DE102013217333A1 - In-tank-filter for filtering liquid, has two filter sides and annular peripheral wall, which is provided for forming housing and encloses two filter sides, where former filter side comprises pleated filter medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The in-tank-filter (10) has two filter sides (11), between which a receiving chamber is arranged, and a port (40), through which the filtered liquid is discharged from the receiving chamber. An annular peripheral wall (20) is provided for forming a housing (18) and encloses the two filter sides. The former filter side comprises a pleated filter medium (50). The latter filter side is formed by a flat filter medium. The peripheral wall is injection molded from a plastic material. An independent claim is included for a filter medium with a supporting layer.

Description

The present invention relates to an in-tank filter for filtering a liquid having a first filter side and a second filter side, between which an inner receiving space is disposed, and a port through which filtered liquid as a filtrate can be derived from the receiving space, according to the preamble of claim 1

The invention further relates to a filter medium, in particular for such an in-tank filter, wherein the filter medium is pleated to form wrinkles.

Such in-tank filters are used, for example, for filtering fuel within fuel tanks in vehicles. The in-tank filters are arranged in the inlet region of the fuel suction line. In this way prevents dirt or rust particles get into the injection system of an internal combustion engine.

Such an in-tank filter is for example from the DE 40 26 230 A1 out. The filter is pocket-shaped formed from two layers of a filter medium. An inlaid scaffold serves to form a receiving space into which the filtered liquid flows. The connection is arranged on a filter medium.

Particularly in modern high-pressure injection systems with a large number of very fine injection nozzles, reliable fine filtration of the fuel and other liquids is becoming increasingly important.

The invention has for its object to provide an in-tank filter and a filter medium for this purpose, which ensure a compact and robust construction with a high filter performance.

The object is achieved on the one hand by an in-tank filter with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

The in-tank filter according to the invention is characterized in that, to form a housing, an annular peripheral wall is provided which encloses the first filter side and the second filter side, and that at least one filter side has a pleated filter medium.

The use of a pleated filter medium creates a large filter surface with compact outer dimensions of the in-tank filter. The pleated filter medium is enclosed by an annular peripheral wall. The peripheral wall forms the lateral boundary of the receiving space, on whose end faces the first and second filter side are arranged. The peripheral wall stabilizes the filter unit and the inner receiving space. By pleating at least one filter medium, a filter side is stabilized, so that an additional inner support framework can be omitted.

With the invention, a compact and robust construction of an in-tank filter is created in this way, which has a relatively large filter surface. Thus, even with very fine filter openings good filter performance can be achieved.

The annular peripheral wall may be C-shaped and accordingly comprises two front portions connecting a large and a small arc portion. In one embodiment, the annular peripheral wall has at least one straight line section at its inner radius. Preferably, the straight line section is provided in a base part of the peripheral wall. In particular, the straight line section extends between a front section and an arc section of the annular base section.

A particularly robust construction is achieved according to the invention in that a pleat height of the pleated filter medium is smaller than a height of the peripheral wall and the pleated filter medium is disposed within the annular peripheral wall. The pleated filter medium thus does not protrude beyond the dimensions of the annular peripheral wall. This ensures a particularly good stability and reduces the risk of damaging the sensitive filter medium during installation and operation of the in-tank filter.

For particularly high filter performance, that is to say a high liquid throughput, basically the first filter side and the second filter side can be provided with a pleated filter medium. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first filter side are formed by the pleated filter medium and the second filter side by a flat filter medium. The combination of a flat filter medium with a pleated filter medium and the annular peripheral wall creates a particularly stable inner receiving space for receiving the filtered liquid, the so-called filtrate. This eliminates the need for an inner scaffold. This simplifies the construction of the in-tank filter and reduces weight and costs.

A further simplification is achieved in an embodiment according to the invention in that the connection is arranged on the annular peripheral wall. The connection can be formed in particular during injection molding of the peripheral wall. sealing problems and in particular a penetration of unfiltered liquid into the receiving space are thereby counteracted in principle.

