Filter insert latchable to housing cover with support element for filter medium body

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter insert with at least one filter medium body. Downstream, the filter insert is supported by a grid section of a support element. The grid section has planar flow openings and is preferably formed with ribs which cross one another. The support element has at least one latching means which is designed integrally with the grid section and by means of which the filter insert can be latched to a housing cover of a filter device. A sealing element is held on the support element and, in the latched state, seals the filter insert with respect to the housing cover. When a filter housing is opened, the filter insert remains held by virtue of the latching to the housing cover. Dirt which has accumulated on the unfiltered raw side (between the filter insert and the housing cover) thus does not enter a housing lower part which has a clean-side outlet.

Description

Filter insert with support element for filter medium body that can be locked onto the housing cover

[0000] This patent application claims priority from German patent application 1020231 14761.7, filed with the German Patent and Trademark Office on 6 June 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a filter insert comprising at least one filter medium body through which flow can occur from an inflow surface to an outflow surface, a support element held on the filter medium body, which support element has at least one first locking means by means of which the filter insert can be locked to a housing cover, and a circumferential sealing element held on the support element. State of the art

[0002] Such a filter insert is known from WO 2016 / 146250 A1.

[0003] Such filter inserts have traditionally been used primarily to filter combustion air in vehicles with internal combustion engines. The locking mechanism of the filter insert on the housing cover can simplify its replacement.

[0004] US 2010 / 0162673 A1 describes a filter device with a filter housing and a replaceable filter insert arranged in the filter housing. A pre-filter in the form of a cyclone separator is integrated into a housing cover of the filter housing. A filter medium body of the filter insert is surrounded by a support ring near its inflow surface. The support ring has tabs that can be moved between a release position and a holding position. Recesses are provided in the housing cover, into which the tabs engage in the holding position.

[0005] WO 2016 / 146250 A1, already mentioned at the beginning, relates to a filter device, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a filter element which has a filter medium through which a gas can flow for filtering the gas, and with a housing which comprises a housing cover and a filter receptacle, in the receiving space of which the filter medium can be at least partially received, and with at least one locking device for sealingly connecting the housing cover, filter element and filter receptacle. By means of the locking device, an upper locking element on the housing cover side can be connected to a lower locking element on the filter receptacle side by means of a connecting element on the filter element. The upper and lower locking elements are each designed as locking lugs and the connecting element as upper and lower closure elements, wherein each closure element has a receptacle into which one of the locking lugs can be at least partially received in a locking position.The locking elements are formed on a frame that surrounds the filter medium. Two sealing elements are held on the frame, which, when closed, each rest against a sealing surface of the housing cover or the filter receptacle. Since separate locking elements are provided on the filter element for the filter receptacle and the housing cover, the opening sequence of the housing is not predetermined.

[0006] The two aforementioned filter systems feature relatively compact filter media bodies. These are held in place in the filter housing by the surrounding frame or support ring. Especially with flat or heavy filter media bodies, lateral fixation may be insufficient due to the mechanical loads encountered during operation.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to improve the fixation of a filter insert which can be replaced with little risk of dirt entering a clean side. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] This object is achieved by a filter insert according to claim 1, a filter device according to claim 15, a use of a filter device according to claim 19 and a fuel cell according to claim 20. Preferred embodiments are specified in the respective subclaims and the description.

[0009] According to the invention, a filter insert is provided. The filter insert is generally a gas filter insert, in particular an air filter insert. The filter insert is preferably used as part of a filter device according to the invention described below.

[0010] The filter insert has at least one filter medium body through which air can flow from an inflow surface to an outflow surface. Typically, the filter medium body is cuboid-shaped and allows air to flow along its smallest dimension. The filter insert can therefore also be referred to as a flat filter. Such a filter medium body exhibits low flow resistance with high separation efficiency and service life.

[0011] The filter insert further comprises a support element held on the filter medium body, which has at least one first locking means, via which the filter insert can be locked to a housing cover. For operation, the filter insert is locked to the housing cover, which is part of a filter housing. Gas to be filtered, in particular air, can be guided to the inflow surface of the filter medium body through an inlet on the housing cover.

