Housing, Housing Cover and Connecting Part of a Device for Separating at Least One Fluid From a Gas and a Device for the Separation of a Fluid

Abstract

Described is a housing (18) for a separating device (12) for separating fluid from a gas, a housing cover (28) and a connecting part (16) of a device (12) and a device (12) for separating a fluid. The housing (18) has at least one first gas passage (82), which is centrally disposed relative to an axis (30) on a connection device (14). The housing (18) has at least one second gas passage (52), which is disposed radially outside the at least one first gas passage (82) with respect to the axis (30). The housing (18) has at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64) for fluid separated from the gas, which is disposed radially between the at least one first gas passage (82) and the at least one second gas passage (52) with respect to the axis (30). Between the at least one second gas passage (52) and the at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64), at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66) of at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) is disposed, which is configured to sealingly interact with at least one corresponding connection-side fluid outlet sealing part (68) of the connecting part (16), which is provided for connecting the housing (18) with the connection device (14).

Claims

1. A housing (18) of a separating device (12) for separating a fluid from a gas, wherein: the housing having an assembly axis (30) extending longitudinally through the housing, a first axial end of the housing configured to replaceably mount onto a connecting device (14); the housing comprising: at least one first gas passage (82) arranged centrally on the assembly axis (30) of the housing (18) and connecting to the connecting device (14); at least one second gas passage (52) which, with respect to the assembly axis (30), is disposed radially outward from the at least one first gas passage (82); at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64) for fluid separated from the gas disposed with regard to the assembly axis (30) radially between the at least one first gas passage (82) and the at least one second gas passage (52); at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) having at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) wherein between the at least one second gas passage (52) and the at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64), at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) of at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) is disposed; wherein the at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) sealingly interacts with at least one corresponding connection-side fluid outlet sealing part (68) of a connecting part (16), which is provided for connecting the housing (18) with the connection device (14).

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) at least radially sealingly interacts with at least one connection-side fluid outlet sealing part (68) with respect to the assembly axis.

3. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) has a sealing surface acting radially inwardly or outwardly.

4. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) has at least one radially extending sealing lip (66) and/or at least one sealing ring extending radially with respect to the assembly axis.

5. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a housing cover (28); wherein the at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) is formed on at least one support part (54), which is connected in one piece or multiple pieces with the housing cover (28);

6. The housing according to claim 5, wherein the support part has a cylinder-shaped section which extends outwardly from the housing cover; wherein the housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) extends radially inwardly or radially outwardly away from the cylinder shaped section of the support part.

7. The housing according to claim 6, wherein an annular sealing device (94), which is configured to sealingly interact with a connection-side surrounding sealing part (81) of the connection device (14) and/or the connecting part, is disposed between at least one second gas passage (52) and a surrounding portion of at least one housing-side surrounding sealing part (80).

8. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first gas passage (82) has an assembly opening (42) for the at least one connecting part (16); wherein the at least one connecting part (16) is a nipple or a pipe stub; wherein the at least one fluid opening (36, 48, 64) has at least one passage opening (48), which is materially technically separated from the at least one assembly opening (42).

9. The housing according to claim 7, wherein the at least one gas passage (82) and/or the at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64) and/or the at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) and/or the at least one housing-side surrounding sealing part (80) is realized in/on/with the housing cover (28) covering a cup-shaped housing (28).

10. A housing cover (28) of a housing (18) of a separating device (12) separating fluid from a gas, comprising: at least one first gas passage (82) arranged centrally on the assembly axis (30) of the housing (18) and connecting to the connecting device (14); at least one second gas passage (52) which, with respect to the assembly axis (30), is disposed radially outward from the at least one first gas passage (82); at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64) for fluid separated from the gas disposed with regard to the assembly axis (30) radially between the at least one first gas passage (82) and the at least one second gas passage (52); at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) having at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) wherein between the at least one second gas passage (52) and the at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64), at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) of at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) is disposed; wherein the at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) can sealingly interact with at least one corresponding connection-side fluid outlet sealing part (68) of a connecting part (16), which is provided for connecting the housing (18) with the connection device (14).

