Vehicle with a filter device for filtering a liquid flow in the vehicle and method for protecting the filter device

Abstract

Vehicle with a filter device (10) for filtering a liquid flow (F) in the vehicle, wherein the filter device (10) has the following a filter body (20) with a filter material (22) for filtering at least one component in the liquid stream (F), a support structure (30) for mechanically supporting the filter body (20), wherein the support structure (30) has a grid section (32) with a plurality of passages (33) for the passage of the liquid flow (F), and further at least one anti-freeze element designed as a heating element (40) for actively introducing heat into the filter material (22) of the filter body (20) to protect the filter device (10) from the freezing of the liquid, wherein at least one heating element (40) is designed to form an electrical resistance heater through the support structure (30), which is at least partially electrically conductive, wherein the support structure (30), in one or more edge sections, has one or more electrical connection contacts (34) for an electrically conductive connection to mating connection contacts of an electrical power supply, characterized in that the filter material (22) has heat-conducting components formed by metal particles, which absorb the heat from the at least one heating element (40) and distribute it in the filter body (20).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having a filter device for filtering a fluid flow in the vehicle and to a method for protecting a filter device of such a vehicle.

[0002] It is known that vehicles have filter devices for filtering liquid streams within the vehicle. Filtering a liquid stream, in the sense of the present invention, means that at least one component is to be separated from a liquid stream. Such components can, for example, exhibit phase differences. For example, filter devices can be used as separating devices to remove the gaseous part of the liquid stream when venting a liquid stream, in the form of an oil stream, while retaining the liquid part of the liquid stream. However, the separation of specific components or the separation of solid constituents in the liquid stream are also fundamentally understood as filters within the meaning of the present invention.

[0003] Common filter systems in vehicles typically operate on the basis of mechanical filtration. This means that the filter material is capable of allowing some of the fluid flow to pass through and specifically blocking some of the fluid flow. If environmental parameters cause the filter material to become clogged, the filtering performance of the filter system deteriorates because less fluid flow can pass through overall. This is particularly true if environmental parameters, such as temperature, cause condensation in the filter material to freeze or partially freeze. The freezing of condensation or other fluid leads to components and sections of the filter material becoming clogged with ice particles, thus making them inaccessible to fluid flows.This is the case, for example, with high flow rates of liquids, which have a cooling effect on the filter material. This is particularly likely when the vehicle is operating in cold outside temperatures. A cold start of the vehicle can also pose a risk if condensation that has previously formed has already frozen in the filter material.

[0004] A disadvantage of existing filter systems is that they must be designed to be sufficiently large to allow sufficient fluid flow even during cold start situations or partial freezing. This leads, in particular, to increased costs for the filter system, as well as greater complexity and increased installation space. Last but not least, this also increases the weight of the filter system and thus the entire vehicle.

[0005] DE 10 2012 212 782 A1 discloses a filter device for filtering a fluid flow in a vehicle, comprising a filter body with a filter material for filtering at least one component in the fluid flow and a support structure for mechanically supporting the filter body, further comprising at least one heating element for introducing heat into the fluid to be filtered.

[0006] DE 10 2015 003 101 A1 also discloses a filter device with a heating element for introducing heat into the fluid to be filtered.

[0007] DE 10 2013 009 197 A1 discloses another filter device.

[0008] DE 21 55 955 A discloses a soot filter for filtering out soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine,

[0009] DE 43 05 915 A1 discloses a filter for filtering oil and cooling liquids from machine tools, for filtering air in air conditioning systems or for cleaning gases in power plants and reactors.

[0010] The subsequently published DE 10 2018 131 331 A1 discloses a vehicle with a filter device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0011] WO 2010 / 092 178 A1 discloses further prior art.

[0012] The object of the present invention is to at least partially remedy the disadvantages described above. In particular, the object of the present invention is to safeguard the operation of a vehicle with a filter device in a cost-effective and simple manner.

[0013] The above object is achieved by a vehicle having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 9.

[0014] Further features and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description, and the designations. Features and details described in connection with the filter device of the vehicle according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the method according to the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made to each other.

[0015] A filter device of the vehicle according to the invention serves to filter a liquid flow in a vehicle. Such a filter device comprises a filter body with a filter material for filtering at least one component in the liquid flow. Furthermore, a support structure is provided for mechanically supporting the filter body. Furthermore, a heating element is arranged to enable the active introduction of heat into the filter material of the filter body.

