Sintermetallfilter

Abstract

Sintered metal filter with a filter body (10) comprising a support substrate (14) having openings (15) and extending over the planar extent of the filter body (10), and porous sintered metal filling the openings (15) of the support substrate (14), and with at least one connection structure (9, 19) attached to the filter body (10) by a fusion connection, in particular by welding, wherein, for the connection of the filter body (10) with its edge section to a connection structure (9, 19), the edge section is arranged in a sandwich position between a connection section (12.1) of the connection structure (9, 19) and an edge component (21, 21.1) lying planarly against the edge section of the filter body (10), and this arrangement comprising the connection section (12.1) of the connection structure (9, 19), the edge section of the filter body (10), and the edge component (21, 21.1). 21.1) by a front-facing edge component (21, 21.1) are connected to each other at its side pointing away from the rest of the filter body (10) by means of a fusion connection (22).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sintered metal filter with a filter body, composed of a carrier substrate having openings and extending over the planar extent of the filter body, and porous sintered metal filling the openings of the carrier substrate.

[0002] Sintered metal filters are used, for example, to remove solid particles from the exhaust stream of internal combustion engines. Sintered metal filters designed as particulate filters have proven effective in this application, especially those where the filter body consists of a perforated support substrate and porous sintered metal filling the openings. A key advantage of this design is the potential for thin walls in such sintered metal filters. The support substrate can be, for example, expanded metal. To manufacture the filter body, the metal powder to be sintered is incorporated into the openings of the support substrate. The subsequent sintering process bonds the sintered metal particles to each other and to the support substrate.The design of such a filter body offers several advantages compared to thick-walled sintered metal filter bodies, which do not require a support substrate. This is primarily due to the fact that such a filter body can be designed with a significantly thinner wall thickness than sintered metal filters without such a support substrate, or especially than ceramic filters. However, the thin walls of such a filter body, which typically have thicknesses of only 0.4 to 0.8 mm, have the disadvantage that connecting components required to complete the sintered metal filter, such as a filter support, is not easily achieved by means of a fusion joint, particularly by welding. This is because the thin walls of the filter body are prone to burning through due to the heat generated during welding.For this reason, DE 103 01 037 A1 proposes providing a solid material strip, i.e., an unstretched material strip, on the expanded metal used as a support substrate at those edges where a solid material component is to be attached. While this is a viable way to provide an edge that can be welded under normal conditions, it requires a special manufacturing process for the support substrate. Furthermore, the edge formation concept known from this prior art cannot be readily transferred to other support substrates, such as wire mesh or the like.

[0003] Against this background, the object of the invention is to propose a sintered metal filter in which the sintered metal filter body, in particular also in a thin-walled version, can be connected to a solid material filter component without a special design of its edge section to be joined.

[0004] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a sintered metal filter with a filter body, constructed from a carrier substrate having openings and extending over the planar extent of the filter body, and porous sintered metal filling the openings of the carrier substrate, and with at least one connection structure attached to the filter body by a fusion connection, in particular by welding, wherein, for connecting the filter body with its edge section to a connection structure, the edge section is arranged in a sandwich position between a connection section of the connection structure and an edge component lying planarly against the edge section of the filter body, and this arrangement comprising the connection section of the connection structure,The edge section of the filter body and the edge component are connected to each other by a fusion joint carried out on the end face of the edge component on its side pointing away from the rest of the filter body.

[0005] In this metal filter, the edge section of the filter body, which is to be joined to another filter component, is located in a sandwich arrangement or position between a connecting section of a connecting structure (the other filter component) and an edge component that makes full contact with the edge section of the filter body. Both the connecting section of the connecting structure and the edge component are typically solid material parts, or at least parts that, unlike the filter body, do not tend to burn away under the expected heat input from welding. The fusion joint, typically a weld, is located on the end face of the edge component that faces away from the other components of the filter body. At this position, the weld can be executed as a fillet weld. This is possible if the connecting section of the connecting structure protrudes from the end face of the edge component.The end edge of the filter body's edge section typically does not protrude from the end face of the edge component intended for welding. In this sandwich configuration, the connecting section of the connection structure and the edge component, in relation to the edge section of the sintered metal filter body, effectively dissipate heat, so that heat can ultimately only be coupled into the filter body via its thin-walled end face. Heat transfer from the edge component to the edge section of the filter body is hampered by the porosity of the filter body and the resulting relatively small contact area with the edge component. Consequently, the heat introduced during welding is radiated into the environment via the surface of the edge component.An advantage here is that, due to the porous nature of the edge section of the filter body, its thermal conductivity is lower than that of the other components that lie flat against the edge section and are integrated into the welded connection - the connection section of the connection structure and the edge component.

