Abstract
A fluid filter for a motor vehicle includes a filter housing and a filter cartridge which is disposable in the filter housing. The filter housing has a housing pot and a covering element where the filter cartridge is connectable to the housing pot by rotating around a longitudinal axis of the filter cartridge. A holding element having a web is disposed on an end plate of the filter cartridge where the web protrudes from a wall of the holding element and where the wall is formed to be spiral shaped radially to the longitudinal axis. The web of the holding element is engageable behind a holding web in a mounting position of the filter cartridge where the holding web projects at a constant distance from a wall, formed to be spiral shaped radially to the longitudinal axis, of a counter bearing disposed on the housing pot.
Claims
1.-13. (canceled)
14. A fluid filter for a motor vehicle, comprising: a filter housing; and a filter cartridge which is disposable in the filter housing; wherein the filter housing comprises a housing pot and a covering element, wherein the filter cartridge has a filter material, and wherein the filter cartridge is connectable to the housing pot of the filter housing by rotating around a longitudinal axis of the filter cartridge; wherein a holding element having a web is disposed on an end plate of the filter cartridge, wherein the web protrudes from a wall of the holding element, and wherein the wall is formed to be spiral shaped radially to the longitudinal axis; wherein the web of the holding element is engageable behind a holding web in a mounting position of the filter cartridge, wherein the holding web projects at a constant distance from a wall, formed to be spiral shaped radially to the longitudinal axis, of a counter bearing disposed on the housing pot.
15. The fluid filter according to claim 14, wherein the counter bearing is formed integrally with a base of the housing pot.
16. The fluid filter according to claim 14, wherein the housing pot has a receiver for a protrusion disposed on the covering element and wherein a mounting orientation of the covering element in relation to the housing pot is predetermined by the protrusion engaging in the receiver.
17. The fluid filter according to claim 14, wherein a groove is formed on the covering element and wherein a front-end edge of a wall of the housing pot is received in the groove when the covering element is mounted on the housing pot.
18. A filter cartridge for a fluid filter of a motor vehicle which is disposable in a filter housing of the fluid filter, wherein the filter housing comprises a housing pot and a covering element, comprising: a filter material; wherein the filter cartridge is connectable to the housing pot of the filter housing by rotating around a longitudinal axis of the filter cartridge; an end plate; and a holding element having a web disposed on the end plate, wherein the web protrudes from a wall of the holding element, wherein the wall is formed to be spiral shaped radially to the longitudinal axis, wherein the web is engagable behind a holding web in a mounting position of the filter cartridge, wherein the holding web protrudes from a wall of a counter bearing disposed on the housing pot, and wherein the wall is spiral shaped radially to the longitudinal axis; wherein a distance of the web of the holding element from a surface of the end plate facing away from the filter material is constant in a peripheral direction of the filter cartridge.
19. The filter cartridge according to claim 18, wherein the filter cartridge has at least one fixing eye in an end region lying opposite the holding element, wherein a fixing element is introducible into the at least one fixing eye for fixing the covering element on the filter cartridge, and wherein the fixing element is guidable through a through opening formed in the covering element.
20. The filter cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the at least one fixing eye has a thread and comprises a blind hole formed in a base.
21. The filter cartridge according to claim 20, wherein the base is formed integrally with a further end plate of the filter cartridge and wherein the further end plate has a passage corresponding to a channel of the filter cartridge.
22. The filter cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the filter cartridge has a plurality of fixing eyes equally spaced apart from one another in the peripheral direction of the filter cartridge.
23. The filter cartridge according to claim 18, wherein a curvature radius of the holding element increases from a center of a spiral shape of the wall of the holding element towards an edge of the spiral shape.
24. The filter cartridge according to claim 18, wherein the holding element is formed integrally with the end pate of the filter cartridge and wherein the end plate is formed closed.
25. The filter cartridge according to claim 18, wherein a stop is formed on an outer end of the holding element and wherein the stop is engageable with an outer end of the counter bearing by rotating the filter cartridge around the longitudinal axis.
26. The filter cartridge according to claim 18, wherein a channel of the filter cartridge is formed as a support tube having a plurality of through openings.
27. The filter cartridge according to claim 18, wherein an end region of a channel of the filter cartridge projects beyond a further end plate of the filter cartridge in the direction of the longitudinal axis and wherein a tubular support of the covering element is introducible into the end region of the channel.
