Fluid filter for a motor vehicle and filter cartridge for such a fluid filter

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fluid filter for a motor vehicle, comprising a filter cartridge that is secured to a filter housing of the fluid filter. The filter cartridge has a receiving space in which a filter material is arranged. The filter cartridge can be connected to the filter housing by rotating it about a longitudinal axis of the filter cartridge. Furthermore, the invention relates to a filter cartridge for such a fluid filter.

[0002] WO 2015 / 091665 A1 and EP 3 228 374 A1 each describe a filter device with a filter head to which a replaceable filter is detachably attached. Bayonet sections on the head interact with bayonet sections on the housing, which have the same shape and size as the bayonet sections on the head. The bayonet sections on the head each have a circumferential section that extends circumferentially parallel to an imaginary circular cylinder surface around a connecting axis of the replaceable filter.

[0003] DE 696 29 208 T2 discloses a fuel filter assembly with a support plate in the lower section of the associated filter housing, on which a ring filter element rests. A contaminant container is mounted beneath the support plate. The support plate has a horizontal and flat spiral fluid passage through which the filter housing is connected to the contaminant container. At its upper end, the ring filter element inserted into the fuel filter is centered and held by a tubular connection encased in a gasket on the cover plate of the filter housing.

[0004] DE 10 2016 212 591 A1 describes a liquid filter device in which a ring filter element arranged in the filter housing separates a clean side from a dirty side. A bypass valve is provided on a lower end plate of the ring filter element. To redirect the flow of the liquid, spiral-segment-shaped flow guide elements are mounted on the end plate. In this design, the ring filter element inserted into the filter housing is held centered by a central drain pipe in the housing cover.

[0005] US 3 272 336 shows an oil filter device whose ring filter insert has spiral segment-shaped ribs on its upper end plate, through which the inflowing crude oil is set in spiral motion in order to effect a centrifugal separation of heavier contaminating particles, which are fed into a contaminant container at the bottom of the filter housing of the oil filter device.

[0006] EP 0 221 675 B1 describes a filter cartridge designed as an oil filter. The filter cartridge, which has a sealing device, is attached to a filter holder which is formed on an engine. For this purpose, four inwardly projecting tabs are formed on the inner side of a cylindrical wall of a housing of the filter cartridge. Four tabs are also provided on the side of the filter holder, but these tabs protrude outwards with respect to a central axis of the filter cartridge. To install the filter cartridge, the inwardly projecting tabs are inserted between the outwardly projecting tabs. The filter cartridge is then rotated slightly so that the inwardly projecting tabs engage behind the outwardly projecting tabs.

[0007] The disadvantage here is that the filter cartridge must be positioned very precisely relative to the filter holder in order to be able to attach the filter cartridge correctly to the filter holder.

[0008] Another disadvantage is that the tabs serving as locking elements can only transmit holding forces over half the circumference of the filter cartridge housing. For assembly and disassembly, it is necessary to ensure that the four tabs on the filter cartridge side do not overlap with the four tabs on the filter holder side.

[0009] Furthermore, EP 0 221 675 B1 describes the possibility of screwing a filter cartridge, which has a sealing ring on an end plate, onto a nozzle of the filter holder, wherein the nozzle is provided with a screw thread. A through-opening with a corresponding screw thread is provided in the end plate.

[0010] The disadvantage of attaching the filter cartridge to the filter holder in this way is that several rotations of the filter cartridge are required to press the sealing ring against the filter holder. And unscrewing the filter cartridge from the filter holder is correspondingly laborious.

[0011] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a fluid filter of the type mentioned at the outset, in which a particularly simple assembly of the filter cartridge is achieved with a reliable sealing effect, and to provide a correspondingly easy-to-assemble filter cartridge.

[0012] This object is achieved by a fluid filter having the features of patent claim 1 and by a filter cartridge having the features of patent claim 4. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0013] The fluid filter according to the invention for a motor vehicle comprises a filter cartridge which is fixed to a filter housing of the fluid filter. The filter cartridge has a receiving space in which a filter material is arranged. By rotating the filter cartridge about a longitudinal axis, the filter cartridge can be connected to the filter housing. A holding element with a web is arranged on an end plate of the filter cartridge. The web protrudes from a wall of the holding element. The wall of the holding element is spiral-shaped radially to the longitudinal axis. In an assembled position of the filter cartridge, the web of the holding element engages behind a holding web of an abutment arranged on the filter housing, which abutment is also spiral-shaped radially to the longitudinal axis.

