Caterpillar Inc.

Christopher O Miller

Chandrasekar Ramamoorthy

J W Burrows

Apparatus for improving the efficiency of filtering fluid of a hydraulic system, including a venturi adapted for connection to a first fluid carrying conduit of the hydraulic system for receiving a flow of the fluid therefrom, the venturi having a restricted passage extending therethrough and an orifice communicating therewith, a diverter conduit connected in communication with the orifice and with a second fluid carrying conduit of the hydraulic system, the diverter conduit containing a restricted orifice therein, and the venturi having an outlet connected in fluid communication with a filter, wherein the flow of the fluid through the restricted passage of the venturi will generate a reduced pressure condition in the diverter conduit to divert at least some of the fluid in the second fluid carrying conduit of the hydraulic system into the diverter conduit so as to pass into the venturi and flow onto the filter, the reduced pressure condition being weak or strong in correspondence to the fluid flow through the venturi so as to regulate the diverted flow.

Filtration apparatus for a hydraulic system

A centrifugal oil filter includes a housing having a rotatable bowl disposed in a first fluid chamber and rotatably disposed about a shaft extending through the first fluid chamber. The rotatable bowl has a flow directing member connected generally at the bottom thereof to define a particle collection basin and the flow directing member extends upwardly to form a passageway adjacent the shaft so that the fluid flow within the rotatable bowl is directed to a pair of nozzles which act to rotate the rotatable bowl responsive to fluid flow therethrough. A particle retention insert is made of a cellular structure and disposed in the particle collection basin. The particle retention insert functions to receive foreign particles within the cellular structure and retain them therein by protecting the particles from the fluid flow within the rotatable bowl.

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East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Christopher O Miller