DE102018100640B4 - Filter device with a filter element and use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Filter device (100) for filtering oil with a filter housing (110) which has a lower shell (111) with a filter inlet opening (121) and an upper shell (112) with a filter outlet opening (122), the filter device (100) having the following features characterized in that:- the filter device (100) has a filter element (1) for filtering oil;- the filter element (1) has at least two folding lines (11, 12, 13, 14) around which the filter element (1) can be folded - the at least two folding lines (11, 12, 13, 14) do not run parallel to one another, at least in part; - a starting point (15) of a first folding line (11) coincides with a starting point (15) of a second folding line (12), and an end point (16) of the first fold line (11) coincides with an end point (16) of the second fold line (12);- the filter element (1) has a first filter surface (41), a second filter surface (42) and a third filter surface (43);- the first filter surface (41) is delimited by a first peripheral edge (21) of the filter element (1) and by the first fold line (11);- the second filter surface (42) is delimited by a second peripheral edge (22 ) of the filter element (1) and bounded by the second fold line (12);- the third filter surface (43) is bounded by the first fold line (11) and by the second fold line (12);- the filter element (1) is along its at least two fold lines (11, 12, 13, 14) folded so that the first filter surface (41) faces the filter inlet opening (121) and the second filter surface (42) faces the filter outlet opening (122); and- the filter element (1) is positioned and folded sandwiched between the lower shell (111) and the upper shell (112) such that the first peripheral edge (21) and the second peripheral edge (22) of the filter element (1) are arranged one on top of the other and by means the lower shell (111) and the upper shell (112) are pressed towards one another.

Description

The present invention relates to a filter device for filtering oil for an engine or a transmission, it being possible for the filter device to be part of a suction filter and/or part of a pressure filter.

Filter devices, which can be part of a suction filter or part of a pressure filter, are used to filter oil in engines and transmissions. In the case of suction filters, a pump is arranged at a filter outlet opening of the filter device, the pump sucking the oil to be filtered through a filter element or through a filter medium by means of negative pressure. It is customary to arrange a suction filter, which can also be referred to as a suction oil filter device, directly in an oil sump of an oil pan, with all of the oil to be filtered flowing through this suction oil filter device. The associated filter housing of a filter device usually has an upper shell and a lower shell, with a filter element or a filter medium being clamped between the upper shell and the lower shell. A correspondingly designed filter device is also referred to as a pocket filter or pocket filter device.

Especially at low temperatures of the oil to be filtered, this has a high viscosity. However, even in the starting phase of an engine, in which the oil to be filtered usually has a low temperature and therefore high viscosity, a minimum volume flow of oil through the filter device should be ensured in order to achieve adequate lubrication of an engine or a transmission.

In filter devices known from the prior art, filter elements are installed which are arranged between the lower shell and the upper shell of the filter housing and are folded in such a way that the edge regions of the filter element are pressed towards one another by means of the lower shell and the upper shell. The superimposed surfaces of a filter element run at an acute angle to each other in their contact areas, so that the flow properties of the oil to be filtered deteriorate in this area of the filter pocket with regard to the differential pressure, whereby a correspondingly designed filter device achieves a relatively low filtration performance.

The U.S. 2,564,845A describes a filter for a vacuum cleaner. The filter device includes a collapsible carton having a front panel, a back panel, side panels, a bottom panel, and wing structures. The side panels are connected to the front panel via fold lines of the carton. The same applies to the connection of the front surface with the bottom surface. A filter element is glued to the folding carton formed in this way, so that the filter element only adapts to the shape of the carton when the carton is bent. For example, cellulose wadding, soft crepe paper, hair, wood wool or the like can be used as the filter material for the filter element.

The DE 10 2008 063 937 A1 describes a method and an apparatus for producing a tubular element.

The DE 11 2017 000 276 T5 describes a pleated filter media pack with varying channels and deep corrugations.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a filter device with a filter element for filtering oil, the differential pressure of the filter device being reduced by means of the filter element, so that the filter device has improved filtration performance even at low temperatures of the oil to be filtered.

The object on which the present invention is based is achieved by a filter device having the features of claim 1 . Advantageous configurations of the filter device are described in the dependent claims.

