Air cleaner and vehicle

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of automobile air filters, and provides an air filter and a vehicle. The air filter comprises an upper shell and a lower shell which are buckled together, and an air filter element arranged between the upper shell and the lower shell. A first cavity is formed on one side of the lower shell of the air filter element, and a main air inlet communicating with the first cavity is arranged on the lower shell; a second cavity is formed on one side of the upper shell of the air filter element, a sub-air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the second cavity are arranged on the upper shell, and a cover plate capable of being controlled to open and close is arranged on the sub-air inlet. The air filter provided by the application provides a more flexible air inlet channel for the air inlet of the air filter when the vehicle is wading, and is beneficial to reducing the water inlet risk of the air filter under the wading working condition of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automotive air filter technology, and in particular to an air filter and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] The air filter is a core component of a vehicle's air intake system, its main function being to continuously provide clean air to the engine. Current air filters mainly consist of three parts: an upper housing, a lower housing, and a filter element. Typically, the lower housing has an air intake port that connects to an intake duct that extends to the outside of the engine compartment to draw in outside air.

[0003] The main functions of an air filter are filtration and noise reduction. If water gets into the air filter, the filter element will become wet and lose its original performance, the filter paper will deform, and in severe cases, it will lose its filtering function altogether, causing the engine to stall and break down. Because the air intake duct extends to the outside of the engine compartment, its inlet is usually located at the front bumper, a low position. When the vehicle is wading through water, the front bumper is impacted by water waves, and the air intake, due to negative pressure, can easily draw in some water, affecting the air filter's waterproofing effect. This not only makes the filter element more susceptible to wetness and damage but also increases the risk of water entering the engine. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, this application aims to provide an air filter that offers a more flexible air intake channel for the air filter when a vehicle is wading through water, thereby reducing the risk of water ingress into the air filter during vehicle wading conditions.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this application is implemented as follows: An air filter includes an upper housing and a lower housing that are snapped together, and an air filter element disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing; A first chamber is formed on one side of the lower housing of the air filter element, and a main air inlet communicating with the first chamber is provided on the lower housing; a second chamber is formed on one side of the upper housing of the air filter element, and a secondary air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the second chamber are provided on the upper housing, and the secondary air inlet is equipped with a cover that can be controlled to open and close.

[0006] Furthermore, the second chamber is provided with a carbon paper filter element, which divides the second chamber into a secondary air intake chamber connected to the secondary air intake port and an air outlet chamber connected to the air outlet port. The air outlet chamber is located between the carbon paper filter element and the air filter element.

[0007] Furthermore, the upper housing includes an upper housing and a middle housing that are fastened together, the bottom of the middle housing is fastened to the lower housing, and the carbon paper filter element is disposed between the upper housing and the middle housing; the auxiliary air inlet and the cover plate are disposed on the upper housing, and the air outlet is disposed on the middle housing.

[0008] Furthermore, the carbon paper filter element includes a frame and a filter element portion disposed in the frame, the frame being sandwiched between the upper housing and the middle housing.

[0009] Furthermore, the frame is provided with a positioning pin, and the upper housing and the middle housing are respectively provided with positioning grooves; as the upper housing and the middle housing are fastened together, the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning grooves on the upper housing and the middle housing.

[0010] Furthermore, the main air inlet and the air outlet are respectively located on opposite side walls of the air filter, and the auxiliary air inlet is located on the side wall of the upper housing adjacent to or opposite to the side wall where the air outlet is located.

[0011] Furthermore, the inner wall of the upper housing is provided with a guide groove and a drive mechanism, and the cover plate is slidably disposed in the guide groove; the drive mechanism can be manipulated to drive the cover plate to slide in the guide groove to open and close the secondary air inlet.

[0012] Furthermore, the drive mechanism includes a motor fixed to the upper housing and a transmission part that is drively connected between the cover plate and the motor.

