CA1247161A - Filter sealing gasket with reinforcement ring - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A fluid sealing gasket device for a spin-on, throw-away filter having an annular sealing gasket with a groove of a particular shape in cross-section, the groove being formed circumferentially at the outer peripheral wall thereof; a substantially correspondingly shaped annular, metal reinforcing member positioned in and extending from the correspondingly shaped groove; and an annular gasket retaining channel formed in the filter end plate for retaining the reinforced sealing gasket therein. The gasket has a lower portion positioned in the retainer channel and an upper portion extending therefrom, with the annular groove and reinforcing member located in the upper portion of the gasket. Alternatively, the reinforcing member effectively fills "void" when the gasket is molded therearound. This fluid sealing gasket device retains the gasket's structural integrity upon installation on the filter mount l during use when High fluid pressures are exerted on the gasket from the inside of the filter. Thus this reinforced fluid sealing gasket device minimize deformation, improper orientation, and improper displacement of the gasket during installation and use of the filter, thereby assuring that the gasket is fully effective for sealing the filter to the filter mount and preventing leakage of the fluid.

Description

~2~

This invention relates -to a fluid fil-ter sealing device and, more particularly, -to a sea:ling gasket device for a fluid filter of the spin-on, throw-away -type.

The spin-on, throw-away type of fluid filter is now commonly used as the oil fil-ter for motor vehicles because -this filter is inexpensi~e to mass produce and easy to install and replace. This fluid filter typically has an open end with a threaded aperture and is spun on-to a threaded stud of a filter mount on the engine block or the like. An annular sealing gasket is retained at the open end of the Eluid filter by a retainer channel for providing a fluid seal between the filter and the filter mount, thereby preventing fluid leakage therebetween. An example of a spin-on, throw-away type filter is disclosed in U.S.
15 Patent No. 4,168,237~ issued to Pickett et al., which is commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

One of the common and continuing problems of the ~nown type of spin-on oil filters and related sealing gasket devices is ensuring an effective fluid seal between the filter and the engine block or filter mount. The conventional spin-on filter employs a solid, squarely shaped, resilient annu]ar sealing gas-ket which is positioned in an annular retainer channel formed in an end plate of the filter.
When the spin-on filter is at-tached~-to the filter mount, friction, twisting, and compressive forces ac-t on the .

4. 01/~ 15:36 PO~ 2~
..,, .,) 9e~ gasket be~ween ~he ~nd p Late c~ the ~ r an~ the filtbr mou~t~ Thes~ ~ort~e~ put grea~ a:Ln~ on th~
annula.r sealing ~aske~. The gasket c~ become deor~ed ox . can ~ cau~e~ to lie ~o~-centar" of t~e re~ainer chsrlnel.
S Once t~e filter is inst~lled on the filter molm~, fluid ~rc~ ted ~hrc)ugh the ~ e~ ~lso exerts ~ gr~at ~oun~ o~
pressuxe again3t the ~e~ling ga~ket. Mc~re particular~Ly,~ ~he :~luid p~ssing ~rousJh the filter exerts a high pre~sur~
for~e radially ou~wardly again~t the i~side periph~raï wall of t31e ga~ket~ ~hi~ pres3ure c~ CAUse de~orm~ibn of the i S~asket and subsequent leak~e of ~h~ f lllid aro~d the ga~ket , The ~pin-on ilter sealiny gasket leak~ge pro~lems .~rc~m high :~uid pressures i~ acute ~cau~e at the upper pC1Xt:iQn of ~he j¦ sealin~ gasket, i . e., between the ~tlter mo~t arld the ¦ re~ainer channel, there is no peripheral support. Thu~, the I prior art 1uid sa~ling g~sket device~ display f luid leakage ¦ problems because o imperfect: sealing by the se~ling gasket , when the filter is in~alles~ a~d used on the ~ngin~ blc>~k or.
! filter n~ount.

2 0 , The basic reason th~se prior ar~ g~ske~s le~k is bet:aus~ ;
they lack ~he ability t~ ef ~ectively control the forces at insta~latl on a~d the outward high pressure exer~ed ~y the 1ui~ while ~he ~ilt~r i~ ln use.
~ Thus, it can be seen that ~he know~ prior ar s~aling Z5 gasket dev~es fQr spin-on ~ throw-a~7ay type oil fil~er~
continue to h~re f lui~ sealin~ and le~kage pro~letas . None o~ the known prior art devices have the noYel fea~ures of the i~vention ~isclos~3d he:~in for ~l'iminating suc;h se~alins~ j and l~akage prol:~lem~ whil~ maint~inir~g a low-~ost, e~ily ii ¦ m~s pr~dllced :~ilter.

l I

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The presen-t invention provides an improved fluid filter sealing gaske-t clevice which provides an extremely eEfec-tive seal be-tween the filter and the filter mount during - bo-th installation and use of the filter.
The present invention also provides a fluid sealiny gasket device for a spin-on, throw-away type fluid filter, which minimizes sealing gasket deformation during both instal-lation and use of the filter, and which provides an ex-tremely effective seal between the filter and filter mount during both spin-on installation and use of the filter.
The present invention again provides a fluid sealing gasket device wherein the sealing gasket retains its struc--tural integrity to remain properly oriented between the filter and the filter mount, thus minimizing deformation and improper orientation o:E the gasket during both installation and use of the filter.
The present invention further provides a fluid seal-ing gasket device which is relatively simple and has minimum structural components, thereby ensuring a low-cost, mass-pro-duced fluid filter.
The present invention again provides a fluid sealing gasket device which is easily assembled on the filter, thereby ensuring a low-cost mass-produced filter.
~ ccording to the present invention there is provided a fluid sealing gasket device for a filter assembly, compris-ing: (a) an annular sealing gasket having top and bottom sealing walls and inner and outer peripheral walls; (b) gas-ke-t retainer means for retaining the sealing gaske-t, wherein the gasket has a lower portion positioned in the retainer means and an upper pOrtiQn extending therefrom; and (c) means positioned in the sealing gasket for reinforcing the sealing gasket against fluid pressure.