28. The filter cartridge according to claim 18, wherein the holding element has a plurality of apertures in the peripheral direction of the filter cartridge.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] FIG. 1, in a partially cut-out perspective view, shows a fluid filter formed as an air filter for a motor vehicle;
[0043] FIG. 2, in an exploded depiction, shows components of the fluid filter according to FIG. 1;
[0044] FIG. 3, in perspective, shows a filter cartridge of the fluid filter according to FIG. 1;
[0045] FIG. 4, in sections, shows a variant of the filter cartridge of the fluid filter according to FIG. 1;
[0046] FIG. 5, in a plan view from above, shows a housing pot of a filter housing of the fluid filter according to FIG. 1;
[0047] FIG. 6 is a partially cut-out perspective view of the housing pot according to FIG. 5;
[0048] FIG. 7 shows the insertion of the filter cartridge into the housing pot;
[0049] FIG. 8 shows the rotation of the filter cartridge around the longitudinal axis for the purposes of fixing the filter cartridge on the housing pot;
[0050] FIG. 9 shows the further rotation of the filter cartridge around the longitudinal axis;
[0051] FIG. 10 shows the filter cartridge brought into its mounting position in the housing pot by rotation;
[0052] FIG. 11 is a further perspective view of the filter cartridge;
[0053] FIG. 12, partially cut-away, shows a covering element of the filter housing and fixing screws for fixing of the covering element on the filter cartridge;
[0054] FIG. 13 is a further perspective view of the housing pot of the filter housing;
[0055] FIG. 14 shows the application of the covering element on the housing pot, wherein the filter cartridge is received in the housing pot, and wherein the fixing screws are screwed into screw bases which are formed on the filter cartridge;
[0056] FIG. 15 shows the fluid filter with closed covering element; and
[0057] FIG. 16, in sections, shows a sectional depiction of the fluid filter according to FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0058] In FIG. 1, a fluid filter 10 for a motor vehicle is shown in a cut-out perspective view, the fluid filter being formed as an air filter by way of example. The fluid filter 10 can, however, also be formed as a fuel filter, as an oil filter or similar fluid filter 10.
[0059] The fluid filter 10 comprises a filter cartridge 12, which is arranged in a filter housing 14 of the fluid filter 10. The filter housing 14 comprises a base body presently formed in the shape of a pot or housing pot 16 and a covering element or a cover 18, by means of which a receiving chamber provided by the housing pot 16 for the filter cartridge 12 is sealed. The filter cartridge 12 presently comprises a channel 20 (c.f. FIG. 11) which is surrounded in the radial direction by a filter material 22. When the filter cartridge 12 does not have such a channel 20, the filter material 22 can be arranged in a receiving chamber of the filter cartridge 12 in a different manner.
[0060] As presently shown by way of example, the filter material 22 can be formed as a pleated filter. A fluid to be filtered, i.e., in the design of the fluid filter 10 as an air filter, air to be filtered, for example, can emerge out of an annular chamber 82 (c.f. FIG. 16) present inside the filter housing 14 around the filter material 22 into the channel 20 through the filter material 22. The filtered air can then leave the fluid filter 10 via a support 24 of the cover 18.
[0061] A longitudinal axis 26 of the channel 20 presently coincides with a longitudinal axis of the filter cartridge 12. By rotating the filter cartridge 12 around this longitudinal axis 26, the filter cartridge 12 can be connected to the housing pot 16 of the filter housing 14. This is to be explained in more detail with reference to the figures below.
[0062] In FIG. 2, the cover 18 is released from the filter cartridge 12 and shown removed from the housing pot 16. Furthermore, it can be seen in FIG. 2, yet even better from FIG. 3, that the filter cartridge 12 has a first, presently lower, end plate 28. A holding element 30 or mounting element is formed integrally with this end plate 28, the holding element having a spiral shape. The components or partial regions of the holding element 30 can be seen better in FIG. 3. Thus, the holding element 30 comprises a wall 32 protruding from the end plate 28 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 26. This wall 32 is formed to be a spiral radially to the longitudinal axis 26. A flange or a web 34 protrudes outwards from the wall 32 in the radial direction. A flat construction of the holding element 30 is achieved by a constant distance of the web 34 from the end plate 28 or by an equally high wall 32 protruding from the end plate 28.