[0012] The filter insert also has a circumferential sealing element that is held on the support element. When installed with the filter housing closed, the sealing element can, on the one hand, seal a dirty side from a clean side (in other words, the inflow surface from the outflow surface). Fluid flow must therefore pass through the filter medium body. On the other hand, the sealing element can seal the housing cover from a housing base.

[0013] According to the invention, the support element has a grid section that extends over the outflow surface of the filter medium body and is integral with the at least one first locking means. The grid section typically lies against the outflow surface or extends at a small distance of, for example, a maximum of 2 mm along the outflow surface. The grid section provides surface support for the filter medium body. At the same time, the grid section does not impede the flow through the filter medium body, or at most does so insignificantly. The one-piece design of the support element with the grid section and the at least one first locking means simplifies production. The support element with the grid section and the at least one first locking means can in particular be a plastic injection-molded part. At the same time, the monolithic design of the support element ensures particularly reliable fixing of the filter medium body to the housing cover. Because the filter insert is supported on the downstream side by the grid section and can also be locked to the housing cover, this prevents dirt from the dirty side (essentially between the inflow surface and the inlet) from getting to the clean side (into the housing base) when the filter housing is opened.

[0014] The at least one first locking means may have a locking lug. A locking means with a locking lug can be manufactured efficiently and enables reliable fastening and easy release of the filter insert.

[0015] Typically, the first locking element is elastically deformable. This further simplifies the attachment and removal of the filter insert to or from the housing cover.

[0016] The rest of the support element, and especially the mesh section, are typically rigid. This improves the support and fixation of the filter medium body.

[0017] Preferably, at least two first locking means are formed on each of two opposite longitudinal sides of the filter insert. This allows for particularly reliable fixation of the filter insert to the housing cover. Typically, all first locking means on the support element are of the same design.

[0018] The sealing element can be permanently attached to the support element, particularly by being cast onto the support element. This permanent attachment reliably prevents the sealing element from becoming lost or slipping during assembly. Casting allows for efficient production, with the sealing element automatically bonded to the support element during manufacturing.

[0019] Advantageously, the support element has webs with recesses between them, with the sealing element extending through the recesses and encompassing the webs. This allows for particularly secure fixation of the sealing element, which is particularly cast onto the support element. The webs and recesses form a receiving section for the sealing element. This receiving section is also integral with the grid section and the at least one first locking means.

[0020] A protruding sealing edge can be formed on the sealing element, preferably with the sealing edge protruding beyond the outflow surface (in the flow direction). When installed, the sealing edge can form a sealing contact with a sealing surface of the housing base.

[0021] A contact surface can be formed on the sealing element for sealing engagement with a collar of the housing cover. The contact surface and the sealing edge are typically arranged opposite each other. The sealing element can then be clamped between the housing cover and the housing base for a particularly reliable seal.

[0022] The at least one filter medium body and the support element can be held together by the sealing element. The sealing element thus fulfills a dual function: on the one hand, it serves to seal the filter housing and, on the other, to connect the components of the filter insert. This reduces manufacturing costs.

[0023] The at least one filter medium body can be enclosed by a surrounding frame. The frame can seal the filter medium body at its side surfaces, thus forcing a flow from the inflow surface to the outflow surface.

[0024] Preferably, the frame is embedded in the sealing element. The frame thus mediates the connection between the filter medium body and the sealing element or support element. Typically, the frame protrudes beyond the outflow surface. This allows the frame to be held particularly firmly in the sealing element.

[0025] The frame can be made of or comprised of a nonwoven material. The frame is preferably made of a nonwoven tape. Nonwoven material is inexpensive, easy to process, and sufficiently airtight.

[0026] Alternatively, the frame can be a plastic frame, particularly a plastic injection-molded part. This can simplify the fixation of multiple filter media bodies.

