Engine coolant filter apparatus and method
OwnerPhillip d. Mooneyhaminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for filtering particulate matter from internal combustion engine coolant where a replaceable filter is connected between the heater core supply and return lines. A portion of the normal engine coolant flow is directed from a heater hose through a paper or media filter in order to remove particulate matter such as rust and scale. A filter assembly comprised of a housing with inlet and outlet ports may installed in a new engine or may be retrofitted to an existing engine by cutting the heater hoses, installing tees, and connecting the filter housing to the tees with short sections of hose. An alternate embodiment includes a housing that clamps directly to the heater hoses so that a portion of the flow is directed through the filter.
Claims24
An engine coolant filtration system comprising:
- an engine coolant;
- a water pump;
- an engine block;
- a heater core;
- a heater core supply means for providing engine coolant from the engine block to the heater core;
- a heater core return means for delivering engine coolant from the heater core to the water pump;
- a filter subassembly comprising
- a filter housing,
- a coolant filter positioned within the housing,
- at least one filter engine coolant supply port, and
- at least one filter engine coolant return port,
- such that the filter subassembly is positioned between the heater core supply means and the heater core return means such that a portion of the engine coolant is directed from the heater core supply means through the filter engine coolant supply port, through the coolant filter, and through the filter engine coolant return port to the heater core return means.
A method for filtering engine coolant of a vehicle, the vehicle having an engine block, a heater core, a heater core supply line, a heater core return line, a coolant system including a water pump, and a coolant flow from the engine block through the heater core supply line through the heater core through the heater core return line to the water pump, the method comprising
- intercepting, at a position between the engine block and the heater core, at least a portion of the coolant flow in the heater core supply line;
- directing the intercepted coolant flow through a filter;
- filtering contaminates from the intercepted coolant flow;
- returning the filtered intercepted coolant flow to the heater core return line at a position between the heater core and the water pump;
- mixing the filtered intercepted coolant flow with other coolant, thereby reducing the overall concentration of contaminates in the coolant system.
A method for installing an engine coolant filter for a vehicle, the vehicle having a heater core supply hose and a heater core return hose, the method comprising
- cutting the heater core supply hose and installing a first tee such that the cut ends of the supply hose are installed on two of the tee connections;
- cutting the heater core return hose and installing a second tee such that the cut ends of the return hose are installed on two of the tee connections;
- securing the first end of a filter supply hose on the third connection of the first tee;
- securing an inlet port of a filter on the second end of the filter supply hose;
- securing the second end of a filter supply hose on the third connection of the second tee;
- and
- securing the second end of the filter supply hose to an outlet port on the filter.
An engine coolant filter system comprising
- an engine coolant;
- a water pump;
- an engine block;
- a heater core;
- a heater core supply hose for providing engine coolant from the engine block to the heater core;
- a supply tee positioned in the heater core supply hose;
- a heater core return hose for delivering engine coolant from the heater core to the water pump;
- a return tee positioned in the heater core return hose;
- a filter subassembly comprising
- a filter housing,
- a coolant filter media selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic, sand, and diatomaceous earth positioned within the housing,
- a filter supply port,
- a filter supply hose,
- a filter return port, and
- a filter return hose,
- such that the filter supply hose is connected to the supply tee and the filter return hose is connected to the return tee, such that a portion of the engine coolant is directed from the heater core supply hose through the supply tee and the filter supply hose, through the filter supply port, through the coolant filter, and through the filter return port and through the filter return hose, through the return tee to the heater core return hose.
An engine coolant filter system comprising
- an engine coolant;
- a water pump;
- an engine block;
- a heater core;
- a filter subassembly comprising
- a filter media;
- and
- a filter housing, the housing comprising
- a first port,
- a second port,
- a first flow path located between the first port and the second port, the first flow path having at least one filter inlet opening within the filter housing, so that a portion of the flow through the first flow path may enter the filter housing,
- a third port,
- a fourth port, and
- a second flow path located between the third port and the fourth port, the second flow path having at least one filter outlet opening within the filter housing, so that the flow through the first flow path may flow through the filter media, through the filter outlet opening, and into the second flow path;
- a first heater core supply hose for providing engine coolant from the engine block to the first port;
- a second heater core supply hose for providing engine coolant from the second port to the heater core;
- a first heater core return hose for providing engine coolant from the heater core to the third port;
- and
- a second heater core return hose for providing engine coolant from the fourth port to the water pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.