Patent Publication Number: US-2022219103-A1

Title: Rotary Vessel for a Filter Assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/214,097 having a US filing date of 9 Dec. 2018, the US patent application claiming a priority date of 8 Dec. 2017 based on prior filed United Kingdom patent application No. GB 1720492.6, the entire contents of the aforesaid US patent application and the aforesaid United Kingdom patent application incorporated herein by reference to the fullest extent permitted by the law. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a rotary vessel for a filter assembly, such as a centrifugal filter assembly. The filter assembly may be a filter assembly for a vehicle. 
     Filter assemblies are known for removing contaminant particles from lubricating oil circuits of internal combustion engines. They are also known for separating particulate matter from liquids, as well as separating liquids of different densities from one another, in a variety of industrial processes. Typically, a filter assembly comprises a housing having a rotary vessel supported therein to spin about an axis of rotation. A working fluid from which a contaminant is to be removed, e.g. engine oil, is supplied at elevated pressure along the axis of rotation to the rotary vessel. Subsequently, the pressurised fluid is tangentially ejected from the rotary vessel such that the rotary vessel is caused to spin. As the working fluid flows through the spinning rotary vessel, denser contaminants or particles are separated therefrom by centrifugal force and retained in the rotary vessel, typically as a cake adhering to an interior surface of the rotary vessel. Ejected fluid drains to a sump. 
     As retained contaminant particles agglomerate in the rotary vessel, it is necessary to replace or service the rotary vessel at suitably regular intervals to ensure the continued cleaning effectiveness of the filter assembly. It is common that servicing of the rotary vessel requires its removal from the housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to improve upon and/or reduce a problem associated with one or more known arrangements. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a rotary vessel for a filter assembly, the rotary vessel being rotatably mountable in a housing of the filter assembly and comprising: 
     a preferably cylindrical vessel body having an open end; 
     a top cover receivable on the body to close the open end; and 
     a releasable locking device that is manually operable to selectively lock and unlock the cover relative to the body. 
     Preferably, the cover is substantially flat and closes the body at its upper axial end. 
     In certain embodiments, the releasable locking device may comprise at least one radially moveable projection and at least one recess configured to receive the projection. One of the cover or the body may comprise the radially moveable projection and the other of the cover and the body may comprise the recess. Removal of the cover from the body may be prevented when the projection is received in the recess. 
     In certain embodiments, the body may comprise a bearing tube defining a central bore for receiving a spindle of the filter assembly such that the rotary vessel may rotate about a longitudinal axis of the spindle. The cover may include an aperture through which the spindle may protrude when the cover is received on the body. The releasable locking device may selectively lock the cover to the bearing tube. 
     In certain embodiments, the releasable locking device may comprise a bayonet fitting between the aperture and the bearing tube. 
     In certain embodiments, the aperture may comprise a non-circular keyway and the bearing tube may include radial protrusions. The radial protrusions may be shaped to be receivable through the keyway in a first rotational position of the aperture relative to the bearing tube. Engagement between the radial protrusions and the cover may prevent removal of the cover from the bearing tube in a second rotational position of the aperture relative to the bearing tube subsequent to the radial protrusions being received through the keyway. 
     In certain embodiments, the cover may comprise a first part and a second part. The first part may be rotatable relative to the second part. The first part may comprise the aperture. The second part may comprise a through-hole configured to receive the bearing tube. 
     In certain embodiments, either of the bearing tube and the aperture may comprise the at least one radially moveable projection, the at least one radially moveable projection may comprise one or more radially moveable lugs, and the other of the bearing tube and the aperture may comprise the at least one recess in which the one or more radially moveable lugs may be received to limit or inhibit relative rotation of at least a part of the cover relative to the body. The one or more radially moveable lugs may each comprise a ball plunger. 
