Air filter and filter element therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to an annular filter element (10) for an air filter (44). The open end disc (16) is provided with a protruding seal (22). The sealing part (22) has a sealing surface radially on the inside, which sealing surface interacts with a sealing flange (46) of the filter housing (42) that engages in the sealing part (22) in a sealing manner. The sealing surface and the sealing flange (46) are provided with corresponding contours, with respect to which the sealing surface and the sealing flange partially deviate from their circular basic shape.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a filter element for an air filter, the filter element comprising: a filter medium, which surrounds a longitudinal axis in an annular manner; and an open end disk at a first end side of the filter medium, wherein a seal having a radially inner sealing surface protrudes from the end disk in an axial direction. The invention further relates to an air filter having such a filter element and an openable filter housing, the filter housing having a housing pot and a housing cover, wherein the housing cover has a sealing flange for sealingly abutting against the sealing surface of the seal. Background Art

[0002] Such a filter element and such an air filter are known from EP 2 742 986 B1.

[0003] Such filter elements or air filters are used, for example, to filter the combustion air for internal combustion engines or fuel cells or as cabin air filters. For a reliable function of the air filter, it is necessary to use only filter elements that correspond to the specification. In addition, for additional functions, such as air mass flow meters, the rotational installation position of the rotationally symmetrical filter elements can be important in principle, since filter elements of the same type can have the same type of deviations from the ideal due to processing. In particular, air mass flow meters react very sensitively to such deviations; therefore, these deviations can be compensated if they always occur in the same way.

[0004] In the filter element known from EP 2742986 B1 mentioned at the beginning, the radially inner sealing surface of the sealing web can abut against the cylindrical abutment surface of the sealing groove at the housing upper part. The sealing surface is also cylindrically constructed accordingly. The sealing web also has a second surface (radially located outside) opposite to the sealing surface, which has a plurality of recesses arranged spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The recess is designed so that when the air filter element is installed in the housing, these recesses can surround the projection in a form-locking manner. The projection protrudes from the supporting surface of the sealing groove in the direction of the abutment surface, wherein the supporting surface is constructed at the sealing groove facing the abutment surface.

[0005] WO 2020 / 231769 A1 discloses a filter element having an axial sealing surface which has a plurality of cam-like projections or deepenings located therebetween in the circumferential direction.

[0006] The object of the invention is to improve the operating properties of an air filter, in particular with regard to the type, orientation and sealing of the filter element in the filter housing. Summary of the invention

[0007] This object is achieved by a filter element having the features specified in claim 1 and an air filter according to claim 8. Preferred embodiments are set forth in the respective dependent claims and in the description.

[0008] According to the invention, a filter element for an air filter is provided. The filter element can be used, for example, to filter combustion air for an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell or as a cabin air filter.

[0009] The filter element has a filter medium which surrounds the longitudinal axis in an annular manner. The filter medium can be folded or wound in a star shape, for example. The filter medium can be circular or elliptical in cross section. The filter medium can be cylindrical or conical.

[0010] Directional data such as, for example, axial or radial relate to the longitudinal axis, unless otherwise stated.

[0011] The filter medium can be stabilized radially on the inside by a support tube. As an alternative or in addition, the filter medium can be stabilized radially on the outside by a retainer. In order to stabilize the especially wound filter medium on the outside, a wire winding can also be installed at the filter element.

[0012] The filter element has an open end disk at the first end side of the filter medium. The open end disk closes the filter medium at the first end side and seals the filter medium in the axial direction at the first end side. The opening of the end disk enables air to enter or escape from the interior space of the filter element. Preferably, the filter element can flow from the radial outside to the radial inside.

[0013] A seal with a radially inner sealing surface protrudes from the open end disc in the axial direction. The seal continuously surrounds the opening of the end disc in the circumferential direction. The seal can be described in particular as a surrounding ring. The sealing surface is used to seal against a corresponding matching contour of the filter housing, such as a sealing flange. The seal and the end disc can be integral with each other. Alternatively, the seal and the end disc can be independent components, which can be connected to each other, for example, by bonding, welding or injection molding. The seal can be rotationally symmetrical, for example, about a rotation of 120°.

