DE10102100A1 - Filter element, used for filtering air in vehicle air conditioning unit, has a filter material made from individual segments separated from each other - Google Patents

Abstract

Filter element comprises a zig-zag shaped filter material (18) and a device for holding the material in the element. The filter material is made from individual segments (17) separated from each other. The edges of the segments have an additional component which extends along the edge of the segment to stabilize the edges on one side and reduce the bending moment on the other side necessary for the manufacture of the filter material in relation to the bending moment necessary for folding the material. Preferred Features: The additional component is a hinged strip (28) having a recess for each neighboring segment so that the segments are connected together via the strip. The strip is made from plastic. An activated charcoal layer is arranged between two layers of filter material.

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to a filter element with a zigzag design of the filter mat rials according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such filter elements are known and are used using different ones Filter materials such as paper or nonwovens are manufactured. The filter materials can be carried out in multiple layers to perform complex tasks related to the deposition performance to meet. Granular adsorbents are often used, which between two cover layers of the filter medium are introduced and / or by means of one Binders (glue) form a bandage.

The filter material is usually in the form of a plate or web-shaped semi-finished product, the Folding leads to an enlargement of the filter area with a limited construction volume. because the separation function of the filter can be increased. This effect can be the better the smaller the distance between the folded edges is chosen. At the same time, however, this also increases the flow resistance at the filter element. The latter happens particularly when the fold spacing becomes too small, so that neighboring folds touch.

To avoid the contact of wrinkles, an ideally sharp back of the fold is necessary manoeuvrable. However, sharp fold edges can only be achieved with very thin filter materials produce. As the filter material increases in thickness, the reset also increases forces caused by the bending of the filter material around the folded edge. The The result is that thick filter media do not form sharp folded edges, but rather one Bend the filter medium with a certain radius. This will Adjacent filter folds are pressed together and a cavity is created in the fold reason. The flow resistance of the filter element and the separation function of the Filter material is negatively affected by this effect. To a special extent be is this problem with the filter media already mentioned, the particulate insert stations for the purpose of separating gases within the filter mat.  

These are used, for example, for supply air filtration in air conditioning technology in automobiles. Known filter media have a particle layer with a basis weight of up to 500 g / m ² . However, there is a trend towards multi-layer systems that have several functionalities in terms of filtration. The particle layers used together often reach basis weights of more than 1000 g / m ² and thus also a greater thickness of the filter medium.

According to DE 198 29 100 C1, a pleated filter is disclosed in which there are sharp folded edges generated by the fact that under the influence of heat and pressure folding aids in the Filter web are generated that lead to sharper folded edges in the finished filter element. However, treating the filter material with pressure and heat is mechanical Strain on the filter material that leads to a weakening of the Folding edges leads. However, in the finished filter element these also take on load-bearing Function and are therefore a certain stress, for. B. due to pressure fluctuations in the filter element exposed. Therefore, with large pressure differences the stability of the filter element on the filter element or in the event of pulsating stress not enough to prevent it from failing.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a stable filter element with a zigzag shape to create filter material, which at the same time realizes sharp folded edges has a high stability. This object is achieved by the features of claim ches 1 solved.

Advantages of the invention

According to the invention it is provided that the folded edges of the filter material with a Zu are provided which stabilize the folded edges on the one hand and on the other hand contribute to a reduction in the torque required to fold the filter material The reduction of the necessary bending moment is related to a filter material to obtain, which has not undergone any pretreatment before folding. The addition Component extends along the folded edges and is attached to them. You can do this different fastening methods, e.g. B. ge or pouring the folded edges be used.

The filter element produced in the manner described can have a filter material point, which is provided with optimally small fold distances. Therefore, at constant volume accommodated a larger number of folds in the filter element  than is possible with conventionally pleated filter materials. there the loading capacity or the flow resistance are not increased by tight spaces in the individual folds negatively impacted the measure me the desired increase in filter service life with at least the same Flow resistance reached.

Another advantage of this structure is that materials are also used as the filter medium that are difficult or impossible to fold (sintered filter media, Foams, sensitive filter media with e.g. B. thick beds of adsorbents), because the filter medium is present in individual segments, which are caused by the additional component or the additional components are connected to each other. The angle between the segments is therefore determined by the shape of the additional component and not, as in conventional Chen folded media, through the fold geometry.

The filter element has means for holding the filter material. This will Wrinkle spacing of the individual filter folds set. The means for holding z. B. be a filter frame that is suitable for forming a flat filter element. Another Another possibility is the ring-shaped combination of the filter material and the insertion supply of its front edges in end plates, which represent the means for mounting. On a round filter cartridge can be produced in this way.

A special embodiment of the invention provides that the additional component there is a hinge strip, which each has a receptacle for the adjacent filter folds having. The filter pleats are formed from individual segments in this training det, which are not interconnected. These ends are placed in the Recordings of the hinge strip inserted, which creates a seal and the fold edge is formed. Strictly speaking, this is not a fold edge in the class sical sense, which comes about by bending the filter material, but will formed by the hinge of the hinge bar. By separating the filter material into individual segments, there is no bending moment in the hinge due to the filter material line can be transmitted. In this way, extremely thick filter materials can also be used to produce pleated filters with a small pleat spacing. In particular, the fold can was less than the thickness of the filter material.