     In other embodiments, the releasable locking device may selectively lock the cover to the body. The at least one radially moveable projection may comprise one or more levers provided on the cover, wherein the one or more levers may selectively engage the at least one recess. The at least one recess may comprise a groove on an inside surface of the body, and the one or more levers may selectively engage the groove. The one or more levers may comprise a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may meet the second portion at a pivot, wherein each second portion may selectively engage a part of the body. The one or more levers may be arranged on the cover such that upon insertion of the cover in the body interference between the first portion or each lever and the body may pivot the respective lever about the pivot so that the second portion may engage the part of the body. Each of the one or more levers may comprise a handle for facilitating pivoting of the respective lever to disengage the second portion from the part of the body. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided a filter assembly comprising a housing, and the rotary vessel as described above, wherein the rotary vessel is rotatably mounted in the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a known filter assembly. 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a rotary vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a rotary vessel according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a filter assembly  10 . The filter assembly  10  has particular application in a motor vehicle, e.g. for cleaning engine oil in an engine lubrication system. However, other applications are contemplated, e.g. for use in oil recovery and in the manufacture of food products. 
     The filter assembly  10  comprises a housing  12  having a first housing part  14  and a second housing part  16 . The first housing part  14  is removably attachable to the second housing part  16  (which is usually fixed on a vehicle or engine) and the first housing part  14  may be releasably secured to the second housing part  16  by a closure member  18 , such as a hose clip, for example. One or more seals may be provided between the first housing part  14  and the second housing part  16  such that a fluid-tight connection may be made therebetween. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the filter assembly  10  further comprises a rotary vessel  20  having a rotor body  22  that is rotatable within the housing  12  about an axis of rotation  100 . References herein to axial movement, axial extension, etc. relate to being at least generally parallel to the axis of rotation  100 . References herein to radial movement, radial extension, etc. relate to being at least generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation  100 . 
     The rotary vessel  20  defines a bearing tube  24  having a bore that receives a spindle  30  of the filter assembly  10 . The spindle  30  extends along the longitudinal axis, which coincides with the axis of rotation  100 , and has a bottom end  30   a  that is rotationally fixed relative to the housing  12  (in particular, the second housing part  16  in the embodiment shown in the Figures), and a top end  30   b  that is rotationally fixed relative to the housing  12  (in particular, the first housing part  14  in the embodiment shown in the Figures). The rotary vessel  20  is rotatably mounted to the spindle  30 . In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the Figures, the rotary vessel  20  is rotatably mounted to the spindle  30  by a bottom bearing assembly  36   a  disposed towards the bottom end  30   a  of the spindle  30  and a top bearing assembly  36   b  disposed towards the top end  30   b  of the spindle  30 . In alternative embodiments, the rotary vessel  20  may be rotatably mounted in the housing  12  by alternative means. For example, in certain embodiments, the spindle  30  may not be present, and, instead, the rotary vessel  20  may include a spigot at each of its top and bottom ends, where the spigots are journaled for rotation within the housing  12 . 
     A bottom end of the bearing tube  24  defines a rotary vessel inlet  20   a . The spindle  30  extends through the rotary vessel inlet  20   a  into the bearing tube  24 . The spindle  30  has a bore  32  extending from an opening in the bottom end  30   a , and radial holes  34  fluidly connecting the bore  32  to an annulus  25  defined between the spindle  30  and the bearing tube  24 . This arrangement permits a fluid to enter the annulus  25  through the rotary vessel inlet  20   a  via the bore  32 . 
     A valve or valve assembly  40  is provided and is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The housing  12  has a housing inlet  12   a  that is fluidly coupled to a channel  13  that is interrupted by the valve assembly  40  when it is in the closed configuration. When the valve assembly  40  is in the open configuration, the housing inlet  12   a  is fluidly connected to the rotary vessel inlet  20   a  by the channel  13 . When the valve assembly  40  is in the closed configuration (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), the valve assembly  40  fluidly seals the rotary vessel inlet  20   a  from the housing inlet  12   a  such that fluid may not enter the rotary vessel inlet  20   a  from the housing inlet  12   a.    
