Filter Device

Abstract

A filter device is disclosed that includes a filter housing 10 having at least two connections 12, 14, such as an inlet for non-filtrate and an outlet for filtrate, and accommodating a replaceable filter element 16, and the filter device is characterized in that a blocking device 18 blocks fluid communication between the inlet 12 and the outlet 14 in an open position, and the blocking device 18 can be brought to these individual positions by an actuating device 20.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter device having at least two connections, such as an inlet for unfiltrated liquid and an outlet for filtrate, and a filter housing containing a replaceable filter element. [Background technology]

[0002] A filter device of the type mentioned at the outset is known from the later published patent application DE 10 2019 008 741 A1 and likewise comprises a filter housing with a connection for the supply of the unfiltrate stream and another connection for the discharge of the filtrate stream, a hollow cylindrical filter element with a filtering medium connected between the respective connections for filtering the unfiltrate stream, and a flow inlet device for guiding the unfiltrate stream through the filter housing, which also serves to guide the filtrate stream through the filter housing, and which has a partition wall that guides the unfiltrate and filtrate streams impinging on it separately at its opposing wall surfaces, one end of which opens into the interior of the filter element and the other end of which is pierced by a channel opening into one of the two connections.

[0003] In this way, the complexly realized arc-shaped flow paths in the filter head of the filter housing can be eliminated and replaced with flow paths of linear design, which helps to avoid turbulent pressure losses during the supply and discharge of the unfiltrated or filtrate flow and the associated material-damaging cavitation, and allows for an energy-efficient filtering operation within the context of particle cleaning using the filter elements. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 102019008741 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to improve this known solution based on prior art published after this application, while retaining its advantages, in such a way that easy replacement of the filter element is achieved in a special way. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above problem is solved by a device having the features of claim 1 in its entirety.

[0007] According to the characterizing feature of claim 1, the fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, which exists in the open position, is interrupted by a shutoff device in the closed position, and the shutoff device can be brought to these respective positions by an actuating device, thereby blocking inflow into the filter housing in particular. This significantly facilitates opening the filter housing and replacing a used filter element with a new one, since subsequent inflow in the form of unfiltered liquid does not have to be constantly considered and the amount of fluid possibly flowing out of the filter device is minimized. In known installation solutions, a valve in the connecting line leading to the inlet is shut off for element replacement, but a considerable amount of fluid remains in the connecting line between the valve and the inlet, leading to an increase in the amount of unintended fluid flowing out during element replacement. This is avoided in any case with the installation solution according to the present invention, since the fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, in which the filter element is accommodated, is interrupted by a shutoff device operable by an actuating device, preferably manually. In this case, the preferred installation position of the filter device is vertical, when the longitudinal direction of the filter housing is vertically oriented.

[0008] In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the filter housing is provided with an additional outlet, preferably on the bottom side, which can be operated after the fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet is interrupted to allow any remaining residual fluid to be discharged from the filter housing to the external, safe environment, for example into a collection container, thereby preventing environmental pollution due to the escape of fluids such as hydraulic oil.

[0009] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the filter device according to the invention, the shut-off device has a partition wall that is inclined in the longitudinal direction of the filter housing, which in the open position opens at its upper side to one connection and at its lower side to the respective other connection, and which can be brought into the shut-off position by an actuating device, preferably by swinging, so that at least one shut-off element can shut off at least the inlet. The shut-off of the inlet prevents subsequent inflow of fluid into the interior of the filter housing on the non-filtrate side, while any liquid or liquids still present in the filter housing can flow out through the outlet on the bottom side of the filter housing. However, particularly preferably, in its operated state, the shut-off device shuts off both the inlet and the outlet without the need for additional valve devices in the connecting lines to the inlet and the outlet.

[0010] In another preferred embodiment of the filter device according to the present invention, the ovally shaped partition wall has a sealing device along its outer periphery and is pierced by an opening that is fluidly connected to the interior of the hollow cylindrical filter element. In this case, the inclined plate-shaped partition wall carries a seal on its outer periphery, which extends above one connection and below the other connection when viewed in the vertical operating or open position. By arranging the seal around the entire periphery between the outer periphery of the partition wall and the inside of the corresponding filter head housing, a particularly good sealing effect between the unfiltrated and filtrate flows can be achieved during filter operation. During normal filtering operation, fluid pressure is applied to the inclined plate-shaped partition wall and transmitted to the seal, which then abuts against the inside of the filter housing with a settable sealing force, ensuring the desired sealing. When the filter element is shut down or replaced, the fluid pressure is removed, and the partition wall and seal combination can be pivoted with little force. The seal is a multi-layer molded seal that provides a good sealing effect, but also offers low resistance to the pivoting movement of the partition plate and is highly wear-resistant.

[0011] In yet another preferred embodiment of the filter device according to the invention, the opening in the partition is at least partially defined by a thread as part of the connector, which serves to fix the filter element in the filter housing via a corresponding thread as another part of the connector, in this way the filter element is spatially and functionally separated from the cut-off device and can be replaced with a new element of the same type, the cut-off device remaining in the filter housing in the area between the inlet and the outlet.