[0014] Thus, a retaining element is provided on the filter cartridge side that is spiral-shaped radially to the longitudinal axis, and an abutment is provided on the filter housing side that is spiral-shaped radially to the longitudinal axis. This design makes assembly of the filter cartridge particularly simple. All that is required is to position the web of the retaining element of the filter cartridge relative to the retaining web of the abutment in such a way that, as the filter cartridge rotates in one direction around the longitudinal axis, the web of the retaining element engages behind the retaining web of the abutment.

[0015] The filter cartridge can be mounted on the fluid filter housing by rotating it around its longitudinal axis with a very slight rotation. Unlike screwing a filter cartridge onto a counterpart on the filter housing, multiple complete rotations around the longitudinal axis are not required. Rather, a small rotation is sufficient to secure the filter cartridge to the fluid filter housing. This allows for both mounting and dismounting of the filter cartridge particularly quickly and effortlessly.

[0016] The retaining web of the abutment has an incline relative to a contact area of ​​the filter housing along the direction of rotation, i.e. it runs along an incline. A sealing element of the filter cartridge rests against the contact area when the filter cartridge is secured to the filter housing. The incline relative to the contact area ensures that when the filter cartridge is secured to the filter housing, a tension acting in the direction of the filter cartridge's longitudinal axis is exerted on the filter cartridge with increasing rotation about the longitudinal axis. When the filter cartridge is rotated in the direction of rotation, this results in the sealing element of the filter cartridge sitting particularly tightly against the contact area of ​​the filter housing. Due to the spiral shape of the wall of the retaining element, which is aligned radially to the longitudinal axis, holding forces can be transmitted over the entire length of the spiral.These holding forces ensure that the filter cartridge is securely fastened to the filter housing of the fluid filter when installed. Depending on the design of the retaining element and the available space, the length of the spiral-shaped retaining element can be greater than half the circumference of the filter cartridge—unlike a bayonet lock, for example—or even greater than the circumference. This allows for a particularly secure and tight fit of the filter cartridge to the filter housing.

[0017] Furthermore, due to the coordination of the spiral shape of the holding element and the spiral shape of the abutment provided on the filter housing side, it can be ensured that the replacement part in the form of the filter cartridge always has a predetermined, exact alignment relative to the filter housing in the assembled position. This makes it very easy for an operator who is carrying out the assembly of the filter cartridge to the filter housing to visually determine whether the filter cartridge in the assembled position has been brought into a desired end position. In particular, this ensures that information affixed to the filter cartridge, such as a component number, an item number or the like, is always within the field of vision of the operator or similar service personnel when the filter cartridge is moved into its assembled position.

[0018] This also makes it easier to replace the used filter cartridge with a new or unused filter cartridge.

[0019] Due to the shape of the retaining element, which has a radially spiral wall and a web protruding from the wall like a flange, the retaining element has a hook-shaped cross-section. Accordingly, the retaining element provides a clamping geometry and a holding geometry with respect to the contact area for the seal. In particular, the web of the retaining element, which serves as the clamping geometry and holding geometry, is replaced together with the filter cartridge when the filter cartridge is replaced. This allows for the fact that the retaining element of the filter cartridge may be subject to wear during assembly and operation of the filter cartridge to be taken into account.

[0020] Depending on the intended use and design of the fluid filter, different fluids can be filtered using the filter material arranged in the receiving space of the filter cartridge. For example, the fluid filter can be designed as an air filter for an air conditioning or ventilation system of the motor vehicle, by means of which ambient air can be filtered before it enters a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. However, the fluid filter can also be designed as an air filter for an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle or as a filter for filtering fuel. Furthermore, it is possible for the fluid filter to be designed as an oil filter or as a water separator for separating water from a lubricant and / or a fuel. Furthermore, it is possible for the fluid filter to be designed as an air dryer, by means of which the humidity in a system of the motor vehicle containing air, in particular compressed air, such as the compressed air in a braking system, can be reduced.