[0016] A filter device of the vehicle according to the invention therefore also serves to filter a liquid flow in the vehicle. For example, a fuel flow, an engine oil flow, or the like can represent a liquid flow within the meaning of the present invention. In order to exert a cleaning effect on the liquid flow, the filter body is equipped with filter material. As will be explained later, the filter material can comprise a wide variety of components and materials. It is crucial that it is suitable for filtering out at least one component from the liquid flow of the support structure. For example, phase separation can be ensured in this way. For example, it is conceivable for the filter material to be permeable to gaseous components of the liquid flow and impermeable to liquid or solid components of the liquid flow.Of course, filter materials are also conceivable which can specifically filter out one or more components from the liquid stream on a chemical and / or biological level.

[0017] As already explained in the introduction, when the liquid flow flows through the filter material, there is a risk that, for example, due to the separation of condensation and the corresponding cooling of the filter body, this condensation or other separated liquids will not only condense in the filter material but also freeze there. Freezing reduces the permeability of the filter material and thus of the filter body to the liquid flow and would thus impair the performance of the filter device of the vehicle according to the invention. For this purpose, the invention provides a heating element. The heating element is capable of actively introducing heat into the filter material. This active introduction of heat is based on the provision of heat generated elsewhere or heat generated directly in the filter material by the heating element.This can be provided, for example, by electrical resistance heating, as well as by introducing and passing through a separate heated heating fluid.

[0018] In the form of a support structure, a filter device of the vehicle according to the invention also offers a mechanical stabilization option. This allows the filter body to be used in robust application situations in the vehicle, even with delicate filter materials. Such a support structure can, for example, be a metallic support structure and, in particular, can have fastening sections that allow the filter device to be fastened in the vehicle according to the invention. The support structure thus allows, on the one hand, mechanical stabilization even of delicate filter material and, on the other hand, installation in the vehicle. In other words, the support structure prevents the filter material from being undesirably entrained by the liquid flow. The filter structure and thus also the filter body can be fixed in a defined position in the vehicle and thus also relative to the liquid flow by the support structure.

[0019] Based on the known solutions, heat can now be actively introduced into the filter material using the heating element. This can occur continuously or depending on the situation. By actively introducing heat, it is now possible to react to a risk of icing within the filter material. If, due to the general conditions, the operating mode, or the ambient temperature, there is a risk or actual information that ice has formed in the filter material or there is a risk of ice formation, heat can now be actively introduced into the filter material using the heating element. The active introduction of heat counteracts this risk of freezing or thaws already frozen components of the liquid in the filter material. This now means that freezing of liquid in the filter material can be effectively prevented even under difficult operating conditions.This further means that the filter device of the vehicle according to the invention can now be kept functional even under difficult operating conditions, and thus a smaller design of the filter device with respect to its throughput is sufficient. This leads to filter devices that can be operated with greater reliability, while at the same time being smaller, lighter, and more space-saving compared to previously known solutions.

[0020] To further distribute the generated heat throughout the filter material of the filter body, the filter material includes heat-conducting components that absorb the heat from the at least one heating element and distribute it throughout the filter body. Metal particles form the heat-conducting components.

[0021] A further development of the filter material with regard to chemical filtration or separation is also conceivable. The filter body can therefore support and / or provide chemical filtration as an alternative or in addition to mechanical filtration.

[0022] In the filter device of the vehicle according to the invention, the support structure has a grid section with a plurality of passages for the passage of the liquid flow. Such a grid can also be referred to as a mesh or mesh section. The passages are designed to be as large as possible in order to provide the lowest possible resistance to the passage of the liquid flow. The grid section can be designed either regularly or organically or irregularly. In particular, the grid section is designed as a metal grid or metallic grid. Preferably, the entire support structure is designed with such a grid section, i.e., the support structure is provided entirely as a metal grid or grid section.

[0023] In the filter device of the vehicle according to the invention, the support structure is designed to be electrically conductive at least in sections for the formation of an electrical resistance heater as the at least one heating element. This integration of the heating element into the support structure with an electrically conductive design results in maximum integration of the heating element into the support structure. In particular, the support structure is provided with a metallic design so that, along with electrical conductivity, the desired mechanical stability is also achieved. This direct integration leads to maximum minimization of the size, space requirements, and weight of the filter device. In particular, the area of ​​heat input via the support structure can also be maximized in this way, so that the most uniform heat distribution possible within the filter material or within the filter body is achieved.Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible for the heating element to be formed, at least in part, by the filter material. This can be achieved, for example, by using electrically conductive filter materials, such as conductive PTFE materials.

[0024] In the filter device of the vehicle according to the invention, the support structure, particularly in one or more edge sections, has one or more electrical connection contacts for electrically conductive connection to mating connection contacts of an electrical power supply. For example, a metallic support structure can have direct connection terminals capable of making contact with corresponding mating connections of an electrical power supply. In other words, the integration not only of the heating element but also of the connection options of the heating element is further improved. Joint attachment with the electrical connection contacts is conceivable during assembly.For example, the respective connection contact can also have or represent a fastening section which is used for the force-transmitting fastening to corresponding counter-fastening sections of the vehicle body or fluid-carrying components of the vehicle.