In more detail, the object on which the present invention is based is achieved by a filter device for filtering oil with a filter housing which has a lower shell with a filter inlet opening and an upper shell with a filter outlet opening. The filter device has a filter element which has at least two folding lines about which the filter element can be folded. The at least two fold lines do not run parallel to one another, at least in part, with a starting point of a first fold line coinciding with a starting point of a second fold line, and with an end point of the first fold line coinciding with an end point of the second fold line. The filter element according to the invention thus has a first filter surface, a second filter surface and a third filter surface, the first filter surface being defined by a first peripheral edge of the filter element and the first fold line, the second filter surface being defined by a second peripheral edge of the filter element and the second fold line, and the third filter surface is delimited by the first fold line and by the second fold line. The filter element is folded along its at least two fold lines, so that the first filter surface is arranged opposite the filter inlet opening and the second filter surface is arranged opposite the filter outlet opening. Furthermore, the filter element is thus sandwiched between the upper shell and the lower shell positioned and folded such that the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge of the filter element are arranged one on top of the other and are pressed towards one another by means of the upper shell and the lower shell.

The filter device according to the invention has a reduced differential pressure, so that the filter device according to the invention has improved filtration performance even at low temperatures of the oil to be filtered. This is because the angles between the third filter surface and the first filter surface and between the third filter surface and the second filter surface are increased, so that the flow properties of the oil to be filtered in these areas of the filter pocket are improved with regard to the differential pressure, resulting in a correspondingly designed filter device has improved filtration performance.

Before being folded around the at least two folding lines, the filter element is preferably flat.

The fold lines are preferably formed by thinning the filter element, ie by thinning the filter element material along the fold lines. More preferably, the fold lines are formed by applying a force by means of a material edge that has the shape of the corresponding fold line. The fold lines can also be referred to as fold edges.

By bending or folding the filter element around the first fold line and around the second fold line, three filter surfaces are created, namely the first filter surface, the second filter surface and the third filter surface. The three filter surfaces each enclose an angle with one another which differs from 0° when the filter element is bent or folded around the fold lines and installed in a filter device.

In the installed state of the filter element in the filter device, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces preferably enclose an angle of more than 30° with one another. More preferably, when the filter element is installed in the filter device, the filter surfaces adjacent to one another enclose an angle of more than 40° with one another. More preferably, when the filter element is installed in the filter device, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of more than 50° with one another. More preferably, when the filter element is installed in the filter device, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of more than 60° with one another. More preferably, when the filter element is installed in the filter device, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of more than 70° with one another. More preferably, when the filter element is installed in the filter device, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of more than 80° with one another. More preferably, when the filter element is installed in the filter device, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of 90° with one another.

Preferably, the filter element has more than two fold lines. The filter element then also has more than three filter surfaces. If the filter element has n fold lines, then the filter element has n+1 filter surfaces accordingly.

The filter element is preferably designed in one layer. More preferably, the filter element is multi-layered, in particular two-layered or three-layered.

The filter device is preferably designed such that the starting points of the first fold line and the second fold line lie on a first material edge of the filter element and the end points of the first fold line and the second fold line lie on a second material edge of the filter element.

A corresponding design of the filter element makes it possible to fold it and then clamp it in a filter device in a simplified manner.

The second material edge is preferably arranged opposite the first material edge.

More preferably, the filter device is designed in such a way that the filter element has a through-opening arranged in the first filter surface.

More preferably, the filter device is designed in such a way that the first fold line and/or the second fold line is/are arcuate.

More preferably, the filter device is designed in such a way that the first fold line and/or the second fold line has/have at least two straight partial lines which merge into one another and enclose an angle with one another.

Appropriate design of the filter element allows it to be better adapted to a geometry of a filter device, more precisely to an internal geometry of a filter device in which the filter element is installed or is to be installed.

More preferably, the filter device is designed such that the first filter surface and the second filter surface are mirror-symmetrical to one another.

More preferably, the filter device is designed in such a way that the first fold line and the second fold line are mirror-symmetrical to one another.

The mutually adjacent filter surfaces preferably enclose an angle of more than 30° with one another. More preferably, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of more than 40° with one another. More preferably, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of more than 50° with one another. More preferably, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of more than 60° with one another. More preferably, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of more than 70° with one another. More preferably, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of more than 80° with one another. More preferably, the mutually adjacent filter surfaces enclose an angle of 90° with one another.

The filter device is preferably designed such that when the filter element is in a folded state, in which the filter element is folded about the first fold line and about the second fold line, the first filter surface and the third filter surface enclose an angle of more than 45°.

More preferably, the filter device is designed in such a way that the filter housing has at least one support element, with the third filter surface being in direct contact with the at least one support element.

A corresponding design of the filter device means that the geometry of the folded filter element within the filter device is stable, in particular in a flow-through state, ie when the filter device is in operation.

The filter device is preferably part of a suction filter. More preferably, the filter device is part of a pressure filter.

