Filter, filter element which is unlockable by means of a handle, handle for removing a filter element, and method for uninstalling a filter

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter (10) having a filter housing (12), to a filter element (14) which is unlockable by means of a handle, to a handle (16) for removing a filter element from the filter housing, and to a method for uninstalling a filter. The filter housing (12) may have at least one latching member (26c) for holding the filter element (14) axially in the filter housing (12). The latching member (26c) is preferably releasable at least indirectly by means of an actuation surface of a latching finger (20d) on the handle (16). The latching finger (20d) preferably latches the handle (16) on the filter element (14), and the latching finger (20d) in particular engages behind an upper end disk of the filter element (14). The handle (16) particularly preferably has multiple latching fingers (20d) which, when the handle (16) is pushed axially onto the filter element (14), engage behind said filter element in the region of the upper end disk. The latching fingers (20d) can be pushed with their actuation surfaces pairwise onto displacement surfaces in order to release latching members (26c), which are provided between the displacement surfaces, from the filter element (14).

Description

[0001] Filter, filter element unlockable by a handle, handle for removing a filter element and method for disassembling a filter

[0002] Technical area

[0003] The invention relates to a filter comprising a filter housing, a filter element, and a handle for removing the filter element from the filter housing. The invention further relates to a method for disassembling the filter.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] A filter as described above is known from EP 3 263 202 A1. Furthermore, WO 2022 / 076248 A1 discloses a filter with a filter head and a filter element that can be detachably connected to the filter head.

[0006] In contrast, it is the object of the invention to provide a filter with a filter element which is securely fixed in the filter housing in the operating state, but is nevertheless easily removable.

[0007] Disclosure of the invention

[0008] This object is achieved by a filter according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 11. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a filter element for placement in the filter and a handle for removing the filter element from the filter. Preferred embodiments are specified in the respective subclaims and the description.

[0009] According to the invention, a filter is provided with a filter housing, a handle, and a filter element. In the assembled state, the filter element is held axially secured in the filter housing by a filter element latch with at least one latching web. The latching web is radially movable at least in sections. The handle can be connected to the filter element by a handle latch with at least one latching finger. For this purpose, the latching finger is radially movable at least in sections. The handle has at least one actuating surface for releasing the filter element latch. The actuating surface actuates a displacement surface of the filter element latch and thereby at least indirectly releases the filter element latch. According to the invention, thus, with a single movement, namely sliding the handle onto the filter element, both the handle can be connected to the filter element and the filter element can be released from its latching in the filter housing.This facilitates the removal of the filter element, which is securely fixed during normal operation. Since the handle is only placed on the filter element during disassembly, no space needs to be provided for the handle in the installed position, thus optimally utilizing the available space. Furthermore, the handle, filter element, and filter housing form a key-lock system that prevents the use of incorrect components during servicing.

[0010] The locking web and / or the locking finger preferably extend axially, at least in sections, in particular completely. The locking web and / or the locking finger is / are preferably made of sheet metal or plastic, particularly preferably plastic. The locking finger is preferably L-shaped.

[0011] The filter element comprises a filter medium that surrounds a longitudinal axis in a ring. The filter medium can be folded or wound in a star shape, for example. The filter medium can be round or oval in cross-section.

[0012] The handle can be constructed in multiple parts. In particular, the handle locking mechanism and the actuating surface can be formed on two different components. However, the handle is preferably constructed in one piece.

[0013] In an alternative embodiment, the handle is constructed in several parts and lacks an actuating surface for unlocking the locking devices on the filter housing. In this alternative embodiment, the handle serves only to remove the filter element from the filter housing. A separate actuating device allows the filter insert to be detached from the housing by moving locking bars through the separate actuating device, releasing the filter element.

[0014] Directional specifications such as axial or radial refer to the longitudinal axis of the filter, in particular the filter element, unless otherwise stated. The filter medium can be stabilized radially inward by a support body, in particular in the form of a support tube. Alternatively or additionally, the filter medium can be stabilized radially outward by a cage. For external stabilization, in particular of a wound filter medium, a thread winding can also be applied to the filter element.

[0015] The filter element can have an end plate, which can also be at least partially open, on a lower end face of the filter medium. Alternatively or additionally, the filter element can have an end plate, which can also be at least partially open, on an upper end face of the filter medium. Preferably, the filter element can be flowed through from the radial outside to the radial inside.

[0016] The locking finger and / or the locking bar can engage behind the upper end plate, at least in sections. This significantly simplifies the design of the filter.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the filter element serves to center the handle and lock the handle. The filter element can have means for guiding the handle into the locking position, for example, webs or grooves that interact with grooves or webs on the handle.

