FILTER SYSTEM AND FILTER ELEMENT

Abstract

A filter system and a filter element of the filter system having a recess arranged on an outside of the filter element and at least one coding element arranged on a circumference of an end cap of the filter element. At least one coding pin is arranged on an inside of a bottom housing part for cooperating with the recess when the filter element is inserted in the housing. The bottom housing part includes a circular shield having a slot extending in the axial direction, wherein the slot is configured to receive the coding element of the filter element when the filter element is inserted in the housing.

Claims

1. A filter system comprising a housing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a filter element accommodated in the housing along an axial direction for filtering a fluid flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, the filter element comprising a filter bellows with a first end face and along the axial direction an opposite second end face, wherein at least one of the first end face and the second end face comprises an end cap, wherein a recess is arranged on an outside of the end cap, the recess extending in the axial direction, wherein at least one coding element is arranged on a circumference of the end cap, wherein at least one coding pin is arranged on an inside of a bottom housing part of the housing, the coding pin configured for cooperating with the recess when the filter element is inserted in the housing, wherein the bottom housing part comprises a circular shield in a coaxial arrangement with the filter element, the shield comprising a slot extending in the axial direction, wherein the slot is configured to receive the coding element of the filter element when the filter element is inserted in the housing, wherein, with respect to the axial direction, a first angle between an angular position of the coding element of the filter element and an angular position of the recess matches a second angle between an angular position of the slot of the bottom housing part and an angular position of the coding pin.

2. The filter system according to claim 1, wherein a bolt circle is arranged in the bottom housing part, at least partly circumferentially around the axial direction for accommodating the coding pin at the bottom housing part.

3. The filter system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one coding pin is non-detachably connected to the bottom housing part and/or the at least one coding pin forms an integral part of the bottom housing part.

4. The filter system according to claim 1, wherein the recess of the filter element is at least partly extending into the filter bellows, and wherein the recess in the filter bellows is formed by cutting the filter bellows or by spreading pleats of the filter bellows.

5. The filter system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one coding element is non-detachably connected to the end cap and/or forms an integral part of the end cap.

6. The filter system according to claim 1, wherein an at least partially circumferential ring is arranged at the end cap, the circumferential ring providing a multitude of fixation elements for accommodating the at least one coding element at the end cap, and wherein the at least one coding element is connected to a corresponding one of the fixation elements of the circumferential ring.

7. The filter system according to claim 6, wherein the at least partially circumferential ring forms an integral part of a center pipe of the filter element.

8. The filter system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one coding element forms an integral part of a center pipe of the filter element or the at least partially circumferential ring.

9. A filter element for a filter system comprising a filter bellows with a first end face and along an axial direction an opposite second end face, wherein at least one of the first end face and the second end face comprises an end cap, wherein at least one recess is arranged on an outside of the end cap, the recess extending in the axial direction for cooperating with a coding pin of a housing of the filter system, wherein at least one coding element is arranged at an outer circumference of the end cap for cooperating with a slot of a circular shield of a bottom housing part of the filter system, wherein the coding element is arranged with a spacing along the axial direction from the at least one of the first end face and the second end face, and wherein, with respect to the axial direction, a first angle between an angular position of the coding element of the filter element and an angular position of the recess matches a second angle between an angular position of the slot of the bottom housing part and an angular position of a coding pin of the filter system.

10. The filter element according to claim 9, wherein the recess of the filter element is at least partly extending into the filter bellows, and wherein the recess in the filter bellows is formed by cutting the filter bellows or by spreading pleats of the filter bellows.

11. The filter element according to claim 9, wherein the at least one coding element is non-detachably connected to the end cap and/or forms an integral part of the end cap.

12. The filter element according to claim 9, wherein an at least partially circumferential ring is arranged at the end cap, the circumferential ring providing a multitude of fixation elements for accommodating the at least one coding element at the end cap, and wherein the at least one coding element is connected to a corresponding one of the fixation elements of the circumferential ring.

13. The filter element according to claim 12, wherein the at least partially circumferential ring forms an integral part of a center pipe of the filter element.