[0013] Furthermore, the transmission unit includes a gear disposed on the output shaft of the motor and a rack disposed on the cover plate, the gear and the rack being meshed together.

[0014] Compared with related technologies, this application has the following advantages: (1) The air filter of this application adopts a split shell structure. By fastening the air filter element between the lower shell and the upper shell, a first chamber for external air to enter and a second chamber for supplying filtered gas to the engine can be easily formed. An auxiliary air intake is added to the upper shell near the top. Since the upper shell is located inside the engine compartment, it is not easily affected by water intrusion and impact when the vehicle is wading through water. When the vehicle is in a wading condition, the cover at the auxiliary air intake can be opened briefly to allow air to enter the air filter through the auxiliary air intake, which greatly reduces the amount of external air entering the air filter from the air outlet. This reduces the probability of the first chamber on the air outlet side generating negative pressure and sucking in water. This provides a more flexible air intake channel for the air filter when the vehicle is wading through water, which helps to reduce the risk of water ingress into the air filter when the vehicle is wading through water.

[0015] (2) A carbon paper filter element is added to the second chamber, which can divide the second chamber into two parts: the exhaust chamber near the exhaust port and the auxiliary intake chamber near the auxiliary intake port. In this way, the volatile substances containing hydrocarbons and other harmful substances that evaporate inside the engine when the engine is stopped can be well adsorbed by the carbon paper filter element, thereby avoiding the pollution of the external environment by the evaporated gas. At the same time, since the carbon paper filter element is made of porous filter paper, it also plays a significant role in the noise reduction of the intake system.

[0016] (3) The upper housing adopts the snap-fit ​​form of the upper housing and the middle housing, which can easily set the auxiliary air inlet on the upper housing and the air outlet on the middle housing; at the same time, it can also well clamp and fix the carbon paper filter between the upper housing and the middle housing, which is convenient for the disassembly, replacement and maintenance of the carbon paper filter.

[0017] (4) A frame is set for the carbon paper filter element, and the filter element part composed of carbon paper, etc. is installed and fixed on the frame, which can provide strong support for the filter element part; at the same time, the frame can be used to conveniently clamp and fix the carbon paper filter element between the upper shell and the middle shell, so as to ensure the convenience and reliability of the installation of the carbon paper filter element on the upper shell.

[0018] (5) Positioning pins are set on the frame, and positioning grooves are set on the buckle and end face of the upper shell and the middle shell respectively. By using the insertion positioning function of positioning pins and positioning grooves, the installation position accuracy of carbon paper filter element on the upper shell and the middle shell can be ensured, thereby improving the installation positioning effect of carbon paper filter element and the convenience of installation operation.

[0019] (6) The main air inlet and the air outlet are arranged separately on opposite side walls, which can effectively increase the airflow path in the air filter, so that the airflow of the air filter can fully contact and pass through the air filter element, thereby improving the air filter element's filtration effect on the air.

[0020] (7) A guide groove is provided on the inner wall of the upper housing, and the cover plate is slidably placed in the guide groove. The cover plate can be opened and closed by the drive mechanism. Moreover, the cover plate and the drive mechanism are both located inside the upper housing, which avoids occupying the external space of the air filter.

[0021] (8) The drive mechanism adopts the form of a combination of motor and transmission part. It can drive the opening and closing action of the cover plate through flexible control of the motor. It has the advantages of easy control and reliable driving performance.

[0022] (9) The transmission part adopts a gear and rack meshing transmission form, which has the advantages of stable and reliable transmission performance and is also suitable for the arrangement conditions of the narrow space inside the upper shell.