A further preferred embodiment according to the invention consists in that the connection has a connection arm extending from the peripheral wall to the outside with a fluid line which extends from the receiving space to a connection opening. By this outwardly extending connecting arm, the position of the connection opening for connection to a suction line is moved to the outside. The in-tank filter can be adapted by simple modification of the connecting arm to different applications and connection variants. The in-tank filter according to the invention can be used in particular for fuels for internal combustion engines, in particular for gasoline and diesel, as well as for other liquids, for example for urea tanks, as are required for pollutant reduction in self-igniting internal combustion engines.

Further, it is provided according to a variant of the invention that an element is arranged at the connection opening. This element may be a control valve for controlling an internal pressure in the receiving space and thus the filter pressure difference and the Abpumpmenge of filtrate from the receiving space. The element may also be a heater with an electric heating coil as the active heating element to set a temperature of the liquid at the connection opening. Another variant for the element is a Wärmeleitpin, which is heated passively or indirectly and gives off heat to the liquid in the region of the connection opening.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention is that the filter medium of the second filter side is accommodated in a holding frame, which is arranged in a fluid-tight manner on an end side of the peripheral wall and in that the peripheral wall with the holding frame for forming the connecting arm have a first arm portion and a second arm portion, between which the fluid line is formed. The holding frame can form part of the peripheral wall, in which case the holding frame is arranged on a base part of the peripheral wall. The holding frame is formed in particular of plastic, wherein the flat filter medium is secured by a suitable fastening manner therein. The attachment can be done for example by gluing, pouring or welding.

In this two-part embodiment of the peripheral wall can be formed in the connecting arm in a simple manner, any fluid line. The connecting arm is formed so to speak of two half-shells, namely a first arm portion on the base part of the peripheral wall and a second arm portion on the holding frame. By connecting the two arm portions along the marginal edges, the fluid conduit is enclosed and formed.

In one embodiment, the in-tank filter comprises an upper filter part with the flat filter medium and a lower filter medium with the pleated filter medium. These two filter parts can be connected together in forming the in-tank filter such that the in-tank filter forms a component. For example, webs may be provided on the respective upper and lower sides of the filter parts, which serve as connecting webs. Preferably, the webs are designed as welding webs. In addition, the two filter parts may have holding ribs, which serve to fix and simplify the connection of the two filter parts and their integration into the tank. Such ribs may also be designed so that they serve as a landmark.

In principle, the annular peripheral wall can have any desired contour, in particular be angular, circular or oval. According to the invention, it is particularly preferred that the peripheral wall has an arcuate, in particular C-shaped outer contour. This C-shaped or kidney-shaped outer contour can be installed in a variety of tank shapes in a space-saving manner. In addition, results in the attachment of the pleated filter medium within a C-shaped contour of the peripheral wall, a relatively uniform length of the individual folds, which is advantageous for the stability behavior of the filter at an applied filtration pressure. An inner radius of the filter base may provide two straight line sections. This simplifies the three-dimensional cutting of the filter material and thus improves the embedding of the filter material in this area.

The pleated filter medium may be secured in any suitable manner to the inside of the peripheral wall, for example by gluing or welding. A particularly economical and thereby fluid-tight connection of peripheral wall and pleated filter medium is inventively achieved in that the peripheral wall is injection-molded from a plastic and that an edge of the pleated filter medium is firmly connected during injection molding with the peripheral wall. Also, the filter medium of the second filter side, even if it is designed as a flat filter medium, can be connected to the peripheral wall during injection molding by encapsulation of the peripheral edges.

