Additive dispensing cartridge for an oil filter, and oil filter incorporating same

An oil filter, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet and an outlet defining a flow path through a chamber defined by said housing;
• a mechanically active filter element disposed inside the filter housing in the flow path;
• and
• an additive cartridge disposed inside the filter housing inside of the mechanically active filter element, said additive cartridge comprising:
• a dispenser housing which is a hollow shell defining an additive storage chamber therein, said dispenser housing having at least one hole formed therein and a flange portion depending therefrom for supporting the dispenser housing within said mechanically active filter element;
• and
• an oil additive composition disposed within said additive storage chamber, wherein said dispenser housing defines a first flow path and a second flow path, said first flow path being adjacent to said inlet and said second flow path providing fluid communication to said additive storage chamber and said oil additive composition disposed therein, wherein said dispenser housing further comprises a dividing wall separating said first flow path from said second flow path.

An oil filter for filtering oil, comprising:

• a housing having an inlet and an outlet defining a flow path through a chamber defined by said housing;
• a mechanically active filter element disposed inside the filter housing in the flow path;
• and
• an additive cartridge disposed inside the filter housing and being positioned in the flow path to receive fluids that have passed through said mechanically active filter element, said additive cartridge comprising:
• a baffle portion positioned in said flow path between said mechanically active filter member and said outlet;
• a dispenser housing which is a hollow shell defining an additive storage chamber therein, said dispenser housing having at least one hole formed therein, said dispenser housing being operatively attached to said baffle portion and including an additive storage chamber positioned proximate to said baffle portion;
• a flange portion for supporting said additive cartridge within said mechanically active filter element, said flange portion extending from said baffle portion;
• and
• an oil additive composition disposed within said additive storage chamber;
• wherein said baffle portion creates another flow path that permits at least some of the oil being filtered by the oil filter to pass said additive cartridge without being routed through said additive storage chamber.

An additive cartridge for an oil filter, comprising:

• a cartridge housing having a side wall defining a periphery of a first chamber and a second chamber and a dividing wall extending from said side wall to define said first chamber and said second chamber within said cartridge housing;
• a plurality of first apertures formed in said side wall to provide fluid communication to said first chamber;
• a plurality of second apertures formed in said side wall to provide fluid communication to said second chamber;
• an outlet opening disposed on one end of said additive cartridge, said outlet opening providing fluid communication into said first chamber;
• a flange portion depending away from said outlet opening;
• a beneficial additive composition stored within said second chamber;
• wherein said first chamber provides a baffle for fluids passing through said additive cartridge and said plurality of second apertures allow said beneficial additive to be in fluid communication with fluids that have passed by said baffle.