[0027] The filter insert can have two filter medium bodies through which air can flow in series. Preferably, a first filter medium body comprises a particle filtration medium, and a second filter medium body comprises an adsorption filter medium, in particular containing activated carbon. This allows for particularly thorough cleaning of the air to be filtered. Typically, the second filter medium body is arranged downstream of the first filter medium body. Adsorption filter media with activated carbon are comparatively heavy, so secure support is particularly important, especially when the filter medium body has a large surface area. The grid section generally extends along the outflow surface of the downstream filter medium body.

[0028] Preferably, both filter medium bodies are secured to the support element via the sealing element. The aforementioned dual function of the sealing element is thus extended to the fixation of the other filter medium body.

[0029] In a further development, both filter medium bodies are enclosed by a common frame embedded in the sealing element. The common frame can be a plastic frame, in particular a plastic injection-molded part. The common frame can be molded onto one of the filter medium bodies. The other filter medium body can be glued into the common frame. This allows for a particularly stable filter insert to be obtained.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment, both filter medium bodies are each enclosed by a surrounding frame, with at least one of the frames being embedded in the sealing element. The frames can each comprise a nonwoven material, in particular, be made of a nonwoven tape.

[0031] A first embodiment of this filter insert is characterized in that the frame of the first filter medium body in the flow direction extends at least as far as the outflow surface of the second filter medium body in the flow direction, and in that the two frames are embedded in the sealing element. Preferably, the frame of the first filter medium body in the flow direction projects beyond the outflow surface of the second filter medium body in the flow direction. Typically, the frame of the second filter medium body in the flow direction also projects beyond the outflow surface. This simplifies the fixation of the two frames in the sealing element.

[0032] In an alternative design, the two frames are glued together. This can be advantageous in terms of space requirements perpendicular to the flow direction and can reduce the material required for the sealing element and / or the frames.

[0033] The scope of the present invention also includes a filter device comprising - a filter housing having a housing cover with an inlet and a housing base with an outlet, - a filter insert according to the invention as described above.

[0034] The filter device is basically a gas filter device, in particular an air filter device. The lower housing part is typically arranged below the housing cover during use; however, this is not necessarily the case. For the purposes of illustrating the present invention, regardless of the spatial arrangement, the housing part with the inlet is referred to as the housing cover and the housing part with the outlet is referred to as the lower housing part. In the closed state, the housing cover and the lower housing part enclose a receiving space in which the filter insert can be arranged. Air to be filtered can be guided to the inflow surface of the at least one filter medium body through the inlet on the housing cover, and filtered air can be discharged from the outflow surface of the at least one filter medium body through the outlet on the lower housing part.

[0035] The housing cover has at least one second locking means, which is designed to correspond to the at least one first locking means of the filter insert. The filter insert can thus be The housing cover is locked into place. The filter medium body is supported on the housing cover via the support element, in particular its mesh section.

[0036] The housing cover and the housing base are generally detachably connected to each other using fasteners that are separate from the locking elements. For example, the housing cover and the housing base can be screwed together. Other connections are also conceivable. For example, elastic retaining clips can be provided to clamp the housing cover and the housing base against each other.

[0037] When installed, the sealing element seals off one dirty side of the filter housing from the clean side. This prevents leakage past the filter media body.

[0038] The inflow area of ​​the filter medium body or the upstream filter medium body is assigned to the dirty side in the filter housing. The outflow area of ​​the filter medium body or the downstream filter medium body is assigned to the clean side in the filter housing.

[0039] When the filter housing is opened, the filter insert initially remains secured to the housing cover. The sealing element remains in contact with the housing cover as long as the filter insert is locked to the housing cover. This prevents dirt deposited on the raw side from falling into the lower part of the housing or reaching the clean side. To replace the filter insert, the locking mechanism can be released and the filter insert removed from the housing cover. This is best done away from the lower part of the housing.

[0040] The second locking means can be formed with an opening and an edge delimiting the opening. In particular, a locking lug of the first locking means can engage in the opening and rest against the edge. A locking means with an opening and an edge can be manufactured with particularly little effort and allows for a secure connection. Furthermore, the opening can facilitate the release of the locking mechanism when replacing the filter insert.

[0041] The second locking element can be rigid. This allows the housing cover to be designed rigidly. The first locking element can then be elastically deformed to engage or disengage from the second locking element.

[0042] Preferably, the housing cover and the housing base are sealed against each other in the assembled state by means of the sealing element. The sealing element then not only separates the dirty side from the clean side, but also prevents air from flowing into or out of the filter housing through the joint between the housing parts. Advantageously, the sealing element is clamped between the housing cover and the housing base.

[0043] The housing cover can have a circumferential collar for engagement with the sealing element. The sealing element can have a contact surface against which the collar seals when installed.

[0044] The lower housing part can have a circumferential sealing surface for the sealing element to engage. Preferably, the sealing element has a sealing edge for sealing engagement with the sealing surface.

[0045] The first locking means may have an outer leg and an inner leg. The lower housing part may have a projection that engages between the legs when the housing cover with the filter insert is placed on the lower housing part. This prevents the filter insert from disengaging when the housing is closed. The outer leg is hinged via the inner leg to a receiving section for the sealing element. The first locking means may have a U-shaped or V-shaped cross-section.

[0046] Also within the scope of the invention is the use of a filter insert according to the invention described above, in particular a filter device according to the invention described above, as a cathode air filter of a fuel cell. Finally, the invention relates to a fuel cell having an anode and a cathode, between which an electrolyte is arranged, and having a filter device according to the invention described above, through which air can be conducted to the cathode.

[0047] In fuel cells, the ingress of dirt into the cathode must be reliably prevented. The filter device according to the invention enables this both during regular operation (since large filter media bodies are securely supported on the grid section of the support element, and the sealing element ensures reliable separation of the dirty and clean sides) and during filter cartridge replacement (since the filter cartridge is initially fixed to the housing cover and remains sealed against it). Short description of the drawings

[0048] 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: Fig. 1 shows a first filter device according to the invention with a filter insert according to the invention, in a schematic side view in the disassembled state; Fig. 2 shows the filter insert of the filter device of Fig. 1 in a schematic perspective view; Fig. 3 is a schematic detailed view in the area of ​​locking means of the filter device of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows the filter device of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled state in a schematic side view; Fig. 5 shows the filter device of Fig. 1 in the assembled state in a schematic side view; Fig. 6 shows a further filter insert according to the invention with two filter medium bodies, in a schematic sectional view; Fig. 7 shows an enlarged section of Fig. 6, in the area of ​​a sealing element; Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the section of Fig. 7, the sealing element not being shown; Fig. 9 shows a filter device according to the invention with the filter insert of Fig. 6, in a partial, schematic sectional view; Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a fuel cell according to the invention with a filter device according to the invention. Embodiments of the invention

[0049] Figure 1 shows a filter device 10 for filtering air in a disassembled state. The filter device 10 has a filter housing 12, which is formed with a housing cover 14 and a housing base 16. The filter device 10 also has a filter insert 20. An inlet 22 for the air to be filtered is provided on the housing cover 14. An outlet 24 for the filtered air is provided on the housing base 16.

[0050] The filter insert 20 has a filter medium body 26, a support element 28 and a sealing element 30, see also Figure 2.

[0051] The filter medium body 26 is capable of flowing from an inflow surface 32 to an opposite outflow surface 34. The filter medium body 26 is designed here as a cuboid flat filter.

[0052] The support element 28 is entirely in one piece and has a grid section 36, a frame-like receiving section 38, and, here by way of example, four first locking means 40. The receiving section 38 extends circumferentially around the filter medium body 26. The sealing element 30 is fastened to the receiving section 38. The grid section 36 spans the area enclosed by the receiving section 38. The outflow surface 34 of the filter medium body 26 rests against the grid section 38. The grid section is formed with ribs 41 that leave flow openings 43 free. The ribs 41 run crossed here. The ribs can run obliquely (as shown) or parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal sides 42 or transverse sides.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the first locking means 40 are arranged in pairs on opposite longitudinal sides 42. The first locking means 40 protrude from the receiving section 38. Here, they extend in a U-shape, with an inner leg 44 being hinged to the receiving section 38, and an outer leg 46 carrying a locking lug 48 (see Figure 3). The outer leg 46 with the locking lug 48 can be deflected toward the inner leg 44 or the filter medium body 26.

[0054] Second locking means 50 are provided on the housing cover 14, corresponding to the first locking means 40 of the filter insert 20. The second locking means 50 are each formed with an opening 52, which is delimited by an edge 54 toward the housing base 16.

[0055] When the filter insert 20 is held on the housing cover 14, the locking lugs 48 protrude into the openings 52 and engage behind the edges 54, see Figure 4. In this partially assembled state, the sealing element 30 rests circumferentially on the housing cover 14. A circumferential collar 56 of the housing cover 30 can rest on a contact surface 58 of the sealing element 30 (hidden in Figure 4, see Figure 9).

[0056] When the filter housing 12 is closed (see Figure 5), the filter insert 20 separates a raw side 60 corresponding to the inlet 22 from a clean side 62 corresponding to the outlet 24. The sealing element 30 sealingly abuts both the collar 56 of the housing cover 14 and a sealing surface 64 of the housing base 16 (hidden in Figure 5, again see Figure 9). The sealing element 30 can have a sealing edge 66 for contact with the sealing surface 64. Thus, the sealing element 30 seals both the two housing parts 14, 16 from each other and the raw side 60 from the clean side 62.

[0057] The two housing parts 14, 16 can be fixed to one another in the closed state by means of screws 67, see Figure 5. A projection 68 of the housing lower part 16 can engage between the legs 44, 46 in the closed state of the filter housing 12 and prevent the locking means 40, 52 from being released, see Figure 9.

[0058] Figure 6 shows another filter insert 70. The filter insert 70 has two filter medium bodies 26a, 26b, through which air can flow one after the other (serially). The first filter medium body 26a in the flow direction can be made of a particle filtration medium, for example, folded filter paper. The second filter medium body 26b in the flow direction can be made of an adsorption medium and contain activated carbon. The series-connected filter medium bodies 26a, 26b can be flowed through from an inflow surface 32 on the first filter medium body 26a to an outflow surface 34 on the second filter medium body 26b. The air exits the first filter medium body 26a at an intermediate outflow surface 72 and enters the second filter medium body 26b at an intermediate inflow surface 74 (see also Figure 7).

[0059] A support element 28 of the filter insert 70 is configured essentially as described above. In particular, a grid section 36 of the support element 28 extends along the outflow surface 34. First locking elements 40 protrude from a frame-shaped receiving section 38 of the support element 28.

[0060] A sealing element 30 is permanently held on the receiving section 38. The sealing element 30 is also essentially designed as described above. In this case, the sealing element 30 is connected to the support element. element 28 is cast. The receiving section 38 is formed with webs 76 and recesses 78 (see also Figure 8, in which the sealing element 30 is not shown). The sealing element 30 extends through the recesses 78 and encloses the webs 76 (see in particular Figure 7).

[0061] The two filter medium bodies 26a, 26b are each enclosed by a circumferential frame 80 and 82, respectively (see Figure 7 in particular). The frames 80, 82 seal the side surfaces of the filter medium bodies 26a, 26b and can be made of nonwoven material. The frames 80, 82 can be glued to the respective filter medium bodies 26a, 26b.

[0062] The frame 80 of the first filter medium body 26a protrudes significantly beyond its intermediate outflow surface 72 and extends beyond the outflow surface 34 on the second filter medium body 26b. The width of the frame 80 is slightly larger than the width of the frame 82, so that the second filter medium body 26b can be inserted into the first frame 80. The frame 82 of the second filter medium body 26b also protrudes slightly beyond the outflow surface 34.

[0063] In their respective end regions on the outflow surface 34, the two frames 80, 82 are embedded in the sealing element 30. The two filter medium bodies 26a, 26b are thus attached to the support element 28 by means of the sealing element 30 (and their respective frames 80, 82). For this purpose, the sealing element 30 is cast onto the support element 28 and the two filter medium bodies 26a, 26b with their frames 80, 82, once they are pre-positioned on the support element 28.

