Filter Element with Central Element for a Filter System

Abstract

A filter element (10) has a filter bellows (12) arranged about the longitudinal axis (L) and having a first end disk (14) on a first end face (26), and a second end disk (16) on a second end face (28). A central element (20) is arranged rotatably about the longitudinal axis (L) relative to the filter bellows (12) in the interior (18) of the filter bellows (12). The central element (20) has one or multiple positioning elements (22, 24) which interact with counter positioning elements (116, 118) of an upper housing part (114) to fix the central element in the upper housing part (114) in a defined angular position. The central element (20) has at least one electrical connector element (32) on the element, electrically contacting at least one electrical connector element (120) on the housing.

Claims

1. A filter element for filtering a fluid, the filter element comprising: a filter bellows surrounding a longitudinal axis (L) extending through a central open interior of the filter bellows; a first end disk arranged on and secured onto a first end face of the filter bellows; a second end disk arranged on and secured onto a second end face of the filter bellows; a central element arranged rotatably about the longitudinal axis (L) relative to the filter bellows and arranged within the interior of the filter bellows, the central element comprising: at least one positioning element which, when assembled as intended into a filter housing, interact with respective counter positioning elements of an upper housing part of the filter housing of a filter system in order to fix the central element in the upper housing part in a defined angular position relative to the one or multiple counter positioning elements; at least one electrical connector element on the central element, which when assembled as intended is included in the filter housing for electrically contacting at least one electrical connector element on the filter housing.

2. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one positioning element is/are designed as pins oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) and projecting axially beyond the end disk.

3. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one positioning element is/are designed a ramp segments which run on at least one radius peripherally.

4. The filter element according to claim 3, wherein two or more ramp segments are distributed peripherally on the at least one radius.

5. The filter element according to claim 3, wherein the at least one positioning element is/are designed as ramp segments projecting beyond the at least one electrical connector element on the element in the longitudinal direction (L), and/or surround the t least one electrical connector element radially.

6. The filter element according to claim 3, wherein the central element has a sleeve segment which surrounds the at least one electrical connector element on the element, wherein the ramp segments is arranged on an outer surface of the sleeve segment.

7. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the central element is designed as a sieve filter.

8. The filter element according to claim 1, further comprising a central tube arranged within the interior of the filter bellows, wherein the central tube surrounds the central element radially, wherein the central tube has a coalescence medium arranged flat on a radial outer side or radial inner side of the central tube.

9. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the second end disk has a centering element configured and adapted to radially center the filter element during assembly as intended in the filter housing.

10. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the first end disk includes a first seal arranged on the first end disk; the second end disk includes a second seal arranged on the second end disk; wherein the first seal and/or the second seal are configured to create an appropriate fluid seal between an untreated fluid side and a treated fluid side of the filter system and/or the surroundings.

11. The filter element according to claim 8, wherein the second seal is arranged on the centering element.

12. The filter element according to claim 10, wherein the central element is arranged radially inside of the first and the second seal.

13. A filter system for filtering a fluid, comprising a filter housing comprising: an upper housing part; and a lower housing part, each arranged on and surrounding a housing axis (M); an inlet socket arranged on the upper housing part to supply a fluid to be filtered, an outlet socket arranged on the upper housing part to discharge the filtered fluid, a filter element arranged in an open interior of the filter housing and separating an untreated fluid side from a treated fluid side in a fluid-tight manner, the filter element comprising: a filter bellows surrounding a longitudinal axis (L) extending through a central open interior of the filter bellows; a first end disk arranged on and secured onto a first end face of the filter bellows; a second end disk arranged on and secured onto a second end face of the filter bellows; a central element arranged rotatably about the longitudinal axis (L) relative to the filter bellows and arranged within the interior of the filter bellows, the central element comprising: at least one positioning element which, when assembled as intended into the filter housing, interacts with respective ones at least one counter positioning element of the upper housing part of the filter housing in order to fix the central element in the upper housing part in a defined angular position relative to the at least one counter positioning element.

14. The filter system according to claim 13, wherein the upper housing part is arranged and configured to rotate against the lower housing part about the housing axis (M) to close off the open interior filter housing.

15. The filter system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one positioning element is/are designed as radial capturing elements, which are designed as half cylinders open on one side, half rings, or ramp counter segments.

