FILTER DEVICE HAVING A FILTER ELEMENT

Abstract

A filter device is provided with a filter element for filtering a fluid. The filter element has a filter medium body with an end plate arranged at an end face of the filter medium body in relation to a longitudinal axis of the filter medium body. A filter base housing receives the filter element. An assembly component for assembly and disassembly of the filter element in the filter base housing is connectable to the end plate and to the filter base housing by rotation about the longitudinal axis. The assembly component has interlocking elements. An interlocking counter element is arranged at the end plate. The interlocking elements may be brought into axial interlocking connection with the interlocking counter element, while enabling a free rotatability in rotational direction about the longitudinal axis. The interlocking counter element is a circumferential interlocking collar with insertion ramps for insertion of the interlocking elements.

Claims

1. A filter element comprising: a filter medium body having an end plate arranged at an end face of the filter medium body in relation to a longitudinal axis of the filter element; an interlocking counter element arranged at the end plate comprising a circumferentially extending interlocking collar having one or more insertion ramps configured to permit assembly and disassembly of the filter element with an assembly component of a filter device.

2. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking counter element of the filter element is arranged at an axially projecting sleeve of the end plate.

3. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the one or more insertion ramps are formed slotted and define a guide-shape.

4. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking counter element is configured for an axial interlocking connection with the assembly component of the filter device by a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the filter element.

5. The filter element according to claim 4, wherein the axial interlocking connection of the interlocking counter element of the filter element with the assembly component of the filter device enables a free rotatability in a rotational direction about the longitudinal axis of the filter element.

6. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the filter medium body is configured to surround an interior flow chamber of the filter element.

7. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the one or more insertion ramps of the interlocking counter element is/are configured for insertion of the assembly component of the filter device comprising one or more interlocking elements.

8. The filter element according to claim 7, wherein the assembly component of the filter device is configured to connect to the end plate of the filter medium body and to a filter base housing of the filter device by a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis.

9. The filter element according to claim 7, wherein the one or more of the interlocking elements are configured to be brought into an axial interlocking connection with the one or more insertion ramps of the interlocking counter element, while enabling a free rotatability in a rotational direction about the longitudinal axis of the filter element.

10. The filter element according to claim 7, wherein the assembly component of the filter device is configured to be attached and detached to/from a filter base housing of the filter device by a threaded connection.

11. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the end plate of the filter medium body comprises an axially projecting sleeve, and wherein the circumferentially extending interlocking collar is formed as a radially projecting collar at the axially projecting sleeve of the end plate.

12. The filter element according to claim 11, wherein the axially projecting sleeve comprises an end face having a central recess with a lowest point in relation to the longitudinal axis of the filter element positioned at an inlet of the one or more insertion ramps of the circumferentially extending interlocking collar.

13. The filter element according to claim 11, wherein the axially projecting sleeve forms a flow component connected in fluid communication to an interior flow chamber of the filter element.

14. The filter element according to claim 13, wherein the assembly component of the filter device comprises an axially extending flow socket having one or more interlocking elements configured to engage the circumferentially extending interlocking collar at the axially projecting sleeve of the end plate of the filter medium body.

15. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the circumferentially extending interlocking collar comprises at least two of the one or more insertion ramps that are arranged diametrically opposite each other on the circumferentially extending interlocking collar.

16. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the one or more insertion ramps of the circumferentially extending interlocking collar are oriented at an acute angle relative to a rotational movement of the filter device relative to the filter element.

17. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein a transition of a wall section delimiting each of the one or more insertion ramps is rounded toward a bottom side of the circumferentially extending interlocking collar.

18. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the filter medium body comprises a first end plate and a second end plate axially opposite the first end plate, wherein a flattened portion is arranged at an outer edge of at least one of the first end plate and the second end plate, and wherein the flattened portion is configured to engage with an axial guide rib of the filter device to position the filter element in a circumferential direction relative to the filter device.

19. A filter device comprising: a filter element comprising a filter medium body for filtering a fluid; a filter base housing configured to receive the filter element; and a cover for closing the filter base housing and comprising an assembly component for assembly and disassembly of the filter element; wherein the filter element comprises an interlocking counter element arranged at the filter medium body, the interlocking counter element comprising a circumferentially extending interlocking collar having one or more insertion ramps configured to permit the assembly and the disassembly of the filter element by the assembly component of the cover, while enabling a free rotatability of the cover relative to the filter element in a rotation direction about a longitudinal axis of the filter device.

