LIQUID FILTER

Abstract

A liquid filter for a motor vehicle may include a hollow cylindrical housing bowl, a cover that closes the housing bowl, a suspended, hollow cylindrical particle filter arranged in the housing bowl, a catch basin that is opened towards the cover, and an edge overflow. The particle filter may extend parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the housing bowl and may divide the housing bowl into a clean liquid chamber and into a raw liquid chamber. The raw liquid chamber may be fluidically connected to at least one inlet arranged in the cover and the clean liquid chamber to at least one outlet arranged in the cover.

Claims

1. A liquid filter for a motor vehicle, comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing bowl and a cover closing the housing bowl from the top; a suspended, hollow cylindrical particle filter arranged in the housing bowl, the particle filter extends parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the housing bowl and divides the housing bowl into a clean liquid chamber enclosing the longitudinal center axis and into a raw liquid chamber circulating about the clean liquid chamber (6), and the raw liquid chamber is fluidically connected to at least one inlet arranged in the cover and the clean liquid chamber to at least one outlet arranged in the cover; and a catch basin opened towards the cover and an edge overflow fluidically connecting the catch basin and the raw liquid chamber, so that with the housing bowl mounted, an inflowing liquid can flow into the catch basin and over the edge overflow out of the catch basin into the raw liquid chamber and with the housing bowl removed, the liquid can remain in the catch basin, and wherein the catch basin is fixed to or moulded out of the cover and protrudes into the housing bowl at least in regions, so that the catch basin fills out a volume in the housing bowl.

2. The liquid filter according to claim 1, wherein the catch basin comprises a bottom oriented transversely to the longitudinal center axis and an axial sidewall with a circumferential side edge facing the cover.

3. The liquid filter according to claim 2, wherein the edge overflow is formed by the side edge, so that the inflowing liquid can overflow over the side edge out of the catch basin into the raw liquid chamber, and/or the edge overflow is formed by way of a dome edge of at least one overflow dome of the catch basin, wherein the at least one overflow dome is formed within the catch basin or tied to the side edge within the catch basin, so that the inflowing liquid can overflow over the dome edge out of the catch basin into the raw liquid chamber.

4. The liquid filter according to claim 3, wherein the inlet, via an inlet connector, fluidically leads into the catch basin below the edge overflow in a manner of a syphon, so that with the housing bowl removed, no air can enter the inlet connector via the filled catch basin and because of this the liquid cannot flow out via the inlet connector.

5. The liquid filter according to claim 4, wherein in the cover, a connecting line that is fluidically connected to a tank is arranged, which via a connecting piece, fluidically leads into the catch basin below the edge overflow in a manner of a syphon, so that with the housing bowl removed, liquid can flow via the filled catch basin via the connecting piece to the tank.

6. The liquid filter according to claim 5, wherein the inlet connector and the connecting piece each have a penetration depth into the catch basin that differ from one another.

7. The liquid filter according to claim 6, wherein in the cover, a second inlet is arranged, which fluidically leads via a second inlet connector into the catch basin below the edge overflow in a manner of a syphon, so that with the housing bowl removed, with the filled catch basin no air can enter the second inlet connector and because of this liquid cannot flow out via the second inlet connector.

8. The liquid filter according to claim 7, wherein the inlet connector and the second inlet connector have a same penetration depth in the catch basin.

9. The liquid filter according to claim 8, wherein the catch basin is divided into multiple part catch chambers by a separating wall, wherein the respective separating wall axially extends from a bottom of the catch basin facing the particle filter towards the cover.

10. The liquid filter according to claim 9, wherein the respective separating wall extends towards the cover, above the edge overflow of the catch basin, so that neighbouring part catch chambers within the catch basin are fluidically separated from one another, or the respective separating wall does not extend towards the cover above the edge overflow of the catch basin so that the neighbouring part catch chambers within the catch basin are fluidically connected to one another.

11. The liquid filter according to claim 10, wherein in the catch basin a receiving region is formed, which, sealing circumferentially, receives an outlet connector connecting the outlet and the clean liquid chamber.

12. The liquid filter according to claim 11, wherein the receiving region and thus the catch basin are integrally formed with a function carrier of the liquid filter.

13. The liquid filter according to claim 12, wherein in the catch basin, at least one passage bore is formed, wherein a bore wall of the at least one passage bore extends up to the edge overflow of the catch basin or above the edge overflow of the catch basin.

14. The liquid filter according to claim 13, wherein the outlet is fluidically connected to the clean liquid chamber via an outlet connector and to an annular chamber and to an edge overflow channel, wherein the outlet fluidically leads into the annular chamber of the outlet connector in a manner of a syphon and via the edge overflow channel is fluidically connected to the clean liquid chamber.

15. A liquid filter, comprising: a housing bowl; a cover enclosing at least a portion of the housing bowl; a filter arranged in the housing bowl, the filter divides the housing bowl into a clean liquid chamber and a raw liquid chamber; at least one inlet arranged in the cover and fluidically connected to the raw liquid chamber; at least one outlet arranged in the cover and fluidically connected to the clean liquid chamber; and a catch basin fixed to the cover, at least a portion of the catch basin protrudes into the housing bowl.

