Magnetically enhanced oil filter apparatus

Abstract

A magnetically enhanced oil filter apparatus includes an open-ended cartridge housing which includes means for connecting to an engine block, inflow ports for receiving oil flow from the engine block, and an outflow port for sending filtered oil to the engine block. A block-to-housing sealing gasket is connected to the open-ended cartridge housing for providing a seal between the open-ended cartridge housing and the engine block. Direction control baffles are housed inside the open-ended cartridge housing for directing inflow oil for magnetic treatment and for directing magnetically-treated oil to the outflow port. A cartridge-housing lid, a lid-to-housing sealing gasket, and a magnet assembly unit are provided. A peripheral clamping assembly is provided for clamping the magnet assembly unit, the lid-to-housing sealing gasket, and the cartridge-housing lid to the open-ended cartridge housing.

1 . A magnetically enhanced oil filter apparatus, comprising:
 an open-ended cartridge housing which includes means for connecting to an engine block, inflow ports for receiving oil flow from the engine block, and an outflow port for sending filtered oil to the engine block,   a block-to-housing sealing gasket connected to said open-ended cartridge housing for providing a seal between said open-ended cartridge housing and the engine block,   direction control baffles housed inside said open-ended cartridge housing for directing inflow oil for magnetic treatment and for directing magnetically-treated oil to said outflow port,   a cartridge-housing lid,   a lid-to-housing sealing gasket,   a magnet assembly unit, and   a peripheral clamping assembly for clamping said magnet assembly unit, said lid-to-housing sealing gasket, and said cartridge-housing lid to said open-ended cartridge housing, wherein said peripheral clamping assembly includes a cartridge-housing engagement portion, a lid-to-housing-sealing-gasket engagement portion, and a magnet-assembly-unit engagement portion.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said magnet assembly unit includes a clamp-member-reception notch. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means for connecting to an engine block include an internally threaded portion for connecting to an externally threaded engine portion. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including:
 filtration means housed with said open-ended cartridge housing.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 said open-ended cartridge housing includes a housing end lip,   said cartridge-housing lid includes a lid lip, and   said lid-to-housing sealing gasket is placed between said lid lip and said housing end lip,   whereby said peripheral clamping assembly clamps said lid-to-housing sealing gasket between said housing end lip and said lid lip form a liquid seal between said open-ended cartridge housing and said cartridge-housing lid.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said peripheral clamping assembly includes:
 a pair of concave clamping members, wherein each clamping member includes said cartridge-housing engagement portion, said lid-to-housing-sealing-gasket engagement portion, and said magnet-assembly-unit engagement portion,   a hinge connecting said clamping members together, and   an over-center-toggle lock unit connected to said clamping members.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said over-center-toggle lock unit includes:
 a handle member connected to one of said clamping members,   a hook-to-handle ring connected to said handle member, and   a hook located at an end portion of the other of said clamping members.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said over-center-toggle lock unit further includes a cotter pin and respective registrable cotter-pin-reception channels in said handle member and one of said clamping members. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said lid-to-housing sealing gasket includes:
 a housing-end-lip contact portion,   a unit-lip contact portion, and   a clamping-member contact portion.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said magnet assembly unit includes:
 a first semi-circular magnet holder having a first straight wall, a first curved wall, and a first top wall,   a second semi-circular magnet holder having a second straight wall, a second curved wall, and a second top wall,   a plurality of first magnets received in said first semi-circular magnet holder having a first magnetic polarity orientation,   a plurality of second magnets received in said second semi-circular magnet holder having a second magnetic polarity orientation which is opposite to said first magnetic orientation,   a plurality of third magnets located between said first semi-circular magnet holder and said second semi-circular magnet holder, wherein said third magnets have a third magnetic polarity orientation which is perpendicular to both said first and said second magnetic polarity orientations, and   a bottom wall unit which is connected to said first semi-circular magnet holder and said second semi-circular magnet holder.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein:
 said first magnets and said second magnets have a magnet length,   said first semi-circular magnet holder and said second semi-circular magnet holder have a magnet holder height, and   said magnet length is greater than said magnet holder height, whereby, when said bottom wall unit is connected to said first and second semi-circular magnet holders, a clamp-member-reception notch is provided between said first and second semi-circular magnet holders and said bottom wall unit.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said bottom wall unit includes cooling fins.