• 1: eine Draufsicht auf ein schematisch dargestelltes Filterelement einer Filtervorrichtung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einem nicht gebogenen Zustand;
• 2: eine perspektivische Darstellung des in 1 dargestellten Filterelements in einem gefalteten Zustand, in dem das Filterelement um eine erste Faltlinie und um eine zweite Faltlinie gebogen ist;
• 3: eine Querschnittsdarstellung einer schematisch dargestellten Filtervorrichtung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 4: eine Vergrößerung der in 3 dargestellten Filtervorrichtung im Bereich der dritten Filterfläche des Filterelements;
• 5: eine schematische Darstellung des Filterelements in einem Kontaktbereich des Filterelements mit Stützelementen der Filtervorrichtung;
• 6: eine Draufsicht auf ein schematisch dargestelltes Filterelement gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung in einem nicht gebogenen Zustand; und
• 7: eine Querschnittsdarstellung einer schematisch dargestellten Filtervorrichtung mit einem in dieser verbauten Filterelement gemäß der zweiten Ausführungsform in einem Kontaktbereich der dritten Filterflächen mit Stützelementen der Filtervorrichtung.

Further advantages, details and features of the invention result from the exemplary embodiments explained below. Show in detail:

• 1 1: a plan view of a schematically illustrated filter element of a filter device according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a non-bent state;
• 2 : a perspective view of the in 1 illustrated filter element in a folded state in which the filter element is bent about a first fold line and a second fold line;
• 3 1: a cross-sectional view of a schematically represented filter device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
• 4 : an enlargement of the in 3 illustrated filter device in the region of the third filter surface of the filter element;
• 5 1: a schematic representation of the filter element in a contact area of the filter element with support elements of the filter device;
• 6 1: a plan view of a schematically illustrated filter element according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a non-bent state; and
• 7 1: a cross-sectional view of a filter device shown schematically with a filter element built into it according to the second embodiment in a contact area of the third filter surfaces with support elements of the filter device.

In the description that now follows, the same reference symbols denote the same components or the same features, so that a description of a component that was carried out in relation to one figure also applies to the other figures, so that a repeated description is avoided. Furthermore, individual features that have been described in connection with one embodiment can also be used separately in other embodiments.

1 shows a top view of a schematically illustrated filter element 1 of a filter device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the filter element 1 is illustrated in a non-bent state, so that the filter element 1 is flat, consequently running in one plane.

The filter element 1 is designed for installation in a filter device 100, the filter device 100 in 3 is shown. The filter element 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has at least two folding lines 11, 12 about which the filter element 1 can be folded. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a first fold line 11 and a second fold line 12 are arcuate and mirror-symmetrical to one another. Due to the curved configuration of the first fold line 11 and the second fold line 12, the first fold line 11 and the second fold line 12 run partly not parallel to each other. More precisely, the first folding line 11 and the second folding line 12 run parallel to one another only at their respective crests.

How out 1 As can be seen, starting points 15 of the first fold line 11 and the second fold line 12 coincide. The same applies to the end points 16 of the first fold line 11 and the second fold line 12, because the end points 16 of the first fold line 11 and the second fold line 12 also coincide. Furthermore is off 1 It can be seen that the starting points 15 of the first fold line 11 and the second fold line 12 lie on a material edge 31 of the filter element 1 . The end points 16 of the first fold line 11 and the second fold line 12 lie on a second material edge 32 , the second material edge 32 being arranged opposite the first material edge 31 .

The filter element 1 is delimited by a first peripheral edge 21 and by a second peripheral edge 22 . The first peripheral edge 21 runs from the starting point 15 in the illustrated embodiment in a U-shape to the end point 16. The second peripheral edge 22 also runs from the starting point 15 to the end point 16 in a U-shape, but is mirror-symmetrical to the first peripheral edge 21.

According to the invention, however, there are no restrictions with regard to the geometry of the filter element 1 . Thus the in 1 shown geometry of the filter element 1 only as an example. The peripheral edges 21, 22 of the filter element 1 can also have a different geometry.

This in 1 The filter element 1 shown has a first filter surface 41 which is delimited by the first peripheral edge 21 and by the first fold line 11 . Furthermore, the filter element 1 has a second filter surface 42 which is delimited by the second peripheral edge 22 and by the second fold line 12 . Furthermore, the filter element 1 has a third filter surface 43 which is delimited by the first fold line 11 and by the second fold line 12 .

