Filter Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filter device (100) comprising at least two filter elements (1, 2), each having a filter medium body (11, 21) and a circumferential seal (15, 25) extending circumferentially around the filter medium body, and a filter housing (3) having at least two housing sections (31, 32). The first housing section (31) has a filter element receiving section (312) for the first filter element (1) and at least one circumferential housing sealing surface (311) against which the circumferential seal (15) of the first filter element (1) sealingly abuts. The filter device further comprises an adapter frame (4) having a filter element receiving section (43) for the second filter element (2) and having at least one first sealing surface (41) against which the circumferential seal (25) of the second filter element (2) sealingly abuts. The adapter frame (4) further has a second sealing surface (42) against which the circumferential seal (15) of the first filter element (1) sealingly abuts. The second housing part (32) has a circumferential housing sealing surface (311) against which the circumferential seal (25) of the second filter element (2) sealingly abuts.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter device, in particular a filter device for a cabin air filter system or an intake air filter system for a fuel cell, and further to the use of a filter element in such a filter device. [Background technology]

[0002] Today, the air entering the vehicle cabin is purified as thoroughly as possible of pollutants. These pollutants include, for example, particulate matter, pollen, soot, and aerosols. Filtering these pollutants is particularly important in applications where high concentrations of these substances are present in the ambient air due to the use of plant protection agents or liquid fertilizer application systems. A variety of filter media are available for this purpose. Commonly used filters include particle filters, activated carbon filters, and HEPA filters. These are combined in various layers and configurations to achieve the desired filtering effect on the interior air.

[0003] In practice, the use of multiple filter systems and filter elements is established due to the wide variety of contaminant combinations encountered that must be removed.

[0004] In addition to the use of multi-stage filter systems or filter elements in the field of cabin air filters, the filtration of the supply air to fuel cell systems represents a further field of use, due to the high air purification requirements imposed on them, both in terms of particle filtration and removal of harmful gases.Furthermore, it is also conceivable to use such multi-stage filter systems or filter elements in hydrogen-operated combustion engines.

[0005] EP 2939725 A1 discloses a cabin air filter element consisting of two filter media bodies that can be connected in series, one of which is a gas filter stage and the other a particle filter stage with HEPA efficiency. In one use scenario, the cabin air filter element is installed in a filter housing fixed to a vehicle, through which contaminant-laden air flows. A drawback is that the filter media bodies of the gas filter stage and the particle filter stage are permanently connected to each other, particularly by adhesive bonding, to a common frame, and therefore cannot be replaced independently. This, in particular, prevents the full use of the separation capacity of one of the filter media bodies.

[0006] Furthermore, EP 3453443 A1 discloses an intake air filter with a filter element including a filter body made of folded particle filter material. The filter element further has a peripheral seal that is hermetically inserted into the filter housing so that the inlet side and the outlet side of the filter housing are separated by the filter element. The intake air filter described in this document consists of only one filter stage and is not capable of separating harmful gases in particular.

[0007] A filter element or filter insert is generally understood to be an insert that is replaceably arranged as a unit within a filter housing and comprises at least a filter medium body, often in the form of a folded filter bellows, and generally also comprises a structure for supporting or carrying the filter medium, and generally a seal. Each filter medium typically has a limited service life, so that the filter elements must be replaced periodically. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved filter device which can be used to convert existing, in particular single-stage, filter systems into multi-stage filter systems, and which allows the filter elements of the individual filter stages to be replaced independently of one another.

[0009] This object is solved by a filter device having the features of claim 1 and by the uses having the features of claims 19 and 20, respectively.

[0010] Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims as well as the embodiments of the invention described below.

[0011] The filter device according to the present invention is particularly designed for use in cabin air filter systems or fuel cell intake air filter systems. The filter device includes at least two filter elements, each having a filter medium body and a seal surrounding the filter medium body. The filter device further includes a filter housing having at least two housing sections, a first housing section having a filter element receiving section in which a first filter element is disposed. The first housing section has at least one circumferential housing seal surface against which the circumferential seal of the first filter element is sealingly disposed. The filter device further includes an adapter frame having a filter element receiving section in which a second filter element is disposed. The adapter frame has at least one first circumferential seal surface against which the circumferential seal of the second filter element is sealingly disposed, and further includes a second circumferential seal surface against which the circumferential seal of the first filter element is sealingly disposed. The second housing section of the filter device has a circumferential housing seal surface against which the circumferential seal of the second filter element is sealingly disposed.

[0012] The filter elements of the filter device according to the invention are designed as replaceable parts and are replaced during servicing, i.e. when the maximum separation capacity is reached.

