초록 ▼

A filter (10) for filtering debris out of the fluid in a transmission sump (S) prior to the fluid entering a transmission pump (P) is disclosed. The filter (10) includes a filter housing (12) presenting a filter inlet (30), a bypass inlet (32), and an outlet (46). Filter media (14) is disposed in th

A filter (10) for filtering debris out of the fluid in a transmission sump (S) prior to the fluid entering a transmission pump (P) is disclosed. The filter (10) includes a filter housing (12) presenting a filter inlet (30), a bypass inlet (32), and an outlet (46). Filter media (14) is disposed in the housing (12) such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet (30) to the outlet (46) passes through the media (14) and fluid flows from the bypass inlet (32) to the outlet (46) without passing through the media (14). A bypass valve assembly (16), shiftable into and out of a closed position, prevents fluid flow through the bypass inlet (32) when the valve (16) is closed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A transmission fluid filter comprising:a filter housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the filter housing comprising:a filter inlet, the filter inlet being disposed toward the distal end;a bypass inlet spaced from the filter inlet, the bypass inlet being disposed toward the proximal end;

1. A transmission fluid filter comprising:a filter housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the filter housing comprising:a filter inlet, the filter inlet being disposed toward the distal end;a bypass inlet spaced from the filter inlet, the bypass inlet being disposed toward the proximal end; andan outlet spaced from the inlets, the outlet being disposed toward the proximal end;filter media in the housing such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the media and fluid flows from the bypass inlet to the outlet without passing through the media; anda bypass valve associated with the bypass inlet, wherein there is disposed a valve body including a positioning element placed over a valve seat disposed on the filter housing wherein, said positioning element comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced seat tabs for aligning the valve body with the valve seat,said bypass valve being shiftable into and out of a closed position in which fluid flow through the bypass inlet is prevented,said bypass inlet being defined about a bypass inlet axis and the outlet being defined about an outlet axis,said bypass inlet axis and said outlet axis being at least substantially parallel and at least in close proximity to one another.2. The filter as claimed in claim 1, said filter housing including a top wall, a bottom wall spaced from the top wall, and at least one projection extending therebetween operable to substantially maintain the spacing.3. The filter as claimed in claim 2, said at least one projection being configured so that a portion of the filter media is pinched between the projection and one of said walls so that the filter media is maintained such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the media and fluid flows from the bypass inlet to the outlet without passing through the media.4. The filter as claimed in claim 2, said bypass inlet axis and outlet axis being generally perpendicular to the top and bottom walls.5. The filter as claimed in claim 1, said bypass valve being yieldably biased into the closed position.6. A transmission fluid filter comprising:a filter housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the filter housing comprising:a filter inlet, the filter inlet being disposed toward the distal end;a bypass inlet spaced from the filter inlet, the bypass inlet being disposed toward the proximal end; andan outlet spaced from the inlets, the outlet being disposed toward the proximal end;a filter media in the filter housing such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the filter media and fluid flows from the bypass inlet to the outlet without passing through the media; anda bypass valve assembly shiftable into and out of a closed position in which fluid flow through the bypass inlet is prevented,said bypass valve assembly including a projecting valve seat and a valve body disposed over the projecting valve seat, shiftable in a first direction into and out of sealing engagement with the projecting valve seat, said valve body including a positioning element extending toward the projecting valve seat wherein, said positioning element comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced seat tabs extending toward the projecting valve seat and cooperating therewith to restrict movement of the valve body in a second direction, wherein the first and the second directions are at least generally unparallel to one another.7. The filter as claimed in claim 6, said bypass valve assembly including a lug in an opposed relationship with the valve seat, said valve body including a second positioning element projecting oppositely relative to the first positioning element, said second positioning element extending toward the lug and cooperating therewith to restrict movement of the valve body in the second direction.8. The filter as claimed in claim 7, said positioning elements being configured so that the elements cooperate to maintain a circumscribing relationship with either the lug or the seat so that movement of the valve body in the second direction is constantly restricted.9. The filter as claimed in claim 7, said valve assembly including a spring associated with the lug and operable to yieldably bias the valve assembly into the closed position.10. The filter as claimed in claim 9, said lug