Claims:We claim:

1. An air filter assembly (100) for a vehicle, the assembly (100) comprising:
a cyclonic tube (30) assembled to a filter element (40), an assembly of the filter element (40) and the cyclonic tube (30) being fitted to a case (20);
a cover (60) fitted to the filter element (40) through a sealing gasket (42), the cover (60) having,
a plurality of baffles (44) arranged in a series therein,
a plurality of clips (48) arranged on a circumference thereof, and
an air removing means for venting air therefrom; and
a breather cover (70) connected to the cover (60), the breather cover (70) having a breather tube (64) connected thereto through a clip (62),
characterized in that, the air removing means being provided on a dirty side of the filter element (40) for preventing oil from entering into a clean side of the filter element (40) and then to an engine thereby preventing exhaust emissions.

2. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air removing means is a vent port.

3. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air removing means is a non return valve (50).

4. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air removing means is a porous membrane (52).
, Description:AIR FILTER ASSEMBLY

Field of the invention:

The present invention generally relates to automotive air filters and more particularly, to an air filter assembly of a vehicle.

Background of the invention:

In conventional automotive air filters, a breather cover is integrated to an air cleaner such that an oil mist from a crankcase gets collected in the breather cover and air is released to a clean side of the air cleaner.

Figures 1a-1b show an air filter assembly (10) of the prior art. In the assembly (10), air and oil mist from a crankcase enters a breather cover (4). In the breather cover (4), air and oil mist passes through a series of baffles (2) wherein oil is separated and collected in a breather tube (6). The air passes through pores available in a breather chamber on a clean side of an air filter element (8) as shown in figure 1b. However, in this case residual oil also gets into the clean side of the air filter element (8) leading to excessive exhaust emission.

Efforts are seen in the prior art to prevent oil flow to the air cleaner. Reference may be made to United States patent no. US4401093A that discloses a one-piece combination oil fill/air breather cap for an automotive type engine positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system that includes a filter and oil separator chambers below the filter defined by partitions or baffles upon which the oil droplets impinge during reverse flow operation of the PCV system, a double lip flared annular seal operating in tension being sandwiched between the cap lower surface and the engine rocker arm cover to minimize oil leakage. However, this invention utilizes oil separation unit as a part of internal combustion engine and specifically describes about the separate filter element. Further, in this invention the oil separator is mounted with the help of double lip type of seal and the one-way valve is used separately.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an air filter assembly for a vehicle that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Object of the invention:

The object of the present invention is to prevent an oil mist entering through a clean side of a filter element into an engine to prevent exhaust emission.

Summary of the invention:

Accordingly, the present invention provides an air filter assembly for a vehicle. The air filter assembly comprises a case, a cyclonic tube, a filter element, a cover and a breather cover.

The cyclonic tube is assembled to the filter element. The assembly of the filter element and the cyclonic tube is fitted to the case. The cover is fitted to the filter element through a sealing gasket. The cover includes a plurality of baffles, a plurality of clips and an air removing means. The plurality of baffles is arranged in a series inside the cover. The plurality of clips is arranged on a circumference of the cover. The air removing means is used for venting air from the cover. Specifically, the air removing means is a vent port. Alternatively, the air removing means is selected from any one of a non return valve and a porous membrane. The breather cover is connected to the cover. The breather cover includes a breather tube connected thereto through a clip.

In accordance with the present invention, the air removing means is provided on a dirty side of the filter element for preventing oil from entering a clean side of the filter element and then to an engine thereby preventing exhaust emissions.
Brief description of the drawings:

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein
Figure 1a shows a sectional view of an air filter assembly, in accordance with the prior art;

Figure 1b is a side view of the air filter assembly of figure 1a;

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of an air filter assembly, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3a is a sectional view showing a breather cover of the air filter assembly, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3b is a side view of an assembly of a cover and the breather cover showing air and oil flow, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4a is an exploded view of a cover and the breather cover of the air filter assembly, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4b is an assembly view of the cover and the breather cover showing a non return valve, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5a is another exploded view of the cover and the breather cover of the air filter assembly, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 5b is an assembly view of the cover and the breather cover showing a porous membrane, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention:
The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides an air filter assembly. The air filter assembly includes a breather cover type design. In the air filter assembly, an air removing means in a breather cover is provided on a dirty side of a filter element that prevents oil from entering a clean side of the filter element and then to an engine thereby preventing exhaust emissions.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein numbers indicated in the bracket represent the components of the invention throughout the description. Table 1 below enlists the reference numerals and description of corresponding elements.

Table 1
Ref. No. Description Ref. No. Description
2 Baffles of prior art 46 Dust ejecting valve
4 Breather cover of prior art 48 Plurality of clips
6 Breather tube of prior art 50 Non return valve
8 Air filter element of prior art 52 Porous membrane
10 Air filter assembly of prior art 60 Cover
20 Case 62 Clip
30 Cyclonic tube 64 Breather tube
40 Filter element 70 Breather cover
42 Sealing gasket 100 Air filter assembly
44 Plurality of baffles

Referring to figures 2 to 5b, an air filter assembly (100) (hereinafter “the assembly (100)”) for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention is shown. The assembly (100) comprises a case (20), a cyclonic tube (30), a filter element (40), a cover (60) and a breather cover (70).

The cyclonic tube (30) is assembled to the filter element (40). The assembly of the filter element (40) and the cyclonic tube (30) is fitted to the case (20). The cover (60) is fitted to the filter element (40) through a sealing gasket (42).

The cover (60) includes a plurality of baffles (44), an air removing means (not numbered), a dust ejecting valve (46) and a plurality of clips (48). The plurality of baffles (44) is arranged in series inside the cover (60). The plurality of clips (48) is arranged on a circumference of the cover (60).

The air removing means is used to vent air from the cover (60). The air removing means is provided on a dirty side of the filter element (40) to prevent oil from entering into a clean side of the filter element (40). In an embodiment, the air removing means is a vent port (not shown). In another embodiment, the air removing means is a non return valve (50) as shown in figures 4a-4b. Particularly, the non return valve (50) is an umbrella valve. In yet another embodiment, the air removing means is a porous membrane (52) as shown in figures 5a-5b.

The breather cover (70) is connected to the cover (60). The breather cover (70) includes a breather tube (64) connected thereto through a clip (62).

In accordance with the present invention, air and oil mist from a crank case (not shown) enters the cover (60). In the cover (60), air and oil mist passes through the series of baffles (44) wherein oil is separated and collected in the breather tube (64). The air passes through pores available in a breather chamber on the dirty side of the filter element (40) as shown figure 3b. The air removing means provided on the dirty side of the filter element (40) ensures that any residual oil passing through the filter element (40) gets trapped therein and does not go into the clean side of the filter element (40) and then to an engine thereby improving emission. The air removing means also prevents dirt from entering into the clean side.

Advantage of the invention:

The vent port in the cover (60) is provided on the dirty side of the filter element (40) that prevents oil from entering into the clean side of the filter element (40) thereby preventing harmful exhaust emissions.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.