[0013] The present invention allows for the simple conversion of an existing single-stage filter system into a two- or multi-stage filter system by using an adapter frame. In this regard, the adapter frame provides a receptacle for an additional filter element and allows two or more filter elements to be sealed to two housing sections. Advantageously, the two filter elements of the filter device according to the present invention are separately replaceable so that the separation capacity of both filter elements can be optimally utilized. That is, the adapter frame is an intermediate part located between the two filter elements in the installed state. The first filter element is sealed directly to the first housing section, and the second filter element is sealed directly to the second housing section. Meanwhile, the two filter elements are sealed to each other by the adapter frame. To enable this, the adapter frame has, in particular, a circumferentially extending fluid-tight wall connected to its first and second circumferential sealing surfaces.

[0014] The adapter frame may in particular be a separate part, in particular not coupled to the filter element or connected in such a way that it is only removably attached, and can be removed from the filter device for replacement of the filter element.

[0015] In some embodiments, the peripheral seal of the filter element comprises or is made of a plastic material, in particular a foamed polyurethane or a thermoplastic elastomer. The material can be provided in a liquid or pasty initial state and formed by direct material bonding to the filter media body using a mold according to the method of the present invention. In the mold, the seal base material provided in a liquid or pasty initial state hardens and subsequently forms the final material of the peripheral seal.

[0016] Each filter element may have exactly four sides and / or the basic shape of a cube, but may also have any polygonal shape, have at least some curved edges, and / or have a circular or elliptical shape.

[0017] In particular, the first filter element and the second filter element can be configured to flow serially in a predetermined flow direction, with the flow first passing through the first filter element and then the second filter element, or the flow first passing through the second filter element and then the first filter element.

[0018] The filter medium body of the filter element may be composed of a filter medium folded multiple times to form a filter bellows. The pleat spacing of the filter bellows may be, for example, 3-5 mm, and the pleat height may be 20-30 mm. In some embodiments, there may be 30-300 pleats. Alternatively, the filter medium body may be composed of a filter medium that exists in an unfolded state, for example, in the form of a porous material such as a foam or a honeycomb body. Furthermore, the filter medium body may be constructed as a combination of flat and corrugated layers of filter medium, i.e., a so-called compact filter.

[0019] Advantageously, the filter elements of the filter device according to the invention consist exclusively of thermally recyclable materials, so that disposal problems do not arise and in particular the recycling process does not require dismantling of the individual components of the filter elements.

[0020] As used herein, with respect to the axial and radial directions of a filter device or filter element, "axial" means the direction of flow, i.e., perpendicular to the inlet face or side of the filter element. The term "radial" is understood to mean the direction normal to the side or wall of the frame or the side of the filter element. The radial direction extends perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0021] Each filter body may include a filter material, such as a filter fabric, filter cloth, or filter nonwoven. In particular, the filter material may be manufactured by a spunbond or meltblown process. Furthermore, the filter material may be felted or needled. The filter material may include natural fibers such as cotton, or synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyphenylsulfide, or polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0022] In particular, the first and second filter elements are indirectly sealed to at least two housing sections via the adapter frame. That is, the second filter element has a direct sealing position with the second housing section but not with the first housing section. Meanwhile, the first filter element has a direct sealing position with the first housing section but not with the second housing section. In this way, the sealing action of the two filter elements with respect to the two housing sections is achieved by the interposition of the adapter frame, which, on the one hand, seals the two filter elements from each other and, on the other hand, transmits the seal pretension force. To transmit the seal pretension force, the fluid-tight wall extending in the circumferential direction of the adapter frame must be designed to ensure more appropriate rigidity by the skilled artisan.

[0023] According to a further embodiment, the first circumferential sealing surface of the adapter frame and the second circumferential sealing surface of the adapter frame are axially spaced apart and positioned opposite each other. The axial distance between the first and second sealing surfaces of the adapter frame corresponds to the distance between the circumferential seals of the two filter elements in the installed state. In particular, the first circumferential sealing surface of the adapter frame can be in sealing contact with the underside of the circumferential seal of the second filter element, and the second circumferential sealing surface of the adapter frame can be in sealing contact with the upper side of the circumferential seal of the first filter element. The terms "upper" and "lower" particularly relate to the direction of the center of gravity of the filter device when installed in the intended installation manner.