Furthermore, the filter element 1 has a passage opening 50 arranged in the first filter surface 41 . The through-opening 50 is usually opened via a filter inlet opening 121 of an in 3 The filter device 1 shown is arranged so that oil to be filtered can be conveyed into an interior space of the filter device 100 via the passage opening 50 and the filter inlet opening 121 . The further functioning and the further structure of the filter device 100 is described below with reference to FIG 3 until 5 and 7 described.

By bending or folding the filter element 1 about the first fold line 11 and about the second fold line 12, the angles of the filter surfaces 41, 42, 43 change to one another. The three filter surfaces 41 , 42 , 43 each enclose an angle with one another which differs from 0° when the filter element is bent or folded about the fold lines and is installed in a filter device 100 .

2 shows a perspective view of the in 1 illustrated filter element 1 in a folded state, in which the filter element 1 is bent about the first fold line 11 and a second fold line 12 . It can be seen that the first filter surface 41 and the second filter surface 42 run essentially parallel to one another. The third filter surface 43, on the other hand, runs essentially perpendicular both to the first filter surface 41 and to the second filter surface 42. Furthermore, is off 2 It can be seen that in the bent state of the filter element 1 the first peripheral edge 21 runs parallel to the second peripheral edge 22 .

3 FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a filter device 100, shown schematically, according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The filter device 100 for filtering oil has a filter housing 110 which has a lower shell 111 and an upper shell 112 . The filter housing 110 further has a filter inlet opening 121 provided in the lower shell 111 and a filter outlet opening 122 provided in the upper shell 112 .

The filter device 100 also has a filter element 1 in the bent state, in which the filter element 1 is bent around the first fold line 11 and around the second fold line 12, so that the first filter surface 41 is arranged opposite the filter inlet opening 121 and the second filter surface 42 is arranged opposite the filter outlet opening 122 are. The filter element 1 is positioned and folded sandwich-like between the lower shell 111 and the upper shell 112 in such a way that the first peripheral edge 21 and the second peripheral edge 22 of the filter element 1 are arranged one on top of the other and are pressed towards one another by means of the lower shell 111 and the upper shell 112, so that a filter pocket formed by the filter element 1 is formed within the filter housing 110 .

It can be seen that the passage opening 50 of the filter element 1 coincides with the filter inlet opening 121 of the filter housing 110 so that oil can be conveyed into a filter pocket formed by the filter element 1 via the passage opening 50 and the filter inlet opening 121 . Oil can, for example, via the passage opening 50 and the filter inlet opening 121 by generating negative pressure at the Filterauslassöff 122 are sucked into the filter pocket and thus into an interior of the filter housing 110 . The folded filter element 1 expands as a result of a corresponding suction of oil into the filter pocket.

Out of 3 It can also be seen that the filter housing 110 has a plurality of first support elements 131, with the third filter surface 43 of the filter element 1 being in direct contact with the plurality of first support elements 131. The filter housing 110 also has a multiplicity of second support elements 132 which are arranged on inner surfaces of the lower shell 111 and the upper shell 112 . The first filter surface 41 is partially in direct contact with the second support elements 132 formed on the lower shell 111, and the second filter surface 42 is in direct contact with second support elements 132 formed on the upper shell 112.

It can be seen that the oil flow S within the filter housing 110 and within the filter pocket is improved, particularly in the area of the third filter surface 43 of the filter element 1 . The filtration performance by means of the filter element 1 is thus improved, in particular in the area of the filter outlet opening 122 , because the third filter surface 43 of the filter element 1 is arranged in the area of the filter outlet opening 122 . Consequently, the filter device 100 has a reduced differential pressure and therefore also has an improved filtration performance of oil in a starting phase of a motor vehicle, in which the oil has an increased viscosity.

4 shows an enlargement of the in 3 shown filter device 100 in the region of the third filter surface 43 of the filter element 1. 5 again shows a schematic representation of the filter element 1 in a contact area of the filter element 1 with the first support elements 131 of the filter housing 110. It can be seen that the first support elements 131 are designed and positioned in such a way that they trace the shape of the third filter surface 43, so that even with an oil flow through the filter pocket formed by the filter element 1, the shape of the third filter surface 43 remains essentially unchanged.

6 shows a plan view of a schematically illustrated filter element 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a non-bent state. The filter element 1 according to the second embodiment differs from the filter element 1 according to the first embodiment in that the filter element 1 according to the second embodiment has four fold lines 11, 12, 13, 14. Each of the fold lines 11, 12, 13, 14 has three sub-lines 11_1, 12_1, 13_1, 14_1, which each merge into one another and each form an angle with one another. Due to a corresponding design of the filter element 1, the third filter surface 43 is segmented.

