Air filter

Abstract

Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) with an air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300), with an air filter element (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) arranged therein and a fresh air inlet (4, 22, 114, 115) and a clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460), wherein the air filter element (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) is arranged in the air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300) and separates an inner area from an outer area, wherein the air filter element (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) from an outer area to an inner area, wherein the fresh air inlet (4, 22, 114, 115) is arranged in the outer area and the clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460) is arranged centrally or in the inner area, characterized in that the clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460) is connected to a wall of the air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300) and is rotatable in or with it.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an air filter with an air filter housing and an air filter element.

[0002] Internal combustion engines are widespread in motor vehicles. Air filters are used in vehicles to supply the combustion air to clean the air before it enters the intake tract of the internal combustion engine. This results in improved combustion and a longer service life of the internal combustion engine, because the intake air is at least cleaned of suspended matter and foreign particles, which could be converted into pollutants during the combustion process in the cylinder, which must be avoided. Fine-grained particles in the internal combustion engine's mechanical components would also lead to increased wear, which must also be avoided.

[0003] For this purpose, air filters have become known that comprise an air filter housing and an air filter element arranged therein. Fresh air is introduced into the housing through an inlet opening, flows through the air filter element there, and then flows out filtered as clean air from a clean air outlet. Typically, a hose carrying the clean air to the intake tract of the combustion engine is connected to the clean air outlet to direct the clean air to the intake tract.

[0004] These air filters feature housings optimized for the specific installation space and therefore adapted to the specific vehicle configuration to such an extent that they are sometimes designed differently for different engines on the same vehicle platform. The hoses may also be designed differently in vehicles with different engines because the available installation space requires a different hose arrangement.

[0005] DE 100 43 532 A1 discloses an air filter with an air filter housing with two fresh air inlets and one clean air outlet, wherein two filter elements are arranged in the air filter housing.

[0006] WO 2011 / 157 687 A1 discloses an air filter comprising an air filter housing with a fresh air inlet and a clean air outlet, wherein a circumferential filter element is arranged on a housing edge.

[0007] It is the object of the invention to create an air filter of the above-mentioned type which can be used more universally than the prior art and yet is of simple construction.

[0008] The object is achieved with the features of claim 1, according to which an air filter is provided, comprising an air filter housing, an air filter element arranged therein, and at least one fresh air inlet and one clean air outlet. The air filter element is arranged in the air filter housing and separates an inner region from an outer region, with air flow through the air filter element from the outside to the inside, and the fresh air inlet is arranged in the outer region and the clean air outlet is arranged substantially centrally or in the inner region. This allows for a wide variety of uses of the air filter because the central clean air outlet allows the air filter housing to be rotated.

[0009] It is advantageous if the air filter housing has two fresh air inlets spaced apart from each other. This reduces the load on the air filter element while still allowing a high flow of fresh air.

[0010] It is also expedient if the air filter housing accommodates a U-shaped air filter element with two legs spaced apart from each other, each with air flowing in opposite directions from the outside to the inside. This allows for easy installation and replacement of the air filter element.

[0011] It is also advantageous if the air filter housing accommodates two air filter elements, which are arranged at a distance from each other and each have air flow in opposite directions from the outside to the inside. This also allows for simple arrangement and replaceability of the air filter element.

[0012] It is advantageous if the air filter element consists of a filter material, such as filter paper, arranged between two support elements or support plates. This facilitates the positioning of the air filter element in the air filter housing.

[0013] It is also advantageous if the clean air outlet is arranged between the air filter elements or the legs of the air filter element.

[0014] For optimal placement in the vehicle, it is best to connect a clean air hose to the clean air outlet. This hose can then be connected to the engine's intake tract.

[0015] It is particularly advantageous if the clean air hose can be adjusted and secured to the clean air outlet in various positions. This allows the angle of the hose relative to the air filter housing to be adjusted to accommodate different installation space requirements.

[0016] It is also advisable to support the clean air hose at a distance from the clean air connection in the vehicle. This allows the air filter housing to be held in place by the clean air hose.

[0017] According to the invention, the clean air outlet is connected to a wall of the air filter housing and can be rotated within or with it. This allows the angle of the hose relative to the air filter housing to be adjusted to accommodate different installation space requirements.