[0024] According to yet another embodiment, the adapter frame has a radially outer, at least partially circumferentially extending collar adjacent to the first and / or second sealing surface thereof, the collar extending in the axial direction and at least partially defining a receiving chamber for the circumferential seal of the first and / or second filter element, the collar restricting deformation of the circumferential seal of the first and / or second filter element in the radial direction and providing a protective effect for the circumferential seal, protecting it from mechanical damage and preventing dirt from reaching the seal contact area.

[0025] Additionally, the circumferential seal of the first and / or second filter element can have a sealing profile that protrudes radially beyond the filter media body of the first and / or second filter element. The sealing profile is the component of the circumferential seal where the actual sealing action occurs. In some embodiments, the sealing profile is an axially acting sealing profile.

[0026] In this regard, the at least partially circumferentially extending collar of the adapter frame can be provided so as to project axially beyond the sealing profile, thereby further improving the protective effect already mentioned herein.

[0027] According to a further embodiment, the at least partially circumferential collar of the adapter frame is arranged to extend at an acute angle to the axial direction, whereby the angled collar acts as a mounting bevel, facilitating mounting and providing improved sealing by providing combined radial and axial sealing at the angled collar.

[0028] According to a further embodiment, the first housing part is a housing base part and the second housing part is a removable housing cover. In particular, in the intended use state of the filter device, the housing base part is arranged at the bottom so that the first filter element, the adapter frame, the second filter element, and the housing cover follow the housing base part in this order when viewed axially away from the housing base part. In the intended use state, the housing base part can be arranged at the bottom in particular in the direction of gravity, while the housing cover can be arranged at the top in the direction of gravity.

[0029] In a further preferred embodiment, the first filter element can be replaced from below by removing the housing base, and the second filter element can be replaced from above by removing the housing cover. Here, the terms "below" and "above" refer to the orientation relative to the center of gravity of the intended filter device in use. Advantageously, this allows for easy and fast inspection of the filter elements, even in tight installation spaces.

[0030] According to yet another embodiment, the sealing profile of the circumferential seal of the first filter element has a circumferential groove, the circumferential housing sealing surface of the first housing part being located at the groove bottom. That is, the circumferential groove of the sealing profile of the circumferential seal of the first filter element receives the wall of the first housing part having the circumferential housing sealing surface of the first housing part. The circumferential housing sealing surface of the first housing part contacts the groove bottom of the sealing profile of the circumferential seal of the first filter element, thereby transmitting the seal pretension force and radially supporting the seal profile against uncontrollable deformation under the seal pretension force.

[0031] Furthermore, the seal profile of the circumferential seal of the second filter element can have a circumferential groove with the first circumferential sealing surface of the adapter frame positioned at the groove bottom, i.e., the circumferential groove of the seal profile of the circumferential seal of the second filter element receives the wall of the adapter frame having the first circumferential sealing surface of the adapter frame. The first circumferential sealing surface of the adapter frame contacts the groove bottom of the seal profile of the circumferential seal of the second filter element, thereby transmitting the seal pretensioning force and radially supporting the seal profile against uncontrollable deformation under the seal pretensioning force.

[0032] The sealing profile of the circumferential seal of the first filter element may have an axial sealing surface opposite the circumferential groove and in which the second sealing surface of the adapter frame is disposed, in particular, the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface of the adapter frame act in opposite directions.

[0033] Additionally, the sealing profile of the circumferential seal of the second filter element may have an axial sealing surface opposite the circumferential groove and against which the circumferential housing sealing surface of the second housing part is disposed.

[0034] In some embodiments, the circumferential seal of the first and / or second filter element has, in cross section, at least two legs: a lateral leg connected to the inlet or outlet face of the filter media body of the respective filter element, and a longitudinal leg connected to a side of the filter media body of the respective filter element.

[0035] In particular, the transverse legs and the longitudinal legs can be connected to the sealing profile and can be manufactured in one piece, in particular by a casting process.

[0036] Advantageously, the legs of the circumferential seal and the sealing profile can be manufactured in a common process in one tool (mold).The above-mentioned legs (lateral legs and longitudinal legs) are also called connecting legs of the circumferential seal, since they mainly connect the sealing profile to the filter medium body.

[0037] According to yet another embodiment, the circumferential seal is directly connected to the filter media bodies of the first and / or second filter elements by a material bond. Regardless of the embodiment, the direct material bond of the circumferential seal can be a foamed connection, which is an established industrial process, particularly when polyurethane is used as the starting material.

