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US 5,476,582 AGranted
Filter cover assembly for differential housing mechanism
OwnerPaul C. Campinginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A differential housing includes magnetic filters for removing metal particulate from oil circulating within the differential mechanism of a vehicle. The differential housing also permits the level and temperature of the oil to be monitored.
Claims16
A filter cover apparatus for a differential mechanism comprising:
- (a) a cover member defining an interior cavity, said cover member having an open rear end for attachment to said differential mechanism, a front end, an upper end, and a lower end, said cavity defining an oil reservoir near said lower end;
- (b) a lip member near said upper end such that a gear from a power transmitting gear unit of said differential mechanism is adjacent said lip member;
- (c) a filter housing including a first end adjacent said upper end, a second end adjacent said lower end, an inlet near the first end, an outlet near the second end of the housing, and at least two perforated members interposed between the first and second ends of the housing, each said perforated member having a first side facing the first end of the filter housing;
- and
- (d) a wafer magnet located on the first side of each of said perforated members;
- wherein said filter housing and lip member being positioned within said interior cavity and shaped and dimensioned such that said lip member opens into the inlet of and extends outwardly from the filter housing;
- said perforated members being parallel panel shaped members and each of said wafer magnets being positioned such that said wafer magnets on adjacent perforated members are not aligned along a common line perpendicular to said perforated members.
4 more elements
A filter cover assembly for a differential housing mechanism comprising:
- a cover member having an interior cavity, said cover member having an open rear end for attachment to the differential housing mechanism, a front end, an upper end, and a lower end, said cavity defining an oil reservoir near said lower end;
- a lip member attached to said cover member near said upper end of said interior cavity;
- and,
- a filter housing mounted in said cavity and including a first end adjacent said upper end, a second end adjacent said lower end, at least two spaced apart wafer magnets interposed between the first and second ends of said filter housing, an inlet in the first end of said filter housing, an outlet in the second end of the filter housing and opening into said interior cavity of said cover member, first and second spaced apart solid shelf members which each carry one of the wafer magnets, and a transparent cover forming a portion of said front end and being attached to said filter housing and positioned adjacent said shelf members;
- the first shelf member having an opening through which oil can flow toward the wafer magnet on the second shelf member;
- the second shelf member having an opening through which oil can flow toward said outlet;
- said filter housing and lip member being positioned within said interior cavity and shaped and dimensioned such that said lip member opens into the inlet of said filter housing to direct an oil flow through said inlet, over each of said magnet, and out said outlet into said interior cavity.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.