Strainer for oil supply mouth

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a strainer to be attached to an oil supply mouth of an oil tank provided to heavy weight machinery such as construction equipment for preventing impurities from entering into the oil tank during supplying an oil, and to a strainer for an oil supply mouth having a float for an oil gauge enabling to detect a position of a liquid level.

In general, the above mentioned strainer for oil supply mouth (called briefly as “strainer” hereafter) is formed to be like a cup and structured by securing network bodies to surround a periphery of a frame, and this is attached as fitted into the oil supply mouth. When attaching the strainer and inserting an oil supply hose, impurities can be caught by the network body.

By the way, when attaching the strainer to the oil supply mouth, a height of a liquid level within the oil tank cannot be visually recognized from the outside during supplying the oil. As disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, such structures are known in which the strainer is provided with the float for the oil level gauge floating in response to rising of the liquid level. Seeing the float rising, a supplying person recognizes that the liquid level reaches a right position. Specifically, Patent Literature 1 discloses a structure of supporting movably in the vertical direction the float floating in response to rising of the liquid level in the strainer body, while Patent Literature 2 discloses a structure of supporting movably in the vertical direction a spherical float attached to a rod at an outside lower side of the strainer body.

- Patent Literature 1: Utility Model No. 2508286
- Patent Literature 2: Patent No. 3147688

However, in the strainer disclosed in Patent Literature 1, since the float is supported at the inside of the strainer body, there is a problem that when inserting the oil supply hose to supply the oil, the flowing of the oil collide with the float, so that the float spoils stability and fluctuates up and down, and the height of the liquid level cannot be accurately detected.

In the strainer disclosed in Patent Literature 2, the float is supported outside of the strainer, and the oil can be prevented from directly colliding with the float during supplying the oil as Patent Literature 1, but there is a problem that since the circumferential wall of the strainer is formed with the network body, the flowing of the supplying oil passes through the network body and collides with the float (particularly, the spherical floating part exposed outside), and as a result, even when the oil comes up to the reference liquid level, the float loses stability, and the height of the liquid level cannot be accurately detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Paying an attention to these problems, it is an object of the invention to provide a strainer for an oil supply mouth, preventing the oil flowing when supplying from colliding with the float so as to accurately detect the height of the liquid level.

In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is characterized by having the following arrangement.

(1) A strainer comprising:

- a body;
- a guide hole formed in a vertical direction through a body;
- a float for oil level gauge that passes movably in the vertical direction through the guide hole, wherein the float is received at a lower end within the guide hole when oil comes to an at lest reference liquid level.

(2) The strainer according to (1), wherein when the float places at a lower part of the guide hole, a lower end of the float projects from the guide hole in the vertical direction.

(3) The strainer according to (1), wherein the guide hole includes a bottom portion for restraining the float from moving downward.

(4) The strainer according to (1), wherein the strainer is projected at its lower part with a nozzle, and the guide hole is extended to a nozzle.

(5) A strainer for an oil supply mouth comprising:

- a network part for filtering impurities;
- a frame body for supporting the network part, that is formed to be substantially in a cup shape, and includes an opening at a upper part thereof;
- a guide hole formed in a vertical direction through the frame body; and
- a float for an oil level gauge which is inserted movably in the vertical direction within the guide hole.

(6) The strainer according to (5), wherein the guide hole includes an opening at the upper side, and the float is detachably inserted in the guide hole from the opening.

(7) The strainer according to (5), wherein the float includes, at the upper end, a stopper for contacting with an opening of the guide hole.