[0038] In some embodiments, the filter media bodies of the first and / or second filter elements, particularly the filter bellows, may have sealed pleat end edges, particularly in the form of fluid-tight adhesive connections between the pleat gaps and / or at least one frame element at the pleat end edges. The sealed end edges prevent bypass of the filter media bodies of the respective filter elements. The frame element may, in particular, completely surround the filter media bodies of the respective filter elements and, alternatively or additionally, may be fluid-tightly connected to a circumferential seal, particularly connected to this seal by material bonding, for example, by foaming the circumferential seal.

[0039] In a further embodiment, the filter device comprises a connecting device that connects the first housing part to the second housing part and generates a pretensioning force in at least the axial direction. In particular, the adapter frame comprises a guide device coupled to the connecting device for guiding the connecting device in at least one direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The guide device of the adapter frame is, for example, an axially extending through-hole into which the connecting device is inserted or a radially outwardly opening guide groove. The connecting device acts to apply an axial pretensioning force to the peripheral seals of the first and second filter elements between the first and second housing parts, with the adapter frame being indirectly located in the force flow.

[0040] According to a further embodiment, the connection device is accessible from the side of the second housing part, and in particular the connection device comprises at least one screw which is coupled to a corresponding thread of the first housing part, however the invention is not limited thereto and the connection device may also consist of any other connection means suitable for generating at least an axial pretension force between the two housing parts as would be suitable to a person skilled in the art.

[0041] In some embodiments, at least one filter medium body of the filter element comprises a particulate filter material, in particular comprising a synthetic nonwoven material and / or a cellulosic filter medium, in particular the particulate filter material meeting filtration class H13 or H14 according to DIN EN 1822-1. Alternatively or additionally, at least one filter medium body of the filter element may comprise a gas filter material, in particular comprising at least an adsorbent, in particular activated carbon, zeolite, and / or an ion exchanger.

[0042] The gas filter material may also comprise its own particle filter layer, in particular comprising a synthetic nonwoven material. Alternatively, the gas filter material may consist of only one support layer that immobilizes the sorbent in granular or particulate form, the support layer comprising a nonwoven material with a significantly larger pore size compared to the particle filter material.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment, the second filter element comprises a gas filter material, which in the intended use of the filter device is able to flow after the first filter element.

[0044] That is, the filter element containing the gas filter material can be arranged downstream of the filter element containing the particle filter material, so that the air flow passing through the filter device according to the invention first flows through the filter element containing the particle filter material and then flows through the filter element containing the gas filter material. This is advantageous in that the air from which particles have been removed can flow through the gas filter material, and the adsorbent of the gas filter material is not "clogged" by particles, thereby improving the adsorption performance of the gas filter material, especially over time.

[0045] Furthermore, the particle filter material and / or gas filter material may have antibacterial and / or antiallergic properties. Examples of antibacterial substances include zinc pyrithione and nanosilver, and examples of antiallergic substances include polyphenols. Examples of antibacterial substances include zinc pyrithione and nanoparticles of silver, and examples of antiallergic substances include polyphenols.

[0046] According to a further preferred embodiment, the first and / or second housing parts are foldable so that the extension of each housing part can be contracted at least in the flow direction or the opposite direction for replacement of at least one filter element. This further improves the serviceability of the filter elements, even in tight installation spaces. "Foldable" here particularly means that each housing part, in particular the housing base part, includes at least one bend that can be pressed and / or folded along the flow direction. Such a bend can be realized by one or more thin-walled sections extending in the circumferential direction in the wall of each housing part, each essentially forming a film hinge. Alternatively or additionally, the bend can be formed from a flexible and / or flexible material as the wall of each housing part, which can be manufactured for this purpose, in particular by a 2K plastic injection molding process. However, the bend can also be connected to the wall of each housing part in another way, for example, by welding or a form-fitting fastening means such as a clip.

[0047] A further aspect of the invention relates to the use of a filter element having a filter medium body and a circumferential seal extending circumferentially around the filter medium body as a first filter element in a filter apparatus according to the invention, wherein the circumferential seal sealingly contacts a second seal surface of the adapter frame and a circumferential housing seal surface of the first housing part.

[0048] Yet another aspect of the invention relates to the use of a filter element having a filter medium body and a circumferential seal extending circumferentially around the filter medium body as a second filter element in a filter apparatus according to the invention, wherein the circumferential seal sealingly contacts a first seal surface of the adapter frame and a circumferential housing seal surface of the second housing portion.

[0049] The embodiments of the present invention also include not explicitly mentioned combinations of features disclosed above or below with respect to the exemplary embodiments, and those skilled in the art will be able to add individual aspects as improvements or supplements to each basic form of the invention.

