Filter with integrated pump

Abstract

Filter (30), in particular in the form of a fuel filter, for an internal combustion engine (62), wherein the filter (30) has the following features: a) a filter element (10) with a filter element longitudinal axis (18) and a filter medium (16) formed radially to the filter element longitudinal axis (18); b) a filter housing (32) for receiving the filter element (10); c) an electrically drivable pump (40), arranged at least partially along the filter element longitudinal axis (18), for sucking in fluid filtered through the filter medium (16), in particular fuel filtered through the filter medium (16); d) a support tube (42) firmly connected to the pump (40), wherein the support tube (42) has a plurality of radial through-openings (58, 60) for the passage of filtered fluid, and wherein the support tube (42) is at least partially connected with its radial outer side (50) to the radial inner side (28) of the filter medium (16).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a filter, particularly in the form of a fuel filter, for an internal combustion engine. The invention further relates to a filter element for such a filter. State of the art

[0002] Combining a pump for fluid delivery with a filter for fluid purification is known. For example, an oil filter with an integrated pump is known from CN 201025192Y.

[0003] US 2003 / 0121865 A1 further discloses a fuel filter with an integrated pump. The pump presses fuel axially through a filter medium of the filter.

[0004] Another fuel filter, in which a pump presses fuel through a filter element, is known from US 2006 / 0275163 A1.

[0005] DE 10 2007 032 441 A1 discloses a fuel filter with an electric pump. The pump draws in fuel and presses it radially from the inside to the outside of a filter element.

[0006] Furthermore, US Pat. No. 6,361,684 B1 discloses a fuel filter comprising a pump. The pump presses the fuel radially from the outside to the inside through the filter medium of the fuel filter.

[0007] DE 196 19 992 A2 discloses a fuel filter with a pump that sucks fuel through a coarse filter and then presses it through a fine filter.

[0008] Finally, a fuel filter for an internal combustion engine is known from US 2001 / 0030148 A1. The fuel filter has a pump that draws fuel radially from the outside to the inside through a filter medium of a filter element.

[0009] The placement of a pump inside the filter already results in a very compact filter design. However, it is desirable to further design filters in such a way that even more space is saved. Disclosure of the invention

[0010] The invention is therefore based on the object of enabling a filter that can be produced cost-effectively and is environmentally friendly, which is both structurally simple and very compact.

[0011] This object is achieved by a filter having the features of claim 1, by a filter having the features of claim 10, and by a filter element having the features of claim 4. The subclaims specify expedient further developments.

[0012] The object of the invention is thus achieved by a filter, in particular in the form of a fuel filter, for an internal combustion engine, wherein the filter has the following features: a) a filter element with a filter element longitudinal axis and a filter medium formed radially to the filter element longitudinal axis; b) a filter housing for accommodating the filter element; c) an electrically driven pump arranged at least partially along the longitudinal axis of the filter element for sucking in fluid filtered through the filter medium, in particular fuel filtered through the filter medium; d) a support tube firmly connected to the pump, wherein the support tube has a plurality of radial through-openings for the passage of filtered fluid and wherein the support tube rests at least partially with its radial outer side on the radial inner side of the filter medium.

[0013] In the context of the invention, the term "axial" refers to a direction that runs along the filter element's longitudinal axis or parallel to the filter element's longitudinal axis. The term "radial" refers to a direction that runs perpendicular to the filter element's longitudinal axis.

[0014] The filter medium rests at least partially directly on the support tube. This saves space between the filter medium and the pump compared to conventional filters. The support tube – which serves to support the filter medium during the pump's suction operation – is permanently connected to the pump. This means that when the filter element is changed, the support tube is not replaced, resulting in less waste when changing the filter element.

[0015] A particularly compact design of the filter is achieved if the pump has a pump housing that is formed in one piece with the support tube.

[0016] The support tube is preferably designed in a grid-like manner and has a plurality of webs, with several webs resting with their radial outer side against the radial inner side of the filter medium. At least some webs can be designed in a closed, annular manner in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the filter element. Alternatively or additionally, at least one web can be designed in a helical or helical shape.

[0017] The object of the invention is further achieved by a filter element for a previously described filter, wherein the filter element has a filter medium which is formed radially to the filter element longitudinal axis, wherein the filter medium is arranged axially between two end plates of the filter element, wherein the filter element has two axially spaced radial seals, wherein a first seal has a larger radial inner cross section than a second seal and at least one seal is axially spaced from the filter medium.