[0023] Another object of this application is to provide a vehicle equipped with the air filter described in this application. The vehicle of this application possesses the technical advantages of the aforementioned air filter. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of this application. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this application are used to explain this application. The directional terms such as front / back, up / down, etc., used therein are only used to indicate relative positional relationships and do not constitute an improper limitation of this application. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the air filter described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the air filter described in the embodiment of this application from another perspective; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the disassembled structure of the upper housing, lower housing, and air filter element described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 for Figure 3 An exploded view of the upper shell shown; Figure 5 for Figure 2 The exploded view of the air filter shown is shown. Figure 6 This is a top view of the air filter described in the embodiment of this application; Figure 7 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at position AA in the middle.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Lower housing; 10. First chamber; 100. Main air inlet; 101. First engagement end face; 2. Middle shell; 20. Air outlet chamber; 200. Air outlet; 201. Second snap-fit ​​end face; 202. Third snap-fit ​​end face; 3. Upper housing; 30. Secondary air intake chamber; 300. Secondary air intake port; 301. Guide groove; 302. Positioning hole; 303. Fourth fastening end face; 4. Air filter element; 40. Filter media; 41. Frame; 5. Carbon paper filter element; 50. Filter element section; 51. Frame; 510. Positioning pin; 6. Cover plate; 7. Drive mechanism; 70. Motor; 700. Positioning column; 71. Transmission unit; 710. Gear; 711. Rack. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the technical solution and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0027] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.

[0028] Furthermore, it should be stated in the description of this application that if terms such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "back," "inner," or "outer" appear, they are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the purpose of describing this application and making the expression clear and concise, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed or operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0029] Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "installation," "connection," "joint," and "connector" should be interpreted broadly. For example, a connection can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application in light of the specific circumstances. The qualifying terms such as "first," "second," "A," "B," "C," and "D" appearing in the description of this application are merely for distinguishing similar features in different locations, attributions, or uses, in order to avoid ambiguity and confusion, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0030] In this application, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0031] The primary functions of an air filter are filtration and noise reduction. If water gets into the air filter, the filter element will become wet and lose its original performance, the filter paper will deform, and in severe cases, it will lose its filtering function altogether, leading to engine stalling and breakdown. Current air filters mainly consist of three parts: an upper housing, a lower housing, and the filter element. Typically, there is an air intake on the lower housing, which connects to an intake duct that extends to the outside of the engine compartment to draw in outside air. Because the intake duct extends to the outside of the engine compartment, its inlet is usually located near the front bumper, a low position. When the vehicle is wading through water, the front bumper is impacted by water waves, and the air intake, due to negative pressure, can easily draw in some water, affecting the air filter's waterproofing effect. This not only makes the filter element more susceptible to wetting and damage but also increases the risk of water entering the engine.

[0032] Meanwhile, in winter or low-temperature regions, the intake manifold draws in outside air, causing the air filter to draw in extremely low ambient temperatures. Prolonged exposure to these extreme conditions can lead to increased engine wear, worsened emissions, and reduced fuel economy. While some engines can improve their performance in low-temperature conditions through dynamic adjustments using sensors (such as intake air temperature sensors and oxygen sensors) and the ECU (Engine Control Unit), preheating and other protective measures are still necessary in extremely cold environments.

[0033] In addition, traditional air filters have carbon paper of a certain size welded into them to reduce the volatilization of hydrocarbons (HC) from the intake pipe. However, the desorption and adsorption effects are poor, and the adsorption and desorption effects will be lost over time, and the filter cannot be replaced.

[0034] In view of the above-mentioned problems in the related technologies, this application innovatively proposes a brand-new air filter that can provide a more flexible air intake channel for the air filter when the vehicle is wading through water, which helps to reduce the risk of water entering the air filter when the vehicle is wading through water.

[0035] The present application will now be described in detail through exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that, without further description, elements, structures, and features in one embodiment may be advantageously incorporated into other embodiments.

[0036] An embodiment of the first aspect of this application provides an air filter for use in engine intake air filtration; one exemplary structure is as follows: Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown.

