Cabin air filter and filter assembly

Abstract

A cabin air filter is provided with a filter medium and a filter element frame that frames the filter medium and is configured to attach the cabin air filter to a filter housing. The filter element frame is provided with at least one engagement element configured to engage pivotably at least one receiving element of the filter housing for pivoting the cabin air filter relative to the filter housing about a pivot axis. The filter element frame also has at least one snap hook that locks with at least one locking element of the filter housing for blocking pivoting of the cabin air filter relative to the filter housing at least in a first direction about the pivot axis.

Claims

1. A cabin air filter comprising: a filter medium; a filter element frame framing the filter medium and configured to attach the cabin air filter to a filter housing; the filter element frame including two longitudinal profiles arranged parallel to each other; and two transverse profiles arranged parallel to each other and arranged perpendicular to the two longitudinal profiles, at least one engagement element configured to engage pivotably at least one receiving element of the filter housing for pivoting the cabin air filter relative to the filter housing about a pivot axis; wherein the at least one engagement element is provided at an end section of the transverse profiles and wherein the engagement element extends perpendicularly away from a plane comprising an exterior surface of the transverse profile; wherein the at least one engagement element is a guide element and the at least one receiving element is a guide recess; the filter element frame further including at least one snap hook configured to lock with at least one locking means of the filter housing for blocking a pivoting action of the cabin air filter relative to the filter housing at least in a first direction about the pivot axis; wherein two of the at least one engagement element are provided, wherein at the end sections of each one of the two transverse profiles one of the two engagement elements is provided, and wherein at least one groove is provided along a longitudinal profile.

2. The cabin air filter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one snap hook is configured to lock with the at least one locking means upon pivoting of the cabin air filter about the pivot axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

3. The cabin air filter according to claim 1, wherein two of the at least one snap hook are provided and arranged on one of the two longitudinal profiles.

4. The cabin air filter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement element of the filter element frame is formed of a plurality of engagement element sections that are angularly connected with each other end to end forming an S-shaped labyrinth-type profile in the at least one engagement element.

5. The cabin air filter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement element is a guide pin.

6. A filter assembly comprising: a cabin air filter according to claim 1; a filter housing, comprising: two longitudinal profile walls joined to traverse profile walls forming a receiving frame into which the cabin air filter is installable, wherein the two longitudinal profiles of the cabin air filter frame are each positioned at and facing a respective inner surface of a respective longitudinal profile wall of the receiving frame, the inner surface facing a correlated longitudinal profile of the cabin air filter; at least one guide recess is formed into the inner surface of the longitudinal profile walls of the filter housing, the at least one guide recess configured to receive the at least one engagement element of the filter element frame of the cabin air filter, the at least one guide recess interacting with the at least one engagement element to define the pivot axis, enabling the cabin air filter to pivot relative to the filter housing when mounting or demounting the cabin air filter in the filter housing.

7. The filter assembly according to claim 6, wherein the at least one engagement element of the cabin air filter is formed of a plurality of engagement element sections that are angularly connected with each other end to end forming an S-shaped labyrinth-type profile in the at least one engagement element.

8. The filter assembly according to claim 6, wherein the at least one engagement element of the cabin air filter is a guide pin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view a cabin air filter according to one embodiment.

(2) FIG. 1A is a view I of FIG. 1 wherein also a filter housing shown in FIG. 2 is partially shown.

(3) FIG. 1B is a variant of FIG. 1A.

(4) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a filter housing according to one embodiment.

(5) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state during insertion of the cabin air filter of FIG. 1 into the filter housing of FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 4 is a filter assembly including the filter element of FIG. 1 and the filter housing of FIG. 2 in a mounted state.

(7) In the Figures, same or functionally the same elements, inasmuch as nothing to the contrary is indicated, are provided with the same reference characters.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a cabin air filter 1. It includes a filter medium 2 which is folded, for example. A zigzag fold pattern is conceivable, for example. A corrugated configuration of the filter medium 2 is possible also. The filter medium 2 can be designed for particle and/or odor filtration.

(9) Moreover, the cabin air filter 1 includes a filter element frame 3. The filter element frame 3 includes a leading longitudinal profile 4 and a rearward longitudinal profile 5 and lateral transverse profiles 6, 7; the longitudinal profiles 4, 5 and the transverse profiles 6, 7 are connected to each other to a rectangle. The filter element frame 3 frames the filter medium 2 which means that the filter medium 2 is connected with its end face edges 8 as well as terminal folds 9, 10 to the filter element frame 3. In particular, the filter element frame 3 can be injection-molded onto the filter medium 2. For this purpose, the filter element frame 3 can be embodied in particular as an injection-molded plastic component.

(10) The transverse profiles 6, 7 each include engagement elements 12 at an end section which is facing the rearward longitudinal profile 5. The engagement elements 12 can project, for example, perpendicularly away from an exterior surface 13 of the transverse profiles 6, 7. For example, the engagement elements 12, as shown in FIG. 1A, can be shaped to have labyrinth-type profiles that can be removed easily from an injection mold for producing the filter element frame 3.