14. The filter element according to claim 12, wherein the at least one coding element forms an integral part of a center pipe of the filter element or of the at least partially circumferential ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0044] Exemplary embodiments of the present application are shown in the accompanying drawings. The drawings, the description, and the appended claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into sensible further combinations.

[0045] FIG. 1 shows an isometric exploded view of a filter system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows another isometric exploded view of the filter system according to FIG. 1.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of a filter element according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of a coding element of the filter element according to FIG. 3.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a bottom housing part of the filter system according to FIG. 1.

[0050] FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of a coding pin of the bottom housing part of the filter system according to FIG. 1.

[0051] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the filter system according to FIG. 1 with an intersection plane A-A marked.

[0052] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the filter system according to FIG. 1 in the intersection plane A-A with an intersection plane C-C marked.

[0053] FIG. 9 shows another top view of the filter system according to FIG. 1.

[0054] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the filter system according to FIG. 1 in the intersection plane C-C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In the drawings, like elements are referred to with like reference numerals. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the present application. Moreover, the drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the appended claims.

[0056] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show two isometric exploded views of a filter system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application, in two different perspectives. The filter system 100 may particularly be used for air filtering, for example in industrial applications.

[0057] The filter system 100 comprises a housing 110 with a fluid inlet 102 and a fluid outlet 108. Only a bottom housing part 112 is shown, where the fluid inlet 102 and the fluid outlet 108 may be located. An upper housing part for tightly closing the housing 110 is omitted. The filter system 100 further comprises a filter element 10 being accommodated in the housing 110 along an axial direction L for filtering a fluid, for example air, flowing from the fluid inlet 102 to the fluid outlet 108.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the filter element 10 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0059] The filter element 10 comprises a filter bellows 12 with a first end face 14 and along the axial direction L an opposite second end face 16. Both end faces 14, 16 comprise an end cap 18, 20 for a stable mounting and sealing in the housing 110. The end caps 18, 20 for example may be manufactured from foamed polyurethane (PUR) material or other sealing material, for example an elastomer. The filter bellows 12 for example may be manufactured from a pleated filter medium.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 3, a recess 30 is arranged on an outside 22 of the first end face 14 in the first end cap 18, which is an open end cap 18, the recess 30 extending in the axial direction L. The recess 30 of the filter element 10 is partly extending into the filter bellows 12. In particular, the recess 30 in the filter bellows 12 may be formed by cutting the filter bellows 12, for example by laser cutting the filter bellows 12. Alternatively, the recess 30 may be formed by spreading pleats of the filter bellows 12.

[0061] A coding element 32 is arranged on an outer circumference 24 of the open end cap 18. The coding element 32 is arranged with a predetermined spacing along the axial direction L from the first end face 14. The spacing between a proximal end of the coding element 32 that faces the first end face 14 and the first end face 14 may, for example, range between 5% and 25% of a total length of the filter bellows 12 in the axial direction L, for example between 7% and 15% of a total length of the filter bellows 12 in the axial direction L.

[0062] For this purpose, an at least partially circumferential ring 34 is arranged at the end cap 18. The circumferential ring 34 provides a multitude of fixation elements 36, for example of preferably uniformly spaced individual fixation elements 36, for accommodating the coding element 32 at the end cap 18. In particular, the coding element 32 may be connected to the fixation elements 36 of the circumferential ring 34, for example by a snap-in connection.

[0063] In another embodiment the at least partially circumferential ring 34 may form an integral part of a center pipe 38 of the filter element 10. The center pipe 38 supporting the filter bellows 12 is located on an inside of the filter element 10 as best shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of the coding element 32 of the filter element 10. The coding element 32 is provided with an opening 42 for mounting the coding element 32 on the fixation elements 36 of the circumferential ring 34. The coding element 32 may be non-detachably fixed on the fixation element 36 by welding or gluing. Snap-in connection may also be possible.

[0065] The coding element 32 may be non-detachably connected to the end cap 18.

[0066] In an alternative embodiment the coding element 32 may directly form an integral part of the end cap 18.