[0037] Overall, the air filter includes an upper housing and a lower housing 1 that are snapped together, and an air filter element 4 disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing 1. A first chamber 10 is formed on one side of the lower housing 1 of the air filter element 4, and a main air inlet 100 communicating with the first chamber 10 is provided on the lower housing 1. A second chamber is formed on one side of the upper housing of the air filter element 4, and a secondary air inlet 300 and an air outlet 200 communicating with the second chamber are provided on the upper housing. The secondary air inlet 300 is equipped with a cover 6 that can be operated to open and close.

[0038] Based on the overall design concept described above, a split-shell structure is adopted. By fastening the air filter element 4 between the lower shell 1 and the upper shell, a first chamber 10 for external air to enter and a second chamber for supplying filtered air to the engine can be easily formed. An auxiliary air intake 300 is added to the upper shell near the top. Because the upper shell is located inside the engine compartment, it is less susceptible to water intrusion and impact when the vehicle is wading through water. When the vehicle is wading through water, the cover 6 at the auxiliary air intake 300 can be briefly opened to allow air to enter the air filter through the auxiliary air intake 300, greatly reducing the amount of external air entering the air filter from the exhaust port 200. This reduces the probability of negative pressure being generated in the first chamber 10 on the exhaust port 200 side, thus drawing in water. This provides a more flexible air intake channel for the air filter when the vehicle is wading through water, helping to reduce the risk of water ingress into the air filter during wading conditions.

[0039] It should be noted that, based on the above-mentioned overall design concept, the technical solution of this application can adopt a variety of different specific implementation structures, forms, or configuration sequences. For example, the cover plate 6 can adopt different opening and closing action forms such as swing opening and closing or push-pull opening and closing; the upper shell can adopt a split structure or a single structure. The specific arrangement sequence and assembly method of the lower shell 1, air filter 4, upper shell, and cover plate 6 can also be flexibly adjusted. For the parts required for the implementation of the overall solution but not involved in the above overall setup, reasonable and flexible design can be made by referring to mature setting methods in the field and the actual situation during implementation, which will not be elaborated here. The specific implementation scheme described below in this embodiment is only one of the many solutions that can be formed by the above-mentioned combinations and variations. In actual implementation, those skilled in the art can make flexible adjustments and improvements based on the actual situation. Obviously, the many solutions that can be formed by the above-mentioned combinations and variations, as well as the specific implementation scheme of this embodiment, are all within the protection scope of this application.

[0040] like Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, in some preferred exemplary embodiments, the second chamber of this embodiment is further provided with a carbon paper filter element 5, which divides the second chamber into a secondary air intake chamber 30 connected to the secondary air intake port 300 and an air outlet chamber 20 connected to the air outlet port 200; wherein, the air outlet chamber 20 is located between the carbon paper filter element 5 and the air filter element 4. By adding the carbon paper filter element 5 to the second chamber, the second chamber can be divided into two parts: the air outlet chamber 20 near the air outlet port 200 and the secondary air intake chamber 30 near the secondary air intake port 300; in this way, the volatile substances containing hydrocarbons and other harmful substances that evaporate inside the engine when the engine is stopped can be effectively adsorbed by the carbon paper filter element 5, thereby avoiding pollution of the external environment by the evaporated gas; at the same time, since the carbon paper filter element 5 is made of porous filter paper, it also plays a significant role in reducing noise in the intake system.

[0041] As mentioned above, there are naturally many different structural options available for the upper shell; for example, a single-unit structure can be used. However, in this embodiment, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the upper housing includes an upper housing 3 and a middle housing 2 that are fastened together. The bottom of the middle housing 2 is fastened to the lower housing 1. The carbon paper filter element 5 is located between the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2. The auxiliary air inlet 300 and the cover plate 6 are located on the upper housing 3, and the air outlet 200 is located on the middle housing 2. The upper housing adopts the fastening form of the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2, which makes it easy to set the auxiliary air inlet 300 on the upper housing 3 and the air outlet 200 on the middle housing 2. At the same time, it can also effectively clamp and fix the carbon paper filter element 5 between the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2, which is convenient for the disassembly, replacement and maintenance of the carbon paper filter element 5.

