Centrifuge housing with oil fill port

Claim 2

A centrifuge for processing a flow of oil, said centrifuge comprising: a mounting base defining a drain passageway; a unitary housing connected to said mounting base and including a main body and an integral oil fill port, said main body including a lower edge arranged with a plurality of spaced-apart strengthening ribs; centrifugal separation means for separating particulate matter from said flow of oil, said centrifugal separation means being positioned in and cooperating with said unitary housing; said unitary housing defining a centered aperture for use in assembly of a cone-stack subassembly and connection of said centrifuge housing to said mounting base; said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture being concentric to each other; said unitary housing including an inner wall positioned between said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture; and said inner wall and an outer wall of said centered aperture being connected by spaced-apart webs which define clearance openings for the flow of oil into said unitary housing via said integral oil fill port.

Claim 3

A self-driven, cone-stack centrifuge for use in an engine for processing a flow of oil, said cone-stack centrifuge comprising: a mounting base defining a drain passageway and including a support plate which is constructed and arranged to be attached to said engine; a unitary centrifuge housing connected to said mounting base, said centrifuge housing including a main body and an integral oil fill port; a cone-stack subassembly for separating particulate matter from said flow of oil, said cone-stack subassembly being positioned in and cooperating with said unitary housing; said centrifuge housing defining a centered aperture for use in assembly of said cone-stack subassembly and connection of said centrifuge housing to said mounting base; said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture being concentric to each other; said centrifuge housing including a top portion and said integral oil fill port being integral with said top portion; said centrifuge housing including an inner wall positioned between said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture; and said inner wall and an outer wall of said centered aperture being connected by spaced-apart webs which define clearance openings for the flow of oil into said centrifuge housing via said integral oil fill port.

Claim 4

A self-driven, cone-stack centrifuge for use in an engine for processing a flow of oil, said cone-stack centrifuge comprising: a mounting base defining a drain passageway and including a support plate which is constructed and arranged to be attached to said engine; a unitary centrifuge housing connected to said mounting base, said centrifuge housing including a main body and an integral oil fill port; a cone-stack subassembly for separating particulate matter from said flow of oil, said cone-stack subassembly being positioned in and cooperating with said unitary housing; said centrifuge housing defining a centered aperture for use in assembly of said cone-stack subassembly and connection of said centrifuge housing to said mounting base; said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture being concentric to each other; said centrifuge housing including a top portion and said integral oil fill port being integral with said top portion; said centrifuge housing including an inner wall positioned between said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture; and said inner wall and an outer wall of said centered aperture being connected by spaced-apart webs which define clearance openings for the flow of oil into said centrifuge housing via said integral oil fill port.

Claim 5

A centrifuge for processing a flow of oil, said centrifuge comprising: a mounting base defining a drain passageway; a unitary housing connected to said mounting base and including a main body and an integral oil fill port, said main body including a lower edge arranged with a plurality of spaced-apart strengthening ribs; centrifugal separation means including a cone-stack subassembly for separating particulate matter from said flow of oil, said centrifugal separation means being positioned in and cooperating with said unitary housing; said unitary housing defining a centered aperture for use in the assembly of said cone-stack subassembly and the connection of said unitary housing to said mounting base; said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture being concentric to each other; said unitary housing including an inner wall positioned between said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture; and said inner wall and said outer wall of said centered aperture being connected by spaced-apart webs which define clearance openings for the flow of oil into said unitary housing via said integral oil fill port.

Claim 6

A centrifuge for processing a flow of oil, said centrifuge comprising: a mounting base defining a drain passageway; a unitary housing connected to said mounting base and including a main body and an integral oil fill port, said main body including a lower edge arranged with a plurality of spaced-apart strengthening ribs; centrifugal separation means including a cone-stack subassembly for separating particulate matter from said flow of oil, said centrifugal separation means being positioned in and cooperating with said unitary housing; said unitary housing defining a centered aperture for use in the assembly of said cone-stack subassembly and the connection of said unitary housing to said mounting base; said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture being concentric to each other; said unitary housing including an inner wall positioned between said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture; and said inner wall and said outer wall of said centered aperture being connected by spaced-apart webs which define clearance openings for the flow of oil into said unitary housing via said integral oil fill port.

Claim 7

A self-driven, cone-stack centrifuge for use in an engine for processing a flow of oil, said cone-stack centrifuge comprising: a mounting base defining a drain passageway and including a support plate which is constructed and arranged to be attached to said engine; a unitary centrifuge housing connected to said mounting base, said centrifuge housing including a main body and an integral oil fill port; a cone-stack subassembly for separating particulate matter from said flow of oil, said cone-stack subassembly being positioned in and cooperating with said unitary housing; said centrifuge being constructed and arranged with an axis of rotation and said oil fill port having a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to said axis of rotation; said unitary housing being injection molded out of plastic; said main body including a lower edge arranged with a plurality of spaced-apart strengthening ribs; said centrifuge housing defining a centered aperture for use in assembly of said cone-stack subassembly and connection of said centrifuge housing to said mounting base; said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture being concentric to each other; said centrifuge housing including a top portion and said integral oil fill port being integral with said top portion; said centrifuge housing including an inner wall positioned between said integral fill port and said centered aperture; and said inner wall and an outer wall of said centered aperture being connected by spaced-apart webs which define clearance openings for the flow of oil into said centrifuge housing via said integral oil fill port.

Claim 8

A self-driven, cone-stack centrifuge for use in an engine for processing a flow of oil, said cone-stack centrifuge comprising: a mounting base defining a drain passageway and including a support plate which is constructed and arranged to be attached to said engine; a unitary centrifuge housing connected to said mounting base, said centrifuge housing including a main body and an integral oil fill port; a cone-stack subassembly for separating particulate matter from said flow of oil, said cone-stack subassembly being positioned in and cooperating with said unitary housing; said centrifuge being constructed and arranged with an axis of rotation and said oil fill port having a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to said axis of rotation; said unitary housing being injection molded out of plastic; said main body including a lower edge arranged with a plurality of spaced-apart strengthening ribs; said centrifuge housing defining a centered aperture for use in assembly of said cone-stack subassembly and connection of said centrifuge housing to said mounting base; said integral oil fill port and said centered aperture being concentric to each other; said centrifuge housing including a top portion and said integral oil fill port being integral with said top portion; said centrifuge housing including an inner wall positioned between said integral fill port and said centered aperture; and said inner wall and an outer wall of said centered aperture being connected by spaced-apart webs which define clearance openings for the flow of oil into said centrifuge housing via said integral oil fill port.