Housing, Housing Cover and Connecting Part of a Device for Separating at Least One Fluid From a Gas and a Device for the Separation of a Fluid

Abstract

A cup-shaped housing assembly for a device for separating liquid from air has a cup-shaped housing body having an interior. At least one annular filter element for separating liquid from air is arranged in the housing body. A housing cover closes off an end face of the housing body. The housing cover has an inner side that is facing the interior and an outer side that is facing away from the interior. The housing cover has at least one raw air inlet through which raw air is supplied to the interior. The housing cover has at least one clean air opening though which filtered clean air is discharged from the interior.

Claims

1. A device for separating liquid from air of a spin-on filter type comprising, a cup-shaped housing assembly; and at least one annular filter element disposed and fixed within an interior of the cup-shaped housing assembly forming a unitary spin-on filter, so as be completely replaced together in a service situation, the at least one annular filter element elongated along a longitudinal axis and surrounding the longitudinal axis; wherein the cup-shaped housing assembly comprises: a cup-shaped housing body having an interior and adapted to receive at least one annular filter element for separating liquid from air; a housing cover that closes off an end face of the housing body, wherein the housing cover has an inner side that is facing the interior and an outer side that is facing away from the interior; wherein the housing cover has at least one raw air inlet arranged off-center in the housing cover through which raw air is supplied to the interior; wherein the housing cover has a central clean air opening though which filtered clean air is discharged from the interior, wherein the filter element has an open end facing the housing cover; wherein the housing cover has a connecting section in an area of the clean air opening, wherein the connecting section is an inner thread of the housing cover connectable to an outer thread of a nipple; wherein an annular seal for sealing the raw air side relative to the environment is attached to the housing cover that can be contacted and compressed in axial direction; wherein the housing cover has at least one liquid drain arranged at a clean air side of the cup-shaped housing assembly extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis, from the inner side of the housing cover which is facing the interior of the cup-shaped housing assembly to the outer side of the housing cover which is facing away from the interior of the cup-shaped housing assembly, the at least one liquid drain being arranged in radial direction between the centrally arranged clean air outlet and the raw air inlet, wherein the at least one liquid drain is formed by at least one groove or at least one recess, passage or bore in the housing cover that is arranged in radial direction between the clean air opening at the housing cover and the at least one raw air inlet; wherein, for sealing the raw air inlet relative to the clean air opening, at least one annular sealing surface is arranged at the outer side of the housing cover, wherein the at least one sealing surface is arranged on the housing cover such that, in a connected state, the at least one sealing surface seals the at least one raw air inlet relative to the at least one liquid drain; wherein a liquid collecting chamber is provided at an axial end of the filter element that is facing the housing cover, wherein the liquid collecting chamber is fluidically connected with the liquid drain such that separated liquid can be returned from the liquid collecting chamber through the liquid drain.

2. The device for separating liquid according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing surface is embodied by a surface of the housing cover.

3. The device for separating liquid according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing surface is in the form of at least one seal arranged on the housing cover.

4. The device for separating liquid according to claim 3, wherein the at least one seal is a sealing ring that surrounds the clean air opening.

5. The device for separating liquid according to claim 1, wherein: the clean air opening is adapted to receive a nipple connectable to a connecting head of a power machine, the nipple extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis through the housing cover; the housing cover, in the area of the clean air opening, is detachably connected with the nipple; the at least one sealing surface is arranged such on the housing cover that, when the housing cover and the nipple are connected to each other in a connected state, the at least one sealing surface is arranged between the housing cover and the nipple or between the housing cover and the connecting head connected to the nipple and seals the at least one raw air inlet relative to the at least one clean air opening.

6. The device for separating liquid according to claim 5, wherein the at least one sealing surface is configured such that, in the connected state, the at least one sealing surface interacts with a radial projection of the nipple or with a sealing surface of the connecting head such that the at least one clean air opening is sealed relative to the at least one raw air inlet.

7. The device for separating liquid according to claim 5, wherein the connecting section of the housing cover interacts with a connecting section of the nipple so as to detachably connect the housing cover and the nipple, wherein the connecting sections of the housing cover and of the nipple are configured such that, in the connected state, between the housing cover and the nipple at least one liquid drain is arranged that drains separated liquid from the interior.

8. The device for separating liquid according to claim 7, wherein the at least one liquid drain is arranged at a clean air side of the cup-shaped housing assembly and wherein the at least one sealing surface is arranged on the housing cover such that the at least one sealing surface seals the at least one raw air inlet relative to the liquid drain.

9. The device for separating liquid according to claim 7, wherein the at least one liquid drain extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis from the inner side of the housing cover to the outer side of the housing cover.

10. The device for separating liquid according to claim 9, wherein the at least one liquid drain is formed by at least one groove or at least one channel-shaped recess which is provided on the connecting section of the housing cover and/or on the connecting section of the nipple.

11. The device for separating liquid according to claim 7, wherein the at least one liquid drain extends spirally from the inner side of the housing cover to the outer side of the housing cover.

12. The device for separating liquid according to claim 7, wherein the connecting section of the housing cover is an inner thread of the housing cover and wherein the connecting section of the nipple is an outer thread of the nipple, wherein the inner thread is screwed onto the outer thread.

13. The device for separating liquid according to claim 7, wherein the connecting section of the housing cover is configured such that, in the connected state, between the housing cover and the nipple several of the at least one liquid drain are arranged, wherein the at least one sealing surface is a seal provided with at least one fixation element extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the fixation element secures the seal on the housing cover, wherein the fixation element is arranged on the housing cover such that the fixation element extends through one of the several liquid drains.

14. The device for separating liquid according to claim 7, wherein the clean air opening is centrally arranged in the housing cover and the at least one raw air inlet is arranged off center in the housing cover.

15. The device for separating liquid according to claim 14, wherein the at least one liquid drain is at least one groove or at least one recess in the housing cover that is arranged in radial direction between the clean air opening at the housing cover and the at least one raw air inlet arranged off-center in the housing cover, wherein the at least one sealing surface is arranged annularly and radially between the at least one raw air inlet and the at least one liquid drain at the housing cover such that the at least one sealing surface seals the at least one raw air inlet relative to the at least one liquid drain.

16. The device for separating liquid according to claim 1, wherein the cup-shaped housing assembly comprises a liquid collecting chamber at a clean air side of the filter element and a liquid drain connected to the liquid collecting chamber.

17. The device for separating liquid according to claim 16, further comprising a nipple which is detachably connected with a connecting head of a power machine and with the cup-shaped housing assembly.

18. The device for separating liquid according to claim 18, wherein the nipple and/or the cup-shaped housing assembly are designed such that, when the cup-shaped housing assembly and the nipple are connected in a connected state, the at least one liquid drain is formed between the cup-shaped housing assembly and the nipple.

19. The device for separating liquid according to claim 18, wherein the nipple comprises a cylindrical tubular element designed for separating separated liquid from filtered clean air, wherein the cylindrical tubular element is monolithically formed together with the nipple and projects into the filter element, wherein the cylindrical tubular element forms a clean air outlet for discharging the filtered clean air from the cup-shaped housing assembly.

20. The device for separating liquid according to claim 19, wherein the nipple has a connecting section adapted to connect the nipple to the housing cover of the cup-shaped housing assembly, wherein the clean air outlet adjoins the connecting section and/or has an inner diameter that is identical to an inner diameter of the connecting section of the nipple.

21. The device for separating liquid according to claim 18, wherein the at least one liquid drain is adapted to discharge in the connected state the separated liquid from the liquid collecting chamber to the connecting head.

22. The device for separating liquid according to claim 18, wherein the at least one raw air inlet of the cup-shaped housing assembly is arranged off-center on the cup-shaped housing assembly, wherein the nipple is centrally arranged on the cup-shaped housing assembly, and wherein the at least one sealing surface at the housing cover of the cup-shaped housing assembly is an axial sealing surface and is arranged between the housing cover and a radially extending projection of the nipple and/or an area of the connecting head such that the at least one sealing surface seals the liquid drain relative to the at least one raw air inlet.

23. A method for mounting a device for separating liquid having a cup-shaped housing assembly according to claim 1 detachably on a connecting head of a power machine, the method comprising: detachably connecting the cup-shaped housing assembly to a nipple that is connectable to the connecting head.

