Using a filter element

Abstract

Use of a main filter element (20) for insertion into a filter housing (11) of a filter (10), in particular for internal combustion engines, for filtering a fluid, in particular air, wherein the filter housing (11) has a raw-side area (12) and a clean-side area (13), wherein the main filter element (20) can be inserted into the filter housing (11) and has a main filter element inlet surface (21), a main filter element flow direction (X1), a main filter element outlet surface (22) and a seal (24) arranged on a sealing surface (26) for fluid-tight separation of the raw-side area (12) and the clean-side area (13) of the filter housing (11), as well as a secondary filter element (30) arranged downstream of the main filter element (20) with a secondary element inlet area (31), a secondary filter element flow direction (Y1) and a secondary filter element outlet area (32), wherein the sealing surface (26) is arranged obliquely to the main flow direction (X1) of the main filter element (20), characterized in that the main filter element can be inserted into and removed from the filter housing (11) along an insertion axis which forms an angle between 90° and the angle formed by the sealing surface (26) and the main flow direction (X1) with the main flow direction (X1), and in that the filter housing has a lid which is designed to exert a force on the main filter element in the direction of the sealing surface (26) when the filter housing is closed, wherein the sealing surface (26) and the main flow direction (X1) form an angle which is between 80° and 10°.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the use of a filter, in particular for internal combustion engines, for filtering a fluid, in particular air. State of the art

[0002] Engine air filtration is becoming increasingly important, particularly in construction and agricultural machinery. Firstly, ever more efficient air filters are being used, as higher engine outputs and stricter emissions regulations require increased airflow through the engine. Secondly, the number of components that are installed as standard, such as air conditioning systems, is increasing. This reduces the available installation space in the vehicle. Finally, there is a drive to make vehicles smaller and lighter, which also reduces the available installation space.

[0003] For use in vehicles with limited installation space for filtration, compact air filters with alternately closed channels are generally employed, allowing straight-line airflow, as shown, for example, in US2004221555A1. This means that the inflow and outflow directions are parallel and essentially aligned. This is typically achieved by alternating corrugated and smooth layers of filter media, with the resulting flow channels alternately closed at one end and the other. This forces the air to be cleaned to flow from one channel to an adjacent channel within the filter body, passing through each layer of filter media. Often, depending on the application, the air exiting the air filter must be redirected after passing through it. For this purpose, a pipe bend, for example, can be installed downstream of the filter housing.However, such downstream components increase the space required for the entire arrangement.

[0004] From the publication DE 11 2009 000 907 T5, an alternative design is also known with a filter medium folded in a zigzag shape to form a filter bellows.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to specify a use of a filter element in a filter, in particular for internal combustion engines, for filtering a fluid, in particular air, which requires less installation space with comparable filter performance of the filter. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] This problem is solved by using a main filter element for insertion into a filter housing of a filter, according to claim 1. Further embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, the main filter element can be inserted into and removed from the filter housing along an insertion axis, wherein the insertion axis forms an angle between 90° and the angle formed by the sealing surface and the main flow direction with the main flow direction. The filter housing has a lid designed such that, when closed into the filter housing, it exerts a force on the main filter element in the direction of the sealing surface. Due to the inclination of the sealing surface, this force is at least partially converted into an axial force, i.e., a force acting in the direction of the main flow direction. This results in a force that presses the main filter element, with its seal attached to the sealing surface, against a main filter element seat on the filter housing.

[0008] The sealing surface and the main flow direction can, in particular, include an angle between 85° and 10°. Within this angular range, a noticeable deflection of the fluid flow occurs.

[0009] One embodiment of the invention provides that the sealing surface is curved and, in particular, lies on a cylindrical surface. By shaping the sealing surface concavely from the perspective of the main filter element, the available installation space for the main filter element can be optimized, and, with a suitable choice of the radius of curvature, sufficient space is provided for a secondary element. At the same time, the curvature of the sealing surface makes it particularly easy to determine the outflow direction of the filter housing, depending on the position of the outflow opening. Preferably, the axis of the cylinder on the cylindrical surface is perpendicular to the flow direction of the main filter element and perpendicular to the flow direction of the secondary filter element.

[0010] Alternatively, the sealing surface can lie in a plane.