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Thus in accordance with this inven-tion, the fluid sealing gasket device for a filter assembly comprlses a seal-ing gaske-t; means positioned in the sealing gasket for rein--forcing -the sealing gasket against the deliterious affects of fluid pressure; and a gasket retainer channel formed at one end of a filter for retaining the sealing gaske-t therein. The sealing gasket is a resilient, annular gasket having a groove formed radially inwardly from and circumferentially along the outer peripheral wall of the gasket.
In one embodiment, only part of the annular rein-forcing member is positioned within the groove and part extends beyond the groove, whereas in another embodiment, the entire reinforcing member fits within the area defined by the groove. In either embodiment, the part of the reinforcin~
member positioned in the groove has a shape substantially com-plimentary to that of the groove, and has dimensions substan-tially equal to the dimensions of the groove.
Alternatively, the gasket may have an internal "void" instead of a groove for receiving the entire reinforc-ing member; the void being formed while the gasket, for exam-ple, is molded entirely around the reinforcing member. Of course, in this embodiment, the outer shape and dimensions of the ring are almost identical to the shape and dimensions of the void.
The sealing gasket lower portion is positioned in the retainer channel and the upper portion extends therefrom, with the groove or void and the reinforcing member being located in the upper portlon of the gas~et.
When the reinforced sealing gasket is positioned in the retainer channel and ins-talled on the filter mount, the reinforcing member reinfbrces the gaske-t to retain its struc-tural integrity and minimize deformation due to friction, twisti.ng, and compressi.ve Eorces. In use, while the fluid is flowing through -the filter, the reinforcing member re-inforces the gasket to prevent deformation of the gasket from the hi.gh fluid pressures exer-ted radially outwardly agains-t the inside portion of the gasket. Thus, the combination of the groove or void and the reinforcing member minimizes the possibility of deformation of or improper orientation of the gaske-t during either installation or use, and thereby ensures tha-t the gas-ket is fully effective for sealing the filter to the filter mount and for preventing leakage of fluid therebetween.
In another ernbodiment of the present invention there is provided an annular reinforcing member and a groove having dimensions such that the reinforcing member extends beyond the peripheral wall of said sealing gasket. Suitably, the groove is "U"-shaped in cross-section. Desirably, the reinforcement member is rectangular in cross-section.
In a still further embodiment of the present inven-tion there is provided a spin-fluid filter for attachment to a filter mount, comprising: (a) a filter housing; (b) an end plate attached to an end of the filter housing; (c~ an annu-lar, resilient gasket having top and bottom sealing walls and inner and ou-ter peripheral walls, the gasket having a void extending circumferentially therein; (d) an annular gasket retainer member on the end plate having inner and outer side walls and a bo-ttom wall for ~orming an annular gasket retainer channel; and (e) an annular reinforcing member posi-tioned in the void in the annular, resilient gasket; wherein the bottom sealing wall of the gasket abuts the bottom wall of the retainer channel, the inner side wall of the gasket partially abuts the inner side wall of the retainer channel, the top sealing wall of the gask~-t normally abuts the filter mount, the outer side wall of the gasket partially abuts the outer side wall of the re-tainer channel, and the void of the gaske-t with the reinforcing member located therein is positioned above the outer side wall of the retainer channel.
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a side view of a spin-on, throw-away type oil filter housing, illustrating particularly a cut-away view of the reinforced fluid filter sealing gasket device of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the reinforced fluid fil-ter sealing gasket device of the present invention, mounted in the gasket retainer channel of the spin-on, throw-away type filter housing shown in Fig. l;