[0012] To ensure that the partition remains securely in the filter housing, the partition preferably has limiting elements which cooperate with the adjacent housing part so that the partition is guided by the actuating device with the aid of a guide device so that it can be pivoted, preferably by 90°, between the open position and the blocked position in the filter housing. In this way, the partition can be pivoted by the actuating device over a small pivoting range of approximately 90° with each blocking element constituting the blocking device, thereby functionally ensuring that it can be switched between the open position and the blocked position and vice versa.

[0013] The guide device preferably has at least one latch on the cutoff device, which is preferably accommodated in a guide groove in the filter housing and is preferably accommodated in the filter housing so that the cutoff device is rotatable in the radial direction but stationary in the axial direction as viewed along the longitudinal direction of the filter housing, thereby achieving a secure and rotatable fixation of the cutoff device in the filter housing.

[0014] In yet another preferred embodiment of the filter device according to the invention, the connections with the inlet and the outlet are arranged in the filter housing so that they extend diametrically opposite one another in at least one same plane in the longitudinal direction of the filter housing. In this way, fluid guidance in the filter housing is achieved in a particularly space-saving manner, and the linear inlet and outlet channels reduce the manufacturing effort and costs of the overall filter device solution.

[0015] In yet another preferred embodiment of the filter device according to the present invention, the actuator includes a housing cover, which is removably mounted on the filter housing, preferably at the bottom, and which includes a cam that, when operated, engages the end cap of the filter element, thereby enabling the shut-off device to pivot between the open position and the shut-off position via the filter element and the connector. When the housing cover is opened or removed from the rest of the filter housing, as already explained, no more fluid can flow out through the inlet and outlet ports, especially once the filter housing has been emptied via the drain plug after operating the shut-off device. By fully opening and removing the housing cover, the filter element can be completely removed from the rest of the filter device via the housing cover, which is made possible by the latching between the lower end cap and the adjacent housing cover.

[0016] In yet another preferred embodiment of the filter device according to the present invention, one end cap of the filter element has two cap parts connected to each other so as to be resiliently flexible, one cap part containing the element material of the filter element at its bottom side, and the other cap part has a protrusion with a guide bevel and a pressure support surface that cooperates with a cam on the housing cover. When a new element is inserted into the housing cover, it is screwed onto the lower free end at the bottom side of the other filter housing, and the element rotates together with the cam in the housing cover and the protrusion on the lower cap part of the filter element. In this case, when the housing cover is screwed on, the guide bevel on the protrusion on the lower cap part is used, and when the housing cover is unscrewed, the opposite pressure support surface adjacent to the guide bevel is used as a component of the protrusion on the end cap part.

[0017] In yet another preferred embodiment of the filter device according to the present invention, the housing cover can be screwed or fastened to the bottom side of the other bowl-shaped filter housing as part of the filter housing, with the thread pitch of the connecting region being less steep than the interlocking threads of the connecting member between the shut-off device and the element cap of the adjacent filter element. When the housing element is screwed or fastened to the other filter housing, the upper threads of the upper end cap visibly engage with the threads in the partition wall of the shut-off device. When a stop position is reached between these threads, the shut-off device can also be swung between the open position and the shut-off position by correspondingly engaging the filter element via the housing cover with its cam, which is part of the shut-off device.

[0018] The thread pitch of the connecting region is preferably not as steep as the connecting threads of the mating connectors, allowing for a relatively large feed rate of the upper end cap's threads with fewer rotations of the housing cover, thereby improving handling and enabling a quicker filter element replacement process. Furthermore, the different thread pitches of the housing cover and the element cap, as described above, also cause the filter element to move axially, but this movement can be compensated for by the spring segments that resiliently connect the two cap sections of the lower end cap to each other. In this way, possible axial play in the components of the filter device can be reliably compensated for, eliminating the need to maintain strict tolerances during manufacturing, which also reduces production costs.

[0019] Further aspects of the solution according to the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0020] The filter device according to the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, which are principle views and are not drawn to scale. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic, simplified longitudinal section of a filter device according to the invention in a vertical operating or use position. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cutoff device of the filter device of FIG. 1 shown as a single unit, as viewed from above. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shutoff device of FIG. 2 as seen from below. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view in partial longitudinal section in the region of the filter housing head of the filter arrangement of FIG. 1, showing the shut-off device of FIGS. 2 and 3 in its open position, at least partially accommodated in the filter housing head. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view from above of a partial longitudinal section of the filter arrangement of FIG. 1 in the filter housing head region, with the blocking device shown in its blocking position. [Figure 6] 6 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional perspective view from below of the filter housing head of the filter device of FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a schematic, simplified cross-sectional perspective view from below of the filter housing head of the filter device of FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view, seen from above, of a filter element shown as a single element to be used as a replacement element for the filter device of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the lower end cap of the filter element of FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a perspective view of a vertical cross section of a housing cover of the filter device of FIG. 1, seen from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] 1 shows a filter device according to the invention comprising a filter housing 10 having an inlet connection 12 for the unfiltrated liquid and another outlet connection 14 for the filtrate. The inlet 12 and outlet 14 are normally fixed components of a hydraulic operating circuit, the hydraulic system not being shown in detail.