[0050] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with the aid of embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0051] [Figure 1] 1 is a longitudinal section of a filter device according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing detail A of FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a longitudinal section of a filter device according to the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is an isometric view of an adapter frame, a first filter element, and a second filter element of a filter device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] 4 is a longitudinal section of a filter device according to a further embodiment of the invention in an activated state; FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the filter device of FIG. 5 in an inspection state with the first filter element partially removed. [Figure 7] 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the filter device of FIG. 5 in an inspection state with the first filter element completely removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0052] 1 shows a filter device 100 according to the invention in longitudinal section, the base section S1 of which is shown in FIG. 4, i.e., this section extends parallel to a short side of the filter housing 3. The filter housing 3 comprises a first housing part 31, in particular a housing base part 31, and a second housing part 32, in particular a removable housing cover 32. The filter housing 3 has a raw-side inlet (not shown) and a clean-side outlet, which are separated by two filter elements 1, 2 of the filter device 100.

[0053] Each of the filter elements 1, 2 includes a filter medium body 11, 21 containing a filter medium. In particular, each of the filter medium bodies 11, 21 can be formed by folding a filter medium multiple times to form a filter bellows.

[0054] The two filter elements 1, 2 can flow in series, in particular, with the first filter element 1 flowing in a flow direction D before the second filter element 2. The flow direction D may extend in the axial direction A or parallel to the axial direction A. Air flowing through the filter device 100 first passes through the inlet side 12 of the first filter element 1, then through the filter medium body 11 of the first filter element 1, and exits the first filter element 1 at the outlet side 13 of the first filter element 1. The air then passes through the inlet side 22 of the second filter element 2, then through the filter medium body 21 of the second filter element 2, and exits the second filter element 2 at the outlet side 23 of the first filter element 1.

[0055] Each of the filter elements 1, 2 comprises an at least partially circumferentially extending frame 14, 24 that laterally seals the filter media body 11, 21 of the respective filter element 1, 2. The frame 14 of the first filter element 1 is configured as a seal for the pleated end face edges of the filter media body 11, and the frame 24 of the second filter element 2 is configured as a frame element attached to the pleated end face edges of the filter media body 21, and in particular includes at least the side bands and / or the head band.

[0056] The two filter elements 1, 2 are separate and not connected to each other and are indirectly sealed to the first and second housing parts 31, 32 via an adapter frame 4 located between them.

[0057] The first filter element 1 is received in the filter element receiving portion 312 of the first housing part 1 and has a circumferential seal 15 sealingly connected to the filter medium body 11. At one axial end, the circumferential seal 15 of the first filter element 1 is sealingly disposed against the circumferential housing seal surface 311 of the first housing part 31. At the other axial end, the circumferential seal 15 of the first filter element 1 is sealingly disposed against the second circumferential seal surface 42 of the adapter frame 4.

[0058] The second filter element 2 is received in the filter element receiving portion 43 of the adapter frame 4 and has a circumferential seal 25 sealingly connected to the filter medium body 21. At one axial end, the circumferential seal 25 of the second filter element 2 is sealingly disposed against the first circumferential sealing surface 41 of the adapter frame 4. At the other axial end, the circumferential seal 25 of the second filter element 2 is sealingly disposed against the circumferential housing sealing surface 321 of the second housing portion 32.

[0059] According to the invention, each of the two filter elements 1, 2 has a direct sealing position only with respect to one of the housing parts 31, 32, while the sealing action with respect to the other housing part 31, 32 is provided indirectly by the adapter frame 4. In this way, the invention makes it possible to easily retrofit an existing single-stage filter system into a multi-stage filter device 100. To achieve this, it is advantageous, in particular, for the cross-section of the circumferential housing sealing surface 311 of the first housing part 31 to match the cross-section of the first circumferential sealing surface 41 of the adapter frame 4. Furthermore, it is advantageous for the cross-section of the circumferential housing sealing surface 321 of the second housing part 32 to match the cross-section of the second circumferential sealing surface 42 of the adapter frame 4.

[0060] The circumferential seals 15, 25 of the filter elements 1, 2 each have a sealing profile 151, 251 (see FIG. 2 ) protruding in the radial direction R, where the actual sealing action occurs. The sealing profile 151 of the first filter element 1 is accommodated in a receiving chamber 45 provided on the side of the second sealing surface 42 of the adapter frame 4. The receiving chamber 45 is radially outer and is defined by a collar portion 44 of the adapter frame 4 that protrudes in the axial direction A beyond the sealing profile 151 of the first filter element. The collar portion 44 of the adapter frame 4 prevents the circumferential seal 15 of the first filter element 1 from unintentionally deforming in the radial direction R under the influence of a seal pretension force acting at least in the axial direction A.