[0018] Because the first seal has a larger internal cross-section, in particular a larger internal diameter, than the second seal, the filter element can be slid over the filter support tube while still providing a good seal against the filter interior. Due to the at least one seal axially spaced from the filter medium, a significantly larger internal surface of the filter medium is available for filtering a fluid.

[0019] Particularly preferably, both seals are axially spaced from the filter medium. This ensures optimal utilization of the radial inner surface of the filter medium.

[0020] The filter element is particularly simple in design if at least one seal is in the form of an O-ring.

[0021] The O-ring is preferably held in a groove, wherein the groove is formed in one of the end plates. In a further preferred embodiment of the filter element, both the first seal and the second seal are each designed in the form of an O-ring, wherein the seals are each held in a groove, and wherein the grooves are each formed in the end plates.

[0022] The end plates are preferably made of plastic. The filter medium is preferably firmly connected to the end plates. More preferably, the filter medium is welded to the end plates.

[0023] The filter element can have a support tube or a support tube part that complements the support tube of the filter. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the filter element is designed without a support tube, so that its construction is particularly simple and compact, and little waste is generated when disposing of the filter element.

[0024] The object of the invention is finally achieved by a previously described filter with a previously described filter element. Short description of the drawings

[0025] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, with reference to the figures of the drawing, which show details essential to the invention, and the claims.

[0026] The features shown in the drawing are presented in such a way that the features of the invention can be clearly seen. The various features can be implemented individually or in combinations in variants of the invention.

[0027] They show: Fig. 1 a sectional side view of a filter element; and Fig. 2 a schematic view of a filter with the filter element according to Fig. 1.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a filter element 10 in the form of a fuel filter element. The filter element 10 has a first end plate 12 and a second end plate 14. The end plates 12, 14 are made of plastic. A filter medium 16 is arranged between the end plates 12, 14 and is firmly connected to the end plates 12, 14. The filter medium 16 is preferably in the form of a nonwoven fabric folded multiple times in a star shape. The filter element 10 is axially symmetrical to its longitudinal axis 18.

[0029] The filter element 10 has a first seal 20 in the form of an O-ring. Furthermore, the filter element 10 has a second seal 22, which is also in the form of an O-ring. The first seal 20 is formed in a first groove 24 of the first end plate 12. The second seal 22 is arranged in a second groove 26, which is formed in the second end plate 14. The inner diameter D1 of the first seal 20 is larger than the inner diameter D2 of the second seal 22. As a result, the filter element 10 can be easily moved with its first seal 20 in front over a support tube 42 (see Fig. 2). Furthermore, both the first seal 20 and the second seal 22 are axially spaced from the filter medium 16, so that the radial inner side 28 of the filter medium 16 is not covered by the seals 20, 22.

[0030] Fig. Figure 2 shows a filter 30 in the form of a fuel filter. The filter 30 has a filter housing 32. The filter housing 32 has an upper part 34 and a lower part 36. The upper part 34 can be connected to the lower part 36 by means of a filter housing connection 38. The filter housing connection 38 is preferably designed in the form of a screw connection.

[0031] The filter housing 32 is in Fig. 2 is shown only schematically. The filter housing 32 is directly or indirectly connected to a pump 40 in the form of an electric fuel suction pump. The pump 40, or more precisely a pump housing 41 of the pump 40, is fixedly and directly connected to a support tube 42. The support tube 42 has several webs, of which, for reasons of clarity, Fig. 2 only the webs 44, 46, 48 are provided with a reference symbol.

[0032] The filter element 10 (see also Fig. 1). The support tube 42 rests with its radial outer side 50 or its webs 44, 46, 48 against the radial inner side 28 of the filter medium 16.

[0033] The filter housing 32 has an inlet 52 and an outlet 54. The path of the fluid, in particular the fuel, through the filter 30 is Fig. 2 by an arrow 56. Following the arrow 56, the fluid thus passes through the inlet 52 into the interior of the filter housing 32. The pump 40 sucks the fluid radially from the outside to the inside through the filter medium 16. After passing through the filter medium 16, the cleaned fluid passes through openings of the support tube 42 into the pump 40, wherein in Fig. 2, for reasons of clarity, only through-openings 58, 60 are provided with a reference numeral. The pump 40 then presses the filtered fluid through the outlet 54 to an internal combustion engine 62 (only schematically indicated) and / or another filter (not shown).

