EP2257360A1

EP2257360A1 - Air filter comprising a security element

Info

Publication number: EP2257360A1
Application number: EP09716100A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Karlheinz MÜNKEL; Markus Kolczyk; Stefan Becker; Michael Heim
Original assignee: Mann and Hummel GmbH
Current assignee: Mann and Hummel GmbH
Priority date: 2008-02-26
Filing date: 2009-02-26
Publication date: 2010-12-08
Also published as: EP2574390A2; EP2249944B1; EP2247364B1; EP2881158A1; BRPI0907821A2; CN102015063A; BRPI0907147A2; EP2249944A2; CN102015063B; EP2574390A3; EP2247364A1; CN102015062A; WO2009106592A2; WO2009106593A1; EP2574390B1; WO2009106594A1; CN102015062B; WO2009106592A3; EP2249944B2

Abstract

The invention relates to an air filter arrangement comprising a filter element (1) provided with a first filter bellow-type element (10) and a security filter element (200) mounted downstream. The filter element has a flow-off form corresponding to the approach flow form of the security filter element.

Description

description

Air filter with safety element

Technical area

The present invention relates to an air filter with security element and in particular to an air filter with security element with an increased efficiency.

State of the art

The combustion air required for internal combustion engines is usually cleaned prior to feeding into the combustion chamber in order to increase the performance and the life of the internal combustion engine. In this case, an air filter arrangement is often used for the purification of the combustion air. This is particularly important for internal combustion engines, which operate in an environment that are used in a special pollution load of the ambient air, as is the case for example in the field of construction or agriculture. Particularly in the field of construction or in agriculture occurs sometimes very high levels of dust, which makes it necessary to clean the combustion air. Due to the fact that a range of dust particle sizes is generally not previously known, an air filter assembly must be designed so that all particle sizes that can affect the operation of the internal combustion engine in any way, can be reliably filtered out to supply a sufficiently clean combustion air to allow the internal combustion engine.

[0003] Particularly in the area of internal combustion engines used on or in vehicles, the design of an efficiency and space-optimized air filter system is indispensable in order to keep the dimensions low and, on the other hand, nevertheless a high efficiency of the air filter arrangement to enable.

From EP 1 364 695 A1, for example, an air filter is known which is integrated into the intake tract of an internal combustion engine in order to subject the combustion air to be supplied to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine to filtration. The air filter is constructed substantially in three parts and comprises in a filter housing a filter element, which is designed as a replaceable filter cartridge, which is flowed through axially by the combustion air and radially over a closable lid can be inserted into the filter housing. The filter cartridge is preceded by a cyclone pre-separator, which serves for the separation of coarse dirt particles. Downstream of the filter cartridge is a secondary or fine filter element, which is also radially inserted with the lid open in the filter housing. Such a secondary or fine filter element serves, inter alia, as a security element to prevent the entry of dust particles or dirt particles in the intake of the internal combustion engine, even if the actual main filter element or the filter cartridge is not used or is just changed. The Zyklonvorabscheider, the filter cartridge and the Feinfilter- or security element are axially behind each other and are flowed through without deflection of the combustion air to be cleaned in the axial direction.

The cyclone pre-separator, the main filter element and the security element are separate filter or Staubabscheidevorrichtungen that can be replaced separately and have a different length of life. For example, the pre-separator is not changed over the entire service life of the air filter or the internal combustion engine, while the main filter element is replaced at regular intervals. The security element or the safety filter downstream of the main filter can, for example, be changed in a regular cycle, for example every fifth change of the main filter element.

One of the ways to design a main filter element is the embodiment in the form of a Faltenbalgfilters. In this case, for example, a bellows consist of a star-shaped folded filter element whose filter folds extend in the radial direction, wherein the end edges of the filter folds extend substantially in an axial direction. Such a filter bellows is known for example from WO 2008/067030, in which the filter element consists of a folded filter bellows, wherein the end edges of the filter folds extend in an axial direction, which corresponds to a flow direction, while the filter folds in a direction transverse thereto extend. This bellows consists of a multi-bellows, which provides an increased filter area on a limited axial section or a section in the direction of flow, in order to increase the filter capacity in this way. Such Faltenbalgfilterelemente have a Abströmgeometrie, in contrast to, for example Flöten- or compact elements has substantially no homogeneous outflow, but discretely pronounced outflow channels through which the filtered fluid flows from the main filter element.