16. The liquid filter of claim 15, further comprising an edge overflow fluidically connecting the catch basin and the raw liquid chamber.

17. The liquid filter of claim 16, wherein an inflowing liquid flows into the catch basin and over the edge overflow into the raw liquid chamber.

18. The liquid filter of claim 17, wherein the inlet fluidically leads into the catch basin below the edge overflow in a manner of a syphon.

19. The liquid filter of claim 18, wherein in the cover, a connecting line fluidically leads in the catch basin below the edge overflow in a manner of a syphon.

20. The liquid filter of claim 19, wherein in the catch basin, a receiving region is formed, which receives an outlet connector connecting the outlet and the clean liquid chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION TO THE DRAWINGS

[0023] It shows, in each case schematically.

[0024] FIG. 1 A part view of a liquid filter according to the invention in section;

[0025] FIG. 2 to 6 Sectional views of catch basins of different configurations in the liquid filter according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a part view of a liquid filter 1 according to the invention—here a fuel filter—in section. The liquid filter 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical housing bowl 2 and a cover 3 which closes the housing bowl 2 from the top. In this exemplary embodiment, the housing bowl 2 and the cover 3 are screwed together. In the housing bowl 2, a suspended and hollow cylindrical particle filter 4 is arranged, which extends parallel to the longitudinal centre axis 5 of the housing bowl 2. The particle filter 4 divides the housing bowl 2 into a clean liquid chamber 6 and into a raw liquid chamber 7, wherein the clean liquid chamber 6 is fluidically connected to an outlet 8 and the raw liquid chamber 7 to an inlet 9 and to an inlet 10. The outlet 8 and the inlets 9 and 10 are moulded out of the cover 3. Here, the inlet 9 is fluidically connected to a return line which leads from an engine. By way of the return line, the liquid—here fuel—can flow from the engine back into the liquid filter 1. The inlet 10 is fluidically connected to a tank so that the liquid—here fuel—can flow out of the tank into the liquid filter 1 and be filtered. In this exemplary embodiment, a non-return valve 11 is arranged in the inlet 10 which prevents the liquid flowing out of the liquid filter 1 back into the tank.

[0027] The liquid filter 1 comprises a catch basin 12 that is open towards the cover 3, which is fluidically connected to the raw liquid chamber 7 via an edge overflow 13. The catch basin 12 is fastened to the cover 3 by screws 14—only one visible here. For this purpose, the catch basin comprises passage bores 19—only one visible here—each with a bore wall 30. The catch basin 12 comprises a bottom 15 oriented transversely to the longitudinal centre axis 5 and a sidewall 16 with a side edge 17. With mounted housing bowl 2—as shown here—the liquid level S.sub.12 of the catch basin 12 is situated at the side edge 17. The bottom 15 directly adjoins an end disc 23 of the particle filter 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the catch basin 12 is embodied integrally with a function carrier 18 which engages with the clean liquid chamber 6. Here, the edge overflow 13 is formed by the side edge 17. The catch basin 12 protrudes into the housing bowl 2 in regions and displaces the liquid out of the housing bowl 2, so that the liquid level S.sub.2 of the housing bowl 2 is situated below the liquid level S.sub.12 of the catch basin 12. When the housing bowl 2 is removed from the cover 3, the catch basin 12 remains on the cover 3 and a volume taken up by the catch basin 12 is vacated in the removed housing bowl 2.

[0028] The inlet 10 leads into the catch basin 12 via the non-return valve 11 and then via the edge overflow 13—in this exemplary embodiment via the side edge 17—further into the raw liquid chamber 7 as is indicated by arrows. Here, a return flow of the liquid out of the liquid filter 1 back into the tank can be prevented by way of the non-return valve 11. The inlet 9 leads into the catch basin 12 via an inlet connector 9a below the circumferential side edge 17 in the manner of a syphon. When the housing bowl 2 is separated from the cover 3 the liquid remains standing in the catch basin 12 and no air can enter the inlet connector 9a. Thus, the remaining liquid from the inlet connector 9a and from the return line connected to the same cannot flow into the catch basin 12. The outlet 8 leads into the clean liquid chamber 6 via an outlet connector 8a, which is sealingly received in a receiving region 20 of the catch basin 12. The receiving region 20 merges into the function carrier 18. The outlet connector 8a comprises an annular chamber 21 and an edge overflow channel 22, wherein outlet openings 31 of the outlet 8 lead into the annular chamber 21 in the manner of a syphon. Then, the liquid flows first over the edge overflow channel 22 into the annular chamber 21 and following this to the outlet openings 31 of the outlet 8, as is indicated by arrows. When the housing bowl 2 is removed from the cover 3 the liquid remains standing in the annular chamber 21 and no liquid can flow out of the outlet openings 31 of the outlet 8 back into the edge overflow channel 22 and further into the housing bowl 2.

