Abstract:
A quick disconnect housing apparatus includes a housing that has a quick disconnecting latch means and an end cap. The quick disconnecting latch in one embodiment is a hingedly attached, pivotably rotatable lever. In one engagement orientation of the lever, the end cap and the housing are mechanically sealed. In another disengagement orientation of the lever, the end cap and the housing are disengaged whereby easy inspection and installation of an interior element is possible. A method of inspecting and changing the interior element is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention generally relates to a quick disconnect housing apparatus and a method of quick inspection and installation of a quick disconnect housing apparatus. Specifically, the invention relates to a quick disconnect inline filtering apparatus for dry sump oil systems and a method of inspecting and installing quick disconnect filtering apparatus.  
           [0002]    In the arena of auto racing, time is of essence. During racing, there are several thousand parts under extreme stress. These parts require quick inspection and maintenance with only short duration of time to spare, as in the case of pit stops. Among other things, such as gasoline and tire pressure that are sometimes inspected during a short pit stop, an auto mechanic may need to inspect or change the inline filtering apparatus for dry sump oil systems.  
           [0003]    Inline oil filter systems are used in connection with dry sump oil systems that are typically used in racing vehicles. The dry sump oil system requires the use of an inline oil filter between the engine and the oil tank, which is typically located in the rear end of the vehicle. Upon inspection, if the filter contained inside the filtering apparatus has undesirable level of contaminants, the filter must be replaced immediately, such that the efficiency and performance of the car is not affected. Dry sump oil systems are typically used in racing vehicles because engines with dry sump oil systems have been found to have a significant horsepower advantage and other advantages over wet sump oil systems.  
           [0004]    Inspection and replacement of inline filters in conventional systems require the unclamping and unthreading of the inline filter. It has been found desirable in the industry to be able to quickly check and replace the filter in the inline oil filter system. However, presently in the industry, the filtering apparatus consists of a cylindrical canister shell containing a filter that can only be removed by unscrewing the end cap using a mechanical tool, e.g., Canton/Mecca Filters C/M Remote Inline Oil Filter with 8 micron element, 25-103 (3/4NPT). In certain situations, especially where time is of essence, unscrewing to inspect and install an inline filter in the dry sump oil system followed by again screwing back the end cap is very inefficient.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is an illustration of a prior art hose connector used to connect two different hoses for use in spraying and irrigation applications for agricultural fields. The hose connector is manufactured by ARAG Spraying and Irrigation, s.r.l Via Palladio 5/A 42100 Rubiera (RE) Italy. This device includes a latch  20 , which is attached to the first hollow pipe  22 . The second hollow pipe connector  24  has an external diameter  26  slightly less than the internal diameter  28  of the first pipe  22  such that the second pipe  24  is insertable in the first pipe  22 . When the second pipe  24  is inserted into the first pipe  22 , the latch  20  is pivoted so that the first pipe  22  and the second pipe  24  are mechanically sealed.  
           [0006]    There are many types of existing filtering systems, which use various disconnecting and sealing means. Examples of such types of filtering systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,325 to Otto; U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,561 to Swearingen; U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,823 to Gross et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,834 to Mason.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, the need exists for an improved filtering apparatus that can be quickly disconnected such that the filter inside the canister can be inspected or exchanged within a short duration of time and without the aid of any specialized tools. Of course, the present invention may be used in a multitude of systems where similar quick disconnecting, inspecting, and replacing capabilities are desired. Thus, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to application in connection with inline oil filters used in dry sump oil systems.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is a quick disconnect housing apparatus that is easily installed in a fluid system. The quick disconnect housing apparatus is cost-effective and is adaptable for use in connection with various fluid systems.  
           [0009]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the quick disconnect housing apparatus includes an inline oil filter apparatus for removing contaminants from a dry sump oil system. The apparatus generally includes an end cap, a housing, an inner assembly removably placed within the housing and covered by the end cap and a quick disconnecting latch means for disconnecting the end cap from the housing. Other embodiments of the invention include, without limitation, placing other devices within the housing such as dispensing canisters.  