Against the background of the prior art, the present invention seeks to provide an air filter with security element, which has an improved efficiency and allows an optimized flow.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the present invention is achieved by the subject matter of the independent

Claims, further developed embodiments being embodied in the dependent claims.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an air filter assembly is provided with a filter element having a first filter bellows and a safety filter element, wherein the filter element has a Abströmgeometrie, wherein the safety element downstream of the filter element in the axial direction of expansion downstream, and wherein the safety filter element with the Outflow geometry of the filter element has corresponding Anströmgeometrie.

In this way it can be achieved that the flow resistance of the downstream side of the filter element and the inflow side of the safety filter element can be kept low. In this case, for example, the openings of the outflow channels of the filter element and the areas relevant for the flow of the safety filter element areas may be opposite, so that an unnecessary flow reversal between the outflow of the filter element and the flow of the safety filter element can be substantially avoided. Furthermore, in this way, a larger gap between the filter element and the safety filter element can be avoided, which would be necessary for a non-corresponding inflow and Abströmgeometrie to make a corresponding redistribution of the outflow of the filter element to the flow of the safety filter element. In particular, in the case of a corresponding embodiment, the discharge geometry is Means of the filter element and the Anströmgeometrie the safety filter element cross flows substantially avoidable, which on the one hand increases the efficiency of the interaction between the filter element and safety filter element, on the other hand, but also reduces the overall length of the air filter assembly, since no gaps must be provided, which is necessary for a possible cross flow would.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety filter element comprises a filter bellows with a transverse to the axial extension direction long extension and a transverse to the extension direction and orthogonal to a direction of long extension extending short extent, the filter bellows a plurality of towards the long Has expansion extending filter folds.

In this way it can be achieved that also correspond to the long axes of the filter element corresponding recesses of a filter bellows of the safety filter element and in this way the flow resistance from the transition of the outflow of the filter element to the inflow surface of the safety filter element can be kept low. Furthermore, in this way, an outer frame of the safety filter element, which receives the filter bellows and seals it against a corresponding sealing surface of the air filter housing, can be made narrow in the areas of long extension, so that there is an increased inflow area. Due to the orientation of the filter folds in the direction of the long extension direction of the safety filter element, the number of filter folds can be reduced, but the length of the filter folds can be increased. The resulting manufacturing process thus comes with a smaller number of folding operations, so that such a safety filter element can be produced much more efficiently.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the filter element on a side facing the downstream side at an outer edge on a shape-preserving shell.

Such a shape-preserving shell can serve as a shock protection on the one hand, but on the other hand also for receiving a sealing configuration in order to seal the filter element with respect to an air filter housing. In addition, such a shape-retaining shell Also have Fluidleitvorrichtungen with which the outflowing fluid is redirected accordingly to achieve optimum flow of a safety filter element. In addition, the shape-retaining shell can serve as a receiving or as a contact surface to attach a sealant to the Filterfaltenbalg so that a raw gas side and a clean gas side of the filter element can be misleaf separated from each other. In particular, the filter bellows may be stapled or glued in or on the shape-retaining shell by a sealant, for example by a polyurethane foam.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the shape-retaining shell extends only partially in a radial expansion direction inwardly over the pleat depth of the filter bellows.

In this way, the end faces remain at least partially uncovered, so that the open gaps between the filter folds in the direction of the end face remain open as a discharge opening and thus reduces the flow resistance in a discharge channel or a discharge geometry of the filter element. The pleats of the Filterfaltenbalges are glued together only on one side and connected, for example, with the shape-preserving shell to achieve a false air-tight seal the Rohgasseite and the clean gas side, while the other side of the filter folds remains unglued to provide a discharge opening.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety filter element on a side facing the upstream side on a shape-retaining shell, which only partially in a radial expansion direction, i. extends in a plane of the short and the long extension axis inwardly over an upstream end face of the safety filter element.

Such a shape-retaining shell can also serve in the safety filter element to an edge or impact protection. Furthermore, this shape-retaining shell can also serve as a receptacle for a sealing geometry for sealing the safety filter element with respect to an air filter housing or with respect to a filter element. By means of a shell which only extends inward in the radial direction of expansion inward over an inflow-side end face, a corresponding inflow surface of the safety filter element can be maintained. the. Also in the case of the safety filter element, the shape-retaining shell can serve as a receptacle for a sealing compound, by means of which a filter bellows of the safety filter element can be attached to the shape-retaining shell in a false air-tight manner. It should be noted that a seal of the safety filter element can either be made with respect to the air filter housing or against an upstream filter element or against both an upstream filter element and an air filter housing.