[0006] This design for connecting the edge section of a filter body made from a support structure and sintered metal can be designed for straight edge sections or for edge sections curved in the plane of the filter body. Thus, the filter body of the sintered metal filter can also be designed as a filter cartridge. In this case, the filter body, the connecting section of the support structure, and the edge component are all ring-shaped. Typically, in the ring-shaped sandwich configuration of the filter body's edge section, the connecting section of the support structure is located on the inside and the edge component on the outside. With this design of the sintered metal filter, the latter is preferably designed as a clamping ring so that it exerts a certain preload on the filter body's edge section, at least before the fusion bond is executed. This primarily serves to secure it.At the same time, the preload applied by the clamping ring also ensures that the edge section of the filter body rests against the connection section of the connection structure, which is typically also made of solid material on the inside.

[0007] In a preferred design of such a sintered metal filter, it is configured as a filter cartridge. A sintered metal filter configured as a filter cartridge is advantageous if it has a support basket enclosed within the filter body. The longitudinal extent of the support basket corresponds to a multiple of its diameter. Such a support basket is typically constructed from several support basket struts arranged circumferentially at intervals along its longitudinal extent, and from support rings that hold the support basket struts in position. The support basket provides the typically thin-walled, deformable filter body of such a filter cartridge-configured sintered metal filter with dimensional stability, especially during filter operation, which, thanks to the support basket, can also be carried out at relatively high flow rates. The support basket prevents the filter body from collapsing.

[0008] The support basket struts, like the support basket rings, can be provided by sheet metal strips joined together by a welded connection. According to another embodiment, the support basket struts and support basket rings can be wire sections. The support basket rings can be arranged radially on the outside of the support basket struts, which follow the longitudinal axis of the filter element, as well as on the inside. An inside arrangement of the support rings facilitates sliding the filter body onto the support basket. Preferably, the support basket has an outer support basket ring at each end, to which the respective end section of the filter body is then connected, typically by a fusion connection.

[0009] A support basket, for example, can be used as a connection structure. Typically, the support basket rings located at each end of the support basket form the connection section to which the edge section of the filter body rests and to which it is welded in its sandwich position with the outer clamping ring. A mounting flange with a mounting collar can also serve as a connection structure. When the sintered metal filter is designed as a filter cartridge, the mounting flange serves to suspend the filter cartridge in the filter base of a filter apparatus. The molded-on connection collar forms the connection section to which the filter body is attached. If the filter cartridge is equipped with a support basket, one end of the support basket ring sits on the outside of such a mounting collar.In such a design, the mounting collar is typically integrated into the weld seam that connects this edge region of the filter body to the outer clamping ring and to the last support cage ring on this side, with the edge region interposed. Similarly, when the sintered metal filter is designed as a filter cartridge, a closure or a coupling element can be provided at one end as a connection structure; the latter is used when the filter body is to be connected to a similar filter body to increase the filter area of ​​the sintered metal filter.

[0010] Particularly suitable materials for hot gas filtration, especially for forming the filter body, are steel grades 1.4845, 1.4404, and 1.4539. Nickel-based alloys are also used. This material specification applies to both the substrate material and the sintered metal particles.

[0011] A filter body for hot gas filtration, as described above, has a total porosity (support substrate and sintered metal) of approximately 45%.

[0012] The invention is described below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1: A schematic representation of a filter apparatus according to the invention with a plurality of filter candles arranged in a filter housing, Fig. 2: A perspective view of a filter candle of the filter apparatus of the Fig. 1, Fig. 2a: a cross-sectional view of the end section of the filter candle of the Fig. 2, Fig. 2b: a partial sectional view through the lower end section of the filter candle of the Fig. 2, Fig. 3: a sectional view to illustrate the structure of the filter body of the filter candle described above, Fig. 4: A cross-sectional view through the filter candle of the Fig. 2 facing towards their raw fluid-side end, Fig. 5: a partial longitudinal section view of another filter candle with impact elements suspended inside it and Fig. 6: a cross-sectional view corresponding to that of the Fig. 4 on the filter candle of the Fig. 5.