A particularly economical variant to produce is the hinge strip is made of plastic and the hinge is a film hinge. These hinge strips can be inexpensively manufactured in large numbers. Here, either a plastic injection molded part  are used, or the hinge strip is used as an extrusion profile and cut to the fold length.

Instead of a hinge strip, according to a further embodiment of the invention Additional component can also be formed by an angle bar. This has according to the Hinge bar each a holder for the adjacent segments of the filter. al However, the angular position of the two neighboring segments is due to the geometry the angle bar. A hinge leading to a movable angular position between the individual segments is not provided. The angle bar can advantageously be carried out as part of a filter frame which limits the fil represents deployment. You can choose between the angle bars and the filter frame detachable connections can be realized. Another option is the one-piece Execution of the filter frame and the angle strips z. B. as an injection molded part made of art material.

Another embodiment of the invention provides that the filter element as an additive Component has a limp reinforcement strip, which along the folded edges z. B. is glued. This reinforces the filter material in the area of the folded edges, so that this can be reduced in thickness. This can e.g. B. by embossing or hot deform the filter material happen. A possible deterioration of the mecha The properties of the filter material in the area of the folded edge are determined by the Stabili sation with the help of the reinforcement strip, so that the filter element too high stresses caused by the fluid, e.g. B. by pulsation or a high anlie pressure differential has grown.

The reinforcement strip itself is limp. The bending moment to form the folds is therefore not significantly enlarged. On the other hand, the necessary bending moment greatly reduced by reducing the thickness of the filter material. The result is therefore the filter material provided with reinforcement strips and folded edges of reduced thickness easy to fold, which reduces the advantages of low wrinkles already described can be realized.

It is advantageous to design the additional component in such a way that it matches the flow of the filtering fluids opposes a low flow resistance. This can e.g. B. by continuing the fold edge into a narrow ridge. Another possibility is the formation of a slightly rounded contour, which is particularly flow has favorable properties. In addition, this contour allows the height of the folds to  Regarding the height of the individual segments can be kept as low as possible, so Installation space is saved.

When using multilayer filter materials, the shape according to the invention is tion of the filter insert is particularly advantageous because these filter materials have a large thickness exhibit. When layers of adsorber particles are used, this also results in The advantage is that they are not compressed at the segment edges, as is the case with Faltkan ten would be the case. This means that the loss associated with the compression of the for the filtration important pore structure of the filter layer can be avoided. This applies to be especially if the adsorbent layer consists of loose particles such as activated carbon.

These and other features of preferred developments of the invention are based ßer from the claims also from the description and the drawing, wherein the individual features individually or in groups in the form of sub-combinations nations realized in the embodiment of the invention and in other fields be and can represent advantageous and protectable versions for which protection is claimed here.

drawing

Further details of the invention are shown in the drawing using schematic Described embodiments. Show here

Fig. 1 shows the schematic structure of a filter housing and level Filterele ment in section,

Fig. 2 shows the structure of a flat filter element having a permanently attached to the filter frame angle bars,

Fig. 3 shows the top view of an end plate, which comprises angle ledges for the radially inner fold edges of the filter medium,

Fig. 4 is a section through an angle strip with flow optimized contour of cut as a filter element,

Fig. 5 shows the structure of a filter material with reinforcing strips in the bent and unbent state in section,

Fig. 6 shows the formation of a hinge strip with film hinge in section and

Fig. 7 shows the formation of a hinge strip with a flow-optimized contour.

Description of the embodiments

Of FIG. 1 can be taken from a filter, drawing reference to a schematic section of the mode of action. A filter housing 10 is designed to be openable via a flange connection 11 , a filter insert 12 which has just been designed being insertable into the housing. The fluid to be cleaned flows through an inlet 13 according to the arrows indicated by the filter element 12 to an outlet 14 and is thereby cleaned ge.

The filter insert could be constructed according to FIG. 2. Accordingly, a Filterrah men 15 is provided which is made in one piece with angle bars 16 a. In the angle bars 16 a segments 17 of a filter material 18 are sealing z. B. introduced by gluing. Angle strips 16 b are clipped into the filter frame 15 for the final assembly of the segments, which facilitates the assembly of the segments.

The segments can have any structure and are therefore not shown in detail in the figures shown. Multi-layer systems with particle beds are just as conceivable as a single-layer structure, for example made of a porous material such as ceramic.

Instead of gluing, other fastening options for the segments are also possible. Welding by introducing an external energy is conceivable (e.g. laser welding, ultrasonic welding or infrared welding). It is also possible to pour the segments into the filter frame and / or into the angle bar. The described fastening methods of course apply not only to the embodiment according to FIG. 2 with an angular strip, but also to the embodiments according to FIGS . 3 to 7.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of the possibility of arranging angles 16 on an end plate 19 of a round filter cartridge 20th The angle strips can be recognized in their profile, a top view of the end plate without the filter material being shown. The filter material 18 is only indicated by dashed lines. It can be seen that only the inside folded edges of the zigzag folded filter material are replaced by angle strips. The outer fold edges are conventionally produced by folding the filter material into two segments 17 each, since there is a larger fold distance here.