According to one embodiment of the invention correspond to a radially extending direction inside opening of the shape-preserving shell of the filter element and a radially extending inside opening of the shape-preserving shell of the safety filter element with respect to a fluid flow with each other.

This can for example be achieved in that the inner openings of the shape-preserving shell of the safety filter element and the inner opening of the shape-preserving shell of the filter element have a substantially congruent opening geometry. In this case, correspondingly, however, is also to be understood as meaning a geometry which is not necessarily congruent, but which, in terms of flow, is substantially matched to one another. This may be the case in particular if the outflow does not occur purely axially, but has an outflow direction inclined with respect to the axial extension direction, which represents, for example, a widening or narrowing of the flow cross section, so that a correspondingly corresponding opening corresponds correspondingly to this changed geometry of a flow cross section is tuned. Any stabilizing webs should not be considered as touching the correspondence of the shape-preserving shells, if the corresponding flow geometries are coordinated with each other.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the filter element has a sealing arrangement with a contact surface and the safety filter element on a sealing arrangement with the contact surface of the seal assembly of the filter element cooperating contact surface. In this way, a sealing of the filter element relative to the safety filter element does not necessarily take place via an air filter housing, but can also take place directly between the filter element and the safety filter element. Such a sealing arrangement may for example be an elastic surface, as well as an elastically deformable seal or a plastically deformable seal. A plastically deformable seal is particularly suitable in the case of components which are exchanged each time the air filter arrangement is inspected, for example on the main filter element, which may be subject to the most frequent replacement.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the seal assembly is provided on the shape-retaining shell.

In this way, the shape-preserving shell can serve as a receptacle for the seal geometry, thus keeping the seal geometry substantially constant. Furthermore, by the shape-preserving shell a uniform distribution of forces can take place, which can be of concern for a reliable seal. The seal geometry can be provided on the shape-retaining shell of both the filter element and the safety filter element. Seals may be provided having a first seal configuration on the filter element and a second seal configuration having a safety filter element, wherein the first seal configuration and the second seal configuration mate with one another to ensure that only mating filter elements and safety filter elements are used in combination. In particular, in this way can be done via the seal configuration on the filter element and the seal configuration on the safety filter element encoding that signals the operator or the operator immediately, whether the just introduced filter components match and allow proper operation. In particular, an anti-twist device can also be implemented with such a seal configuration if the corresponding seal configurations along the circumference are configured asymmetrically. Of course, a corresponding elastic Dichtungskonfigu- Ration also be provided either on the filter element or on the safety filter element, so that a corresponding elastic or plastic sealing configuration can be provided only on one of the two corresponding elements or must.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sealing arrangement of the safety filter element has a second contact surface which is designed to cooperate with a contact surface of a sealing arrangement of an air filter housing.

In this way, not only a seal of the filter element with respect to the safety filter element, but also a corresponding sealing of the flow path relative to the air filter housing. In this way, with a corresponding sealing of the security element relative to the filter element, a further sealing of the filter element relative to the air filter housing can be dispensed with, so that in the region of the more frequently changed filter element a possibly sensitive sealing configuration relative to the air filter housing is not absolutely necessary.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the contact surface of the seal assembly of the filter element, the first contact surface of the seal assembly of the safety filter element and the second contact surface of the seal assembly of the safety filter element are aligned such that at a corresponding application of force to the filter element both the contact surface of the seal assembly of the filter element the first contact surface of the sealing arrangement of the safety filter element as well as the second contact surface of the sealing arrangement of the safety filter element interact with a contact surface of an air filter housing in a false air tight manner.

In this way, a force applied at one point the serial seals with a corresponding force, so that a corresponding seal both the filter element against the safety filter element takes place and the safety filter element relative to the air filter housing. A seal can be both a seal in the axial direction and a seal in a radial direction, in particular dere when the sealing surfaces are made correspondingly conical so that they experience a radial seal even with an axial force.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety filter element has a first filter bellows with a fanned out substantially in a plane folding arrangement.