having at least a portion thereof having a generally frustoconical shape and being operable to receive the spring.11. The filter as claimed in claim 10, said at least a portion of the lug having a stepped configuration wherein at least one step is operable to couple the spring to the lug and at least one additional step is operable to receive the spring without coupling the spring to the lug.12. The filter as claimed in claim 6, said valve assembly being yieldably biased toward the closed position.13. The filter as claimed in claim 6, said bypass valve assembly including a bypass inlet filter operable to filter debris out of fluid flowing from the bypass inlet to the outlet.14. A transmission fluid filter comprising:a filter housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the filter housing comprising:a filter inlet, the filter inlet being disposed toward the distal end;a bypass inlet spaced from the filter inlet, the bypass inlet being disposed toward the proximal end; andan outlet spaced from the inlets, the outlet being disposed toward the proximal end;filter media in the housing such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the media and fluid flows from the bypass inlet to the outlet without passing through the media; anda bypass valve assembly shiftable into and out of a closed position in which fluid flow through the bypass inlet is prevented,said bypass valve assembly including a projecting valve seat, a valve body disposed over the projecting valve seat shiftable in a first direction into and out of sealing engagement with the projecting valve seat, and a lug operable to limit the range of movement of the valve body in the first direction to a path, wherein said valve body comprises a positioning element having a plurality of circumferentially spaced seat tabs configured to cooperate with the lug and the projecting valve seat to restrict, along the entire path, movement of the valve body in a second direction,said first and the second directions being at least generally unparallel to one another.15. A transmission fluid filter comprising:a filter housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the filter housing comprising:a filter inlet, the filter inlet being disposed toward the distal end;a bypass inlet spaced from the filter inlet, the bypass inlet being disposed toward the proximal end; andan outlet spaced from the inlets, the outlet being disposed toward the proximal end wherein the outlet and the bypass inlet allow for fluid flow from the bypass inlet to the outlet to travel in a substantially linear path;filter media in the housing such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the media and fluid flows from the bypass inlet to the outlet without passing through the media; anda bypass valve assembly shiftable into and out of a closed position in which fluid flow through the bypass inlet is prevented, wherein the bypass valve assembly comprises a valve body having a positioning element wherein said positioning element comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced seat tabs,wherein the seat tabs align the valve body with the valve seat,said bypass valve assembly including a biasing mechanism yieldably biasing the assembly into the closed position, andsaid mechanism being configured so that the yieldable biasing force provided thereby varies depending on temperature.16. The filter as claimed in claim 15, said biasing mechanism comprising a bimetallic spring.17. The filter as claimed in claim 16, said first positioning element extending toward the valve seat and cooperating therewith to restrict movement of the valve body in a second direction, wherein the first and second directions are at least generally unparallel to one another.18. The filter as claimed in claim 17, said bypass valve assembly including a lug in an opposed relationship with the valve seat, said valve body including a second positioning element projecting oppositely relative to the first positioning element, said second positioning element extending toward the lug and cooperating therewith to restrict movement of the valve body in the second direction.19. The filter as claimed in claim 18, said positioning elements configured so that the elements cooperate to maintain a circumscribing relationship with either the lug or the seat so that movement of the valve body in the second direction is constantly restricted.20. The filter as claimed in claim 19, said lug having at least a portion thereof having a generally frustoconical shape and being operable to receive the spring.21. The filter as claimed in claim 20, said at least a portion of the lug having a stepped configuration wherein at least one step is operable to couple the spring to the lug and at least one additional step is operable to receive the spring without coupling the spring to the lug.22. The filter as claimed in claim 21, said bypass valve assembly including a bypass inlet filter operable to filter debris out of fluid flowing from the bypass inlet to the outlet.23. In a powered vehicle including a lubricated transmission having a transmission sump and a transmission pump, a fluid filter fluidly interposed between the sump and the pump, the filter comprising:a filter housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the filter housing comprising:a filter inlet, the filter inlet being disposed toward the distal end;a bypass inlet spaced from the filter inlet, the bypass inlet being disposed toward the proximal end; andan outlet spaced from the inlets, the outlet being disposed toward the proximal end;filter media in the housing such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the