[0061] The two housing parts 31, 32 are connected by at least one connecting device 5, which includes a screw 5. The screw 5 is inserted into a through-hole in the second housing part 32, extends further through a guide device 52 on the adapter frame 4, and finally engages with a thread 51 on the first housing part 31. The connecting device 5 generates a pretensioning force at least in the axial direction A, thereby providing the necessary sealing pretensioning force for sealing the filter elements 1, 2. To apply a pretensioning force as uniform as possible to the circumferential seals 15, 25 of the first and second filter elements 1, 2, a plurality of screws 5 may be distributed around the circumference of the filter housing 3. The guide device 52 on the adapter frame 4 is preferably formed as a through-hole, into which the screw is inserted loosely. The connecting device 5 fixes the adapter frame 4 to the housing parts 31, 32 in the radial direction R and prevents the adapter frame 4 from sliding laterally, even if the filter device 100 is used incorrectly. This also allows for easy, guided installation of the screws 5. In the intended use configuration of the filter device 100, the screw 5 is arranged so as to be accessible from the second housing part 32, in particular the housing cover.

[0062] In FIG. 2, detail A of FIG. 1 is shown, where the sealing interfaces between the two filter elements 1, 2, the adapter frame 4 and the two housing parts 31, 32 can be clearly seen.

[0063] The circumferential seals 15, 25 of the two filter elements 1, 2 each have longitudinal legs 155, 255 connected to the sides or frames 14, 24 of the filter media bodies 11, 21 of the respective filter elements 1, 2. Additionally, the circumferential seals 15, 25 of the two filter elements 1, 2 each have transverse legs 154, 254 connected to the inlet or outlet faces 13, 23 of the filter media bodies 11, 21 of the respective filter elements 1, 2. The seal profiles 151, 251 of the circumferential seals 15, 25 are integrally formed with the longitudinal legs 155, 255 and the transverse legs 154, 254. The seal profiles 151, 251 protrude in the radial direction R beyond the filter media bodies 11, 21 of the respective filter elements 1, 2. The longitudinal legs 155, 255 and transverse legs 154, 254 ensure that the sealing profiles 15, 25 are securely and sealingly held to the media bodies 11, 21 of the respective filter elements 1, 2. The longitudinal legs 155, 255 and transverse legs 154, 254 may be manufactured by foaming a flowable, hardenable sealing material onto the media bodies 11, 12.

[0064] The sealing profile 151 of the circumferential seal 15 of the first filter element 1 has a circumferential groove 152 in the groove base of which the circumferential housing sealing surface 311 of the first housing part 31 is located. The sealing profile 251 of the circumferential seal 25 of the second filter element 2 has a circumferential groove 252 in the groove base of which the first circumferential sealing surface 41 of the adapter frame 4 is located.

[0065] The sealing profile 151 of the circumferential seal 15 of the first filter element 1 is located opposite the circumferential groove 152 and has an axial sealing surface 153 against which the second sealing surface 42 of the adapter frame 42 is disposed. The sealing profile 251 of the circumferential seal 25 of the second filter element 2 is located opposite the circumferential groove 252 and has an axial sealing surface 253 against which the circumferential housing sealing surface 321 of the second housing part 32 is disposed.

[0066] The receiving chamber 45 of the adapter frame 4, defined radially outward by the collar 44, forms an acute angle 441 with respect to the axial direction A. This allows the angled collar 44 to function as a mounting bevel, facilitating installation and, in embodiments where the outer surface of the circumferential seal 15 is configured to contact this bevel, providing improved sealing by providing combined radial and axial sealing at the angled collar 44.

[0067] 3 shows a filter device 100 according to the invention in longitudinal section, the base section S2 of which is shown in FIG.

[0068] 4 shows the first filter element 1, the second filter element 2, and the adapter frame 4 of the filter device 100 according to the invention, excluding the filter housing. It can be seen from the figure that the adapter frame 4 is provided on its periphery with a number of guide devices 52 for the connecting device 5 (see FIG. 1).

[0069] The procedure for installing the filter element in the filter housing based on the components of the device shown in FIG. 4 is the same as the method for installing the filter element in the filter device according to the present invention, which will be described below. The first filter element 1 is inserted into the filter element receiving portion 312 of the first housing part 31, and the circumferential seal 15 of the first filter element 1 is brought into contact with the circumferential housing seal surface 311 of the first housing part. The adapter frame 4 is placed on the first filter element 1 so that the second circumferential sealing surface 42 of the adapter frame 4 contacts the circumferential seal 15 of the first filter element. The second filter element 2 is placed on the adapter frame 4 so that the circumferential seal 25 of the second filter element 2 contacts the first circumferential seal surface 41 of the adapter frame 4 . The second housing part 32 is placed over the second filter element 2, with the circumferential housing seal surface 321 of the second housing part 32 contacting the circumferential seal 25 of the second filter element.

[0070] The filter device 100 according to the further embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 substantially corresponds to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, so that only the differences will be described below.

[0071] The main difference is that the housing base part 31 is foldable. For this purpose, one wall of the housing base part 31 has two circumferentially extending bends 313 that are spaced apart in the flow direction D and allow the housing base part 31 to be folded in the opposite direction to the flow direction D when inspecting the filter element. The inspection state in which the wall of the housing base part 31 is folded on at least one side is shown in FIG. 6. In this way, even in tight installation spaces, the first filter element 1 can be replaced from below without removing the housing base part 31 from the installation space. Because the wall of the housing base part 31 is collapsed on at least one side, a free space is formed between the housing sealing surface 311 of the housing base part 31 and the collar part 44 of the adapter frame 4, through which the first filter element 1 can be easily removed.

[0072] The bends 313 may be formed, in particular, in a circumferentially extending portion of the wall of the base housing 31 and may be made of a material that is more flexible or pliable than the remainder of the wall, thereby allowing the bends to essentially function as film hinges that allow the base housing 31 to be folded. Thus, when the base housing 31 is in the folded position, the bends form pleats that are particularly shaped to extend in opposite directions.

[0073] To optimize collapsibility, the extension of the housing base part 31 may be radially contracted in the direction opposite to the flow direction D. This allows the housing base part 31 to expand and contract, particularly in the collapsed state, to achieve the intended contraction of the extension in the flow direction or opposite. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 100 Filter device 1 First filter element 11 Filter body 12 Inlet side of first filter element 13 Outlet side of first filter element 14 Frame of first filter element 15 Circumferential seal of first filter element 151 Seal Profile 152 Circumferential groove 153 Axial sealing surface 154 Lateral legs 155 Vertical leg 2 Second filter element 21 Filter body 22 Inlet side of second filter element 23 Outlet side of second filter element 24 Second filter element frame 25 Second filter element circumferential seal 251 Seal Profile 252 Circumferential groove 253 Axial sealing surface 254 Lateral legs 255 Vertical Leg 3 Filter Housing 31 First housing part 311 housing seal surface of first housing part 312 filter element receiving portion of first housing portion 313 Bends / Pleats 32 Second housing part 321 Housing seal surface of second housing section 4 Adapter Frame 41 adapter frame first sealing surface 42 Second sealing surface of adapter frame 43 Filter element housing in adapter frame 44 Collar part of adapter frame 441 Collar angle 45 Containment Chamber 5 Connection device / screw 51 threads / holes 52 Guide device A axis direction D Flow direction R Radial direction S1, S2 cross section

Claims

1. A filter device (100), in particular a filter device (100) for a cabin air filter system or an intake air filter system for a fuel cell, comprising: At least two filter elements (1, 2), each having a filter medium body (11, 21) and a circumferential seal (15, 25) extending circumferentially around the filter medium body; a filter housing (3) having at least two housing parts (31, 32), wherein a first housing part (31) has a filter element receiving part (312) in which a first filter element (1) is disposed, and the first housing part (31) has at least one circumferential housing sealing surface (311) on which a circumferential seal (15) of the first filter element (1) is sealingly disposed; an adapter frame (4) having a filter element receiving portion (43) in which the second filter element (2) is disposed; the adapter frame (4) has at least one first circumferential sealing surface (41) against which a circumferential seal (25) of the second filter element (2) is sealingly disposed; the adapter frame (4) further comprises a second circumferential sealing surface (42) against which a circumferential seal (15) of the first filter element (1) is sealingly disposed; A filter device (100) wherein the second housing part (32) has a circumferential housing sealing surface (311) against which the circumferential seal (25) of said second filter element (2) is sealingly disposed.

2. 2. The filter device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second filter elements (1, 2) are indirectly sealed to the at least two housing parts (31, 32) via the adapter frame (4).

3. 3. The filter device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first circumferential sealing surface (41) of the adapter frame (4) and the second circumferential sealing surface (42) of the adapter frame (4) are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction (A) and arranged opposite each other.