[0018] The filter is preferably designed as a liquid filter. The liquid filter is preferably designed as a fuel filter or an oil filter. Particularly preferably, the filter is designed as a water-separating fuel filter, in particular a multiple-filter one. Such a filter element can be sealed to the filter housing with an O-ring, so that the filter element sits very firmly in the filter housing, yet can still be easily replaced using the handle according to the invention.

[0019] A particularly simple design of the filter is achieved if the locking bar is provided on the filter housing and / or the locking finger is provided on the handle. More preferably, the actuating surface is formed on the locking finger. The actuating surface is preferably formed opposite a locking projection of the locking finger.

[0020] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle locking mechanism has a plurality of locking fingers. The locking fingers are particularly preferably arranged or configured symmetrically, in particular axially symmetrically, on the handle. The handle locking mechanism preferably has at least six locking fingers.

[0021] To simplify the production of the filter, the locking fingers are preferably of the same design.

[0022] Further preferably, a plurality of locking bars are provided on the filter housing and a plurality of actuating surfaces are provided on the handle for at least indirectly moving the locking bars.

[0023] Preferably, in the assembled state of the filter with the handle pushed on, two locking fingers are provided next to a locking web, wherein the locking webs are each provided between two locking fingers.

[0024] The locking webs can each be connected to two displacement surfaces. The displacement surfaces are preferably arranged or formed on the locking webs at the free ends of the locking webs.

[0025] The displacement surfaces can be designed symmetrically, wherein the actuating surfaces are preferably arranged radially on two displacement surfaces when the handle is pushed on.

[0026] The structural design of the filter can be further simplified if the filter housing has a ring with at least one locking web. The ring preferably has all the locking webs and in particular all the actuating surfaces. The ring can be formed in one piece, in particular from plastic. The ring can be connected to at least one further component of the filter housing by a welded joint. The object of the invention is finally achieved by a method for disassembling a filter described here, comprising the following method steps: a) sliding on the handle while locking the handle to the filter element and releasing the filter element lock; b) pulling out the filter element.

[0027] In the method, preferably in method step a), a locking finger, in particular all locking fingers, are connected to the filter element by pushing the handle onto the filter element and a locking web, in particular all locking webs, are released from the filter element.

[0028] Short description of the drawings

[0029] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, from the patent claims, and from the figures of the drawing, which illustrate details of the invention. The aforementioned and further detailed features can be implemented individually or in combination in any desired, expedient combinations in variants of the invention. The features shown in the drawing are presented in such a way that the special features of the invention can be clearly seen. In the drawing:

[0030] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a filter with a filter housing, a filter element arranged in the filter housing and a handle for connecting to the filter element, unlocking the filter element in the filter housing and removing the filter element;

[0031] Fig. 2 shows the filter from Fig. 1 with the handle placed on the filter element, whereby the locking of the filter element in the filter housing is released by placing the handle on it;

[0032] Fig. 3 shows the filter from Fig. 2 with the filter element removed from the filter housing;

[0033] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the handle according to Figs. 1 to 3, wherein Fig. 4 shows downwardly projecting locking fingers for gripping the filter element; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a ring mounted in the filter housing according to Figs. 1 to 3, wherein the ring has locking webs for holding the filter element in the filter housing;

[0034] Fig. 6 is a partially sectioned perspective view of the filter according to Figs. 1 to 3, wherein the handle is not fully fitted onto the filter element; and

[0035] Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the filter of Fig. 2, from which it can be seen that by placing the handle on the filter element the engagement of the locking bar with the filter element is released.

[0036] Embodiments of the invention

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a filter 10 with a filter housing 12, a filter element 14 installed in the filter housing 12 and a handle 16. The filter 10 is designed in the form of a fuel filter.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows the filter 10 with the handle 16 mounted on the filter element 14. The handle 16 is locked to the filter element 14. Forces can be applied to the filter element 14 via a handle bar 18 to release it from its fixed seat in the filter housing 12.

[0039] Fig. 3 shows the filter 10 with the filter element 14 pulled out of the filter housing 12, wherein the filter element 14 is still firmly connected to the handle 16 so that the filter element 14 can be easily handled.

[0040] Figures 1 to 3 show a method 19 according to the invention for disassembling the filter element 14 from the filter housing 12.