11. A connection nipple or connection tube fitting for connecting a device (12) for separating at least one fluid from a gas, with a connection device (14) having at least one gas-conducting space for at least one first gas passage (82) of a housing (18) of the device (12), wherein the connecting part (16) has at least one fluid passage or is at least constructed for at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64) of the housing (18) for the fluid separated from the gas, which is disposed outside the at least one gas-conducting space, and at least one connection-side fluid outlet sealing part (68) of the at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) is disposed on a side opposite the gas-conducting space of the at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64), which can sealingly interact with at least one corresponding housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166).

12. A separating device (12) for separating at least one fluid from a gas, comprising a housing having an assembly axis (30) extending longitudinally through the housing, a first axial end of the housing configured to replaceably mount onto a connecting device (14); the housing comprising: at least one first gas passage (82) arranged centrally on the assembly axis (30) of the housing (18) and connecting to the connecting device (14); at least one second gas passage (52) which, with respect to the assembly axis (30), is disposed radially outward from the at least one first gas passage (82); at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64) for fluid separated from the gas disposed with regard to the assembly axis (30) radially between the at least one first gas passage (82) and the at least one second gas passage (52); at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) having at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) wherein between the at least one second gas passage (52) and the at least one fluid outlet (36, 48, 64), at least one housing-side fluid outlet sealing part (66; 166) of at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) is disposed; wherein the at least one fluid outlet sealing device (92) sealingly interacts with at least one corresponding connection-side fluid outlet sealing part (68) of a connecting part (16), which is provided for connecting the housing (18) with the connection device (14).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description in which exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings are explained in more detail. A person skilled in the art will also appropriately consider the features disclosed in the drawings, the description and the claims individually and combine them into further sensible combinations. Shown schematically are:

[0084] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of an air/oil separator apparatus with an air/oil separator element according to a first exemplary embodiment, with a housing having a housing cover with a support ring and an oil outlet seal and a connection nipple, for connection with a connector head;

[0085] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 1 in the region of the housing cover;

[0086] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the housing cover of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a view of the inside of the housing cover;

[0087] FIG. 4 shows the housing cover of FIGS. 1 to 3 with a view of the outside thereof;

[0088] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of the housing cover of FIGS. 1 to 4;

[0089] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the inside of the housing cover of FIGS. 1 to 5;

[0090] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the outside of the housing cover of FIGS. 1 to 6;

[0091] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the outside of the housing cover of FIGS. 1 to 7 without support ring and oil outlet seal;

[0092] FIG. 9 shows a transverse partial section of an air/oil separator apparatus according to a second embodiment, which is similar to the air/oil separator apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 8, with a viewing direction from the connector head to the housing cover;

[0093] FIG. 10 shows the partial section of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 9 without connection nipple, support ring and oil outlet seal;

[0094] FIG. 11 shows a longitudinal section of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 9 along the section line XI-XI;

[0095] FIG. 12 shows a detail view of the longitudinal section of FIG. 11 in the region of the housing cover;

[0096] FIG. 13 shows a longitudinal section of the air/oil separator apparatus of FIG. 10 along the section line XIII-XIII;

[0097] FIG. 14 shows a longitudinal section of an air/oil separator apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment, in which the oil outlet seal has an O-ring seal.

[0098] In the figures, identical components are provided with the same reference characters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0099] In FIGS. 1 to 8 is shown an air/oil separator apparatus 10 in various depictions, sections and detail views. The air/oil separator apparatus 10 serves for the separation from the air of such oil as is carried with the air. The air/oil separator apparatus is used, for example, in compressors, vacuum pumps compressed air systems or the like. It can be disposed before the inlet or after the outlet of a corresponding unit.

[0100] The air/oil separator apparatus 10 comprises an air/oil separator element 12, which can also be referred to as an air/oil separator box. The air/oil separator element 12 is replaceably fixed on a connector head 14, at the bottom of FIG. 1. The connector head 14 serves as a connection device for corresponding air lines and oil lines for connecting with the corresponding unit. In FIG. 1, the connector head 14 is only indicated schematically by dashed lines. A hollow, pipe stub-like connection nipple 16 connects the air/oil separator element 12 with the connector head 14. The interior of the connection nipple 16 is gas-conducting, in particular air-conducting.

