposed to the ribs  133  with spaces S between them  111   f   1 ,  133 . The support walls  121   f   1  of the cover  12 E and ribs  133  are coincident with each other with regard to the transverse positions. The support walls  121   f   1  of the cover  12 E are opposed to the ribs  133  with spaces S between them  121   f   1 ,  133 . 
         [0094]    According to the above oil filter  1 E, during the welding the case  11 E and the cover  12 E, the support walls  111   f   1 ,  121   f   1  are opposed to the ribs  133  with the spaces S between them, which eliminates the cause of a foreign matter during the welding. 
         [0095]    The spaces S permit passing of the oil through them, ensuring a flow passage of the oil. 
         [0096]    When a negative pressure is caused in the case, the support walls  111   f   1 ,  121   f   1  abut against the ribs  133  so as to support the bottom wall  111  of the case  11 E and the top wall  121  of the cover  12 E, respectively. 
         [0097]    The ribs  111   g ,  121   g  support the case  11 E and the cover  12 E deformed under a negative pressure. 
       Seventh Embodiment 
       [0098]    With reference to  FIGS. 14A ,  14 B,  15 A and  15 B, an oil filter  1 F is described. 
         [0099]    A rib  133  has bar-shaped upper and lower protrusions  135 ,  136  as support members located on the upper and lower ends and longitudinally arranged. 
         [0100]    Here, the upper and lower protrusions  135 ,  136  are arranged in plane view on the straight line connecting the inlet  111   a  and the outlet  121   a . The upper protrusions  135  are opposed to the top wall  121  of the cover  12 F with spaces S between them  135 ,  121 . The lower protrusions  136  are opposed to the bottom wall  111  of the case  111 F with spaces S between them  136 ,  111 . 
         [0101]    According to the oil filter  1 F, during the welding of the case  11 F and the cover  12 F, the upper and lower protrusions  135 ,  136  are opposed to the top and bottom walls  121 ,  111  with the spaces S between them, respectively, which eliminates the cause of a foreign matter during the welding. 
         [0102]    The spaces S permit passing of an oil through them, ensuring a flow passage of the oil. 
         [0103]    When a negative pressure is caused in the case, the upper and lower protrusions  135 ,  136  abut against the top wall  121  of the cover  12 F and the bottom wall  111  of the case  11 F so as to support the cover  12 F and the case  11 F, respectively. 
       Eighth Embodiment 
       [0104]    With reference to  FIGS. 16A ,  16 B,  17 A and  17 B, an oil filter  1 G is described. 
         [0105]    The rib  133  has bar-shaped upper and lower protrusions  135 ,  136  as support members located on the upper and lower ends and longitudinally arranged. The case  11 G has cylinders  111   h  as support members located on the bottom wall  111  and longitudinally arranged. Each of the cylinders  111   h  is located to be coincident with the corresponding lower protrusion  136 . The cover  12 G has cylinders  121   h  as support members located on the top wall  121  and longitudinally arranged. Each of the cylinders  121   h  is located to be coincident with the corresponding upper protrusion  135 . 
         [0106]    The upper and lower protrusions  135 ,  136  are arranged in plane view on the straight line connecting the inlet  111   a  and the outlet  121   a . The upper protrusions  135  are opposed to the cylinders  121   h  with a certain space S between them  135 ,  121   h . The lower protrusions  136  are opposed to the cylinders  111   h  with a certain space S between them  136 ,  111   h.    
         [0107]    According to the oil filter  1 G, during the welding of the case  11 G and the cover  12 G, the upper and lower protrusions  135  and  136  are opposed to the cylinders  121   h ,  111   h  with the spaces S between them, respectively, which eliminates the cause of a foreign matter during the welding. 
         [0108]    The spaces S permit passing of the oil through them, ensuring a flow passage of the oil. 
         [0109]    When a negative pressure is caused in the case, the cylinders  121   h ,  111   h  abut against the upper and lower protrusions  135 ,  136 , respectively, to support the top wall  121  of the cover  12 G and the bottom wall  111  of the case  11 G. 
         [0110]    Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.