           [0010]    Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method for inspecting an inline oil filter in a dry sump oil system. The method includes the steps of: pivoting a quick disconnecting latch, sliding an end cap from a housing, removing the filter contained inside the inline oil filter, inspecting the filter for contaminants, replacing the filter or providing a new inner filter, placing the end cap into the housing, pivoting the quick disconnecting latch such that the end cap is secured in the housing.  
           [0011]    In sum, the present invention represents a significant improvement over the prior art in many ways, including allowing quick inspection and change of inner assembly, economical design, and ease of use. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description accompanying the drawings. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a prior art hose connector;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a quick disconnect inline oil filter in accordance with the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a cap end perspective view of one embodiment of a quick disconnect filtering in accordance with the invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a housing end perspective view of the quick disconnect filtering apparatus of FIG. 3;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a housing end perspective view of the quick disconnect filtering apparatus of FIG. 3 with the quick disconnect latch in an open position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a housing end perspective view of the end cap of FIG. 2;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a end cap end perspective view of the quick disconnect filtering apparatus of FIG. 3 with the end cap removed and the quick disconnecting latch shown in open position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is an oil line end perspective view of the end cap of FIG. 2;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a plan view of the end cap end of the quick disconnect filtering apparatus of FIG. 7, shown with end cap removed and latches in an open position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a partial section perspective view of the quick disconnect filtering apparatus of FIG. 3; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the quick disconnect filtering apparatus of FIG. 10. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the quick disconnect apparatus  29  wherein the end cap  30  contains an inlet  32  for receiving oil from upstream of the filter. The end cap  30  is attached to the upstream source through the inlet  32  by any conventional means, such as threading as shown in FIG. 2. The end cap  30  may be manufactured by conventional materials that are used in manufacturing filter canisters and that are known by one skilled in the art, such as stainless steel or aluminum.  
         [0024]    As seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, the end cap  30  has a connector part  66 , which is generally cylindrical in shape. The connector part  66 , has at least one reduced diameter groove  68  along the external circumference of the exterior surface of the end cap  70 . The connector part  66  may include O-rings  67  and  69  to ensure that the end cap  30  is sealed within the housing  48 , when the end cap  30  is inserted in the housing  48 .  
         [0025]    The quick disconnect apparatus  29  uses any conventional inner assembly, such as a filter  34  for the purpose of removing desired contaminants. In one embodiment of the present invention, the filter  34  comprises a concentrically aligned double cylindered chamber that contains a mesh (not shown) in the area between its internal cylinder  40  and its external cylinder  38 . The mesh comprises the filtering surface. Both the external cylinder  38  and the internal cylinder  40  have a plurality of perforations  36 , such that the perforations  36  on the external cylinder  38  are not aligned along the perforations  36  of the internal cylinder  40 . The lack of alignment of the perforations  36  in both the external cylinder  38  and the internal cylinder  40  forces the incoming fluid inside the internal cylinder  40  to flow from the internal cylinder  40  to the outer cylinder  38  through the filtering surface of the mesh, where the process of filtration occurs. Further, the internal diameter  44  of the end cap  30  is similar to the internal diameter  46  of the filter  34 . Similar internal diameters,  44 ,  46  ensures that any fluid entering the inlet  32  also enters the inner cylinder  40 , such that maximum filtration occurs when the fluid is pushed towards the outer cylinder  38 .  
         [0026]    Other conventional or novel inner assemblies may be used in the quick disconnect housing apparatus, for example, a dispensing canister that contains desired fertilizers or pesticides or other chemicals that need to be dispensed. When chemicals contained in the dispensing canister are depleted, the quick disconnect housing apparatus can be quickly disconnected and the chemical can either be refilled or the entire inner assembly may be replaced. In one embodiment, the dispensing canister may include concentrated chemicals inside the body of the dispensing canister, which is, in turn placed in the housing  48 .  
         [0027]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the inner assembly is a filter  34  that resides inside the housing  48 . In this embodiment, the housing  48  includes an outlet  50  capable of conveying the oil downstream. The housing  48  may be made of the same materials as the end cap  30 . The housing is generally cylindrical in shape and may be viewed as including mainly two parts. The first part is the main body  74  as seen in FIG. 5 and the second part is the connector head  62 . The connector head  62  is also substantially cylindrical in shape and has at least one slot  76 . As seen in FIG. 11, the connector head further includes at least one orifice  78  traveling through the exterior surface of the housing  80  into the interior surface of the housing  82 . In one embodiment of the present invention, there are two slots  76  and two corresponding orifices  78 .  
