Filter, filter element which can be unlocked by means of handle, handle for removing filter element, and method for unloading filter

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter (10) having a filter housing (12), a filter element (14) which can be unlocked by means of a handle, a handle (16) for removing the filter element from the filter housing, and a method for unloading the filter. The filter housing (12) may have at least one latch member (26c) for axially retaining the filter element (14) in the filter housing (12). The latch member (26c) is preferably releasable at least indirectly by means of an actuation surface of a latch finger (20d) on the handle (16). The latch fingers (20d) preferably latch the handle (16) on the filter element (14), and the latch fingers (20d) engage in particular behind the upper end disc of the filter element (14). The handle (16) particularly preferably has a plurality of latching fingers (20d) which engage behind the filter element in the region of the upper end disc when the handle (16) is pushed axially onto the filter element (14). The latch fingers (20d) may be urged in pairs with their actuation surfaces onto the displacement surfaces in order to release the latch member (26c) from the filter element (14), the latch member (26c) being disposed between the displacement surfaces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a filter having a filter housing, a filter element and a handle for removing the filter element from the filter housing. The invention also relates to a method for unloading a filter. Background Art

[0002] A filter as described above is disclosed in EP 3263202 A1. In addition, WO 2022 / 076248 A1 discloses a filter having a filter head and a filter element that can be detachably connected to the filter head.

[0003] In connection with this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filter having a filter element which is arranged such that it is securely fixed in the filter housing in the operating state but can nevertheless be easily removed. Summary of the invention

[0004] This object is solved by a filter according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 11. Furthermore, the object is solved by a handle for arranging a filter element in a filter and for removing a filter element from a filter. Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the respective dependent claims and in the description.

[0005] According to the present invention, a filter comprising a filter housing, a handle and a filter element is provided. In the installed state, the filter element is kept axially fastened in the filter housing by a filter element latching mechanism with at least one latching member. The latching member is at least partially movable radially. The handle can be connected to the filter element by a handle latching mechanism comprising at least one latch finger. For this reason, the latching finger is at least partially movable radially. The handle comprises at least one actuating surface for releasing the filter element latching mechanism. The actuating surface actuates the displacement surface of the filter element latching mechanism and releases the filter element latching mechanism at least indirectly in this way.

[0006] According to the present invention, therefore can handle be connected to filter element, and can also release filter element from its latch mechanism at filter housing by single motion (being pushed onto filter element by handle).This helps to remove filter element firmly fixed in normal operation.Since handle is attached to filter element just for unloading filter, it is not necessary to provide space for handle in installation position, so that available installation space can be optimally utilized.In addition, handle, filter element and filter housing provide lock and key system, it prevents using wrong parts under maintenance situation.

[0007] The latching member and / or the latching finger preferably extend at least partially, in particular completely, in the axial direction. The latching member and / or the latching finger are preferably formed from sheet metal or plastic material, particularly preferably from plastic material. The latching finger is preferably L-shaped.

[0008] The filter element comprises a filter medium in an annular shape around a longitudinal axis. The filter medium may be folded, for example, into a star shape, or rolled. The cross section of the filter medium may be circular or oval.

[0009] The handle can be a multi-part construction. In particular, the handle latch mechanism and the actuation surface can be implemented at two different components. However, preferably, the handle is a one-piece construction.

[0010] In an alternative embodiment, the handle is of multi-part construction and does not include an actuation surface for disengaging a latching device at the filter housing. In this alternative embodiment, the handle is used only to remove the filter element from the filter housing. With the aid of a separately configured actuation device, the filter insert can be released from the housing because the latching member is moved by the separately configured actuation device and releases the filter element.

[0011] If not stated to the contrary, explicit statements of direction, such as, for example, axial or radial, relate to the longitudinal axis of the filter, in particular of the filter element.