[0023] A filter element 16 is replaceably housed within the filter housing 10, and a shutoff device 18 is provided between the inlet 12 and the outlet 14. The shutoff device 18 is movable by an actuator 20 between an open position in which the shutoff device 18 releases fluid communication between the inlet 12 and the outlet 14, and a shutoff position in which the shutoff device 18 shuts off this fluid communication.

[0024] When placed in an open position, the shutoff device 18 functions to release fluid communication between the inlet 12 and the outlet 14 for directing the unfiltrated flow and the filtrate flow within the filter housing 10, and when placed in a blocked position, it functions to block such fluid communication.

[0025] The filter housing 10 has a filter housing head 22, to which a cylindrical housing section 24 is integrally connected. The cylindrical housing section 24 has an opening 26 on its side opposite the filter housing head 22, which opening 26 can be closed by a filter housing cover 28. The filter housing cover 28 can be removed from and removably connected to the cylindrical housing section 24. Both connections 12, 14 are provided in the filter housing head 22 and can be fluidly connected to rigid fluid lines of a hydraulic system (not shown). A cylindrical filter element 16 is replaceably arranged in the filter housing 10. A shut-off device 18 is inserted as an independent element into the filter housing head 22 between a bottom 32 of the filter housing head 22 and the filter element 16, as viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device, and between the two connections 12, 14, as viewed in the radial direction.

[0026] The blocking device 18 has a partition wall 34 that is aligned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device. Therefore, the partition wall 34 has two elliptical wall surfaces 36, 38 that are aligned parallel to each other and each enclose an angle of approximately 60 degrees with the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device. When each of the wall surfaces 36, 38 is projected in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device onto a first imaginary plane with the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device as its normal, it forms a circle whose diameter is equal to the inner diameter of the filter housing head 22.

[0027] A central flow passage 40 extends through the partition 34 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device. One end of the flow passage 40 facing the filter element 16 opens into a cylindrical cavity 42 in the filter element 16, and the other end is formed by a central opening 44 in the partition 34 facing the bottom 32 of the filter housing head 22 of the filter device. The inner diameter of the flow passage 40 widens stepwise in the end region facing the bottom 32 of the filter housing head 22. The central flow passage 40 in the partition 34 passes through a hollow, cylindrical connecting sleeve 46. The connecting sleeve 46 is an integral component of the partition 34 and extends away from the wall surface 36 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the filter device, but does not exceed the lowest point of the partition 34 in its functional position. The outer diameter of the connecting sleeve 46 widens stepwise in its end region opposite the partition 34, forming a full-circumferential projection 48 that extends radially away from the outer periphery of the connecting sleeve 46 in this end region. The end region of the inner periphery of the connecting sleeve 46 opposite the partition wall 34 is provided with an internal thread 52, which is also part of the first connector 50, for connection with an external thread 54 of the first end cap 56 of the filter element 16.

[0028] The cutoff device 18 has two corresponding cylindrical wall segments 62, 64 that are flush with the radial outer periphery 60 of the partition 34, diametrically opposed relative to the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device, extending away from the partition 34 on either side and cylindrically shaped to correspond to the contour of the outer periphery of the partition 34. The portion of each cylindrical wall segment 62, 64 that extends away from one wall surface 36 of the partition 34 protrudes axially beyond the lowest point of the partition 34 in its functional position, while the portion of each cylindrical wall segment 62, 64 that extends away from the other wall surface 38 of the partition 34 does not protrude axially beyond the highest point of the partition 34 in such position. The cylindrical wall segments 62, 64 have end faces 70 that are parallel to each other and extend coaxially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device. The first cylindrical wall segment 62 and the second cylindrical wall segment 64 form a first blocking element 66 of the partition wall 34 for the inlet 12 and a second blocking element 68 of the partition wall 34 for the outlet 14, respectively.

[0029] At the end of each cylindrical wall segment 62, 64 opposite to the partition 34, a projection forming a latch 72 projects radially outward from the cylindrical wall segment 62, 64 at the portion extending away from the one wall surface 36 of the partition 34. Both latches 72 engage with guide grooves 76 of the guide device 74, which are provided in the inner periphery 90 of the filter housing head 22 and extend coaxially and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 30. As a result, the cutoff device 18 is guided in the guide grooves 76 by the latches 72 and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device within the filter housing head 22.

[0030] A rib 78 extends from each of the cylindrical wall segments 62, 64 in a lateral circumferential end region toward a second imaginary plane that defines the uppermost and lowermost points of the partition 34 of the isolating device 18 in its functional position. This second plane corresponds to the cross-section shown in FIG. 1. The end 80 of each rib 78 on the opposite side of the cylindrical wall segment 62, 64 from the portion extending away from the wall surface 36 of the partition 34 extends parallel to the second plane. Between the two ribs 78 on the portion of each cylindrical wall segment 62, 64 extending away from the wall surface 38 of the partition 34, two further ribs 78 extend from the cylindrical wall segment 62, 64 toward the second plane, spaced apart from the remaining ribs 78. Each end 82 of the rib 78 opposite the portion of the cylindrical wall segment 62, 64 that extends away from the wall surface 38 of the bulkhead 34 extends obliquely axially from the bulkhead 34 in a direction away from the bulkhead 34 and the second plane. The ribs 78 serve to stabilize the respective cylindrical wall segment 62, 64.