[0063] In FIG. 1, the holding element 30 having the spiral shape is shown in a cut-out manner. From this depiction in FIG. 1, it can further be seen easily that, in a mounting position of the filter cartridge 12 shown in FIG. 1, the web 34 of the holding element 30 engages behind a holding web 36, which is provided on sides of the housing pot 16. This holding web 36 protrudes from a wall 38, which is arranged on a base 40 of the housing pot 16. Together with the wall 38, the holding web 36 forms a counter bearing 42 for the holding element 30 of the filter cartridge 12. Presently, this counter bearing 42 is formed integrally with the base 40 of the housing pot 16.
[0064] The holding web 36 projects inwardly in the radial direction from the wall 38 of the counter bearing 42. In contrast, the web 34 of the holding element 30 projects outwardly from the wall 32 of the holding element 30 in the radial direction. Correspondingly, in the mounting position of the filter cartridge 12 shown in FIG. 1, the web 34 of the holding element 30 engages behind the holding web 36 of the counter bearing 42.
[0065] In FIG. 4, a variant of the filter cartridge 12 is shown in sections. It can be seen from the depiction in FIG. 4 that the spiral-shaped holding element 30 does not need to be formed continuously. Instead, the holding element 30 can have a plurality of apertures 44 in the peripheral direction of the filter cartridge 12, only some of the apertures being provided with a reference number in FIG. 4. It is further obvious from FIG. 3 and from FIG. 4 that the holding element 30 having the spiral shape presently only has roughly more than one complete winding. This is conducive for a simple mounting of the filter cartridge 12.
[0066] Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 3 and from FIG. 4 that a stop 46 is formed on an end of the holding element 30. The design of the holding element 30 otherwise having a hooked shape in cross-section is very obvious both from the variant shown in FIG. 3 of the filter cartridge 12 and from the variant shown in FIG. 4 of the filter cartridge 12.
[0067] In particular, the spiral shape of the counter bearing 42 can be easily seen from the plan view in the direction of the longitudinal axis 26 of the housing pot 16 in FIG. 5, the counter bearing being formed integrally with the base 40 of the housing pot 16. The spiral-shaped counter bearing 42 also only has about more than one complete winding.
[0068] The projection of the holding web 36 from the wall 38 of the counter bearing 42 having the spiral shape inwards in the radial direction can be easily seen in FIG. 6, in which a jacketing wall 48 of the housing pot 16 is shown in cut-out. A flat construction of the counter bearing is achieved by a constant spacing of the holding web 36 from the base 40 of the housing pot 16 or by a comparatively high wall 38 projecting from the base 40.
[0069] Now the mounting of the filter cartridge 12 on the housing pot 16 is to be illustrated by means of FIG. 7 to FIG. 10. Firstly, the filter cartridge 12 is accordingly inserted in the housing pot 16 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 26 or in such an in particular pot-shaped lower housing part of the filter housing 14. In an upper depiction in FIG. 8, the holding element 30 is depicted just above the base 40 of the housing pot 16 in a cut-out manner. The web 34 projecting outwardly from the wall 32 of the holding element 30 in the radial direction can thus be seen. This web 34 is in the starting position shown above in FIG. 8 not yep overlapping with the holding web 36 of the counter bearing 42. This can also be easily seen in the sectional depiction shown below in FIG. 8. If, however, the filter cartridge 12 is rotated further around the longitudinal axis 26, as is illustrated in the upper depiction in FIG. 8 by an arrow 50, then the web 34 increasingly reaches overlap with the holding web 36.
[0070] This starting hooking of the filter cartridge 12 or the filter element with the base 40 or housing base is illustrated in FIG. 9. Thus, according to the upper depiction in FIG. 9, the web 34 already engages a little further behind the holding web 36. Now, the filter cartridge 12 is rotated further around the longitudinal axis 26, as is illustrated in the upper depiction in FIG. 9 by a further arrow 52. It is also obvious from the lower depiction in FIG. 9 that the web 34 already engages a little further behind the holding web 36 of the counter bearing 42 due to the further rotation of the filter cartridge 12.