[0018] It is also advantageous for the air filter housing to have a trapezoidal cross-section, with the clean air outlet located on a trapezoidal wall. This allows for a simple design with two fresh air inlets.

[0019] Furthermore, it is expedient if at least two fresh air openings are provided which are arranged at a distance from one another and are provided in a wall which is substantially perpendicular to a trapezoidal wall.

[0020] Further advantageous embodiments are described by the following description of the figures and by the subclaims.

[0021] The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of at least one embodiment with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic view of an air filter with air filter housing and air filter elements, Fig. 2 a view of a fastening of a clean air hose, Fig. 3 a view of a fastening of a clean air hose, Fig. 4 a schematic view of an air filter with air filter element, Fig. 5 a schematic view of an air filter according to the invention, Fig. 6 a schematic view of an air filter according to the invention, Fig. 7 an arrangement of an air filter element in a housing, Fig. 8 a view of the air filter element in a housing, Fig. 9 a view of an air filter according to the invention, Fig. 10 a view of an air filter element relative to a housing cover, Fig. 11 a view of an air filter element relative to a housing cover, Fig. 12 a view of an air filter from the front, and Fig. 13 a top view of an air filter.

[0022] The Fig. 1 shows an air filter 1 with an air filter housing 2 and an air filter element 3 arranged therein, wherein at least one fresh air inlet 4, advantageously two fresh air inlets, and a clean air outlet 5 are provided. In the embodiment of the Fig. 1, two air filter elements 3 are provided, which are accommodated at a distance in the air filter housing.

[0023] The air filter housing 2 has a trapezoidal cross-section, with a front wall 6 and a rear wall 7 being trapezoidal in shape. The walls arranged perpendicular to these walls are essentially rectangular in shape. The respective fresh air inlet 4 is arranged in a wall that is arranged perpendicular to a trapezoidal wall, with the two fresh air inlets 4 being arranged spaced apart from one another in the end regions of the respective wall.

[0024] The air filter elements 3 are in the embodiment of the Fig. 1 is designed as two air filter elements that are essentially rectangular and are received and held in mounting receptacles 8. The mounting receptacles 8 can be designed as rails or guides. It is advantageous if the air filter element 3 consists of a filter material, such as filter paper, with the filter material being arranged between two support elements or support plates.

[0025] The areas between the wall 9 or 10 and the respective air filter element 3 are considered the outer area of ​​the air filter housing, with the area between the two air filter elements 3 being considered the inner area. The fresh air inlets 4 are therefore arranged in the outer area, and the clean air outlet 5 is arranged in the inner area. It may also be advantageous if the clean air outlet 5 is arranged substantially centrally on the trapezoidal wall.

[0026] As indicated by arrows 11, 12, the fresh air flows into the respective fresh air inlet 4, flows through the respective air filter element 3 into an interior space, and then flows out of the clean air outlet 5. The air filter elements 3 are thereby flowed through from the outside to the inside, with the two air filter elements 3 being flowed through in opposite directions, from the outside to the inside, due to the arrangement of the fresh air inlets 4.

[0027] The Fig. Figure 4 shows an alternative design of an air filter 20, in which the air filter housing 21 is again trapezoidal. The fresh air inlets 22 are arranged spaced apart from one another on a side surface, with the clean air outlet 23 located in the inner region essentially centrally of the trapezoidal wall.

[0028] In this embodiment, the air filter element 24 is U-shaped and has the two fresh air inlets 22 on its outer side and the clean air outlet 23 on its inner side.

[0029] Furthermore, Fig. 1 that a clean air hose 13 is arranged at the clean air outlet 5. The clean air hose 13 is preferably connected to the clean air outlet 5, and the clean air hose 13 is preferably adjustable and attachable to the clean air inlet 5 in various positions. For example, the clean air hose 13 can be rotated around the central axis 14 of the clean air outlet 5 and attached in any desired position. The housing could also be rotated in the vehicle if the clean air hose 13 is, for example, fixedly arranged in the vehicle.