[0031] In the region of the other wall 38 between the uppermost point of the partition 34 of the isolating device 18 in its functional position and the central opening 44 of the partition 34, a preferably resiliently flexible strip-shaped limiting element 84 extends arcuately outward from a point adjacent to the opening 44 in this region, spaced apart from the other wall 38, with its free end region oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 30. In this case, the free end region of the limiting element 84 protrudes beyond the partition 34 in the axial direction but not in the radial direction. The limiting element 84 is substantially arcuate and aligned symmetrically with respect to the second plane.

[0032] A central annular groove 86 is defined within the septum 34 along its outer periphery 60, and a sealing device 88 in the form of a ring seal is disposed therein. The sealing device 88 sealingly abuts an inner wall 90 of the filter housing head 22 at each rotational position of the isolator 18.

[0033] A recess 92 is formed in the flat or planar interior of the circular bottom 32 of the filter housing head 22, and this recess 92 is also limited in the bottom 32 by a first step 94 and a second step 96. The steps 94, 96 start from a common transition point in the central region of the bottom 32 of the filter housing head 22 and extend radially outward in perpendicular alignment with one another to the outer wall of the cylindrical housing head 22 in this region. The first step 94 and second step 96 of the bottom 32 of the filter housing head 22 function as stops for one end face or the other side of the free end region of the limiting element 84. By doing so, the rotation of the blocking device 18 within the filter housing head 22, guided by the guiding device 74, is limited to a rotation angle of 90 degrees between an open position where one side of the free end region of the limiting element 84 abuts against a first step 94 of the bottom 32 of the filter housing head 22, and a blocking position where the other side of the free end region of the limiting element 84 abuts against a second step 96 of the bottom 32 of the filter housing head 22. The blocking elements 66, 68 not only completely cover or release the opening 102 of the inlet 12 or outlet 14 that leads to the interior of the filter housing head 22 when the limiting element 84 abuts against the respective step 94, 96 of the bottom 32 of the housing head 22, but also completely cover or release the opening 102 when the limiting element 84 is spaced apart from the respective step 94, 96 and is positioned closer to one step 94, 96 than the other step 94, 96. Among the rotational positions of the shutoff device 18 in which the shutoff elements 66, 68 completely cover or release the mouths 102 of the inlet 12 and outlet 14, there are also rotational positions of the shutoff device 18 in which the mouths 102 are partially covered or released by the shutoff elements 66, 68.

[0034] When the shutoff device 18 is placed in its open position, the partition 34 guides the unfiltrated and filtrate flows impinging thereon separately at its opposing wall surfaces 36, 38, with the central opening 44 of the partition 34 in fluid communication with another connection 14.

[0035] Starting from the connection 12 for the supply of the unfiltrate stream and from another connection 14 for the discharge of the filtrate stream, one cylindrical flow channel 98, 100 each extends radially through the filter housing head 22. The fluid flow direction through each connection 12, 14 is thereby oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter housing 10. The longitudinal axis 30 of the filter housing 10 corresponds to the longitudinal axes of the filter housing head 22, the cylindrical housing section 24, the filter housing cover 28, the shut-off device, and the filter element 16. The longitudinal axis 30 of the filter housing 10 corresponds to the longitudinal axes of the filter housing head 22, the cylindrical housing section 24, the filter housing cover 28, the shut-off device, and the filter element 16. The flow channels 98, 100 of the connections 12, 14 are formed on opposite sides of each other within the filter housing head 22 so as to have a common central axis 196 extending through their centers. The longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device and the central axis 196 of the connecting portions 12, 14 lie in a second plane and intersect each other perpendicularly.

[0036] Furthermore, when the shutoff device 18 is in its open position, the two shutoff elements 66, 68 of the shutoff device 18 rest on the outside of the cylindrical inner wall 90 of the filter housing head 22 without closing the mouths 102 of each fluid chamber 98, 100 extending from the respective connections 12, 14 into the cavities of the filter housing head 22.

[0037] At least in the open position of the shut-off device 18, the partition 34 of the shut-off device 18 is arranged at an angle to the direction of fluid flow through the respective flow paths 98, 100 of the connections 12, 14. Furthermore, the shut-off device 18 is arranged in the filter housing head 22 in such a way that, in its open position, as seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter arrangement, the circumferential side surface 60 of the partition 34 is arranged in the region of the connection 12 between the bottom 32 of the filter housing head 22 and the connection 12, as well as in the region of the further connection 14 between an inner peripheral step 114 provided in the transition region to the cylindrical housing part 24 of the filter housing head 22 and the further connection 14.