Depending on the strainer for the oil supply mouth of the invention, when the oil comes to the reference liquid level during supplying the oil, since the flowing of the oil is prevented from colliding with the float for the oil level gauge, the float is made stable, so that the height of the liquid level can be accurately detected. That is, because the float for the oil level gauge is inserted in the guide hole formed to be hollow in the frame composing the strainer body, the float can be smoothly attached to the oil supply mouth, and at the same time, the portions of the guide hole or the float formed in the frame body are avoided from breakage when attaching them or supplying the oil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the first embodiment of the strainer according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view along A-A line of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition of attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 1 to the oil supply mouth;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition where the liquid level of the oil rises after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the structural examples of the floats, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the second embodiment of the strainer according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view along B-B line of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition of attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 6 to the oil supply mouth;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition where the liquid level of the oil rises after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the third embodiment of the strainer according to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view along C-C line of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition of attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 10 to the oil supply mouth;

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition where the liquid level of the oil rises after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth;

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the fourth embodiment of the strainer according to the invention;

FIG. 15A is a plan view along D-D line of FIG. 14, and Fig. B is a plan view along E-E line of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition of attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 14 to the oil supply mouth; and

FIG. 17 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition where the liquid level of the oil rises after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, specific explanation will be made to the embodiment of the strainer for the oil supply mouth.

FIGS. 1 to 5B are views showing the first embodiment of the strainer according to the invention, in which FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of the strainer, FIG. 2 is a plan view along A-A line of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition of attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 1 to the oil supply mouth, FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition where the liquid level of the oil rises (the condition of the reference liquid level) after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth, and FIGS. 5A and B show the structural examples of the floats, respectively.

The strainer body is formed to be cylindrical (almost cup shaped) with a bottom opening upward, and according to the present embodiment, the strainer 1 is formed as a circular cylinder having a bottom corresponding to a diameter of the oil supply mouth 21 of the oil tank 20. The body 1 has a frame body 3 maintaining its inherent rigidity and avoiding breakage, and a net part 5 (including a substantially network part) of passing the oil into the oil tank while filtering impurities. In this case, the frame body 3 is formed with an upper frame 3a, a bottom frame 3b, a plurality of vertical frames 3c, and one lateral frame 3d, said upper frame 3a being formed to be cylindrical extending downward to a predetermined length from the edge of the oil supply mouth, said bottom frame 3b, as shown in FIG. 2, being formed with a circular frame and a crossed frames laid in the circular frame, said plurality of vertical frames 3c being arranged in the vertical directions (toward the bottom from the opening) of the strainer body 1 connecting the frames 3a and 3b almost equidistantly, and said lateral frame 3d connecting the lateral frames 3c at the center position in the circumferential direction. This lateral frame 3d may be plural or absent. The upper frame 3a is provided with a flange 3e at an upper opening place, protruding outside in the diameter to be hooked by the oil supply mouth 21 of the oil tank 20. Further, the net part 5 covers the frames and forms the circumferential and bottom walls.

Of the plural frames composing the frame body 3, one of the vertical frames 3c extending in the axial direction (vertically) of the main body 1 when being attached to the oil supply mouth 21, is unified as one body with a guide hole 7 being hollow and opening at the upper and lower ends, and the vertical frames 3c are formed to be tubular, and in the guide hole 7, the float 10 for an oil level gauge is inserted movably in the vertical directions.

In this case, in one of the vertical frames 3c, the guide hole 7 is formed in the vertical directions from the upper part to the bottom part of the strainer body 1 in the axial direction of a projected part 3′ shaped in a pillar toward the inside of the strainer body 1, and this guide hole 7 is formed to be larger than the diameter of the float 10 so as to vertically move the float 10 having a diameter almost equal in the length direction. By the way, the portion formed with the guide hole 7 may be the vertical frame 3c, or is sufficient with another position from the position disposed with the vertical frame, which (portion) projects inside or outside with respect to the circumferential wall of the body 1, otherwise may be a projected part inside and outside, or the frame may be formed separately from the strainer body 1.

The strainer body 1 composed of the frame body 3 having the guide hole as mentioned above and the net part 5 maybe unified as one body with a material such as a synthetic resin or a metal. Otherwise, the frame body 3 and the net body 5 are formed individually, and the net part 5 is provided to the frame body 3 with such as an adhesive.

