Filter element with at least one guide crosspiece, filter with a filter element and filter housing of a filter

Abstract

A filter housing (11) has at least one inlet (15) and at least one outlet (17) for the fluid. The filter element (10) includes a filter body of a filter medium (18).The filter element (10) is configured to be arranged in a filter housing (11) separating the at least one inlet (15) from the at least one outlet (17). An element axis (14) of the filter element (10) and a housing axis (25) of the filter housing (11) can be aligned parallel or axially to an installation direction (12) of the filter element into the filter housing. The filter element (10) may include at least one guide crosspiece (46, 48) which extends axially and radially outward on a peripheral exterior side (26), relative to the element axis (14), of the filter element (10). The filter element (10) has at least one seal (42) running peripherally relative to the element axis (14), the seal (42) having a seal line with at least one convexity (54) arranged peripherally between two corner regions of the filter element (10) and is separated by these corner regions.

Claims

1. An filter element for installation in a filter housing for filtering a fluid, comprising: a filter body of a filter medium, the filter body having: an upstream end face in which the fluid to be filtered enters the filter body, and a downstream end face where filtered fluid exits the filter body; and having an element axis defined as a direction from the upstream end face to the downstream end face, the element axis defining an axial direction as use herein; wherein the filter element is arrangeable parallel or axially to an installation direction for installing the filter element into the filter housing; wherein the filter body includes a plurality of peripheral sides arranged radially outwardly from the element axis, including: a first peripheral side extending from the upstream end face to the downstream end face of the filter body; an opposing second peripheral side extending from the upstream side to the downstream side of the filter body; wherein an X axis is defined as an axis having a direction traverse to the element axis and extending through the filter body from the first peripheral side to the second peripheral side; a seal arranged on the filter element and running peripherally in a traverse direction relative to the element axis at an exterior of the filter medium, the seal arranged on the filter element; a first end plate having an upstream side edge, a downstream side edge, and opposing first lateral side and second lateral side edges, the first end plate having an inner side arranged on a first peripheral side of the filter body; wherein the seal forms at least two outwardly projecting convex U-shaped bumps, the convex U-shaped bumps of the seal arranged on the a peripheral side of the filter element, the at least two U-shaped bumps projecting radially outwards from the filter element; wherein the seal has at least one radially inward convexity arranged peripherally between the at least two U-shaped bumps, the at least one radially inwarld convexity arranged adjacent to the at least two U-shaped bumps.

2. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein, the at least two outwardly projecting convex U-shaped bumps are each arranged on a same peripheral side of the filter element, each arranged in an opposite corner region of the same peripheral side of the filter element and spaced apart by the at least one radially inwarld convexity.

3. The filter element according to claim 2, wherein at least two of the at least two outwardly projecting convex U-shaped bumps of the seal and at least one of the at least one radially inward convexity of the seal are arranged on a radially outer surface of the first end plate.

4. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the first end plate includes grip element forming a handle for removing or installing the filter element into the filter housing, the grip element formed an and projecting axially outwardly from the upstream side edge or the downstream side edge of the first end plate.

5. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the filter medium of the upstream end face or the downstream end face has a region offset axially inwardly, forming a concave region in the respective one of the end faces.

6. The filter element according to claim 5, wherein the upstream side edge or the downstream side edge of the first end plate has concavity forming a continuation of the concave region in the respective one of the end faces.

7. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the filter medium of the filter body is pleated, having a plurality of pleats, each pleat formed by a filter medium fold having an upstream pleat edges at the upstream side end face of the filter medium and downstream pleat edges at the downstream end face of the filter medium.

8. The filter element according to claim 7, wherein a pleat height of each pleat is defined as a distance from the upstream pleat edge to the downstream pleat edge of the pleat; wherein the pleat height of the filter bellows varies across the plurality of pleats.

9. A filter housing of a filter, comprising: at least one inlet for fluid to be filtered and at least one outlet for filtered fluid; wherein the filter housing is adapted to receive at least one filter element according to claim 1 in such a manner that the seal with the at least two U-shaped bumps and the at least one radially inwarld convexity seal against complimentary geometry of the filter housing to sealably separate the at least one inlet from the at least one outlet; wherein the filter housing has a housing axis, which aligned parallel to the filter element axis and aligned with an installation direction of the filter element into the filter housing; wherein the filter housing has a counter retaining device arranged at an installation opening, the counter retaining device including at least one U-shaped bump projecting axially outwardly from the filter housing and configured to engage a respective U-shaped bump of the seal of the filter element filter element.