[0038] When positioned in the open position, the shutoff device 18 separates a flow space 104 located in the filter housing head 22, which is also defined by one wall surface 36 of the partition wall 34, from another flow space 106 located in the filter housing head 22, which is also defined by the other wall surface 38 of the partition wall 34. The flow passage 98 of the connection 12 opens into the flow space 104 without being deflected, and the other flow passage 100 of the other connection 14 opens into the other flow space 106 without being deflected. In the flow space 104, the fluid flowing through the flow passage 98 of the connection 12 impinges on one wall surface 36 of the partition wall 34, and in the other flow space 106, the fluid flowing through the other flow passage 100 of the other connection 14 impinges on the other wall surface 36 of the partition wall 34. In this case, the partition wall 34 seals off the non-filtrate flow from the filtrate flow.

[0039] When the shutoff device 18 is in its shutoff position, one shutoff element 66 of the shutoff device 18 closes the mouth 102 of the inlet 12 leading to the interior of the filter housing head 22, and the other shutoff element 68 closes the mouth 102 of the outlet 14 in a substantially fluid-tight manner.

[0040] The filter housing cover 28 has an inner diameter enlarged toward the filter housing head 22, forming a step 108, and the cylindrical housing part 24 has an outer diameter enlargement 110 in its end region facing the filter housing cover 28. To connect the cylindrical housing part 24 to the filter housing cover 28, the cylindrical housing part 24 has an outer diameter enlargement 110 in the region of the outer diameter enlargement 110 for engaging with a corresponding inner thread 112. The inner thread 112 is provided on the inner periphery of the filter housing cover 28 in its end region facing the filter housing head 22, between the step 108 and an opening 116. The thread pitch of this connection region 112 is less steep than the threads 52, 54 of the first connection 50 between the cut-off device 18 and the first element cap 56 of the filter element 16. When the cylindrical housing part 24 and the filter housing cover 28 are connected to each other, the free end face 118 of the cylindrical housing part 24 abuts against the step 108 of the filter housing cover 28. The cylindrical housing part 24 has an annular groove 120 formed on its outer periphery in the region between the threaded portion 112 and the open end 26, and receives a seal ring 120 for tight contact with the filter housing cover 28.

[0041] A central passage 122 for draining filtrate from the filter housing 10 may extend axially through the filter housing cover 28, the end of which opposite the filter element 16 is connected to a fluid line 124 which is provided with a valve arrangement 126 for opening and closing such fluid path. Preferably, however, the valve arrangement 126 is incorporated within the lower housing cover 28 (not shown).

[0042] The filter element 16 includes two end caps 56, 58 at its ends, between which extends a filtering medium 128.

[0043] The filter element 16 has an upper first end cap 56 that encloses a hollow cylindrical filter medium 128 at the end facing the filter housing head 22, and a lower second end cap 58 that encloses the hollow cylindrical filter medium 128 at the end facing the housing cover 24 opposite the filter housing head 22.

[0044] The first end cap 56 has a disk-ring-shaped base 130 that extends coaxially and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter element 16 and contacts the end face of the filter medium 128, while one cap portion 132 of the second end cap 58 has a disk-shaped base 136. A cylindrical circumferential member 138 extends from the radially outer end regions of the base 130 of the first end cap 56 and one cap portion 132 of the second end cap 58 toward the filter medium 128, with its inner surface abutting the outer periphery of the filter medium 128. A contact nipple 140 extends from the radially inner end region of the base 130 of the first end cap 56 and from the base 136 of one cap portion 132 of the second end cap 58 toward the filter medium 128 into the cavity 42 of the filter medium 128, and a support tube 142 extending over the entire axial length of the filter medium 128 is partially positioned between this and the filter medium 128.

[0045] Furthermore, a connecting sleeve 144 extends from the radially inner end region of the base 130 of the first end cap 56 towards the filter housing head 22, and on its outer circumferential side is provided an external thread 54 as part of the first connecting device 50, which engages with the internal thread 52 of the connecting sleeve 46 of the shut-off device 18, which is also part of the first connecting device 50.

[0046] The base 136 of one cap part 132 of the second end cap 58 has a central opening 148 defined by a cylindrical part 150 that projects slightly toward the housing cover 28. The cylindrical part 150 is radially spaced from the contact nipple 140 of the cap part 132 and carries a bypass valve 152. A valve closing body 154 is guided in the cylindrical part 150 and is biased toward the housing cover 28 under the action of a compression spring 156. In the closed position, the valve closing body 154 rests against a valve seat 158 ​​formed in the cylindrical part 150. When the filter element 16 becomes blocked and a threshold pressure differential is reached between the non-filtrate side 160 external to the filter element 16 and the filtrate side 162 internal to the filter element 16, the valve closure body 154 is forced into one of its open positions against the force of the compression spring 156 by the fluid pressure prevailing external to the filter element 16, in which position the bypass valve 152 places the non-filtrate side 160 and the filtrate side 162 in fluid communication with each other.

[0047] The second end cap 58 includes, alongside the one cap portion 132, the other cap portion 134 having a disk-ring-shaped base 164. The inner diameter of the base 164 is approximately equal to, but larger than, the outer diameter of the base 136 of the one cap portion 132.