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the sealing surface and the main filter element outflow surface run parallel to each other. This results in a clearly defined dividing line between the raw side and the clean side of the filter housing. Simultaneously, a curved design of the sealing surface allows for a space-optimized design of the filter interior and thus of the entire filter.

[0012] Preferably, the secondary element's inlet surface runs parallel to and spaced apart from the sealing surface. This ensures that the clean side of the filter housing remains uncontaminated when the secondary filter element is replaced. A curved sealing surface results in a similarly curved secondary element inlet surface.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the basic shape of the secondary filter element is a cuboid. This allows for a simple construction of the secondary element, for example from a flat element folded straight.

[0014] Alternatively, the basic shape of the secondary element can be a prism with one or more curved surfaces, such as a section of a hollow cylinder. This can be achieved, for example, with a curved flat bellows. This shape allows the secondary filter element to be adapted to a curved outflow surface of the main filter element, thus further optimizing the installation space.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the basic shape of the main filter element is a prism. In particular, the base and top surfaces of the prism can be a quadrilateral or a pentagon. The quadrilateral or pentagon can have two or three right angles, one acute angle, and one obtuse angle. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that one side of the prism is convexly curved when viewed from the outside, resulting in a main filter element outflow surface, for example, shaped as a cylindrical surface.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the main filter element is a bellows with at least two different fold depths. By means of two different fold depths, the main filter element's outflow surface, inclined to the main flow direction of the main filter element, can be realized at the fold edges. Alternatively, a continuously increasing fold height can be used to realize the main filter element's outflow surface, inclined to the outflow direction of the main filter element, at the fold edges.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the filter housing has an inflow direction, an outflow direction, and an outflow region with an outflow opening. An outflow nozzle can be attached to the outflow region, which has a mounting surface for the outflow nozzle. This mounting surface forms an angle of 45° with the flow direction of the main filter element. The mounting surface, inclined at 45° to the main flow direction, is particularly preferably arranged on the filter housing such that, viewed in the flow direction of the main filter element, it lies within the filter housing, i.e., it does not project beyond it. Simultaneously, this mounting surface is perpendicular to the main flow direction of the main filter element, i.e., viewed, for example, from an insertion direction of the main filter element, it is located below the main filter element.A discharge nozzle attached to this mounting surface can now distribute the outgoing filtered fluid relatively easily in any direction.

[0018] A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the outlet nozzle is shaped such that it deflects the flow direction by 45°. In this way, only the orientation of the outlet nozzle relative to the outflow area, particularly the mounting surface, is relevant with regard to the final outflow direction. This advantageously allows the outflow direction of the filtered fluid to be determined with a single component, namely the outlet nozzle. The final outflow direction of the filter housing is achieved by appropriately orienting the outlet nozzle relative to the mounting surface.

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the outlet nozzle has a rotationally symmetrical mounting area for attachment to the mounting surface of the filter housing. Thus, the final determination of the outflow direction of the entire filter housing can be achieved by rotating the outlet nozzle. This results in an angular range between 0° and 90° between the inflow direction and the outflow direction of the filter housing using one and the same components.

[0020] Similarly, it can be specified that the outflow direction and the mounting surface enclose an angle of 45°.

[0021] An alternative development of the invention provides that the mounting surface lies on a cylindrical surface. The axis of the cylinder is preferably perpendicular to the main flow direction of the main filter element. Such a curved mounting surface is preferably combined with a correspondingly curved mounting area of ​​an outlet nozzle. The position of the outlet nozzle on the outlet area then determines the outflow direction of the filter housing.

[0022] Preferably, the mounting surface and the secondary element's outflow surface run parallel. This allows for extremely high integration and thus optimization of installation space.

[0023] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] They show: Fig. 1 a perspective front view, Fig. 2 a perspective rear view, Fig. 3 an exploded view and Fig. 4 a sectional view of a filter for use according to the invention; Fig. 5 a front view and Fig. 6 a rear view of a main filter element for use according to the invention; Fig. 7. A first folding method as a sketch, Fig. 8. An alternative folding method as a sketch, Fig. 9 a front view and Fig. 10 a rear view of a secondary filter element for use according to the invention; Fig. 11 the filter of Fig. 1 in a second configuration; and Fig. 12 the filter of Fig. 1 in a third configuration; Fig. 13 a front view of an alternative embodiment of a filter for use according to the invention; Fig. 14 a rear view, Fig. 15 an exploded view and Fig. 16 a cross-sectional view of the filter of the Fig. 13; Fig. 17 a sectional view of an alternative main filter element and secondary filter element design of the filter of the Fig. 13; Fig. 18 a side view of a second configuration of the filter of the Fig. 13; Fig. 19 a side view of a third configuration of the filter of the Fig. 13 and Fig. 20 a side view of a fourth configuration of the filter of the Fig. 13. embodiment(s) of the invention