The float 10 is structured as a bar like hollow member in circular cross section (a pillar shape) by a blow molding, and its upper side is a rod portion 10a of narrow diameter, while the lower side is the float portion 10b of thick diameter having buoyancy with respect to the oil. In this case, the rod portion 10a and the float portion 11b may be hollow overall, but for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the rod portion 10a maybe solid. Otherwise, not being hollow, those portions may be formed with a foamed substance, or formed as one body with materials being lighter in specific gravity than that of the supplied oil. Preferably, the outside of the float 10 is color-divided as S1 and S2 in the rod part 10a, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, such that a maximum amount of supporting the oil (the reference liquid level) determined by a heavy weight machine can be visually recognized, or a mark as S2 is given to a position corresponding to the upper opening of the guide hole 7 when reaching the maximum amount of supporting the oil.

The float 10 is inserted at its lower float portion 10b into an upper opening 7a of the guide hole 7 and enters into the guide hole, and is formed at the upper part with a stopper 10c projecting in the circumferential direction to prevent dropping into the oil tank by contacting to the opening 7a of the guide hole. The length of the float 10 may be shorter than the axial length of the guide hole 7, or maybe long as projecting out of the lower opening 7b of the guide hole 7 as shown in FIG. 3. If the float 10 has the length projecting at the lower end out of the opening 7b as shown in FIG. 3, this length is to an extent that the lower end is received within the guide hole 7 when the liquid level of the oil rises so that the float 10 goes up. Specifically, if the float 10 has the length to the extent that its lower end is received within the guide hole 7 at least when the oil reaches the reference liquid level, such a length is sufficient.

The structured strainer as mentioned above is, as shown in FIG. 3, mounted in that, after removing a cap (not shown) for the oil supply mouth, the strainer body 1 is inserted into the oil supply mouth 21 of the oil tank 20. At this time, the flange 3e formed at the upper opening position of the upper frame 3a is disposed by hooking on a receiving part 21a of the oil supply mouth 21. Under this condition, an oil supply hose (not shown) is inserted into the upper opening part of the strainer body 1 to supply the oil.

In this case, since the float 10 is inserted in the guide hole 7 formed to be tubular in the frame body 3, it does not contact the inner circumference of the oil supply mouth 21 or the oil supply hose, nor cause an obstruction when inserting the strainer body 1, or it is prevented from breakage when supplying the oil. That is, the strainer body can be smoothly attached to the oil supply mouth 21.

When the liquid level goes up in the oil tank by supplying the oil, and contacts the lower end of the float part 10b of the float 10 via the lower opening 7b of the guide hole 7, the float 10 begins to rise, and as shown in FIG. 4, it is visually recognized through the color-division or a mark given to the float 10 that the float 10 comes to the predetermined reference liquid level, and the oil supply is thereby finished. At this time, when the float part 10b begins to rise, since the lower end thereof is held within the guide hole 7, the float 10 is not influenced by the flowing of the oil- and can stably go up, and further, also when the oil comes to the reference liquid level, the float 10 is held at its lower end (the float part 10b) in the guide hole, and the oil flowing is avoided from directly contacting the float 10 when supplying the oil, so that the height in the liquid level can be accurately detected. Subsequently, by closing the cap of the oil supply mouth 21 while inserting the float 10, the float 10 is supported by the strainer body under the condition of being placed within the guide hole 7.

In the above mentioned structure, since the float 10 is detachably inserted, the only float can be easily exchanged, and since the float 10 is formed at the upper part with the stopper 10c projecting in the circumferential direction to prevent dropping by error into the oil tank by decreasing of the oil amount in the oil tank.

Next, another embodiment of the invention will be explained. In the under mentioned embodiment, the same composing elements as those of the first embodiment will be given the same reference signs to omit detailed explanation.