In Fig. 4 a detail of the filter element according to the invention is provided with an angle bar 16 , which comprises two segments 17 . In profile, two outer legs 22 and an intermediate rib 23 can be seen on the angle bar, which grooves form for the end faces 24 of the segments 17 . The grooves are designed in such a way that they narrow towards the base of the groove, which ensures a better seal. Furthermore, the angle bar has a head 25 which encloses a volume 26 in order to avoid material accumulation in the angle bar. The head is designed to reduce flow resistance. The flow can flow around the head with low losses according to the indicated arrows.

Fig. 5 shows a variant of the filter material 18 , in which the segments at the edges adjacent to the reinforcement strips 27 have been compressed, whereby flats 21 are formed. As a result, when filter media with adsorber particles are used, they can be prevented from trickling out of the cut surfaces of the segments. The reinforcement strips 27 are applied in the form of a self-adhesive tape. The filter material is once in the bent and once in the undeformed state Darge, the segments 17 remain undeformed and the reinforcement strips are bent. The reinforcement strips can e.g. B. consist of foils. As an alternative to gluing, welding by thermal melting or melting is also conceivable.

In Fig. 6 is a hinge strip 28 is shown as an additional component for the segments 17. Similar to the angle bar shown in FIG. 4, this has receiving grooves 29 for the segments 17 . The grooves are additionally provided with shoulders 30 which prevent the segments from slipping out. At the same time, the sealing pressure between the hinge strip 28 and segments 17 is increased at the shoulders. In this exemplary embodiment, simply inserting the segments into the hinge strip without additional assembly aids is sufficient. Of course, gluing or welding can also be carried out. The hinge bar enables different angular positions of the segments to each other. This is accomplished by a film hinge 31 be. The hinge strip can be designed, for example, as an extruded profile, FIG. 6 showing this profile.

An alternative embodiment of the hinge strip is shown in FIG. 7. The segments 17 are mounted in the receiving grooves 29 exactly as described in FIG. 6.

However, instead of a film hinge, a thin-walled area 32 is provided between the two grooves, which can be easily bent. In this way, the segments can be brought into different angular positions, where at the point where a film hinge is provided according to FIG. 6, there is only one contact point for the two receiving grooves. The design shown has primarily flow advantages, which lead to an air flow, as described in Fig. 4.

An alternative embodiment of the hinge strip with two legs 33 is shown by the dashed contours. Here, similarly as in FIG. 6, there is again a film hinge at the tip thereof, whereby a streamlined edge of the filter element is also formed by the tapering of the two legs 33 .

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(for internal purposes only, will not be submitted)

10

filter housing

11

flange

12

filter cartridge

13

inlet

14

outlet

15

filter frame
16, 16a, b angle bar

17

segment

18

filter material

19

end disk

20

Filter cartridge

21

flattening

22

outer leg

23

intermediate rib

24

front

25

head

26

volume

27

reinforcement strips

28

hinge strip

29

receiving groove

30

paragraph

31

film hinge

32

thin-walled area

33

leg

Claims (10)

1. filter element, comprising a zigzag-shaped filter material ( 18 ) and means for holding the same in the filter element to form its geometry, characterized in that the filter material ( 18 ) is formed by individual, separate segments ( 17 ), wherein segments edges (21) of this Seg elements (17) which extends along the segment edges (21) with an additional component,
to stabilize the segment edges on the one hand and
to reduce the bending moment necessary for producing the zigzag-shaped formation of the filter material in relation to the bending moment necessary for the folding of this filter material on the other hand,
are provided. 2. Filter element according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional component is a hinge strip ( 28 ), each having a receptacle for the respectively adjacent segments ( 17 ) made of filter material, the segments ( 17 ) being connected to one another only via the hinge. 3. Filter element according to claim 2, characterized in that the hinge strip is made of plastic, and the hinge is a film hinge ( 31 ). 4. Filter element according to claim 3, characterized in that the hinge strip is designed as an extruded profile. 5. Filter element according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional component is an angle bar ( 16 ), each having a receptacle for the adjacent, the filter fold segments ( 17 ) made of filter material, wherein
the segments ( 17 ) are connected to each other only via the angle bar and
the angular position of the two adjacent segments is predetermined by the geometry of the angle bar. 6. Filter element according to claim 5, characterized in that the angle strips ( 16 ) with a filter frame ( 15 ), which forms a conclusion of the filter insert for installation in a filter housing, forms a structural unit. 7. Filter element according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional component is a flexible reinforcement strip ( 17 ) which is applied to the segment edges ( 21 ) each because of adjacent segments. 8. Filter element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the additional component is designed such that it matches the flow of the filter Fluids opposes a flow resistance, which compared to the flow resistance of the end edges of the segments, if this is due to the fluid would flow, is improved. 9. Filter element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the segments consist of a multi-layer filter material. 10. Filter element according to claim 9, characterized in that between two La at least one filter made of granular materials Layer, in particular made of activated carbon.