[0042] Based on the above configuration, preferably, the carbon paper filter element 5 of this embodiment includes a frame 51 and a filter element portion 50 disposed in the frame 51; wherein, the frame 51 is clamped between the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2 to realize the installation and fixation of the carbon paper filter element 5. Providing the frame 51 for the carbon paper filter element 5 and installing and fixing the filter element portion 50 composed of carbon paper, etc., on the frame 51 can provide strong support for the filter element portion 50; at the same time, the frame 51 can facilitate the clamping and fixing installation of the carbon paper filter element 5 between the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2, so as to ensure the convenience and reliability of the installation of the carbon paper filter element 5 on the upper housing.

[0043] In addition, a positioning pin 510 can be provided on the frame 51, and corresponding positioning grooves can be provided on the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2. As the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2 are fastened together, the positioning pin 510 is inserted into the positioning grooves on the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2, realizing the accurate positioning and installation of the carbon paper filter element 5 between the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2. By providing a positioning pin 510 on the frame 51 and corresponding positioning grooves on the fastening end faces of the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2, the positioning effect of the positioning pin 510 and the positioning grooves can be used to ensure the accuracy of the installation position of the carbon paper filter element 5 on the upper housing 3 and the middle housing 2, thereby improving the installation positioning effect of the carbon paper filter element 5 and the convenience of installation operation.

[0044] Referring to the arrangement of the carbon paper filter element 5, the air filter element 4 in this embodiment can also adopt a design of frame 41 and filter material 40. Since the air filter element 4 is used for air filtration under normal operating conditions, the filter material 40 can be a common air filter element. When installing the air filter element 4, the frame 41 is clamped and fixed between the lower housing 1 and the middle housing 2, which can realize the quick installation of the air filter element 4 in the air filter.

[0045] Combination Figure 5 As shown, to ensure proper interlocking of the lower housing 1, middle housing 2, and air filter 4, a first interlocking end face 101 is provided at the top of the lower housing 1; a second interlocking end face 201 and a third interlocking end face 202 are provided at the bottom and top of the middle housing 2, respectively; and a fourth interlocking end face 303 is provided at the bottom of the upper housing 3. When installing the air filter 4, the first interlocking end face 101 and the second interlocking end face 201 abut against both sides of the frame 41 of the air filter 4, thus securing the air filter 4. When installing the carbon paper filter 5, the third interlocking end face 202 and the fourth interlocking end face 303 abut against both sides of the frame 51 of the carbon paper filter 5, thus securing the carbon paper filter 5. Based on the interlocking of all the interlocking end faces, the various housings can be connected and fixed together by means of clips, bolts, etc.

[0046] Regarding the specific location and layout of the main air inlet 100 and the air outlet 200, the following scheme is preferred: The main air inlet 100 and the air outlet 200 are respectively located on opposite side walls of the air filter, and the auxiliary air inlet 300 is located on the upper housing on a side wall adjacent to or opposite to the side wall where the air outlet 200 is located. See details below. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the main air inlet 100 is located on the side wall of the left end of the lower housing 1, the air outlet 200 is located on the side wall of the right end of the middle housing 2, and the auxiliary air inlet 300 is located on the side wall of the rear side of the upper housing 3.

[0047] The main air inlet 100 and the air outlet 200 are arranged separately on opposite sidewalls, which effectively increases the airflow path within the air filter, allowing the airflow to fully contact and pass through the air filter element 4, thereby improving the air filter element 4's filtration effect. The secondary air inlet 300 is located on the rear sidewall of the upper housing 3, ensuring sufficient airflow path length between the secondary air inlet 300 and the air outlet 200, and also taking into account the large area of ​​the rear sidewall of the upper housing 3, which is suitable for installing the cover plate 6 and the drive mechanism 7.