[0071] The situation is now shown in FIG. 10 in which the filter cartridge 12 is brought into its mounting position and is hooked with the base 40. In this mounting position, the stop 46 of the holding element 30 abuts on an external end 54 of the counter bearing 42. Thus, when the spiral-shaped holding element 30 is brought into the mounting position by rotating around the longitudinal axis 26, then the filter cartridge 12 is also aligned in a desired orientation in relation to the cover 18 of the filter housing 14. The cover 18 can then be screwed together with the filter cartridge 12. Furthermore, it can be seen in the upper depiction in FIG. 10 that the web 34 of the holding element 20 is preferably completely covered by the holding web 36 of the counter bearing 42 in the mounting position of the filter cartridge 12.
[0072] As can be easily seen in FIG. 11, in particular, the filter cartridge 12 has a further or second, presently upper end plate 56 in an end region opposite the holding element 30 for the mounting of the cover 18. Screwing bases 58 (presently three) are formed integrally with this end plate 56 which have fixing eyes in the form of holes 60. The holes 60, which are preferably formed as blind holes, can have a thread. However, it can also be provided that a thread is formed in the respective screw base 58 in the region of the hole 60 when screwing in fixing elements in the form of fixing screws 62, which are shown in FIG. 12, for example.
[0073] It is further obvious from FIG. 12 that a respective shaft 64 of the fixing screws 62 is guided through passage openings 66 for fixing the cover 18 on the filter cartridge 12, the passage openings being formed in the cover 18. It is thus ensured by screwing the cover 18 to the filter cartridge 12 that the cover 18 is fixed on the housing pot 16. In order to align the cover 18 in relation to the filter cartridge 12 in such a way that the shafts 64 of the fixing screws 62 can be guided through the passage openings 66 and introduced into the holes 60, a pin-shaped protrusion 68 is presently formed on the cover 18. This pin-shaped protrusion 68 is introduced into a receiver 70 designed in the manner of a bulge which is formed in the jacketing wall 48 of the housing pot 16 (see also FIG. 13). An anti-twisting device for the cover 18 is provided by the pin-shaped protrusion 68 by interacting with the receiver 70.
[0074] Furthermore, when looking at FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 together, it is obvious that a groove 72 is formed on an edge of the cover 18. When the cover 18 is mounted on the housing pot 16, then a front-end edge 74 of the jacketing wall 48 is received in this grove 72.
[0075] It is illustrated in FIG. 14 how the cover 18 is placed on the housing pot 16 from above. In doing so, the cover 18 is aligned by inserting the protrusion 68 into the receiver 70 in such a way that the passage openings 66 formed in the cover 18 are flush with the holes 60 of the screwing base 58. Moreover, it can be seen from FIG. 14 that an end region 76 of the channel 20 projects beyond the second end plate 56 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 26. An end of the tubular support 24 can be introduced into this end region 76.
[0076] FIG. 15 shows how the cover 18 is connected to the housing pot 16 in a tightly placed manner by the fixing screws 62 being tightened.
[0077] It is particularly obvious from the sectional depiction of the fluid filter 10 in FIG. 16 that the channel 20 is presently formed as a support tube, which is surrounded by the filter material 22. This support tube or support cage has a plurality of passage openings 78 via which the fluid or medium to be filtered can reach the inside of the channel 20. Furthermore, it can be seen in FIG. 16 how the filter element or the filter cartridge 12 is hooked with the base 40 or the counter bearing 42 when the cover 18 is mounted on the filter cartridge 12.
[0078] Moreover, FIG. 16 explains that the channel 20 is strained by tension. This is because the fixing screws 62, which are screwed into the holes 60 formed in the screwing base 58, press the cover 18 against the housing pot 16 on the one hand. On the other hand, the web 34 of the holding element 30 is pulled against the holding web 36 of the counter bearing 42 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 26 by tightening the fixing screws 62. Furthermore, the front-end edge 74 of the jacketing wall 48 of the housing pot 16 is pulled into the groove 72 which is formed on the edge of the cover 18. The cover 18 and the housing pot 16 are thus pressed together in the region of a sealing surface formed in the groove 72.
[0079] Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 16 that the housing pot 16 can have a support 80 which is presently formed in the jacketing wall 48. The fluid or medium to be filtered can be supplied to the annular chamber 82 via this support 80, the annular chamber surrounding the filter material 22 of the filter cartridge 12 in the filter housing 14 of the fluid filter 10.