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PIt;7 3 is an ~nl~ged fr~gment~ry cross-sec~onal view o~ the pxe~erred em]~4d~ent o~ the r~in~orce~
1ui~ ~ilt~r ~aling ga~ke~ dev~ce of ~he pxesen~ in~re~ti~, illu~r~ting par~icularly ~ ~U~-Shaped ~aske~ groo~re and a S ~ ~ub~t~ntially ~orrespondi~g re~tangul~r ~einforcing m~er;
. FI~:. 4 is ~ enlarged ~ragment~ry cro~ ectî~nal ~iew of another e~odi~nt of ~he reinorced :~luid seal~ng ga~1cet device ~ the pre~en~ invention, illu~trating parti~u~ ~rly ~ sem:Lcircularly shaped ga3ket groova and ~ cor:~espondi~
! semicircular~y shaped wire reinf~rcing member;
¦ FIG~ 5 ~s ~n enlarged f~agmentary aro~s-~ec:~ional view of ~other em~odiment of-the fluid sealing ga~ de~ice o~
the prasen~ inventîon, illuc:~r~tin~ particul~rly ~ squ~rely sh~ped ~asket g:roova and ~ corr~spor.ding squarely ~haped wire reinorcing mem~er;
FIG;,. 6 i~3 an enl~rged ~ mentary cro~-sectional view oi~ ~nother embodir~3nt o the fl~ld 3ealing ga~ke~ dev~ c~e o~ i the present inven~ion, illu~tra~ing psxticul~rly a r~ctangularly shaped g~5ket gr~ove and a ~orre~ponding rect~n~ularly shaped wir~ reinforcin~ me~er;
FIG. 7 lS an ~nla~ged fragmentary cro~3s-se~tional ~riaw c~f ~nother embodiment of t~ ~luicl ~e~ling ~a~)cet devic~ o~
the pr~ent inve~tion, illus~ratin~ partieularly a triangul~rly shaped g~sk~t groov~ a c~rrespondin~ tr~ angula~ly ~ap~d 2S wire reihforcing me~nber;
FI~., 8 is ~ enl~rged fragm~nta~y c!ross-~ec~ nal view C~ another emb~imen~ o:~ the 1uid sealirly ga~k~t device o~
~he pre~ent ~nvent~on~ illu~kratins~ p~rticularly a reckangularly . ~ shaped gasket groove ~nd a ~vrre6pon~ing r&ctangul~rl~
l ~ ~ha b~rd rein~orcing re=b~r ~ 6-~- O 1 /~? ? 1 5: 3 6 P O 9 ~ LZ~ ~61 FI~: . 9 is an enlarged ~ra~ n tal:~r cro~ tion~l v1~3w ano~her embodimen~ o ~he ~luid se~ g gaske~ d~vlce o~
the presen~ in~ention~ illustr~ting pa~ic~ rly a UN-~haped gasket groc~ve and a corresponding air~ul~rly ~hape~l wire or ~be reinforci~g melr~eri and F~G. 1~ lq an e~larged fraglrentilry cr3~s-s~ ion ~riew . ~f another er~bodimen~ of t~ îluid 3ealin~ ga~k~t devioe o~
the pre~ent invelltion, illll~tra~ng p~;ctic~ rly ~ ~emi~
circularly ~hape~ g~sket groove and a coxresp~nding se~i~
lQ circularly shaped band rein~orcing member. '' P~ an enlarged fragmentary .cro~s-~ec:~ional view o~ another embodiment o:~ th~ ~luid seallng gasket devi ce o the prese~ .in~rention, illustrating partlcul~rly ~he manne~
in which ,~ reinforc:ing mem~er fill~ void produced by ga~ke-t formed therearouIld.
. DES~RIPTION OF T~E PREF~:RRED EMBODIME~TS
Referrin~ to FIG. 1 o~ the drawings, ~e rein~orced 1uid ~ilter ~ealing gaske~ device c~f the pr~seAt invention i~ ~hown in~o~porated lnto an oil l^ilter cartridge or hou~in~
10 o~ ~he spin-on, ~hrc~w-~way type~ ~
Throughc~ut t~a de~cription o th~ pre~erred embodiment~ ¦
various directicnal reference~: will ~e used ~ox convenienc~:
th~3 direction ~oward the ~ er mou~t is '7upward,~' the ~irectic)n to~ar~ the closed end o~ the filt~r ~ou~ing 1~
~5 ~dot~nward; ~he direction away frc)m t~e ce~ral axi~ of the filter hou~ing is "outward"; and t~e directic~n ~ow2-rd t::hP
c~ntral axi~ of the fil~er hbusing is ~inwædN.
. Th~ housing 10 is norm~lly provided ~av~ng inte~ally .
th,er~o~ a filt~r element~ ~not ~hown~ . ~he usual oll fi lte~

4. 0 1 / ~~ ~ 1 5: 3 6 P 1 0 )1' ~ 7~ 6~ J
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housing 10 h~4 the ~ollo~iny ~tructure s nor~:l.ly clo~e~ . ~t one end ~n~ open at the other qnd ~ cover plate 1~ ~ub-.
~tantially closln~ t~e open eIld of the ~l l ter hou~ing 10, 'chre~ded cen~r~l aperture 14 to perm~t ~c~re~ing o~ ~he filte~ onto a t~re~ded ~tud (not ~hown) nontlally a~o~ated wi th a filtex m~ on the ~ngin~ bloc}c or ~hs lik~ with ~iiah the i~ er is u~d; oil flow hol~ 16 provi~ed ~ n the cc:ver p~a~e 1~ and ~pAced c:irt::umferentially aro~d ~ thread~d cen~xal ap~r~u~e 20 whi~h <~omplimer~ts the ~hr~ded c~tral ~perture î~ ~:E th2 c; over plate 12; and a ~orresponding plux~lity o~ oil ~low holes 22 provlded in an end pla~e 18 compl~monting l:he oil ~10~7 holes 1~ of ~he cover plata 12~
¦
Both the cov~r plata 12 a~d the end plate 18 are assembled on the filter hc~using 10 s~b~tantially perpenclicul~xly ~o the central ~xis oi~ the ICilter housing 1~.
A~ bes~ ~een in FI~. 2, ~he outer ci~cu~feren~ial edge of the ena plate 18 is normally fo:Lde~l and interl~aved or rolled with t he out~r ~ircumfaren~al edye of the fil~ex housing lQ, during manu~acture of the filter struc~ure.
. This folded ~d interl~av~d jolnt or rolle~ seam 24 provlde~
a f luid pressure tight connection ~or ~he :~ilter interior.
The srld plate 18 fu~ther cc~mprises inner and outer ~id~
walls ~nd a ~ottom wall, ~, 28 ~c~ ~0, respectiv~ly, which tc~gether ~orm an annular yasket retaine;r cha~nel 32 ther~
~etween .
With concurretlt refer~nce ~o ~IGS. 1 and ~ th~ ga~ke~
34 b~ ~he ~luid i~ter ~ealin~ gaske~ devicf3 o~ thi& inv~nti~
~ill no~r b~ describ~d a3 incorpora~ed into the spin~on throw-aw~y type ilt~x. The gasket 34 is pro~ided h~ving ~0 generally ring-lika or ~rn~ r confl~ur~t~on and fu:~th~r . ~1/ 7~ 15: 36 P1 1 * ~;~L~