[0101] The air/oil separator element 12 comprises a cup-shaped housing 18. In the housing 18 is disposed by way of example a filter element 20 designed as a ring-shaped coalescing element. By way of example, the filter element 20 has as a filter medium a glass fiber mat, which is repeatedly annularly wrapped and bounded by an upper end plate 22 and a lower end plate 24 facing the connector head 14. As a further filter medium, a non-woven material is disposed in the interior of the glass fiber wrap.

[0102] In general, the air/oil separator apparatus 10 is ready for use as disposed in the orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It can, however, also be disposed in other orientations. When further reference is made to “below,” “above,” or similar, this refers unless otherwise stated to the representation in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0103] The housing 18 comprises a housing vessel 26, the opening of which facing the connector head 14 is closed with a housing cover 28. The housing vessel 26 and the housing cover 28 are made, for example, of metal. Alternatively, at least one of the two components can be made from another material, for example plastic, or at least have another material.

[0104] The housing cover 28 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 8. In an operation-ready assembly, the housing 18, the filter element 20 and the connection nipple 16 are respectively coaxial with an imaginary assembly axis 30. The air/oil separator element 12 can be screwed onto the connector head 14 and unscrewed therefrom about the assembly axis 30 by means of the connection nipple 16.

[0105] When further reference is made to “radial,” “axial,” “coaxial” or “circumferential” or the like, this refers unless otherwise stated to the assembly axis 30.

[0106] The lower end plate 24 facing the housing cover 28 is approximately annular. It has a coaxial pass-through opening 32 for the connection nipple 16. Radially between the pass-through opening 32 and the filter medium of the filter element 20, the lower end plate 24 is repeatedly bent, such that there is a circumferential annular trough, which opens toward the element interior 34 of the filter element 20.

[0107] The radially inner edge of the lower end plate 24 surrounds the pass-through opening 32. It points toward the element interior 34. An inner diameter of the pass-through opening 32 is larger than an outer diameter of the connection nipple 16 there. Between the radially outer peripheral wall of the connection nipple 16 and the radially inner edge of the pass-through opening 32, an annular, coaxial passage gap 36 remains for the separated oil.

[0108] The housing cover 28 is held on the housing vessel 26 by means of a retaining ring 76, as will be explained in greater detail below. The retaining ring 76 is connected by means of a flared connection 38 with the edge of the housing vessel 26.

[0109] The axial outside of the lower end plate 24 bounded by the annular trough extends over the filter medium in the axial direction. A bottoming of the annular trough-forming section of the outside of the lower end plate 24 sits peripherally connected in the axial direction to a dampening ring 40. The dampening ring 40 is supported on the axially opposite side on an inner side of the housing cover 28. The damping ring 40 is coaxial with the assembly axis 30. It serves inter alia to reduce noise as a so-called rattle guard. It restricts the axial movability of the filter element 20 in the housing 18 and thus prevents rattling noises. The dampening ring 40 can further serve as tolerance compensation and/or as dampening for operational vibrations or oscillations.

[0110] The housing cover 28 is substantially circular. It is coaxial with the assembly axis 30. In profile, the housing cover 28, as shown in FIG. 4, is seen from radially outside to radially inside as bent in an approximate S-shape.

[0111] In its center, the housing cover 28 has a coaxial assembly opening 42 for the connection nipple 16. A radially inner peripheral wall of the housing cover 28 surrounding the assembly opening 42 is equipped with an inner thread 44. The inner thread 44 mates with a corresponding outer thread 46 on the radially outer peripheral side of the connection nipple 16.

[0112] Radially outside the assembly opening 42, the housing cover 28 has two respective oil outlet holes 48 which pass through. The oil outlet holes 48 are disposed on radially opposite sides with respect to the assembly axis 30. Their axes are parallel to the assembly axis 30. The oil outlet holes 48 are materially technically separated from the assembly opening 42 by means of a circular cylindrical, coaxial web portion 50.

[0113] Along an imaginary coaxial circumference which encloses both oil outlet holes 48, a plurality of air inlet holes 52 which pass through are disposed. The air inlet holes 42 are respectively flattened on their radially outer peripheral sides. Imaginary axes of the air inlet holes 52 extend parallel to the assembly axis 30.

[0114] On the exterior side facing away from the filter element 20, a coaxial support ring 54 is fixed on the housing cover 28. The support ring supports an oil outlet seal 56. The support ring 54 is made of plastic. Instead of plastic, it can also be made of a different material, for instance metal, or at least have a different material.