The object mentioned above is achieved on the other hand by a filter medium having the features of claim 11. The filter medium according to the invention is characterized in that this has an arcuate, part-annular contour, wherein the folds of the filter medium are arranged parallel to each other. In this arcuate shape and the parallel arrangement of the folds of the pleated filter medium high stability and a high versatility are achieved. The folds are preferably aligned according to a center or symmetry plane of the arch form. In particular, the filter medium can be used in the previously described in-tank filter.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter medium on several layers, which are spot welded together. In this way, the layers of the filter medium can be reliably connected to one another without the flow properties being restricted too much by this type of connection.

Furthermore, it is preferred according to the invention that a support layer and a filter fleece are provided. The filter fleece is decisive for the desired filtration properties, in particular the filter openings are predetermined by the fleece. Preferably, a support layer is arranged on the inflow side of the filter fleece, which additionally provides protection of the filter fleece from mechanical damage in this position and, after pleating, keeps the filter material in the desired shape. In principle, however, the support layer can also be arranged downstream, that is to say to the interior of the in-tank filter. On the side facing away from the support layer side of the filter fabric, a cover fleece may additionally be arranged as a cover layer. The cover fleece can be made of an endless fiber and serves to retain possibly triggered staple fibers and thus protect the clean side of the filter.

The support layer may be made of any material, such as metal, but plastic is preferred. Further, it is advantageous according to the invention that the support layer is formed as a fabric, a slotted film or as a melt-extruded grid. The openings of the support layer are dimensioned substantially larger than the fine openings, which are given by the filter fabric.

Short description of the drawing

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment, which is shown schematically in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings show:

1 a perspective view of a first filter side of an in-tank filter according to the invention,

2 a perspective view of a second filter side of the in-tank filter according to 1 .

3 a schematic partial cross-sectional view through the in-tank filter according to the invention,

4 a top view of an upper filter part with flat filter medium,

5 a bottom view of an upper filter part with flat filter medium,

6 a plan view of a lower filter part with pleated filter medium, and

7 a bottom view of a lower filter part with pleated filter medium.

variants

1 shows a perspective view of a first filter side 11 on an underside of an in-tank filter according to the invention 10 ,

The in-tank filter 10 includes an upper filter part 132 and a lower filter part 134 , Furthermore, the in-tank filter 10 a housing 18 on, which is a first housing part or a peripheral wall 20 of the lower filter part 134 and a second housing part or a holding frame 125 of the upper filter part 132 includes. The two housing parts 20 . 125 when assembling the two filter parts 132 . 134 connected to each other, in particular welded and thus form in the assembled state of the in-tank filter 10 a component. These can be firmly connected to each other, for example, by gluing or thermal welding, connected to each other.

In the in-tank filter 10 as shown in 1 is the case 18 with the annular, substantially C-shaped peripheral wall 20 and the annular, substantially C-shaped support frame 125 intended. In the peripheral wall 20 is to form the first filter side 11 a pleated filter medium 50 used. The pleated filter medium 50 has a variety of wrinkles 52 on, which are arranged parallel to each other. In the frame 125 is to form the second filter side 12 on the first filter side 11 opposite side a flat filter medium 60 used.

The peripheral wall 20 is through a first large arc section 25 and a second, smaller arc section 26 formed, which are designed substantially semicircular. For forming the annular peripheral wall 20 are the big bow section 25 and the little bow section 26 with a first front section 27 and a second front section 28 connected with each other. The wrinkles 52 of the pleated filter medium 50 are aligned parallel to a central plane which is approximately vertical to the two front sections 27 and 28 runs. Furthermore, the peripheral wall comprises 20 a base part 22 that has a first straight section 81 and a second straight line section 91 provides. The straight line sections 81 . 91 extend between the smaller arc section 26 and the front sections 28 . 27 ,

In the area of the second front section 28 is to make a connection 40 a from the peripheral wall 20 away extending link arm 42 arranged at the outer end of a connection opening 44 is trained. The connection opening 44 is used to connect to a suction, not shown, to filtered liquid from the in-tank filter 10 dissipate. The connection 40 has webs 101 on that are designed so that the in-tank filter 10 without further sealing elements for the connection opening 44 gets along and cohesively connected directly to a carrier or a flange, preferably can be welded.