7 shows a cross-sectional view of a schematically illustrated filter device 100 with a built-in filter element 1 according to the second embodiment in a contact area of the third filter surface 43 with first support elements 131 of the filter housing. It can be seen that the third filter surface 43 is divided into three sub-surfaces due to the four fold lines 11, 12, 13, 14, which enclose an angle that differs from 0° with one another. The first support elements 131 are shaped accordingly.

The remaining structure and the remaining functionality of both the filter element 1 according to the second embodiment and the filter device 100 according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the filter element 1 according to the first embodiment and the filter device 100 according to the first embodiment.

Reference List

1

filter element

11

first fold line / first fold edge (of the filter element)

11_1

partial line (of the first fold line)

12

second folding line / second folding edge (of the filter element)

12_1

partial line (of the second fold line)

13

third folding line / third folding edge (of the filter element)

13_1

partial line (of the third fold line)

14

fourth fold line / fourth fold edge (of the filter element)

14_1

partial line (of the fourth fold line)

15

starting point (of the fold lines)

16

end point (of the fold lines)

21

first peripheral edge (of the filter element)

22

second peripheral edge (of the filter element)

31

first material edge of the filter element

32

second material edge of the filter element

41

first filter surface (of the filter element)

42

second filter surface (of the filter element)

43

third filter surface(s) (of the filter element)

50

through hole (of the filter element)

100

filter device

110

filter housing

111

bottom shell (of the filter housing)

112

upper shell (of the filter housing)

121

filter inlet opening (of the filter housing)

122

filter outlet opening (of the filter housing)

131

(first) support element / support rib (of the filter housing)

132

(second) support element / support rib (of the filter housing)

S

Oil flow / flow direction of the oil during operation

Claims (11)

Filter device (100) for filtering oil with a filter housing (110) which has a lower shell (111) with a filter inlet opening (121) and an upper shell (112) with a filter outlet opening (122), the filter device (100) having the following features is marked: - The filter device (100) has a filter element (1) for filtration of oil; - The filter element (1) has at least two folding lines (11, 12, 13, 14) about which the filter element (1) can be folded; - The at least two fold lines (11, 12, 13, 14) do not run parallel to one another, at least in part; - a starting point (15) of a first folding line (11) coincides with a starting point (15) of a second folding line (12), and an end point (16) of the first folding line (11) coincides with an end point (16) of the second folding line ( 12) together; - The filter element (1) has a first filter surface (41), a second filter surface (42) and a third filter surface (43); - The first filter surface (41) is delimited by a first peripheral edge (21) of the filter element (1) and by the first fold line (11); - The second filter surface (42) is delimited by a second peripheral edge (22) of the filter element (1) and by the second fold line (12); - The third filter surface (43) is delimited by the first fold line (11) and by the second fold line (12); - The filter element (1) is folded along its at least two fold lines (11, 12, 13, 14), so that the first filter surface (41) is arranged opposite the filter inlet opening (121) and the second filter surface (42) is arranged opposite the filter outlet opening (122). are; and - The filter element (1) is positioned and folded sandwich-like between the lower shell (111) and the upper shell (112) in such a way that the first peripheral edge (21) and the second peripheral edge (22) of the filter element (1) are arranged one on top of the other and by means of the Lower shell (111) and the upper shell (112) are pressed towards each other. Filter device (100) after claim 1 , characterized in that the starting points (15) of the first folding line (11) and the second folding line (12) on a first material edge (31) of the filter element (1) and the end points (16) of the first folding line (11) and the second Folding line (12) lie on a second material edge (32) of the filter element (1). Filter device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter element (1) has a through opening (50) arranged in the first filter surface (41). Filter device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first fold line (11) and/or the second fold line (12) is/are arcuate. Filter device (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the first folding line (11) and/or the second folding line (12) has/have at least two straight partial lines (11_1, 12_1) which merge into one another and enclose an angle with one another. Filter device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first filter surface (41) and the second filter surface (42) are mirror-symmetrical to one another. Filter device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first fold line (11) and the second fold line (12) are mirror-symmetrical to one another. Filter device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a folded state of the filter element (1), in which the filter element (1) is folded about the first fold line (11) and about the second fold line (12), the first filter surface (41) and third filter surface (43) enclose an angle of more than 45°. Filter device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the following features: - the filter housing (110) has at least one support element (131); - The third filter surface (43) is in direct contact with the at least one support element (131). Use of a filter device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims as part of a suction filter. Use of a filter device (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 9 as part of a pressure filter.

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