Environmentally friendly acid neutralizing full flow cartridge

Abstract

An environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge is adapted to be mounted in a cartridge mounting body of an engine oil circuit for filtering particulates and neutralizing acid in oil. The filter cartridge comprises a support housing that comprises substantially no metal parts such that the filter cartridge can be readily incinerated. A full flow particulate filter and a bypass particulate filter are arranged in the support housing. A bed of acid neutralizing particles is contained in the support housing. The housing is configured such that a predetermined primary flow path is defined through the filter cartridge that passes through the full flow particulate filter and bypassing the bed of acid neutralizing particles; and a predetermined bypass path is defined through the filter cartridge that passes, in sequence, through the bed of acid neutralizing particles and the bypass particulate filter.

1 - 46 . (canceled)  
     
     
         47 . An environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge for mounting in a cartridge mounting body of an engine oil circuit for filtering particulates and neutralizing acid in oil, the filter cartridge comprising: 
 a support housing adapted to be mounted in the cartridge mounting body, the support housing comprising substantially no metal parts such that the filter cartridge can be incinerated;    a full flow particulate filter arranged in the support housing;    a bed of acid neutralizing particles contained in the support housing;    a bypass particulate filter arranged in the support housing;    a predetermined primary flow path defined through the filter cartridge passing through the full flow particulate filter and bypassing the bed of acid neutralizing particles and the bypass particulate filter; and    a predetermined bypass path defined through the filter cartridge passing through, in sequence, the full flow particulate filter, the bed of acid neutralizing particles, and the bypass particulate filter.    
     
     
         48 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 47 , wherein the filter cartridge includes an outer annular periphery extending axially between a pair of axially spaced ends, wherein the full filter has a generally cylindrical filter medium disposed inside the outer annular periphery, and wherein a fluid inlet is provided at the outer annular periphery and a fluid outlet is through one of the ends, such that fluid enters the filter cartridge through the outer annular periphery.  
     
     
         49 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 47 , wherein the full flow particulate filter has a generally cylindrical filter medium, and the bed of acid neutralizing particles is disposed inside the generally cylindrical filter medium of the full flow particulate filter.  
     
     
         50 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 49 , wherein the bypass particulate filter is disposed inside the bed of acid neutralizing particles.  
     
     
         51 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 50 , further comprising a constriction disposed concentrically through the bypass particulate filter, the constriction being arranged to create a pressure differential across the bed of acid neutralizing particles and the bypass particulate filter for propelling oil therethrough along the predetermined bypass path.  
     
     
         52 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 47 , wherein the support housing includes top and bottom non-metallic end caps and a non-metallic acid neutralizing reactor containing the bed of acid neutralizing particles secured axially between the top and bottom end caps providing axial support to the environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge.  
     
     
         53 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 52 , wherein the reactor body includes an outer annular wall portion, a central tube portion, and a spacer portion, the reactor defining a reactor chamber containing the bed of acid neutralizing particles between the outer annular wall portion and a central tube portion, the outer annular wall portion defining at least one reactor inlet port, the central tube portion defining at least one reactor outlet port, the central tube portion having an entrance opening spaced from the top end cap by the spacer portion and an exit opening communicating with an outlet opening formed in the bottom end cap, the spacer defining a passageway bypassing the reactor chamber.  
     
     
         54 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 53 , wherein the reactor body comprises a plurality of parts molded of plastic material assembled together including an outer reactor housing unitarily providing the spacer portion and the outer annular wall, and a separate center tube integrally connected to the spacer portion of the reactor housing to enclose a top end of the reactor chamber.  
     
     
         55 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 54 , wherein said a plurality of parts molded of plastic material further includes a reactor cap extending radially between the outer reactor housing and the center tube to enclose the bottom end of the reactor chamber.  
     
     
         56 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 53 , wherein top and bottom ends of the reactor housing are potted to the top and bottom end caps.  
     
     
         57 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 56 , wherein the full flow particulate filter includes a generally cylindrical tube of filter media surrounding the reactor body potted into the top and bottom end caps.  
     
     
         58 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 53 , wherein the central tube portion defines a constricted portion adapted to create a pressure differential across the reactor housing, the at least one reactor outlet port arranged along the constricted portion.  
     
     
         59 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one reactor outlet port and the at least one reactor inlet port are radially spaced and axially spaced proximate opposed ends of the filter cartridge thereby imparting substantial radial and axial components on the predetermined bypass path through the reactor chamber.  
     
     
         60 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 53 , further comprising mesh screen material integrally molded over the at least one reactor inlet port for preventing acid neutralizing particles from escaping from the reactor housing.  
     
     
         61 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 52 , wherein the top and bottom ends of the reactor are potted to the top and bottom end caps, and wherein the full flow particulate filter includes a generally cylindrical tube of filter media surrounding the reactor body potted into the top and bottom end caps.  
     
     
         62 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 61 , further comprising a bottom annular gasket externally carried by the bottom end cap configured and arranged to prevent oil from short circuiting the filter cartridge.  
     
     
         63 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 62 , further comprising a top annular gasket externally carried by the top end cap.  
     
     
         64 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 62 , wherein the full flow particulate filter further comprises a perforated center tube supporting the inner radial periphery of the generally cylindrical tube of filter media.  
     
     
         65 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  claim 64 , further comprising a generally cylindrical wrapper surrounding the generally cylindrical tube of filter media, the wrapper including perforations.  
     
     
         66 . The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge of  65 , wherein the wrapper includes a solid unperforated intermediate portion separating top and bottom perforated portions, arranged and configured to prevent oil from impacting a central region of the generally cylindrical tube of filter media.