         [0028]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing  48  also includes a cushion  84 . This cushion  84  may be manufactured by any known composition known in the prior art by one skilled in the art, which is chemically resilient such that no chemical reaction occurs when fluids pass through the filtering apparatus  29 . The cushion  84  structurally serves the purpose of keeping the filter  34  in one position, so that the filter  34  does not rattle against the interior wall of the housing or the connector part  66  of the end cap  30 . The cushion  84  is slightly compressible. When the quick disconnecting means  52  mechanically pushes the end cap  30  and the housing  48  in a locked position, the slightly compressible cushion  84  allows pressure caused by such mechanical sealing to dissipate such that the filter  34  is not damaged.  
         [0029]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the cushion  84  is substantially arcuate in shape as seen in FIG. 11 and is positioned at the bottom of the housing  48 . The cushion  84  may be substantially shaped like a hollow dome with a solid circular center  88  and a plurality of cavities  86 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of cavities  86  are arch-like. In another embodiment of the present invention, the solid circular center  88  has a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the internal cylinder  40  of the filter  34 . The diameter of center  88 , which is greater than or equal to the diameter of the internal cylinder ensures that the incoming fluid does not simply pass through the outlet  50  of the housing. The diameter of the solid circular center  88 , instead forces the fluid to pass through the perforations  36  of the internal cylinder  40 , followed by the external cylinder  38 , followed by the plurality of cavities  86  and finally to the outlet  50  of the housing.  
         [0030]    The housing  48  further includes a quick disconnecting means  52 . This quick disconnecting means  52  is hingedly attached to the housing slots  76 , using conventional pivotable attachers. In one embodiment, the attachers are a hinge pins  54 . The hingedly attached quick disconnecting means  52  is a pivotably rotatable lever  53 , which includes a lever head  56 , a lever handle  58  and may include a means for grasping the lever handle  58  such as ring  60 . The lever  53  is held in position inside slot  76  by inserting the hinging pin  54  first through the body of the connector  62  then through the lever head  56  and finally through the body of the connector  62 , again.  
         [0031]    As seen in FIGS. 7 and 11, in one embodiment of the invention, the quick disconnecting means  52  is operated by rotating the lever handle  58 , using the pivoting point of the hinge attacher  54 . The lever handle  58  is rotated such that the lever handle  58  pushes the lever head  56  inside the orifice  78 , thereby protruding the lever head  56  inside the interior surface of the housing  82 . As seen in FIG. 10, the lever head enters the orifice  78  and settles on to the groove  68  of the exterior surface of the end cap. This is the position of engagement. The second position of disengagement occurs when the lever handle  58  is rotated such that the lever head  56  inside the orifice  78  is not protruding, but is instead aligned to the interior surface of the housing  82 .  
         [0032]    In a normal operating position, the end cap  30  and the housing  48  containing the filter  34  of the filtering apparatus  29  are mechanically locked using the quick disconnecting device. In order for the apparatus  29  to operate as a quick disconnect inline filter, in one embodiment of the present invention, the lever handle  58  is rotated to the disengagement position. The disengagement position allows the lever head  56  to align with the interior surface of the housing  82 , thereby allowing for the enclosed filter  34  to be released. The filter  34  is then inspected for desired contaminants, and after inspection, the filter  34  is replaced inside the housing  48 , optionally with a new filter  34 , depending on the level of contamination. Once the filter is positioned inside the housing above the compressible perforated cushion  84 , the end cap  30  is aligned with the housing  48  and the lever handle  58  is positioned in the engagement position, thereby quickly locking the filtering apparatus  29 , as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.  
         [0033]    The quick disconnect inline oil filtering apparatus and a method of installing and inspecting an inline oil filtering apparatus of the present invention may have other applications aside from use in a dry sump oil system. Additionally, the direction of fluid flow has been described herein in the preferred orientation but it should be apparent to one of skill in the art that the flow direction could be reversed. Thus, although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is perceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above. Rather, it is recognized that modifications may be made by one of skill in the art of the invention without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and, therefore, the invention is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims.