Method for producing a filter element provided with a sealing part

Abstract

A method for producing a filter element provided with a sealing part in which the sealing material is introduced into a casting chamber between two tundish parts when in the non-cured state, and a compensation space connected to the casting chamber for the expansion of the sealing material.

Claims

1. A method for molding a sealing part directly onto a filter element using a mold casting apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing the filter element (5) of a filter media having a flow face and an adjacent lateral side, the flow face is an inflow face or an outflow face; providing the mold casting apparatus (1) including: a first tundish part (2) of the mold casting apparatus, the first tundish part (2) arranged at or proximate to the filter media on the lateral side of the filter element during molding and having a tip portion projecting towards the flow face of the filter element and spaced outwardly away from the lateral side of the filter element forming an open gap therebetween; a second tundish part (3) of the mold casting apparatus, the second tundish part received directly against the filter media at the flow face of the filter element during molding, the second tundish part (3) spaced away from the first tundish part and spaced away from the lateral side of the filter element, wherein the flow face and sidewall of the filter element together with the spaced apart first and second tundish parts form a casting chamber (7) for receiving a sealing material;; wherein the filter element is placed such that a filter element edge portion of the lateral side and flow face forms wall portions of the casting chamber (7), such that the first tundish part (2), the second tundish part (3) with the filter element (5) define the casting chamber (7); wherein the tip portion of the first tundish part (2) in the casting chamber (7) defines a groove in the sealing part (6) having a bottom surface (11) in the groove; wherein the second tundish part (3) in the casting chamber (7) has a recess (12) for defining an opposing sealing surface (12) of the sealing part arranged opposite the bottom surface (11) of the groove; casting the sealing part (6) by steps of: introducing sealing material (7) in a non-cured state into the casting chamber (7); and curing of the sealing material (7) in the casting chamber (7), the curing connecting the sealing part (6) onto the edge portion of the filter element (5) and also forming the groove in the sealing part (6) having the bottom surface (11) and the opposing sealing surface (12) of the sealing part (6); wherein the casting chamber (7) is arranged so that the groove in the sealing part (6) having the bottom surface (11) and the opposing sealing surface (12) are formed on opposite chamber walls of the casting chamber (7).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a polyurethane foam is used as the sealing material.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mold casting apparatus with the filter element therein provides a compensation space into which the sealing material expands during the casting of the sealing part (6), the compensation space in communcation with the casting chamber (7); wherein a compensation end face is formed on an outermost end of the sealing material expanded into the compensation space, the compensation end face having a geometry which varies according to an amount of sealing material used and therefore the compensation end face is not a sealing surface; wherein the compensation end face of the sealing part (6) differs from the sealing surface (11) and the opposing sealing surface (12).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filter element (5) contacts both the first and the second tundish parts and the sealing material is directly cast, injected, or foamed to the edge portion of the filter element (5).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compensation end face of the sealing part (6) abuts at least one sealing surface (11, 12, 13) on the sealing part (6).

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compensation space is arranged as a closed space within one of the tundish parts.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compensation space is formed as an open space in communication with the casting chamber (7).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the open compensation space (8) is arranged between the first and the second tundish parts (2, 3).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a chamfer (18, 19) is formed onto at least one side of the sealing part (6).

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein an axial direction, as defined herein, is a direction normal to a plane defined by the flow face; wherein the tip of the first tundish part projects in an axial direction towards the recess of the second tundish part; wherein the recess of the second tundish part is aligned axially with the projecting tip of the first tundish part.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first tundish part defines the bottom surface (11); and the second tundish part defines the opposing sealing surface (12).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments are described in the further claims, the description of the figures and the drawings. The following is shown:

[0018] FIG. 1 a perspective view of two tundish parts defining a casting chamber for producing a sealing part to a filter element,

[0019] FIG. 2 a section through a filter unit with a filter insert having a filter element and a sealing part molded onto the edge portion of the filter element

[0020] FIG. 3 in one embodiment, two tundish parts for producing a sealing part to a filter element,

[0021] FIG. 4 the filter element according to FIG. 3 in the installed state,

[0022] FIG. 5 a sealing element presented alone,

[0023] FIG. 6 a further sealing element.

[0024] In the figures, identical are provided with the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a casting apparatus 1 with a first tundish part 2 and a second tundish part 3, which serves to produce a filter insert part 4 comprising a filter element 5 and a sealing part 6. Using the casting apparatus 1 with the tundish parts 2, 3, the sealing part 6 can be produced and connected to the edge portion of the filter element 5 by casting or injection molding. Filter element 5 is, for example, an air filter element which consists for example of a folded filter paper and is in a rectangular shape, wherein the edge portion of the filter element 5 is provided with the surrounding sealing part 6 at two filter element sides.

