Evolution of spin-on oil filters
On the parts that come into contact with the car most during the car maintenance process, it must be the oil filter. The term “oil filter” is familiar to both new and old drivers, but despite this, many people don’t pay enough attention to filter because it may seem “inconspicuous”. But did you know that today’s engines are getting longer and longer, the oil filters are indispensable.
Inorganic filter age
Early cars did not have a machine filter, which led to a problem: the oil would soon become contaminated and gradually fail.
This is because in addition to lubricating oil, it also has a cleaning effect. It captures debris and other pollutants from worn engine parts, thereby reducing engine wear, but because there is no oil filter, the large amount of impurities absorbed by the oil will quickly saturate it, thereby losing its cleaning effect, lubrication and heat dissipation The effect will also decrease.
Therefore, early cars needed frequent oil changes to prevent premature engine wear.
Later, a simple filter was added to the oil pump. This was the earliest oil filtering device, which extended the oil replacement cycle to a certain extent.
Early machine filtration
The first real machine filter appeared in 1923 and was designed by the inventors Earnest Sweetland and George H. Greenhalgh. They put a cylindrical perforated plate wrapped in multilayer twill in a casting container. This is the earliest Machine filter. The container is installed between the oil pump and the engine lubrication line, and an observation mirror is set on the side of the casing, so that people can see the oil flow in the filter. When the oil flow looks very small, consider replacing the filter element.
The early machine filters were all cylindrical structures, also called interchangeable types, in which components such as filter elements and sealing rings were packed into a metal housing, and only the internal elements such as filter elements and sealing rings were replaced during maintenance. Some housings are installed on the engine and some are connected in the oil pipeline.
One disadvantage of this type of machine filter is that it is more troublesome to replace. You need to open the casing, drain or suck out the oil, then install a new filter element, install a new sealing gasket, and tighten the lid.
The birth of spin-on filter
Until 1954, Vickers invented the spin-on oil filter, which completely overturned the structure of the filter and greatly simplified the replacement operation.
The spin-on filter is an independent assembly that integrates a metal casing, a filter element, a sealing ring, a valve, etc. When replacing, you only need to unscrew the entire assembly and replace it, which makes the routine maintenance of the engine very convenient.
Spin-on filter quickly became a universal standard, and to this day, most models are still in use.
In addition to the structure, the filter materials of machine filters are also continuously improved, and have experienced the evolution of woven fabrics, waste cotton, and pleated filter paper, which also laid the foundation for the invention of spin-on machine filters.
Post time: Mar-17-2020