     In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the Figures, the valve assembly  40  comprises a valve body  42  that is moveable in a valve channel  54  and biasing means  50  for biasing the valve body  42 . In particular, the biasing means  50  (which may be a spring as illustrated in the Figures) bias the valve body  42  towards a first position in the channel  13  in which the valve assembly  40  is in the closed configuration. The valve body  42  is moveable against a biasing force provided by the biasing means to a second position in the channel  13  in which the valve assembly  40  is in the open configuration. The valve assembly  40  includes a stationary fitment  52  that provides an end stop to which the biasing means  50  is attached. 
     A fluid to be cleaned/filtered, e.g. engine oil, may be supplied to the filter assembly  10  through the housing inlet  12   a . If the pressure of the fluid entering the channel  13  through the housing inlet  12   a  has a pressure that is equal to or greater than a threshold pressure then the valve assembly  40  may move from the closed configuration to the open configuration. In relation to the embodiment shown in the Figures, the threshold pressure is defined as a pressure that is sufficient to move the valve body  42  from the first position to the second position against the biasing force provided by the biasing means  50 . 
     With the valve assembly  40  in the open configuration, the housing inlet  12   a  is in fluid communication with the rotary vessel inlet  20   a  such that fluid entering the housing inlet  12   a  may flow into the annulus  25  through the bore  32 . From the annulus  25 , the fluid may flow under its own pressure through one or more radial holes  26  in the bearing tube  24  into a rotary vessel chamber  27  of the rotary vessel  20 . The one or more radial holes  26  may extend through the bearing tube  24  substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation  100 . 
     The rotary vessel  20  is self-powerable, i.e. the pressurised supply of fluid may drive rotation of the rotary vessel  20 . To this end, the rotor body  22  may comprise one or more rotary vessel outlets  226  ( FIG. 3 ) at the lower end face embodied as nozzles that are fluidly connected with the rotary vessel chamber  27 . The one or more rotary vessel outlets  226  may each be provided at a radial distance from the axis of rotation  100  and configured such that the fluid exits the rotary vessel chamber  27 , through the one or more rotary vessel outlets  226 , in a direction generally tangential to the rotary vessel  20 . As will be understood, the tangential emission of the fluid, at elevated pressure, results in a reactive force that causes rotation of the rotary vessel  20  about the axis of rotation  100 . In certain embodiments, the one or more rotary vessel outlets  226  may each be provided with a nozzle or be otherwise shaped to provide an elevated pressure of the fluid exiting therethrough, thereby increasing the speed of rotation of the rotary vessel  20  in the housing. 
     As the fluid flows through the spinning rotary vessel  20 , centrifugal force causes separation of contaminant material within the fluid. Separated contaminant material may accumulate within the rotary vessel chamber  27 , primarily as a cake adhering to an interior surface of the rotary vessel chamber  27  or to a liner provided therein. The filtered fluid exits the rotary vessel  20  through the one or more rotary vessel outlets  226 . The fluid exiting the rotary vessel  20  passes into a lower chamber  38  of the filter assembly  10  before draining to a sump and exiting the filter assembly  10  though a drain  12   b  of the housing that is fluidly connected to the lower chamber  38 . 
     As contaminant accumulates within the rotary vessel chamber  46 , the filter assembly  10  must be serviced, e.g. either to clean or replace the rotary vessel  20 . To service the filter assembly  10 , it may be necessary to remove the rotary vessel  20  from within the housing  12 . Removal of the rotary vessel  20  from the within the housing  12  requires separation of the first housing part  14  from the second housing part  16 . 