In the illustration according to 2 is the second filter page 12 of the in-tank filter 10 represented by the flat filter medium 60 is formed. The flat filter medium 60 is on the support frame 125 attached fluid-tight.

The support frame 125 has one to the peripheral wall 20 Congruent designed form on. So has the support frame 125 also the first big arc section 25 and the second, smaller arc section 26 on. The two bow sections 25 . 26 are over a first front section 27 and a second front section 28 connected with each other. The support frame 125 thus has the same arcuate contour as the base part 22 on, but without the two straight line sections 81 , respectively. 91 that in the base part 22 the peripheral wall 20 are formed, so the case 18 together with the peripheral wall 20 to form consistently. Through the first filter side 11 with the pleated filter medium 50 , the second filter side 12 with the flat filter medium 60 and the surrounding peripheral wall 20 becomes an internal recording room 14 enclosed, which in 3 is illustrated in more detail. The surface of the pleated filter medium 50 is about three times as large as that of the flat filter medium 60 , The support frame 125 , the base part 22 and the peripheral wall 20 form the housing 18 as a component.

To form the connecting arm 42 has the base part 22 a first arm portion 45 and the support frame 125 a correspondingly formed second arm portion 46 which in each case have a recess for forming an inner fluid line in each case at their mutually directed inner sides. The connecting arm thus formed 42 is formed part-arc-shaped, wherein this on its radially inner side of a circular ring shape of the small arc section 26 the peripheral wall 20 takes up and continues. In the area of the connection opening 44 is an element 70 arranged, which in the present embodiment as Wärmeleitpin 70 is formed, which may be made of stainless steel, for example. This is the element 70 formed as a pin-shaped heater for heating the filtered liquid. The heating takes place indirectly or passively, by the Wärmeleitpin 70 Heat from an active heater or heater (not shown) in the vicinity of the heat-conducting pin 70 in the area of the connection opening 44 passes. At the upper filter part 132 with the flat filter medium 60 and the support frame 125 is a weld geometry, compare reference numbers 120 . 121 , formed, to which a heater cohesively connected, in particular welded, so that frozen filtrate in the filter interior 14 Thawed as quickly as possible. The pin-shaped heating device for heating the filtered liquid, ie the Wärmeleitpin 70 , becomes at the in-tank filter 10 externally heated by the heating.

Depending on the intended use of the in-tank filter 10 can on the support frame 125 fastening pins 30 and at the base part 22 the peripheral wall 20 Webs or ribs 32 be arranged. The retaining pins 30 and the ribs 32 are for fixing the filter half shells or filter parts 132 . 134 , so to fix the upper filter part 132 comprising the holding frame 125 with the lower filter part 134 comprising the base part 22 , when material bonding, especially when welding these components together required. The webs or ribs 24 are designed as welds, which are used to fix the in-tank filter 10 when cohesive connection with a carrier or a flange are required. One with reference numerals 110 designated rib represents an orientation and holding rib, which is used to align the in-tank filter 10 when cohesively connecting the filter parts 132 . 134 serves.

According to the enlarged scale 3 becomes an internal recording room 14 on the first filter side 11 through the pleated filter medium 50 and on the second filter side 12 through the flat filter medium 60 enclosed, with a lateral boundary of the receiving space 14 through the annular peripheral wall 20 done with the support frame 125 the housing 18 forms. Via an entrance opening 41 is the recording room 14 with the fluid line in the connecting arm 42 and thus with the connection opening 44 connected for connection to a suction line. By means of a delivery unit, such as a pump, is in the recording room 14 creates a negative pressure through which liquid from a tank, in which the in-tank filter 10 is built in, through the pleated filter medium 50 and the flat filter medium 60 is sucked in and filtered in this way. The filtered liquid is as filtrate through the inlet 41 and the connection opening 44 dissipated.