[0013] A filter apparatus 1 serves to filter a dust-laden hot gas. The filter apparatus 1 comprises a filter housing 2 with a raw gas inlet 3 and a clean gas outlet 4. Inside the filter housing 2 is a filter plate 5, which separates the raw gas side 6 from the clean gas side 7. The filter plate 5 has a multitude of filter candle openings, with a filter candle 8 suspended in each filter candle opening. Fig. Figure 1 shows four filter candles 8 arranged side by side. The filter base 5, extending to the inner wall of the filter house 2, carries a multitude of further filter candles 8 arranged in a grid pattern.

[0014] In the illustrated embodiment, all filter cartridges 8 of the filter apparatus 1 are identical. Each filter cartridge 8 has a support basket 9, which is enclosed on the outside by a filter body 10. The support basket 9 has several support basket struts 11, four in the illustrated embodiment, which are held in position by several support basket rings 12 arranged radially outside the support basket struts 11 in the illustrated embodiment. The support basket struts 11 are arranged circumferentially at equal angular intervals from each other. The length of the support basket struts 11 defines the length of the filter body 10 and thus the length of the filter cartridge 8 shown in the figures. The support basket struts 11 and the support basket rings 12 are strips of sheet steel and are welded together. The cross-sectional geometry of the support basket 9 is circular (see also Fig. 4).

[0015] The filter body 10 is a body made from several individual sintered metal strips 13. Each sintered metal strip 13 has an expanded metal strip 14 as a support substrate (see Fig. 3) The openings 15 of the respective expanded metal strip 14 are, as shown Fig. 3. Sintered metal is incorporated and solidified by a sintering process and positively connected to the expanded metal strip 14. The sintered metal is schematically represented in this figure by the grid. Fig. 3. The nodes of the expanded metal strip 14 are identified by reference numeral 16, and the connecting webs are identified by reference numeral 17. The wall thickness of the filter body 10 is also determined by the wall thickness of the expanded metal strip 14. As shown in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the wall thickness of the sintered metal on the illustrated upper surface is slightly greater than the thickness of the expanded metal strip 14. The outer surface of the filter body 10 with the sintered metal protrusion represents the upstream side of the filter body 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion is 0.04 mm. Before the sintered metal powder is incorporated into the openings 15 of the expanded metal strip 14, it may have been calendered. In the illustrated embodiment, the Fig. 3. Material thickness of the sintered metal strip shown: 0.4 mm.

[0016] The filter body 10, which is cylindrical in its basic form, has an inner circumference that is larger than the virtual surface area enclosing the support basket struts 11. This virtual surface area corresponds, as shown from Fig. 4, the inner circumference of the support basket rings 12. The inner diameter of the filter body 10 can also be somewhat larger than the outer circumference of the support basket rings 12. The filter body 10 is not clamped to the support basket struts 11. Furthermore, the filter body 10 is not connected to the support basket struts 11, nor, in the illustrated embodiment, to the support basket rings 12, by a joining connection. Due to the play built in between the inside of the filter body 10 and the support basket struts 11 – the deformation play – the filter body 10 is deformable in the radial direction. During filter operation of the filter apparatus 1, the raw gas flows radially onto the filter cartridges 8. Enclosed particles to be separated are deposited on the outer surface of the filter body 10 of each filter cartridge 8.The inflow pressure acting on the filter cartridges 8, which increases with the build-up of the filter cake through the successive particle separation as filtrate on the outside of the filter body 10, leads to a radial inward deformation of the filter body 10. This causes the filter body 10 to be drawn closer to the support basket struts 11 and may even be pressed further inward between two adjacent support basket struts. Such a deformation of the filter body 10 is described in . Fig. 4 indicated by the griddled block arrows.

