A filter having an integral gasket

Abstract: A filter assembly is disclosed which includes a downwardly sloping skirt portion, a gasket, filter media, and a supply suction tube. The gasket is integral with a top section of the skirt portion. The filter media, which may be pleated for increased filtering capabilities, is positioned at the bottom of the skirt portion such that unfiltered fluid will be gravity biased to pass through the filter media. The suction tube is integral with the skirt and has a first end and a second end. The first end is adapted to be connected to a pump, while the second end extends through the skirt such that the filtered fluid can be drawn through the suction tube when the pump is activated.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to filters. More particularly, the invention relates to a filter for a vehicle which has an integral gasket to form a seal between the vehicle body and a fluid pan. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Filters are often used for filtering out debris and other foreign matter from fluid. In an engine, oil and transmission filters are typically used for filtering fluid that is contained in a fluid pan, i.e., a sump, wherein the fluid is transported back into the engine by means of a fluid pump. Conventional filter assemblies include a filter, a fluid pan, a suction tube, and a separate gasket that serves to seal the fluid pan to the engine body. The filter is typically provided as a screen, and it is positioned at an exit point of the sump, such that the fluid is drawn through the screen by the suction tube via the pump when it is transported back to the engine. This arrangement is disadvantageous because the pump must generate enough suction to draw the dirty fluid through the screen. Further, by requiring a separate gasket and suction tube, there are more components to assemble, thus increasing assembly time and manufacturing costs. To address some of these concerns, some filter assemblies use a Dacron® cloth as a filter element. The cloth may also include a rubber compound or heavy resin disposed on the margin so as to serve as a gasket. In use, the cloth is positioned between the intake side of the pump and the body of the fluid pan, such that it is stretched over the top of the fluid pan. Bosses are provided in the fluid pan to serve as supports for the cloth. The fluid pan is further provided with an outlet such that the filtered fluid may be drawn directly out of the sump. However, this type of filter assembly is undesirable because for filtered fluid to be drawn from the sump, a special fluid pan must be provided, thereby increasing costs for the engine. Further, because the cloth is stretched over the entire top surface of the fluid pan, a rather large piece of Dacron® cloth must be provided, thereby raising filter costs. DE-A-19833974 discloses a filter assembly, comprising: a skirt having a top section, an intermediate section, and a bottom section, said skirt being adapted to be mounted above a fluid sump; said intermediate section being disposed between said top section and said bottom section and having sides that extend around said top section; at least part of the intermediate section sloping downwards towards the bottom section; said bottom section including at least one aperture therethrough providing communication across the skirt; at least one layer of filter media disposed across said aperture. As with filter elements made from Dacron® cloth, the fluid pan must be provide with an outlet for withdrawing filtered fluid. According to the present invention, at least one supply suction tube is provided, having a first end and a second end, said supply suction tube extending through said skirt with said second end projecting from said skirt. A gasket is preferably integral with the top section of the skirt such that the filter assembly may serve as a seal between the engine body and the fluid pan. By incorporating the gasket into the skirt, both manufacturing and assembly costs are reduced. Further, tolerances may be more precisely controlled. The filter media disposed across the aperture is preferably integrally molded to the bottom section of the skirt. The filter media is preferably pleated so as to form serrating channels which serve to evenly distribute the fluid to be filtered. By having the filter media positioned at the bottom section of the skirt, the downwardly sloping intermediate section serves to bias the fluid to pass through the filter media. Further, by molding the filter media directly to the skirt, it is insured that no unfiltered fluid will be deposited into the fluid pan. The first end of the supply suction tube is preferably adapted to be connected to a pump. The second end extends through the skirt and into a sump formed by the fluid pan. In the preferred embodiment, the tube is integral with the skirt such that no additional sealing elements are needed where the tube extends through the skirt. When the pump is activated, filtered fluid is drawn up through the supply tube and transported back to the vehicle. Because the tube extends through the skirt portion, the fluid is drawn directly from the sump, rather than through filter media, such that less suction is required from the pump. Further, the filter of the present invention does not require any modifications to be made to the fluid pan, therefore it can be used with new or existing fluid pans. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a brief description: Figure 1 is a top isometric view of a filter in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a bottom isometric view of the filter. Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-section view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figures 1-3, a filter assembly 10 for use with a fluid pan and vehicle body includes a skirt 12, a gasket 14, filter media 16, and a supply suction tube 18. Skirt 12 has a top section 20, an intermediate section 22, and a bottom section 24. Top section 20 is substantially planar and may include a plurality of bolt holes 26 such that filter assembly 10 may be easily connected to the fluid pan and vehicle body. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, gasket 14 is disposed along a peripheral edge 28 of top section 20 and is integral with filter assembly 10. Gasket 14 may be edge-bonded, molded into a channel formed in top section 20, or adhered to top section by any other suitable means. Skirt 12 is preferably constructed of plastic or any other suitable material such that filter assembly 10 is lightweight and cost-efficient to manufacture. Further, top section 20 is shaped to be generally the shape of the fluid pan, such that filter assembly 10 is easily connectable thereto. Intermediate section 22 is disposed between top section 20 and bottom section 24. It has sides that extend about top section 20 inwardly of peripheral edge 28 and gasket 14. Bottom section 24, which is generally smaller than top section 20, has an outer peripheral edge 29 that is spaced laterally inwardly of peripheral edge 28. Some or all of the sides of intermediate section 22 are sloped downward from upper section 20 toward bottom section 24 such that skirt 12 is substantially dish-shaped. However, it is understood that intermediate section 22 may be formed with contoured surfaces, such that filter assembly 10 easily receives components extending from the vehicle body. Bottom section 24 includes at least one aperture 30 which is covered by filter media 16. Intermediate section 22 cooperates with aperture 30 in bottom section 24 such that oil, or other unfiltered fluid, is biased downward such that the fluid must pass through filter media 16. Preferably, aperture 30 extends across bottom section 24 in its entirety such that there are no low spots in which unfiltered fluid can collect. Further included on an outside surface 32 of intermediate section 22, adjacent to bottom section 24, are optional, downwardly extending lateral walls 34, to be discussed later in greater detail. As best shown in Figure 2, filter media 16 may be constructed of a synthetic fiber media, cellulose material, or any other suitable material. Preferably, edges 36 of filter media 16 are molded directly into aperture 30 such that a seal is formed around filter media 16 thereby prohibiting unfiltered oil from passing through. Further, in the preferred embodiment, filter media 16 is pleated, either for surface or depth filtration, and is arranged such that serrating flow channels 38 are formed, shown best in Figure 3, thereby allowing for more filter media 16 than found in a conventional flat sheet. Therefore, the available surface area of filtering is maximized, prolonging filter life. Flow channels 38 also serve to evenly distribute the unfiltered fluid across filter media 16. Lateral walls 34 are provided to retain pleated filter media 16, as well as guide the direction of flow for the filtered fluid. Filter assembly 10 further includes a supply suction tube 18. Tube 18 is preferably integral with skirt 12, thereby reducing the number of components of filter assembly 10, assembly time, and improving assembly tolerances. Figures 1 and 2 show tube 18 integral with intermediate section 22, however, it is understood that tube may be positioned at any location on skirt 12, or through filter media 16. Tube 18 has a first end 40 and a second end 42. First end 40 extends in an upward direction from skirt 12 and is adapted to connect to a suction pump (not shown) by any suitable fastener. Second end extends through skirt 12. In the preferred embodiment, tube 18 is positioned at a lower portion of intermediate section 22, adjacent to filter media 16 such that filtered fluid is easily drawn into tube 18 when the pump is activated. In use, filter assembly 10 is positioned over a fluid pan 43, with top section being 20 connected to the fluid pan in mating engagement. The fluid pan defines a sump beneath filter assembly 10. The fluid pan and filter assembly 10 are then connected to a vehicle body (not shown), with top section 20 of filter assembly 10 serving as a seal between the vehicle body and fluid pan, due to integral gasket 14. By having gasket 14 integral with top section 20, there is no need to provide a separate gasket that would require additional assembly time to insure proper positioning of the gasket. Once filter assembly 10 and the fluid pan are connected to the vehicle body, dirty fluid from the vehicle drips onto skirt 12 where intermediate section 22 biases the fluid to pass through filter media 16. Filter media 16 filters out debris and other foreign matter from the fluid and directs the filtered fluid into the sump formed by the fluid pan. First end 40 of tube 18 is connected to a pump, while second end 42 is positioned in the sump, such that filtered fluid may be drawn up through tube 18 and directed back to the engine body. Preferably, tang members 44 are provided on the periphery of second end 42 such that if second end 42 rests on a surface of the fluid pan, the filtered fluid may still pass through channels 46 positioned between adjacent tang members 44, thereby preventing tube 18 from becoming sealed off.