[0025] It will now be referred to as Fig. Figures 1 to 4 describe a first embodiment of a filter 10 for use according to the invention. The filter can be used, in particular, in the air intake tract of construction or agricultural machinery, compressors, or other devices with internal combustion engines for filtering a fluid, especially air. The filter 10 has a filter housing 11, which can be roughly divided into a raw-side area 12 and a clean-side area 13. A main filter element 20 can be inserted into the filter housing 11 in the clean-side area 12. The main filter element 20 has a main filter element inlet area 21 and a main filter element outlet area 22 and is subjected to flow along a main filter element flow direction X1. In the embodiment described here, the main filter element flow direction X1 essentially coincides with the inlet direction X0 of the filter housing 11.However, other configurations are also conceivable in which the main filter element flow direction X1 and the inflow direction X0 of the filter housing 11 form an angle. A coarse or pre-separator module, designed here as a cyclone block 40, is positioned upstream of the main filter element 20. Within the cyclone block 40, a multitude of individual pre-separator cells 41 are connected in parallel in a so-called multi-cyclone block. Dust and / or water pre-separated in the cyclone block 40 is removed from the housing through a dust discharge nozzle 42.

[0026] A secondary filter element 30 is arranged downstream of the main filter element 20. The secondary filter element's inlet surface 31 faces the main filter element's outlet surface 22, while the outlet surface 32 of the secondary filter element 30 is oriented towards an outlet opening 17 of the filter housing 11. The secondary filter element 30 is located in the clean-side area 13 of the filter housing 11 as viewed from the main filter element 20 and provides protection against the ingress of contaminants into the intake system downstream of the filter, particularly during replacement of the main filter element 20.

[0027] The main filter element 20, in Fig. The component shown in section 5 as a separate part has a sealing surface 26 on its outflow surface 22, on which a seal 24 is provided for fluid-tight separation of the raw-side area 12 and the clean-side area 13 of the filter housing 11. The sealing surface 26 is arranged at an angle to the main flow direction X1 of the main filter element 20. The angle α selected in this embodiment is 60°. This angle value is merely an example. According to the invention, the angle α can be varied between 10° and 80°. The angle range between 70° and 30° is particularly preferred.

[0028] The seal 24 of the sealing surface 26 rests against a corresponding housing structure 28 and is pressed against the sealing seat formed by the housing structure 28 by a cover 14 of the housing 11. The cover 14, which closes the housing, can be removed from the housing perpendicular to the main flow direction X1 of the main filter element 20 and has a sword-shaped contact structure 50, 51 arranged in pairs on the cover 14. The shape of this contact structure is adapted to the slope of the sealing surface 26 and, in the closed state, exerts a force on the main filter element 20 that is essentially perpendicular to the main flow direction X1. Due to the slope of the sealing surface 26, the force acting perpendicular to the main flow direction X1 is redirected into a force acting at least partially in the main flow direction X1, thus resulting in a reliable compression of the main filter element 20 with the housing 11.In particular, this generates an axial contact force, i.e., a force acting in the main flow direction X1, which achieves a particularly high sealing effect. At the same time, a particularly good fit of the seal 26 to the corresponding housing structure is achieved, since when pressed by the housing cover, the seal slides slightly, thus effectively conforming any irregularities to the sealant.

[0029] The main filter element 20 can comprise a bellows as its basic structure. To achieve the desired sealing surface slope, the fold height or depth can be gradually reduced along a direction perpendicular to the main flow axis X1. In such a structure, the flow occurs at the fold edges. The end faces of the folds must be at least partially glued in such a structure, either across the entire surface or every other end face, so that the raw and clean sides remain separate. In the sectional view of the Fig. 4 In the described embodiment, the fold edges run perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and the end face of the folds lies in the plane of the drawing. This means that the main flow direction X1 runs parallel to the plane formed by the end faces of the fold edges and perpendicular to each fold edge.

