Filter device, in particular liquid filter

Abstract

A filter device includes in a filter housing a hollow cylindrical filter element having frontal end plates, a flow opening being made in one of the end plates. In order to interlockingly secure a pipe connection piece that communicates with the flow opening, a cover has a radial collar which forms an axial stop for the pipe connection piece.

Claims

1. A filter device for filtering a fluid, comprising: a filter housing; a cover arranged on the filter housing; a hollow cylindrical filter element inserted into an interior of the filter housing the filter element including: a filter medium for filtering the fluid; end disks on opposing end faces of the filter medium; wherein a first end disk of the end disks has a flow opening extending through the first disk; a radially oriented annular collar arranged on or connected to the cover, the annular collar configured to form an axial stop for attaching, in a positive fit, a pipe connecting piece communicating with the flow opening.

2. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the annular collar is fixedly connected onto the cover such that the collar cannot be lost or detached from the cover.

3. The filter device according to claim 2, wherein the annular collar is integrally formed together with the cover in one piece or separately formed from the cover; wherein the annular collar is permanently fixed to the cover by of: welding, soldering, beading, or gluing.

4. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein a sealing pocket configured to receive a sealing element is formed onto the cover; wherein the sealing pocket is axially delimited and spaced away from the annular collar and/or a segment of the cover.

5. The filter device according to claim 4, wherein the annular collar is axially spaced apart from the cover on an outside of the cover.

6. The filter device according to claim 4, wherein the sealing element is embodied as sealing ring that is retained on the cover.

7. The filter device according to claim 4, wherein the sealing pocket is arranged offset radially inward and spaced awaty from an opposing positive fit pocket.

8. The filter device according to claim 4, wherein the sealing pocket is delimited by a delimiting part embodied separately from the annular collar and arranged directly on the cover.

9. The filter device according to claim 4, further including: a centering element configured to receive the pipe connecting piece is provided on one of the end disks of the filter element.

10. The filter device according to claim 1, further including: two coaxially arranged connectors are provided on an unfiltered side and on a filtered side.

11. The filter device according to claim 10, wherein a sealing element is inserted into each of the two coaxially arranged connectors for the unfiltered side and the filtered side.

12. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the cover and the filter housing are permanently fixed together as one piece; wherein the cover and the filter housing are fixed together by any of: welding, soldering, beading, or gluing.

13. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the filter device is configured and adapted as a disposable filter that is connected to a filter head or a pipe connecting piece.

14. A pipe connecting piece for a filter device according to claim 1, comprising: a connecting segment configured to connect in a positive fit onto the cover or onto a component connected to the cover; wherein, when connected, the pipe connecting piece communicates with the flow opening of the first end disk; wherein the filter element is a hollow cylindrical filter element.

15. The pipe connecting piece according to claim 14, wherein the pipe connecting piece has a common housing in which a supply channel is arranged; and a discharge channel in arranged; wherein the supply channel supplies unfiltered fluid; wherein the discharge channel conveys away filtered fluid.

16. The pipe connecting piece according to claim 15, wherein the supply channel and the discharge channel are arranged coaxially.

17. The pipe connecting piece according to claim 16, wherein the supply channel annularly surrounds the discharge channel.

18. The pipe connecting piece according to claim 14, further comprising: at least one non-return valve integrated into the pipe connecting piece.

19. The pipe connecting piece according to claim 14, further comprising: a pressure control valve; wherein the pipe connecting piece includes a return channel into which the pressure control valve is integrated.

20. The pipe connecting piece according to claim 14, further comprising: an air vent screw integrated into the pipe connecting piece.

21. A pipe connecting piece arrangement for a filter device according to claim 1, comprising: two pipe connecting pieces comprising: a connecting segment configured to connect in a positive fit onto the cover or onto a component connected to the cover; wherein, when connected, the pipe connecting piece communicates with the flow opening of the first end disk; wherein the filter element is a hollow cylindrical filter element; wherein each pipe connecting piece of the two pipe connecting pieces includes: a supply channel; and a discharge channel; wherein the two pipe connecting pieces are arranged parallel to one another and are each configured and adapted to connect onto the cover in a positive fit.

22. A filter system comprising: a filter device comprising: a filter housing; a cover arranged on the filter housing; a hollow cylindrical filter element inserted into an interior of the filter housing the filter element including: a filter medium for filtering the fluid; end disks on opposing end faces of the filter medium; wherein a first end disk of the end disks has a flow opening extending through the first disk; a radially oriented annular collar arranged on or connected to the cover, the annular collar configured to form an axial stop for attaching, in a positive fit, a pipe connecting piece communicating with the flow opening; a pipe connecting piece, comprising: a connecting segment configured to connect in a positive fit onto the cover or onto a component connected to the cover; wherein, when connected, the pipe connecting piece communicates with the flow opening of the first end disk; wherein the filter element is a hollow cylindrical filter element.

23. The filter system according to claim 22, further including: a positive fit pocket arranged between the radially oriented collar and a connecting segment on the pipe connecting piece; a latch inserted into the positive fit pocket and providing the positive fit; wherein the connecting segment axially engages the annular collar.

