Fluid Retention Cup

The invention relates to fluid filters, including oil filters, gasoline filters and water separating fuel filters for internal combustion engines. The invention provides a fluid retention cup cooperating with the filter to catch fluid spills during loosening and removal of the filter from the engine.

An internal combustion engine has a threaded stud to which an oil filter is mounted. The filter has an end facing the engine and sealed thereto by an outer circumferential gasket concentric to the stud. When changing engine oil and replacing the filter, the filter is unscrewed from the stud. During loosening and removal of the filter, oil typically spills from around the gasket. This oil spill may run down the side of the filter, the hand of the user, the filter wrench, or down the side the engine block, requiring cleanup.

The present invention provides a simple yet effective retention cup for catching oil spills from around the filter gasket. The invention has application to various fluid filters of the engine.

FIG. 1 is a side view partially in section of an oil retention cup in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in section of an alternate embodiment of an oil retention cup in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view partially in section of another alternate embodiment of an oil retention cup in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the oil retention cup of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the oil retention cup of FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 shows a portion of the engine block 2 of an internal combustion engine having a threaded stud 4 to which an oil filter 6 is mounted. Filter 6 is conventional, and has a top end 8 facing annular seating disk 10 of the engine and sealed thereto by an outer circumferential gasket 12 concentric to stud 14. Filter 6 has a top recessed plate 14 with an aperture 16 through which stud 4 extends. The central portion of plate 14 is of increased thickness and is internally threaded to receive stud 4, or an internally threaded separate member 18 is affixed to the top or bottom side of the central portion of plate 14 for receiving the stud. Stud 4 is hollow, and engine oil is circulated through the stud into the filter, and the oil then flows through return holes 20 in plate 14 back to the engine, all as is well known.

An oil retention cup 22 is provided by a cylindrical canister 24 having an open top end 26, a closed bottom end 28, and a cylindrical side wall 30 therebetween. Canister 24 is slid axially upwardly onto and around filter 6. Open top end 26 of the canister has an outer circumferential edge 32 forming a lip concentric to gasket 12 and spaced radially outwardly from the filter to form an annular gap 34 therebetween. Cylindrical side wall 30 of the canister has a plurality of inner filter-gripping portions 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 gripping filter 6 such that filter 6 may be removed from stud 4 by gripping the outer surface of canister 24 such that inner filter-gripping portions 36-40 grip filter 6, and then turning canister 24 such that canister 24 and filter 6 turn together. Filter 6 is initially pre-loosened on stud 4 by a standard filter wrench to enable turning by hand, whereafter canister 24 is slid onto the filter and gripped and turned by hand to continue loosening filter 6 from stud 4 and remove the filter from the stud. During loosening and removal of the filter, oil spilling from around gasket 12 falls into canister 24 through annular gap 34. After removal, filter 6 is retained in canister 24. Both the canister and the filter can be disposed of, or the filter can be removed from the canister, and the canister retained for further use.

The bottom 28 of the canister has a central raised portion 42 limiting the axial depth of insertion of filter 6 into canister 24 as the canister is slid onto the filter. This spaces the bottom end 44 of the filter from the bottom 28 of the canister, to provide a reservoir 45 at the bottom of the canister for collecting the spilled oil. FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the canister of FIG. 1 and uses like reference numerals with the postscript "a" where appropriate to facilitate clarity. A separate spacer element 42a is provided at the bottom 28a of canister 24a to space the bottom 44a of filter 6a above the bottom of the canister, to provide a reservoir 45a at the bottom of the canister for collecting the spilled oil.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, filter-gripping portions 36-40 of the canister are formed by inner radial projections extending from cylindrical side wall 30 radially inwardly to engage filter 6 and grip the latter for removal from stud 4. Projections 36-40 also serve to space cylindrical side wall 30 of the canister from filter 6 to provide the noted annular gap 34, such that spilled oil flows downwardly through such annular gap and between projections 36-40. Canister 24 is preferably a semiflexible plastic member sized to provide a slight interference fit on filter 6 as the latter is engaged by the inner tips of projections 36-40. The projections are tapered at their upper ends, as shown at 46, to facilitate axial sliding of the canister onto the filter. Outer circumferential edge 32 of the canister is flared radially outwardly and has a greater diameter than cylindrical side wall 30 of the canister. Lip edge 32 is substantially radially coplanar with gasket 12.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of an oil retention cup 50 formed by a relatively rigid plastic tray 52 having a lower collection chamber 54, a forward lip 56 extending from the collection chamber, and an upper cylindrical band 58 slid axially onto and around filter 60 such that the forward lip 56 of the tray extends beneath the gasket 62 at the interface between the engine block 64 and filter 60. Oil retention cup 50 is better suited to an internal combustion engine with a horizontal stud, shown in dashed line at 66; whereas oil retention cup 22 of FIG. 1 is better suited to a vertical stud 4.

Band 58 loosely engages filter 60 such that the filter can be turned to loosen and remove the filter from stud 66 without turning tray 52, whereby the tray remains in place while the filter is loosened. During turning of the filter, tray 52 is supported on the filter by band 58, with collection chamber 54 beneath the filter and depending from band 58. Oil spilling from around gasket 62 falls into collection chamber 54 as guided by lip 56. After removal of filter 60 from stud 66, the filter is held and retained on the tray by band 58. Filter 60 is then slid axially out of band 58 and disposed of. The oil in collection chamber 54 is disposed of by pouring same out lip 56.

A handle 68 is integrally formed with the plastic tray at the rear end, opposite lip 56. Handle 68 extends upwardly from collection chamber 54 and is axially spaced rearwardly from filter 60 by a distance sufficient to allow filter 60 to be turned and axially moved out of threaded connection with stud 66.

Lip 56 and collection chamber 54 are formed by a receptacle 70 having side walls 72 and 74, FIGS. 6 and 7, and an open top 76. Band 58 is attached to the receptacle by a bridge member 78 spanning and sonically welded to side walls 72 and 74 at open top 76. Band 58 is attached to bridge member 78 by sonic welding. Lip 56 includes a sloped ramp portion 80 extending from collection chamber 54 forwardly beneath bridge member 78 and gasket 62 to a forward edge 82 beyond the gasket.

It is recognized that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.