[0048] The first cap portion 132 and the second cap portion 134 of the second end cap 58 are connected to each other by a resiliently flexible second connector 166 such that the second cap portion 134 is spaced apart from the first cap portion 132 in the direction of the filter medium 128. Each second connector 166 has four connecting elements 168 formed by flat bands 170 each having a substantially S-shape. Each band 170 is connected at one end region to the first cap portion 132 of the second end cap 58 and at the other end region to the other cap portion 134 of the second end cap 58. The connecting points 172 between the first cap portion 132 and one end region of each band 170 and the connecting points 172 between the other cap portion 134 and the other end region of each band 170 are arranged at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction, i.e., the interval between two adjacent connecting points 172 is 90 degrees.

[0049] In particular, because the diameters of the bases 136, 164 of the one cap portion 132 and the other cap portion 134 of the second end cap 58 are different, each band 170 engages at one end region with the outer periphery 174 of the circumferential member 138 and the side of the base 136 of the one cap portion 132 facing the other cap portion 134, and at the other end region with the inner periphery 176 and the side of the base 164 of the other cap portion 134 facing the other cap portion 134.

[0050] The width of band 170 may be about 5 to 8 times its material thickness, and the length of band 170 may be selected so that in an unloaded state, the axial spacing between one cap portion 132 and the other cap portion 134 is about 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 the diameter of one cap portion 132. In this embodiment, band 170 provides sufficient resilience when the entire second end cap 58 is manufactured as a unitary piece by injection molding from a suitable plastic material.

[0051] A nipple 178 extends from a radially inward end region of the base 164 of the other cap portion 134 of the second end cap 58, in the direction of the filter element material 128, toward the housing cover 28. A circumferential projection extends radially outward from the free end of the nipple 178 of the other cap portion 134, forming a latch 180 for latching engagement with a latch nose 182 on the housing cover 28. The base 164 of the other cap portion 134 of the second end cap 58 has four equally spaced nose-like projections 184 on the side opposite the one cap portion 132, viewed circumferentially. Each projection 184 has, on one side, a pressure support surface 186 extending axially away from the base 164, and, on the other opposite side, a pressure support surface 186 and a guide slope 188 extending obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis 30.

[0052] Four cams 190 are provided at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction on the inside of the bottom 198 of the housing cover 28, protruding axially away from the bottom 198 of the housing cover 28. When viewed in the circumferential direction, each latch cam 190 has a pressing support surface 192 on one side extending axially away from the bottom 198, and an abutment slope 194 on the other side opposite the one side. Each latch cam 190 further has a latch nose 182 at its free end facing the center of the housing cover 28 that protrudes radially inward for latching engagement with a latch 180 provided on the other cap portion 134 of the second end cap 58.

[0053] The filter housing cover 28 has an actuator 20 with a hexagonal outer shape provided at the center of the outside thereof.

[0054] In FIG. 1 , the filter housing cover 28 is threadedly engaged with the cylindrical housing portion 24, and the shutoff device 18 is in its open position, releasing fluid communication between the inlet 12 and the outlet 14. The threads 52, 54 of the first connector 50 between the shutoff device 18 and the first end cap 56 are fully engaged. At the same time, the second connector 166 resiliently biases the other cap portion 134 of the second end cap 58 toward the housing cover 28, causing the base 164 of the other cap portion 134 to rest on the free end face of the cam 190 of the housing cover 28, with the nose 184 of the other cap portion 134 positioned between the cams 190. Furthermore, the second end cap 58 has its latch 180 in latching engagement with the latch nose 182 formed on the cam 190 of the housing cover 28.

[0055] The function of the filter device according to the invention will now be explained in more detail.

[0056] Starting with the filter device shown in Fig. 1, to remove the filter element 16 from the filter housing, the inlet 12 is first depressurized, for example by switching off the pressure supply device (not shown). In this case, the outlet 14 remains depressurized. The filter housing cover 28 is then rotated in the unscrewing direction around the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device by the actuator 20. During this rotation, the pressing surface 192 of the cam 190 of the housing cover 28 abuts against the pressing surface 186 of the protrusion 184 of the second end cap 58, causing the housing cover 28 to rotate the entire filter element 16 via its second end cap 58 in the unscrewing direction. In particular, since the inlet 12 and the outlet 14 are in a pressureless state and therefore no fluid pressure acts on the sealing device 88 of the shut-off device 18, the shut-off device 18 can be easily moved or rotated 90 degrees in a first step from an open position in which the limiting element 84 partially abuts against the first step 94 of the recess 92 formed in the bottom 32 of the housing head 22 to a shut-off position in which the limiting element 84 abuts on the other side against the second step 96 of the recess 92 formed in the bottom 32 of the housing head 22.

[0057] In the blocked position, the blocking device 18 closes the inlet 12 of the filter arrangement with its first blocking element 66 and the outlet 14 with its second blocking element 68, thereby blocking the fluid supply to the filter housing 10 and the fluid discharge from the filter housing 10. This makes it significantly easier to open the filter housing 10 and replace the used filter element 16 with a new one, since there is no need to worry about a constant subsequent flow of unfiltered liquid or no pressure in the form of air and / or filtrate.