[0048] Regarding the specific configuration of cover plate 6, there are, of course, several different structural options available; for example, the previously mentioned swing-opening and closing structure can be referenced. However, as... Figure 4 and combined Figure 6 Figure 7 As shown, in some preferred exemplary embodiments, the inner wall of the upper housing in this embodiment is provided with a guide groove 301 and a drive mechanism 7, and the cover plate 6 is slidably disposed within the guide groove 301. Given that the upper housing adopts a split structure of the upper housing 3 and the air filter 4, the cover plate 6 and the drive mechanism 7 should naturally be disposed on the inner wall of the upper housing 3. Simultaneously, the drive mechanism 7 can be manipulated to drive the cover plate 6 to slide within the guide groove 301, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the secondary air intake 300.

[0049] A guide groove 301 is provided on the inner wall of the upper housing, and the cover plate 6 is slidably placed in the guide groove 301. The cover plate 6 can be opened and closed by the drive mechanism 7. Moreover, the cover plate 6 and the drive mechanism 7 are both located inside the upper housing, which avoids occupying the external space of the air filter.

[0050] Of course, the aforementioned drive mechanism 7 can be selected in various forms. For example, different drive components such as cylinders and solenoid valves can be used to achieve drive control of the cover plate 6. Figure 7 As shown, in some preferred exemplary embodiments, the drive mechanism 7 of this embodiment includes a motor 70 fixedly mounted on the upper housing 3, and a transmission part 71 that is drively connected between the cover plate 6 and the motor 70. The drive mechanism 7 adopts the form of the motor 70 and the transmission part 71 cooperating, and can drive the opening and closing action of the cover plate 6 through flexible control of the motor 70, which has the advantages of easy control and reliable driving performance.

[0051] Regarding the specific configuration of the transmission unit 71, there are naturally many different structural options available; for example, a lead screw and bolt drive can be used to convert the rotational motion of the knob 70 into a linear drive of the cover plate 6. However, in this embodiment, as... Figure 4 and Figure 7 As shown, the transmission unit 71 adopts a gear and rack transmission form. Specifically, the transmission unit 71 includes a gear 710 mounted on the output shaft of the motor 70 and a rack 711 mounted on the cover plate 6. The gear 710 and the rack 711 are meshed together. The transmission unit 71, with its meshing gear 710 and rack 711, has the advantages of stable and reliable transmission performance and is also suitable for the arrangement conditions of the confined space inside the upper housing.

[0052] In addition, to ensure the accuracy of the installation and fixing position of the motor 70 on the upper housing 3, a positioning hole 302 can be opened on the side wall of the upper housing 3, and a positioning post 700 can be set on the motor 70. Through the insertion and cooperation of the positioning post 700 and the positioning hole 302, the accuracy of the installation position of the motor 70 on the inner wall of the upper housing 3 can be ensured.

[0053] Based on the overall setup described above, the working principle of the air filter in this embodiment during vehicle operation is as follows: When the vehicle is in a low-temperature environment, the ECU determines the opening of cover 6 based on information detected by the ambient temperature sensor. The motor 70, which drives cover 6, is connected to the ECU via control lines. The ECU controls the opening of cover 6 at the secondary air intake 300 of the upper housing 3. Since the upper housing 3 and its secondary air intake 300 are located in the engine compartment, the air temperature at this location is relatively high. Even when air enters through both the main air intake 100 and the secondary air intake 300 simultaneously, the intake volume at the main air intake 100 can be effectively reduced. The mixing of air entering through two different paths effectively increases the temperature of the air entering the engine, thereby reducing the probability of icing in parts such as the crankcase ventilation pipe. Furthermore, when motor 70 is a servo motor, the opening degree of cover 6 can be precisely controlled. The opening degree of the secondary air intake 300 is intelligently adjusted by the ECU based on signals provided by the intake air temperature sensor. When the temperature detected by the intake system temperature sensor reaches the optimal value, the ECU controls motor 70 to drive cover 6 to gradually close until the secondary air intake 300 is completely closed.