4. 4. The filter device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the adapter frame (4) has a radially outer, at least partially circumferentially extending collar portion (44) adjacent to the first and / or second sealing surface (41, 42) thereof, the collar portion (44) extending in the axial direction (A) and at least partially defining a receiving chamber (45) for a circumferential seal (15, 25) of the first and / or second filter element (1, 2).

5. 5. The filter device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential seal (15, 25) of the first and / or second filter element (1, 2) has a sealing profile (151, 251) that protrudes in the radial direction (R) beyond the filter medium body (11, 21) of the first and / or second filter element (1, 2).

6. 6. The filter device (100) according to claim 4 and 5, wherein the at least partially circumferentially extending collar portion (44) of the adapter frame (4) projects beyond the sealing profile (151, 251) in the axial direction (A).

7. The filter device (100) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the at least partially circumferentially extending collar portion (44) of the adapter frame (4) extends at an acute angle (441) with respect to the axial direction (A).

8. The filter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first housing part (31) is a housing base part (31) and the second housing part (32) is a removable housing cover (32), and particularly when the filter device (100) is in an intended use state, the housing base part (31) is arranged at the bottom so that the first filter element (1), the adapter frame (4), the second filter element (2), and the housing cover (32) follow the housing base part (31) in this order when viewed axially away from the housing base part (31).

9. 9. The filter device (100) of claim 8, wherein the first filter element (1) is replaceable from below by removing the housing base portion (31), and the second filter element is replaceable from above by removing the housing cover (32).

10. The filter device (100) according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the sealing profile (151) of the circumferential seal (15) of the first filter element (1) has a circumferential groove (152) in the groove bottom of which the circumferential housing sealing surface (311) of the first housing part (31) is arranged.

11. The filter device (100) according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the sealing profile (251) of the circumferential seal (25) of the second filter element (2) has a circumferential groove (252) in the groove bottom of which the first circumferential sealing surface (41) of the adapter frame (4) is arranged.

12. 12. The filter device (100) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the sealing profile (151) of the circumferential seal (15) of the first filter element (1) has an axial sealing surface (153) located opposite the circumferential groove (152) and on which the second sealing surface (42) of the adapter frame (4) is arranged.

13. 13. The filter device (100) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the sealing profile (251) of the circumferential seal (25) of the second filter element (2) has an axial sealing surface (253) located opposite the circumferential groove (252) and on which a circumferential housing sealing surface (321) of the second housing part (32) is arranged.

14. The filter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the filter device (100) comprises a connection device (5) that connects the first housing part (31) to the second housing part (32) and generates a pretension force in at least the axial direction (A), and preferably the adapter frame (4) comprises a guide device (52) coupled to the connection device (5) for guiding the connection device (5) in at least one direction perpendicular to the axial direction (A).

15. The filter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the connection device (5) is accessible from the side of the second housing part (32), and in particular the connection device (5) comprises at least one screw (5) which is coupled to a corresponding thread (51) of the first housing part (31).

16. the filter medium body (11, 21) of at least one of the filter elements (1, 2) comprises a particle filter material, in particular comprising a synthetic nonwoven material and / or a cellulosic filter medium, in particular the particle filter material fulfills the filtration class H13 or H14 according to DIN EN 1822-1; and / or 16. The filter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the filter medium body (11, 21) of at least one of the filter elements (1, 2) comprises a gas filter material, in particular comprising at least an adsorbent, in particular activated carbon, a zeolite and / or an ion exchanger.

17. 17. The filter device (100) according to claim 16, wherein the second filter element (2) comprises the gas filter material, and in particular, in the intended use state of the filter device (100), the second filter element (2) can flow through after the first filter element (1).

18. The filter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the first housing part (31) and / or the second housing part (32) are configured to be foldable such that an extension of each housing part (31, 32) is retractable at least in the flow direction (D) or in the direction opposite to the flow direction (D) for replacement of at least one of the filter elements (1, 2).

19. Use of a filter element (1) having a filter medium body (11) and a circumferential seal (15) extending circumferentially around the filter medium body as a first filter element (1) in a filter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, The circumferential seal (15) is in sealing contact with a second sealing surface (42) of the adapter frame (4), and the circumferential seal (15) is in sealing contact with a circumferential housing sealing surface (311) of the first housing part (31).

20. Use of a filter element (2) having a filter medium body (21) and a circumferential seal (25) extending circumferentially around the filter medium body as a second filter element (2) in a filter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, The circumferential seal (25) is in sealing contact with a first sealing surface (41) of the adapter frame (4), and the circumferential seal (25) is in sealing contact with a circumferential housing sealing surface (321) of the second housing part (32).

Images