h~ving an inner periph~ral wall 3~, an outer periph~ral wall 3B, ~n upper ~tlbstant~ally ~ e~ling ~ur~ e 40 r and a . bo~o~ sub~tanti~lly f~at ~al~ng ~rfaae 4~. ~h~3 inner ar~d out~r p~r~pheral walls 36 ~n~l 3~, re~pec~i~ely~ the gaske~ 34 are ge~e:cally p~rallel to ça~h ~ther ~a in pz~r~llel alignment with ~he central axi~ o~ the fil~er car~ridge lO, ~d ~hu~ perpendictllar ~o the sealing ~r~ace o~ the ~ilter rilount ~not sh~ he gasket ' s upper s~alin~ ~urface 40 ~nd bottom sealir~g s~r~ace 4X ~re likewi~e paral~ el to eacs~
ot2~er, the ~ilter cover plate 12 and the ~ilter end plate 18, but are generally p~rpendiculax to the inner and ou~er wall i 36 ~nd 38 of the gas~cet 3~. X~ sum, the cros~-sac~ion o~ the gasket 34 a~ aen in FI~ is ~asically rec~zngul~r or ~qUare to provide an easily m~nufa~tured gasket 3~ and .
lS con~limentary r~tainer chann~ 3~
Ai~i best seen tn FIG. 2, th~ bottom wal 1 3iO fc~ g ~he retainer ch2~nel 32 in~udes ~ circumferen~i~lly extending ~nnular rib 44. This rib ~4 aid~i in keepin~ ~he sealin~
gaska~ 34 aligned centrally in the re~ainer ch~nnel 32 a~
2û the filter i5 baing 5pUn ont~ the ~llter mount. The ri~ ¦
also aids in ensuril~g a proper s~al be~ween th~3 f~lter and ~he il~er mt~t.
Th~ gaskiet memb~r 3.4 i~i made ~f rubbe~, or ru~ber like ~aterial, pr~ferabl~ c~f resilient ~et oil and ~luid rei3i5tant ~ype ma~erlal, which will compre~s sligh~ly ~nd~r pr~ u~e~
b~t offer~ suf~icient ~ ss so as to become ~ siea~edL
~nd form a tigh~ ~e~l at the i~eal~ng sur~a~es of the fil~er : and ~he filter mounl: ~pon ~pin-on in-~allation o the fiil~r th~reto. q'he ga~ket preferably has ~ outer diameter of 2.75 inche-~ J

1~ 9 ~. 01/ ~'~ 15:31~ P12 )k ~2~7~jl j . I
,, As l~s~ Ele~n in FIGS ~ 1, 2 ~nd 3 ~ ~cc~rd~n~ to the . pr~eferred emb~diment ~ t~e ~nulax ga~k~gt 34 h~LS ~ grC~o~r~ 4 6 ex~ending ra~lly inw~dly ~rom amd ciroumferentiall~ ~long the ou~r p~ripheral wall 38 . q~}le groo~e 4 6 i~ generally pos~tioned for the preferred embo~iment (~nd mo~ o~ ~he C~th~r prefe~red en~odiments disclosed here~, a~3 will be des~ri~ed~ above ~he c~3nter line 4~ oi~ ~h~ ga~ket ~hous~ in F~G. ~ in ~he upper portion o~ the ga~k0t extending ~u~
a~ove the ~ide wall~ ~ the retainer ch~nnel 32~, }O ~ ~he sealing gasket groove 4 6 can have various shapes a Will ~e described. However, ~he pre~erred embodiment of this invention employ~ a "U"-~hape~ groove 46 forme~ in ths ga6ket outer peripheral w~ll 3~ to l~av~ ou~er periphera~ ' wall porti~ns 38a and 38b adjacent the ~U~-shaped ~ vve 46~. i In the pr~err~d en~vdiment, the ~is~ e between the upper.~e~ling ~u~face 40 and the ~ot~om seali~g surface ~2 ~ the gasket 34 is . 350 inches, Th~ dis~an~e between ~che upp~ wall 5~ o~ the groo~re 4~ and the lowe~ w 11 5~ of ~h~
~roove 46 i~ ~ 0~2 inches. The distance ~tween ~he plane of the g~sk~t outer wal~ 3~ and the inwardmost portion S4 o:E j the groove 4~ ~s . 07V inche~. ~he distan~e be~wee~ the upper sealing surfac~3 40 of th~ ga~ket 3~ ~nd ~he upp~r w~ll 50 ~ ~he groove 4S is . ~0 inche~ ~d, o~ cou~se, the distarlce ~etween the upper wall 50 ~n~ the ~ower ~eal~ng Z5 ~ur:~ce 42 is ~ 30 lnches. ~he distanc~ ~e~ween ~he l~wer ~all 52 o~ ~e ~roove 4~ and th~ ~t~ seali~g sur~ac~ 42 o~ thP gasket 34 is . ~38 i~ch~s . ~he di~tance betweæn ~h~ I
plane o:~ the up~ardmo~ pl~teau ~ on the end plate :Eolded seam 24 ar~d th~ uppe~ sealing surface i~ . 0~0 ~nc:he~ ~ or 3Q to the bot~om sealing surf~c~ 4~ o~ th~ gasket 34 i~ a 270 inches~ The di~tanc~ between the ir~n~r ~ 6 and the outer w~ll 38 i~ ~ lBO in~h~s.

