Abstract:
In a fluid filter, magnetic filtration of ferrous particles is provided by an adhesive having magnetic properties which is placed within a filter assembly in either a structural or nonstructural capacity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to fluid filters, and more particularly, to a filter assembly having magnetic filtration capabilities. 
     2. Discussion 
     Although magnetic filters and their benefits are well known in the art, magnetic filters have not received wide-scale commercial acceptance due to one or more disadvantages which are usually found with the prior art designs. Prior art magnetic filters are relatively costly to manufacture when compared to standard filters due primarily to the difficulty in handling and installing the magnets. Additionally, most prior art magnetic filters are less than satisfactory in that their magnets are located downstream from the filter media, thereby eliminating many of the advantages of the magnetic filtration. Thus there remains a need in the art for an effective yet commercially feasible magnetic filter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fluid filter having magnetic filtering capabilities which is commercially feasible to manufacture and relatively inexpensive. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a filter assembly with a fluid flow path which subjects the flow of contaminated fluid to a magnetic field prior to encountering a filter media. 
     The present invention is directed to a filter that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior known devices. The present invention provides a magnetic filter when a securing means is combined with magnetic particles and applied to one or more of the filter components. The securing means can be used in either a structural fashion, securing the filter media to the filter media support for example, or in a nonstructural fashion, as a magnetic film applied to the exposed surface of either the filter housing or the filter media support. 
     The magnetic properties of the securing means create a magnetic field which envelops a portion of the filter and the surrounding flow of fluid. Preferably, the securing means is applied to an area of the filter that will expose the contaminated fluid to the magnetic field before the contaminated fluid reaches the filter media. In so doing, ferrous particles contained within the contaminated fluid are drawn to and captured by the magnetic field, effectively removing them from the contaminated fluid and thereby preventing these particles from plugging, tearing or otherwise compromising the filtering ability of the filter media. 
     When the filter is no longer usable and requires replacement, the filter can simply be discarded. Since the replacement filter would already have magnetic properties, proper filtration could be ensured without the need to remove, clean and/or replace magnets. 
     Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an exemplary a spin-on type filter constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the lower left corner of the filter media assembly shown in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a “spin-on” type oil filter assembly constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . Filter assembly  10  is cylindrically shaped and is generally comprised of a filter housing  12 , a cap  14 , and a filter media assembly  16 . The filter media assembly  16  is comprised of a filter media  18 , upper and lower filter media supports  20  &amp;  22 , respectively and a perforated screen  24 . Upper and lower filter media supports  20  &amp;  22  are disk-shaped fabrications, extending radially outward toward filter housing  12 . Although upper and lower filter media supports  20  &amp;  22  could be constructed from a variety of materials, a ferrous-based material, such as steel, is preferred. 
     Filter media  18  is cylindrically shaped and contains a hollow interior section  26 . Perforated screen  24  supports hollow interior hollow interior section  26  from the pressure differential created by the fluid passing through filter media  18 , thereby preventing filter media  18  from being crushed. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, filter media  18  is secured to upper filter media support  20  (not shown) and lower filter media support  22  through the use of a securing means  30 , typically an adhesive, having magnetic properties. One method of creating the securing means  30  with magnetic properties would be to incorporate magnetic particles  32  into an adhesive  34 . The magnetic field (not shown) produced by securing means  30  envelops the adjacent upper or lower filter media support  20  or  22 , as well as the fluid in these vicinities. 
     Referring back to FIG. 1, contaminated fluid  36  enters the filter through a plurality of apertures  38  spaced circumferentially around the cap  14 . Contaminated fluid  36  entering through apertures  38  is directed toward an exposed surface  40  of the lower filter media support  22 . As the contaminated fluid  36  flows across exposed surface  40  toward filter housing  12 , ferrous particles  42  contained in contaminated fluid  36  are drawn to exposed surface  40  by the magnetic field created by securing means  30 , settling onto exposed surface  40  and are thus removed from contaminated fluid  36  prior to reaching filter media  18 . The life of filter assembly  10  is thereby extended because ferrous particles  42  are removed before they plug, tear or otherwise damage filter media  18  and compromise the integrity of filter assembly  10 . 
     When contaminated fluid  36  reaches filter housing  12 , it is directed inwards toward filter media  18 . Fluid passing through filter media  18  in close proximity to upper or lower filter media supports  20  &amp;  22  is subjected to the magnetic field created by securing means  30 , thus providing secondary magnetic filtration. Fluid which has passed through filter media  18  and perforated screen  24  enters into the flow of a cleaned fluid  46  from the interior hollow interior section  26  and exits filter assembly  10 . 
     Alternatively, securing means  30  could be used in a nonstructural manner to create the magnetic field needed for magnetic filtration. For example, securing means  30  could be applied on an interior or exterior surface  50  or  52  of filter housing  12  or to an area on exposed surface  40  of upper or lower filter media support  20  or  22 . Contaminated fluid  36  passing through the magnetic field created by securing means  30  would draw ferrous particles  42  out of contaminated fluid  36  before it reached filter media  18 . 
     While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise, without departing from such principles. Accordingly, a filter, which is comprised solely of filter media assembly  16 , is within the scope of the present invention.