US2392548A - Oil refining device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8, 1946. c. N. POGUE OIL REFINING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sepf. 7, 1945' INVENTDR.

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Patented Jan. 8, 1946 OIL REFINING DEVICE Charles N. Pogue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application September 7, 1943, Serial No. 501,507 In Canada September 5, 1942 3 Claims.

(Granted under the provisions of sec. 14, act of March 2', 1927; 357 0. G.

line, distillate, water condensate, sulphuric acid and so forth and from their very nature it is quite evident that such substances, when diluted with oil, reduce the efliciency of its-lubricating properties to such an extent that it does not properly perform its functions as a lubricant. It is also well known that lubricating oil diluted with the aforementioned contaminating influences causes moving parts, bearing parts and wearing surfaces to be subjected to unusual, uneven and excessive wear'andabuse during operation which eventually results in breakdowns and not infrequently places vehicles in the out-ofcommission class. This apart from the power losses, inefllciency of operation and the added cost of frequent oil changes, repair delays and operational losses all of which is especially serious where motor transport is concerned.

In order to avoid and overcome the foregoing the present invention therefore is to provide a device of this character which will remove the aforementioned objectionable substances from oil during th normal operation of motor vehicles, continuously maintain the-oil at a high standard of efficiency and qualityand lubricating properties and eliminate thehigh cost of oil changes, repairs and attendant delays.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a-device of this character which may readily and easily be attached or connected to a conventional oil filter of motor vehicles now in operationfor refining the lubricating oil after the filtering operation. L

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which utilizes the spent hot gases of combustion to driveoff the objectionable volatiles and vapors entrained in the lubricating oil during engine operation.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this character which transmits heat to the oil filter to which it is attached during the operation of the motor vehicle and thereby adds to the efliciency ofthe operation of the oil filter especially during motor vehicle operation under cold weather conditions.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the lubricating oil is passed over a series of sub? stantially fiat heated surfaces in a relatively thin film to effectively drive-off the objectionable volatiles and vapors.

S'till another'object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which may be constructed of low grade metals, is simple in structure, economical to manufacture and one that will more satisfactorily perform the functions required of it.

Having regard to the foregoing and other objects and advantage which will become apparent as the description proceeds and the details become known, the invention consists essentially in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1- is a front elevational view of an em-' bodiment of the present invention with a portion of the housing broken away to more clearly disclose the inner structure. a

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1 with a. portion of the housing broken away for clearer structural understanding.

Fig. 3 i a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention shown attached to a conventional oil filter.

Fig. '4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5- -5 of Fig. 4. a r

Fig. 6 is a modification of the baffle structure shown in fragmentary sectional detail.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention. shown partly in section and attached to a conventional oil filter.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8+4 of Fig. 7, and

9 is a planview of the Oil refiner illus- 'dicates a Conventional type of oil filter to which it may be attached.

'The invention may of course take any appropriate size, shape or form and in general terms comprises a housing or container member subdivided into what may be termed a refining or distillation chamber [6 and a heat chamber I! by means of a dividing wall l8. It'is important to observe thatthe outer wall of the heat chamber is formed with an arcuately curved wall I9 so that the device may snugly and tightly fit the annular side wall surface of the filter B.

Interiorly of the refining chamber 1' provide a series of longitudinally extending baffle members 20, 2|, 22 and 23 in spaced; staggered and stepped relationship to provide a tortuous or sinuous path of travel from the oil inlet 24 to r the oil outlet 25 (see Fig. 1).

By more particular reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the baille members 20, 2|,

22 and 23 forming the tortuous path of travel are arranged at an angle to the horizontal both laterally and longitudinally to insure liquids thereon a tortuous path fiow through the refiningchamber. In addition to the foregoing, the baffle members are formed integral with the dividing wall l8 of the heat chamber but are spaced in relation to th front wall 26 of the refining chamber. The spacing of the baffle members from the front wall 26 provides a passageway or path 21 within the refining chamber which enables the volatile gases and water vapors to travel upward free of the bafiie members to be dischargedto the atmosphere through a suitable vapor' outlet 28, the path of travel of the vapors and gases being clearly indicated by dotted line arrows in Figs. 2 and 4; It is further important to observe that the angle and disposition of the bafile members both laterally and longitudinally is sufficient to prevent oil from V fiowing over their'sides laterally and at thesame time causing the liquids to move over the longitudinal, tortuous path in a continuous evenffiow heat producing means and the latter communicating with the atmosphere. An inspection opening 32 is provided for the front wall of the refining chamber and is conveniently closed by a plate or cover member 33 which is. retained in position by means of a winged or thumb nut 34. Suitabl 'strap means such as is indicated at 35 are designed to embrace the oil filter B, the ends with a relatively thin film of oil spread over the substantially fiat surfaces of the bafiie members,

'"V shape all within the scope of the invention.

As a means of preventing overflow of oil when the oil is first introduced into the refining cham ber, the uppermost bafile member 20 is formed integralwith the walls 18 and 26 adjacent one end thereof so as to form an open ended receiving chamber 29 and enables the oil introduced into the chamber 29 to assume a normal fiow .path over th surfaces of the baffle members or plates immediately it leaves the receiving chamber. I a g Means, for heating the chamber l1 may take anysuitable. and practical form. Where motor vehicles are concerned it is convenient and economical to utilize the hot spent gases of combustion as they issue from the exhaust manifold.

Inlthe present instance therefore I disclose the heat chamber as being provided with pipe connec'tio'ns 30 and 3| respectively, the former being connected with the exhaust manifold or similar of the strap engaging the lugs or bosses 35 of the device A and maintain it in position on the filter.