[0014] According to the present invention, the seal has at least one local radial groove and / or at least one radial protrusion at the sealing surface. Therefore, when observed in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the sealing surface is not strictly constructed with a basic shape such as a circle, but has a deviation from the basic shape, such as a circular shape, locally. At least one local radial groove or protrusion at the sealing surface participates in the seal relative to the filter housing. The filter housing is correspondingly contoured at the sealing flange. The filter element is forced to be installed along a specified rotational orientation by the deviation from the basic shape, especially the circular shape, at the sealing surface. In addition, it is guaranteed that only filter elements adapted to the corresponding air filter can be used. At least one local radial groove and / or protrusion extends on the sealing surface, especially only on a part of the periphery.

[0015] Preferably, the seal has at least one local axial groove on the end face. At least one local radial groove and / or projection on the sealing surface can be offset in the circumferential direction relative to at least one local axial groove on the end face. When the filter element is installed in the filter housing, the orientation of the filter element can be further simplified. In particular, the at least one local axial groove on the end face extends only over a portion of the circumference.

[0016] Preferably, the seal has at least one local radial groove at the guide surface located radially on the outside. The at least one local radial groove at the guide surface can be offset in the circumferential direction relative to at least one local radial groove and / or projection at the sealing surface. The at least one local radial groove at the guide surface can also be offset in the circumferential direction relative to at least one local axial groove at the end surface. The orientation of the filter element relative to the filter housing can be further improved by means of the local radial groove at the guide surface of the seal. In particular, the guide element of the filter housing can be embedded in the groove at the guide surface.

[0017] The filter element can also have a preferably closed bottom plate at the second end side of the filter medium. The bottom plate closes the filter medium at the second end side opposite the first end side and seals the filter medium in the axial direction. In a closed embodiment of the bottom plate, air is also prevented from entering or exiting the interior of the filter element at the second end side.

[0018] The chassis of the filter element can have an opening. The filtered air can be guided to the secondary air outlet through the opening. The secondary air outlet can be arranged at the housing pot of the filter housing. In particular, the opening at the chassis and the secondary air outlet can be arranged eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis.

[0019] The base plate can have a supporting structure, in particular at least one supporting rib protruding in the axial direction, for supporting on a housing bottom of the filter housing. This improves the retention of the filter element in the filter housing.

[0020] The invention also includes an air filter having the filter element according to the invention described above and an openable filter housing having a housing pot and a housing cover. The filter element can be received in the filter housing. In the assembled state in which the filter housing is closed, the filter element in the filter housing separates the raw side from the clean side.

[0021] The housing cover has a sealing flange for sealingly abutting against the sealing surface of the seal. The sealing flange typically protrudes into the interior of the filter housing. The sealing flange has at least one radial protrusion and / or at least one radial recess, which corresponds to at least one radial groove and / or protrusion at the sealing surface. In the assembled state, the protrusion or recess of the sealing flange is embedded in the groove or protrusion of the seal at the sealing surface. In the area of ​​the protrusion or recess and the groove or protrusion, the sealing flange and the sealing surface also abut against each other in a sealing manner. Therefore, the fluid separation of the original side and the clean side is guaranteed. The engagement of the protrusion or recess of the sealing flange with the groove or protrusion of the seal further stipulates the rotational orientation of the filter element relative to the housing cover.

[0022] The sealing flange can have at least one axial recess. Preferably, the axial recess is constructed at at least one radial protrusion and / or recess. In other words, the sealing flange can be locally constructed shorter than the rest in the axial direction, wherein the shorter area can form a protrusion or recess. This causes a sealing trend that changes in the axial direction. In other words, the contact line of the maximum surface pressure between the sealing flange and the sealing part can extend up and down in the axial direction. Due to the joint action of the protrusion or recess of the sealing flange and the groove or protrusion of the sealing part, the sealing trend deviates from the circular shape when observed along the longitudinal axis. The complex sealing trend further ensures that a suitable filter element is used in the filter housing. The axial recess can have a depth of at least 1.5 mm, in particular at least 3 mm and / or at most 8 mm, in particular at most 6 mm.