[0029] Through the advantageous configuration of the liquid filter 1 an edge overflowing of the housing bowl 2 can be advantageously prevented. Furthermore, when changing the particle filter 4, the liquid need not be drained from the housing bowl 2. Altogether, a cleaner and simpler service is possible because of this. Liquid filters of this type are usually vented in the direction of the outlet 8. When filling the catch basin 12 with the liquid, the air situated above the liquid level S.sub.2 is displaced into the raw liquid chamber 7. Then, the displaced air flows below the end disc 23 into the clean liquid chamber 6 and further to the outlet 8. Consequently, regions above the end disc 23 are vented by way of the catch basin 12. These regions can then be utilised for installing components such as for example the non-return valve 11 or the screws 14 or for geometries of the cover 3.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a purely schematic sectional view of a catch basin 12 in the liquid filter 1 that is configured differently from FIG. 1. There, the catch basin 12 is divided by a separating wall 24 into two part catch chambers 12a and 12b. The separating wall 24 extends from the bottom 15 towards the cover 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the separating wall 24 extends over the side edge 17 of the catch basin 12, so that the part catch chambers 12a and 12b within the catch basin 12 are fluidically separated from one another. The inlet 9 leads into the part catch chamber 12a via the inlet connector 9a in the manner of a syphon and a second inlet 25 leads into the part catch chamber 12b via a second connector 25a in the manner of a syphon. The second inlet 25 can be for example a further return line from the engine. The inlet connector 9a has the penetration depth T.sub.9 into the catch basin 12 and the distance D.sub.9 to the bottom 15. Accordingly, the second inlet connector 25a has the penetration depth T.sub.25 into the catch basin 12 and the distance D.sub.25 to the bottom 15. The respective penetration depths T.sub.9 and T.sub.25 and the respective distances D.sub.9 and D.sub.25 each add up to the height of the catch basin H.sub.12.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a purely schematic sectional view of a catch basin 12 in the liquid filter 1 that is configured differently from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Here, the separating wall 24 does not extend over the side edge 17 of the catch basin 12 so that the part catch chambers 12a and 12b within the catch basin 12 are fluidically connected. When the liquid flows into the catch basin 12, the part catch chamber 12a is filled first and then the part catch chamber 12b. By way of the part catch chambers 12a and 12b, the liquid can be retained in an adequate quantity in the catch basin 12 even with oblique positions. The liquid flowing out of the catch basin 12 via its side edge 17 even with oblique positions can be collected in the vacant volume of the housing bowl 2 so that an edge-overflowing of the housing bowl 2 is securely prevented.

[0032] FIGS. 4 and 5 show purely schematic sectional views of a catch basin 12 in the liquid filter 1 configured differently from FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. There, the inlet 9 leads via the inlet connector 9a and a connecting line 28 via a connecting piece 28a into the catch basin 12 in the manner of a syphon. The connecting line 28 fluidically connects the liquid filter 1 to a tank and does not comprise a non-return valve. According to FIG. 4, the housing bowl 2 is not removed and the catch basin 12 is filled with the liquid up to its side edge 17. With removed housing bowl 2, the liquid can flow via the connecting piece 28a to the tank until air can enter the connecting piece 28a. Then, the return of the liquid into the tank is interrupted as shown in FIG. 5. The return of the liquid from the catch basin 12 into the tank is possible because of a lower geodetic head of the tank. The quantity of the liquid returned into the tank is defined by the penetration depth T.sub.28 of the connecting piece 28a in the catch basin 12. For the intended purpose, the penetration depth T.sub.9 of the inlet connector 9a is greater than the penetration depth T.sub.28 of the connecting piece 28a. Because of this, the inlet connector 9a leads into the catch basin 12 below the lowered liquid level S.sub.12 even after the completed return of the liquid into the tank, as shown in FIG. 5. The penetration depth T.sub.9 correlates to the distance of the inlet connector 9a to the bottom 15 and the penetration depth T.sub.28 accordingly correlates to the distance D.sub.28 of the connecting piece 28a to the bottom 15. The respective penetration depths T.sub.9 and T.sub.28 and the respective distances D.sub.9 and D.sub.28 each add up to the height H.sub.12 of the sidewall 16 of the catch basin 12.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows a purely schematic sectional view of a catch basin 12 in the liquid filter 1 configured differently from FIG. 1 to FIG. 5. Here, two overflow domes 26a and 26b are formed within the catch basin 12, each of which have a dome edge 27a and 27b. The dome edge 27a and 27b is situated below the side edge 17 of the catch basin so that the edge overflow 13 on the overflow domes 26a and 26b is exclusively formed by the dome edge 27a and 27b. Here, the overflow dome 26b follows the sidewall 16 of the catch basin 12 and is formed via the same in regions. Since the side edge 17 is situated higher than the dome edge 27b, the liquid on the overflow dome 26b flows over the dome edge 27b and not the side edge 16.