FILTER DEVICE

Abstract

A filter device includes a functional element and a filter element arranged in a filter housing. The filter element includes an enclosure positioned about a central axis and below filter material of the filter element. The enclosure includes an enclosure wall that defines an inner volume that is in fluid communication with an orifice of the functional element when the filter element is positioned over the functional element.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A filter assembly having a rotational center defined by a central axis of the filter assembly, comprising: a functional element including: an outer circumferential surface about the central axis and defining a first axial location and a second axial location, the second axial location positioned above the first axial location and having an orifice between the first axial location and the second axial location: and a channel for receiving a pin, the channel spaced radially outward from the central axis of the filter assembly and radially beyond the first outer circumferential surface; and a filter element positionable over the functional element, the filter element including: an upper end disc; a lower end disc; a filter material arranged between the upper end disc and the lower end disc; an opening about the central axis of the filter element, the opening configured to fit over the outer circumferential surface; a coalescer positioned axially above the opening and about the central axis at a first radial distance from the central axis, the coalescer positioned such that the coalescer is able to collect and divert water particles to filter out water components present in fuel when the filter element is positioned over the functional element; an enclosure positioned about the central axis and below the filter material, the enclosure having an enclosure wall that is at a second radial distance from the central axis that is greater than the first radial distance, the enclosure wall at least partially defining an inner volume that is in fluid communication with the orifice of the functional element when the filter element is positioned over the functional element; the pin attached to the filter element at a radially outward distance from the opening for guiding the filter element to be correctly mounted with the functional element; and the pin extending away from the filter material, and having a seal that extends into the channel to seal within the channel when the filter element is correctly mounted with the functional element.

10. The filter assembly of claim 9, wherein the enclosure is a dirt pot.

11. The filter assembly of claim 9, wherein the opening is located at a base side of the filter element.

12. The filter assembly of claim 9, the seal further comprising a sealing element positioned in a groove of the pin.

13. The filter assembly of claim 12, wherein the sealing element is an O-ring.

14. The filter assembly of claim 12, wherein the sealing element is at a sealing element axial location that is approximately the same as an axial location of the opening.

15. The filter assembly of claim 9, wherein the outer circumferential surface is sealed against an inner surface of the of the opening.

16. The filter assembly of claim 9, the functional element further comprising an axially facing guide against which the pin slides during assembly of the filter element into a filter housing.

17. The filter element of claim 16, wherein when the seal is positioned in the channel the opening of the filter element is concurrently positioned over the outer circumferential surface so that no unsuitable or non-authorized brands are used in the filter housing.

18. The filter element of claim 9, wherein the enclosure collects both dirt and water.

19. A method of assembling a filter element into a filter housing, comprising: aligning an opening of a filter element with an outer circumferential surface of a functional element; lowering the filter element such that the outer circumferential surface of the functional element is inserted into the opening of the filter elεment; mounting the filter element onto the functional element, the filter element including a coalescer positioned above the opening for diverting water particles; positioning a pin of the filter element within a channel of the functional element when the opening of the filter element passes over the outer circumferential surface, the pin enters the channel to seal within the channel when the filter element is correctly mounted onto the functional element, the pin attached to the filter element at a radially outward distance from the opening for guiding the filter element to be correctly mounted with the functional element, the pin extending away from filter material of the filter element, below the opening and into the chαnnel; and sealing the pin against the channel as the filter element and the opening lowers below an orifice on the outer circumferential surface of the functional element, correctly mounting an enclosure of the filter element to form a chamber for the diverted water particles to pass into an outlet that coincides with an orifice in the outer circumferential surface of the functional element.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein an end of the pin extends below the enclosure.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising sliding the pin against a guide of the functional element during the assembly of the filter element into a filter housing.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising concurrently positioning the filter element over the outer circumferential wall and sealing the pin in the channel so that no unsuitable or non-authorized brands are used in the filter housing.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising positioning the enclosure below the filter material to be used as both a dirt-collecting chamber and also as a water-collecting chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] There are shown, respectively diagrammatically:

