Environmentally friendly acid neutralizing cartridge

Abstract

An environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge for mounting into a chamber of a cartridge mounting body for neutralizing acid in engine oil in an oil circulation circuit of an engine. The environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge comprises a support housing comprising substantially no metal parts such that the environmentally friendly acid neutralizing filter cartridge can be readily incinerated. The support housing comprises at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port. A bed of acid neutralizing particles is contained in the support housing between the inlet port and the outlet port. Means is provided for preventing acid neutralizing particles from flowing through the at least one outlet port. An annular seal is arranged externally on the support housing and separates the at least one inlet port and the at least one outlet port to prevent oil from short circuiting the bed of acid neutralizing particles.

1 - 32 . (canceled)  
     
     
         33 . An acid neutralizing filter element comprising: 
 a support housing, the support housing having a sidewall between a first end and a second end, the support housing having a support housing fluid inlet disposed near the first end;    a center tube disposed within the support housing, the center tube having a generally cylindrical portion and a generally conical portion, the center tube further having a center tube fluid inlet, the center tube fluid inlet being in the generally cylindrical portion;    an acid neutralizing material contained within the support housing between the sidewall and the center tube; and    a filter material disposed to restrict the passage of acid neutralizing particles through the center tube fluid inlet, the filter material disposed over only a portion of the center tube;    whereby an intersection between the generally conical portion and the generally cylindrical portion is near the filter material such that the generally conical portion restricts movement of the filter material along the center tube.    
     
     
         34 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 33  wherein the generally cylindrical portion is disposed near the second end.  
     
     
         35 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 33  wherein a second filter material is disposed downstream of the center tube fluid inlet for restricting the passage of acid neutralizing particles therethrough.  
     
     
         36 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 33  wherein the acid neutralizing filter element comprises no metal components.  
     
     
         37 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 33  wherein the support housing is bowl shaped with an opening at the second end that is enclosed with a lid and an end wall at the first end, the end wall comprising a fluid outlet for fluid to exit the acid neutralizing filter element.  
     
     
         38 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 33  wherein the support housing comprises an axial rib at least partially disposed on an interior portion of the sidewall of the support housing for enhancing the strength of the support housing.  
     
     
         39 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 33  wherein the sidewall is imperforate between the support housing fluid inlet and the second end.  
     
     
         40 . An acid neutralizing filter element comprising: 
 a support housing, the support housing having a sidewall between a first end and a second end, the support housing having a support housing fluid inlet disposed near the first end;    a center tube disposed within the support housing, the center tube having a center tube fluid inlet;    an acid neutralizing material contained within the support housing between the sidewall and the center tube; and    a filter material disposed downstream of the center tube fluid inlet for restricting the passage of acid neutralizing particles therethrough.    
     
     
         41 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 40  wherein the filter material is disposed near an outlet of the acid neutralizing filter element.  
     
     
         42 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 40  wherein the filter material is disposed over the center tube fluid inlet in an interior of the center tube.  
     
     
         43 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 40  further comprising a second filter material disposed upstream of the center tube fluid inlet.  
     
     
         44 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 40  wherein the sidewall is imperforate between the support housing fluid inlet and the second end.  
     
     
         45 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 40  further comprising an annular seal coupled to the support housing between the support housing fluid inlet and a support housing fluid outlet.  
     
     
         46 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 40  further comprising an annular seal coupled to the support housing and disposed near the second end.  
     
     
         47 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 40  wherein the filter material comprises a mesh material.  
     
     
         48 . The acid neutralizing filter element of  claim 40  wherein the support housing comprises an axial rib at least partially disposed on an interior portion of the sidewall of the support housing for enhancing the strength of the support housing.  
     
     
         49 . An oil circuit for supplying oil to engine bearings, the oil circuit comprising: 
 an oil sump for retaining oil;    an oil pump for drawing oil from the oil sump and propelling the oil through the oil circuit;    a full flow filter for restricting the passage of particulates through the oil circuit; and    a bypass filter, the bypass filter being disposed in a series relationship with the full flow filter such that oil is filtered by the full flow filter prior to entry into the bypass filter, and the bypass filter being disposed in a parallel relationship with the engine bearings such that a percentage of the oil that has passed through the full flow filter reaches the engine bearings and a remaining percentage of the oil that has passed through the full flow filter enters the bypass filter.    
     
     
         50 . The oil circuit of  claim 49  wherein the bypass filter comprises an acid neutralizing material.  
     
     
         51 . The oil circuit of  claim 49  wherein the percentage of the oil that reaches the engine bearings is greater than the remaining percentage of the oil that enters the bypass filter.  
     
     
         52 . The oil circuit of  claim 49  wherein a restriction orifice is disposed in a series relationship with the bypass filter and a parallel relationship with the full flow filter to restrict the amount of oil that enters the bypass filter.