[0023] If the seal has at least one axial groove on the end face, the housing cover can have at least one web for engaging in the at least one axial groove. When the filter element is installed in the filter housing, the orientation of the filter element on the housing cover can be further simplified.

[0024] If the seal has at least one radial groove on the radially outer guide surface, the housing cover can have at least one guide element spaced apart from the sealing flange in the radial direction for engaging in the radial groove on the guide surface. This can further improve the orientation of the filter element relative to the housing cover.

[0025] The housing cover can have a guide flange for abutting against the outer circumference of the open end disk. As a result, the filter element can be supported in the radial direction in the region of the open end disk. Vibrations therefore do not affect the sealing abutment between the seal and the sealing flange.

[0026] The sealing collar is preferably formed at the clean air outlet, in particular the outlet sleeve. This enables a compact design of the filter housing. In particular, the flow path for the filtered air from the interior space of the clean side of the filter element can be shortened.

[0027] A raw air inlet can be formed on the housing cup. The raw air inlet enables the air to be filtered to be supplied, in particular, to a raw side radially outside the filter element.

[0028] The housing pot can have a guide ring for abutting against the periphery of the chassis of the filter element. The filter element can thus be fixed in the filter housing in the radial direction in the region of the second end disk. For assembly, the filter element can be placed in the guide ring in an easy manner.

[0029] A "groove or projection at the seal" is understood in this context to be an area of ​​the seal which is set back or protrudes relative to the adjacent contour. For radial grooves or projections, the seal is correspondingly thinner or thicker in this area. The groove or projection can extend in the circumferential direction over a range of at least 3 mm, in particular at least 5 mm and / or at most 20 mm, in particular at most 15 mm. The depth or height of the groove or projection in the radial direction can be at least 1.5 mm, in particular at least 3 mm and / or at most 8 mm, in particular at most 6 mm.

[0030] In this context, a “radial bulge or depression on the sealing collar” is understood to mean in particular an area of ​​the sealing collar that projects radially outward or is set back radially inward relative to an adjacent contour. In principle, the depression or bulge is measured in the circumferential direction and in the radial direction like a corresponding groove or projection on the seal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Further features and advantages of the invention are derived from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, from the claims and from the drawings showing specific details according to the invention. In variants of the invention, the above-mentioned and further embodied features can each be implemented individually or in a plurality of any suitable combinations. The features shown in the drawings are shown in such a way that the particularities according to the invention can be clearly seen. In the drawings:

[0032] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view shows a filter element according to the invention having a protruding seal at an open end disk;

[0033] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A schematic top view of a filter element,

[0034] Figure 3 A housing cover of a filter housing of an air filter according to the invention is shown in a schematic perspective view;

[0035] Figure 4 A housing cup of a filter housing of an air filter according to the present invention is shown in a schematic perspective view;

[0036] Figure 5 The air filter according to the invention is shown in a schematic longitudinal section, which has Figure 1 The filter element and the Figure 3 The housing cover and Figure 4 The filter housing of the housing tank;

[0037] Figure 6 Shows Figure 5 Schematic perspective illustration of an air filter of FIG. 1 , which is shown in section at the level of a seal of the filter element, wherein a web of the housing cover engages in an axial groove of the seal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Figure 1 The filter element 10 is shown. The filter element 10 has an annular filter medium 12 which surrounds a longitudinal axis 14. On the end side, the filter medium 12 is surrounded on the one hand by an open end disk 16 and on the other hand by a base disk 18. Radially on the inside, the filter medium 12 is supported on a grid-like support tube 20.

[0039] A seal 22 projects in the axial direction on the end disk 16 . The seal 22 surrounds a central opening 24 in the end disk 16 as a continuously circumferential ring. The filtered air can flow out of the interior of the filter element 10 through the opening 24 .

[0040] Radially on the inside, the seal 22 has a sealing surface 26. Radially on the outside, the seal 22 has a guide surface 28. The seal ends in an end surface 30 in the axial direction.

