Filter element for use in a filter housing and filters with such a filter element

Abstract

Filter element (10) for use in a filter housing, which has a housing cup (14) and a housing cover, which are connected to each other in the operating position. The filter element (10) has a plate (13) with at least one connecting element and a filter insert (11), characterized in that the at least one connecting element is a clamping wing (20) which is held, in particular clamped, between the housing cup (14) and the housing cover in the operating position, and that an anti-rotation device (24) is additionally arranged on the plate (13), which is designed and configured so that the filter element (10) can only be inserted into the housing cup (14) in one orientation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a filter element for use in a filter housing, which comprises a housing cup and a housing cover that are connected to one another in the use position. The filter element comprises a plate with at least one connecting element and a filter insert. Furthermore, the invention relates to a filter comprising such a filter element.

[0002] Such a filter element and such a filter are known from EP 2 300 123 A2 or EP 2 789 375 A1.

[0003] Such filters and filter elements are primarily used as fuel filters for internal combustion engines, for example in motor vehicles, but can also be used as oil filters. The filter has a housing which comprises a housing cup and a housing cover. The filter element is inserted into this housing and is replaced regularly. The filter element has a cup-like filter insert made of filter paper, usually folded like an accordion, which is firmly attached to a plate and closed at the opposite end by a base. This creates a cavity inside the filter element, into which cavity fuel (or oil) from, for example, the fuel tank is fed through an opening in the plate. Due to a pressure difference between the cavity inside the filter element and an annular space outside the filter element, the oil is pressed or sucked through the filter paper and is filtered in the process.In the case of fuel, a negative pressure is created in the annular space outside the filter element, which draws the fuel in. The filtered fuel flows into the annular space between the filter element and the housing bowl, and from there to a fuel pump or carburetor of the internal combustion engine. In the case of oil, the oil pressure creates an overpressure in the cavity inside the filter element, and the oil is returned to the oil circuit after filtering.

[0004] The housing cover is usually connected to the housing cup by means of a bayonet lock. This is also the case with filters according to the state of the art mentioned above, in which the filter element is also connected to the housing cup by means of a bayonet lock. Complementary bayonet elements are arranged on a locking ring surrounding the filter element plate and on the upper free edge of the housing cup. These elements are first brought into engagement with one another. These then together form a bayonet element, which interacts with a complementary bayonet element on the housing cover and is used to close the filter.

[0005] Technical measures on the housing cup and the filter element ensure that the filter element can only be inserted into the housing cup in one orientation. This orientation is indicated by visual measures on the filter element plate and the housing cup. Nevertheless, the filter element is often difficult to insert into the housing cup and engage the complementary bayonet elements.

[0006] The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a filter element and a filter in which the insertion of the filter element into the housing cup is facilitated.

[0007] To achieve this object, the filter element is characterized in that the at least one connecting element is a clamping wing which is held, in particular clamped, between the housing cup and the housing cover in the position of use, and in that an anti-twist device is additionally arranged on the plate, which is designed and constructed so that the filter element can only be inserted into the housing cup in one orientation.

[0008] According to the invention, no bayonet connection is created between the filter element and the housing cup. Rather, the plate of the filter element is simply held between the housing cup and the housing cover by means of the clamping wings. No contact pressure needs to be exerted on the clamping wings. It is sufficient if the clamping wings are held with almost no play between the housing cup and the housing cover. Preferably, however, the clamping wings are clamped with a certain contact pressure. The invention has recognized that this is entirely sufficient and that a preliminary connection between the filter element and the housing cup is not required. This also facilitates the insertion of the filter element into the housing cup. The filter element is simply inserted into the housing cup in the axial direction in the correct orientation and is held in this position by the anti-twist device.

[0009] According to a further development of the invention, two or more, in particular three, clamping wings are arranged distributed around the circumference of the plate. The filter element is then held particularly well between the housing cup and the housing cover by the clamping wings. These can be arranged equidistantly around the circumference of the plate. Three clamping wings corresponds to the number of bayonet connections between the housing cup and the housing cover, so that the clamping wings are preferably arranged corresponding to the bayonet connections between the housing cup and the housing cover. This further improves the positioning of the filter element.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the invention, the anti-twist device is designed and constructed to interact with a complementary element on the housing cup, preferably at its edge. The anti-twist device thus remains visible even when the filter element is inserted into the housing cup, further facilitating assembly.

[0011] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 a filter element with the features of the invention in side view, Fig. 2 the filter element according to Fig. 1 in plan view, Fig. 3 the filter element according to Fig. 1 in perspective view, Fig. 4 the filter element according to Fig. 1 inserted into a housing cup in side view.

