Claims
- 1. In a vehicle having a frame supporting
an engine, a transmission case having upper and lower portions, an oil reservoir carried within the lower portion of said case, an hydraulic pump with an inlet and outlet, said pump adapted to provide a vacuum at its inlet, an hydraulic oil line having first and second ends with the first end being coupled with the inlet of the pump, a filter housing carried in the lower portion of the case in communication with the oil reservoir, said housing having an opening; an oil filter assembly receivable through the opening to be located within the oil reservoir, said filter assembly including
a filtering element with an oil inlet area and an oil outlet area, said outlet area being in fluid communication with the second end of the oil line, a strainer element having an oil inlet area operatively connected with the inlet area of the filtering element and an oil outlet area operatively connected with the oil outlet of the filtering element and a bypass valve cooperating with the oil inlet areas of the filtering and strainer elements to direct oil to the inlet area of either the filtering element or the strainer element.
- 2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the filter assembly is mounted in a filter head having a removable cap.
- 3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the cap is threadably received on the filter head.
- 4. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the filter head is removably secured to the case by threaded fasteners.
- 5. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the valve is a pressure responsive valve.
- 6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the oil filter assembly is disposable.
- 7. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the oil filter assembly is incinerable.
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Two commonly owned and related patent applications have been filed concurrently with this patent application on ______, and their disclosures are intended to be fully incorporated by reference herein. They include “Fluid Line Locking Structure”, Ser. No. ______, and “Oil Filter Cartridge”, Ser. No. ______.