Fluid Filter

Abstract

A fluid filter may include a filter housing in which a ring filter element is arranged and an electric heating device configured to prevent freezing of a fluid to be filtered. The electric heating device may be structured as a separate assembly and include a heating housing. The heating housing may be structured substantially complementarily to an external geometry of the filter housing such that the heating device is at least one of slidable and clipable onto the filter housing. The heating housing may at least partially enclose the filter housing when at least one of slid and clipped onto the filter housing.

Claims

1. A fluid filter comprising: a filter housing in which a ring filer element is arranged; an electric heating device configured to prevent freezing of a fluid to be filtered; the electric heating device structured as a separate assembly and including a heating housing structured substantially complementarily to an external geometry of the filter housing such that the heating device is at least one of slidable and clipable onto the filter housing, the heating housing at least partially enclosing the filter housing when at least one of slid and clipped to the filter housing.

2. The fluid filter according to claim 1, wherein the heating housing is formed from plastic and includes at least one heat-conducting element.

3. The fluid filter according to claim 2, wherein the at least one heat-conducting element is formed from aluminum.

4. The fluid filter according to claim 2, wherein an inside plastic covering of the at least one heat-conducting element is smaller than an outside plastic covering of the at least one heat-conducting element.

5. The fluid filter according to claim 1, wherein the heating housing includes a receptacle structured and arranged to receive a heating element.

6. The fluid filter according to claim 5, wherein the heating element is a rod-type heating element including an electrical plug connection, and wherein the heating element is heat-transferringly connected to the at least one heat-conducting element when arranged in the receptacle.

7. the fluid according to claim 5, wherein the receptacle is cylindrical and the heating element includes a collar complementarily thereto, on which a sealing element is arranged, such that the heating element via the collar and the sealing element are tightly insertable into the receptacle.

8. The fluid filter according to claim 5, wherein the heating housing includes a first positioning contour and the heating element includes a second positioning contour complementarily thereto, the first positioning contour and the second positioning contour defining an installation position of the heating element when arranged in the receptacle.

9. The fluid filter according to claim 8, wherein the first positioning contour is an engagement hook and the second positioning contour is a through-opening.

10. The fluid filter according to claim 2, wherein at least one of: the fluid filter is one of a fuel filter, a water filer, and a urea filter; and the filter housing includes at least one engagement contour and the heating housing includes at least one counter-engagement contour complementarily thereto, the heating device fixable on the filter housing via the at least one engagement contour and the at lest one counter-engagement contour.

11. The fluid filter according to claim 1, wherein the heating device is a retainer, wherein the retainer is at least on of i) structured to retain the filter housing and ii) fixable to a component.

12. An electric heating device of a fluid filter comprising: plastic heating housing structured substantially complementarily to an external geometry of a filter housing of a fluid filter, the heating housing at least partially enclosing the filter housing when one of slid and clipped onto the filter housing; and at least one sleeve-like heat-conducting element; wherein an inside plastic covering of the at least one heat-conducting element is smaller than an outside plastic covering of the at least one heat-conducting element.

13. the heating device according to claim 12, wherein the heating housing includes a receptacle structured and arranged to receive a heating element.

14. The heating device according to claim 13, wherein the heating housing includes a first positioning contour and the heating element includes a second positioning contour complementarily thereto, the first positioning contour and the second positioning contour an installation position of the heating element when arranged in the receptacle.

15. The heating device according to claim 14, wherein the first positioning contour is an engagement hook and the second positioning contour is a through-opening.

16. The heating device according to claim 12, wherein the heating housing is a retainer, wherein the retainer is at least one of i) structured to retain the filter housing and ii) fixable to a component.

17. The heating device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one heat-conducting element is formed from aluminum and arranged inside the heating housing.