FIGS. 6 to 9 are views showing the second embodiment of the strainer according to the invention, in which FIG. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of the strainer, FIG. 7 is a plan view along B-B line of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition of attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 6 to the oil supply mouth, and FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition where the liquid level of the oil rises (the condition of the reference liquid level) after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth.

Similarly to the above mentioned embodiment, of the plural frames composing the frame body 3, one of the vertical frames 3c is formed with a swelling part 3f in a half-pillar shape inside of the strainer body 1, and is here unified as one body with the guide hole 7 being hollow and opening at the upper and lower end. The float 10 for an oil level gauge is inserted movably in the vertical directions into the guide hole 7. In this case, the swelling part 3f is defined at the lower end with a bottom 12 so that the float 10 is restrained from moving downward. The swelling part 3f formed with the guide hole 7 is formed outside and at the bottom 12 with a plurality of openings 13 communicating with the guide hole 7, so that the oil freely flows into the guide hole 7.

The structured strainer as mentioned above is, as shown in FIG. 8, mounted in that, after removing the cap (not shown) for the oil supply mouth, the strainer body 1 is inserted into the oil supply mouth 21 of the oil tank 20. When the oil is supplied under this condition and the liquid level begins to rise within the oil tank 20, the oil flows into the guide hole 7 via the plurality of openings 13 formed in the bottom 12 of the guide hole 7 and the swelling part 3f, and the oil flows into the guide hole 7 so that the float 10 begins to rise, and as shown in FIG. 9, it is visually recognized through the color-division or mark made to the float 10 that the float 10 comes to the predetermined reference liquid level.

According to this structure, since the float 10 is completely received within the guide hole 7, it rises stably without being directly influenced by the oil flowing, and when the oil comes up to the reference liquid level, the liquid level can be accurately detected. By the way, the positions, the number, the dimensions of the openings 13 formed in the swelling part 3f can be deformed at disposal. Instead of the openings, cutouts may be formed for exposing the float 10 at the middle part outside of the strainer body 1.

FIGS. 10 to 13 are views showing the third embodiment of the strainer according to the invention, in which FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view of the strainer, FIG. 11 is a plan view along C-C line of FIG. 10, FIG. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition of attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 10 to the oil supply mouth, and FIG. 13 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition where the liquid level of the oil rises (the condition of the reference liquid level) after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth.

Similarly to the above mentioned embodiment, of the plural frames composing the frame body 3, one of the vertical frames 3c is formed with a swelling part 3g in a half-pillar shape outside of the strainer body 1, and is here unified as one body with the guide hole 7 being hollow and opening at the upper and lower end. The float 10 for an oil level gauge is inserted movably in the vertical directions into the guide hole 7. The swelling part 3g formed with the guide hole has the length to the extent that the lower end of the float 10 projects out of the lower opening 7b of the guide hole 7 under the condition that the stopper 10c contacts the opening 7a of the guide hole 7. Specifically, such a length is sufficient that when the oil reaches near the reference liquid level, the length to the extent that the lower end of the float 10 is received within the guide hole 7. The swelling part 3g formed with the guide hole 7 is formed outside thereof with a plurality of openings 13 communicating with the guide hole 7, so that the oil freely flows into the guide hole 7 (since the oil flows from the lower opening 7b of the guide hole 7, the above mentioned openings 13 may be absent).

The structured strainer as mentioned above is, as shown in FIG. 12, mounted in that, after removing the cap (not shown) for the oil supply mouth, the strainer body 1 is inserted into the oil supply mouth 21 of the oil tank 20. When the oil is supplied under this condition and the liquid level begins to rise within the oil tank 20, the oil flows into the guide hole 7 via the plurality of openings 13 formed in the lower opening 7b of the guide hole 7 and outside of the swelling part 3g, and the oil flows into the guide hole 7 so that the float 10 begins to rise, and as shown in FIG. 13, it is visually recognized through the color-division or mark made to the float 10 that the float 10 comes to the predetermined reference liquid level.