With the modification of the oil refining de-.

vice as disclosed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the heat chamber I1 is disposed immediately beneath the refining compartment or chamber l6. Inlet and outlet connections '30 and 3i deliver hot gases or other heating medium to and from the heat chamber while a short pipe or like connection 3! establishes communication between the oil filter B and the refining chamber l 6 and not only emplified as being more specifically in step for mation. As observed in Figs. 8 and 9, each step is arranged at an angle to the horizontal sufficient to cause oil thereon to fiow lengthwise of the step or baflie, the steps of'baifles being so merged with one another at their alternative ends that a tortuous flow path is provided between the inlet connection 3! and the outlet 25. Additionally, the baffle members or steps are also arranged at an angle to the horizontal in transverse section as seen in Fig. 8 so that'oil thereon is guided in its longitudinal fiow over the tortuous path of travel.

While the present invention operates effectively and efficiently as anvindependent unit, it

tends to operate with a greater degree of efficiency where internal combustion engines are concerned since suchengines invariably are provided with a conventional oil filter which removes grit, road'dust, carbon and other solids carried in suspension in the oil prior to the oil being introduced into the refiningor distillation chamber. It willbe understood however that while filtration of the oil in the first instance is to be favored, it is not absolutely essential to the functioning of the present invention. For operative purposes however and to attain the most eflicient results, I prefer to attach the refiner A to the side walls of the conventional oil filter B, the oil from the filter being introduced at the uppermost portion of the refining chamber while the outlet 25 leading therefrom maybe attached to any appropriate part of the crank case, or sump to complete the oil circulating system between the crank case, the oil filter and the oil refiner. g

In operation, unrefined oil flowing from the oil filter Bis conducted to the uppermost bafile members of the refining chamber l6 and commences its downward flow over the surfaces of the baflle or step members in an even and relatively thin film and progressively flows over the surface of each successive baffle member in a tortuous path of travel until it finally discharges through outlet 25 from whence it is returnedto the crank case or sump in a refined condition. During the passage of oil over the baffle or step members, heat is introduced into the heat chamber by pipe means 30 and after having served it useful purpose is discharged to the atmosphere by way of outlet 3|. mitted through the walls l8 and I9, the former serving to heat the refining chamber l6 which enables the volatile gases and vapors to be driven from the oil and the latter serving to heat the oil within the filter member and thus enables the filter to more properly perform its functions, particularly during cold weather.

During the operation of an internal combustion engine then a suificiently high temperature is developed in the heat chamber I! to insure the successful driving-off of the volatiles and vapors entrained in the oil yet within a temperature range that will not destroy the lubricating properties of the oil. As the oil progressively moves over its tortuous path of travel the gases and vapors therefrom travel upwardly from the surfaces of the baflle or step members and are carried to the atmosphere by way of suitable outlets, the refined oil, free of objectionable volatiles and vapors then flows through outlet 25 from whence it is returned to the crank case for recirculation.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or characteristics of the invention. The present disclosure is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive as changeswithin the range of equivalency are intended to be embraced therein.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an oil refining device of the character de scribed, a closed housing member provided with a dividing wall defining a refining chamber and a heating chamber therewithin, said dividing wall having the side thereof within the refining chamber formed in a series of longitudinally extending substantially fiat surfaces inclined transversely toward the heat chamber and inclined longitudinally in substantially zigzagged formation with the lower end of one surface disposed substantially in line with the upper end of the next lower surface, an inlet connection for delivering unrefined liquids to the upper surface of the series, an outlet connection for discharging refined liquids from the lower end of the series of surfaces. a vent discharge opening from the refining chamber, and inlet and outlet connections'for conducting a heat medium to and By heating the chamber I1, heat is transfrom the heat chamber to heat the dividing wall.

2. In an oil refining device of the character described, a closed housing member provided with a dividing Wall defining a refining chamber and a heating chamber therewithin, said dividing wall having the side thereof Within the refining chamber formed in a series of longitudinally extending substantially fiat surfaces inclined transversely toward the heat chamber and inclined longitudinally in substantially zigzagged formation with the lower end of one surface disposed substantially in line with the upper end of the next lower surface, an inlet connection for delivering unrefined liquids to the upper surface of the series, an outlet connection for discharging refined liquids from the lower end of the serie of surfaces, a vent discharge opening from the refining chamber, inlet and outlet connections for conducting a heat medium to and from the heat chamber to heat the dividing wall, said longitudinally extending substantially flat surfaces having the forward edges thereof open for overflow discharge of liquids, and a bafile at the liquid inlet opening directing the inlet liquids onto the upper fiat surface.

3. In an oil refining device of the character described in combination with an oil filter, a closed housing member provided with a dividing wall defining a refining chamber and a heating chamber therewithin, said dividing wall having the side thereof within .the refining cham ber formed in a series of longitudinally extending substantially Tflat surfaces inclined transversely toward the heat chamber and inclined longitudinally in substantially zigzagged formation with the lower end of one surface disposed substantially in line with the upper end of the next lower surface, an inlet connection for delivering unrefined liquids to the upper surface of the series, an outlet connection for discharging refined liquids from the lower end of the series of surfaces, a vent discharge opening from the refining chamber,

inlet and outlet connections for conducting a heat medium to and from the heat chamber to heat the dividing wall, said closed housing member having one side of the heat chamber portion thereof contoured to conform to and lie in heat exchange contact with the wall of the casing of an oil filter, and means holding the housing member in contact with the oil filter.

CHARLES N. POGUE.

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