[0021] Preferably, the pitch of the retaining bar increases in the direction of rotation, as viewed along the longitudinal axis of the filter cartridge. However, a reverse pitch is also possible.

[0022] The simple assembly of the filter cartridge to the filter housing of the fluid filter is facilitated if the retaining web having the gradient is continuous in one direction of rotation around the longitudinal axis, i.e. has no interruptions or openings in the direction of rotation.

[0023] The spiral-shaped abutment can, at least in part, encircle a tubular connecting piece of the filter housing. The connecting piece is inserted into an opening formed in the end plate of the filter cartridge. By inserting the tubular connecting piece into the opening, it can be ensured that the filter cartridge is positioned before being moved into the assembly position such that the filter cartridge can be reliably moved into its assembly position by rotating the filter cartridge about its longitudinal axis. In particular, inserting the tubular connecting piece of the filter housing into the opening formed in the end plate of the filter cartridge serves to pre-position the filter cartridge on the filter housing during assembly of the filter cartridge to the filter housing.

[0024] The tubular nozzle of the filter housing can have a shoulder on which a sealing element of the filter cartridge, in particular designed as an O-ring, can rest when the filter cartridge is fixed in its assembly position on the filter housing.

[0025] The filter cartridge according to the invention for a fluid filter of a motor vehicle can be secured to a filter housing of the fluid filter. The filter cartridge has a receiving space in which a filter material is arranged. The filter cartridge can be connected to the filter housing by rotating it about a longitudinal axis of the filter cartridge. A retaining element with a web is arranged on an end plate of the filter cartridge, which web protrudes from a wall of the retaining element. The wall of the retaining element is spiral-shaped radially to the longitudinal axis. The web of the retaining element is designed to engage behind the web of an abutment arranged on the filter housing and spiral-shaped radially to the longitudinal axis when the filter cartridge is in an assembled position. By engaging behind the retaining web of the abutment using the web of the retaining element of the filter cartridge, the filter cartridge can be secured to the filter housing of the fluid filter.However, the filter cartridge only needs to be rotated a small amount around its longitudinal axis. This makes it particularly easy to mount the filter cartridge on the fluid filter housing. Furthermore, removing the filter cartridge from the fluid filter housing is quick and easy.

[0026] In this direction of rotation, the filter cartridge can be rotated around its longitudinal axis to attach it to the filter housing.

[0027] The web of the holding element, or more precisely a distance of the web from a surface of the end plate facing away from the filter material, has a gradient along a direction of rotation in which the filter cartridge can be rotated about its longitudinal axis to be secured to the filter housing. Due to this gradient, together with the rotation of the filter cartridge about its longitudinal axis in the direction of rotation, an axial movement of the filter cartridge towards the filter housing is caused. In this way, a sealing element of the filter cartridge can be pressed against a contact area formed on the side of the filter housing. Nevertheless, there is no need for laborious screwing in of the filter cartridge with several complete revolutions to bring the filter cartridge into the assembly position. Rather, a small movement in the direction of rotation is sufficient to tightly secure the filter cartridge to the filter housing.

[0028] Preferably, the distance between the web of the retaining element and a surface of the end plate facing away from the filter material increases in a rotational direction. A reverse design is also possible.

[0029] Advantageously, the filter cartridge can be moved into the mounting position with less than one complete rotation around its longitudinal axis. This facilitates very simple, low-effort installation of the filter cartridge to the filter housing.

[0030] In particular, it can be provided that, in the assembled position, the free ends of the web of the retaining element and the free ends of the retaining web are flush with each other. This ensures that, even with the use of comparatively little material for the retaining element and the retaining web, holding forces can be transferred to the retaining web to a particularly large extent by means of the retaining element.

[0031] It can be provided that a radius of curvature of the holding element increases from a center of a spiral shape of the wall of the holding element towards an edge of the spiral shape. This makes it particularly easy to initially rotate the filter cartridge around its longitudinal axis when securing it to the filter housing of the fluid filter. As the rotation around the longitudinal axis increases and the filter cartridge is thus increasingly moved into the assembly position, the web of the holding element then engages increasingly further behind the holding web of the abutment. This makes it very easy for an operator installing the filter cartridge, such as a fitter or mechanic, to determine when the filter cartridge has reached its assembly position. Nevertheless, the filter cartridge can still be rotated very easily in the direction of rotation when it first rotates around its longitudinal axis.And in the mounting position of the filter cartridge, a very resilient attachment of the filter cartridge to the filter housing can be achieved.