(11) The leading longitudinal profile 4 includes two snap hooks 14. A respective snap hook 14 can be embodied, for example, with an L-shape with a short leg 15 and a long leg 16. For example, the long leg 16 can include a projection 17 that is formed with an insertion ramp 18, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this context, the legs 16 each extend parallel to an outer surface 19 of the leading longitudinal profile 4.

(12) The filter element frame 3 can moreover include a seal 20 which surrounds completely the filter element frame 3. The seal 20 can be formed as a monolithic component of the filter element frame 3. The seal 20 can be produced in particular by injection molding together with the filter element frame 3 as one piece.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a filter housing 21 (filter receptacle) which together with the cabin air filter 1 in the mounted state forms the filter assembly 22 illustrated in FIG. 4.

(14) The filter housing 21 includes a housing frame 23 which is formed, in accordance with the filter element frame 3, with longitudinal profiles 24, 25 and transverse profiles 26, 27. To the rear, a shaped part 28 with an opening 29 is adjoining the housing frame 23. By means of the opening 29, the air supply of clean air can be realized, for example, to a cabin of a truck. The shaped part 28 can be formed with recesses 30 which receive screws by means of which the filter housing 21 can be screwed to a partition panel of a truck. The filter housing 21 as well as the filter element 1 are thus vertically oriented in the mounted state or in operation, as shown in FIG. 4. The shaped part 28 can be formed as one piece together with the housing frame 23. In particular, the filter housing 21 can be manufactured as a monolithic injection-molded plastic part.

(15) The transverse profiles 26, 27 each can be formed with a receiving element in the form of a guide recess 31. The guide recess 31 includes an open end (opening) 32 for insertion of a correlated engagement element 12 of the cabin air filter 1. In the guide recess 31 a correlated engagement element 12 glides into a closed area (closed end) 33 which is formed with a curved portion 34. The curved portion 34 forms a pivot point together with a correlated engagement element 12. The labyrinth-type profile, as can be seen in FIG. 1A, can be made of, for example, five straight sections 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 that are angularly connected with each other approximately to an S-shape. Also, the labyrinth-type profile can have a projection 49 which defines a maximally possible pivot position indicated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the maximal pivot position, the projection 49 impacts against the upper limit section 50 of the receiving element (guide recess 31). Accordingly, during installation and/or removal, positions of the cabin air filter 1 relative to the filter housing 21 can be avoided which could lead to the cabin air filter 1 being damaged, for example, by adjoining components in particular in the area of the partition panel. FIGS. 1A and 1B differ with regard to the arrangement of the projection 49, i.e., horizontal (FIG. 1A) and vertical (FIG. 1B), respectively, relative to the areal extension of the cabin air filter 1.

(16) Accordingly, two pivot points are provided on a respective transverse profile 26, 27 and define a pivot axis 35. About the pivot axis 35, the filter element 1 is pivoted relative to the filter housing 21 after insertion of the engagement elements 12 into the closed areas 33 of the respective transverse profiles 26, 27. Finally, the snap hooks 14 engage a respective locking means (locking element) 36. The locking means 36 are formed on the longitudinal profile 24. In this context, the projections 17 by means of the insertion ramps 18 glide across the locking means 36 whereby the respective snap hook 14 is deformed. The snap-in action is realized in pivot direction 37 (second pivot direction) about pivot axis 35. After locking of the snap hook 14 with a respective raised portion 36, pivoting in the opposite direction 38 (first pivot direction) is blocked. Incidentally, the filter element frame 3 is then also resting on corresponding stops 39 or other contact surfaces of the filter housing 21 so that also further pivoting in the second pivot direction 37 is blocked. As a whole, an attachment of the cabin air filter 1 on the filter housing 21 in all six degrees of freedom is realized.

(17) Along the longitudinal profile 4, three grooves 40 can be provided, for example. The spacing 42 between a first groove 40 and a second groove 40 can be different from a spacing 43 between the second groove 40 and a third groove 40, for example. The webs 41 on the longitudinal profile 24 or on the filter housing 21 are also arranged correspondingly. Upon pivoting of the cabin air filter 1 into the filter housing 21 in the second direction 37, the webs 41 are inserted into the grooves 40. Accordingly, a poka-yoke effect can be achieved: Only a cabin air filter 1 of the correct type can be installed in the filter housing 21. Also, the webs 41 can reinforce the filter housing 21.

(18) For releasing or demounting the cabin air filter 1, it is only necessary to actuate the snap hooks 14. Subsequently, the projections 17 are disengaged from the locking means 36 so that the cabin air filter 1 can be pivoted about the pivot axis 35 in the first pivot direction 38. Subsequently, when the longitudinal profile 4 of the filter element frame 3 has been pivoted out of the housing frame 23, the engagement elements 12 can be moved out of the receiving elements (guide recesses 31) through the openings 32.

(19) Even though the invention has been described with the aid of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto in any way but can be modified in many ways.