[0026] The two tundish parts 2, 3 define a casting chamber 7, into which the sealing material is introduced in the non-cured state. This takes place advantageously in such a way that initially the two tundish parts 2, 3 are joined together, then the filter element 5 is placed in the intended position and, finally, the sealing material is introduced in the non-cured state into the casting chamber 7. But it is also possible to first introduce the sealing material into the casting chamber and subsequently place the filter element in its intended position in which the edge portion projects into the sealing material. After the curing of the sealing material, tundish parts 2, 3 can be removed, the sealing part 6 will retain its shape and is fixedly connected to the edge portion of the filter element 5.

[0027] A compensation space 8 is introduced in tundish part 2, which is connected to the casting chamber 7 and is formed as a closed space with a U-shaped cross section. Upon being introduced, the sealing material extends well into the compensation space 8. The amount of the introduced sealing material is in this case dimensioned such that even after the curing, the end face 9 of the sealing material projecting into the compensation space 8 is situated at a distance to the bottom or the top 10 of the U-shaped closed compensation space 8. This distance constitutes a compensation margin and makes it possible to compensate for variations in the dimensioning of the sealing material quantity or other process parameters that are determinative for the volume in the cured state.

[0028] The two side sealing surfaces 11 and 12 of the portion of the sealing part 6 projecting into the compensation space 8 are bounded by the opposing chamber walls of the compensation space 8. A sealing force may be exerted on the sealing surfaces 11 and 12 in the installed state of the filter insert part.

[0029] The compensation space 8 and the portion of the sealing part 6 projecting into the compensation space 8 are situated at a distance from the side surface facing the filter element 5. Between the exterior side of the first tundish part 2 and the side surface of the filter element 5, there extends a further portion of the sealing part 6, which surrounds the edge portion of the filter element 5.

[0030] The second tundish 3 defines a further sealing surface 13 to a portion of the sealing part 6. This further sealing surface 13 is situated at a distance from the first two sealing surfaces 11 and 12 which are parallel to one another and correspond to the chamber walls of the compensation space 8. FIG. 2 shows a filter unit 14 having a filter insert part 4 which is produced according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. The filter unit 14 comprises a filter housing 15, in which the filter insert part 4 can be inserted, wherein the sealing part 6 at the edge portion rests against the end face of the filter housing 15 and is contacted by a cover 16 which is attachable to the filter housing 15 by means of a not shown connecting element such as a screw. The contact direction of the sealing force for sealing by means of the sealing surfaces 11 and 12 extends transversely to the flow-through direction of the filter element 5. Thus, it constitutes at least substantially a radial seal. An additional (smaller) component of the sealing force is initiated by the sealing surface 13 parallel to the flow-through direction of the filter element 5.

[0031] In FIGS. 3 and 4, a further embodiment is illustrated. FIG. 3 shows a casting apparatus 1 with two tundish parts 2 and 3, between which a casting chamber 7 is formed for producing a sealing part 6 to a filter element 5, wherein the filter element 5 and the sealing part 6 together form a filter insert part 4. The two tundish parts 2 and 3 of the casting apparatus 1 define a casting chamber 7 for receiving the sealing material 7, with an open compensation space 8 further provided between the two tundish parts 2 and 3, which is open to the exterior, i.e. to the surroundings. Upon introducing sealing material into the casting chamber 7, the sealing material expands into the compensation space 8, which is connected to the casting chamber 7. After curing, an end face 9 is formed at the open end side of the portion of the sealing part 6 projecting into the compensation space, but has no sealing function in the installed state of the filter insert part. The chamber walls of the casting chamber 7, which are respectively formed by side walls of the tundish parts 2 and 3, define the sealing surfaces 11 and 12 of the portion of the sealing part 6 formed in the casting chamber 7.

[0032] FIG. 4 depicts a filter unit 14 with the installed filter insert part 4. The sealing portion 6 is defined by the mutually facing end faces of the filter housing 15 and the cover 16 and receives a sealing force. The contact direction of the sealing force for sealing by means of the sealing surfaces 11 and 12 extends in parallel to the flow-through direction of the filter element 5. Thus, it constitutes at least substantially an axial seal. The free end face 9 projects into a receiving space, however it does not fulfill a sealing function.

[0033] As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, different faces of the sealing part 6 may be provided with a chamfer 18 and 19 respectively. In particular, this facilitates insertion into the filter housing. There may be one or more of such chamfers 18, 19 provided, the angle of which is adapted to the respective installation situation. The chamfers 18, 19 are either already produced during the casting process by providing corresponding chamfers in the tundish parts, or the chamfers on the sealing part 6 can also be produced subsequently by mechanical processing.

[0034] In the tree forms shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sealing surfaces 11 and 12 extend substantially parallel to the flow-through direction of the filter element 5. The contact direction of the sealing force thus extends transversely to the flow-through direction. These cases constitute radial seals.