Filter Module with a Filter Element and with a Fastening Frame and Air Filter Device with a Filter Module

Abstract

A filter module for filtering a fluid is provided with a filter element that has a filter bellows of a filter medium and is provided with a designated raw side and a designated clean side oppositely positioned relative to the designated raw side. A fastening frame is connected to the filter element and has a frame wall enclosing circumferentially at least partially a rim of the filter element. A circumferentially extending first sealing element is arranged on an exterior side of the frame wall of the fastening frame. The fastening frame has at least one locking element on an exterior side of the fastening frame. A second sealing element that seal the raw side and the clean side relative to each other is arranged on the filter element. The second sealing element can be guided into a sealing position upon locking of the at least one locking element in the installation position of the filter module.

Claims

1. A filter module for filtering a fluid, the filter module comprising: at least one filter element comprising a filter bellows comprised of a filter medium and comprising a designated raw side and a designated clean side oppositely positioned relative to the designated raw side; a fastening frame connected to the at least one filter element, the fastening frame comprising a frame wall enclosing circumferentially at least partially a rim of the at least one filter element; a circumferentially extending first sealing element arranged on an exterior side of the frame wall of the fastening frame; the fastening frame comprising at least one locking element on an exterior side of the fastening frame; a second sealing element configured to seal the raw side and the clean side relative to each other, wherein the second sealing element is arranged on the at least one filter element; the second sealing element configured to be guided into a sealing position upon locking of the at least one locking element in an installation position of the filter module.

2. The filter module according to claim 1, further comprising at least grab handle arranged on the fastening frame, wherein the at least one locking element is releasable for removal of the fastening frame from the installation position in that the fastening frame is removed from the installation position by the grab handle.

3. The filter module according to claim 1, wherein the fastening frame is fixedly connected to the at least one filter element.

4. The filter module according to claim 3, wherein the fastening frame is glued to the at least one filter element.

5. The filter module according to claim 1, wherein the frame wall is a double wall comprising a closed inner wall and an outer wall forming the exterior side provided with the at least one locking element.

6. The filter module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element comprises a locking nose comprising a first slanted surface and a second slanted surface positioned oppositely relative to the first slanted surface in an axial direction of the fastening frame, wherein the locking nose is arranged on a flexible tab arranged in the exterior side of the frame wall.

7. The filter module according to claim 1, wherein the frame wall has a bottom edge and the bottom edge is spaced apart at a spacing from a top edge of the second sealing element.

8. The filter module according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing element is an axial sealing element and the second sealing element is a radial sealing element.

9. The filter module according to claim 1, further comprising a lateral band that is flatly applied circumferentially to lateral end faces of the filter bellows, wherein the lateral band comprises an exterior side and the second sealing element is arranged on the exterior side of the lateral band so as to extend circumferentially about the filter bellows, wherein the lateral band comprises a tab projecting past the clean side of the filter bellows, wherein the tab is folded back in a V-shape toward the second sealing element.

10. The filter module according to claim 9, wherein the tab at least partially covers an exterior side of the second sealing element.

11. An air filter device comprising: a clean air supply; a filter module for filtering a fluid, the filter module comprising: at least one filter element comprising a filter bellows comprised of a filter medium and comprising a designated raw side and a designated clean side oppositely positioned relative to the designated raw side; a fastening frame connected to the at least one filter element, the fastening frame comprising a frame wall enclosing circumferentially at least partially a rim of the at least one filter element; a circumferentially extending first sealing element arranged on an exterior side of the frame wall of the fastening frame; the fastening frame comprising at least one locking element on an exterior side of the fastening frame; a second sealing element configured to seal the raw side and the clean side relative to each other, wherein the second sealing element is arranged on the at least one filter element; the second sealing element configured to be guided into a sealing position upon locking of the at least one locking element in an installation position of the filter module on the clean air supply; wherein the filter module is arranged exchangeably in the installation position on the clean air supply.

12. The air filter device according to claim 11, wherein the filter module provides a tolerance compensation when installed in the installation position.