24. The method according to claim 23, comprising screwing the cup-shaped housing assembly onto the nipple.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0117] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings are explained in more detail. A person skilled in the art will also appropriately consider the features disclosed in the drawings, the description and the claims individually and combine them into further sensible combinations. Shown schematically are:

[0118] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of an air/oil separator apparatus with an air/oil separator element according to a first exemplary embodiment, with a housing having a housing cover with a support ring and an oil outlet seal and a connection nipple, for connection with a connector head;

[0119] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 1 in the region of the housing cover;

[0120] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the housing cover of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a view of the inside of the housing cover;

[0121] FIG. 4 shows the housing cover of FIGS. 1 to 3 with a view of the outside thereof;

[0122] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of the housing cover of FIGS. 1 to 4;

[0123] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the inside of the housing cover of FIGS. 1 to 5;

[0124] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the outside of the housing cover of FIGS. 1 to 6;

[0125] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the outside of the housing cover of FIGS. 1 to 7 without support ring and oil outlet seal;

[0126] FIG. 9 shows a transverse partial section of an air/oil separator apparatus according to a second embodiment, which is similar to the air/oil separator apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 8, with a viewing direction from the connector head to the housing cover;

[0127] FIG. 10 shows the partial section of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 9 without connection nipple, support ring and oil outlet seal;

[0128] FIG. 11 shows a longitudinal section of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 9 along the section line XI-XI;

[0129] FIG. 12 shows a detail view of the longitudinal section of FIG. 11 in the region of the housing cover;

[0130] FIG. 13 shows a longitudinal section of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 10 along the section line XIII-XIII;

[0131] FIG. 14 shows a longitudinal section of an air/oil separator apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment, in which the oil outlet seal has an O-ring seal;

[0132] FIG. 15 shows in a schematic section illustration a third exemplary embodiment of an air/oil separator apparatus according to the invention with a cup-shaped housing assembly according to the invention that is mounted in accordance with the method according to the invention;

[0133] FIG. 16 shows in a schematic section illustration the cup-shaped housing assembly of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 15 in a second embodiment of a seal;

[0134] FIG. 17 shows in a perspective section illustration the cup-shaped housing assembly of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 16;

[0135] FIG. 18 is an isometric illustration of the cup-shaped housing assembly of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 15;

[0136] FIG. 19 is an isometric illustration of the nipple of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 15;

[0137] FIG. 20 is an isometric illustration of a detail view of the seal of the cup-shaped housing assembly of FIGS. 16 and 17;

[0138] FIG. 21 is an isometric illustration of the seal of the device of FIG. 15; and

[0139] FIG. 22 shows a partial plan view of an alternative embodiment of the housing cover of the cup-shaped housing assembly of FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Reference to FIGS. 1 to 14

[0140] In FIGS. 1 to 8 is shown an air/oil separator apparatus 10 in various depictions, sections and detail views. The air/oil separator apparatus 10 serves for the separation from the air of such oil as is carried with the air. The air/oil separator apparatus is used, for example, in compressors, vacuum pumps compressed air systems or the like. It can be disposed before the inlet or after the outlet of a corresponding unit.

[0141] The air/oil separator apparatus 10 comprises an air/oil separator element 12, which can also be referred to as an air/oil separator box. The air/oil separator element 12 is replaceably fixed on a connector head 14, at the bottom of FIG. 1. The connector head 14 serves as a connection device for corresponding air lines and oil lines for connecting with the corresponding unit. In FIG. 1, the connector head 14 is only indicated schematically by dashed lines. A hollow, pipe stub-like connection nipple 16 connects the air/oil separator element 12 with the connector head 14. The interior of the connection nipple 16 is gas-conducting, in particular air-conducting.

[0142] The air/oil separator element 12 comprises a cup-shaped housing 18. In the housing 18 is disposed by way of example a filter element 20 designed as a ring-shaped coalescing element. By way of example, the filter element 20 has as a filter medium a glass fiber mat, which is repeatedly annularly wrapped and bounded by an upper end plate 22 and a lower end plate 24 facing the connector head 14. As a further filter medium, a non-woven material is disposed in the interior of the glass fiber wrap.

[0143] In general, the air/oil separator apparatus 10 is ready for use as disposed in the orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It can, however, also be disposed in other orientations. When further reference is made to below, above, or similar, this refers unless otherwise stated to the representation in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In Reference to FIGS. 1 to 14

[0144] The housing 18 comprises a housing vessel 26, the opening of which facing the connector head 14 is closed with a housing cover 28. The housing vessel 26 and the housing cover 28 are made, for example, of metal. Alternatively, at least one of the two components can be made from another material, for example plastic, or at least have another material.

[0145] The housing cover 28 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 8. In an operation-ready assembly, the housing 18, the filter element 20 and the connection nipple 16 are respectively coaxial with an imaginary assembly axis 30. The air/oil separator element 12 can be screwed onto the connector head 14 and unscrewed therefrom about the assembly axis 30 by means of the connection nipple 16.