Claims: A filter assembly, comprising: a skirt (12) having a top section (20), an intermediate section (22), and a bottom section (24), said skirt (12) being adapted to be mounted above a fluid sump; said intermediate section (22) being disposed between said top section (20) and said bottom section (24) and having sides that extend around said top section (20), at least some of the sides being sloped downwards towards the bottom section (24); said bottom section (24) including at least one aperture (30) therethrough providing communication across the skirt (12); at least one layer of filter media (16) disposed across said aperture (30); characterised in that at least one supply suction tube (18) is provided, having a first end (40) and a second end (42), said supply suction tube (18) extending through said skirt (12) with said second end projecting from said skirt (12). A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a gasket (14) is secured to said top section (20) of said skirt (12). A filter assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that supply suction tube (18) is integral with said intermediate section (22) of said skirt (12). A filter assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first end (40) of said supply suction tube (18) is adapted to be connected to a fluid pump so as to pump filtered fluid from beneath an outside surface of said intermediate section (22) of said skirt (12). A filter assemblyas claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second end (42) of said supply suction tube (18) further includes a plurality of spaced apart tang members (44) disposed thereon, a channel (46) being defined between each pair of adjacent tang members (44). A filter assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said aperture (30) extends across said bottom section in its entirety. A filter assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said filter media (16) is integrally molded into said bottom section (24) of said skirt (12). A filter assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said filter media (16) has a plurality of pleats. A filter assembly as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said pleats are adapted to provide at least one row of serrating flow channels (38) to evenly distribute the fluid across said filter media (16). A combination of a filter assembly, a fluid pan and vehicle body, the filter assembly being in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top section (20) of the skirt (12) is secured between the vehicle body and the fluid pan, the second end (42) of the supply suction tube (18) extending into the fluid pan.

Inventors: LAUGHLIN JOHN ALTON, LEE BRIAN THOMAS, WILLIAMSON JOSEPH STEPHEN, LAUGHLIN, JOHN ALTON, LEE, BRIAN THOMAS, WILLIAMSON, JOSEPH STEPHEN
Applicants: DANA CORP, DANA CORPORATION
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B01D29
IPC codes: B01D29, B01D35