24. The filter system according to claim 23, wherein the latch is a U-shaped latch or a rectangular latch.

25. The filter system according to claim 23, wherein the latch is configured to move in a direction transverse to an axial direction to move into a positive fit position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Additional advantages and useful embodiments may be found in the other claims, the description of the figures, and the drawings.

[0021] FIG. 1 depicts a fluid filter having an annular or hollow cylindrical filter element in a filter housing, on which a cover is placed and on which a pipe connecting piece is retained in a positive fit;

[0022] FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged detail from the area of the positive fit attachment of the pipe connecting piece to the cover;

[0023] FIG. 3 depicts cover and pipe connecting piece, detached;

[0024] FIG. 4 depicts, in a variant, a connection between pipe connecting piece and cover;

[0025] FIG. 5 depicts, in another variant, a pipe connecting piece in a positive fit connection with the cover;

[0026] FIGS. 6, 7 depict other variants of pipe connecting piece and cover, FIG. 7 illustrating an enlarged detail from FIG. 6;

[0027] FIG. 8 depicts another variant of pipe connecting piece and cover;

[0028] FIG. 9 depicts a fluid filter with integrated pressure control valve in the pipe connecting piece;

[0029] FIG. 10 depicts a fluid filter with integrated non-return valves in the pipe connecting piece, in which pipe connecting piece a supply channel and a discharge channel are arranged coaxially;

[0030] FIG. 11 depicts a fluid filter with integrated air vent screw in the pipe connector part; and

[0031] FIGS. 12 through 14 depict various views of a fluid filter having two separately embodied pipe connecting pieces for the supply and the discharge of the fluid.

[0032] In the drawings, like components are assigned like reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Each of the figures depicts a filter device 1 that is embodied as a fluid filter for filtering fuel, for instance diesel fuel. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 through 3, the filter device 1 has a pot-shaped filter housing 2 that is for receiving an annular or hollow cylindrical filter element 3 and through which the fluid to be filtered flows radially from the outside to the inside. The interior 4 in the filter element 3 consequently forms the filtered side, the radially outwardly disposed surface forms the unfiltered side on the filter element. The axial end faces of the filter element 3 are closed by end disks 5 and 6. Adjacent to the upper end disk 5, which has a central flow opening, a pipe connecting piece 7 having a supply channel 8 for supplying unfiltered fluid and a discharge channel 9 for conveying away filtered fluid may be attached to the filter device 1. The pipe connecting piece 7 may be attached to a cover 10, which is placed onto the open side of the pot-shaped filter housing 2. The cover 10 is securely connected to the filter housing.

[0034] The discharge channel 9 of the pipe connecting piece 7 projects into the central flow opening in the end disk 5 on the filter element 3 and communicates with the interior 4, in which the filtered fluid collects. The filtered fluid is thus conveyed out of the interior 4 via the central flow opening in the end disk 5 and via the discharge channel 9 in the pipe connecting piece 7.

[0035] The pipe connecting piece 7 is embodied as a dual connector having a common housing for the supply channel 8 and the discharge channel 9. Supply channel 8 and discharge channel 9 are arranged concentric to one another, wherein the supply channel 8 has a larger diameter than the discharge channel 9 and surrounds the latter. The channels 8, 9 are connected to tubes for supplying and conveying away the fluid via connecting elements 8a and 9a.

[0036] The unfiltered fluid is supplied via the connecting element 8a and the supply channel 8 to the radially outwardly disposed surface of the filter element 3, through which fluid to be filtered flows radially from the outside to the inside. As described in the foregoing, the fluid is conveyed away from the interior 4 axially via the discharge channel 9 and the connecting element 9a and further via the connected tube.

[0037] The pipe connecting piece 7 is embodied separately from the filter device 1 and is retained on the cover 10 in a positive fit. The positive fit is effected in the direction of the longitudinal filter axis 11 via a curved collar 12 (FIGS. 2, 3), which is embodied separately from the cover 10 but is connected to the cover 10. Added to the cover 10 is a central opening for receiving the pipe connecting piece 7, wherein a radially inwardly curved delimiting segment 13 is molded on the wall delimiting the central opening on the cover 10 and bears the collar 12 that extends radially outward. The collar 12 may be attached by beading the delimiting segment 13 on cover 10.

[0038] A connecting segment 14 is embodied integrally with the housing of the pipe connecting piece 7 and houses a positive fit pocket 15, the connecting segment 14 axially surrounding the radially outwardly oriented collar 12. In order to produce an axially positive fit connection between the pipe connecting piece 7 and the cover 10, a latch 16 is inserted into the positive fit pocket 15 in the connecting segment 14 and engages the radially outwardly oriented segment of the collar 12 according to FIG. 2. At the same time, the latch 16 is retained by the U shaped walls of the connecting segment 14. The latch 16 is embodied, for instance, in a U shape and is inserted via transversely extending recesses in the wall of the connecting segment 14 until it reaches the axially positive fit position. Then the pipe connecting piece 7 is retained on the cover 10 axially in a positive fit.