[0146] When further reference is made to radial, axial, coaxial or circumferential or the like, this refers unless otherwise stated to the assembly axis 30.

[0147] The lower end plate 24 facing the housing cover 28 is approximately annular. It has a coaxial pass-through opening 32 for the connection nipple 16. Radially between the pass-through opening 32 and the filter medium of the filter element 20, the lower end plate 24 is repeatedly bent, such that there is a circumferential annular trough, which opens toward the element interior 34 of the filter element 20.

[0148] The radially inner edge of the lower end plate 24 surrounds the pass-through opening 32. It points toward the element interior 34. An inner diameter of the pass-through opening 32 is larger than an outer diameter of the connection nipple 16 there. Between the radially outer peripheral wall of the connection nipple 16 and the radially inner edge of the pass-through opening 32, an annular, coaxial passage gap 36 remains for the separated oil.

[0149] The housing cover 28 is held on the housing vessel 26 by means of a retaining ring 76, as will be explained in greater detail below. The retaining ring 76 is connected by means of a flared connection 38 with the edge of the housing vessel 26.

[0150] The axial outside of the lower end plate 24 bounded by the annular trough extends over the filter medium in the axial direction. A bottoming of the annular trough-forming section of the outside of the lower end plate 24 sits peripherally connected in the axial direction to a dampening ring 40. The dampening ring 40 is supported on the axially opposite side on an inner side of the housing cover 28. The damping ring 40 is coaxial with the assembly axis 30. It serves inter alia to reduce noise as a so-called rattle guard. It restricts the axial movability of the filter element 20 in the housing 18 and thus prevents rattling noises. The dampening ring 40 can further serve as tolerance compensation and/or as dampening for operational vibrations or oscillations.

[0151] The housing cover 28 is substantially circular. It is coaxial with the assembly axis 30. In profile, the housing cover 28, as shown in FIG. 4, is seen from radially outside to radially inside as bent in an approximate S-shape.

[0152] In its center, the housing cover 28 has a coaxial assembly opening 42 for the connection nipple 16. A radially inner peripheral wall of the housing cover 28 surrounding the assembly opening 42 is equipped with an inner thread 44. The inner thread 44 mates with a corresponding outer thread 46 on the radially outer peripheral side of the connection nipple 16.

[0153] Radially outside the assembly opening 42, the housing cover 28 has two respective oil outlet holes 48 which pass through. The oil outlet holes 48 are disposed on radially opposite sides with respect to the assembly axis 30. Their axes are parallel to the assembly axis 30. The oil outlet holes 48 are materially technically separated from the assembly opening 42 by means of a circular cylindrical, coaxial web portion 50.

[0154] Along an imaginary coaxial circumference which encloses both oil outlet holes 48, a plurality of air inlet holes 52 which pass through are disposed. The air inlet holes 42 are respectively flattened on their radially outer peripheral sides. Imaginary axes of the air inlet holes 52 extend parallel to the assembly axis 30.

[0155] On the exterior side facing away from the filter element 20, a coaxial support ring 54 is fixed on the housing cover 28. The support ring supports an oil outlet seal 56. The support ring 54 is made of plastic. Instead of plastic, it can also be made of a different material, for instance metal, or at least have a different material.

[0156] The support ring 54 has a coaxial hollow cylindrical section 58. On its end face facing the housing cover 28, the hollow cylindrical section 58 changes over as a single piece to a coaxial radial ring section 60. The radial ring section 60 extends continuously circumferentially and somewhat radially outside the hollow cylindrical section 58. The profile of the radial ring section 60 is fitted to the outer side of the housing cover 28.

[0157] In the region of its radially outer edge, a plurality of locking arms 62 are each integrally connected with the radial ring section 60. The locking arms 62 extend approximately parallel to the assembly axis 30 away from the hollow cylindrical section 58 to the side opposite the hollow cylindrical section 58. Each locking arm 62 has a radially inwardly oriented locking lug on its free end. The locking arms 62 extend respectively through one of the air inlet holes 52 through the housing cover 28. They engage with their locking lugs on the radially inner side of the air inlet holes 52 on the inner side of the housing cover 28.

[0158] An inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical section 58 and the radial ring section 60 is somewhat larger than the inner diameter of the assembly opening 42, in particular the inner thread 44. The oil outlet holes 48 project radially inward beyond the support ring 54 such that they are connected with an interior of the support ring 54 surrounded by the hollow cylindrical section 58.

[0159] In the assembled state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the radially inner circumferential side of the hollow cylindrical section 58 of the support ring 54 is spaced apart from the radially outer circumferential side of the connection nipple 16 such that an annular gap 64 arises between the corresponding circumferential sides as a passage for the separated oil.

[0160] In the region of the free edge of the hollow cylindrical section 58 which faces away from the housing cover 28, two sealing lips 66 are disposed on the radially outer circumferential side of the hollow cylindrical section 58. The sealing lips 66 are part of the oil outlet seal 56. The sealing lips 66 each extend continuously circumferentially and away from the hollow cylindrical section 58 from radially inward to radially outward. The seal lips 66 extend parallel to each other. The axially inner sealing lips 66 facing the housing cover 28 extend radially outward over the other, axially outer sealing lips 66. The sealing lips 66 are elastic. The sealing lips 66 can, for example, be realized with the support ring 54 as a two-component part.

[0161] In the assembled air/oil separator element 12, the sealing lips 66, as are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are located with their radially inner edges radially sealing against a radially inner circumferential side of a circumferential connection-side sealing surface 68. The connection-side sealing surface 68 is in the form of a coaxial circular cylinder shell. The connection-side sealing surface 68 is realized on a coaxial hollow cylindrical wall section of a coaxial annular collar 70 of the connecting means 16.

[0162] The annular collar 70 is disposed circumferentially on the radially outer circumferential side of the connector nipple 16. On the side axially facing the housing cover 28, the ring collar 70 forms an in open, annular groove which is U-shaped in profile, for receiving the cylindrical section 58 with the sealing lips 66 of the support ring 54.

[0163] A connection-side oil passage opening 72 leads through an end wall of the annular collar 70 which forms the bottom of the U. In an assembled air/oil separator apparatus 10, the connection-side oil passage opening 72 connects the annular gap 64 with an oil outlet channel of the connector head 14, not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0164] On the side of the ring collar 70 axially opposite to the outer thread 46, the connection nipple 16 has a connecting outer thread 74 on its radially outer circumferential side, with which the connection nipple 16 is screwed into a corresponding connection-side inner thread of the connector head 14, which is also not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0165] The retaining ring 76 which is, for example, made of sheet metal and bent several times in the radial direction, is radially outwardly connected with the flared connection 38 to the housing vessel 26. The retaining ring 76 holds the housing cover 28 on the outside thereof. On its radially inner edge, the retaining ring 76 has retaining tabs 78, which extend respectively through one of the air inlet holes 52 of the housing cover 28, and which are bent on the inner side thereof. The housing cover 28 is held on the retaining ring 76 with the retaining tabs 78.

[0166] Further, radially within the flared connection 38, the retaining ring 76 comprises a coaxially annularly-shaped, circumferentially continuous sealing groove, in which is disposed a coaxial surrounding ring seal 80. The surrounding ring seal 80 radially outwardly surrounds the air inlet holes 52. In the assembled air/oil separator element 12, the surrounding ring seal 80 is located axially sealingly on a corresponding terminal-side annularly-shaped coaxial surrounding sealing surface 81 of the connector head 14, as is shown in FIG. 1. The surrounding sealing surface 81 extends circumferentially and radially. It seals the air inlet holes 52, i.e. the raw air side, toward the surrounding.

[0167] The assembly opening 42 of the housing cover 28 further defines an air outlet opening 82. The interior of the connection nipple 16 extends through the air outlet opening 82, thus co-defining the course of the air outlet opening 82 in the assembled state. The interior of the connection nipple 16 forms or bounds in so many words the effective flow cross-section of the air outlet opening 82.

[0168] During operation of the air/oil separator apparatus 10, air, which can be loaded with oil droplets, flows from an air inlet line of the connector head 14 through the air inlet holes 52, indicated by an arrow 84 in FIG. 1, into an inlet chamber 86 of the housing 18. the lower part of the inlet chamber 86 is located in the housing 18 between the lower end plate 24 and the housing cover 28, and extends circumferentially radially outward about the filter element 20.

[0169] The air flows through the filter medium of the filter element 20 from radially outward to radially inward, indicated by arrow 88. The oil droplets are deposited on the radially inner circumferential side of the filter element 20, and flow downward following gravity, indicated in FIG. 1 by dashed arrows 90.