13. The air filter device according to claim 11, wherein, in the installation position, the first sealing element is seal-tightly resting against a sheet metal frame of the air filter device when the at least one locking element on the fastening frame engages the sheet metal frame and, at the same time, the second sealing element sealingly rests on a sealing seat of an air inlet of the clean air supply.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Further advantages result from the following drawing description. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person of skill in the art will consider the features expediently also individually and combine them to meaningful further combinations.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an exploded illustration of a filter module with fastening frame and filter element according to an embodiment of the invention in isometric illustration.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows the filter module according to FIG. 1 in assembled state in isometric illustration.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows the fastening frame of the filter module according to FIG. 1 in a view of its bottom side.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a detail view of a locking element of the fastening frame of FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows in exploded illustration the filter module of FIG. 1 on an air filter device.

[0033] FIG. 6 illustrates a first stage of the insertion of the filter module of FIG. 1 into its installation position in a detail view.

[0034] FIG. 7 illustrates a second stage of the insertion of the filter module of FIG. 1 into its installation position in a detail view.

[0035] FIG. 8 illustrates a third stage of the insertion of the filter module of FIG. 1 into its installation position in a detail view.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] In the Figures, same components or components of the same kind are identified with same reference characters. The Figures show only examples and are not to be understood as limiting.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows an exploded illustration of a filter module 100 for filtering a fluid with a filter element 10 and with a fastening frame 60 according to an embodiment of the invention in isometric illustration. FIG. 2 shows the filter module 100 in the assembled state for installation in its installation position. The filter module 100 comprises a filter element 10 with a filter bellows 12 of a filter medium 14 with a designated raw side 52 and a designated clean side 50 oppositely positioned thereto.

[0038] The fastening frame 60 is fixedly connected to the filter element 10, for example by gluing, and encloses circumferentially a rim 22 of the filter element 10 with a frame wall 62. On its topside which forms the raw air side of the filter module 100, the fastening frame 60 comprises a circumferentially extending projecting rim 68 from which the frame wall 62 is axially projecting. Within the rim 68, the fastening frame 60 comprises a grid with coarse grid pattern that in the installed state covers the filter element 10.

[0039] A circumferentially extending first sealing element 40 is arranged on an exterior side 64 of the frame wall 62 of the fastening frame 60 below the rim 68.

[0040] The fastening frame 60 comprises on its exterior side 64 a plurality of locking elements 80. The rim 68 projects past the locking elements 80. The rim 68 is provided for resting against an installation opening, for example, in a fitting panel, of the filter module 100. The locking elements 80 are covered in the final installation position.

[0041] On the fastening frame 60, a grab handle 70 is provided with which the locking elements 80 are releasable for removal from an installation position in that the fastening frame 60 can be removed from the installation position by the grab handle 70. For simplified handling, a further grip element 72 can be provided which can be arranged on a side of the fastening frame 60 opposite the grab handle 70. The fastening frame 60 has a trapezoidal cross section wherein the grab handle 70 is arranged on the smallest side of the trapezoidal cross section so that the filter module 70 can be pulled out easily from the installation position.

[0042] The filter element 10 comprises a flat filter bellows 12 of a filter medium 14 with a designated raw side 52 and a designated clean side 50 positioned opposite the raw side 52. The filter bellows 12 comprises upright folds in such a way that fold edges are positioned in the clean side surface and in the raw side surface of the filter element 10, respectively. The lateral end faces of the filter element 10 are sealed by a circumferentially extending lateral band 28.

[0043] On the exterior side of the lateral band 28, a circumferentially extending second sealing element 32 is arranged. The lateral band 28 comprises a tab 36 which is projecting past the clean side 50 of the filter bellows 12; at the lateral end faces, said tab 36 is folded back in a V-shape over the sealing element 32.