20. The filter device according to claim 19, wherein the one or more insertion ramps of the interlocking counter element is/are configured for insertion of the assembly component of the cover comprising one or more interlocking elements that are configured to be brought into an axial interlocking connection with the one or more insertion ramps of the interlocking counter element, while enabling the free rotatability in the rotational direction about the longitudinal axis of the filter device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] Further advantages and expedient embodiments may be taken from the following figure descriptions, detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a filter device with a filter base housing, in which a filter element is received, and with a cover attachable to the filter base housing and providing at the same time an assembly component.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the cover from below.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the filter element from above.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the filter element from below.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the filter base housing, partially sectioned.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows the filter device with the filter element inside the filter base housing and attached cover, partially sectioned.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a section according to section line VII-VII of FIG. 6.

[0036] FIG. 8 shows a diagram with the axial course of the cover and of the filter element during disassembly, illustrated across a complete revolution of the cover.

[0037] In the drawings, same components are identified with same reference characters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] In the following, reference is being had to the filter device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 in connection with the further figures.

[0039] The filter device 1 is employed for filtration of a liquid or gaseous fluid and comprises a filter housing with a cup-shaped filter base housing 2 and a cover 3, which may be placed onto the open side of the filter base housing 2, as well as a filter element 4 which is inserted in the filter base housing 2. The filter element 4 is configured as a hollow cylindrical round filter element and comprises a filter medium body 5 as well as end face end plates 6 and 7 which are arranged at the axial end faces of the filter medium body 5 and cover them.

[0040] The filter medium body 5, in relation to the longitudinal axis 8 of the filter device 1 and of the filter element 4, is flowed through radially from the exterior to the interior. The filter medium body 5 is comprised of a folded filter material (FIG. 7). The filter medium body 5 surrounds an interior flow chamber 9 which is surrounded by a support grid 10 of the filter element 4. The filter medium body 5 is located at the outer side of the support grid 10. From the interior flow chamber 9, the purified fluid is discharged axially in upward direction. For this purpose, an axially projecting sleeve 11 providing a flow component connected to the flow chamber 9 is integrally formed at the upper end plate 6.

[0041] The upper end plate 6 as well as the end plate 7 each are provided with a circumferential annular groove in which a seal ring 12, 13 is received, respectively. In the mounted state according to FIG. 6, the seal rings 12, 13 seal-tightly rest against the inner wall of the receiving filter base housing 2.

[0042] The cover 3 of the filter housing has, on the one hand, the function of closing in the mounted state the open end face of the filter base housing 2. On the other hand, the cover 3 also has an assembly and disassembly function for the filter element 4. During assembly, the filter element 4 is inserted into the filter base housing 2 and fixed; during disassembly, the fixation is released and the filter element 4 is removed from the filter base housing 2. Accordingly, the cover 3 also forms an assembly component for the filter element 4.

[0043] The cover 3 is provided at its outer circumference with a thread 14 that may be screwed into a corresponding inner thread at the inner wall of the filter base housing 2 neighboring the opening of the filter base housing 2. The cover 3 comprises in addition a flow socket 15 which is arranged centrally in the cover 3 and may be placed on the sleeve 11. In the mounted state, the flow socket 15 is coaxial to the sleeve 11 so that the flow socket 15 and the sleeve 11 provide a common flow path for discharging the purified fluid from the interior flow chamber 9.

[0044] The sleeve 11 and the flow socket 15 enable an interlocking connection in axial direction between the end plate 6, and thus also the filter element 4, and the cover 3. The interlocking connection in axial direction permits at the same time the free rotatability of the cover 3 relative to the filter element 4. This leads to the filter element 4 being only axially lowered or lifted, but not carrying out a rotational movement, when the cover 3 is rotated into and rotated out of the filter base housing 2. Therefore, no forces in circumferential direction are acting on the outwardly positioned wall surface of the filter medium body 5.