[0170] The air, free of oil droplets, flows in the clean air side through the central air outlet opening 82 in the inner space of the connection nipple 16 out of the air/oil separator element 12, and enters an air outlet channel of the connector head 14, not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0171] The separated oil droplets pass through the passage gap 36 and the oil outlet holes 48 of the housing cover 28 into the annular gap 64. From the annular gap 64, the oil passes through the connection-side oil passage opening 72 into the oil outlet channel of the connector head 14.

[0172] The oil outlet seal 56 and the connection-side sealing surface 68 form an oil outlet sealing device 92, which separates the oil outlet with the oil-bearing annular gap 64 and the oil outlet holes 48 from the raw air side, in particular the air inlet with the air inlet holes 52.

[0173] The assembly of the air/oil separator apparatus 10 can take place in different ways.

[0174] According to a first exemplary method, the connection nipple 16 can then be screwed into the assembly opening 42 of the housing cover 28. Here, the sealing lips 66 slide inwardly along the connection-side sealing surface 68 until they have reached their end position. No substantial axial forces act on the sealing lips 66. In this way, the air/oil separator element 12 can be pre-assembled with the connection nipple 16. Then, the air/oil separator element 12 can be screwed with the free end of the connection nipple 16 forward axially into the corresponding inner thread of the connector head 14. The surrounding ring seal 80 is pressed axially between the housing cover 28 and the connection-side surrounding ring seal surface 81. The surrounding ring seal 80 forms a surrounding seal device 94 with the surrounding ring seal surface 81.

[0175] According to a second exemplary method, the connection nipple 16 can then be screwed into the corresponding inner thread of the connector head 14. Then, the air/oil separator element 12 can be screwed with the housing cover 28 forward coaxially to the assembly axis 30 onto the connection nipple 16. The oil outlet sealing device 92 and the surrounding sealing device 94 are thereby respectively activated.

[0176] For removal, the air/oil separator element 12 is either screwed off from the connection nipple 16 with respect to the assembly axis 30, or the air/oil separator element 12 is screwed off together with the connector nipple 16 from the connector head 14.

[0177] In FIGS. 9 to 13 is shown a second exemplary embodiment of an air/oil separator apparatus 10 in various representations. In the second exemplary embodiment, an axial extension of the connector nipple 16 in the element interior 34 is less than in the first exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8. Further, the connector head 14 is shown in more detail in the second exemplary embodiment.

[0178] In FIG. 14 is shown a third exemplary embodiment of an air/oil separator apparatus 10. Unlike the first exemplary embodiment, the oil outlet seal 56 in the second exemplary embodiment has an O-ring seal 166 instead of the sealing lips. The O-ring seal 166 is disposed in a corresponding sealing groove on the radially outer circumferential side of the hollow cylindrical section 58 of the support ring 54. The O-ring seal 166 seals analogously to the sealing lips 66 of the first two exemplary embodiments against the connection-side sealing surface 68 in the radial direction.

In Reference to FIGS. 15 to 22

[0179] In the third embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 15 through 22, an air/oil separator apparatus 100 for separating liquid from air is illustrated. The air/oil separator apparatus 100 has a cup-shaped housing assembly 10 wherein the basic member of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10 is preferably a cup-shaped housing body or housing cup 11. The cup-shaped housing body or housing cup 11 has a housing bottom 41 and an open end face. A filter element is arranged in the interior of the housing assembly 10, or its housing body 11, wherein the filter element is, for example, a so-called spin-on filter, and is embodied as an annular coalescing element. As a filter medium, the filter element comprises glass fiber material 210 that is configured in a multi-coiled annular arrangement and delimited by two end disks 30, 40. As a further filter medium, in the interior of the glass fiber coil 210 a nonwoven 220 is arranged.

[0180] For closing its open end face, the cup-shaped housing assembly 10 has a housing cover 20. This housing cover 20 has an opening 21 (see FIG. 18) for discharging the filtered clean air. This opening 21 is arranged centrally in the housing cover 20. The area of the housing cover 20 that surrounds the opening 21 is substantially cylindrical, in particular of a circular cylinder shape, for example, designed as an annular collar of the housing cover.

[0181] The opening 21 receives the nipple 50 which extends through the housing cover 20 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10 and of the housing body 11. The housing cover 20 is detachably connectable to the nipple 50.