[0034] As an alternative to the previously described path of the fluid through the filter 30, Fig.2, another path is indicated by an arrow 64. Following the arrow 64, the fluid enters the interior of the filter housing 32 through the inlet 52. The pump 40 draws the fluid radially from the outside to the inside through the filter medium 16. After passing through the filter medium 16, the purified fluid is guided along the support tube 42, in particular downwards. The fluid then enters the pump 40, in particular from below. The pump 40 thus draws in the fluid axially in this case. The pump 40 then presses the filtered fluid through the outlet 54. The pump is thus designed in this case to discharge the fluid axially.

[0035] During operation of the filter 30, the filter medium 16 rests directly on the support tube 42. The pump 40 is connected directly to the filter housing 32 at the upper end and indirectly to the filter housing 32 at the lower end via the support tube 42. To replace the filter element 10, the upper part 34 can be unscrewed from the lower part 36 and the filter element 10 can be removed upwards in the direction of the longitudinal axis 18. The support tube 42 remains in the filter housing 32, so that the support tube 42 does not become waste.

[0036] In summary, the invention relates to a filter element and a filter comprising such a filter element. The filter element has a larger opening cross-section at its first axial end than at its second axial end, such that a support tube connected to a filter housing can be inserted into the filter element during installation of the filter element in the filter housing. Both axial ends each have a seal, with at least one seal, in particular both seals, being arranged axially spaced from a filter medium of the filter element. The support tube is fixedly connected to a pump, which is preferably arranged radially centrally in the filter element. The pump is connected directly and / or indirectly—in particular via the support tube—to the filter housing.

Claims

[1] Filter (30), in particular in the form of a fuel filter, for an internal combustion engine (62), the filter (30) having the following features: a) a filter element (10) with a filter element longitudinal axis (18) and a filter medium (16) formed radially to the filter element longitudinal axis (18); b) a filter housing (32) for receiving the filter element (10); c) an electrically driven pump (40) arranged at least partially along the longitudinal axis (18) of the filter element for sucking in fluid filtered through the filter medium (16), in particular fuel filtered through the filter medium (16); d) a support tube (42) firmly connected to the pump (40), wherein the support tube (42) has a plurality of radial through-openings (58, 60) for the passage of filtered fluid and wherein the support tube (42) bears at least partially with its radial outer side (50) against the radial inner side (28) of the filter medium (16). [2] Filter according to claim 1, wherein the pump (40) has a pump housing (41), wherein the pump housing (41) is formed integrally with the support tube (42). [3] Filter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support tube (42) is lattice-shaped and has a plurality of webs (44, 46, 48), wherein a plurality of webs (44, 46, 48) bear with their radial outer side (50) against the radial inner side (28) of the filter medium (16). [4] Filter element (10) for a filter (30) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the filter element (10) has a filter medium (16) which is formed radially to the filter element longitudinal axis (18), wherein the filter medium (16) is arranged axially between two end plates (12, 14) of the filter element (10), wherein the filter element (10) has two axially spaced radial seals (20, 22), wherein a first seal (20) has a larger radial inner cross-section than a second seal (22) and at least one seal (20, 22) is axially spaced from the filter medium (16). [5] Filter element according to claim 4, wherein both seals (20, 22) are axially spaced from the filter medium (16). [6] Filter element according to claim 4 or 5, wherein at least one seal (20, 22) is designed in the form of an O-ring. [7] Filter element according to claim 6, wherein the seal (20, 22) in the form of an O-ring is held in a groove (24, 26), the groove (24, 26) being formed in one of the end plates (12, 14). [8] Filter element according to claim 7, wherein the first seal (20) and the second seal (22) are each designed in the form of an O-ring, wherein the seals (20, 22) are each held in a groove (24, 26) and wherein the grooves (24, 26) are each formed in the end plates (12, 14). [9] Filter element according to one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the filter element (10) is designed without a support tube. [10] Filter (30) according to one of claims 1 to 3, with a filter element (10) according to one of claims 4 to 9.

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