10. An air filter for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising: a filter element according to claim 1; and a filter housing including: at least one inlet for air to be filtered and at least one outlet for filtered air; wherein the filter housing is adapted to receive the filter element in such a manner that the seal with the at least two U-shaped bumps and the at least one radially inwarld convexity seal against complimentary geometry of the filter housing to sealably separate the at least one inlet from the at least one outlet; wherein the filter housing has a housing axis, which aligned parallel to the filter element axis and aligned with an installation direction of the filter element into the filter housing; wherein the filter housing has a counter retaining device arranged at an installation opening, the counter retaining device including at least one U-shaped bump projecting axially outwardly from the filter housing and configured to engage a respective U-shaped bump of the seal of the filter element filter element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Additional advantages, features, and details of the invention emerge from the following description, in which embodiments of the invention are explained in further detail by means of the drawings. A person skilled in the art will also necessarily view the features, disclosed in a combined manner in the drawing, the description, and the claims, individually and merge them into reasonable other combinations. Depicted schematically in various illustrations and detail views are the following drawings.

(2) FIGS. 1 to 9 depict an example air filter with an air filter element, which has guide crosspieces for guiding the air filter element during installation into an air filter housing according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIGS. 10 to 12 depict an air filter according to a second embodiment;

(4) FIGS. 13 to 19 depict an air filter according to a third embodiment;

(5) FIGS. 20 to 26 depict an air filter according to a fourth embodiment;

(6) FIGS. 27 to 28 depict an air filter according to a fifth embodiment;

(7) FIGS. 29 to 31 depict an air filter according to a sixth embodiment;

(8) FIGS. 32 to 36 depict an air filter according to a seventh embodiment;

(9) FIGS. 37 to 42 depict an air filter according to an eighth embodiment;

(10) FIGS. 43 to 47 depict an air filter according to a ninth embodiment.

(11) In the drawings, identical components are furnished with the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) FIGS. 1 to 5 depict an air filter 13 of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle according to a first embodiment in various illustrations. Air filter 13 comprises a filter element 10, which is replaceably arranged in an openable filter housing 11 in such a manner that it separates an air inlet 15 of filter housing 11 from an air outlet 17. Filter element 10 alone is depicted in FIGS. 6 to 9 in various perspectives. Filter housing 11 is composed of a housing case 19 and a housing cover 21. Housing case 19 has air outlet 17. Housing cover 21 comprises air inlet 15. Air filter 13 serves to filter combustion air, which is supplied to operate the internal combustion engine.

(13) In the depicted embodiment, an installation direction 12 of filter element 10 in housing case 19 runs parallel to an element axis 14. For an assembled air filter 13, a housing axis 25 of filter housing 11 runs coaxially to element axis 14. Element axis 14 runs parallel for example to a z-axis of an x-y-z coordinate system, which is depicted in FIG. 1 for the purpose of simplifying the description.

(14) Filter element 10 can be inserted through an installation opening 23 into housing case 19.

(15) Filter element 10 is configured as a flat filter element. The illustrated filter element 10 has a filter body that is embodied as a filter bellows 16, and is approximately cuboid-shaped from the outside, of a filter medium 18 pleated in a zigzag shape. Filter medium 18 may be filter paper, filter fleece or another pleatable filter medium suited for filtering air. Filter bellows 16 may also be made of a non-pleated filter medium, for example a filter foam. Filter medium 18 is pleated along pleat edges 20. Pleat edges 20 run parallel to each other and perpendicular to element axis 14. Pleat edges 20 run for example parallel to an x-axis of the x-y-z coordinate system.

(16) FIG. 1 at the top depicts for example purposes one of the upstream-side pleat edges 20. Pleat heights 22 of pleated filter medium 18 extend parallel to element axis 14, in other words in the direction of the z-axis. A maximum axial height, relative to element axis 14, of filter bellows 16 in the direction of the z-axis is greater than the width of filter bellows 16 in the direction of the y-axis. Therefore, the pleats can be described as deep.