[0030] It is preferred if the clean air hose 13 can be attached or supported in the vehicle at a distance from the clean air outlet 5. This can result in the clean air hose 13 being able to carry or at least support the air filter housing 2.

[0031] The Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shows brackets 30, 40 by means of which the clean air hose 31, 41 can be attached to a mounting point 32, 42. Thus, the mounting point 32, 42 can be, for example, a structural component of the vehicle, such as a sheet metal part, or it can be another load-bearing component of the motor vehicle. The load-bearing part can also be, for example, a lamp shell.

[0032] The holder 30, 40 is preferably formed from a clamp or an annular element. It is expedient for the holder 30, 40 to be sandwich-shaped and have an intermediate layer 33, 43 that is elastic and has damping properties. This ensures that the clean air hose 13 is mounted or supported in a decoupled manner in the motor vehicle.

[0033] With regard to the air filter element 3, it is advantageous if the air filter element 3 consists of filter paper or fleece, which is embedded, for example, between at least two support elements or support plates. The air filter element 3 can have a geometry adapted to the air filter housing, such as a rectangular shape, an oval shape, or even a U-shape. The air filter element 3 may also have an open shape, such as the U-shape, which is then closed or sealed by a side wall. This is the case, for example, in Fig. 4. There, the upper wall closes the seal, which is open at the top.

[0034] It may be advantageous if the support element or support plate is provided with a seal that radially and / or axially seals the air filter element 3 against the housing or the housing wall or against the clean air hose 13. Alternatively, a drawer solution can also be provided, such that the air filter element 3 can be inserted through an opening in the housing wall into a guide in the housing wall, wherein a cover plate can advantageously close the insertion opening of the drawer-like receptacle. This design facilitates the replacement of the air filter, for example, during servicing.

[0035] The arrangement of the fresh air inlets 4 can be customized to meet specific needs, allowing for a favorable inflow of fresh air depending on the arrangement of the air filter housing 2 within the installation space of the motor vehicle. Depending on the application in the vehicle, the fresh air housing 2 can be provided with differently arranged openings as fresh air inlets 4 to ensure a suitable inflow of fresh air in the individual installation situation. Thus, with a fundamentally identical geometry of the air filter housing 2, a variety of housing variants can be produced, which may differ in the position of the fresh air inlets 4.

[0036] The air filter housing 2 is preferably made of plastic and is advantageously designed as an injection-molded part in several parts. It is preferred if at least one cover is provided, which can be placed on the remaining walls of the air filter housing 2 to close the air filter housing 2 after the air filter elements have been inserted.

[0037] The Fig. Figure 5 shows an air filter 100 with an air filter housing 101 and an air filter element 102. The air filter element 102 is U-shaped and its U-shaped narrow sides 103, 104 are sealingly abutted against a housing wall 105, 106 at the front and rear. The end faces or upper surfaces 107, 108 of the air filter element 102 are also sealingly abutted against a housing wall 109.

[0038] The air filter housing 101 thus has three areas. One area is the inner area enclosed between the air filter element 102 and the housing wall 109, which is referred to as the clean air area. The other two areas are the two fresh air areas 112, 113 between a side housing wall 110, 111 and a respective side surface of a leg of the air filter element 102.

[0039] The two fresh air areas 112, 113 are preferably formed separately from one another. For this purpose, a seal is arranged between the two fresh air areas 112, 113 at the lower portion of the U-shaped air filter element 102. Alternatively, the two fresh air areas 112, 113 can also be connected to one another.

[0040] This causes air to flow from one of the two inlets 114, 115 into one of the fresh air areas 112, 113, then flow through the air filter element 102 and then collect in the clean air area or flow out of the clean air outlet 116.

[0041] The clean air outlet 116 is preferably rotatable relative to the air filter housing 101 or can be locked in its angular position. Thus, the clean air outlet 116 can assume a different arrangement relative to the housing in order to be flexibly adapted to the spatial conditions in the vehicle. The clean air outlet 116 can also be arranged on a front or rear wall of the air filter housing 101.

