USE OF A FILTER ELEMENT HAVING A FINE POROUS COATING

Abstract

A filter element for the filtration of the incoming cabin air of vehicles is disclosed. The filter element can be readily regenerated and reused in a dust-loaded environment. The filer element includes a main body formed from at least one filter medium. The main body has an inflow side and an outflow side. The filter element is used as a regenerable filter element for the filtration of the incoming cabin air in a vehicle which is subjected to elevated dust loading. A coating of nanofibers and/or a diaphragm is arranged on the inflow side of the main body.

Claims

1. A method of using a filter element comprising the steps of: providing a filter element including a main body and at least one of a diaphragm and a coating having a plurality of nanofibers, the main body formed from at least one filter medium layer and having an inflow side and an outflow side, the at least one of the diaphragm and the coating disposed on the inflow side of the main body, wherein the at least one of the diaphragm and the coating is fine-porous and regenerable, and is configured to accumulate a dust cake on a surface of the filter element, wherein the dust cake is removable by one of a flushing air and a vibration; and filtering incoming air to a cabin of a vehicle subjected to elevated dust loading with the filter element.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of regenerating the filter element.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the air of the cabin of the vehicle has a dust concentration in a range of about 2 mg/m.sup.3 to about 5 g/m.sup.3.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the air of the cabin of the vehicle has a dust concentration in a range of about 5 mg/m.sup.3 to about 5 g/m.sup.3.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the air of the cabin of the vehicle has a dust concentration in a range of about 500 mg/m.sup.3 to about 5 g/m.sup.3.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is one of a lorry, a construction machine, a compactor, a tracked vehicle, a road mill, a bulldozer, a dumper, a tracked backhoe, a grader, a digger, an excavator, a crane, a harvester, an agricultural machine, a combine harvester, a chipper, a tractor, a self-propelled sprayer, and a forestry vehicle.

7. A method of using a filter element comprising the steps of: providing a filter element including a main body formed from at least one filter medium layer, the main body having an inflow side and an outflow side, the at least one filter medium layer is one of pleated and grooved; providing the inflow side of the main body with one of a diaphragm and a coating having a plurality of nanofibers, wherein the at least one of the diaphragm and the coating is fine-porous and regenerable, and is configured to accumulate a dust cake on a surface of the filter element, wherein the dust cake is removable by one of a flushing air and a vibration; filtering dust from incoming air to a cabin of a vehicle subjected to elevated dust loading having a dust concentration one of greater than and equal to 2 mg/m.sup.3 with the filter element; and regenerating the filter element by the one of the flushing air and the vibration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1A shows a sectional illustration of one embodiment of a filter element;

[0029] FIG. 1B shows a sectional illustration of another embodiment of a filter element;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a filter element which is provided with pleating and grooving;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a filter tube; and

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a filter cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.

[0034] FIGS. 1A and 1B show embodiments of a filter element, comprising a main body 1, the main body 1 can be formed from a first layer 2 of a filter medium and a second layer 3 of a filter medium. The main body 1 has an inflow side 4 and an outflow side 5. A coating 6a or a diaphragm 6b is arranged on the inflow side 4 of the main body 1.

[0035] The coating 6a is a fine porous coating formed of nanofibers. The mean diameter of the nanofibers which are described herein is typically smaller than 200 nm. The diaphragm 6b might be composed of polytetrafluoroethylene. This material is hydrophobic. The diaphragm 6b is a fine porous diaphragm.

[0036] The main body 1 includes the first layer 2 and the second layer 3 which have bicomponent fibres. The first layer 2 in the embodiment shown has a weight per unit area of 110 to 300 g/m.sup.2 and comprises bicomponent fibres from two polyester types.

[0037] The first layer 2 and the second layer 3 are bonded thermally. The second layer 3 in the embodiment shown has a weight per unit area of 40 g/m.sup.2 and comprises bicomponent fibres from two polyester types.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows the filter element according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

[0039] The layers 2, 3 of the main body 1 are pleated. The layers 2, 3 forming the main body 1 have grooves 8. The main body 1 includes the coating 6a or the diaphragm 6b and has pleating, namely folds 7. Furthermore, the grooves 8 are provided which extend substantially transversely with respect to fold tips 9.

[0040] The grooves 8 are formed in the main body 1 and in the coating 6a or the diaphragm 6b.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows the filter element configured as a filter tube.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows the filter element configured as a filter cartridge, namely as a star filter with the main body 1 which is folded in a star-shaped manner and/or the coating 6 which is folded in a star-shaped manner.

[0043] In relation to the filter media, the layers 2, 3, the coating 6a or the diaphragm 6b, and the filter elements which are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 exhibit the same construction as the filter element according to FIGS. 1A and 1B. The filter tube and the filter cartridge can likewise have the grooves 8.

[0044] From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.