[0058] After the blocking device 18 has reached and placed against the stop in the form of the second step 96 with its limiting element 84, in a second step, the filter element 16 continues to rotate in the unscrewing direction, causing the threaded portions 52, 54 of the first connector 50 and the threaded portion 112 between the cylindrical housing portion 24 and the housing cover 28 to completely disengage.

[0059] When the housing cover 28 is removed from the cylindrical housing portion 24, the cam 190 on the housing cover 28 and the latch 180 on the second end cap 58 are latched together, so that the housing cover 28 carries with it the filter element 16 that has been removed as a unit from the filter housing 10.

[0060] When inserting this filter element 16 or another filter element 16 into the filter device, the filter housing cover 28, which is placed on the cylindrical housing portion 24 and latch-connected to the filter element 16 introduced into the filter housing head 22, is rotated in the screw-tightening direction around the longitudinal axis 30 of the filter device by the actuator 20. This causes the abutment inclined surface 194 of the cam 190 of the housing cover 28 to abut against the guide inclined surface 188 of the protrusion 184 of the second element cap 58.

[0061] When the internal threads 112 of the housing cover 28 and the external threads 112 of the cylindrical housing portion 24 are initially engaged, the cam 190 of the housing cover 28 can pass the protrusion 184 of the second element cap 58 without dragging the filter element 16. This is because the filter element 16 has axial play within the filter housing 10, and the second connector 166 is not yet biased. As the internal threads 112 of the housing cover 28 and the external threads 112 of the cylindrical housing portion 24 become more engaged, the spring-like second connector 166 is biased after the external threads 54 of the first end cap 56 and the internal threads 52 of the isolator 18 come into contact. When the second connector 166 is appropriately biased, the cam 190 of the housing cover 28 is prevented from passing over the protrusion 184 of the second element cap 58, and the abutment slope 194 of the cam 190 of the housing cover 28 abuts against the guide slope 188 of the protrusion 184 of the second element cap 58, causing the entire filter element 16 to rotate in the screw-tightening direction via its second end cap 58.

[0062] The pitch of the threads 52, 54 of the first connector 50 is different from the pitch of the threads 112 between the cylindrical housing part 24 and the housing cover 28, so that when the housing cover 28 is screwed together, the threads 52, 54 of the first connector 50 engage with each other and simultaneously fix the second connector 166. This allows filter elements 16 of different axial lengths to be used within the framework of play compensation in the filter housing 10, and compensates for the axial movement of the filter element 16 relative to the cylindrical housing head 22 and the cylindrical housing part 24 during the screwing and unscrewing processes.

[0063] Only when the internal thread 112 of the housing cover 28 is fully engaged with the external thread 112 of the cylindrical housing part 24 does the shut-off device 18 together with the filter element 16 rotate from its shut-off position to its open position, thereby providing the filtering function. The present disclosure also includes the following inventions. The first aspect is A filter device comprising a filter housing (10) having at least two connections (12, 14), such as an inlet for non-filtrate and an outlet for filtrate, and containing a replaceable filter element (16), The filter device is characterized in that the fluid communication between the inlet (12) and the outlet (14) that exists in the open position is blocked by a blocking device (18) in the blocked position, and the blocking device (18) can be brought to these individual positions by an operating device (20). The second aspect is The blocking device (18) is a filter device in a first aspect, characterized in that it has a partition (34) that is inclined when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the filter housing (10), and in that in the open position, the partition (34) opens at its upper side to one of the connection parts (14) and at its lower side to the other of the connection parts (12), and the partition (34) is brought to the blocking position by the actuating device (20), preferably by swinging, to block at least the inlet by at least one blocking element (66, 68). The third aspect is The filter device of the first or second aspect, wherein the elliptically shaped partition (34) has a sealing device (88) along its outer periphery (60), and the partition (34) is pierced by an opening (44) that is in fluid communication with the interior (42) of the hollow cylindrical filter element (16). The fourth aspect is A filter device according to any one of the first to third aspects, characterized in that the opening (44) in the partition (34) is at least partially defined by a threaded portion (52) as part of the connector (50), and this threaded portion (52) serves to secure the filter element (16) within the filter housing (10) via a corresponding threaded portion (54) as another part of the connector (50). The fifth aspect is A filter device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, characterized in that the partition (34) has at least one limiting element (84), which cooperates with adjacent housing portions (94, 96) so that the partition (34) is guided by the actuating device (20) using a guide device (74) within the filter housing (10) so as to be pivotable, preferably by 90 degrees, between the open position and the closed position. The sixth aspect is This is a filter device in any one of the first to fifth aspects, characterized in that the guide device (74) has at least one latch (72), preferably on the cut-off device (18), and this latch (72) is preferably accommodated in a guide groove (76) within the filter housing (10), and the cut-off device (18) is accommodated within the filter housing (10) so as to be rotatable in the radial direction and stationary in the axial direction as viewed along the longitudinal direction of the filter housing (10). A seventh aspect is A filter device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, characterized in that the connection portions (12, 14) having the inlet and the outlet are arranged in the filter housing (10) so as to extend diametrically opposite each other when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the filter housing (10) in at least one same plane. The eighth aspect is This is a filter device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, characterized in that the actuator (20) has a housing cover (28) that is removably arranged on the filter housing (10), preferably at the bottom side, and is equipped with a cam (190) that, when operated, moves the end cap (58) of the filter element (16), thereby allowing the blocking device (18) to swing between the open position and the blocking position, and vice versa, via the filter element (16) and the connecting device (50). A ninth aspect is This is a filter device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, characterized in that one end cap (58) of the filter element (16) has two cap portions (132, 134) connected to each other so as to be resiliently flexible, one cap portion (132) accommodates the element material (128) of the filter element (16) on the bottom side, and the other cap portion (134) has a protrusion (184) having a guide slope (188) and a pressure support surface (186), and these protrusions (184) cooperate with a cam (190) provided on the housing cover (28). A tenth aspect is This is a filter device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, characterized in that the housing cover (28) can be screwed or fastened to the bottom side of the other bowl-shaped filter housing (10) as part of the filter housing (10), and the thread pitch of the connecting region (112) for this purpose is not steeper than the mutually engaging connecting thread portions (52, 54) of the connecting device (50) between the blocking device (18) and the element cap (56) of the filter element (16) arranged adjacent to it.