     A rotary vessel  120  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . The rotary vessel  120  has a rotary vessel body  122  and a bearing tube  124  and functions in the same manner within a housing of a filter assembly as described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Additionally, the rotary vessel  120  has a removable cover  123  that is receivable on the rotary vessel body  122  to close an open end  122   a  of the rotary vessel body  122 . That is, the cover  123  may be removed from the rotary vessel body  122  to permit access to the inside of the rotary vessel  120  and thereby permit cleaning and/or servicing of the rotary vessel  120 . The rotary vessel  120  further includes a releasable locking device that is manually operable to selectively lock and unlock the cover  123  relative to the rotary vessel body  122 . The term manually operable is used to specify that the cover  123  may be locked to and unlocked from the rotary vessel  120  without the use of any tools, i.e. locking/unlocking may be actuated by hand. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the cover  123  has a lower part  123   a  and an upper part  123   b . The upper part  123   b  is configured to be received by the lower part  123   a  in a manner that permits rotation of the upper part  123   b  relative to the lower part  123   a . In particular, the lower part  123   a  has a receiving portion  190  shaped to receive a first portion  191  of the upper part  123   b  so to permit the upper part  123   b  to rotate relative to the lower part  123   a  when received therein. In alternative embodiments, the upper part may be coupled to the lower part to prevent relative rotational movement between the upper part and lower part. In some embodiments, the upper part and the lower part may be formed monolithically. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the releasable locking device comprises a bayonet fitting. In particular, the upper part  123   b  of the cover  123  has an aperture  166  through which a spindle (as described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the filter assembly may protrude when the cover  123  is received on the rotary vessel body  122 . The lower part  123   a  of the cover  123  has a through-hole  167  through which the spindle may protrude when the cover  123  is received on the rotary vessel body  122 , wherein the aperture  166  is axially aligned with the through-hole  167 . In use, the lower part  123   a  of the cover  123  is positioned on the rotary vessel body  122 , wherein the rotary vessel body  122  may be configured to limit the permitted downward travel of the lower part  123   a  relative to the bearing tube  124 . The receiving portion  190  of the lower part  123   a  of the cover  123  is configured to limit downward travel of the upper part  123   b  relative to the lower part  123   a . In some embodiments, a shoulder  160  on the bearing tube  124  may provide an abutment that limits the permitted downward travel of the cover  123  on the bearing tube  124 . 
     The bearing tube  124  includes a pair of radial protrusions  162  defining a noncircular flange of the bearing tube  124 . In alternative embodiments, the non-circular flange may be provided by other arrangements of radial protrusions. The aperture  166  of the upper part  123   b  has a shape that corresponds to the non-circular flange of the bearing tube  124 . That is, the aperture  166  defines a keyway through which the radial protrusions  162  may pass axially when the upper part  123   b  of the cover  123  is in a predetermined rotational position (a “first rotational position”) relative to the rotary vessel body  122 . Once the radial protrusions  162  have passed through the aperture  166 , the upper part  123   b  of the cover  123  is free to rotate relative to the rotary vessel body  122  to a second rotational position in which the radial protrusions  162  are no longer axially aligned with the keyway defined by the aperture  166  such that removal of the cover  123  from the rotary vessel body  122  is prevented. 
     The aperture  166  of the upper part  123   b  of the cover  123  is provided with a plurality of radially moveable lugs  164  and the bearing tube  124  comprises a plurality of recesses  168  in which the plurality of radially moveable lugs  164  may be received. Receipt of the plurality of radially moveable lugs  164  in the plurality of recesses  168  serves to limit or inhibit rotation of the upper part  123   b  of the cover  123  relative to the rotary vessel body  122  subsequent to the radial protrusions passing through and being axially clear of the aperture  166  (e.g. when in the second rotational position). In preferable embodiments, the radially moveable lugs each comprise a ball plunger that is biased radially inwardly from the aperture  166 , but may be moved radially outwardly by the bearing tube  124  when the ball plunger is not axially aligned with one of the recesses  168 . In some embodiments, the bearing tube may be provided with a plurality of radially moveable lugs and the aperture may comprise a plurality of recesses in which the plurality of radially moveable lugs may be received. In such embodiments, the radially moveable lugs may comprise a ball plunger that is biased radially outwardly from the bearing tube, yet may be moved radially inwardly by the aperture when the ball plunger is not axially aligned with one of the recesses. 
     Once engaged, the cover  123  is sealingly engaged with the rotary vessel body  122 . One or more seals  170  may be provided between the cover  123  and the rotary vessel body  122  to make the connection fluid tight. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the one or more seals  170  are provided in a seal recess  171  of the lower part  123   a  of the cover  123 . The one or more seals  170  may be configured to rotationally fix the lower part  123   a  of the cover  123  relative to the rotary vessel body  122 . 