Also in this structure, the float 10 projects at its lower end (the float 10b) out of the guide hole 7 when beginning to supply the oil, but the float 10 goes up as rising of the liquid level of the oil, and when coming up to the reference liquid level, the float 10 is received at its lower end within the guide hole 7, so that the liquid level can be accurately detected without being influenced by the oil flowing.

FIGS. 14 to 17 are views showing the fourth embodiment of the strainer according to the invention, in which FIG. 14 is a vertical cross sectional view of the strainer, FIG. 15A is a plan view along D-D line of FIG. 14 and FIG. 15B is a plan view along E-E line of FIG. 14, FIG. 16 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition of attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 14 to the oil supply mouth, and FIG. 17 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition where the liquid level of the oil rises (the condition of the reference liquid level) after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth.

Similarly to the above mentioned embodiment, of the plural frames composing the frame body 3, one of the vertical frames 3c is formed with a swelling part 3h in an almost pillar shape inside of the strainer body 1, and is here unified as one body with the guide hole 7 being hollow and opening at the upper and lower end. The float 10 for an oil level gauge is inserted movably in the vertical directions into the guide hole 7. At the lower end of the swelling part 3h formed with the guide hole, a nozzle 15 receiving the lower end of the float 10 is formed as one body with a bottom frame 3b so that the lower end projects from the bottom frame 3b, and the float 10 is received at its lower end within the nozzle 15 under a condition that the stopper 10c formed at the upper end of the float 10 contacts the opening 7a of the guide hole 7. In this case, the guide hole 7 extends in the nozzle 15 having the opening 15a via which the old freely flows into the guide hole 7. The swelling part 3h formed with the guide hole 7 may be formed outside thereof with a plurality of openings communicating with the guide hole 7 similarly to the above mentioned embodiments.

The structured strainer as mentioned above is, as shown in FIG. 16, mounted in that, after removing the cap (not shown) for the oil supply mouth, the strainer body 1 is inserted into the oil supply mouth 21 of the oil tank 20. When the oil is supplied under this condition and the liquid level begins to rise within the oil tank 20, the oil flows into the guide hole 7 via the lower opening 15a of the nozzle 15, and the oil flows into the guide hole 7 so that the float 10 begins to rise, and as shown in FIG. 17, it is visually recognized through the color-division or mark made to the float 10 that the float 10 comes to the predetermined reference liquid level.

Depending on this structure, since the oil flowing does not contact the float 10 before the liquid level reaches the float 10, the float 10 avoids breakage without being influenced by the oil flowing, and stably rises, and also when the oil comes to the reference liquid level, the liquid level can be accurately detected. Further, even if the reference liquid level is lower than the strainer body 10, the strainer body 10 can be applied by appropriately extending the nozzle 15.

The embodiments according to the invention have been explained, and the strainer of the invention is not limited to the illustrated structures, and various modifications are available.

For example, shapes of the frame body 3 are sufficient if being formed almost in cup as a whole, and the disposing structure of the frame composing the frame body is appropriately varied. With respect to the guide hole 7, in the frames composing the frame body 3, other than being formed at the frame part extending in the axial direction, the guide hole 7 is sufficient if being structured to guide the float merely vertically, and may be formed separately from the frame body 3 or attached to the strainer body 1. Further, in regard to the guide hole 7, the hole shapes, the axial length, thickness, or piece number may be appropriately deformed, and the guide hole 7 and the part to be formed with the guide hole (the swelling part, or vertical frame) are sufficient if being structured to vertically move the float 10. The shapes, or the composing materials of the float may be appropriately modified, for example, the float may have such a structure not taking off from the guide hole.

The network part is not limited to the net part and includes a member shaped in network, and further includes a member which have a same effect of the net part. For example, a filter having porous structure that filters impurities is included in the network part according to the invention. The porous structure can have various size and various shape.

Strainer for oil supply mouth

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CPC

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Priority Claims (1)