[0054] When the vehicle is in a wading situation, the ECU, based on information provided by the vehicle's wading sensors, controls the motor 70 to drive the cover plate 6 to open the secondary air intake 300 on the upper housing 3, thereby reducing the negative pressure in the first chamber 10 of the lower housing 1. It should be noted that the first chamber 10 serves as the main air intake chamber in the entire air filter. With the secondary air intake 300 open, the secondary air intake chamber 30 inside the upper housing 3 plays a primary air intake role, reducing the possibility of water waves from the front bumper entering the first chamber 10 through the intake pipe and main air intake 100, thus reducing the risk of water entering the air filter. After the vehicle leaves the wading area, the ECU controls the motor 70 to drive the cover plate 6 to close the secondary air intake 300, allowing the air filter to return to normal operation. Air supplied to the engine enters only from the main air intake 100 and the first chamber 10, is filtered by the air filter element 4, and then enters the engine through the exhaust chamber 20 and exhaust port 200, ensuring optimal engine operation.

[0055] Additionally, a backflushing program for the carbon paper filter element 5 can be set within the ECU controller. Each time the vehicle is started, the control motor 70 drives the cover plate 6 to open the secondary air intake port 300, maintaining this open state for a few seconds. In this state, external air can enter the secondary air intake chamber 30 through the secondary air intake port 300, then through the carbon paper filter element 5 into the exhaust chamber 20, and finally into the engine through the exhaust port 200. During this airflow process, the carbon paper filter element 5 is backflushed, blowing the HC and other pollutants adsorbed on it back into the engine for combustion. This ensures that the carbon paper filter element 5 has sufficient capacity to adsorb more evaporated pollutants each time the vehicle is turned off, thus maintaining its adsorption performance and lifespan.

[0056] In summary, the air filter of this embodiment adopts a split-shell structure. By fastening the air filter element 4 between the lower shell 1 and the upper shell, a first chamber 10 for external air to enter and a second chamber for supplying filtered air to the engine can be easily formed. An auxiliary air intake 300 is added to the upper shell near the top. Because the upper shell is located inside the engine compartment, it is less susceptible to water intrusion and impact when the vehicle is wading through water. When the vehicle is wading through water, the cover 6 at the auxiliary air intake 300 can be briefly opened to allow air to enter the air filter through the auxiliary air intake 300, greatly reducing the amount of external air entering the air filter from the outlet 200. This reduces the probability of negative pressure being generated in the first chamber 10 on the outlet 200 side, thus drawing in water. This provides a more flexible air intake channel for the air filter when the vehicle is wading through water, which helps reduce the risk of water ingress into the air filter during wading conditions.

[0057] An embodiment of the second aspect of this application provides a vehicle equipped with the air filter provided in Embodiment 1.

[0058] In the air filter of this application, a secondary air intake 300 is set at a high position and concealed on the upper housing 3, and a cover 6 that can be controlled to open and close is provided for the secondary air intake 300. Under special working conditions such as wading, low temperature environment and engine start, the cover 6 can be opened briefly to improve the air filter's waterproof, engine protection and HC adsorption functions.

[0059] When the vehicle is wading through water, the ECU controls the motor 70 to drive the cover 6 to open or close the secondary air intake 300 on the upper housing 3, based on the wading environment. This improves the negative pressure in the first chamber 10 and reduces the airflow velocity in the main air intake 100, thus preventing or reducing water ingress into the air filter. Intelligent control of the airflow velocity in the main air intake 100 reduces the negative pressure in the first chamber 10, resulting in better low-speed maneuverability under the same wading depth conditions, thereby improving the overall wading performance of the vehicle.

[0060] When the vehicle is in a low-temperature environment, the ECU will control the motor 70 to drive the cover plate 6 to open and close the secondary air intake 300 on the upper housing 3 according to the ambient temperature, which can reduce the air intake of the main air intake 100 and increase the air intake temperature of the intake system.