[0017] The filter cartridges 8, in addition to their support basket 9 and filter body 10, have a mounting flange 18 with a connecting collar 18.1, which is connected to the end of the filter body 10 facing the clean gas side 7. The opposite end of the filter body 10 is closed by a closure 19. To connect the filter body 10, including the support basket 9, to the mounting flange 18 and to close the opposite end by means of a base 20, the end support basket rings 12.1 are designed with a greater longitudinal extent than the other support basket rings 12, in order to provide an outer contact surface for the inner circumference of the edge section of the filter body 10. A clamping ring 21, 21.1 is provided concentrically to each end support basket ring 12.1 on the outside of the filter body 10.The end connection of the filter body 10 at its end supporting the mounting flange 18 and at its opposite end is shown in a sectional view in the . Fig. 2a and Fig. Figure 2b shows that the filter body 10 is sandwiched between the respective end support cage ring 12.1 and the clamping ring 21 or 21.1, which is also made from a strip of sheet steel. Each clamping ring 21, 21.1 exerts a radial, planar preload on the outside of the filter body 10 and is typically slotted for this purpose. This sandwich position allows the clamping ring 21, 21.1 to be welded to the respective support cage ring 12.1 at its end face facing away from the filter body 10, as shown in the Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b is indicated by the respective weld seam 22. The end of the edge section of the filter body 10 is also integrated into the weld. Thus, both the respective end support basket ring 12.1 and the clamping ring 21 or 21.1 arranged on the outside of the filter body 10 act to dissipate heat from the filter body 10, so that there is no risk of uncontrolled burning of the filter body 10 in its end edge sections when creating the fusion joint (welding). The filter body 10 is therefore connected to the support basket 9 only at its two end edge sections, specifically the support basket rings 12.1, by means of the aforementioned joining connection. As shown in Fig. As can be seen in 2a, the upper support basket ring 12.1 is placed on the connecting collar 18.1 of the mounting flange 18 and integrated into the weld 22.

[0018] The filter apparatus 1 further comprises a pulse backwash device 23. This includes a pulse valve 24, which is connected to a backwash gas source in a manner not shown in detail. The pulse valve 24 is controlled by a control unit not shown in the figures. A backwash line 25 is connected to the pulse valve 24. Backwash gas is supplied to each filter cartridge 8 via this line. Each filter cartridge 8 has a cleaning fluid outlet 26, which is in turn connected to the backwash line 25. The cleaning fluid outlet 26 is located in the outlet-side end section of the filter body 10.

[0019] To clean the filter cartridges 8 located in the filter housing 2, the raw gas supply is stopped and backwashing is initiated. For this purpose, the pulse valve 24 is briefly opened once or several times, so that a backwash gas pulse, exiting at high velocity from the respective cleaning fluid outlet 26, is introduced into each filter cartridge 8. The pulse duration can be between 50 and 200 ms. This provides a large quantity of purge gas in a short time. This ensures that not only particles located within the wall of the filter body 10, but especially particles adhering to its outer surface – the filtrate – are dislodged by the backwash gas flowing through the filter body 10 against the filter flow direction.The backwash gas pulse, introduced into the filter channel of the filter cartridges 8, also ensures that the filter body 10, in its sections previously deformed radially inwards by the filtration process, is deformed in the opposite direction, and thus radially outwards. Fig. Figure 4 indicates this re-deformation by the radially outward-pointing block arrows. The mechanical deformation movement of the filter body 10 thus sustainably supports the cleaning process, intensifying it. Due to the very short time required for the cleaning process, this procedure is energy-efficient simply because of its brief duration and, above all, only interrupts the filtration process briefly. The filtrate cleaned by the filter cartridges 8 falls to the bottom of the filter housing 2 and can be removed and discharged from the filter housing 2 via a discharge valve 27.

[0020] The filter apparatus 1 further comprises a current-generating device for heating the filter cartridges 8. For this purpose, the filter cartridges 8 are connected in an electrical circuit. The electrical resistance of the filter cartridges 8, and in particular their filter body 10, is used like a resistance heating element to produce the desired heating when current is applied to the filter cartridges 8. The design of the filter bodies 10 with their expanded metal support substrate is particularly advantageous. Since this substrate extends over the entire length of the filter body 10, a defined electrical resistance is provided. The conduction of an electric current along the longitudinal extent of a filter body 10 is therefore not dependent on the irregular contact patterns of the sintered metal particles with one another. The current-generating device of the filter apparatus 1 in the illustrated embodiment operates with alternating current.The phase is provided by a contact network 28 extending over the cross-sectional area of ​​the filter housing 2. This network can, for example, be a mesh-like structure made of an electrically conductive material. The contact network 28 is insulated from the filter housing 2. The neutral conductor is connected to the filter base 5. The filter cartridges 8 make contact with the contact network 28 via their base 20.