(17) Pleat heights 22 of the pleats vary from pleat to pleat in the direction of the y-axis, in other words perpendicular to pleat edges 20 and perpendicular to element axis 18. Pleat heights 22 of the pleats in the center of filter bellows 16 are smaller than pleat heights 22 of the external pleats on longitudinal sides 24 of filter bellows 16. Longitudinal sides 24 are formed by the front pleats of filter bellows 16. The course of a curve through downstream pleat edges 20, in FIG. 1 at bottom, in the y-z plane correspond approximately to the course of a parabola.

(18) Front edge sides 26 of filter bellows 16 are stretched by front edges, which are covered in the drawings, of filter medium 18. The front edges of filter medium 18 have an approximately zigzag-shaped course. Front edge sides 26 are located on radially opposite sides relative to element axis 14. Front edge sides 26 run parallel to each other and perpendicular to an upstream side 28 and a downstream side 30. Upstream side 28 and downstream side 30 are each stretched by element axis 14 and upstream-side and downstream-side pleat edges 20 respectively. Front edge sides 26 connect the two opposite longitudinal sides 24, parallel to the x-z-plane, of filter bellows 16 and form with it the circumference of filter bellows 16.

(19) Upstream side 28, at the top of FIG. 1, is located, in an installed filter element 10, on the side facing housing cover 21.

(20) Downstream side 30, at the bottom of FIG. 1, is located on the side facing a case bottom of housing case 19.

(21) When operating filter element 10, filter bellows 16 is traversed according to the present embodiment by air from upstream side 28 to downstream side 30. In the present example, a main flow direction of air through filter bellows 16 thus runs parallel to installation direction 12 and element axis 14. Filter bellows 16 can also be traversed in a reverse direction. In this case, the labels upstream side and downstream side change correspondingly.

(22) On front edge sides 26 of filter bellows 16, an end plate 32 each is tightly connected to the front edges of filter medium 18. End plates 32 each consist of plastic. End plates 32 are approximately rectangular on the outside. Their lower, downstream-side edges facing downstream side 28 run approximately parabola-shaped corresponding to downstream side 28. When filter element 10 is installed, the downstream-side edges of end plate 32 and downstream side 28 are located on the side facing housing cover 21 above air outlet 17.

(23) In the vicinity of their upstream-side edge, each end plate 32 has a filter element retaining device 34. Filter element retaining device 34 comprises a one-piece protrusion 36. Protrusion 36 extends peripherally relative to element axis 14. It extends in the direction of pleat edges 20 from filter bellows 16, seen from the outside, and approximately parallel to the upstream-side edge of end plates 32.

(24) In the region of their ends, which each face longitudinal sides 24, protrusions 36 each have a retention arrangement 38 sticking out, when seen from filter bellows 16. Retention arrangements 38 each have on their side facing upstream side 28 and their side facing downstream side 30, a retention surface 40. Retention surfaces 40 each extend approximately parallel to the x-y-plane. Retention surfaces 40 are oriented essentially parallel to the z-axis, in other words to element axis 14.

(25) By means of filter element retention device 34, filter element 10 can be held in filter housing 11 in an axial manner relative to installation direction 12 and element axis 14. To this end, filter housing 11 has a corresponding counter-retention device 39 for filter element retention device 34.

(26) A seal 42, which is configured as a profile seal, surrounds filter bellows 16 and end plates 32 or more precisely protrusions 36 and retaining arrangements 38, in a closed peripheral manner relative to element axis 14. It is located on upstream side 28, seen from the outside, somewhat behind upstream side pleat edges 20.

(27) Furthermore, end plates 32 are each furnished on their exterior sides facing away from filter bellows 16 with reinforcing ribs 44, which run in a grid-like manner.

(28) Filter element 10 has two high guide crosspieces 46 and two low guide crosspieces 48. At each front edge side 26, there is one of the high guide crosspieces 46 and one of the low guide crosspieces 48. Guide crosspieces 46 and 48 are each connected in a one-piece manner with corresponding end plate 32.

(29) Guide crosspieces 46 and 48 each extend axially and radially outward along the corresponding front edge side 26 relative to element axis 14.

(30) Guide crosspieces 46 and 48 are located spaced apart from each other beside one of the longitudinal sides 24. High guide crosspieces 46 are arranged opposite to each other and spaced apart relative to the y-z-plane. Similarly, the two lower guide crosspieces 48 are arranged opposite to each other and spaced apart relative to the y-z-plane.