[0014] FIG. 1 a ring filter element according to the invention, in a side view,

[0015] FIG. 2 a view onto a functional element,

[0016] FIG. 3 a cooperation of the ring filter element with the functional element,

[0017] FIG. 4 an illustration as in FIG. 3, but with a different rotation angle position of the ring filter element,

[0018] FIG. 5 a detail illustration of a pin, projecting in a nozzle shape, of the ring filter element before immersion into an associated channel,

[0019] FIG. 6 an illustration as in FIG. 5, but after the immersion of the pin into the channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In accordance with FIG. 1, a ring filter element 1 according to the invention has an upper end disc 2 and a lower end disc 3. Between the two end discs 2 and 3 a filter material 4 is arranged, for example in the manner of a pleated star. The ring filter element 1 is arranged here in a similar manner to the illustration in FIG. 1 in an upright manner in a filter housing, not shown, of a filter device, for example an oil- or fuel filter. According to the invention, on the lower end disc 3 a dirt pot 5 is now provided, having a water separator 6 arranged therein and only sketched by a dashed line. A nozzle-shaped pin 7 is provided protruding downward on the dirt pot 5, which pin is constructed in a complementary manner to a channel 9 constructed on the filter housing pot, which is not shown, or on a functional element 8 (cf. FIG. 2) which is able to be inserted into this filter housing pot which is not shown. An operation of the complete filter device is then possible here exclusively in so far as the pin 7 engages into the channel 9, which can be constructed in particular as an idle channel.

[0021] Generally, the water separator 6 can be constructed as a so-called coalescer and can be welded to the lower end disc 3 of the ring filter element 1. The welding can take place for example by means of ultrasonic welding, friction welding or laser welding and guarantees a reliable positioning and fixing of the water separator 6 on the lower end disc 3 of the ring filter element 1, so that in a subsequent working step the dirt pot 5 can be connected with the end disc 3, in particular welded. Of course, a welding of the water separator 6 to the lower end disc 3 after the welding of the dirt pot 5 to the lower end disc 3 is also conceivable, wherein in this case the water separator 6 must be subsequently introduced through an opening 10 of the dirt pot 5 on the base side.

[0022] On viewing FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, it can be seen that on the pin 7, i.e. in particular on its pin head, at least one sealing element 11 is arranged which tightly closes the channel 9 with the pin 7 engaging therein. The at least one sealing element 11 can be constructed here for example as a conventional O-ring seal. On viewing FIG. 5, it can be seen that the pin 7 has a shaft 12 which is cruciform in cross-section, and that the pin has the previously mentioned pin head adjoining thereto, wherein the cross-section profile of the shaft 12 gives the pin 7 a high degree of rigidity. For the correct introduction of the pin 7 in the channel 9, a guide 13 can be provided on the filter housing pot or on the functional element 8, with which guide in the best case the pin 7 slides along with low friction to the channel 9. The guide 13 can be constructed here for example in the manner of an incline.

[0023] The invention not only relates here to a complete filter device, consisting of filter housing and filter housing pot and functional element 8 arranged therein and ring filter element 1, but also to the ring filter element 1 as a separate component, in particular for the spare parts market. Through the construction of the ring filter element 1 in one piece together with the dirt pot 5 and in particular through the construction of the pin 7 and of the dirt pot 5 in one part, a complete part can therefore be produced, in particular also for the spare parts market, which on the one hand is favourably priced and which on the other hand guarantees that no unsuitable and non-authorized brands are used, which can weaken the filter performance and thereby, under certain circumstances, can cause damage. Of course, both the pin element 7 and also the dirt pot 5 can be constructed here from favourably priced plastic, in particular as a plastic injection moulded part. In the illustrations, the channel 9 is constructed as an idle channel.