[0025] It can be advantageous if, in a filter device of the vehicle according to the invention, the at least one heating element is formed at least partially separately from the filter material and / or separately from the support structure, in particular is arranged between the support structure and the filter material. An arrangement within the support structure and / or within the filter material is also conceivable in principle. The separate design of the heating element makes it possible to use existing filter materials, existing filter bodies and / or existing support structures. For example, it is conceivable to integrate a separate heating coil into the filter material and / or the support structure, in particular to insert it between the support structure and the filter material. Such a separate heating coil can represent both an electrical resistance heater and a thermal fluid heater as a heating element.Such a solution makes it possible to add heating elements to existing designs of filter materials and support structures and, in particular, even to retrofit them.

[0026] It is also advantageous if, in a filter device of the vehicle according to the invention, the at least one heating element is at least partially integrated into the support structure, in particular is at least partially formed by the support structure. This can of course also be combined with separate heating elements according to the preceding paragraph. For example, the support structure can have metallic components in order to provide the electrical resistance heating already explained and mentioned. In principle, integration of heating channels into the support structure is also conceivable in order to guide a separate heating fluid through the support structure and correspondingly formed heating channels. The integration of the heating element into the support structure makes it possible to further reduce the number of components and thus minimize the installation space.The effort involved in manufacturing and, above all, in assembling such a filter device is also significantly reduced.

[0027] It is also advantageous if, in a filter device of the vehicle according to the invention, the filter body comprises at least one of the following filter materials: - Sintered material - Paper material - Fleece material - Fabric material

[0028] The above list is not exhaustive. Individual materials can, of course, also be combined in a filter body. A sintered material refers, in particular, to a solid sinter, such as a ceramic sinter. This can be used, for example, to separate a liquid phase from a gaseous phase. Paper or fleece material is particularly advantageous when the separation of solid components from the liquid stream is desired. Fabric material can also be specifically designed to separate specific components to achieve the desired filter effect.

[0029] It is further advantageous if, in a filter device of the vehicle according to the invention, the support structure is arranged on multiple sides, in particular circumferentially or completely around the filter body. This leads, for example, to a cylindrical design of the entire filter device, so that, for example, the liquid stream can flow or be conveyed as a liquid stream from the outside to the inside or from the inside to the outside. A full-circumferential or circumferential arrangement or a multi-sided, for example sandwich-sided arrangement of the support structure allows an increase in the effective area for the filter function and, at the same time, also for the heating functionality. Last but not least, in this way the filter device of the vehicle according to the invention is provided with a greater filter performance with the same or slightly larger installation space.

[0030] It is also advantageous if, in a filter device of the vehicle according to the invention, the at least one heating element is arranged on multiple sides, in particular circumferentially or completely around the filter body. Here, too, a circumferential or multi-sided introduction of heat is possible in order to maximize not only the filter function, but also the heating function. Thus, with the same or only slightly larger dimensions of the filter device, an increased amount of heat can be made available in order to achieve the advantages according to the invention even under even more difficult environmental parameters. In particular, a combination of this circumferential structure with a circumferential support structure according to the previous paragraph is provided. Here, too, in addition to a circumferential arrangement, a multi-sided, sandwich-like arrangement of the heating element or several heating elements is fundamentally conceivable.

[0031] The present invention also relates to a method for protecting a filter device of the vehicle according to the invention against freezing, comprising the following steps: - activating the at least one heating element of the filter device to generate heat, - Introduction of the generated heat into the filter material of the filter device.

[0032] A method according to the invention thus provides the same advantages as those explained in detail with reference to a filter device of a vehicle according to the invention. For example, the method can be applied during a cold start of the vehicle to thaw already frozen filter devices before the vehicle is used. The use of temperature sensors or temperature signals is also conceivable to estimate the probability of a frozen situation or a risk of freezing in the filter device and to switch on or operate the heating element accordingly.

[0033] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. They show schematically: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a filter device of a vehicle, Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a filter device of a vehicle, Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of a filter device of a vehicle, Fig. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of a filter device of a vehicle, and Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of a filter device of a vehicle.

[0034] The Fig. 1 schematically shows a particularly simple embodiment of a filter device 10 of a vehicle. This is equipped here with a filter body 20, which consists entirely of or comprises filter material 22. The filter material 22 can, for example, have a sintered structure, a paper structure, a nonwoven structure, or a fabric structure. To ensure the mechanical stability of the filter device 10 of the vehicle, a support structure 30 is provided here, which is attached below the filter body 20 in a mechanically stabilizing manner. For the filtering effect, a liquid flow F can now flow, for example, from bottom to top, first through the support structure 30 and then through the filter material 22 of the filter body 20. As it flows through, at least one component or phase from the liquid flow is retained in the filter material 22 and thus filtered out.To prevent the filter material 22 from freezing, a heating element 40 is provided, which is arranged as a separate heating element 40 sandwiched between the filter material 22 and the support structure 30. This can be, for example, an electrical resistance heater or one or more guide channels for tempering heating fluid.