[0039] The radially inwardly oriented delimiting segment 13 on the cover 10 also delimits a sealing pocket 17 into which a sealing ring 18 retained on the cover 10 is inserted. In the opposing direction, the sealing ring 18 is axially supported by a centering element 19 that is arranged on the end disk 5 and into which the pipe connecting piece 7 may be inserted. The sealing pocket 17 is disposed axially at about the same height as the positive fit pocket 15, but offset radially inwardly relative to the positive fit pocket 15.

[0040] Another sealing element 20 is disposed on the central flow opening that is added to the end disk 5, the discharge channel 9 being positioned against the annular sealing element 20.

[0041] In FIG. 4, the axial positive fit connection between the pipe connecting piece 7 and the cover 10 is the same as in the first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0042] However, in FIG. 4 the centering element 19, which is embodied integrally with the end disk 5, is embodied positioned directly against the outer wall of the discharge channel 9, while in FIGS. 1 through 3 the centering element is arranged spaced radially apart from the discharge channel 9. The axial support of the sealing ring 18 in the sealing pocket is provided via a support element that is also advantageously embodied integrally with the end disk 5 or is arranged at the end disk.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, the collar 12 is embodied integrally with the cover 10. The collar 12 forms the radially outwardly curved end segment of the cover 10 in the area of the wall delimiting the central opening.

[0044] Added to the housing of the pipe connecting piece 7, in the area of the connecting segment 14, is a transversely extending opening into which is inserted a rectangularly embodied latch 16 gripped by the collar 12. This results in an axial positive fit connection between the pipe connecting piece 7 and the cover 10.

[0045] The axially extending wall of the cover 10, which wall delimits the central opening, forms a support for the sealing ring 18 radially outward.

[0046] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7, the collar 12 is embodied separately from the cover 10 and is joined to the cover 10 in a suitable manner, for instance by soldering. On its end facing the cover 10, the collar 12 has a radially outwardly curved segment that, when mounted, engages the transversely inserted rectangular latch 16.

[0047] The sealing pocket 17 for receiving the sealing ring 18 is engaged by a delimiting part 21 that is embodied integrally with the cover and forms the radially inwardly curved end segment in the area of the central opening in the cover. The delimiting part 21 is disposed offset radially inwardly relative to the collar 12. The sealing ring 18 is delimited radially outwardly by a wall 22 that is embodied integrally with the connecting segment 14 on the pipe connecting piece 7.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8, the collar 12 is oriented radially outward and is embodied integrally with a positive fit component 23 that is embodied separately from the cover 10, but is securely connected thereto. The positive fit component 23 with the radially outwardly oriented collar 12 for securing the inserted latch 16 and the connecting segment 14 in a positive fit delimits, radially inwardly, a sealing pocket for receiving the sealing ring 18.

[0049] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 9, the positive fit connection between the pipe connecting piece 7 and the cover 10 is embodied as in the first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 through 3. The pipe connecting piece 7 is also embodied as described in the foregoing as a dual connector with integrated supply channel 8 and discharge channel 9. In addition, the pipe connecting piece 7 is fitted with a pressure control valve 24 that keeps the system fuel pressure upstream of the injection valves at a constant value relative to the intake pressure (fuel differential pressure). Because of this, the injection quantity is dependent only on the actuation period for the injection valves and is reproducible under all operating conditions for the actuation period. Consequently the same quantity of fuel is injected per unit of time at all pressures.

[0050] The pressure control valve 24 is a bypass valve that releases, via a spring-loaded diaphragm, a return channel 26 for the fuel for refuelling when the set pressure is exceeded. The pressure control valve 24 has a negative pressure line to the intake (intake connector 25) so that the absolute fuel pressure may be altered proportionate to the intake pressure.

[0051] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 10, non-return valves 27 and 28 are integrated in the supply channel 8 and discharge channel 9. The non-return valve 27 in the supply channel 8 is disposed in the area of the connecting element 8a, while the non-return valve 28 in the supply channel 9 is positioned directly at the end projecting into the interior of the filter element 3. The non-return valves 27, 28 open in the direction of the regular flow direction of the supply or discharge of unfiltered or filtered fluid and close in the opposing direction.

[0052] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 11, the pipe connecting piece 7 is fitted with an air vent screw 29 that is arranged in the area of the discharge channel 9.

[0053] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 12 through 14, two separately embodied pipe connecting pieces 7a and 7b are provided that are both retained on the cover 10 in a positive fit. The first pipe connecting piece 7a has the supply channel 8, the second pipe connecting piece 7b has the discharge channel 9.

[0054] The pipe connector pieces 7a and 7b are arranged parallel to one another and are both retained on the cover 10 in the same manner in a positive fit. The pipe connecting piece 7b with the discharge channel 9 is arranged centrically, the pipe connecting piece 7a with the supply channel 8 is parallel and offset thereto. Two offset recesses, each for receiving a pipe connecting piece 7a or 7b, are correspondingly arranged offset in the cover 10.

[0055] The positive fit connection is effected in each case using the connecting segment 14 on the pipe connecting piece, to which a lateral opening is added for inserting the rectangular latch 16. When inserted, the latch 16 engages with the collar 12 (FIGS. 13, 14), which is embodied separately from the cover 10 but is joined to the cover 10 using beading.