[0041] The sealing surface 26, the guide surface 28 and the end surface 30 are each formed as a profile, see also Figure 2 In other words, the surfaces each have geometric elements which deviate from the basic shape of the annular seal.

[0042] The sealing surface 26 is provided with three radial grooves 32. At the radial grooves 32, the sealing surface 26 of the seal 22 is radially recessed outward relative to the corresponding surroundings. In this context, the grooves 32 are offset relative to each other by 120°.

[0043] The guide surface 28 is here also configured with three radial grooves 34. At the radial grooves 34, the guide surface 28 of the seal 22 is set back radially inwards relative to the respective surroundings. In this context, the grooves 32 are offset relative to each other by 120°.

[0044] The end face 30 is formed here with six axial grooves 36. At the axial grooves 36, the end face 30 of the seal 22 is set back relative to the respective surroundings toward the filter medium 12. In this case, the grooves 36 are each offset by 60° relative to one another.

[0045] Here, all grooves 32, 34, 36 on the sealing surface 26, the guide surface 28 or the end surface 30 are offset relative to each other. In other words, each of the grooves 32, 34, 36 is arranged in the gap between the grooves of the other surface.

[0046] Figure 3 The housing cover 38 is shown, which together with Figure 4 The housing cup 40 shown in FIG. 1 together forms a filter housing 42 for receiving the filter element 10, see FIG. 2 which shows an air filter 44 having the aforementioned components. Figure 5 A raw air inlet 45 may be formed on the housing cup 40 .

[0047] In the assembled state, the seal 22 separates the raw side 48 from the clean side 50 by sealingly abutting against the sealing flange 46 of the housing cover 38. The filtered air can be discharged from the clean side 48 through a clean air outlet 52 formed here by means of an outlet sleeve 54. In this context, the sealing flange 46 is extended by the outlet sleeve 54 on the inner side of the housing cover 38.

[0048] The sealing collar 46 is designed as a circumferential ring. The sealing collar 46 engages radially inwardly in the seal 22 so that it abuts against the sealing surface 26. The sealing collar 46 has a radial bulge 56 corresponding to the radial groove 32 of the sealing surface 26, see in particular Figure 3 The radial protrusion 56 of the sealing collar 46 engages in the radial groove 32 of the sealing surface 26, see Figure 5 and Figure 6 .

[0049] In this context, the radial elevations 56 are each provided with an axial depression 58 of the sealing bead 46. In the region of the radial elevations 56, the sealing bead 46 therefore extends less into the seal 22 in the axial direction than in the region adjacent to these elevations.

[0050] Radially outside the sealing collar 46, the housing cover 38 has a guide element 60 which is designed here as a cylindrical pin, see in particular Figure 3 In the assembled state, the guide element 60 engages in the radial groove 34 of the guide surface 28, see Figure 5 and Figure 6 .

[0051] The housing cover 38 here also has radially extending webs 62, see in particular Figure 3 In the assembled state, the web 62 engages in the axial groove 36 of the end face 30, see Figure 6 .

[0052] In the radial direction, the filter element 10 is supported on the housing cover 38 via the guide collar 64, see in particular Figure 5 For this purpose, the guide collar 64 bears against the end disk 16 on the outside. The guide collar 64 surrounds the sealing collar 46 concentrically.

[0053] On the bottom side, the filter element 10 is received in a guide ring 66 of the housing pot 40 , see Figure 5 The guide ring 66 can rest on the outside against the chassis 18 .

[0054] The base plate 18 here has one or more supporting ribs 68 . By means of the supporting ribs 68 , the filter element 10 is supported in the axial direction on a housing bottom 70 of the housing cup 40 .

[0055] In summary, the present invention relates to an annular filter element 10 for an air filter 44. An open end disk 16 is provided with a protruding seal 22. The seal 22 has a sealing surface 26 radially on the inside, which cooperates sealingly with a sealing flange 46 of the filter housing 42 that engages in the seal 22. The sealing surface 26 and the sealing flange 46 are provided with corresponding contours, which partially deviate from their circular basic shape in terms of the contour. The seal 22 can also have a contour radially on the outside and on the end side for cooperating with corresponding elements of the filter housing 42.