To allow entry of unfiltered liquid into the receiving space 14 To prevent, are the pleated filter medium 50 and the flat filter medium 60 tight with the peripheral wall 20 and the support frame 125 connected. For this purpose, the pleated filter medium 50 during injection molding of the base part 22 made of plastic poured into this and so firmly with the base part 22 connected. This results on the side of the peripheral wall 20 a fastening heel 34 which conforms to the shape and edge contour of the pleated filter medium 50 on the inside of the base part 22 extends. Also the flat filter medium 60 is used in injection molding of the holding frame 125 Made of plastic poured into these and so firmly with the support frame 125 connected. This results on the side of the holding frame 125 also a fixing paragraph 34 which conforms to the shape and edge contour of the flat filter medium 50 on the inside of the support frame 125 extends.

The peripheral wall 20 and the holding element 125 are in the Breeich of the footbridges 132 . 136 connected with each other. Finally, a height of the peripheral wall 20 with a correspondingly formed lower edge 21 such on the pleated filter medium 50 with the wrinkles 52 coordinated formed that the pleated filter medium 50 within the peripheral wall 20 lies and not over the lower marginal edge 21 protrudes. The marginal edge 21 is part of the bridge or the rib 24 , via which the filter with the flange or carrier materially connected, in particular can be welded and thus serves to attach the filter.

4 shows a plan view of an upper filter part 132 with flat filter medium 60 ,

The upper filter part 132 includes the support frame 125 in which the flat filter medium 60 is included. This is the flat filter medium 60 firmly with the holding frame 125 connected. For example, the flat filter medium 60 during injection molding of the holding frame 125 be poured or encapsulated to ensure a firm connection.

Furthermore, the upper filter part 132 two bow sections 25 . 26 on that over two front sections 27 . 28 connected to each other. In the area of the second front section 28 is to making the connection 40 a from the holding element 125 away extending link arm 42 arranged at the outer end of a connection opening 44 is trained. In the area of the connection opening 44 is an element 70 arranged, which in the present embodiment as Wärmeleitpin 70 is formed, which may be made of stainless steel, for example.

The support frame 125 still has webs 121 on which serve the upper filter part 132 to connect with a heater, in particular to weld. The bridges 121 extend in the area of the terminal 40 and at least partially in the area of the front section 28 and the smaller bow section 26 , Around the upper filter part 132 when connecting to the lower filter part 134 to fix, are on the top of the holding frame shown 125 fastening pins 30 intended.

5 shows a bottom view of the upper filter part 132 with flat filter medium 60 ,

With regard to the structural features corresponds to 5 the representation of the upper filter part 132 in 4 , However, the in 5 shown underside of the upper filter part 132 another geometry of webs 136 , On the underside of the upper filter part 132 is a full bridge 136 provided on the support frame to the upper filter part 132 with the lower filter part 134 to connect, in particular to weld. This jetty 136 is both along the bow and front sections 25 . 26 . 27 . 28 as well as in the area of the connection 40 intended.

6 shows a plan view of the lower filter part 134 with pleated filter medium 50 ,

The lower filter part 134 includes a peripheral wall 20 with a base part 22 , The peripheral wall 20 has, as described above, two arc sections 25 . 26 and two front sections 27 . 28 on. Furthermore, at the base part 22 straight section 81 . 91 provided in the transition area between the front sections 27 . 28 and the smaller arc section 26 are located. In the area of the second front section 28 is to making the connection 40 extending from the base part 22 away extending link arm 45 arranged at the outer end of the connection opening 44 is trained. This includes a channel 42 through which the liquid to be filtered enters the filter area 14 can flow into it.