18. The heating device according to claim 12, wherein the heating housing is cylindrical.

19. The heating device according to claim 13, wherein the heating element is a PTC heating element.

20. A fluid filter comprising: a filter housing in which a ring filter element is arranged; an electric heating device configured to prevent freezing of a fluid to be filtered, the electric heating device structured as a separate assembly and including a heating housing structured complementarily to an external geometry of the filter housing; and at least one sleeve like heat-conducting element arranged within the heating housing; wherein the heating device is attachable to the filter housing via at least one of a slide connection and a clipped connection, the heating housing at least partially enclosing the filter housing when attached thereto.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In the drawings,

[0027] FIG. 1A shows schematically a sectional representation through a fluid filter according to the invention without heating device,

[0028] FIG. 1B shows schematically a sectional representation as in FIG. 1A, however with heating device arranged on the filter housing,

[0029] FIG. 1C shows schematically a transparent representation of the heating device for illustrating the position of a heat-conducting element arranged in the heating housing of the heating device,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows schematically an exploded representation of the heating device according to the invention,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows schematically a view of the heating device obliquely from below,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows schematically a sectional representation through the heating device according to the invention,

[0033] FIG. 5 shows schematically a partly transparent representation of the heating device,

[0034] FIG. 6 shows schematically an exploded representation of the heating device according to the invention with an alternative embodiment,

[0035] FIG. 7 shows schematically a view of the heating device from FIG. 6 obliquely from below,

[0036] FIG. 8 shows schematically a sectional representation through the heating device according to the invention from FIGS. 6 and 7,

[0037] FIG. 9 shows schematically a partly transparent representation of the heating device according to FIGS. 6 to 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] According to FIG. 1A to 1C, a fluid filter 1 according to the invention comprises a filter housing 2, in which a filter element, here a ring filter element 3, is arranged. Here, the filter housing 2 can be usually formed from a filter housing bowl and a filter housing lid that can be screwed or clamped to the same. Obviously it is clear in this case that the filter housing 2 and the associated ring filter element 3 need not be necessarily formed cylindrically, but can also have an other shape. Furthermore, provided is a heating device 4 (see also FIGS. 2 to 9), by means of which heating of the fluid to be filtered, better expressed preventing the freezing of the same, is made possible. The electric heating device 4 according to the invention is formed as a separate assembly, as is also shown according to FIGS. 2 to 9, and comprises a heating housing 5 which is substantially formed complementarily to the external geometry of the filter housing 2, so that the heating device 4 can be slid or clipped onto the filter housing 2 and with assembled heating device 4 with the heating housing 5 at least almost completely encloses the filter housing 2, as is indicated according to FIG. 1C.

[0039] Thus, with the heating device 4 according to the invention, the fluid to be filtered in the fluid filter 1 is essentially no longer regularly heated as previously, but the filter housing 2 is rather thermally insulated towards the outside and merely a freezing of the fluid prevented by means of the heating device 4. With a stationary vehicle, in which such a fluid filter 1 is installed, the fluid is usually extracted or drained from the fluid filter 1 so that the heating device 4 merely has to ensure during the operation of the fluid filter 1 that the fluid to be filtered, for example diesel fuel or water, does not freeze or slush up. By way of this, a significantly lower energy consumption is required compared with previous heating devices which in particular also has a positive effect on the entire energy balance of the motor vehicle.

[0040] Here it is not only the fluid filter 1 with such a heating device 4 that is to be protected by the present invention, but also the heating device 4 as such. Generally it is true here that the heating housing 5 of the heating device 4 is formed from plastic and comprises an in particular sleeve-like heat-conducting element 6 located inside. This heat-conducting element 6 is obviously merely sleeve-like if the filter housing 2 and the heating housing 5 are also designed cylindrically. Sleeve-like in this case also means a sleeve provided with a longitudinal slot 24. The at least one heat-conducting element 6 in this case is preferentially formed from aluminium and because of this able to perform an optimum heat transfer with low weight. Because of the in particular sleeve-like embodiment of the at least one heat-conducting element 6, a complete enclosing of the filter housing 2 can be achieved and thus an even heating of the same take place, as a result of which in particular so-called hot spots can be avoided. By way of the even heating, the maximum heating temperature can also be lower than was the case with conventional heating devices from the prior art. Obviously, this also results in a reduction of the required energy consumption.