[0064] Alternatively, it would also be conceivable to glue a frame of the first filter medium body 26a to a frame of the second filter medium body 26b and to embed only the frame of the second filter medium body 26b in the sealing element 30 (not shown in detail).

[0065] A common frame could also be provided for both filter medium bodies 26a, 26b and embedded in the sealing element 30 (also not shown in detail). The common frame could be glued to one or both filter medium bodies or be injection-molded onto one of the filter medium bodies as a plastic part and glued to the other filter medium body.

[0066] Figure 9 shows a filter device 84 with the filter insert 70. A filter housing 12 of the filter device 84 is formed, as described above, with a housing cover 14 and a housing base 16. The two housing parts 14, 16 and a raw side 60 corresponding to an inlet on the housing cover 14 and a clean side 62 corresponding to an outlet on the housing base 16 are also sealed against one another by means of the sealing element 30, as described above. The filter device 84 differs from the filter device 10 essentially in the use of the filter insert 70 with two filter medium bodies 26a, 26b instead of the filter insert 20 with a single filter medium body 26, and a correspondingly adapted dimensioning of the housing cover 14 to accommodate the two filter medium bodies 26a, 26b.

[0067] Figure 10 shows a fuel cell 86. The fuel cell 86 has an anode 88, a cathode 90, and an electrolyte 92 arranged therebetween. The anode 88 and the cathode 90 can each be adjacent to a gas diffusion layer 93 on the outside. The anode 88 and the cathode 90 can be accommodated between side parts 94, 96 of a bipolar plate 98. Hydrogen can be conducted from a hydrogen inlet 100 to the anode 88 through the side part 94 of the bipolar plate 98. Oxygen or oxygen-containing air can be conducted from an air inlet 102 to the cathode 90 through the side part 96 of the bipolar plate 98. A filter device, for example the filter device 10 or 84 described above, is arranged between the air inlet 102 and the cathode 88. The filter device 10 or 84 thus functions as a cathode air filter. Water generated in the fuel cell 86 can be drained through a water outlet 104.Electrical connections of the fuel cell 86 are not shown in detail.

[0068] In summary, the invention relates to a filter insert with at least one filter medium body. On the downstream side, the filter insert is supported by a grid section of a support element. The grid section has flat flow openings and is preferably formed with intersecting ribs. The support element has at least one locking means formed integrally with the grid section, by means of which the filter insert can be locked to a housing cover of a filter device. A sealing element is held on the support element, which, when locked, seals the filter insert against the housing cover. When a filter housing is opened, the filter insert remains held on the housing cover due to the locking mechanism. Dirt accumulated on the dirty side (between the filter insert and the housing cover) thus does not reach a housing base with a clean-side outlet. List of reference symbols Filter device 10; 84 Filtergehäuse 12 Gehäusedeckel 14 Gehäuseunterteil 16 Filtereinsatz 20; 70 Einlass 22 Auslass 24 Filtermediumkörper 26: 26a, 26b Stützelement 28 Dichtelement 30 Anströmfläche 32 Abströmfläche 34 Gitterabschnitt 36 Aufnahmeabschnitt 38 erste Rastmittel 40 Rippen 41 Längsseiten 42 Flow openings 43 inner leg 44 outer leg 46 Rastnase 48 zweite Rastmittel 50 Durchbruch 52 Kante 54 Kragen 56 Anlagefläche 58 Rohseite 60 Reinseite 62 Dichtfläche 64 Dichtkante 66 Schrauben 67 Vorsprung 68 Zwischenabströmfläche 72 Zwischenanströmfläche 74 Stegen 76 Ausnehmungen 78 Rahmen 80 des ersten Filtermediumkörpers 26a Frame 82 of the second filter medium body 26b Fuel cell 86 Anode 88 Cathode 90 Electrolyte 92 Gas diffusion layer 93 Side panels 94, 96 Bipolar plate 98 Hydrogen inlet 100 Air intake 102 Water outlet 104

Claims

Claims 1. Filter insert (20; 70), in particular an air filter insert, comprising at least one filter medium body (26; 26a, 26b) through which air can flow from an inflow surface (32) to an outflow surface (34), a support element (28) (28) held on the filter medium body (26; 26a, 26b), which support element has at least one first locking means (40) by means of which the filter insert (20; 70) can be locked to a housing cover (14), a circumferential sealing element (30) held on the support element (28), wherein the support element (28) has a grid section (36) which extends over the outflow surface (34) of the filter medium body (26; 26b) and which is integral with the at least one first locking means (40).