4. 0 ~ 1 5: 36 P 1 3 ~ 4'7~6~
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Gener~ , the lengtha o:E the outer pexipheral wall portion~, 38a an~ 38:b, o th~ gasket 34 are g~n~r~lly d~ermi~e~l by ~ width o~ ~h~ groo~te 46 . ~s s~ated above, in the preferred embv~imerl~, the l~ng~h of w,all p4rtion 3 .. . (:150 lnches ,~nd ~:he length of w~ll porti~n 3~ 38 inches. I~ dition the dep~h o~ the groove 4~ :~rom the . ga~ket ou~er wall 3 ~ ~o the inw~rdmost por~ th~,s gr~OVQ
is partly depen~len~ upon the ~hape of the xeln~brc~in~ ~e~e:r . u~ed, which rein:Eor~:ing m~an~er will be di-~oussed more f~lly ~ere~ er. `
As ca~ be ~een in FIGS. 1-3, the pre~erred emb~diment c~f ~lle reinforcing member 58 i~ positio~ed ~ithin ~h~ 00Ye 46 . ~he x~inforcin~ rQember ~8 is an annular rigid ~ e ~ g., l me~l, ring wi~h ~ rec~ gular ~ ss-section.. Th~ ~rc~ss-15 . ¦ se~ion~l h~ t of th~3 reinfor~ing men~ber 58 is pr~rably~n the range o~ from . 010 ~o ..~0 inche~ for the variou~
. a~bodiment$ to be describe~ herea~er. Th2 c~ro~s~ ior~
height s~ the r~info~c~ing merr~be;r 58 of the pxe~erre~l embodi- ¦
! ment is . 030 inch. The ~ross-secti~nal width of ~e r{~inforcing . j ~nen?ber 58 in the pref~rred e~nbodime~t is .103 inch~
The d~pth of ~l~e groove 4 ~ ~hould coin~ with l~he in~ern~l diame~er ~ th~ reinforcing membe~ 58 ~y ~ ~ 010 inc~h. EIoweve~, in the p~eferred ~dlrnent, the outer diameker o~ ~he reinfo~ing mem}~er 5~ is, grea~er th~n ~h~
. outer ~ia~e~er o thP gasket. T~is ~if~erence assures ~h~t the gasket, once assem~led with th~ ~ein~or~e~n~n~ r~g, will alled colrectly in the gask~?t re~aitler Since the reinfor~ing mem~r e~tends ~eyond th~ gasket, and isincQ t:he walls ~f the re~ainer channel are su~stantially ~ual, lt ws:uld be very ~ifficul~ :Eor an asse~nbler to ln~orrec~ly pu~
~he gasket in up~ide down 1 i . e ., wi th the xlng pos:i.tion~d within the axeel de~ d by the ~et~iner ::hannel wall~