[0041] Looking at the heating housing 5 of FIGS. 4 and 8 in more detail, it is evident that a plastic covering 7 of the at least one heat-conducting element 6 in the direction of the filter housing 2, i.e. in the present case radially to the inside, is smaller than a plastic covering 7 radially to the outside. Because of this, significantly improved heat transfer to the inside, i.e. in the direction of the filter housing 2 and thus of the fluid to be heated can be achieved and simultaneously an improved thermal insulation towards the outside. Here it is obviously clear that the at least one heat-conducting element 6 can also be completely covered with a plastic covering 7 radially to the inside, but does not have to be, so that in a possible and special embodiment the at least one heat-conducting element 6 is not or only partially covered with a plastic covering 7 towards the inside and thus lies for example directly or at least partially directly against an outer lateral surface of the filter housing 2. However, a complete enclosure of the at least one heat-conducting element 6 with plastic is preferred, by way of which the same is arranged in a protected manner. Practically, the heating housing 5 comprises a receptacle 8 (see also FIGS. 2 and 6) for inserting a heating element 9, in particular for inserting a so-called PTC heating element. Here, the heating element 9 can be designed as a rod-type heating element with an electrical connection 10 and in the state inserted in the receptacle 8 bear, against the at least one heat-conducting element 6 or at least be connected heat-transferringly with the same. Here, the receptacle 8 for the heating element 9 is formed cylindrically in the shown embodiments, wherein the heating element 9 additionally comprises a collar 11 formed complementarily to the receptacle 8, on which a sealing element 12 is arranged (see in particular FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6 and 7, 8), so that the heating element 9 via the collar 11 and the sealing element 12 can be tightly inserted into the receptacle 8. Because of this, an in particular undesirable ingress of liquids and/or moisture and dust negatively affecting the efficiency of the element 9 can be prevented.

[0042] Looking at FIG. 2, 3 as well as 5 to 7 and 9 further, it is evident that on the heating housing 5 a first positioning contour 13 and on the heating element 9 a second positioning contour 14 interacting with the same and formed complementarily thereto are additionally arranged, which impose a unique installation position of the heating element 9 in the receptacle 8. According to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the first positioning contour 13 is formed as a pin, whereas the second positioning contour 14 is formed as associated through-opening. Obviously, the positioning contours 13, 14 can also have other embodiments, they merely have to be able to impose a predefined installation position. An alternative embodiment is shown for example by FIGS. 6, 7 and 9, in the case of which the first positioning contour 13 is designed as an engagement hook 23 and the second positioning contour as a through-opening. This embodiment offers the major advantage that the first positioning contour 13 formed as engagement hook/engagement contour 23 in the second positioning contour 14 formed as through-opening, simultaneously makes possible fixing the heating element 9 on the heating housing 5.

[0043] As is additionally evident from FIGS. 5 and 9, the heat-conducting element 6 comprises a bulge 22 in the region of the heating element 9, with which the heat-conducting element 6 preferentially lies areally against the heating element 9, i.e. against the PTC heating element of the same for example, and because of this makes possible an optimal heat transfer. Thus, the bulge 22 stiffens the heating housing 5 and can thus also serve as stiffening element.

[0044] Additionally or alternatively it is also conceivable here that the receptacle 8 for the heating element 9 on the heating housing 5 is formed oval and the heating element 9 additionally comprises an oval collar 11 formed complementarily thereto, as a result of which a unique installation position can be likewise imposed.

[0045] Furthermore, at least one engagement contour 15 can be arranged on the filter housing 2 and on the heating housing 5 of the heating device 4 at least one counter-engagement contour 16 formed complementarily thereto (see in particular FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 4), which allow a reliable fixing of the heating device 4 on the filter housing 2. Such an engagement contour 15 or counter-engagement contour 16 additionally makes possible a position-defined and reliable fixing of the heating device 4 on the filter housing 2 without additional fixing means. In addition to this, the heating device 4 and in particular the heating housing 5 of the same can be designed as retainer 17 for retaining the filter housing 2 and/or for fixing to a further component 18, for example to a motor component 19 or a body 20 of a motor vehicle 21. Because of this, additional retaining means can be omitted and at the same time the heating housing 5 assigned an additional function.

[0046] With the heating device 4 according to the invention and the fluid filter 1 according to the invention, a freezing of fluids containing water in particular can be achieved with simultaneously clearly reduced energy consumption. Since the heating device 4 is additionally designed as attachment part, it can be decided in each case if such a heating device 4 is to be installed or not.