16. The filter system according to claim 14, wherein when the upper housing part rotates against the lower housing part about the housing axis (M), with the filter element inserted into the lower housing part, the at least one positioning element is carried along by the respective counter positioning elements.

17. The filter system according to claims 13, wherein the upper housing part has at least one electrical connector element on the housing, configured to connect in a fluid-tight manner with at least one electrical connector element on the element, arranged on the filter element, when the filter housing is closed.

18. The filter system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one electrical connector element on the housing is configured to insert into the at least one electrical connector element on the element.

19. The filter system according to claims 13, wherein the upper housing part has an inward receptacle creating a seal between the untreated fluid side and the treated fluid side and/or to radially center the filter element in the filter housing when interacting as intended with a centering element of the filter element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Further advantages are found in the following description of the drawings. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. The drawings, description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually, and combine them into other appropriate combinations. In the drawings:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a filter element with positioning elements according to one embodiment of the invention, in an isometric depiction;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of the filter element in FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows the filter element in FIG. 1 inserted into a lower housing part, in an isometric depiction;

[0037] FIG. 4 shows an underside view of an upper housing part of a filter system according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of a filter system according to one embodiment of the invention, with the filter element inserted;

[0039] FIG. 6 shows a filter element with positioning elements according to one embodiment of the invention, in an isometric depiction; and

[0040] FIG. 7 shows an underside view of an upper housing part of a filter system according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In the figures the same or similar components are indicated by the same reference numbers. The figures only show examples and should not be considered restrictive.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a filter element 10 with positioning elements 22, 24 according to one embodiment of the invention, in an isometric depiction. The filter element 10 has a filter bellows 12 arranged about a longitudinal axis L, with a first end disk 14 on a first end face 26 and a second end disk 16 on a second end face 28, such that the filter bellows 12 is closed off by the two end disks 14, 16. In addition, the filter element 10 has a central element 20 arranged to rotate about the longitudinal axis L relative to the filter bellows 12 in the interior 18 of the filter bellows 12. The central element 20 has two positioning elements 22, 24 which are included for the purpose of, when assembled as intended, interacting with two or more counter positioning elements 116, 118 of an upper housing part 114 of a filter housing 110 of a filter system 110 in order to fix the central element 20 in the upper housing part 114 in a defined angular position relative to the one or multiple counter positioning elements 116, 118. The two positioning elements 22, 24 are designed as pins 30 oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis L, wherein the pins 30, as well as the central element 20, are made of plastic. The central element 20 has two electrical connector elements 32 on the element, which are included in the filter housing 110 for the purpose of contacting electrical connector elements 120 on the housing when assembled as intended. The second end disk 16 has a centering element 40 which is included to radially center the filter element during assembly as intended in the filter housing 110, and which is designed as a collar which projects axially out of the second end disk 16. A first seal 36 is included on the first end disk 14, and a second seal 38 is included on the second end disk 16 for the purpose of creating an appropriate seal between an untreated fluid side 50 and a treated fluid side 52 of the filter system 100 and/or the surroundings. Both seals can be designed as O-rings. The second seal 38 is attached as a radial seal to the radial outer side of the centering element 40 designed as a collar. The centering element 20 is arranged radially inside of the first and the second seal 36, 38 to thereby be arranged on the treated fluid side of the filter system.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of the filter element 10 in FIG. 1. The general construction of the filter element 10 can be seen in the cross-section. The radial inner side of the filter bellows 12 is supported radially by the central tube 42 against pressure from the radial outer side of the filter bellows 12for example, fluid pressure exerted by the flowing fluid. The central tube 42 itself is surrounded on the radial outer side thereofthat is, between the filter bellows 12 and the central tube 42by a coalescence medium 44, which serves to coagulate smaller water droplets in the fluid being filteredthat is, fuel by way of exampleinto larger water droplets. The larger water droplets can then be separated by the central element 20, which is designed as a sieve filter 34. The central element 20 is mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis L inside the central tube 42, on the treated fluid side 52 of the filter element 10. The central element 20 comprises, on the upper end in FIG. 2, the positioning elements 22, 24, as pins 30 for the purpose of positioning the central element 20 in an upper housing part 114 (illustrated in FIG. 5). Electrical connector elements 32 are also arranged in the central element 20, wherein electrical counter elements in the form of plug connectors can be connected to the same. The filter bellows 12 is closed off by the first end disk 14 on the first end face 26 and the second end disk 16 on the second end face 28. The second end disk 16 comprises the centering element 40 for precise centering in an upper housing part, wherein the radial seal 38 is arranged in the centering element 40, and the radial seal 36 is arranged in the first end disk 14, to seal the untreated fluid side 50 from the treated fluid side 52 of the filter system 100 (illustrated in FIG. 5).