[0044] The sealing element 32 can be comprised of foam rubber or cellular rubber which has been found to be a particularly beneficial sealing material with suitable elastic properties. The tab 36 covers minimally the sealing element 32 on the exterior side because the tab 36 is configured to extend up to the edge of the sealing element 32 which is facing the clean side 50. For formation of the tab 36, the lateral band 28 on a circumference of the clean side 50 is expediently circumferentially cut or stamped in order to thus be able to fold back the tab reliably.

[0045] The lateral band 28 and the tab 36 comprise a nonwoven or a similar textile fabric because these materials provide good sealing action and can be easily processed.

[0046] In the assembled state (FIG. 2), the fastening frame 60 is connected to the filter element 10 wherein between the bottom edge of the frame wall 62 and the top edge of the second sealing element 32 a spacing 46 is formed which enables compensation of component tolerances in axial direction upon installation in an installation position of the filter module 100.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the fastening frame 60 of the filter module 100 according to FIG. 1. The frame wall 62 is designed as a double wall and comprises an outer wall as exterior side 64 and an inner wall 66. The inner wall 66 is closed while the outer wall is interrupted by the locking elements 80, in this example seven locking elements 80, which are arranged in distribution on the circumference of the frame wall 62.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a detail view of a locking element 80 of the fastening frame 60 of FIG. 1. The locking element 80 comprises a locking nose 82 with two slanted surfaces 86, 88 which are arranged on a flexible tab 84 in the exterior side 64 (outer wall) of the frame wall 62. The upper slanted surface 86 is positioned at an angle β relative to the axial direction perpendicular to the rim 68 of the fastening frame 60. The angle β determines together with the number of locking elements 80, their width, and the thickness d of the tab 84 the removal force for the filter module 100 for removal of the filter module 100 from its installation position.

[0049] The lower slanted surface 88 is positioned at an angle α relative to the axial direction. The angle α determines together with the number of the locking elements 80, their width, and the thickness d of the tab 84 the mounting force for insertion of the filter module 100 into its installation position.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows in an exploded view a filter module 100 and a detail of an air filter device 110 with fitting panel 120 and clean air channel (clean air supply) 130 into which the filter module 100 is to be inserted. The FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate based on detail views different stages when inserting the filter module 100 of FIG. 1 into its installation position in the air filter device 110.

[0051] The fitting panel 120 of the air filter device 110 comprises an opening 122 with a downwardly stepped edge 124 against which the first sealing element 40 of the filter module 100 is to be resting. A clean air channel 130 formed as a hose comprises a sealing seat 134 for the second filter element 32 of the filter module 100. The clean air channel 130 is secured with a fastening element (not illustrated) on the fitting panel 120 and is spaced apart from the latter with its air inlet opening 132.

[0052] First, the filter module 100, with its clean air side end with the second sealing element 32 leading, is inserted into the opening 122 past the edge 124 (FIG. 6). The V-shaped tab 36 on the bottom side of the filter module 100 serves in this context as an insertion aid.

[0053] Upon further insertion of the filter module 100, the respective locking element 80 with its locking nose 82 contacts the edge 124 of the fitting panel 120 (FIG. 7) and is deflected in accordance with its insertion ramp (slanted surface 88, FIG. 4) elastically toward the inner wall 66 of the frame wall 62 of the fastening frame 60. In this way, the filter module 100 can be inserted farther into the opening 122 of the fitting panel 120. In this context, the bottom end of the filter module 100 contacts the air inlet opening 132 of the clean air channel 130 and is centered by means of the V-shaped folded tabs 36 which serve also as insertion aid for the second sealing element 32 into the sealing seat 134. The tabs 36 effect a compression of the second sealing element 32 so that the latter can glide safely into the sealing seat 134.

[0054] Upon further insertion of the filter element 100, the locking nose 82 snaps into place below the edge 124 of the fitting panel 120 while the second sealing element 32 glides farther into the sealing seat 134 of the clean air channel 130 and seal-tightly closes off the clean air channel 130 (FIG. 8). The first sealing element 40 is clamped between the rim 68 of the fastening frame and the fitting panel 120 and, in this way, can generate a pretension so that the filter module 100 is secured vibration-resistant in its final installation position.

[0055] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.