[0032] Preferably, a sealing element is arranged on a front edge of a housing of the filter cartridge, which can be pressed against a contact area of ​​the filter housing by securing the filter cartridge to the filter housing. This means that when the filter cartridge is replaced, the sealing element, which may be subject to wear, is also replaced.

[0033] Preferably, the receiving space is formed in a housing of the filter cartridge and is bounded on one side by the end plate of the filter cartridge. This allows for a very simple design of the filter cartridge.

[0034] In particular, the housing of the filter cartridge can be cup-shaped, with the end plate then facing a bottom of the cup-shaped housing. This is also advantageous with regard to a simple construction of the filter cartridge.

[0035] Furthermore, the end plate can have a plurality of through-openings. Through such through-openings, a fluid to be filtered can enter the receiving space and / or a filtered fluid can leave the receiving space. By providing multiple through-openings in the end plate, a particularly uniform flow of the fluid through the filter material can be achieved.

[0036] The retaining element can have a plurality of openings in the circumferential direction of the filter cartridge. In other words, the retaining element having the spiral shape does not need to be designed as a continuous spiral. Rather, individual sections of the spiral wall of the retaining element can form the spiral shape. Accordingly, the web protruding from the wall is then also not designed to be continuous. Rather, each section of the wall has a web section of the retaining element protruding from this section. Such an interrupted or segmented spiral shape of the retaining element is advantageous with regard to the low weight of the filter cartridge.

[0037] The advantages and preferred embodiments described for the fluid filter according to the invention also apply to the filter cartridge according to the invention and vice versa.

[0038] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective specified combinations, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0039] Showing: Fig. 1 shows a partially sectioned view of a fluid filter of a motor vehicle designed as an air dryer; Fig. 2 shows a perspective and detail of a filter cartridge of the fluid filter; Fig. 3 shows a perspective and detail of a filter housing of the fluid filter, to which the filter cartridge can be attached; Fig. 4 shows a first step in mounting the filter cartridge to the filter housing; Fig. 5 shows components of the filter cartridge according to Fig. 2 which comprise a spiral-shaped retaining element of the filter cartridge, wherein the retaining element is shown in an orientation relative to a spiral abutment arranged on the filter housing, as it exists before the filter cartridge is fixed to the filter housing; Fig. 6 in a partially sectioned view, the in Fig. 5 shown components of the fluid filter, wherein a seal of the filter cartridge is not yet pressed against a contact area provided on the side of the filter housing; Fig. 7 the components of the filter cartridge according to Fig. 5 , wherein the filter cartridge is brought into its assembly position, in which a web of the spiral-shaped holding element of the filter cartridge engages behind a holding web of the spiral-shaped abutment; and Fig. 8 in a partially sectioned view the Fig. 7 shown components of the fluid filter.

[0040] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0041] In Fig. 1 1 shows a sectioned and detailed view of a fluid filter 10 of a motor vehicle, wherein the fluid filter 10 is designed, for example, as an air dryer. Accordingly, a filter cartridge 12, which is attached to a filter housing 14 of the fluid filter 10, is designed as a replaceable air dryer cartridge. A receiving space 18, in which a filter material (not shown) of the filter cartridge 12 is arranged, is partially delimited by a pot-shaped housing 16 of the filter cartridge 12. The filter material can be, for example, a granulate or the like. If, on the other hand, the fluid filter 10 is designed, for example, as an oil filter or as an air filter for an air conditioning system or an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle, the filter material can be provided by a pleated filter or the like.

[0042] To one side, in this case towards the underside of the filter cartridge 12 facing the filter housing 14, the receiving space 18 is delimited by an end plate 20 of the filter cartridge 12. On a surface of the end plate 20 facing the filter housing 14, in this case on a surface 22 of the underside of the end plate 20, a holding element 24 is arranged, the shape of which in Fig. 2 is easier to recognize.