[0012] Fig. 1 to 3 show a filter element 10 for a fuel filter, for example, of an internal combustion engine. The filter element 10 can also serve as an oil filter. The filter element 10 has a filter insert 11 made of filter paper, usually folded in an accordion-like manner. The filter insert 11 forms a closed outer shell of the filter element 10, which defines a cavity within it. This cavity is sealed at the bottom by a lower base 12 and an upper plate 13, making it liquid-tight.

[0013] In use, the filter element 10 is inserted into a filter housing. Fig. Figure 4 shows a housing cup 14 of the filter housing, into which the filter element 10 is inserted such that a casing 15 surrounds the filter insert 11. An annular space forms between the housing cup 14 and the filter insert 11.

[0014] The filter element 10 has a fuel inlet 16, which is specifically arranged on the upper plate 13, specifically in the center. Through this fuel inlet 16, fuel flows from, for example, the fuel tank into the cavity in the filter insert 10 and, due to a negative pressure in the annular space, is sucked through the filter paper of the filter insert 11 into the annular space between the filter insert 11 and the housing cup 14 and thus filtered. In this way, impurities, such as suspended particles in the fuel, are filtered out. From the annular space, the filtered fuel flows through an outlet in the housing cup 14 and corresponding supply lines to a fuel pump of an injection system or a carburetor of, for example, an internal combustion engine.

[0015] To seal the filter housing in a liquid-tight manner, a housing cover is placed on the housing cup 14 and secured with a bayonet connection. For this purpose, the housing cup 14 has bayonet elements 17 that correspond to complementary bayonet elements on the housing cover. Specifically, three bayonet elements are provided on the upper collar 18 of the housing cup 14. These are arranged equidistantly, i.e., in this case, offset by 120° from each other, around the circumference of the collar 18.

[0016] The upper plate 13 of the filter element 10 has at least one clamping wing 20 protruding beyond an edge 19 of the plate 13. Specifically, three clamping wings 20 are provided, arranged equidistantly, i.e., offset by 120° from each other. These are aligned, viewed from above, with the bayonet elements 17 on the housing cup 14 and thus also with the corresponding bayonet elements on the housing cover.

[0017] The filter element 10 should be inserted into the housing cup 14 in a specific orientation. Therefore, corresponding anti-rotation devices are provided on the filter element 10, specifically on the plate 13, on the one hand, and on the housing cup 14, specifically on the collar 18. The invention takes advantage of the fact that a slot 21 and a recess 22 are provided on the collar 18 of the housing cup 14, which form a web 23 between them. On the underside of the edge 19 of the plate 13, fingers 24 project downward into the slot 21 and the recess 22, respectively, are provided, which receive the web 23 in a form-fitting manner with little play between them.

[0018] To facilitate the correct insertion of the filter element 10 into the housing cup 14, markings 25 and 26 in the form of arrows are provided on the plate 13 and the housing cup 14, respectively. The user aligns these and inserts the filter element 10 into the housing cup 14 with a straight-line movement so that the anti-twist devices engage with each other. The clamping wings 20 rest on the collar 18 with a slight gap 27 to the bayonet elements 17 ( Fig. 4). The housing cover can now be put on, and by rotating it, the bayonet elements 17 on the collar and the housing cover can be engaged. The housing cup 14 and the housing cover hold the clamping wings 20 in the axial direction or even slightly clamp them. The filter housing is now closed and the filter is ready for use. List of reference symbols: 10 filter element 11 Filter insert 12 Floor 13 plates 14 housing cups 15 coat 16 Fuel inlet 17 Bayonet element 18 collars 19 Edge 20 clamp wings 21 slot 22 Return 23 jetty 24 fingers 25 Marking 26 Marking 27 gap QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 300 123 A2

[0002] EP 2 789 375 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Filter element (10) for use in a filter housing, which has a housing cup (14) and a housing cover, which are connected to one another in the use position. The filter element (10) has a plate (13) with at least one connecting element and a filter insert (11), characterized by that the at least one connecting element is a clamping wing (20) which is held, in particular clamped, between the housing cup (14) and the housing cover in the position of use, and that an anti-twist device (24) is additionally arranged on the plate (13), which is designed and constructed so that the filter element (10) can only be inserted into the housing cup (14) in one orientation. [2] Filter element (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that two or more clamping wings (20) are arranged distributed around the circumference of the plate (13). [3] Filter element (10) according to claim 2, characterized bythat three clamping wings (20) are arranged distributed around the circumference. [4] Filter element (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the clamping wings (20) are arranged equidistantly around the circumference. [5] Filter element (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the anti-rotation device (24) is arranged and designed to cooperate with a complementary element (21, 22, 23) on the housing cup (14). [6] Filter element (10) according to claim 5, characterized by that the anti-rotation device (24) is arranged and designed to cooperate with a complementary element on the edge (21, 22, 23) of the housing cup (14). [7] Filter with a filter housing which has a housing cup (14) and a housing cover, and with a filter element (10) according to one of claims 1 and 6.

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