[0045] The interlocking connection is produced by means of interlocking elements. At the inner wall of the flow socket 15, two interlocking elements 16 are provided which are diametrically opposed and project radially inwardly and have correlated therewith an interlocking counter element in the form of an interlocking collar 17 at the end face of the sleeve 11. The interlocking elements 16 at the flow socket 15 of the cover 3 and the interlocking collar 17 may be brought into an axial interlocking connection that may be released again. At the same time, the free rotatability between cover 3 and end plate 6 is maintained so that the filter element 4 in the filter base housing 2 does not perform a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis 8 when screwing in and unscrewing the cover 3. Accordingly, no forces in circumferential direction are acting on the filter medium body 5.

[0046] The interlocking collar 17 projects radially past the wall surface of the sleeve 11. As soon as the interlocking elements 16 are moved into a position axially below the interlocking collar 17, the interlocking elements 16 are held in axial direction by the interlocking collar 17.

[0047] Two diametrically opposed insertion ramps are provided in the interlocking collar 17. The insertion ramps 18 extend approximately along a straight line which is positioned at an acute angle during release or screwing in of the cover in relation to the rotational movement of the cover 3, which occurs approximately in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 8. The angle in the embodiment is approximately 45. The insertion ramp 18 is oriented such that the cover 3 for insertion of the interlocking elements 16 into the insertion ramps 18 must carry out a release movement whereupon the interlocking elements 16 are moved along the insertion ramps 18 downwardly until the interlocking position is reached below the interlocking collar 17. Subsequently, the cover 3 may be screwed into the filter base housing 2.

[0048] As may be seen for example in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the end face of the sleeve 11 has a central recess whose lowest point is positioned at the inlet of the insertion ramps 18. In this way, the insertion of the interlocking elements 16 is facilitated.

[0049] As may be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, an axial guide rib 19 is provided at the inner wall of the filter base housing 2. A flattened portion 20 which corresponds with the axial guide rib 19 is provided in the outer rim of the lower end plate 7. The guide rib 19 at the filter base housing 2 and the flattened portion at the lower end plate 7 enable and ensure in circumferential direction an unambiguous positioning of the filter element 4 in the filter base housing 2 and form in addition an anti-rotation device for the filter element 4 inserted into the filter base housing 2. It may be expedient to design the axial length of the guide rib 19 such that the flattened portion 20 at the end plate 7 is contacting the guide rib 19 in the inserted state of the filter element 4 in the filter base housing 2.

[0050] The upper end plate 6 comprises no such flattened portion. The axial length of the guide rib 19 is dimensioned such that the upper end plate 6 is positioned axially at a distance from the guide rib 19 in the inserted state. As an alternative, it is possible to provide a corresponding flattened portion also in the upper end plate 6 and to configure the guide rib 19 such that the flattened portions at both end plates contact the guide rib 19 in the inserted state.

[0051] In FIG. 8, a diagram with the axial course of the cover 3 and of the filter element 4 during unscrewing upon disassembly of the filter element 3 from the filter base housing 2 by means of a complete cover revolution of 360 is illustrated. The x-axis indicates the revolution of the cover 3 about the longitudinal axis in degrees, the y-axis the axially increasing distance of cover 3 and filter element 4 from the filter base housing 2 in accordance with the thread pitch of the thread 14 at the cover 3. The dashed course indicates the axial distance of the cover 3, the solid course the axial distance of the filter element 4.

[0052] While the axial course of the cover 3, following the thread pitch, is embodied constant and continuous, there are two stages 4 located at the level of the diametrically opposed insertion ramps 18 in the axial course of the filter element 4. As the interlocking element 16 moves in circumferential direction below the interlocking collar 17, the interlocking element 16 moves axially some distance into the insertion ramp 18 whereby the axial unscrewing of the cover 3 is compensated. The interlocking element 16 moves out of the insertion ramp 18 again upon further rotation of the cover 3 and continues to move below the interlocking collar 17; in this phase, the cover 3 and the filter element 4 perform the same axial movement.

[0053] At a wall section that delimits the insertion ramp 18, at the transition to the bottom side of the interlocking collar 17, a rounded portion 21 (FIG. 1) is provided that facilitates moving of the interlocking element 16 out of the insertion ramp 18.