[0067] In a further alternative embodiment, the coding element 32 may directly form an integral part of the center pipe 38 of the filter element 10.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a bottom housing part 112 of the filter system 100 according to FIG. 1.

[0069] A coding pin 130 is arranged on an inside 114 of the bottom housing part 112 of the housing 110. The coding pin 130 is configured for cooperating with the recess 30 when the filter element 10 is inserted in the housing 110.

[0070] A bolt circle 134 may be arranged in the bottom housing part 112, at least partly circumferentially around the axial direction L, for accommodating the coding pin 130 at the bottom housing part 112.

[0071] FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of the coding pin 130. The coding pin 130 may be non-detachably connected to the bottom housing part 112, for example by welding or gluing.

[0072] In an alternative embodiment the coding pin 130 may form an integral part of the bottom housing part 112.

[0073] As best shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the bottom housing part 112 further comprises a circular shield 116 in a coaxial arrangement with the filter element 10. The shield 116 is used for protection of the filter bellows 12 from for example particles in the fluid entering from the fluid inlet 102.

[0074] The shield 116 in the embodiment shown comprises a slot 132 extending in the axial direction L. The slot 132 is configured to receive the coding element 32 of the filter element 10 when the filter element 10 is inserted in the housing 110.

[0075] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the filter system 100 according to FIG. 1 with an intersection plane A-A marked.

[0076] In the side view in FIG. 7 the filter element 10 is mounted in an intended position in the bottom housing part 112. In this view the distance 118 between the shield 116 and the diameter 26 of the filter element 10 is marked.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the filter system 100 in the intersection plane A-A of FIG. 7 with an intersection plane C-C marked.

[0078] In the top view in FIG. 8 the cooperation of the coding element 32 at the filter element 10 and the slot 132 of the shield 116 of the bottom housing part 112 as well as of the coding pin 130 of the bottom housing part 112 and the recess 30 in the filter element 10 is clearly seen when the filter element 10 is in its intended position in the bottom housing part 112.

[0079] This cooperation is focused in FIG. 9 where another top view of the filter system 100 is shown. Here it is to be seen, that, with respect to the axial direction L, a first angle 40 between an angular position of the coding element 32 of the filter element 10 and an angular position of the recess 30 matches a second angle 140 between an angular position of the slot 132 of the bottom housing part 112 and an angular position of the coding pin 130. This matching is a requirement that the filter element 10 with defined recess 30 and coding element 32 can be inserted into the bottom housing part 112 with defined coding pin 130 and slot 132 in a correct position.

[0080] If an angle 40 between the coding element 32 and the recess 30, as well as between the coding pin 130 and the slot 132 of the shield 116, is the same, the filter element 10 can be inserted into the bottom housing part 112. If the angles 40, 140 are different, mounting of the filter element 10 is no longer possible. A change of the coding angles 40, 140 creates a new filter variant.

[0081] In the embodiment shown angles 40, 140 of 78 are chosen between the coding element 32 and the recess 30, as well as between the coding pin 130 and the slot 132, respectively.

[0082] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the filter system 100 in the intersection plane C-C of FIG. 8. In this view the mounting of the filter element 10 at the bottom of the bottom housing part 112 is to be seen when the filter element 10 is in a final position in the housing 110 for an intended use of the filter system 100 when the housing 110 is closed by an upper housing part which is not shown.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0083] 10 filter element [0084] 12 filter bellows [0085] 14 end face [0086] 16 end face [0087] 18 end cap [0088] 20 end cap [0089] 22 outside [0090] 24 outer circumference [0091] 26 diameter [0092] 30 recess [0093] 32 coding element [0094] 34 circumferential ring [0095] 36 fixation element [0096] 38 center pipe [0097] 40 first angle [0098] 42 opening [0099] 100 filter system [0100] 102 fluid inlet [0101] 108 fluid outlet [0102] 110 housing [0103] 112 bottom housing part [0104] 114 inside [0105] 116 circular shield [0106] 118 distance [0107] 130 coding pin [0108] 132 slot [0109] 134 bolt circle [0110] 140 second angle [0111] L axial direction