media and fluid flows from the bypass inlet to the outlet without passing through the media; anda bypass valve associated with the bypass inlet, said bypass valve being shiftable into and out of a closed position in which fluid flow through the bypass inlet is prevented, said bypass valve comprises a positioning element having a plurality of circumferentially spaced seat tabs,said bypass valve disposed over a projecting valve seat,wherein the seat tabs align the valve body with the valve seat,said bypass inlet being defined about a bypass inlet axis and said outlet being defined about an outlet axis, andsaid axis being at least substantially parallel and at least in close proximity to one another.24. In a powered vehicle as claimed in claim 23, said filter housing including a top wall, a bottom wall spaced from the top wall, and at least one projection extending therebetween operable to substantially maintain the spacing.25. In a powered vehicle as claimed in claim 24, said at least one projection being configured so that a portion of the filter media is pinched between the projection and one of said walls so that the filter media is maintained such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the media and fluid flows from the bypass inlet to the outlet without passing through the media.26. In a powered vehicle including a lubricated transmission having a transmission sump and a transmission pump, a fluid filter fluidly interposed between the sump and the pump, the filter comprising:a filter housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the filter housing comprising:a filter inlet, the filter inlet being disposed toward the distal end;a bypass inlet spaced from the filter inlet, the bypass inlet being disposed toward the proximal end; andan outlet spaced from the inlets, the outlet being disposed toward the proximal end;filter media in the housing such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the media and fluid flows from the bypass inlet to the outlet without passing through the media; anda bypass valve assembly shiftable into and out of a closed position in which fluid flow through the bypass inlet is prevented, said bypass valve assembly including a projecting valve seat and a valve body shiftable in a first direction into and out of sealing engagement with the projecting valve seat,said valve body including a positioning element extending toward the projecting valve seat and cooperating therewith to restrict movement of the valve body in a second direction, wherein the first and the second directions are at least generally unparallel to one another; andsaid positioning element comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced seat tabs for restricting movement of the valve body in the second direction.27. In a powered vehicle including a lubricated transmission having a transmission sump and a transmission pump, a fluid filter fluidly interposed between the sump and the pump, the filter comprising:a filter housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the filter housing comprising:a filter inlet, the filter inlet being disposed toward the distal end;a bypass inlet spaced from the filter inlet, the bypass inlet being disposed toward the proximal end; andan outlet spaced from the inlets, the outlet being disposed toward the proximal end;filter media in the housing such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the media and fluid flows from the bypass inlet to the outlet without passing through the media; anda bypass valve assembly shiftable into and out of a closed position in which fluid flow through the bypass inlet is prevented, said bypass valve assembly including a projecting valve seat, a valve body shiftable in a first direction into and out of sealing engagement with the projecting valve seat, and a lug operable to limit the range of movement of the body in the first direction to a path,said valve body being configured to cooperate with the lug and valve seat to restrict, along the entire path, movement of the valve body in a second direction, said first and second directions being at least generally unparallel to one another; andsaid valve body comprising a positioning element extending toward the projecting valve seat wherein, said positioning element comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced seat tabs for restricting movement of the valve body in the second direction.28. In a powered vehicle as claimed in claim 27, said bypass valve assembly including a bypass inlet filter operable to filter debris out of fluid flowing from the bypass inlet to the outlet.29. In a powered vehicle including a lubricated transmission having a transmission sump and a transmission pump, a fluid filter fluidly interposed between the sump and the pump, the filter comprising:a filter housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the filter housing comprising:a filter inlet, the filter inlet being disposed toward the distal end;a bypass inlet spaced from the filter inlet, the bypass inlet being disposed toward the proximal end; andan outlet spaced from the inlets, the outlet being disposed toward the proximal end wherein the outlet and the bypass inlet allow for fluid flow from the bypass inlet to the outlet to travel in a substantially linear path;filter media in the housing such that fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the media and fluid flows from the bypass inlet to the outlet without passing through the media; and a bypass valve assembly shiftable into and out of a closed position in which fluid flow through the bypass inlet is prevented,said bypass valve assembly including a biasing mechanism