     The cover  123  may be removed from the rotary vessel body  122  (e.g. when servicing the filter assembly) by manual rotation of the upper part  123   b  of the cover  123  relative to the rotary vessel body  122 . In embodiments having ball plungers, each ball plunger may move radially outwardly and disengage from the respective recess  168  upon rotation of the upper part  123   b  of the cover  123 , provided that the torque applied to the upper part  123   b  is above a threshold torque (which is preferably manually achievable). 
     Thus, the cover  123  may be manually locked and unlocked from the rotary vessel body  122 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment of a rotary vessel  220  in accordance with the present invention. 
     The rotary vessel  220  has a rotary vessel body  222  and a bearing tube  224  and functions in the same manner within a housing of a filter assembly as described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Additionally, the rotary vessel  220  has a removable cover  223  that is receivable on the rotary vessel body  222  to close an open end  222   a  of the rotary vessel body  222 . That is, the cover  223  may be removed from the rotary vessel body  222  to permit access to the inside of the rotary vessel  220  and thereby permit cleaning and/or servicing of the rotary vessel  220 . The rotary vessel  220  further includes a releasable locking device that is manually operable to selectively lock and unlock the cover  223  relative to the rotary vessel body  222 . The term manually operable is used to specify that the cover  223  may be locked to and unlocked from the rotary vessel  220  without the use of any tools, i.e. locking/unlocking may be actuated by hand. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the releasable locking device comprises a pair of levers  272 . The pair of levers  272  is provided on the cover  223  and each lever  272  is selectively engageable with a part of the rotary vessel body  222 . In the specific embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the levers  272  are each engageable with a recess such as a circumferential groove  282  on an inside surface of the rotary vessel body  222 . 
     Each lever  272  has a first portion  274  and a second portion  276 , where the first portion  274  meets the second portion  276  at a pivot  278  such that the first portion  274  and the second portion  276  are each rotatable about the pivot  278 . The second portion  276  of each lever is engageable with the groove  282  (or other part of the rotary vessel body  222 ). 
     Upon insertion of the cover  223  in the rotary vessel body  222  interference between the first portion  274  of each lever  272  and the rotary vessel body  222  causes pivoting the respective lever  272  about the pivot  278  so that the second portion  276  engages the groove  282 . Once engaged, the cover  223  is sealingly engaged with the rotary vessel body  222 . One or more seals  270  may be provided between the cover  223  and the rotary vessel body  222  to make the connection fluid tight. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the one or more seals  270  are provided in a seal recess  271  of the cover  223 . The one or more seals  270  may be configured to rotationally fix the cover  223  relative to the rotary vessel body  222 . 
     A shoulder  260  on the bearing tube  224  provides an abutment that limits the permitted downward travel of the cover  223  on the bearing tube  224 . 
     To remove the cover  223  from the rotary vessel body  222 , the second portion  276  is pivoted away from the groove  282 . To facilitate this operation, each lever  272  may be provided with a handle  280  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) to assist the pivoting of the second portion  276  away from the groove  282 . When pivoting the second portion  276  away from the groove  282 , the first portion  274  pivots towards the inside surface of the rotary vessel body  222 . In certain embodiments, the part of the surface that is contacted by the first portion  274  may be shaped so as to provide a camming action between the lever  272  and the rotary vessel body  222  that may facilitate the upward movement (and therefore removal) of the cover  223  relative to the rotary vessel body  222 . 
     In other embodiments, the releasable locking device may comprise any radially moveable projection capable of being received by a recess so that removal of the cover from the body is prevented when the projection is received in the recess. For example, one of the cover or the body may comprise the radially moveable projection and the other of the cover and the body may comprise the recess. Such an arrangement may permit a user to manually position the projection within the recess to selectively lock and unlock the cover relative to the body. 
     Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. 
     Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 
     The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.