[0021] Heating the filter cartridges 8 is useful, for example, for preheating during the filtration of warm or hot gases. This prevents the dew point of the gas being filtered from being undershot due to an insufficiently heated filter cartridge. This avoids condensation. Heating the filter cartridges is also advantageous for drying hygroscopic filtrate before purification, thereby promoting the flaking process of the filter cake.

[0022] A particular advantage is that no additional components, such as heating wires or the like, are required to heat the filter candles 8 to achieve the desired temperature. This also simplifies the manufacturing process of the filter candles 8.

[0023] Fig. Figure 5 shows another filter candle 8.1, which is constructed like the filter candle 8 of the previously described figures. Therefore, the preceding statements apply equally to the filter candle 8.1. The filter candle 8.1 differs from the filter candle 8 in that several impact elements are arranged in its filter channel 29. In the illustrated embodiment, the impact elements are impact chains 30 suspended in the filter channel 29. The impact chains 30 are link chains equipped with several impact pieces 31 arranged at intervals from one another. The impact pieces 31 are impact discs that project circumferentially beyond the links of the impact chain 30. The thickness of the impact pieces 31 decreases radially towards their outer edge.Due to this longitudinal axial projection of the striking pieces 31 relative to the links of the striking chain 30, this projection forms a fluid impact surface 32 in each case. Such a fluid impact surface 32 is located on each flat side of the striking pieces 31.

[0024] The filter cartridge 8.1 is in the Fig. In the sectional view shown in Figure 6, in which the filter body 10 is shown in cross-section, the arrangement of the impact chains 30 used in this embodiment can be clearly seen. The impact chains 30 are arranged close to the inner wall of the filter body 10.

[0025] During pulse backwashing with the pulse backwash device 23, the impact chains 30 with their impact pieces 31 are moved towards the filter body 10 when a backwash pulse is introduced into the filter channel 29 of the filter candle 8.1, due to the introduced gas pulse, in the manner of a blow. This serves the purpose of causing the impact pieces 31 to strike against the inside of the filter body 10 and thereby promote the cleaning process. With each backwash pulse, the impact chains 30 or the impact pieces 31 each receive at least two movement pulses: a first movement pulse when the backwash pulse is introduced into the filter channel 29 and a second time when the introduced gas pulse is reflected off the bottom 20 of the filter candle 8.1 and travels in the opposite direction towards the filter body 10. Fig.The impact of the impact pieces 31, shown in Figure 5, occurs on the underside of the impact pieces 31. Due to the oscillating suspension of the impact chains 30, the impact pieces 31 typically strike the inner wall of the filter body 10 multiple times with each backwash gas pulse. The impact of the impact pieces 31, or even individual chain links, against the inner wall of the filter body 10 also deforms the filter body 10, thus supporting the radial outward deformation of the filter body induced by the backwash gas pulse. Furthermore, the cleaning process is also optimized by the coupling of vibrations.

[0026] The installation of such impact elements is particularly advantageous for the aforementioned filter cartridges 8.1 due to their intended deformability in the radial direction. This is not possible with ceramic filter cartridges otherwise used for hot gas filtration because of the resulting damage and destruction. Furthermore, the cleaning result for the filter cartridges 8.1 with the impact chains 30 suspended in their filter channel 29 is significantly better than with conventional methods of introducing vibrations into a filter cartridge, for example, by means of a vibrator.