In such an arrangement, the filter folds no longer extend in a direction transverse to the axial direction extending direction, but in a radial direction, while extending the fold depth in an axial direction of extension. Such an arrangement can be achieved, in particular, by fanning out a transversely folded material into a circular or oval folding arrangement which is sealed at corresponding edges in such a way that a raw gas side and a clean gas side are separated from one another in a false air-tight manner.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fold assembly is fanned circular so that in a radial expansion direction, the fold edges are radially outward.

Such an arrangement is relevant, for example, for the use of filter elements, the circular main filter elements are connected downstream, or for safety filter elements in which, for example, two or more such circular Faltenbalganordnungen be used when these are connected approximately to an oval main filter element.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the folding arrangement is fanned oval.

Such an oval fanned folding arrangement can be used for example in a safety filter element, which is connected downstream of a main filter element, which has a corresponding oval cross-sectional geometry or at least Abströmgeometrie.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety filter element has a second filter bellows with a substantially fanned in a plane and radially outwardly extending fold assembly, wherein the first filter bellows and the second Filterfaltenbalg are fanned substantially side by side in the same plane. Such an arrangement can be used, for example, for a safety filter element which is connected downstream of a main filter element having an oval configuration or which, for example, also has two discrete discharge passages which are aligned with the corresponding outflow passages of the second filter bellows and the first filter bellows.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety filter element has a filter bellows with substantially in an axial direction of extension of the safety filter element extending filter pleats, which engages in a formed by a Filterfaltenbalganordnung with extending substantially in an axial direction of extension of the filter element filter folds outflow channel of the filter element.

In this way, the inflow surface of the safety filter element can be increased by analogous to the main filter element has a Faltenbalganordnung whose folds extending in a substantially axial direction. By the meshing of the bellows of the security element in the outflow of the bellows of the main filter element, a space-saving arrangement can be achieved. In this case, for example, the bellows arrangement of the safety filter element engage in a discharge channel of the main filter element such that the overall length of the main filter element and safety filter element is less than the sum of the two individual heights of the filter element and the safety filter element. Therefore, with such an arrangement, an efficient safety filter can be provided without, however, requiring an increased length of the air filter housing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety filter element has a filter medium with a bulge extending in an outflow direction.

Such a bulge increases the entire inflow surface of the safety filter element. Such a bulge may extend, for example, into a discharge channel of the air filter housing. Optionally, such a filter medium may have a bulge, which follows the further pipe shape of a Abströmgeometrie, even if this is laid, for example in curves. According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety filter element as a filter medium to a flexible non-woven stocking.

Such a nonwoven stocking can for example be designed so that it adapts flexibly to the geometry of the outflow opening of the air filter housing and possibly extends further into this geometry. The nonwoven can be designed so that it has a certain prefilter function and a fine filter function, especially if such a nonwoven is constructed in multiple layers.

Such a flexible nonwoven stocking arrangement allows a space-optimized geometry of a security element, in particular if this nonwoven stocking can follow the geometry of the outflow opening of the air filter housing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety filter element as a filter medium on an open-cell foam body. Such an open-cell foam body can also serve as a filter medium and also follow the geometry of the outflow opening of the air filter housing. Such a foam body may also have a multilayer structure in order to fulfill a certain prefilter and fine filter function. Such a structure does not have to have discrete layers, but may have a continuously varying structure in the flow direction in order to fulfill such a prefilter and fine filter function. In particular, it should be noted that both the open-cell foam body can be combined with the flexible non-woven stocking and combine the open-cell foam body and the nonwoven stocking in each case or in combination with an upstream bellows of the safety filter element, if this should be necessary.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an air filter is provided with an inventive air filter assembly, as described above, wherein a raw gas side of the air filter assembly is impermeable to a clean gas side of the air filter assembly with respect to the air filter housing sealed.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety filter element has a discharge geometry corresponding to a discharge channel of the air filter housing. It is understood that a combination of the features described above is possible, which can be partially set a synergetic interaction that goes beyond the sum of the individual effects of the above features.

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described and explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Exemplary embodiments will be described below with reference to the following

Drawings described.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an air filter housing with a filter element to be inserted therein and an air housing according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of an air filter housing with a filter element inserted therein and a safety filter element according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a bellows for a safety filter element according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a filter element according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a security element with a bellows and a shape-retaining shell according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a schematic sectional view of a filter element and a security element and an air filter housing with a corresponding seal configuration according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 shows a convolution of a bellows for a security element according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a further folding of a bellows for a security element according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 9 shows a filter element according to an embodiment of the invention and a corresponding thereto safety filter element according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of a safety filter element in cooperation with a filter element according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of an air filter housing with a filter element inserted therein and a safety filter element according to an embodiment of the invention.

Description of exemplary embodiments of the invention

1 shows a schematic view of an air filter housing 100 with a filter element 1 to be used therein and an air filter housing cover 199. In the embodiment shown here, the filter element has a recessed grip 94 with which the filter element 1 can be inserted into the air filter housing 100. In the air filter housing 100, a security element or a safety filter element 200 is further incorporated, which is not visible in detail in Figure 1, however. The arrows shown in Figure 1 symbolize the flow direction of the fluid through the air filter housing and thus through the filter element 1 and the safety filter element 200th

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of an air filter housing 100 with a pre-separator 120 installed therein. In the air filter housing 100, a filter element 1 is used, which is flown by the pre-separator 120 ago. Downstream of the filter element 100 is a security element 200, which is to prevent, for example, that dust or dirt particles penetrate into the lying in the outflow combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. In particular, when the lid 199 of the air filter housing is open and the filter element 1 is removed, for example, for replacement, can be sucked in the direction of the combustion chamber of the engine dirt and dust particles, for example, can flow through the open air filter housing, for example, with running internal combustion engine and another , As a rule, dust particles of this type should not enter the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, so that a safety filter element 200 downstream can be provided, which performs a protective function, in particular when the filter element 1 is removed. In this way, it is in particular possible to replace the filter element 1 even when the internal combustion engine is running and generates a further intake flow. For these relatively short periods of time, in which frequently the internal combustion engine also operates in an idling mode, a safety filter element is usually sufficient to clean the then absorbed air from dust and dirt particles. As a rule, however, this safety filter element 200 is not removed after the filter element 1 has been inserted, so that a flow resistance-free throughflow not only of the main filter element 1 but also of the safety filter element 200 should take place. For this reason, the outflow geometry of the filter element 1 and the inflow geometry of the safety filter element 200 are geometrically matched to one another, so that a flow-resistant flow through both the filter element 1 and the safety filter element 200 can take place. The filter element 1 has, for example, a filter bellows 10 which extends in the axial direction A. In addition, the filter element may also have other bellows, which may be employed, for example, also obliquely, resulting in part conical Anströmbzw. Form outflow channels. The safety filter element 200 also has a bellows 210, the folds 215 of which run in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, however, not in the axial direction A, but substantially orthogonal thereto. This will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 3 and 5. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a bellows 210 for a safety filter element 200. The safety filter element 200 is flowed through in the axial direction A. The pleats 215 of the bellows 210 run in a direction transverse to the axial flow direction A. In the embodiment shown here, the pleats 215 of the bellows 210 are substantially orthogonal to the axial flow direction A, wherein the axial flow direction A substantially perpendicular to the plane of expansion of the folds - Balganordnung 210 of the safety filter element 200 is. The edges 215c of the folds 215 show alternately in the direction of the inflow direction (here for example at the top) and the outflow direction (for example at the bottom). Since, as has been described with reference to FIG. 2, the filter element 1 has an oval configuration, which in the embodiment shown here also results in an outflow channel with an oval cross-section, in this embodiment tion form a position of the filter folds in the direction of the longer expansion axis as fluidically favorable with respect to the flow resistance. In particular, the production-technically more complex to be produced end edges of the folds can be made smaller, since they extend only over the width of the smaller expansion axis, as compared to a security element having a pleat extension transverse to the embodiment shown in Figure 3. It should be understood that the plane of extension of the filter pleats 215 may be substantially inclined to the direction of the axial flow A. Figure 4 shows a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a filter element 1 with a first bellows 10 and a second bellows 20. Between the first bellows 10 and the second bellows 20 results in an opening of a discharge channel, which also designed oval due to the oval configuration of the filter element 1 is. The second bellows 20, for example, on the downstream side with a sealing member 51 so verhftet that a down here Rohgasseite are separated from one another lying here above clean air fehlluftdicht from each other. In the filter element arrangement shown in Figure 4, the flow from below through the central slit-shaped inflow passage through the second Faltenbalgelement 20 and from the outside by the first Faltenbalgelement 10. Both the centrally flowing fluid and the inflowing from the outside fluid through the first Faltenbalgelement 10 flow in the conical lying between the first Faltenbalgelement 10 and the second Faltenbalgelement 20 outflow, which is wider here upwards and the outlet also facing upward. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the folds of the bellows 10 and 20 are not shown separately and therefore also the adhesion of the wrinkles to the impermeassive separation of a raw gas side to a clean gas side is not shown. To the raw gas upstream side of the first bellows 10 and the second bellows 20 are connected by a second sealing member 52 and sealed impermeable. The second sealing element extends in the embodiment shown here over the entire depth of wrinkles of the first bellows 10 and the second bellows 20 and can For example, serve as impact protection. However, it is also possible that the sealing element 52 extends only over the abutting edges of the first bellows 10 and the second bellows 20, so that there is an analogous seal, as has already been described with reference to the first sealing member 51. In this case, the corresponding interspace gaps must be glued so that a false air-tight separation between the raw gas side and clean gas side takes place. It should be understood that in this case only the interstices must be glued to the end faces, which are open to a raw gas side inflow, while the faces away from the raw gas side on the front side of the folds can remain open, since they are not in connection with the raw gas side. In this way, the front sides of the folds remain open in Abström direction, so that there is a larger effective outflow area. On the downstream end surface, a shape-preserving shell 60 is also placed, on which, for example, a seal configuration can be arranged, which will not be described here in further detail. In addition, the shape-preserving shell 60 can also serve as a shock protection and beyond have Strömungsleitbleche or Strömungsleitvorrichtungen not shown here. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the shape-preserving shell 60 extends only partially radially inwardly and leaves a portion of the end edges of the pleats of the first bellows 10 free, wherein the pleat interspaces facing the raw gas side, that is, here outwardly, again at the Front side are glued to produce a false air-tight separation between the raw gas side and clean gas side. The opposing open inter-fold spaces at the end edges can in turn remain free, so that an effectively larger outflow surface between the shape-preserving shell 60 and the sealing element 51 is formed. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a security element 200 with a bellows 210. The bellows consists of a multiplicity of filter folds 215, which have alternately downwardly and upwardly pointing filter fold edges 215c. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the safety filter element 200 is likewise configured with a shape-retaining shell 260, which extends radially only partially over the filter fold edges 215c of the filter element. fold 215 extends. A sectional view is shown in the partial section II. In the embodiment shown here, the shape-preserving shell 260 extends only over the inflow-side outer edge of the safety filter element 200. In this case, the inflow of the safety filter element 200 in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 from above. The inner openings of the shape-retaining shells 260 of the safety filter element 200 and the shape-preserving shell 60 of the filter element 1 in this case correspond, so that an optimized inflow and outflow geometry can be provided. It should be noted at this point that a correspondence does not necessarily have to represent a shape identity, but can also be achieved by matching the corresponding flow cross sections, in particular if the outflow from the filter element has an expanding outflow cone or a focusing outflow cone. Any necessary structural elements such as the seal assembly 51 and possibly existing, but not shown in Figure 5 stabilization struts should not be considered as affecting the corresponding outflow and Anströmgeometrien at this point.

FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which a filter element 1 and a safety filter element 200 are shown in interaction with a filter housing 100. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 shown here, the shape-retaining shell 60 is shown with a simplified schematic representation which is intended to represent only the principle of operation of a sealing arrangement. In this case, the shape-preserving shell 60 of the filter element 1 has a sealing arrangement 70, which has a contact surface 72. The shape-preserving shell 260 of the safety filter element 200 likewise has a sealing arrangement 70 which likewise has a first contact surface 272. The first contact surface 272 of the safety filter element 200 is designed so that it interacts with the contact surface 72 of the filter element of the filter element 1. It should be noted at this point that plastic or elastic sealing elements can also be provided which, however, are not shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. In particular, a plastic or elastic sealing element either on the contact surface 72 of the filter element or on the contact surface 270 of the safety filter element 200 may be disposed, but also on both contact surfaces 72 and 272. Furthermore, there is also the possibility that sealing profiles are provided on the contact surfaces 272 and 72, respectively positively interlock, so that a certain coding between the filter element 1 and safety filter element 200 is possible, so that a faulty combination of the filter element 1 and the safety filter element 200 can be excluded. This is particularly important if the outflow geometry of the filter element 1 does not correspond to the flow geometry of an unsuitable safety filter element 200. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the shape-preserving shell 260 of the safety filter element 200 also has a further collar with a second abutment surface 273. Such a contact surface, for example, be designed to cooperate with a corresponding contact surface 173 of an air filter housing 100. In this way, the sealing of the raw gas to the clean gas area is not between the main filter element 1 and the air filter housing, but between the safety filter element 200 and the air filter housing 100, while the filter element 1 is sealed impermeable to the installation of the plant surfaces 72 and 272 against the safety filter element 200. Of course, also on the shape-preserving shell 60 of the filter element 1, a further seal configuration may be present in order to seal the filter element 1 against a wall of an air filter housing 100, not shown here. In particular, 60 spacers or centering can be provided on the shape-preserving shell, which ensure proper positioning of the filter element 100 in an air filter housing 100. By applying force to the filter element 100 relative to the air filter housing in the axial direction, the safety filter element 200 can thus be clamped between the filter element 1 and the air filter housing 100 and, on the one hand, with a corresponding sealing configuration between the filter element 100 and the safety filter element 200 and the safety filter element 200 and the air filter housing 100, on the other hand, a false air tight separation between the raw gas side and the clean gas side takes place.