[0043] Accordingly, the holding element 24 or such a mounting element, which is used for holding the filter cartridge 12 on the filter housing 14 of the fluid filter in the Fig. 1 shown mounting position of the filter cartridge 12, is spirally formed. In this case, a wall 26 of the holding element 24, which extends in the direction of a longitudinal axis 28 (see Fig. 1 ) of the filter cartridge 12, has a spiral shape radially to the longitudinal axis 28.

[0044] A flange or web 30 projects radially outwards from the wall 26 of the holding element 24. In Fig. 1 the wall 26 and the web 30 are shown once in a sectional view and once in a perspective view of a free end 32 of the holding element 24. This first free end 32 is spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the presently cylindrical housing 16 of the filter cartridge 12 from another free end 34 of the holding element 24 (compare Fig. 2 ).

[0045] In particular, from a summary of Fig. 1 with Fig. 3 It can be seen that an abutment 36 for the holding element 24 is provided on the side of the filter housing 14 of the fluid filter 10. The abutment 36 is also spirally formed radially to the longitudinal axis 28 of the filter cartridge 12. The abutment 36 comprises a holding web 38. An end face 40 of the holding web 38 describes the spiral shape of the abutment 36. When the filter cartridge 12 is fixed to the filter housing 14, i.e. is in its Fig. 1 shown assembly position, the web 30 of the holding element 24 engages behind the holding web 38 of the abutment 36.

[0046] In the present case, the abutment 36 has a plurality of extensions 42 (compare Fig. 3 ), of which, for reasons of clarity, only some are provided with a reference numeral. In the area of ​​these extensions 42, the abutment 36 is fixed to a base body 46 of the filter housing 14 by means of a plurality of screw bolts 44 or similar fastening elements. The base body 46 of the filter housing 14 also provides a horizontally extending contact area 48, which is in the present case an annular design, against which, when the filter cartridge 12 is in its assembled position, a sealing element 50, in the present case annular, is pressed (cf. Fig. 2 ) of the filter cartridge 12 is pressed (compare Fig. 1 ).

[0047] An axial tension, i.e. in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28 of the filter cartridge 12, is provided by an incline - or a gradient - of the holding element 24 and a similar incline - or a gradient - of the holding web 38. Fig. 1 , but especially from Fig. 3 , it can be seen that, due to the incline of the retaining web 38, the distance of the retaining web 38 from the contact area 48 increases in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28. Accordingly, in the region of a first free end 52 of the abutment 36, the distance of the retaining web 38 from the contact area 48 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28 is smaller than in the region of a second free end 54 of the abutment 36.

[0048] In contrast, a distance of the web 30 of the holding element 24 from the surface 22 of the underside of the end plate 20 in the region of the first free end 32 of the holding element 24 is greater than in the region of the second free end 34 of the holding element 24. The distance of the web 30 of the holding element 24 from a surface of the end plate 20 facing away from the filter material thus increases in a direction of rotation 70 (compare Fig. 5 ), into which the filter cartridge 12 is rotated about the longitudinal axis 28 for the purpose of securing the filter cartridge 12 to the filter housing 14. The mounting element or holding element 24, which has a hook-shaped cross-section and which comprises the wall 26 and the web 30 projecting outwardly from the wall 26, thus provides, on the one hand, a holding geometry and, on the other hand, a clamping geometry.

[0049] The holding element 24 can, as shown here by way of example, be continuous in the circumferential direction of the housing 16. In variants of the fluid filter 10, however, this holding element 24 can also be segmented, i.e., have a plurality of openings (not shown here). Accordingly, not only is the first free end 32 spaced from the opposite free end 34 of the holding element 24. Rather, along a section from the first free end 32 to the second free end 34 of the holding element 24, further openings are present, in which at least the web 30 or also the web 30 and the wall 26 are not present. Even then, however, the sections of the wall 26 continue to describe the spiral shape, so that the wall 26 of the holding element 24 having openings is spiral-shaped.

[0050] With reference first to Fig. 4 The assembly of the filter cartridge 12 to the filter housing 14 of the fluid filter 10 will be explained. Accordingly, the filter cartridge 12 is inserted in the direction of its longitudinal axis 28 (see Fig. 1 ) is placed on the filter housing 14. A tubular nozzle 56 of the filter housing 14 is inserted into an opening 58 which is formed in the end plate 20 of the filter cartridge 12 (see Fig. 2 ). A sealing element, in this case designed as a sealing ring 60 or O-ring, runs around the opening 58 (see Fig. 2 ). When the filter cartridge 12 is fixed to the filter housing 14, this sealing ring 60 rests against a stepped shoulder 62 which is formed on the tubular nozzle 56 (see Fig. 8 ).