[0027] The invention has been described using exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the scope of protection described by the applicable claims, numerous further embodiments of the inventive concept would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, without these needing to be explained in more detail within the scope of these explanations. Reference symbol list 1 filter apparatus 2 Filter House 3 Raw gas inlet 4 Clean gas outlet 5 filter base 6 Raw gas side 7 Clean gas side 8, filter candle 8.1 9 Support basket 10 filter bodies 11 Support basket strut 12, 12.1 Support basket ring 13 sintered metal strips 14 Carrier substrate / expanded metal strips 15 Opening 16 knots 17 Bridge 18 Mounting flange 18.1 Connecting collar 19 Closure 20 floor 21, 21.1 Tension ring 22 weld seam 23 Pulse backwash device 24 pulse valve 25 Backwash line 26 Cleaning fluid outlet 27 Sampling valve 28 contact network 29 Filter channel 30 impact chain 31 striking piece 32 Fluid impact area QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 103 01 037 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Sintered metal filter with a filter body (10) comprising a support substrate (14) having openings (15) and extending over the planar extent of the filter body (10), and porous sintered metal filling the openings (15) of the support substrate (14), and with at least one connection structure (9, 19) attached to the filter body (10) by a fusion connection, in particular by welding, wherein, for the connection of the filter body (10) with its edge section to a connection structure (9, 19), the edge section is arranged in a sandwich position between a connection section (12.1) of the connection structure (9, 19) and an edge component (21, 21.1) lying planarly against the edge section of the filter body (10), and this arrangement comprising the connection section (12.1) of the connection structure (9, 19), the edge section of the filter body (10), and the edge component (21, 21.1). 21.1) by a front-facing edge component (21, 21.1) are connected to each other at its side pointing away from the rest of the filter body (10) by means of a fusion connection (22). [2] Sintered metal filter according to claim 1, characterized by , that the connection section (12.1) of the connection structure (9, 19) protrudes towards the edge component on the side facing away from the filter body (10) and the fusion joint (22) is designed as a fillet weld. [3] Sintered metal filter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the filter body (10), the connection section (12.1) of the connection structure (9, 19) and the edge component (21, 21.1) are designed as ring bodies, wherein the edge section of the filter body (10) is placed on the connection section (12.1) of the connection structure (9, 19) and the edge component is placed as a clamping ring (21, 21.1) on the edge section of the filter body (10) and acts on it at least before the joining process with prestress. [4] Sintered metal filter according to claim 3, characterized by , that the sintered metal filter is designed as a filter cartridge (8, 8.1). [5] Sintered metal filter according to claim 4, characterized by , that the sintered metal filter designed as a filter candle (8, 8.1) has a support basket (9) arranged within the filter body (10) as a connection structure with a longitudinal extent that corresponds to a multiple of its diameter, that the support basket (9) is constructed from several support basket struts (11) arranged circumferentially at a distance from each other following its longitudinal extent and from support basket rings (12, 12.1) that hold the support basket struts (11) in position, and that the outwardly pointing edge sections of the filter body (10) are connected to the edge section of the filter body (10) in said sandwich position by means of the end-arranged support basket rings (12.1). [6] Sintered metal filter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that the wall thickness of the filter body (10) is slightly thicker than the thickness of the support substrate (14). [7] Sintered metal filter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the support substrate of the filter body is an expanded metal strip (14). [8] Sintered metal filter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the inner circumference of the filter body (10) is approximately 1% - 2% larger than the circumference of the outer surface enclosing the support basket struts (11). [9] Sintered metal filter according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized by , that the wall thickness of the filter body (10) is between 0.25 mm and 1 mm, in particular between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm. [10] Sintered metal filter according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized by , that the support basket struts (11) as well as the support basket rings (12) are provided by sheet metal strips or wire sections and are connected to each other by a fusion joint, in particular by welding. [11] Sintered metal filter according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized by , that the filter body (10) of the filter candle (8, 8.1) has a rounded, in particular circular, cross-sectional geometry. [12] Sintered metal filter according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by , that the connection structure is a mounting flange (18) for holding the filter body (10) on a filter support with a connection collar (18.1) arranged overlapping with respect to the edge section of the filter body (10) as a connection section. [13] Sintered metal filter according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by , that the connection structure associated with the filter body is a coupling element with which the filter body can be connected to a similar filter body to increase the filter area of ​​the sintered metal filter. [14] Sintered metal filter according to claim 4 or any one of claims 5 to 12 in their respective reference to claim 4, characterized by, that the connection structure (12.1) is designed as an end closure (19) of the filter body (10).

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