Claims

1. A filter device comprising a filter housing (10) having at least two connections (12, 14) with an inlet for non-filtrate and an outlet for filtrate, the filter housing (10) containing a replaceable filter element (16), the fluid communication between the inlet (12) and the outlet (14) that exists in an open position is blocked by a blocking device (18) that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the filter device and that is in a flow path between the inlet (12) and the outlet (14) in a blocked position; the filter element (16) is located in the flow path upstream of the shutoff device (18) such that, in the open position of the shutoff device (18), the shutoff device (18) allows fluid communication of the flow path between the inlet (12) and the outlet (14); In the blocking position of the shutoff device (18), the shutoff device (18) blocks fluid communication between the inlet (12) and the outlet (14) such that the shutoff device (18) and the filter element (16) are positioned outside the flow path; The isolating device (18) can be brought into these individual positions by an actuating device (20), the inlet (12) and the outlet (14) are arranged in the filter housing (10) so as to extend diametrically opposite one another in at least one same plane as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the filter housing (10); The blocking device (18) has a partition wall (34) that is inclined in the longitudinal direction of the filter housing (10), In the open position, the partition wall (34) opens at its upper side to one of the connection portions (14) and at its lower side to the other of the connection portions (12), The filter device is characterized in that the partition (34) is brought into the blocking position by the actuation device (20) to block at least the inlet by at least one blocking element (66, 68).

2. 2. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the partition (34) is brought to the blocking position by swinging it by the actuating device (20), thereby blocking at least the inlet by the at least one blocking element (66, 68).

3. 3. The filter arrangement of claim 1, wherein the elliptically shaped partition (34) has a sealing device (88) along its outer periphery (60), and the partition (34) is pierced by an opening (44) that is in fluid communication with the interior (42) of the hollow cylindrical filter element (16).

4. 4. The filter arrangement of claim 1, wherein the opening (44) in the partition (34) is at least partially defined by a threaded portion (52) as part of a connector (50), the threaded portion (52) serving to secure the filter element (16) in the filter housing (10) via a corresponding threaded portion (54) as another part of the connector (50).

5. 5. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall (34) has at least one limiting element (84) that cooperates with an adjacent housing part (94, 96) so that the partition wall (34) is guided by the actuating device (20) using a guiding device (74) within the filter housing (10) so as to be pivotable by 90° between the open position and the closed position.

6. 6. The filter device according to claim 5, wherein the guide device (74) has at least one latch (72) on the cutoff device (18), the latch (72) being accommodated in a guide groove (76) in the filter housing (10), and the cutoff device (18) is accommodated in the filter housing (10) so as to be rotatable in the radial direction and stationary in the axial direction as viewed along the longitudinal direction of the filter housing (10).

7. 7. A filter device according to claim 1, wherein the connection parts (12, 14) having the inlet and the outlet are arranged in the filter housing (10) so as to extend diametrically opposite one another in at least one same plane as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the filter housing (10).

8. 8. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (20) comprises a housing cover (28) removably arranged on the bottom side of the filter housing (10) and provided with a cam (190) for engaging the end cap (58) of the filter element (16) during operation, so that the blocking device (18) can be swung between the open position and the blocking position and vice versa via the filter element (16) and the connecting member (50).

9. 9. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein one end cap (58) of the filter element (16) has two cap portions (132, 134) connected to each other so as to be resiliently flexible, one cap portion (132) accommodates the element material (128) of the filter element (16) on its bottom side, and the other cap portion (134) has protrusions (184) with guide slopes (188) and pressure support surfaces (186), and these protrusions (184) cooperate with cams (190) provided on the housing cover (28).

10. 10. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the housing cover (28) can be screwed or fastened to the bottom side of the bowl-shaped filter housing (10) as part of the filter housing (10), and the thread pitch of the connection area (112) for this purpose is not steeper than the mutually engaging connection thread portions (52, 54) of the connection (50) between the shut-off device (18) and the element cap (56) of the filter element (16) arranged adjacent to it.

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