[0042] The fresh air inlets 114, 115 can also be flexibly attached to the air filter housing 101. Thus, an inlet 114 can be a pipe socket protruding upwards. An inlet 114 can also be a pipe socket protruding sideways. Alternatively, one pipe socket can protrude rearward, or further alternatively, the pipe socket can protrude forwards or downwards. Both inlet sockets can also protrude upwards, sideways, forwards, downwards, or rearwards, respectively.

[0043] Instead of a pipe socket, only one inlet opening can be provided, so that the fresh air can flow into the housing through at least one opening in the front housing wall, the rear housing wall, a side housing wall, an upper housing wall, or a lower housing wall. Both inlet openings can also be designed in this way.

[0044] The Fig. Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the air filter housing 150 is designed, for example, as a two-part plastic part 151, 152, such as a blow-molded part. The upper wall is designed as a cover part 152 and can be removed to insert the air filter element 153 into the base part 151. The air filter element 153 with the cover part 152 can also be inserted into the opening of the housing 150 as a drawer-like arrangement.

[0045] The clean air outlet 154 can be connected to the air filter housing 150 as a hose or pipe and / or rotated relative thereto and then fixed. For this purpose, the air filter housing 150 can have a connecting piece that can be connected to the hose or pipe. The connecting piece can be designed to be rotatable relative to the housing 150 so that it can be locked in various angular positions. The connecting piece can also be fixed, and the hose or pipe can be rotated around the connecting piece and locked in various angular positions.

[0046] The Fig. 7 and the Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the invention in which a U-shaped air filter element 200 is connected to or inserted into a housing part 201. The housing part 201 has a front wall 202, a rear wall 203, and a wall 204 connecting them. The clean air outlet 205 is provided in one of the walls.

[0047] The air filter element 200 is then inserted into the housing part 201 such that the end faces of the U-shaped air filter element 200 are sealed against the front and rear walls on the inside, respectively. The air must flow from the outside to the inside through the air filter element 200, is thereby filtered, and can flow out of the clean air outlet 205.

[0048] The Fig. Figure 9 shows a further alternative of an air filter housing 300 according to the invention. The air filter housing 300 consists of a substantially cuboid-shaped central housing 301, which has two opposing substantially rectangular openings 302, 303, into each of which an approximately rectangular air filter element 304 is inserted. The clean air outlet, which is not shown, is not visible. However, it can be arranged on the front or on one of the other sides of the housing 300, such as the rear, top, or bottom.

[0049] The air filter housing 300 further comprises two fresh air covers 305, 306, which are also rectangular in section parallel to the plane of the openings 302, 303, wherein the outer wall 307 extends obliquely upwards in order to reach a larger fresh air inlet opening 308 on the top side of the air filter housing 300 and adjacent thereto. In the example of the Fig. 9, two fresh air inlets are created, one on each side of an air filter element 304.

[0050] The Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 show further design possibilities for air filter elements.

[0051] The Fig. 10 shows an approximately J-shaped air filter element 350 with a bend and a straight extension on one side of the bend, in which a cover plate 351 rests against the two legs of the J-shaped air filter element 350 to seal the interior of the J-shaped air filter element 350. The clean air outlet nozzle 352 is connected to the interior of the air filter element 350.

[0052] The Fig. 11 shows an approximately semicircular air filter element 360, in which a cover plate 361 rests against the two legs 362, 363 of the semicircular air filter element 360 in order to seal the interior of the air filter element 360.

[0053] The Fig. Figure 12 shows an air filter 400 from the front, with the housing 401 having an approximately trapezoidal shape. Two filter elements 402, 403 are arranged in the housing 401, which are arranged in a V-shape relative to one another. A fresh air region 406, 407 is arranged between the filter element 402 or 403 and the respective lateral wall region 404, 405. An approximately wedge-shaped clean air region 408 with its clean air outlet 409 is arranged between the two filter elements 402, 403. The filter elements 402, 403 are arranged at an angle α to the vertical.