yieldably biasing the assembly into the closed position, said mechanism being configured so that the yieldable biasing force provided thereby varies depending on temperature;said bypass valve assembly comprising a valve body disposed over a projecting valve seat, wherein the valve body comprises a positioning element extending toward the projecting valve seat wherein, said positioning element comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced seat tabs for aligning the valve body with the valve seat.30. In a powered vehicle as claimed in claim 29, said biasing mechanism being a bimetallic spring.31. In a powered vehicle as claimed in claim 30, said bypass valve assembly further including a lug having at least a portion thereof having a generally frustoconical shape and being operable to receive the spring.32. In a powered vehicle as claimed in claim 31, said at least a portion of the lug having a stepped configuration wherein at least one step is operable to couple the spring to the lug and at least one additional step is operable to receive the spring without coupling the spring to the lug.33. A transmission filter for filtering a fluid from a sump to a transmission pump inlet, the transmission filter comprising:a filter housing having a proximal end relative to the transmission pump inlet and a distal end relative to the transmission pump inlet;filter media having a length and attached to the filter housing;a filter inlet being disposed toward the distal end;a filter outlet defined about an outlet axis and disposed generally at the proximal end; anda filter bypass valve assembly disposed at the proximal end, the filter bypass valve assembly comprising a bypass inlet and a bypass valve, the bypass inlet being defined about a filter bypass inlet axis and the bypass valve being shiftable into and out of a closed position in which fluid flow through the bypass inlet is prevented, wherein said outlet axis and the filter bypass inlet axis being at least substantially parallel and at least in close proximity to one another,wherein the filter inlet is positioned in the transmission filter such that fluid flowing through the filter inlet to the outlet passes through the filter media, the filter bypass inlet is positioned such that fluid flows directly into the filter bypass inlet without first flowing through the filter inlet and such that fluid flowing through the bypass inlet is directed to the outlet without passing through the filter media, and wherein the bypass inlet axis and the outlet axis are positioned in relation to one another such that fluid flowing from the bypass inlet to the filter outlet flows along a path that is more direct relative to fluid flowing from the filter inlet to the filter outlet,wherein the bypass valve is disposed over a projecting valve seat and the bypass valve comprises a positioning element having a plurality of circumferentially spaced seat tabs for aligning the valve body with the valve seat.34. A transmission filter according to claim 33, wherein the filter housing comprises a tray section and a hood section cooperatively defining a filter chamber therebetween, the filter media is disposed within the filter housing, and the bypass valve assembly is spaced from the media.35. A transmission filter according to claim 34, wherein the tray portion includes a bottom wall, a side wall, and at least one baffle formed in the bottom wall and extending into the filter chamber.36. A transmission filter according to claim 35, wherein the at least one baffle does not extend the entire length of the bottom wall.37. A transmission filter according to claim 36, wherein the at least one baffle spans a length of the bottom wall proportionate to the length of the filter media.38. A transmission filter according to claim 37, wherein the bypass inlet is formed in the tray section toward the proximal end of the transmission filter in a region in which the at least one baffle does not extend and the filter inlet is spaced apart from the bypass inlet toward the distal end of the transmission filter in a region in which the at least one baffle does extend.39. A transmission filter according to claim 34, wherein the hood section has a top wall, a side wall, and at least one baffle and at least one baffle formed in the top wall and extending into the filter chamber.40. A transmission filter according to claim 39, wherein the at least one baffle does not extend the entire length of the top wall such that the hood section has a baffled portion and a non-baffled portion.41. A transmission filter according to claim 40, wherein the at least one baffle spans a length of the top wall proportionate to the length of the filter media.42. A transmission filter according to claim 41, wherein the transmission filter further comprises a distal and a proximal frustoconical projection formed in the top wall of the hood section.43. A transmission filter according to claim 42, wherein the distal frustoconical projection is generally located near the geometric center of the top wall and the proximal frustoconical projection is generally located at or near a demarcation between the baffled portion and the non-baffled portion of the hood section.44. A transmission filter according to claim 42, wherein the proximal frustoconical projection cooperates with the tray section to form a pinch-point for the filter media.45. A transmission filter according to claim 40, wherein the filter outlet is formed in the non-baffled portion of the hood section.46. A transmission filter according to claim 34, wherein the filter media cooperates with the filter housing to form a filter bag around the filter inlet.