[0051] In Fig. 5 of the filter cartridge 12, only the holding element 24 and an annular holding profile 64 are shown, which serves to hold the presently annular sealing element 50 of the filter cartridge 12 (compare Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 ). The retaining profile 64 has a plurality of fastening tabs 66, by means of which the retaining profile 64 is held on the end plate 20 (see Fig. 1 ). Furthermore, the holding profile 64 has a folded area 68 into which a front end of a side wall of the housing 16 of the filter cartridge 12 is inserted (see Fig. 1 ). In this way, the housing 16 is connected to the retaining profile 64.

[0052] In Fig. 5 For the sake of clarity, the end plate 20 is not shown. According to Fig. 5 For the purpose of assembly, the filter cartridge 12 is placed on the filter housing 14 in such a way that the tubular nozzle 56 passes through the opening 58 formed in the end plate 20 of the filter cartridge 12. In particular, from a synopsis of Fig. 5 with Fig. 6 It can be seen that during this pre-positioning of the filter cartridge 12 on the filter housing 14, the web 30 of the holding element 24 does not yet engage behind the holding web 38 of the abutment 36. In this regard, Fig. 6 It can also be seen that during this pre-positioning of the filter cartridge 12 on the filter housing 14, the sealing element 50 is not yet pressed against the contact area 48 of the filter housing 14.

[0053] By rotating the filter cartridge 12 around its longitudinal axis 28 in the direction of rotation 70, which Fig. 5 As illustrated by an arrow, when the filter cartridge 12 is subsequently moved into its assembly position, the retaining element 24 is hooked onto the abutment 36. In this case, the web 30 engages behind the retaining web 38.

[0054] In Fig. 7 of the filter cartridge 12 in its assembly position or final position, only the holding element 24, the holding profile 64 and the sealing ring 60 are shown. However, according to Fig. 7 The filter cartridge 12 and, with it, the retaining element 24 are rotated slightly in the direction of rotation 70. Consequently, the filter cartridge 12 is hooked to the filter housing 14 via the retaining element 24.

[0055] Due to the pitch of the abutment 36 and the pitch of the retaining element 24 corresponding to this pitch, a tension in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28, i.e., an axial tension, acts on the filter housing 14 when the filter cartridge 12 is rotated in the direction of rotation 70. This results in the seal 50 being pressed against the contact area 48 of the filter housing 14 in the assembled position of the filter cartridge 12 (see Fig. 8 ). Furthermore, Fig. 8 It can be seen how the web 30 of the holding element 24, which projects from the spiral-shaped wall 26, engages behind the likewise spiral-shaped holding web 38 of the abutment 36.

[0056] To replace the filter cartridge 12 or when installing a new filter cartridge 12, the replacement part in the form of the filter cartridge 12 is first placed onto the filter housing 14. The filter cartridge 12 is then rotated about the longitudinal axis 28. This connects and aligns the filter cartridge 12 with an undercut to the filter housing 14. Due to the pitches of the abutment 36 and the holding element 24, an axial movement of the filter cartridge 12 is carried out simultaneously with the rotational movement. This axial movement ensures that the seal or sealing element 50 of the replacement part is pressed onto the sealing surface provided by the contact area 48 of the filter housing 14 or a corresponding module of the fluid filter 10.

[0057] Out of Fig. 2 and from Fig. 1 It can be seen that in the end plate 20, on the one hand, through-openings 72 are formed, into which the fastening tabs 66 engage. In the present case, the fastening element 24 can be connected via these through-openings 72, but also via further through-openings 74 formed in the end plate 20, which are also formed in the holding element 24 (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 ), filtered fluid can exit the receiving space 18. The fluid to be filtered can, however, be introduced into the receiving space 18 via the tubular nozzle 56. It is also possible to introduce the fluid to be filtered into the receiving space 18 via the through-openings 72, 74. The filtered fluid can then leave the receiving space 18 via the tubular nozzle 56. The through-openings 74 in the end plate 20 are aligned with the through-openings 74 formed in the holding element 24 (cf. Fig. 2 ).