[0012] The filter medium can be stabilized radially inwardly by a support body, in particular in the form of a support tube. Alternatively or additionally, the filter medium can be stabilized externally by a cage. For outward stabilization, in particular outward stabilization of a wound filter medium, a threaded coil can be attached to the filter element.

[0013] The filter element may comprise an end disc at the bottom end face of the filter medium, which end disc may be at least partially open. As an alternative or in addition thereto, the filter element may comprise an end disc at the top end face of the filter medium, which end disc may be at least partially open. Preferably, radial flow through the filter element is possible from the outside to the inside.

[0014] The latching fingers and / or latching members can at least partially engage from behind the upper end disc. In this way, the construction of the filter is structurally particularly simplified.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the filter element is used to center the handle and the handle latching mechanism.The filter element may include means to guide the handle into the latched position, such as a stay or groove that interacts with a groove or stay at the handle.

[0016] The filter is preferably designed as a liquid filter. The liquid filter is preferably configured as a fuel filter or an oil filter. It is particularly preferred that the filter is designed as a fuel filter, in particular with a plurality of water separation mechanisms. Such a filter element can be sealed with an O-ring relative to the filter housing, so that the filter element is very firmly seated in the filter housing, but can still be easily replaced with the aid of the handle according to the invention.

[0017] A particularly structurally simple filter construction results when the latching member is arranged at the filter housing and / or the latching finger is arranged at the handle.

[0018] More preferably, the actuation surface is formed at the latch finger.The actuation surface is preferably formed opposite to the latch protrusion of the latch finger.

[0019] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle latch mechanism comprises a plurality of latch fingers. The latch fingers are particularly preferably arranged or embodied symmetrically at the handle, in particular with axial symmetry. Preferably, the handle latch mechanism comprises at least six latch fingers.

[0020] To simplify manufacture of the filter, the latching fingers are preferably configured identically.

[0021] More preferably, a plurality of latching members are provided at the filter housing and a plurality of actuating surfaces are provided at the handle for at least indirectly moving the latching members.

[0022] In this case, in the mounted state of the filter with the push handle, the two latching fingers are preferably respectively arranged adjacent to the latching member, wherein the latching member is respectively arranged between the two latching fingers.

[0023] The latching member may be connected to the two displacement surfaces, respectively.Preferably, the displacement surfaces are arranged or implemented at the latching member at the free end of the latching member.

[0024] The displacement surfaces can be symmetrically embodied, wherein the actuation surfaces are preferably arranged radially on both displacement surfaces when the handle is pushed.

[0025] When the filter housing comprises a ring with at least one latching member, the structural construction of the filter can be further simplified. The ring preferably comprises all latching members and in particular all actuating surfaces. The ring can be implemented as a single piece, in particular by a plastic material. The ring can be connected to at least one additional component of the filter housing by a welding connection.

[0026] The object according to the invention is ultimately achieved by a method for unloading a filter as described herein, which method has the following method steps:

[0027] a) Push the handle to latch the handle on the filter element and release the filter element latch mechanism;

[0028] b) Pull out the filter element.

[0029] In the method, preferably in method step a), the latching fingers, in particular all latching fingers, are connected to the filter element and the latching members, in particular all latching members, are released from the filter element by pushing the handle onto the filter element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] 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 aid of the drawings which illustrate details according to the invention. In variants of the invention, the features mentioned above and still to be explained can each be implemented individually or in any advantageous combination. The features shown in the drawings are illustrated so that the properties according to the invention can be clearly seen. The drawings are shown in the following figure:

[0031] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filter having a filter housing, a filter element disposed in the filter housing, and a handle for connecting to the filter element, unhooking the filter element from the filter housing, and removing the filter element;

[0032] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 a filter wherein a handle is attached to the filter element, wherein a latching mechanism of the filter element in the filter housing is released by the attachment of the handle;

[0033] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A filter wherein the filter element is removed from the filter housing;