1. 0 1/ 1 5: 3 6 P ~ 247~.L6~

The reln~orcing member 58 c~ have vaI~ou8 ~hape~, a ~lat, roun~, semi-circ~uJar~ triangul~r, :~e~t~ngular, ~q~are ox eurved ~ross-sect~on. Hc:weve;r, genera~ l~ th~
shape ~nd dimensi~nM of the r~in~orcirlg me~ber ~us~ s~b-~tan~i~lly co~respond to the shFIpe ~nd dirnellsion~ o~ th~
groove 46, E18 described h~arein,. The reinforcing me;~ber 5 c:~n be constructe~l f~ lat stock, band~, tubin~ t)r wire"
, Joinin~ the end~ ~ the ~nular rein~orci~g ~aa~ber 5~ c~n }:e a~ompli~h~d ~ }cno~n p~oce~ureæ J i . e ., bu~ w~ldinsr ~
1~ soldexln~, bra~ing, or any other mearls colmnonly e~ploye~ to provide ~ s~rong join~A Th~ ou~er ~iame~er of the xein-I forcing ~nem~er i~ p~efelably ~ i 819 inches.
! ~n t~e en~odimen~ sho~ in FrGS. 1~3, durin~ as e~ly of the ~ilter, the reinforcing member 58 i5 ins~rted into lS the g~sket 34 5uch that the ~s~inforc:ing ring member 53 extends over the ga~ket wall por~ion 38a and i~ receiv~l by, or 5napped intc~ the "U~-~h~ped rece~s 46 of the g~Ls~ce~ 34 Th~ po~iti~n of the rein:l~orcing mernber 5~ rela~ive to the ~ket out~r p~3riph~ral wall 3 ~ i5 a unctior~ th~: se~ g ~sJc~t height (i O eO, ~he ~s~ance betwe~ he upper sealing ~urace 40 a~d the lower sealing sur~ace 42~, and the depth of the s~aling gaske~ ~oo~re ~ . For example d ~ n the pre~erred embodin~ent, for a gasket 34 of . ~S~ inch height a~d a retainer chans~el 32 of . ~7~ inch dep~h, the ~est ~5 results are obt~ined by fo~un~ the groove 46 with th~ uppar ll 50 ~ a OSO irlch distance :~rom ~h~ upper ~ieal~n~ sur~
40 o~ thS~ ga~k~3t 34, using a rec~ngular cross-sec~ion reinf~r~ing member 58 of .~3~ inch high an~l olO~ inch wide irl c:ross-s~ction ~d forlning the gro~e 46. o:~ . 070 inc~h wid~
Sû ~n~ . 0~ high illto ~he ~Tasket 340 A~; mentione~l ~bov~ it i~
~ls~ genex~lly prei~erred in this em~odiment thak the rein~orcing mell-ber S8 l~e posi~lone~ ln ~he g~3ket upper . ~12-.O 1 / ~ 1 5: 3 6 P 1 5 ~ ,A,~"2~ 7 pcr~ion, l,e.., abov~ the ~en~r line 48 o~ th~ ga~ket 34~
Th~ ~ coml~ina~ion increas4~ the al~ of -the ~al~n~ ga~ket . to ~esist di~lodgamerl~ ~rom th~ r~t~iner ~hann~l a~
pre~sure~ o~ ~rom 50 to 75 P~ ~reater ~h~ th4~e ~o:r ~he S. . I conyentional flu:ld filt~r ~sket an~ r~tainer c~
con~igurations known in th~
~e the re~n~c~rcing men~er 5~ is irl~tal~ed in th~
. g~}cet 34, the r~3inforced g~ket 34 is i~ser~d into th~3 , re~ine:r char~nel 3~ such ~a~ ~he rainf~3rcing member 5~
ext~nds above part o:~ the end plat~ olded s~am 24~ More particularly, as best ~e~ in FIG. 2 I t~e gasket 34 i~
po~i~is)n~d wiL~hin the re~ainer channeL ~ wi~h the S~ ske~
innsr peripher~l ~all 3~ a~tjacent th~ inr~er side WA'I 1 28 o the retainer oh~nnel 32, the ~ottom ~ealing surface 4~ c~f 1~ th~ gask2t 34 a~utting the ~ott:o~ wall 30 of th~ ret~lner channel 3~, the upper sealing surface 40 o~ ~he g~k~t 34 ~ngagin~ the ~ealin~ surfac~ o~ ~he filt~r mour~t ~no~ ~ho~n~
upon installa~iQIl~ and the lc)wer portion of ou~r periphexal wall 38 of th~ gasket 34 adjacent 1 hA o~lte:r sid~ w~11 28 o~
the re~ain~r ~h~ el 3Z.
. AB ~he fil~e~ i8 8pun onto the filtQr mount~ frictl n, cc~mpr~ssive ~d twi~ing ~orce~ ~re exert~ by the filter mount ~nd filter end plate 1~ UpOIl the ga~3~et 34 in t2~e~ .
retainer channel 32, espe~ y ~ the t~p portior~ o t~e gask~t n~a~ the upper sealing sur~a~e 4 0 . Due to th~ rein~
forcing mem~er 58 being loc~te~ in the gask~t groova 4~, th~
~a~3cet 34 i9 r~nor~ed while ~elng properl~ or7 ented wi~hin the ~etainex channel 3~ durin~ i~stallation o;~ the filtQr ~ hP filt er mo~ult .
3p P50::eover, ~he rein:f.~rsing men~er ~8 be ng located in the ~roov~ 4~ o the seal~ng g~ske~ 34 ~1QO provid~3~ meana for rein~orceably re~ ing the se~lin5~ g~s~et i~ ~he ~1 ~00 . 01/'`~ 15:36 P16 )1' f~ 7~

retaine~ ~h~nel ~ux~ng iïter us~. Th~3 r~in~orqirlg ~nemb~3r 58 ~nd ~e groo<re 4~ ~o~;1i~e t ~ allow th~ seallng ~ke~ 34 to retain its stru~kural integrity when high pr~sure ~om fluid ~n the in~erlo2~ o~ ~he ~ er i~ ~xQrted ~r~di~lly ou~wardly again~t ~e inrler E~eripheral wall o:E ~he ga3ke~.
Thu~ 9 it can }~e ~eQn this combinatio~ mini;miz~ d~30r~-~
kion ~nd crea~es ~n ~fec:tive ~e~l be~weexl the filter ~
filter mount, ~hu~ eliminating le~kage c;~u3ed both ~:om ad~er3e ~or~es ~xf~rted durin~ filter lns~.alla~ion ~d ~ro~
10, ,high ~luid pressure ~ccuring during ~ er u~e.
. FIG. 4 is ~ view ~f another embodime~ of the rein-forced flu~d ~ealing gasket de~ice c~f the pre~ent i~vention, illuskrating particularly a semi-circularl~ shaped wir~
reinforcing member 58~ i~ groove 46a.
~h~ ~einforc:ing mernber 58 0~ thi~ and ~he f~llo~ing al~erna~e em~od~nents does nPt~ extend heyond ~he outer wall o~ the g~sket, but haY a~ outer di;~n~ter substan~ially e~ual t~ ~he outer diame~r oX the ga~ke~ 34.
FIG. 5 i~ a view of ano~her embodiment of the ~l~aid Peallng gasket de~rice o~ the present invention, illust~a~ing particularly a s~ua~ly sh~ed gro~ve 46b an~ ~ cc3rre~pon~
~quarely shap~d wire reillfor~ing mer~er 5~
FIt~, 6 is a view o~ another embodiment of the fluid s~alislg gas~cet d~v~ ~ o~ ~he pre~e~t invention, illu3tratin~
~5 par~icula~ly a rec~an~ula~ly 3hap~d ~ro~Ye 4~& and a c~rres~
ponding ~ct~gularly ~hap~d wire rein:forcir~g mem~er S8a.
~I~. 7 i~ a view 03t~ anc~ er e~odiment ~ ~he flu~d se~ling gask~3~ de~:i ~e oi~ the pres~n~ lnverl~ion, illu~trating par~icular~y a ~V~ sh~ped groo~re 4~d and ~ corre~pondis~
.~ triangularly shaped wire rein:forGing malT~er S~d~