[0115] The support ring 54 has a coaxial hollow cylindrical section 58. On its end face facing the housing cover 28, the hollow cylindrical section 58 changes over as a single piece to a coaxial radial ring section 60. The radial ring section 60 extends continuously circumferentially and somewhat radially outside the hollow cylindrical section 58. The profile of the radial ring section 60 is fitted to the outer side of the housing cover 28.

[0116] In the region of its radially outer edge, a plurality of locking arms 62 are each integrally connected with the radial ring section 60. The locking arms 62 extend approximately parallel to the assembly axis 30 away from the hollow cylindrical section 58 to the side opposite the hollow cylindrical section 58. Each locking arm 62 has a radially inwardly oriented locking lug on its free end. The locking arms 62 extend respectively through one of the air inlet holes 52 through the housing cover 28. They engage with their locking lugs on the radially inner side of the air inlet holes 52 on the inner side of the housing cover 28.

[0117] An inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical section 58 and the radial ring section 60 is somewhat larger than the inner diameter of the assembly opening 42, in particular the inner thread 44. The oil outlet holes 48 project radially inward beyond the support ring 54 such that they are connected with an interior of the support ring 54 surrounded by the hollow cylindrical section 58.

[0118] In the assembled state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the radially inner circumferential side of the hollow cylindrical section 58 of the support ring 54 is spaced apart from the radially outer circumferential side of the connection nipple 16 such that an annular gap 64 arises between the corresponding circumferential sides as a passage for the separated oil.

[0119] In the region of the free edge of the hollow cylindrical section 58 which faces away from the housing cover 28, two sealing lips 66 are disposed on the radially outer circumferential side of the hollow cylindrical section 58. The sealing lips 66 are part of the oil outlet seal 56. The sealing lips 66 each extend continuously circumferentially and away from the hollow cylindrical section 58 from radially inward to radially outward. The seal lips 66 extend parallel to each other. The axially inner sealing lips 66 facing the housing cover 28 extend radially outward over the other, axially outer sealing lips 66. The sealing lips 66 are elastic. The sealing lips 66 can, for example, be realized with the support ring 54 as a two-component part.

[0120] In the assembled air/oil separator element 12, the sealing lips 66, as are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are located with their radially inner edges radially sealing against a radially inner circumferential side of a circumferential connection-side sealing surface 68. The connection-side sealing surface 68 is in the form of a coaxial circular cylinder shell. The connection-side sealing surface 68 is realized on a coaxial hollow cylindrical wall section of a coaxial annular collar 70 of the connecting means 16.

[0121] The annular collar 70 is disposed circumferentially on the radially outer circumferential side of the connector nipple 16. On the side axially facing the housing cover 28, the ring collar 70 forms an in open, annular groove which is U-shaped in profile, for receiving the cylindrical section 58 with the sealing lips 66 of the support ring 54.

[0122] A connection-side oil passage opening 72 leads through an end wall of the annular collar 70 which forms the bottom of the “U.” In an assembled air/oil separator apparatus 10, the connection-side oil passage opening 72 connects the annular gap 64 with an oil outlet channel of the connector head 14, not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0123] On the side of the ring collar 70 axially opposite to the outer thread 46, the connection nipple 16 has a connecting outer thread 74 on its radially outer circumferential side, with which the connection nipple 16 is screwed into a corresponding connection-side inner thread of the connector head 14, which is also not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0124] The retaining ring 76 which is, for example, made of sheet metal and bent several times in the radial direction, is radially outwardly connected with the flared connection 38 to the housing vessel 26. The retaining ring 76 holds the housing cover 28 on the outside thereof. On its radially inner edge, the retaining ring 76 has retaining tabs 78, which extend respectively through one of the air inlet holes 52 of the housing cover 28, and which are bent on the inner side thereof. The housing cover 28 is held on the retaining ring 76 with the retaining tabs 78.

[0125] Further, radially within the flared connection 38, the retaining ring 76 comprises a coaxially annularly-shaped, circumferentially continuous sealing groove, in which is disposed a coaxial surrounding ring seal 80. The surrounding ring seal 80 radially outwardly surrounds the air inlet holes 52. In the assembled air/oil separator element 12, the surrounding ring seal 80 is located axially sealingly on a corresponding terminal-side annularly-shaped coaxial surrounding sealing surface 81 of the connector head 14, as is shown in FIG. 1. The surrounding sealing surface 81 extends circumferentially and radially. It seals the air inlet holes 52, i.e. the raw air side, toward the surrounding.