[0034] Figure 4 is based on Figures 1 to 3 A perspective view of the handle of Figure 4 The downwardly projecting latch fingers for gripping the filter element can be seen;

[0035] Figure 5 Is installed according to Figures 1 to 3 A perspective view of a ring in a filter housing of , wherein the ring includes a latch member for retaining a filter element in the filter housing;

[0036] Figure 6 is based on Figures 1 to 3 a partially cut-away perspective view of a filter of , wherein the handle is not fully attached to the filter housing; and

[0037] Figure 7 yes Figure 20014] A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a filter showing engagement of a latch member at a filter element being released by attachment of a handle to the filter element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Figure 1 A filter 10 is shown, which has a filter housing 12, a filter element 14 mounted in the filter housing 12, and a handle 16. The filter 10 is embodied in the form of a fuel filter.

[0039] Figure 2 The filter 10 is shown with a handle 16 attached to the filter element 14. The handle 16 is latched at the filter element 14. By means of the handle grip 18, a force can be introduced into the filter element 14 in order to release it from its secure seat in the filter housing 12.

[0040] Figure 3 The filter 10 is shown, wherein the filter element 14 is pulled out of the filter housing 12 , wherein the filter element 14 is still fixedly connected to the handle 16 , so that the filter element 14 can be easily manipulated.

[0041] Figures 1 to 3 A method 19 according to the invention for removing a filter element 14 from a filter housing 12 is shown.

[0042] Figure 4 A handle 16 with a plurality of latching fingers is shown, of which only the latching fingers 20a, 20b are provided with reference numerals for the sake of clarity. The handle 16 is preferably configured as a single piece (one part) and / or is configured from a plastic material. The latching fingers, here latches 20a, 20b, are arranged in pairs. Preferably, a plurality of latching finger pairs (here six) are provided evenly distributed at the handle 16.

[0043] The latching fingers 20a, 20b are partially embodied in the axial direction. The latching fingers 20a, 20b may preferably include an actuation surface 22a, 22b at their radial outer side, respectively. The actuation surface 22a, 22b is used to release the filter element 14 (see Figure 2 ) in the filter housing 12 (see Figure 2 ) in the latch mechanism. This latch mechanism is Figure 4 and Figure 5 becomes apparent against the background.

[0044] Figure 5 The ring 24 is shown fixedly arranged on the filter housing 12 (see Figure 2 ), which has a plurality of latching members, of which only latching members 26a, 26b are provided with reference numerals for the sake of clarity. Latching members 26a, 26b are used to secure filter element 14 (see Figure 2) latched or axially secured to the filter housing 12 (see Figure 2 ). In this case, the latching members 26a, 26b preferably include a latching edge 28, respectively. Figure 5 In the embodiment of the present invention, the latching edge 28 can be seen at the latching member 26b. In its installed state, the latching edge 28 at least partially engages the filter element 14 (see Figure 2 ).

[0045] The latching member 26a, 26b may be arranged between the displacement surfaces, in particular centrally between the displacement surfaces, wherein Figure 5 In the drawings, for the sake of clarity, only the displacement surfaces 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d are provided with reference numerals. The displacement surfaces 30a, 30b are provided at the radial inner side of the ring 24, which is Figure 5 Typically, the displacement surfaces 30a-d are preferably arranged radially inwardly. The displacement surfaces 30a-d are preferably arranged radially inwardly with the latch fingers 20a, 20b (see Figure 4 ) overlap, so that when the handle 16 is pushed and the latch members 26a, 26b are moved, in particular, the latch members 26a, 26b are moved radially outward, the actuation surfaces 22a, 22b (see Figure 4 ) displaces the displacement surfaces 30a-d so that the latching edge 28 no longer engages the filter element 14 (see Figure 2 ).