- ' 1 5: 3 6 ~P L 7 )~ 7~ 6 Flg. ~ riew of ano~er embodimerlt o~ th~ ~lUid ~ealing g~ske~ d~7iae o~ t~e p~sen~ inventic~n, illu~t~aking p~rticu~arly a rectan~ularly sh~p~d groo~ 4~ ~d ~ cor~
re~pon~ing r~c~ang~l~rly sh~ped ~nd rein~c~r::ing m~nlber 58e,

5 . ~G. 9 is ~ ~ of ~nother emkodiment o~ th~ 1uid seal~ng g~s}ce~ aevi~e o~ the pre~en~ in~ren~io~, lllu~trating particularl~ a ~U"-~hap~d ~roove 46f ~n~ a corre~ponding t:ir~u1~r~y shaped wire or tube r~infor~ing mesnl:~er 5~f.
P'I~. 10 i~ a v~ew o~ ~other e~sbo~iment o~ the ~1uid ~a1ing g2~sket device of: the pre~ent 1nventio~, i11u~tr~Lting part~cularly a semi-circularly ~haped groove 4~ ~nd a co~e~po~d1ng ~esni-circu1ar1y ~haped band re~or~ing membe~
i 58g~
In e~ch of the cn~odiment~ ~aug~t ~7y thi~ ~nvez~tinn, ~xc~pt ~he r~c~gu1ar ~and ernbodiment i11ustrat~d in FIG.
8, i.e., reIeerence numer~1 58e, the rein~orc:ing m~3mber 5B
~o~i~ion~:d in ~he upper por~ion ~f thla gaske~ , i . e ., a3:~o~
the center line ~8 ~FIG. 2) of the ~a~ke~ 34~ EIo~eve~r~
can ~e saen that ~ n in the FIt~ . 8 emb~diment, the re~ !
inforcingmember 5~ is Qt111 loca~ed in ~he upper poX~ of the ga~ket but ext~nds ~ownwardly int~ the lower portivn o~
the g~}cet bel~w the top 56 o~ ~he retainer charutel ~ide w~ll.
~lte~natively, a~ illu~r~ed ~pacific:ally in Fig. 11 there m~y }:)e provided a ~void i 49 ins~ead o~ the groo~
4~0 Thu~, instead o the reinforcing mesl~ber 58 l~îng ~s3e~bled into ~:he groove 46 ~ in ~e abov~-de~c~
embodiment~, the "voidH ~ould ba ~rmed when a ~sk~t 34 i~
molded arc~und the reinforaing me~er ~ durlng m~u~tur~
In these ~l~arnate embodimen~s, eaGh resp~etive rein~oro~g . . '.

-15- ~

. 01 1 -~ 15 ~ P18 * ~2~L~7 ~ember would bs po~ lon~d a1~ t~tially ~ch~ sam6 loca~ion a~ de~cribed al: ov~ ~n rela~on to YIGS . 4-lO
Acc~rdi~gly, a~ s~zn in FI~;S.: 4~ hantoln lines 6~ g ar~
, vl~ed to ~epre~ent a ~olld ~ter wall 38 ~o~med when th~
g~3cet i~ molded aroun~ th~ reino~ctng member $8h t~ fo~
! ~he v~id. Be~ides th~ fact tha~ the ga~ke~ 34 ~urrounds the . rein~ox iny me~b~r 5Bh for su::h altern~ive ~mbodim~3nts~
the ot~er ~ature~ of the invention a~ desi~ri~ed ~bo~re ~or thie groove" em}~od~ne~t~i ~re iubs~nti211~r the ~i~e.
~h~ rei}lforcement v~ ~he ga~ike~ 34 using any ~f the above-described e~odiments ~voids defc~rmation o the gasket 34, especially at the upper sealing ~urf~c~ ~ O n~ar the filter mount and e~3u~e~ proper ~llgnment o the gasiket 34 in ~e re~z~iner channel 3~. This is in contr~i3it ~o the ef~e~t i pr~duc~ed by the fluid ~eali~g g~ket de~lce~i ~or ~pin-on, throw away ~iIters employ~d in ~he prior art, wherein a solid, unrein~orced gaske~ may not retain its stIuctural inte~rity at installati~n an~ u~der high fluid . pressures during use~ ~rhe ~ske~s in t~e prior ar~ devices have no perlph~ral reinforcing membersi ~ ~nd have a resilient st:ructur~ which can deform ~mder the various aaverse pressuxe~
exer~ed upon ~he~i.
, ~he foregolng d~scription of the pre $erred elbodiment~
~ is c~nsiidered as illustrative only ~f the pri~l~iple~ ~ the:
nventioQ. ~ur~her, since numerous modifi~ ion ~d.
change will readily occur to t~osa skilled in the ar~ by descrip~ibn, it is not de~i~ed to li~c the i~en~lo~
t~ the ex~ct c~n~ru~tion and operati~n ~how~ and d~ r~bed.
Ac~c)rdingly, all ~uitable modificati~ns m~y ~e re~orte~ to~
30 . I fallin~ hin ~he ~op~ o~ the ~n~e~ion as ~e~ fo~h Lr . .