(31) High guide crosspieces 46 are each arranged opposite the corresponding low guide crosspiece 48, relative to the y-z-plane, on the same front edge side 46.

(32) The heights of the high guide crosspieces 46 in the direction of the x-axis are greater than the heights of the low guide crosspieces 48. The heights of guide crosspieces 46 and 48 each decrease in the direction of element axis 14 from upstream side 28 to downstream side 30.

(33) Low guide crosspieces 48 each have in the vicinity of upstream side 28 a step 50 depicted in particular in FIGS. 4 and 7. On the upstream side of step 50, a width of the low guide crosspieces 48 is greater in the direction of the y-axis than on the downstream side of step 50. Steps 50 are located on the downstream side directly behind filter element retention device 34.

(34) All in all, the four guide crosspieces 46 and 48 are asymmetric, in the sense of an axis symmetry, relative to element axis 14.

(35) On its downstream-side ends, low guide crosspieces 48 each have a spring arm 52. Spring arms 52 each extend approximately parallel to the z-axis. With their free ends, they point to the downstream side 30. Spring arms 52 are slightly bent outwardly in the direction of the x-axis away from filter bellows 16. Spring arms 52 are each elastically bendable in the direction of the x-axis. Thus, the positions of the free ends of spring arms 52 can be changed elastically relative to filter bellows 16.

(36) Guide crosspieces 46 and 48 lie within an imaginary cylinder, whose axis runs parallel or axially to element axis 14 and whose radially outward peripheral side is defined by the outer circumference of filter element 10 in the direction of element axis 14, seen at the level of filter element retention device 34. All in all, guide crosspieces 46 and 48 each project past filter element retention device 34 in the direction of the x-axis.

(37) Seal 42 surrounds guide crosspieces 46 and 48. In the region of guide crosspieces 46 and 48, seal 42 has corresponding convexities 54, which extend radially outward relative to element axis 14. Convexities 54 are each arranged between two corner regions of filter element 10 and spaced apart by it. In particular, the seal line runs between a corner region and convexity 54 arranged in its vicinity in a straight line at least over a short distance.

(38) Filter element 10 also has two grip elements 56. Grip elements 56 are each connected in a one-piece manner next to upstream side 28 to the upstream edge of the corresponding end plate 32. Grip elements 56 are located on opposite sides of the y-z-plane. The filter element can be grasped at grip elements 56 for installation or removal purposes.

(39) Housing case 19 has two case-side high guide grooves 58 and two case-side low guide grooves 60. Guide grooves 58 and 60 are each arranged in a manner fitting the corresponding high guide crosspieces 46 and low guide crosspieces 48 on the radially inner peripheral side, relative to housing axis 25, of housing case 19. The expansions of guide grooves 58 and 60 in the direction of the x-axis and in the direction of the y-axis are somewhat larger than the expansions of the corresponding guide crosspieces 46 and 48. In this way, guide crosspieces 46 and 48 can be guided with little play in a position-tolerant manner into guide grooves 58 and 60. The expansion of guide grooves 58 and 60 in the direction of the z-axis is greater than the expansion of the corresponding guide crosspieces 46 and 48.

(40) Low guide grooves 60 each have on their side facing housing cover 21 a shoulder 62 on which step 50 of the corresponding low guide crosspieces 48 can abut.

(41) A case-side connecting flange 64 of housing case 19 surrounds installation opening 23 peripherally relative to element axis 14. The case-side connecting flange 64 is open on its side facing housing cover 21. It forms a case-side part of counter-retention device 39. The case-side connecting flange 64 has corresponding convexities 66 to accommodate retention arrangements 38 and the corresponding convexities 54 accommodate seal 42.

(42) Housing cover 21 has two cover-side high guide grooves 68 and two cover-side low guide grooves 70, which are each located in an assembled filter housing 11 in an extension of the corresponding case-side guide grooves 58 and 60. The cover-side guide grooves 68 and 70 fit sections of guide crosspieces 46 and 48, which are located on the upstream side of filter element retention device 34.

(43) A cover-side connecting flange 72 of housing cover 21 is open on its side facing housing case 19. It forms a cover-side part of counter-retention device 39. The cover-side connecting flange 72 has corresponding convexities 74 to accommodate retention arrangements 54 and the corresponding convexities accommodate seal 42.