[0041] Fig. 4 shows the handle 16 with several locking fingers, of which only the locking fingers 20a, 20b are provided with a reference numeral for reasons of clarity. The handle 16 is preferably made in one piece (single-part) and / or from plastic. The locking fingers, here the locking fingers 20a, 20b, are arranged in pairs. Preferably, several pairs of locking fingers (here six) are provided on the handle 16, evenly distributed around the circumference. The locking fingers 20a, 20b are formed axially in sections. The locking fingers 20a, 20b can each have an actuating surface 22a, 22b, preferably on their radial outer side. The actuating surfaces 22a, 22b serve to release the locking of the filter element 14 (see Fig. 2) in the filter housing 12 (see Fig. 2). This locking mechanism can be seen in conjunction with Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.

[0042] Fig. 5 shows a ring 24 fixedly arranged on the filter housing 12 (see Fig. 2) with a plurality of locking webs, of which, for reasons of clarity, only the locking webs 26a, 26b are provided with a reference numeral. The locking webs 26a, 26b serve to lock or axially secure the filter element 14 (see Fig. 2) in the filter housing 12 (see Fig. 2). The locking webs 26a, 26b each preferably have a locking edge 28, which can be seen on the locking web 26b in Fig. 5. The locking edge 28 at least partially engages over the filter element 14 (see Fig. 2) in its assembled state.

[0043] The locking webs 26a, 26b can be provided, particularly centrally, between displacement surfaces. For reasons of clarity, only the displacement surfaces 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d are provided with a reference symbol in Fig. 5. The displacement surfaces 30a, 30b are located on the radial inner side of the ring 24—hidden in Fig. 5. In general, the displacement surfaces 30a-d are preferably provided on the radial inner side. The displacement surfaces 30a-d preferably correspond in their circumferential arrangement with the locking fingers 20a, 20b (see Fig. 4), so that the actuating surfaces 22a, 22b (see Fig. 4) displace the displacement surfaces 30a-d when the handle 16 is pushed on and move the locking webs 26a, 26b, in particular radially outwards, so that the locking edges 28 no longer overlap the filter element 14 (see Fig. 2).

[0044] Fig. 6 shows the filter 10 with the filter housing 12 partially removed. The handle 16 is just about to engage behind an upper end plate 32 of the filter element 14 with its locking fingers. For reasons of clarity, only one locking finger 20c is provided with a reference number in Fig. 6. The locking finger 20c displaces a displacement surface 30e in order to release the locking of the filter housing 12 with the filter element 14. Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the filter 10. From Fig. 7 it can be seen that the filter element 14 is axially symmetrical to its longitudinal axis 34. It has a filter medium 36 which is folded in a star shape in particular and is supported radially on the inside against a support body 38. A lower end plate 40 is sealed against the inside of the filter housing 12 by a sealing ring 42, here in the form of an O-ring.This sealing seat is usually very tight, so that the handle 16 must be used to pull the filter element 14 out of the filter housing 12.

[0045] Fig. 7 shows the filter element 14 with the attached handle 16. Locking fingers, of which a locking finger 20d is provided with a reference symbol, unlock locking webs, of which a locking web 26c is provided with a reference symbol in Fig. 7. The connection of the locking fingers 20d to the filter element 14 forms a handle locking mechanism 44. The connection of the locking webs 26c to the filter element 14 forms a filter element locking mechanism 46.

[0046] At least one stop finger, of which a stop finger 48 is provided with a reference number in Fig. 7, prevents the handle 16 from being pushed too deeply into the filter housing 12 when the filter element 14 has already been removed, from becoming locked and then from being able to be removed only in a complex manner.

[0047] Taking a summary of all the figures in the drawing, the invention relates to a filter 10 with a filter housing 12, a filter element 14, and a handle 16. The filter housing 12 can have at least one locking web 26a-c to hold the filter element 14 axially in the filter housing 12. The locking web 26a-c is preferably releasable at least indirectly by an actuating surface 22a, 22b of a locking finger 20a-d on the handle 16. The locking finger 20a-d preferably locks the handle 16 to the filter element 14; in particular, the locking finger 20a-d engages behind an upper end plate 32 of the filter element 14. Particularly preferably, the handle 16 has a plurality of locking fingers 20a-d which engage behind the filter element 14 in the region of the upper end plate 32 when the handle 16 is pushed axially onto the filter element 14.The locking fingers 20a-d can be pushed in pairs onto displacement surfaces 30a-e with their actuating surfaces 22a, 22b in order to release locking webs 26a-c provided between the displacement surfaces 30a-e from the filter element 14. List of reference symbols.