[0058] In the present cup-shaped housing 16 of the filter cartridge 12, the receiving space 18 is delimited, on the one hand, by the casing wall, which is secured to the retaining profile 64 of the filter cartridge 12 by insertion into the folded area 68. On the other hand, the receiving space 18 is delimited in this case by the end plate 20, which lies opposite a bottom wall of the cup-shaped housing 16.

Claims

1. A fluid filter for a motor vehicle, comprising a filter cartridge (12) secured to a filter housing (14) of the fluid filter (10), wherein the filter cartridge (12) has an accommodation space (18), in which a filter material is disposed, and wherein the filter cartridge (12) is connectible to the filter housing (14) by rotation about a longitudinal axis (28) of the filter cartridge (12), a retaining element (24) comprising a land (30) projecting from a wall (26) of the retaining element (24) being disposed on an end plate (20) of the filter cartridge (12), characterised in that the wall (26) of the retaining element (24), when viewed radially to the longitudinal axis (28), is helically formed, and wherein, in a mounting position of the filter cartridge (12), the land (30) of the retaining element (24) engages behind a retaining land (38) of an abutment (36) disposed on the filter housing (14) and which is helical when viewed radially to the longitudinal axis (28), and the retaining land (38), when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (28), has a gradient along a direction of rotation (70) with respect to a contact region (48) of the filter housing (14), which a sealing element (50) of the filter cartridge (12) contacts.

2. The fluid filter according to claim 1, characterised in that with the gradient of the retaining land (38), which is continuously formed around the longitudinal axis (28), a distance of the retaining land (38) from the contact region (48) of the filter housing (14) increases in the direction of rotation (70).

3. The fluid filter according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the helical abutment (36) at least partially surrounds a tubular connector (56) of the filter housing (14) inserted into an opening (58) formed in the end plate (20) of the filter cartridge (12).

4. A filter cartridge for a fluid filter (10) of a motor vehicle, which is securable to a filter housing (14) of the fluid filter (10), wherein the filter cartridge (12) has an accommodation space (18), in which a filter material is disposed, and wherein the filter cartridge (12) is connectible to the filter housing (14) by rotation about a longitudinal axis (28) of the filter cartridge (12), a retaining element (24) comprising a land (30) projecting from a wall (26) of the retaining element (24) being disposed on an end plate (20) of the filter cartridge (12), characterised in that the wall (26) of the retaining element (24), when viewed in a radial direction to the longitudinal axis (28), is helically formed, and wherein the land (30) of the retaining element (24) is formed to, in a mounting position of the filter cartridge (12), engage behind a retaining land (38) of an abutment disposed on the filter housing (14) and which is helical when viewed radially to the longitudinal axis (28), wherein a distance of the land (30) of the retaining element (24) from a surface (22) of the endplate (20) facing away from the filter material has a gradient in a direction of rotation (70) in which the filter cartridge (12) is rotatable about the longitudinal axis (28) for securing the filter cartridge (12) to the filter housing (14).

5. The filter cartridge according to claim 4, characterised in that with the gradient the distance of the land (30) from the surface (22) facing away increases in the direction of rotation (70).

6. The filter cartridge according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the filter cartridge (12) can be brought into the mounting position, in which in particular free ends (32, 34) of the land (30) of the retaining element (24) and free ends (52, 54) of the retaining land (38) terminate flush with each other, by less than a full rotation about the longitudinal axis.

7. The filter cartridge according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that a radius of curvature of the retaining element (24) increases from a centre of a helical shape of the wall (26) of the retaining element (24) towards an edge of the helical shape.

8. The filter cartridge according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that a sealing element (50), which can be pressed against a contact region (48) of the filter housing (14) by securing the filter cartridge (12) to the filter housing (14), is disposed on an edge on a front face side of a housing (16) of the filter cartridge (12).

9. The filter cartridge according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that the accommodation space (18) is formed in an in particular bowl-shaped housing (16) of the filter cartridge (12) and is limited towards one side by the end plate (20) of the filter cartridge (12), which in particular has a plurality of through-openings (72, 74).

10. The filter cartridge according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterised in that the retaining element (24) has a plurality of apertures in the circumferential direction of the filter cartridge (12).