[0044] FIG. 3 shows the filter element 10 in FIG. 1 inserted into a lower housing part 112, in an isometric depiction. The lower housing part 112 is designed as a hollow cylindrical pot, and has a screw thread 126 on an upper edge to close the filter housing against an upper housing part 114 (see FIG. 4).

[0045] FIG. 4 shows an underside view of an upper housing part 114 of a filter system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The upper housing part 114 is likewise designed as a hollow cylindrical pot, and has a counter thread 128 on its lower, inner edge to close the filter housing 110 against the lower housing part 112 illustrated in FIG. 3. The receptacle 124, in the form of a radial socket, is arranged centrally in the interior of the upper housing part 114, as a counter element for the centering element 40 of the filter element 10, as are two counter positioning elements 116, 118 which are designed, as radial capturing elements 122, as half cylinders open on one side. An inlet socket 106 which connects radially, as well as an outlet socket 108 guided centrally out of the upper housing part 114, are arranged on the upper edge of the same.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of a filter system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention, with the filter element 10 inserted. The filter system 100 comprises the filter housing 110 composed of the upper housing part 114 and the lower housing part 112, the inlet socket 106 arranged on the upper housing part 110 to supply a fluid to be filtered, such as fuel for example, the outlet socket 108 arranged on the upper housing part 110 to discharge the filtered fluid, and the filter element 10 which separates an untreated fluid side 50 from a treated fluid side 52 in a fluid-tight manner. The filter element 10 in this case has a filter bellows 12 arranged about the longitudinal axis L of the filter element 10, as well as the central element 20 arranged to rotate about the longitudinal axis L relative to the filter bellows 12 in the interior 18 of the filter bellows 12. The central element 20 has two positioning elements 22, 24 which are included for the purpose of interacting with two counter positioning elements 116, 118 of the upper housing part 114, in order to fix the central element 20 in the upper housing part 114 in a defined angular position relative to the two counter positioning elements 116, 118. The filter system 100 has a housing axis M, wherein the longitudinal axis L of the filter element 10 lies parallel to the same when the filter element 10 is assembled in the filter housing. The positioning elements 22, 24 arranged on the connector element 20 are designed as pins 30 which engage in the radial capturing elements 122 of the upper housing part 114, which are designed as half cylinders or half rings open on one side, and when the lower housing part 112 rotates against the upper housing part 114 about the housing axis M, relative to the filter element 10, with the filter element inserted into the lower housing part 112, are captured by the radial capturing elements 122.

[0047] The central tube 42 is arranged in the interior 18 of the filter bellows 12, surrounding the central element 20 radially, wherein the central tube 20 has a coalescence medium 44 arranged flat on a radial outer side. The central tube 42 or support tube is advantageously arranged in the interior 18 of the filter bellows 12 to mechanically stabilize or support the filter bellows 12, which can be made of a mechanically less-strong material. This support function is particularly advantageous for supporting the filter bellows 12 against the fluid pressure of the flowing fluidby way of example fuel. The filter element 10 illustrated in the embodiment in FIG. 4 is included for the purpose of separating water; for this reason, the central tube 42 is wrapped with the coalescence medium 44. In this way, it is possible to coagulate small water droplets which are emulsified in the fuel into larger water droplets in the coalescence medium 44, to then, by way of example, drip off in the central element 20 designed as a sieve filter and thereby be filtered out of the fuel.

[0048] The lower housing part 112 is arranged to rotate about the housing axis M to close the filter housing 110 against the upper housing part 114, and can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by the screw thread 126 of the lower housing part 112 engaging in the counter screw thread 128.

