Donut oil cooler with a reusable filter
AssigneeModine Manufacturing Company
InventorRobert F. Poehlman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filter device is provided for use with the heat exchanger utilizing a filter having a low volume mass of filter media wherein residual oil remaining in the filter is eliminated as a major environmental concern. The heat exchanger has first and second discrete flowpaths for fluid to be filtered. One of the flowpaths is designed to be in heat exchange relation with a coolant. Means are provided to establish fluid communication between the first and second discrete flowpaths with a low volume filter being situated between the establishing means and the heat exchanger, and clamp means are provided to maintain the establishing means and the low volume filter in sealed, assembled relation with the heat exchanger with the clamp means including means for providing access to an axial passageway through the clamp means.
Claims24
A filter assembly for use with a heat exchanger to filter contaminates from a fluid flowing therethrough, said filter assembly comprising:
- a filter defined by a low volume mass of filter media;
- a heat exchanger having first and second discrete flowpaths for a fluid to be filtered, one of said flowpaths adapted to be in heat exchange relation with a coolant;
- means for establishing fluid communication between the first and second discrete flowpaths through said heat exchanger for a fluid after contaminates have been removed therefrom, said filter situated between said establishing means and said heat exchanger;
- and
- clamp means to maintain said establishing means and said filter in sealed assembled relation with said heat exchanger, said clamp means including means for providing fluid access to an axial passageway therethrough.
In combination, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between first and second fluids and a filter device for filtering contaminates from the first fluid, said combination comprising:
- a housing including an inlet and an outlet for said second fluid;
- a stack of heat exchange units received within said housing each comprising a pair of plates joined together to define a plurality of first areas for the flow of said first fluid and to define an axially extending central opening through said stack of heat exchange units radially inwardly of said first areas thereof, and means for maintaining said heat exchange units in spaced relation, said means arranging said heat exchange units in a spaced series to define a plurality of second areas for the flow of said second fluid between each pair of said spaced series of heat exchange units so that heat exchange between said fluids occurs through said plates;
- at least one filter having a central opening and defined by a thin disc of filter media;
- a header plate having a central opening, said header plate sealing said stack of heat exchange units within said housing and being positioned between said stack and said filter so that said header plate central opening is aligned with said central openings of said stack of heat exchange units and said filter;
- means for establishing fluid communication between said first areas and said central openings for said first fluid after contaminates have been removed therefrom, said establishing means having a central opening in alignment with said aligned central openings of said heat exchange units, said filter and said header plate;
- and
- clamp means to maintain said stack of heat exchange units, said filter, said header plate and said establishing means in sealed assembled relation with each other, said clamp means having an opening to provide said first fluid access to an axial passageway therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.