At the peripheral wall 20 are ribs 32 provided when connecting the lower filter part 134 with the upper filter part 132 or the flange for fixing the lower filter part 134 serve. On the top of the peripheral wall 20 of the lower filter part 134 is as well as on the bottom of the upper filter part 132 , a full bridge provided to the lower filter part 134 with the upper one filter part 132 to connect, in particular to weld. This jetty 140 is both along the bow and front sections 25 . 26 . 27 . 28 as well as in the area of the connection opening 40 educated.

7 shows a bottom view of the lower filter part 138 with pleated filter medium 50 , Constructively corresponds to in 7 shown construction of the lower filter part 134 the the 7 , However, on the bottom of the lower filter part 134 Stege 146 provided, which serve the lower filter part 134 to connect with the flange, in particular to weld. These are the bars 139 in sections on the bottom of the lower filter part 138 appropriate. The bridge sections 139 are located both in the area of bow sections 25 . 26 as well as in the area of the front sections 27 . 28 ,

The inventively proposed in-tank filter 10 is particularly intended for motor vehicles for filtering fuels or other liquids for internal combustion engines, such as urea liquid in the NO _x reduction.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 4026230 A1 [0004]

Claims (14)

In-tank filter ( 10 ) for filtering a liquid with - a first filter side ( 11 ) and a second filter side ( 12 ) between which a recording room ( 14 ) and - a connection ( 40 ), over which filtered liquid from the receiving space ( 14 ), characterized in that - that for forming a housing ( 18 ) an annular peripheral wall ( 20 ) is provided, which the first filter side ( 11 ) and the second filter page ( 12 ), and - that at least one filter side ( 11 ) a pleated filter medium ( 50 ) having. In-tank filter according to claim 1, characterized in that a pleat height of the pleated filter medium ( 50 ) smaller than a height of the peripheral wall ( 20 ) and the pleated filter medium ( 50 ) within the annular peripheral wall ( 20 ) is arranged. In-tank filter ( 10 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first filter side ( 11 ) through the pleated filter medium ( 50 ) and the second filter page ( 12 ) through a flat filter medium ( 60 ) are formed. In-tank filter ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connection ( 40 ) on the annular peripheral wall ( 20 ) is arranged. In-tank filter ( 10 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the connection ( 40 ) one from the peripheral wall ( 20 ) outwardly extending connecting arm ( 42 ) having a fluid conduit extending from the receiving space ( 14 ) to a connection opening ( 44 ) runs. In-tank filter ( 10 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that at the connection opening ( 44 ) An element is arranged, which is designed as Wärmeleitpin, as a heating element and / or as a control valve. In-tank filter ( 10 ) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the flat filter medium ( 60 ) of the second filter side ( 12 ) in a holding frame ( 24 ), which is fluid-tight at an end face of the peripheral wall ( 20 ) is arranged, and that the peripheral wall ( 20 ) with the holding frame ( 24 ) for forming the connecting arm ( 42 ) a first arm portion ( 45 ) and a second arm portion ( 46 ), between which the fluid line is formed. In-tank filter ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the peripheral wall ( 20 ) has an arcuate, in particular a C-shaped outer contour. In-tank filter ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the peripheral wall ( 20 ) is injection-molded from a plastic and that an edge ( 54 ) of the pleated filter medium ( 50 ) with the peripheral wall ( 20 ) is firmly connected. In-tank filter ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that and the annular peripheral wall ( 20 ) at its inner radius at least one straight line section ( 81 . 91 ) having. Filter medium, in particular for an in-tank filter ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, which forms to form wrinkles ( 52 ) is pleated, characterized in that the filter medium ( 50 ) has an arcuate, partially annular contour, wherein the folds ( 52 ) of the filter medium ( 50 ) are arranged parallel to each other. Filter medium according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of layers which are spot-welded together. Filter medium according to claim 12, characterized in that a support layer and a filter fleece are provided. Filter medium according to claim 13, characterized in that the support layer is formed as a fabric, as a slit film or as a melt-extruded grid.

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