~ -L6- ¦

4. 01/, ' 15: 36 P1~3 )k .. i~ 7~61.

the alaim~3 and ~he equi~alent~ there~o. ~or ex~unple, although t~e p~eferI~d emb~diment o~ th~ x~ nfo~c~d ~lui~
. ~eal~g ga~ket ~e~ic:e empha~i~e th~t th~ g~sket grootr~
. reLn~orcing me~e~ shoul~ be located in ~he ou~er peripher~l wall o~ ~he ez~ gasket, ~h~ in~en~ion al~o ~nc~pas~es . location o~ ~he groov~ and rei~foraement m~m~er in the ~ nner r1pheral waLl o~ ~he seziling qilske t .
. I

i '\

Claims (21)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A fluid sealing gasket device for a filter assembly, comprising:
(a) an annular sealing gasket having top and bottom sealing walls and inner and outer peripheral walls;
(b) gasket retainer means or retaining the sealing gasket, wherein the gasket has a lower portion positioned in the retainer means and an upper portion extending therefrom; and (c) means positioned in the sealing gasket for reinforcing the sealing gasket against fluid pressure.

2. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 1, wherein the annular sealing gasket has a groove formed radially from and extending circumferentially along one of the peripheral walls of the sealing gasket, and wherein the reinforcing means comprises an annular reinforcing member positioned in said groove.

3. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 1, wherein the annular sealing gasket comprise a void formed radially and circumferentially in the sealing gasket, and wherein the means for reinforcing the sealing gasket includes an annular reinforcing member located in said void.

4. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 2, wherein the inward dimensions of the groove in the sealing gasket and the corresponding inward dimensions of the reinforcing member are subststantially equal.

5. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 3, wherein the overall dimensions of the void in the sealing gasket and the overall dimensions of the reinforcing member are substantially equal.

6. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 2 or 3, wherein the annular reinforcing member is selected from the group which is circularly shaped, semi-circularly shaped, squarely shaped, rectangularly shaped, or triangularly shaped in cross-section.

7. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 2, wherein the groove of the sealing gasket is selected from the group which is "U"-shaped, semi-circularly shaped, squarely shaped, rectangularly shaped, or "V"-shaped in cross-section.

8. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 7, wherein the annular reinforcing member is selected from the group which is circularly shaped, semi-circularly shaped, squarely shaped, rectangularly shaped, or triangularly shaped in cross section.

9. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 7, wherein the groove is formed radially inwardly from and extends circumferentially along the outer peripheral wall of the gasket.

10. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 9, wherein the groove is formed in a gasket peripheral wall in the gasket upper portion extending from the gasket retainer means.

11. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 3, wherein the void of the sealing gasket is selected from the group which is circularly shaped, semi-circularly shaped, squarely shaped, rectangularly shaped, or triangularly shaped in cross-section.

12. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 11, wherein the annular reinforcing member is selected from the group which is circularly shaped, semi-circularly shaped, squarely shaped, rectangularly shaped, or triangularly shaped in cross-section.

13. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 12, wherein the void is formed in the gasket upper portion extending from the gasket retainer means.

14. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 8 or 12, wherein the annular reinforcing member is metal.

15. The fluid sealing gasket device of claim 11, wherein the filter assembly is a spin-on, throw-away filter assembly, and wherein said gasket retainer means comprises a retainer member having side and bottom walls for defining an annular retainer channel formed in one end of a said spin-on, throw-away filter, and wherein the lower portion of the gasket is positioned therein.

16. A spin-on fluid filter for attachment to a filter mount, comprising:
(a) a filter housing;
(b) an end plate attached to an end of the filter housing;
(c) an annular, resilient gasket having top and bottom sealing walls and inner and outer peripheral walls, the outer peripheral wall of the gasket having a groove extending radially inwardly and circumferentially therealong;
(d) an annular gasket retainer member on the end plate having inner and outer side walls and a bottom wall for forming an annular gasket retainer channel; and (e) an annular reinforcing member positioned in the groove in the outer peripheral wall of the annular, resilient gasket;
wherein the bottom sealing wall of the gasket abuts the bottom wall of the retainer channel, the inner side wall of the gasket partially abuts the inner side wall of the retainer channel, the top sealing wall of the gasket normally abuts the filter mount, the outer side wall of the gasket partially abuts the outer side wall of the retainer channel, and the groove of the gasket with the reinforcing member located therein is positioned in the outer peripheral wall of the gasket above the outer side wall of the retainer channel.

17. The fluid sealing gasket of claim 2, 8 or 12, wherein the annular reinforcing member and the groove have dimensions such that the reinforcing member does not extend beyond the peripheral wall of said sealing gasket.

18. The fluid sealing gasket of claim 2, 8 or 12, wherein the annular reinforcing member and the groove have dimensions such that the reinforcing member extends beyond the peripheral wall of said sealing gasket.

19. The spin-on fluid filter of claim 16, wherein the groove is "U"-shaped in cross-section.

20. The spin-on fluid filter of claim 16, wherein the reinforcement member is rectangular in cross-section.

21. A spin-fluid filter for attachment to a filter mount, comprising:
(a) a filter housing;
(b) an end plate attached to an end of the filter housing;

(c) an annular, resilient gasket having top and bottom sealing walls and inner and outer peripheral walls, the gasket having a void extending circumferentially therein;
(d) an annular gasket retainer member on the end plate having inner and outer walls and a bottom wall for forming an annular gasket retainer channel; and (e) an reinforcing member positioned in the void in the annular, resilient gasket;
wherein the bottom sealing wall of the gasket abuts the bottom wall of the retainer channel, the inner side wall of the gasket partially abuts the inner side wall of the retainer channel, the top sealing wall of the gasket normally abuts the filter mount, the outer side wall of the gasket partially abuts the outer side wall of the retainer channel, and the void of the gasket with the reinforcing member located therein is positioned above the outer side wall of the retainer channel.