[0030] Alternatively, in a use of the main filter according to the invention, in the case of a bellows, the orientation of the individual folds can also be such that the front face of the folds is essentially perpendicular to the drawing plane. Fig. 4 runs, that is, the cover 14 runs parallel to the front face of the folds of the main filter element 20. The main filter element inflow surface 21 is then formed by fold edges running perpendicular to the main flow direction X1. The fold edges run in the Fig. 1 perpendicular from top to bottom. The main filter element outflow surface 22 is also formed by fold edges that run along the slope at an angle α. With such folding, the fold height varies along the fold edge.

[0031] The Fig. 5 and Fig. Figure 6 represents the main filter element 20 as a removed element. Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 illustrates the aforementioned alternative folding methods as a sketch. In the sketches, one end face of the folds is labelled with reference symbol 23 and one fold edge with reference symbol 25.

[0032] The secondary element 30, which is in the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, which is shown as a removed element, can in the present embodiment be designed as a flat element folded straight.

[0033] It will now be referred to as Fig. 4, Fig. 11 and Fig. Section 12 of the filter 10 is explained in more detail with regard to the outflow situation. The filter housing 11 has an outflow area 15 in the clean-side area 13. The outflow area 15 is provided with a mounting surface 16. The mounting surface 16 forms an angle of 45° with both the inflow direction X0 of the filter housing and the main flow direction X1 of the main filter element 20. An outflow nozzle 18 can be attached to the mounting surface 16. The geometry of the outflow nozzle 18 is selected such that a mounting area 19 provided for attachment to the mounting surface 16 is also inclined at 45° relative to the outflow direction defined by the outflow nozzle 18. Furthermore, the mounting area 19 of the outflow nozzle 18 is rotationally symmetrical, that is, it forms a circular disk in which an opening for the outflow opening 17 of the housing 11 is provided.Due to its rotational symmetry, the outlet nozzle 18 can be rotated before the final attachment of the mounting area 19 to the mounting surface 16 of the outlet area 15, thus defining the outflow direction Y0 of the filter housing 11. Depending on the orientation of the outlet nozzle 18, the angle between the inflow direction X0 and the outflow direction Y0 can be varied between 0° (inline flow) and 90° (perpendicular outflow). Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a deflection of the inflow direction X0 by 90° to the outflow direction Y0. Fig. Figure 11 shows an inline flow, meaning the inflow direction X0 and the outflow direction Y0 are parallel to each other. Fig. Figure 12 shows an intermediate angle of approximately 45° between the inflow direction X0 and the outflow direction Y0.

[0034] In the Fig. Figures 13-20 show an alternative embodiment of the filter 10 with respect to the mounting surface 16 of the outflow area 15. Fig. 17 In this alternative embodiment, the geometry of the main filter element and the secondary filter element is additionally modified.

[0035] In the Fig. 13 - 16 the filter element 10 is modified such that a mounting surface 116 is provided which lies on a cylindrical shell surface.

[0036] The axis of such a cylindrical shell lies perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, that is, also perpendicular to the main flow direction X1 of the main filter element 20. Corresponding to the externally convex mounting surface 116, an outlet nozzle 118 is provided, which has a correspondingly concave mounting area 119. Depending on the mounting location of the outlet nozzle 118 on the convex mounting surface 116, the outflow direction Y0 of the filter housing 11 can be varied. While in the Fig. 13 - 17 shows an outflow direction Y0 running essentially parallel to the inflow direction X0, was in Fig. 18 the outflow direction Y0 directed towards the cover 14. In Fig. In 19, the outflow nozzle 118 is mounted facing downwards, so that the angle between the inflow direction X0 and the outflow direction Y0 is < 90°. Fig. 20 is a deflection of the fluid flow at a 90° angle between the inflow direction and the outflow direction.

[0037] Fig. Figure 17 shows an embodiment in which the filter housing 11 is essentially comparable to the embodiment of the Fig. Figures 13-16 and 18-20 are executed as shown, but the filter element geometry is modified. To avoid repetition, features with the same reference symbols in the figures are omitted.