[0126] The assembly opening 42 of the housing cover 28 further defines an air outlet opening 82. The interior of the connection nipple 16 extends through the air outlet opening 82, thus co-defining the course of the air outlet opening 82 in the assembled state. The interior of the connection nipple 16 forms or bounds in so many words the effective flow cross-section of the air outlet opening 82.

[0127] During operation of the air/oil separator apparatus 10, air, which can be loaded with oil droplets, flows from an air inlet line of the connector head 14 through the air inlet holes 52, indicated by an arrow 84 in FIG. 1, into an inlet chamber 86 of the housing 18. the lower part of the inlet chamber 86 is located in the housing 18 between the lower end plate 24 and the housing cover 28, and extends circumferentially radially outward about the filter element 20.

[0128] The air flows through the filter medium of the filter element 20 from radially outward to radially inward, indicated by arrow 88. The oil droplets are deposited on the radially inner circumferential side of the filter element 20, and flow downward following gravity, indicated in FIG. 1 by dashed arrows 90.

[0129] The air, free of oil droplets, flows in the clean air side through the central air outlet opening 82 in the inner space of the connection nipple 16 out of the air/oil separator element 12, and enters an air outlet channel of the connector head 14, not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0130] The separated oil droplets pass through the passage gap 36 and the oil outlet holes 48 of the housing cover 28 into the annular gap 64. From the annular gap 64, the oil passes through the connection-side oil passage opening 72 into the oil outlet channel of the connector head 14.

[0131] The oil outlet seal 56 and the connection-side sealing surface 68 form an oil outlet sealing device 92, which separates the oil outlet with the oil-bearing annular gap 64 and the oil outlet holes 48 from the raw air side, in particular the air inlet with the air inlet holes 52.

[0132] The assembly of the air/oil separator apparatus 10 can take place in different ways.

[0133] According to a first exemplary method, the connection nipple 16 can then be screwed into the assembly opening 42 of the housing cover 28. Here, the sealing lips 66 slide inwardly along the connection-side sealing surface 68 until they have reached their end position. No substantial axial forces act on the sealing lips 66. In this way, the air/oil separator element 12 can be pre-assembled with the connection nipple 16. Then, the air/oil separator element 12 can be screwed with the free end of the connection nipple 16 forward axially into the corresponding inner thread of the connector head 14. The surrounding ring seal 80 is pressed axially between the housing cover 28 and the connection-side surrounding ring seal surface 81. The surrounding ring seal 80 forms a surrounding seal device 94 with the surrounding ring seal surface 81.

[0134] According to a second exemplary method, the connection nipple 16 can then be screwed into the corresponding inner thread of the connector head 14. Then, the air/oil separator element 12 can be screwed with the housing cover 28 forward coaxially to the assembly axis 30 onto the connection nipple 16. The oil outlet sealing device 92 and the surrounding sealing device 94 are thereby respectively activated.

[0135] For removal, the air/oil separator element 12 is either screwed off from the connection nipple 16 with respect to the assembly axis 30, or the air/oil separator element 12 is screwed off together with the connector nipple 16 from the connector head 14.

[0136] In FIGS. 9 to 13 is shown a second exemplary embodiment of an air/oil separator apparatus 10 in various representations. In the second exemplary embodiment, an axial extension of the connector nipple 16 in the element interior 34 is less than in the first exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8. Further, the connector head 14 is shown in more detail in the second exemplary embodiment.

[0137] In FIG. 14 is shown a third exemplary embodiment of an air/oil separator apparatus 10. Unlike the first exemplary embodiment, the oil outlet seal 56 in the second exemplary embodiment has an O-ring seal 166 instead of the sealing lips. The O-ring seal 166 is disposed in a corresponding sealing groove on the radially outer circumferential side of the hollow cylindrical section 58 of the support ring 54. The O-ring seal 166 seals analogously to the sealing lips 66 of the first two exemplary embodiments against the connection-side sealing surface 68 in the radial direction.