[0054] The Fig.Figure 13 shows an air filter 450 from above, with the housing 451 having an approximately cuboid shape or a rectangular cross-section when viewed from above. Two filter elements 452, 453 are arranged in the housing, parallel to each other but at an angle β to the vehicle center plane 454. A fresh air region 457, 458 is arranged between the filter element 452 or 453 and the respective lateral wall region 455, 456. An approximately parallelogram-shaped clean air region 459 with its clean air outlet 460 is arranged between the two filter elements 452, 453. List of reference symbols 1 air filter 2 air filter housings 3 Air filter element 4 Fresh air intake 5 Clean air outlet 6 front wall 7 rear wall 8 mounting brackets 9 Wall 10 wall 11 Arrow 12 Arrow 13 Clean air hose 14 Axis 20 air filters 21 Air filter housing 22 Fresh air intake 23 Clean air outlet 24 Air filter element 30 bracket 31 Clean air hose 32 attachment point 33 Intermediate layer 40 bracket 41 Clean air hose 42 attachment point 43 Intermediate layer 100 air filters 101 Air filter housing 102 Air filter element 103 Narrow side 104 narrow side 105 Housing wall 106 Housing wall 107 upper surface 108 upper surface 109 Housing wall 110 side housing wall 111 side housing wall 112 Fresh air area 113 Fresh air area 114 Entrance 115 Entrance 116 Clean air outlet 150 air filter housings 151 plastic part, base part 152 plastic part, cover part 153 Air filter element 154 Clean air outlet 200 air filter element 201 Housing part 202 front wall 203 rear wall 204 connecting wall 205 Clean air outlet 300 air filter housings 301 central housing 302 Opening 303 Opening 304 air filter element 305 fresh air cover 306 fresh air cover 307 Outer wall 308 fresh air intake opening 350 air filter element 351 end cover 352 Clean air outlet nozzle 360 air filter element 361 end cover 362 legs 363 legs 400 air filters 401 housing 402 filter element 403 filter element 404 Wall area 405 wall area 406 Fresh air area 407 Fresh air area 408 Clean air area 409 Clean air outlet 450 air filter 451 housing 452 filter element 453 filter element 454 Vehicle center plane 455 wall area 456 wall area 457 Fresh air area 458 Fresh air area 459 Clean air area 460 clean air outlet

Claims

[1] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) with an air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300), with an air filter element (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) arranged therein and a fresh air inlet (4, 22, 114, 115) and a clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460), wherein the air filter element (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) is arranged in the air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300) and separates an inner region from an outer region, wherein the Air filter element (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) is flowed through from an outer region to an inner region, and wherein the fresh air inlet (4, 22, 114, 115) is arranged in the outer region and the clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460) is arranged centrally or in the inner region, characterized by that the clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460) is connected to a wall of the air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300) and is rotatable in or with this. [2] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to claim 1, characterized by that the air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300) has at least two fresh air inlets (4, 22, 114, 115) which are arranged at a distance from one another. [3] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least two fresh air inlets (4, 22, 114, 115) are each arranged in the outer region. [4] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by that an air filter element (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) is accommodated in the air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300), which is U-shaped and has two legs which are arranged at a distance from one another and through which air flows in opposite directions from the outside to the inside. [5] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized byin that two air filter elements (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) are accommodated in the air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300), which are arranged at a distance from one another and through which air flows in opposite directions from the outside to the inside. [6] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to claim 5, characterized by that the two air filter elements (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) each delimit an outer area from the inner area. [7] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the air filter element (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) consists of a filter material or filter paper which is arranged between two support elements or support plates. [8] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460) is arranged between the air filter elements (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360) or the legs of the air filter element (3, 24, 102, 153, 200, 304, 350, 360). [9] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460) is an opening in the air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300) or a nozzle on the air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300). [10] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a clean air hose (13, 31, 41) or a clean air pipe is connected to the clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460). [11] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the clean air hose (13, 31, 41) or the clean air pipe on the clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460) can be adjusted and fastened in different positions. [12] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the clean air hose (13, 31, 41) or the clean air pipe can be supported at a distance from a clean air connection in the vehicle. [13] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 12, characterized by that the air filter housing (2, 21, 101, 150, 300) is trapezoidal in section, wherein the clean air outlet (5, 23, 116, 154, 205, 409, 460) is arranged on a trapezoidal wall. [14] Air filter (1, 20, 100, 400, 450) according to claim 13, characterized by that at least two spaced-apart fresh air openings are provided in a wall which is perpendicular to a trapezoidal wall.

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