[0038] The filter 110 of the Fig.The main filter element 120 comprises a substantially planar inlet surface 121 and a convex outlet surface 122 as viewed from outside the filter element. In the present embodiment, the outlet surface 122 is essentially a cylindrical surface, but depending on the application, it can also be provided with other, in particular non-uniform, curvatures. Corresponding to the curvature of the outlet surface 122, a secondary element 130 is provided, which also has a curved inlet surface 131 and a curved outlet surface 132. The secondary filter element 130 can have two differently curved inlet and outlet surfaces. In the present embodiment, the outlet surface 132 is adapted to the curvature of the mounting area 116. This embodiment represents a particularly space-optimized design.

[0039] The outlet nozzle 18, 118 can be attached, for example, by welding. Depending on the application, the outlet opening 17 in the outlet area 15 can be flexibly introduced before the outlet nozzle 16, 116 is attached, for example, by punching.

[0040] The secondary filter element 130 can, for example, be implemented as a curved flat bellows. A conventional flat element could be used in its manufacture, which is inserted and shaped into a correspondingly curved plastic frame during assembly.

[0041] In each of the variants shown, the secondary filter element can have an integrated handle for disassembling the secondary filter element.

Claims

[1] Use of a main filter element (20) for insertion into a filter housing (11) of a filter (10), in particular for internal combustion engines, for filtering a fluid, in particular air, wherein the filter housing (11) has a raw-side area (12) and a clean-side area (13), wherein the main filter element (20) can be inserted into the filter housing (11) and has a main filter element inlet surface (21), a main filter element flow direction (X1), a main filter element outlet surface (22) and a seal (24) arranged on a sealing surface (26) for fluid-tight separation of the raw-side area (12) and the clean-side area (13) of the filter housing (11), as well as a secondary filter element (30) arranged downstream of the main filter element (20) with a secondary element inlet area (31), a secondary filter element flow direction (Y1) and a secondary filter element outlet area (32), wherein the sealing surface (26) is arranged obliquely to the main flow direction (X1) of the main filter element (20), characterized by , that the main filter element can be inserted into and removed from the filter housing (11) along an insertion axis which forms an angle between 90° and the angle formed by the sealing surface (26) and the main flow direction (X1) with the main flow direction (X1), and that the filter housing has a lid which is designed to exert a force on the main filter element in the direction of the sealing surface (26) when the filter housing is closed, wherein the sealing surface (26) and the main flow direction (X1) form an angle between 80° and 10°. [2] Use according to claim 1, wherein the sealing surface is curved and in particular lies on a cylindrical shell surface whose axis is perpendicular to the main filter element flow direction (X1) and the secondary filter element flow direction (Y1). [3] Use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing surface (26) and the main filter element outflow surface (22) are parallel or lie in one plane. [4] Use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the secondary element flow surface (31) is parallel and spaced apart from the sealing surface (26). [5] Use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the basic shape of the secondary filter element (30) is a cuboid or a hollow cylindrical shell section. [6] Use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the basic shape of the main filter element (20) is a prism with a quadrilateral as its base and top surface, wherein in particular one side of the quadrilateral is curved. [7] Use according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the main filter element (20) is a bellows with at least two different fold depths. [8] Use according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter housing (11) has an inflow direction (X0), an outflow direction (Y0) and an outflow area (15) with an outflow opening (17) and an outflow nozzle (18) can be attached to the outflow area (15), wherein the outflow area (15) has a mounting surface (16) for the outflow nozzle (18) and the mounting surface (16) forms an angle (α) of 45° with the main filter element flow direction (X1). [9] Use according to claim 8, wherein the outflow nozzle (18) is shaped such that the flow direction is deflected by 45°. [10] Use according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the outflow nozzle (18) has a rotationally symmetrical mounting area (19) for attachment to the filter housing (11). [11] Use according to one of claims 8-10, wherein the outflow direction (Y0) and the mounting surface (16) enclose an angle (β) of 45°. [12] Use according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the filter housing (11) has an inflow direction (X0), an outflow direction (Y0) and an outflow area (15) with an outflow opening (17) and an outflow nozzle (18) can be attached to the outflow area (15), wherein the outflow area (15) has a mounting surface (16) for the outflow nozzle (18) and the mounting surface is located on a cylindrical shell surface. [13] Use according to claim 12, wherein the mounting surface and the secondary element outflow surface are parallel.

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