[0056] List of reference numerals:

[0057] Filter element 10

[0058] Filter media 12

[0059] Longitudinal axis 14

[0060] End plate 16

[0061] Chassis 18

[0062] Support tube 20

[0063] Sealing part 22

[0064] Opening 24

[0065] Sealing surface 26

[0066] Guide surface 28

[0067] End face 30

[0068] The radial groove 32 of the sealing surface 26

[0069] The radial groove 34 of the guide surface 28

[0070] The axial groove 36 of the end surface 30

[0071] Housing cover 38

[0072] Shell tank 40

[0073] Filter housing 42

[0074] Air filter 44

[0075] Raw air inlet 45

[0076] Sealing flange 46

[0077] Original side 48

[0078] Clean side 50

[0079] Clean air outlet 52

[0080] Outlet casing 54

[0081] The radial bulge 56 of the sealing flange 46

[0082] The axial recess 58 of the sealing flange 46

[0083] Guide element 60

[0084] Connector 62

[0085] Guide flange 64

[0086] Guide ring 66

[0087] Support rib 68

[0088] Housing bottom 70 .

Claims

1. A filter element (10) for an air filter (44), comprising: a filter medium (12) which surrounds the longitudinal axis (14) in an annular manner, - an open end disk (16) at a first end side of the filter medium (12), in, A seal (22) having a radially inner sealing surface (26) protrudes in the axial direction from the open end disk (16). The seal (22) has at least one local radial groove (32) and / or at least one local radial projection on the sealing surface (26).

2. The filter element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The seal (22) has at least one local axial groove (36) on the end face (30).

3. The filter element (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that The at least one local radial groove (32) and / or projection on the sealing surface (26) is offset in the circumferential direction relative to the at least one local axial groove (36) on the end surface (30).

4. The filter element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The seal (22) has at least one partial radial groove (34) on a radially outer guide surface (28).

5. The filter element (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that The at least one partial radial groove (34) on the guide surface (28) is offset in the circumferential direction relative to the at least one partial radial groove (32) and / or the projection on the sealing surface (26). 6 . The filter element ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a preferably closed bottom plate ( 18 ) at the second end side of the filter medium ( 12 ).

7. The filter element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The base plate (18) has a supporting structure, in particular at least one supporting rib (68) protruding in the axial direction, for supporting on a housing bottom (70) of a filter housing (42).

8. An air filter (44) having: - A filter element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, and an openable filter housing (42) having a housing cup (40) and a housing cover (38), in, The housing cover (38) has a sealing flange (46) for sealingly abutting against a sealing surface (26) of the sealing portion (22). The sealing collar (46) has at least one radial elevation (56) and / or at least one radial depression, which corresponds to the at least one local radial groove (32) and / or projection on the sealing surface (26).

9. The air filter (44) according to claim 8, characterized in that The sealing collar (46) has at least one axial depression (58).

10. The air filter (44) according to claim 9, characterized in that The axial depression (58) is formed on the at least one radial elevation (56) or depression.

11. The air filter (44) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that The seal (22) has at least one axial groove (36) on the end face (30), and the housing cover (38) has at least one web (62) for engaging in the at least one axial groove (36).

12. The air filter (44) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that The seal (22) has at least one radial groove (34) on a radially outer guide surface (28), and the housing cover (38) has at least one guide element (60) spaced apart from the sealing collar (46) in the radial direction and adapted to engage in the radial groove (34) on the guide surface (28).

13. The air filter (44) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that The housing cover (38) has a guide collar (64) for abutting against the outer circumference of the open end disk (16).

14. The air filter (44) according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that The sealing collar (46) is formed at a clean air outlet (52), in particular an outlet sleeve (54).

15. The air filter (44) according to any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that The housing pot (40) has a guide ring (66) for abutting against the outer circumference of the base plate (18) of the filter element (10).

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