[0048] 10 filters

[0049] 12 filter housings

[0050] 14 Filter element

[0051] 16 handle

[0052] 18 handle bars

[0053] 19 procedures

[0054] 20a-d locking fingers

[0055] 22a, b Actuating surface

[0056] 24 rings

[0057] 26a-c Rest bridge

[0058] 28 locking edge

[0059] 30a-e Displacement area

[0060] 32 upper end plate

[0061] 34 Longitudinal axis of the filter element

[0062] 36 filter medium

[0063] 38 support bodies

[0064] 40 lower end plate

[0065] 42 Sealing ring

[0066] 44 Handle locking

[0067] 46 Filter element locking

[0068] 48 stop fingers

Claims

Claims filter (10), wherein the filter (10) comprises: A) a replaceable filter element (14); B) a filter housing (12) for receiving the filter element (14), wherein a filter element locking mechanism (46) is provided between the filter housing (12) and the filter element (14), which holds the filter element (14) in the mounted state in the filter housing (12) so as to be secured against axial withdrawal, wherein the filter element locking mechanism (46) has a locking web (26a-c) which is radially movable at least in sections; C) a handle (16) for axially pulling the filter element (14) out of the filter housing (12), wherein a handle lock (44) for holding the filter element (14) and an actuating surface (22a, 22b) for releasing the filter element lock (46) are provided between the handle (16) and the filter element (14), wherein the handle lock (44) has a locking finger (20a-d) that is radially movable at least in sections, wherein by sliding the handle (16) onto the filter element (14), the handle lock (44) can be closed by the locking finger (20a-d) and the filter element lock (46) can be released by the at least partial movement of the locking web (26a-c) through the actuating surface (22a, 22b). Filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter (10) is designed in the form of a liquid filter.Filter according to one of the preceding claims, in which the filter element locking mechanism (46) has the locking web (26a-c) on the filter housing side and / or the handle locking mechanism (44) has the locking finger (20a-d) on the handle side. Filter according to one of the preceding claims, in which the actuating surface (22a, 22b) is formed on the locking finger (20a-d). Filter according to one of the preceding claims, in which the handle locking mechanism (44) has a plurality of locking fingers (20a-d) that are radially movable at least in sections. Filter according to one of the preceding claims, in which the filter element locking mechanism (46) has, on the filter housing side, a plurality of at least partially radially movable locking webs (26a-c) and, on the handle side, a plurality of actuating surfaces (22a, 22b) for at least partially moving the locking webs (26a-c). Filter according to claim 6 in conjunction with claim 5, in which two locking fingers (20a-d) are arranged or formed next to a locking web (26a-c), such that the respective locking web (26a-c) is arranged or formed between the respective locking fingers (20a-d). Filter according to claim 7, in which the locking webs (26a-c) are each connected to two displacement surfaces (30a-e) provided next to the locking webs (26a-c), which are movable by the actuating surfaces (22a, 22b) when the handle (16) is pushed onto the filter element (14) in order to release the filter element locking (46).Filter according to claim 8, wherein the displacement surfaces (30a-e) are symmetrical, wherein the locking webs (26a-c) are each arranged between two displacement surfaces (30a-e). Filter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter housing (12) has a ring (24) with the at least one locking web (26a-c). Method (19) for disassembling a filter (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the method steps: a) sliding the handle (16) onto the filter element (14), wherein the handle (16) locks to the filter element (14) and at least one actuating surface (22a, 22b) releases the locking of at least one locking web (26a-c), so that the handle locking mechanism (44) closes and the filter element locking mechanism (46) is released; b) Pull the filter element (14) out of the filter housing (12) using the handle (16).

12. Method according to claim 11 in conjunction with claim 3, wherein in method step a) when the handle (16) is pushed onto the filter element (14), a locking finger (20a-d) is locked to the filter element (14) and a locking web (26a-c) is released from the filter element (14).

13. Filter element (14), in particular filter element (14) of a liquid filter, in particular filter element of a fuel filter or an oil filter, for arrangement in a filter according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a filter medium (36) which surrounds a longitudinal axis (34) in a ring shape, characterized in that the filter element (14) can be latched or axially secured in a filter housing (12) via latching webs (26a, 26b), wherein the filter element (14) can be at least partially gripped over by a latching edge (28), wherein a grip latch (44) can be formed on the filter element (14) by connecting latching fingers (20d).

14. Filter element according to claim 13, characterized in that the filter medium (36) is folded or wound in a star shape.

15. Filter element according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the filter element (14) is round or oval.

16. Handle (16) for removing a filter element (14) according to one of claims 13 to 15 from a filter (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the handle (16) can be connected to the filter element (14) by a handle latch (44) with at least one latching finger (20a-d), wherein the handle (16) has at least one actuating surface (22a, 22b) for releasing the filter element latch (46).

17. Handle (16) according to claim 16, wherein the handle (16) has a handle bar (18) via which forces can be introduced into the filter element (14) in order to release the filter element (14) from its fixed seat in the filter housing (12).

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