[0046] Figure 6 The filter 10 is shown with the filter housing 12 partially cut away. The handle 16 is in a position shortly before engaging the top disc 32 of the filter element 14 with its latching fingers. For clarity, the handle 16 is shown in FIG. Figure 6 In the embodiment, only one latch finger 20c is provided with a reference numeral. In this case, the latch finger 20c displaces the displacement surface 30e so as to release the latch mechanism of the filter housing 12 at the filter element 14 place.

[0047] Figure 7 A longitudinal cross-section of the filter 10 is shown. Figure 7 The filter element 14 is shown to be configured with axial symmetry with respect to its longitudinal axis 34. It comprises a filter medium 36 which is folded, in particular in a star shape, and is supported radially inwardly at a support 38. The bottom end disc 40 is sealed with a sealing ring 42, here in the form of an O-ring, relative to the inside of the filter housing 12. This sealing seat is usually very strong, so that the handle 16 must be used to pull the filter element 14 out of the filter housing 12.

[0048] Figure 7The filter element 14 is shown with the handle 16 attached. The latch fingers (one of which is provided with a reference numeral 20d) release the latch member, wherein the latch member is Figure 7 In the embodiment, the latching member 26c is provided with a reference number. The connection of the latching finger 20d at the filter element 14 forms a handle latching mechanism 44. The connection of the latching member 26c at the filter element 14 forms a filter element latching mechanism 46.

[0049] At least one stop finger (wherein Figure 7 A stop finger 48 (one of which is provided with a reference numeral) prevents the handle 16 from being pushed too far into the filter housing 12 when the filter element 14 has been removed, from being latched there and then only being removed in a complicated manner.

[0050] By viewing all the figures in the accompanying drawings together, the present invention generally relates to a filter 10 having a filter housing 12, a filter element 14 and a handle 16. The filter housing 12 may include at least one latching member 26a-c to axially retain the filter element 14 in the filter housing 12. The latching member 26a-c is preferably at least indirectly releasable by an actuation surface 22a, 22b of a latching finger 20a-d at the handle 16. The latching finger 20a-d preferably latches the handle 16 at the filter element 14, in particular the latching finger 20a-d engages from behind the top end disc 32 of the filter element 14. It is particularly preferred that the handle 16 includes a plurality of latching fingers 20a-d, which engage the filter element 14 from behind in the region of the top end disc 32 when the handle 16 is pushed axially onto the filter element 14. The latch fingers 20a - d may be pushed in pairs with their actuation surfaces 22a , 22b against the displacement surfaces 30a - d in order to release the latch members 26a - c disposed between the displacement surfaces 30a - e from the filter element 14 .

[0051] Reference numerals list

[0052] 10 Filters

[0053] 12 Filter housing

[0054] 14 Filter element

[0055] 16 Handle

[0056] 18 Handle grip

[0057] 19 Methods

[0058] 20a-d Latch fingers

[0059] 22a, b Actuating surface

[0060] 24 rings

[0061] 26a-c Latching member

[0062] 28 Latch Edge

[0063] 30a-e displacement surface

[0064] 32 Top Plate

[0065] 34 Longitudinal axis of filter element

[0066] 36 Filter Media

[0067] 38 Support

[0068] 40 bottom plate

[0069] 42 Sealing ring

[0070] 44 Handle latch mechanism

[0071] 46 Filter element latch mechanism

[0072] 48 Stop finger

Claims

1. A filter (10), wherein: The filter (10) comprises the following: a) a replaceable filter element (14); b) a filter housing (12) for receiving the filter element (14), wherein a filter element latching mechanism (46) is arranged between the filter housing (12) and the filter element (14), the latching mechanism holding the filter element (14) in the installed state in the filter housing (12) so as to be secured against an axial pull-out action, wherein the filter element latching mechanism (46) comprises latching members (26a-c) which are at least partially radially movable; c) a handle (16) for axially pulling the filter element (14) out of the filter housing (12), wherein a handle latch mechanism (44) for retaining the filter element (14) and an actuation surface (22a, 22b) for releasing the filter element latch mechanism (46) are provided between the handle (16) and the filter element (14), wherein the handle latch mechanism (44) comprises latch fingers (20a-d) which are at least partially movable radially, wherein the handle latch mechanism (44) can be locked by the latch fingers (20a-d) by pushing the handle (16) onto the filter element (14), and the filter element latch mechanism (46) can be released due to at least partial movement of the latch members (26a-c) caused by the actuation surfaces (22a, 22b).