[0182] The connecting section 26 of the housing cover 20 that is detachably connectable to the nipple 50 is designed such that, in the connected state of the housing cover 20 with the nipple 50, at least one liquid drain 28, for example, an oil passage or a connecting passage, is disposed between housing cover 20 and nipple 50 for draining the separated liquid from the interior 70 of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10.

[0183] As illustrated in FIGS. 15 through 19, the liquid drain 28 can be formed by at least one groove or channel-like recess 28 of the connecting section 26 of the housing cover 20 that is connectable to the nipple 50 and that is, for example, an inner thread of the housing cover 20. The groove or recess 28 extends in axial direction from the inner side 24 of the housing cover 20 that is facing the interior 70 of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10 to the outer side 25 of the housing cover 20 which is facing away from the interior 70 of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10.

[0184] The liquid drain 28 can be, for example, formed by a drainage groove which is arranged in the thread (not illustrated) of the housing cover 20 and/or in the thread (not illustrated) of the nipple 50.

[0185] As an alternative to a screw connection, the nipple 50 can also be connected by means of a bayonet coupling with the housing cover 20.

[0186] The liquid drain 28 enables between nipple and housing cover a permanent drainage or emptying in the completely connected state, for example, screwed-on state, of nipple 50 and housing cover 20.

[0187] The liquid drain 28 is correlated with the clean air side of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10. The liquid collects in the collecting chamber 230 that is embodied preferably as a depression in the open end disk 40 of the filter element 210, 220 and is formed at least partially by the annular projection 42.

[0188] For draining the separated liquid, the drain 28 is connected with a drainage channel 86 of the connecting head 80.

[0189] For supply of raw air to the cup-shaped housing assembly 10, the housing cover 20 has at least one raw air inlet 22, 23 which is arranged off-center. The flow of the air is indicated in FIG. 1 by means of arrows in dashed lines. To avoid crowding of the drawing, the arrows are only shown in the left half of the drawing. For sealing the raw air side relative to the environment, a seal 61 is provided that can be contacted and compressed in axial direction relative to the connecting head or socket 80. The seal 61 is usually an annular seal and is attached to the housing cover 20.

[0190] At a spacing to the housing cover 20 a collar 54 extending in radial direction is provided on the nipple 50. Between housing cover 20 and collar 54, a seal 60 is provided that seals the raw air inlet 22, 23 relative to the liquid drain 28.

[0191] The seal 60, as illustrated in FIG. 15, can be provided with a fixation nose that extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10 for clamping the sealing surface 60 on the housing cover 20. In this context, the fixation nose 62 is arranged in a liquid drain 28.

[0192] In addition to the sealing surface 60 arranged at the outer side 26 of the housing cover 20 that is facing away from the interior 70 of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10, the cup-shaped housing assembly 10, for sealing between the liquid drain 28 and the raw air inlet 22, has also at least one seal 64 which is arranged on the inner side 24 of the housing cover 20 which is facing the interior 70 of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10. This further seal 64 in the illustrated embodiment is arranged between an annular projection 42 of an end disk 40 at an end face of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10 and the inner side 24 of the housing cover 20.

[0193] For discharging the clean air from the cup-shaped housing assembly 10, the nipple 50 has a central clean air outlet 52 which is monolithically formed with the nipple 50. The clean air outlet 52 extends into the filter element 210, 220 in particular approximately to the center of the filter element 210, 220.

[0194] On the side of the nipple which is facing away from the cup-shaped housing assembly 10, the nipple is detachably connectable with a connecting head 80 for connecting the air/oil separator apparatus 100 to a component of a power machine.

[0195] In contrast to the prior art, the nipple 50 is therefore formed only of a single part instead of, as is conventional, being comprised of the nipple body and an inserted additional tube for providing an annular gap as a liquid drain. In contrast to the prior art, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 21 there is no sealing seat and no O-ring within the corresponding spin-on filter. In this way, a further cost advantage is provided. In order to still have a sealing action between the drain and the raw side, an additional sealing surface 60 is provided, for example, a plastic seal.

Reference Characters used in FIGS. 15 Through 22

[0196] In regard to FIGS. 15 through 21, the reference characters that are employed herein and the elements to which they refer are explained briefly in the following.

[0197] Number 10 refers to a cup-shaped, in particular hood-shaped or circular cylindrical cup-shaped housing assembly of the air/oil separator apparatus 100, in particular an air/oil separator box, for example, the housing of a spin-on filter.

[0198] Number 11 is the housing cup or housing body as a basic member of the housing assembly 10.