[0061] Meanwhile, due to the addition of carbon paper filter element 5 to the air filter, and the opening and closing control of cover plate 6, after each vehicle ignition, the control motor 70 drives cover plate 6 to briefly open the auxiliary air intake 300, blowing the pollutants such as HC adsorbed on carbon paper filter element 5 back into the engine for combustion. This ensures that carbon paper filter element 5 has sufficient capacity to adsorb more evaporated pollutants each time the vehicle is turned off, which is beneficial to maintaining the adsorption performance and service life of carbon paper filter element 5.

[0062] Furthermore, the detachable structure of the lower housing 1, middle housing 2, and upper housing 3 facilitates the removal and replacement of the air filter element 4 and carbon paper filter element 5, which can significantly reduce pollutant emission levels when the engine is off and ensure the air filtration effect of the air filter. Therefore, the air filter of this application is reliable, intelligent, and environmentally friendly, and can effectively improve the NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) performance of the vehicle.

[0063] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application. Detailed explanations of configurations, examples of specific structural arrangements, and descriptions of assembly and connection methods are provided to ensure sufficient disclosure so that those skilled in the art can better implement this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An air filter, characterized in that: It includes an upper housing and a lower housing (1) that are fastened together, and an air filter (4) disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing (1). A first chamber (10) is formed on one side of the lower housing (1) of the air filter (4), and a main air inlet (100) communicating with the first chamber (10) is provided on the lower housing (1). A second chamber is formed on one side of the upper housing of the air filter (4). The upper housing is provided with a secondary air inlet (300) and an air outlet (200) that communicate with the second chamber. The secondary air inlet (300) is provided with a cover plate (6) that can be opened and closed.

2. The air filter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second chamber is provided with a carbon paper filter element (5), which divides the second chamber into a secondary air intake chamber (30) connected to the secondary air intake port (300) and an air outlet chamber (20) connected to the air outlet port (200). The air outlet chamber (20) is located between the carbon paper filter element (5) and the air filter element (4).

3. The air filter according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper housing includes an upper housing (3) and a middle housing (2) that are fastened together. The bottom of the middle housing (2) is fastened to the lower housing (1). The carbon paper filter element (5) is disposed between the upper housing (3) and the middle housing (2). The secondary air inlet (300) and the cover plate (6) are located on the upper housing (3), and the air outlet (200) is located on the middle housing (2).

4. The air filter according to claim 3, characterized in that: The carbon paper filter element (5) includes a frame (51) and a filter element portion (50) disposed in the frame (51), the frame (51) being sandwiched between the upper housing (3) and the middle housing (2).

5. The air filter according to claim 4, characterized in that: The frame (51) is provided with a positioning pin (510), and the upper shell (3) and the middle shell (2) are respectively provided with positioning grooves; as the upper shell (3) and the middle shell (2) are fastened together, the positioning pin (510) is inserted into the positioning groove on the upper shell (3) and the middle shell (2).

6. The air filter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main air inlet (100) and the air outlet (200) are respectively located on opposite side walls of the air filter, and the auxiliary air inlet (300) is located on the upper housing on the side wall adjacent to or opposite to the side wall where the air outlet (200) is located.

7. The air filter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The upper housing has a guide groove (301) and a drive mechanism (7) on its inner wall, and the cover plate (6) is slidably disposed in the guide groove (301); The drive mechanism (7) can be manipulated to drive the cover plate (6) to slide within the guide groove (301) to open or close the secondary air inlet (300).

8. The air filter according to claim 7, characterized in that: The drive mechanism (7) includes a motor (70) fixed on the upper housing and a transmission part (71) that is connected between the cover plate (6) and the motor (70).

9. The air filter according to claim 8, characterized in that: The transmission unit (71) includes a gear (710) on the output shaft of the motor (70) and a rack (711) on the cover plate (6), wherein the gear (710) and the rack (711) are meshed together.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle is equipped with an air filter as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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