[0035] The Fig. 2 shows a further development of the embodiment of the Fig. 1. Basically, the same functionality is given here as with the filter device in the Fig. 1. However, here the heating element 40 is also designed as a separate heating element 40 and integrated into the filter material 22. This integration offers advantages, for example, in that sections particularly at risk of freezing can be directly supplied with the heat generated by the heating element 40.

[0036] Fig. Figure 4 shows a filter device 10 of a vehicle according to the invention, which has a further integration factor. Here, the heating element 40 is at least partially integrated into the support structure 30. This is particularly the case through the integration of heating wires of a resistance heater. Otherwise, the functionality with regard to the filter function and the heating function is identical to that of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 described.

[0037] Fig. 4 shows one possibility of providing a support structure 30 with a grid section 32. Here, the entire support structure 30 is configured with such a grid section 32. The grid section 32 has a plurality of passages 33 which are capable of allowing the liquid flow F to pass through with as little flow resistance as possible. In this embodiment, the grid section 32 and thus the support structure 30 are also electrically conductive, for example, made of a metal material. A power supply can be connected via electrically conductive connection contacts 34 on both sides of the support structure 30, so that an electrical resistance heater is provided by the corresponding flow of current. Here, it is clearly evident how extensive the integration of a heating element 40 into a support structure 30 is possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0038] Fig.5 shows a variant in which the liquid flow F is sucked in circumferentially. For example, a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical design of the filter device 10 of the vehicle according to the invention can be provided. The liquid flow F is sucked in circumferentially around an external support structure 30 and then guided through the filter material 22 of the filter body 20, which is also arranged circumferentially. The support structure is located on the outside, as is a circumferential arrangement of the heating element 40 integrated into the support structure 30. In addition to the mechanical circumferential stabilization, heat from the moving heating element 40 can also be introduced thermally into the filter material 22 in a circumferential manner.

[0039] The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively by way of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided they are technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Reference symbol 10 Filter device 20 filter bodies 22 Filter material 30 Support structure 32 grid section 33 Passage 34 connection contact 40 heating element F Liquid flow

Claims

[1] Vehicle with a filter device (10) for filtering a liquid flow (F) in the vehicle, the filter device (10) having the following a filter body (20) with a filter material (22) for filtering at least one component in the liquid stream (F), a support structure (30) for mechanically supporting the filter body (20), wherein the support structure (30) has a grid section (32) with a plurality of passages (33) for the passage of the liquid flow (F), and further at least one anti-freeze element designed as a heating element (40) for actively introducing heat into the filter material (22) of the filter body (20) to protect the filter device (10) from the freezing of the liquid, wherein at least one heating element (40) is designed to form an electrical resistance heater through the support structure (30), which is at least partially electrically conductive, wherein the support structure (30), in one or more edge sections, has one or more electrical connection contacts (34) for an electrically conductive connection to mating connection contacts of an electrical power supply, characterized by , that the filter material (22) has heat-conducting components formed by metal particles, which absorb the heat from the at least one heating element (40) and distribute it in the filter body (20). [2] Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one further heating element (40) of the filter device (10) is formed at least partially separately from the filter material (22) of the filter device (10) and / or separately from the support structure (30) of the filter device (10). [3] Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized bythat the at least one further heating element (40) of the filter device (10) is arranged between the support structure (30) of the filter device (10) and the filter material (22) of the filter device (10). [4] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the filter body (20) of the filter device (10) comprises at least one of the following filter materials (22): - Sintered material - Paper material - Fleece material - Fabric material [5] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the support structure (30) of the filter device (10) is arranged on several sides around the filter body (20) of the filter device (10). [6] Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized by that the support structure (30) of the filter device (10) is arranged circumferentially or completely around the filter body (20) of the filter device (10). [7] Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one heating element (40) of the filter device (10) is arranged on multiple sides around the filter body (20) of the filter device (10). [8] Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized by that the at least one heating element (40) of the filter device (10) is arranged circumferentially or completely around the filter body (20) of the filter device (10). [9] Method for protecting a filter device (10) of a vehicle having the features of one of claims 1 to 8 against freezing, comprising the following steps: - activating the at least one heating element (40) of the filter device (10) to generate heat, - introducing the generated heat into the filter material (22) of the filter device (10).

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