[0199] Number 20 refers to the housing cover that closes off the cup-shaped housing body 11 of the housing assembly 10.

[0200] Number 21 refers to an opening of the housing cover 20, in particular a centrally arranged opening of the housing cover 20.

[0201] Number 22 refers to a first raw air inlet, in particular a first off-center passage of the housing cover 20 for the incoming raw air.

[0202] Number 23 refers to a further raw air inlet, in particular a further off-center passage, of the housing cover 20 for supply of raw air.

[0203] Number 24 refers to an inner side of the housing cover 20 which is facing the interior 70 of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10.

[0204] Number 25 refers to the outer side of the housing cover 20 which is facing away from the interior 70 of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10.

[0205] Number 26 identifies the connecting section that is detachably connectable to the nipple 50 and that is in particular an inner thread, for example, of an annular collar of the housing cover 20.

[0206] Number 28 refers to a liquid drain arranged between housing cover 20 and nipple 50 that is in particular a drain groove or spiral recess in the connecting section 26 of the housing cover 20 that is connectable with the nipple 50. For example, it is a drain groove or spiral recess in the inner thread of the housing cover 20, for example, a thread of the housing cover 20 that is cut deeper into the housing cover.

[0207] Number 30 refers to a bottom-side end disk of the filter element.

[0208] Number 40 refers to an end disk at the opposite end face of the filter element.

[0209] Number 41 refers to the closed housing bottom of the cup-shaped housing body 11 of the housing assembly 10.

[0210] Number 42 is an annular projection of the end disk 40.

[0211] Number 50 indicates a nipple for detachable connection of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10 with a connecting head 80 of a power machine, in particular a compressor, for example, a compressed air compressor. In particular, the nipple 50 is an axial screw-on nipple, for example, a tubular socket, for example, a threaded tubular socket (first embodiment, see FIGS. 15-21).

[0212] Number 52 is a clean air outlet of the nipple 50 for discharging the clean air from the cup-shaped housing assembly 10, in particular a central passage for discharging the clean air.

[0213] Number 54 is a radial projection, in particular collar, of the nipple 50.

[0214] Number 56 is a connecting section of the nipple that is detachably connectable to the cup-shaped housing assembly 10, in particular with the housing cover 20; connecting section 56 is, for example, an outer thread of the nipple 50.

[0215] Number 60 is a sealing surface, in particular a seal, for example, an annular seal (see FIG. 15), arranged at the outer side 26 of the housing cover 20 that is facing away from the interior 70 of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10.

[0216] Number 61 is the outer sealing surface, in particular a seal, for example, annular second seal for sealing the raw air side or the raw air inlet relative to the environment.

[0217] Number 62 is a fixation element, for example, a fixation nose, extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10 for clamping the sealing surface 60 on the housing cover 20.

[0218] Number 64 indicates a seal for sealing between liquid drain 28 and raw air inlet 22, the seal being arranged at the inner side 24 of the housing cover 20 which is facing the interior 70 of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10.

[0219] Number 70 refers to the interior of the cup-shaped housing assembly 10.

[0220] Number 72 is a spring, for example, a coil pressure spring.

[0221] Number 80 refers to a connecting head, in particular a receiving head or a separator head or receiving flange, for connecting the air/oil separator apparatus 100 to a component of a power machine, in particular a compressor, for example, a compressed air compressor.

[0222] Number 82 refers to a first raw air inlet of the connecting head 80 that is in particular a first passage that is off-center and in particular provided for inflow of raw air.

[0223] Number 84 refers to a further raw air inlet of the connecting head 80 that is in particular an off-center passage for supply of raw air.

[0224] Number 86 is a drain passage of the connecting head 80 for draining the separated liquid.

[0225] Number 100 is an air/oil separator apparatus, in particular a filter system, for separating liquid and air, in particular an aerosol which is formed of liquid, wherein the liquid is for example oil, fuel, hydraulic liquid, or cooling medium.

[0226] Number 210 is a first filter medium of the filter element which is formed as an annular coalescing element and which is in particular a glass fiber material of a multi-coiled configuration.

[0227] Number 220 refers to a further filter medium of the filter element configured as an annular coalescing element, the further filter medium being in particular a nonwoven.

[0228] Number 230 refers to the liquid collecting chamber in the interior of the filter element.

[0229] Number 280 is a liquid drain that is arranged between the housing cover 20 and the nipple 50 and that is embodied as at least one through bore of the housing cover 20.

[0230] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.