2. The filter according to claim 1, wherein The filter (10) is embodied as a liquid filter.

3. A filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The filter element latch mechanism (46) is provided with latch members (26a-c) at the filter housing, and / or the handle latch mechanism (44) is provided with latch fingers (20a-d) at the handle.

4. A filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The actuation surfaces (22a, 22b) are implemented at the latch fingers (20a-d).

5. A filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The handle latch mechanism (44) includes a plurality of latch fingers (20a-d) that are at least partially radially movable.

6. A filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The filter element latch mechanism (46) includes: a plurality of latch members (26a-c) which are at least partially radially movable and disposed at the filter housing; and a plurality of actuation surfaces (22a, 22b) for at least partial movement of the latch members (26a-c) disposed at the handle.

7. The filter according to claim 6 in combination with claim 5, wherein: The two latch fingers (20a-d) are arranged or implemented adjacent to the latch members (26a-c), respectively, so that the corresponding latch members (26a-c) are arranged or implemented between the corresponding latch fingers (20a-d).

8. The filter according to claim 7, wherein The latching members (26a-c) are respectively connected to two displacement surfaces (30a-e) arranged adjacent to the latching members (26a-c), and when the handle (16) is pushed onto the filter element (14), the latching members can be moved by the actuating surfaces (22a, 22b) to release the filter element latching mechanism (46).

9. The filter according to claim 8, wherein The displacement surfaces (30a-e) have a symmetrical configuration, wherein the latching members (26a-c) are arranged between two displacement surfaces (30a-e), respectively.

10. A filter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The filter housing (12) includes a ring (24) including at least one latching member (26a-c).

11. A method (19) for unloading a filter (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the method steps of: a) pushing the handle (16) onto the filter element (14), wherein: The handle (16) latches at the filter element (14) and at least one actuation surface (22a, 22b) releases a latch mechanism of at least one latch member (26a-c) such that the handle latch mechanism (44) is locked and the filter element latch mechanism (46) is released, b) Pulling the filter element (14) out of the filter housing (12) using the handle (16).

12. The method according to claim 11 in combination with claim 3, wherein: In method step a), when the handle (16) is pushed onto the filter element (14), the latching fingers (20a-d) latch at the filter element (14) and the latching members (26a-c) are released from the filter element (14).

13. A filter element (14), in particular a filter element (14) of a liquid filter, in particular a filter element of a fuel filter or an oil filter, for arrangement in a filter according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a filter medium (36) in an annular shape around a longitudinal axis (34), characterized in that The filter element (14) can be latched or axially secured in the filter housing (12) by latching members (26a, 26b), wherein the filter element (14) can be at least partially engaged by a latching edge (28), wherein a handle latch mechanism (44) can be formed at the filter element (14) by attachment of a latching finger (20d).

14. The filter element according to claim 13, characterized in that The filter medium (36) is folded into a star shape or coiled.

15. The filter element according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The filter element (14) is circular or oval.

16. A handle (16) for removing a filter element (14) according to any one of claims 13 to 15 from a filter (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The handle (16) is connectable to the filter element (14) via a handle latch mechanism (44) having at least one latch finger (20a-d), wherein the handle (16) includes at least one actuation surface (22a, 22b) for releasing the filter element latch mechanism (46).

17. The handle (16) according to claim 16, wherein: The handle (16) comprises a handle grip (18), by means of which a force can be introduced into the filter element (14) in order to release the filter element (14) from its secure seat in the filter housing (12).

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