(44) To install filter housing 11, filter element 10 is inserted into housing case 19 with the downstream side 30 first through installation opening 23. From the start, guide crosspieces 46 and 48 are guided into the corresponding case-side guide grooves 58 and 60.

(45) As soon as retention devices 38 of filter element 10 contact the case-side part of counter-retention device 39, further movement of filter element 10 in installation direction 12 is stopped. In this position, steps 50 of lower guide crosspieces 46 engage in the corresponding shoulders 62 of the cover-side low guide crosspieces 60. In the end position of filter element 10, spring arms 52 of low guide crosspieces 48 abut, under mechanical spring tension in the direction of the x-axis, the corresponding walls of the cover-side low guide grooves 60.

(46) Subsequently, housing cover 21 is placed on housing case 19 and filter housing 11 is closed. Filter element retention device 34 and thus filter element 10 is held between the case-side connecting flange 64 and the cover-side connection flange 72 in an axial manner relative to the z-axis.

(47) In FIGS. 10 to 12, a filter element 10 is depicted according to a second embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment from FIGS. 1 to 9, in the second embodiment, there is arranged an elastic element 176 between springs arms 52 and the exterior side of the corresponding end plate 32. By means of elastic elements 176, an elastic restoring force of spring arms 52 is magnified axially to the x-axis.

(48) FIGS. 13 to 19 depict an air filter 13 according to a third embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment from FIGS. 1 to 9, the third embodiment has steps 50 of low guide crosspieces 48 located, on the downstream side, at a greater distance behind filter element retention device 34. In addition, pleat heights 22 of filter bellows 16 are constant. Downstream side 30 is therefore plane. The downstream edges of end plates 32 are correspondingly straight. Air outlet 17 leads out of housing case 19 opposite from longitudinal sides 34. Between spring arms 52 and the exterior side of the corresponding end plate 32, there is arranged, similar to the second embodiment from FIGS. 10 to 12, an elastic element 176 in each.

(49) FIGS. 20 to 26 depict an air filter 13 according to a fourth embodiment. In contrast to the third embodiment from FIGS. 13 to 19, no elastic elements 176 are provided here behind spring arms 52.

(50) FIGS. 27 to 28 depict an air filter 13 according to a fifth embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment from FIGS. 1 to 9, here the filter element retention device 34 with seal 42 is arranged at the level of upstream side 28. In addition, filter bellows 16 and end plates 32 are stepped on the downstream side 30. Between guide crosspieces 46 and 48 and filter element retention device 34, there is arranged a gap.

(51) In addition, high guide crosspieces 46 are arranged on a front edge side 26 next to an other longitudinal side 24 than on the other front edge side 26. Accordingly, low guide crosspieces 48 are each arranged next to an other longitudinal side 24. In addition, the distance between longitudinal sides 24 and the corresponding adjoining guide crosspieces 46 and 48 is greater on one longitudinal side 24 than on the other longitudinal side 24.

(52) Grip elements 56 project laterally out in an axial manner to the x-axis at the level of the upstream side 28. Housing cover 21 has a continuous opening 178 for each of the grip elements 56. For a correctly installed air filter 13, grip elements 56, as depicted in FIG. 28, can be seen from the outside. Housing case 19 has on its case-side connecting flange 64 corresponding projections 180, which engage behind grip elements 56 when air filter 13 is installed.

(53) FIGS. 29 to 31 depict an air filter 13 according to a sixth embodiment. In contrast to the fifth embodiment from FIGS. 27 and 28, no grip elements 56 are provided here for filter element 10. In addition, guide crosspieces 46 and 48 transition gaplessly into filter element retention device 34.

(54) FIGS. 32 to 36 depict an air filter 13 according to a seventh embodiment. The seventh embodiment is similar to the sixth embodiment from FIGS. 29 to 31.

(55) FIGS. 37 to 42 depict an air filter 13 according to an eighth embodiment. The eighth embodiment is similar to the sixth embodiment from FIGS. 29 to 31 and the seventh embodiment from FIGS. 32 to 36.

(56) FIGS. 43 to 47 depict an air filter 13 according to a ninth embodiment. The ninth embodiment is similar to the fifth embodiment from FIGS. 27 and 28.