2. Filter insert (20; 70) according to claim 1, wherein the first locking means (40) has a locking lug (48).

3. Filter insert (20; 70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two first locking means (40) are formed on two opposite longitudinal sides (42) of the filter insert (20; 70).

4. Filter insert (20; 70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element (30) is held non-detachably on the support element (28), in particular is cast onto the support element (28).

5. Filter insert (20; 70) according to claim 4, wherein the support element (28) has webs (76) with recesses (78) therebetween, wherein the sealing element (30) extends through the recesses (78) and engages around the webs (76).

6. Filter insert (20; 70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one filter medium body (26; 26a, 26b) and the support element (28) are held together by the sealing element (30).

7. Filter insert (20; 70) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one filter medium body (26; 26a, 26b) is enclosed by a surrounding frame (80, 82), and that the frame (80, 82) is embedded in the sealing element (30).

8. Filter insert (20; 70) according to claim 7, wherein the frame (80, 82) comprises or consists of a nonwoven material.

9. Filter insert (70) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising two filter medium bodies (26a, 26b) through which flow can take place in series, wherein a first filter medium body (26a) comprises a particle filtration medium and a second filter medium body (26b) comprises an adsorption filter medium, in particular containing activated carbon.

10. Filter insert (70) according to claim 9, wherein both filter medium bodies (26; 26a, 26b) are held on the support element (28) via the sealing element (30).

11. Filter insert (70) according to claim 10, wherein both filter medium bodies (26a, 26b) are enclosed by a common frame which is embedded in the sealing element (30).

12. Filter insert (70) according to claim 10, wherein both filter medium bodies (26a, 26b) are each enclosed by a circumferential frame (80, 82), and that at least one of the frames (80, 82) is embedded in the sealing element (30).

13. Filter insert (70) according to claim 12, wherein the frame (80) of the first filter medium body (26a) in the flow direction extends at least as far as the outflow surface (34) of the second filter medium body (26b) in the flow direction, and that the two frames (80, 82) are embedded in the sealing element (30).

14. Filter insert (70) according to claim 12, wherein the two frames are glued together.

15. Filter device (10; 84), in particular an air filter device, comprising a filter housing (12) which has a housing cover (14) with an inlet (22) and a housing lower part (16) with an outlet (24), a filter insert (20; 70) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing cover (14) has at least one second locking means (50) which is designed to correspond to the at least one first locking means (40) of the filter insert (20; 70), and wherein, in the assembled state, a raw side (60) in the filter housing (12) is sealed off from a clean side (62) by means of the sealing element (30).

16. Filter device (10; 84) according to claim 15, wherein the second locking means (50) is formed with an opening (52) and an edge (54) delimiting the opening (52).

17. Filter device (10; 84) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the housing cover (14) and the housing lower part (16) are sealed against each other in the assembled state by means of the sealing element (30).

18. Filter device (10; 84) according to one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the housing cover (14) has a circumferential collar (56) for engagement with the sealing element (30) and / or that the housing lower part (16) has a circumferential sealing surface (64) for engagement with the sealing element (30).

19. Use of a filter insert (20; 70) according to one of claims 1 to 14, in particular a filter device (10; 84) according to one of claims 15 to 18, as a cathode air filter of a fuel cell (86).

20. Fuel cell (86) with an anode (88) and a cathode (90), between which an electrolyte (92) is arranged, and with a filter device (10; 84) according to one of claims 15 to 18, through which air can be conducted to the cathode (90).

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