[0049] During the assembly of the filter element 10 in the filter housing 110, the filter element 10 is inserted into the lower housing part 112, which is, by way of example, the cover of the filter housing 110, and then the lower housing part 112 is placed on the upper housing part 114 and bolted to the same. The filter bellows 12 of the filter element 10 sits in the lower housing part 112, when inserted, with the first seal 36, which runs on the radial outside of the first end disk 14 of the filter bellows 12, for example an O-ring, and is secured by the moment of friction of the seal 36 on the inner side of the lower housing part 112 to prevent the filter bellows 12 from rotating relative to the lower housing part 112. The lower housing part 112, with the inserted filter element 10, is placed on the upper housing part 114 and rotated in the housing axis M against the upper housing part 114 in order to screw the lower housing part 112 into the upper housing part 114. In the process, the central element 20, which is mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis L of the filter element 10 relative to the same, initially rotates with the filter bellows 12.

[0050] At this point, in order to ensure a defined end position of the filter element 10 relative to the upper housing part 114, positioning elements 22, 24 are attached to the central element 20. The upper housing part 114 has counter positioning elements 116, 118 for this purpose. When the upper housing part 112 is rotated with the inserted filter element 10, these positioning elements 22, 24 are captured by the counter positioning elements 116, 118 in the upper housing part 114 after several rotations, such that the central element 20 remains in place and no longer changes its angular position relative to the upper housing part 114. Because the central element 20 is mounted rotatably in the filter element 10, the lower housing part 112 can be screwed in further with the inserted filter element 10, and the positioned alignment of the central element 20 can remain fixed relative to the upper housing part 114, such that there can be an electrical connection of, by way of example, a WIF sensor in the central element 20 and heater in the upper housing part 114, by means of contact pins.

[0051] The upper housing part 114 provides the inward receptacle 124 to create a seal between the untreated fluid side 50 and the treated fluid side 52 and to radially center the filter element 10 in the filter housing 110 when interacting as intended with a centering element 40 of the filter element 10. The upper housing part 114 can also have two electrical connector elements 120 on the housing, which can connect in a fluid-tight manner with two electrical connector elements on the element, arranged on the filter element 10, when the filter housing 110 is closed. For this purpose, the electrical connector element 120 on the housing can be inserted into the electrical connector element 32 on the element.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment according to the invention of the filter element 10. The same has ramp segments 301 running around the periphery as positioning elements 22, 24, which are present on the outer surface of a sleeve component 302 which is part of the central element 18. The sleeve component 302, the ramp segments 301, and the central element 18 are an integrated component which can be produced in particular by an injection molding process, preferably from plastic. Two electrical connector elements 32, designed in this case as contact tongues, are situated inside the sleeve component 302, and can be brought into conductive contact with corresponding contact pins 120 of an upper housing part 114 (see FIG. 7). The sleeve component 301 and the upper axial end of the ramp segments 301 project above the electrical connector elements 32 in the axial direction, such that the same are protected from damage. This is particularly advantageous in practice in the event that the filter element 10 is dropped due to inattentiveness.

[0053] The upper housing part 114 matching the filter element 10 in FIG. 6 is illustrated in FIG. 7. This substantially corresponds in terms of functionality to the upper housing part 114 in FIG. 4; The differences concern the design of the counter positioning elements 116, 118 and the electrical connector elements 120. The counter positioning elements 116, 118 are ramp counter segments 122 which correspond in dimensions and inclination to the ramp segments 301 of the filter element 10. When the filter element 10 is screwed in by means of the thread 128, after a certain installation depth the ramp segments 301 of the filter element 10 come to stop with their truncated ends on the truncated ends of the ramp counter segments 122 of the upper housing part 114, wherein the rotary movement of the central element 18 mounted rotatably in the filter element 10 is halted and the contact tongues 32 of the filter element 10 are aligned to match the contact pins 120 of the upper housing part 114. Upon a further screwing-in of the filter element 10, the contact tongues 32 are then pushed axially over the contact pins 120 and an electrically conductive contact is established.

[0054] In addition, in the illustration shown, the fluid inlet sockets 106 can be seen. Although the fluid outlet socket is hidden, a fluid outlet bore 108 which leads to the outlet socket can be seen on the inner surface of the receptacle segment, wherein the ramp counter segments 122 are present on the same as well. Pos. 200 is an electrical connector which has two pins which are themselves electrically connected to the contact pins 120.