7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a pleated filter 210 of a safety filter element 200. The pleats 215 extend in the embodiment shown in Figure 7 like a fan, so that the fold edges 215c radially outward. In the middle, the filter folds and the fold edges 215c can be connected by means of a sealing element 251, so that both a mechanical stabilization and a false-air-tight separation between the raw gas side and the clean gas side can take place. This includes, in particular, the sealing of the interstices of wrinkles facing the sealing element 251.

Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which the filter pleats 215 are also arranged fan-shaped, but here in the form of an oval. The fold edges 215c also point radially outward. Depending on the configuration of the oval, the fold edges 215c may lie parallel to one another in the middle region, but may also run inclined relative to one another. Again, a sealing element 251 is provided for sealing and stabilizing. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in Figure 7 and in Figure 8 beyond, of course, may also have an outer seal, for example in the form of an adhesive in a shape-preserving shell, which are not shown for reasons of clarity in Figures 7 and 8.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 can be used, for example, in safety filter elements which are to be connected downstream of a circular filter element or, for example, are arranged next to one another so as to be connected downstream of a filter element in an oval arrangement. Such an arrangement will be described with reference to FIG.

The arrangement shown in Figure 8 can be used for example for a security element, which is connected downstream of an oval filter element.

Figure 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of a filter element 1 with a first outer bellows 10 and a second inner bellows 20 and a third, the bellows parallel to the second bellows 30. In this case, the filter element 1 can be flown through the outer surface of the bellows 10 on the one hand, but also on the inner, not shown here Anströmungskanäle the second bellows 20 and the third bellows 30. The second bellows 20 and the third bellows 30 can in turn be sealed with corresponding sealing elements 51 relative to the clean gas side, so that no Fehlluftströmungen from the raw gas side can occur to the clean gas side. The end face of the first bellows 10 is in turn covered with a shape-preserving shell 60 in the embodiment shown in FIG. For example, grip tabs 94 may be provided on this shape-retaining shell, which may also serve, for example, to prevent twisted misincorporation. On the opposite side, for example, a second sealing element 52 may be provided, which represents a false air-tight connection between the first bellows 10 on the one hand and the second bellows 20 and the third bellows 30 on the other. For example, centering cams 52a may be provided on this second sealing element 52, which may serve for a centered positioning of the filter element 1 in an air filter housing 100. The opening in the second sealing element 52 may be, for example, two round openings corresponding to the second bellows 20 and the third bellows 30. The filter element shown in Figure 9 can be traversed both from top to bottom and from bottom to top. In particular, in a flow from top to bottom results on the bottom of a Abströmgeometrie, which is characterized by two separate outlets, so that two discrete outlet openings are present. Even with a flow from bottom to top results in a Abströmgeometrie which is essentially focused on the shape of the two round bellows 20 and 30. Correspondingly, a safety filter element 200 may be configured such that two bellows 210, 230 may be arranged side by side, as they correspond to the bellows 210 described with reference to FIG. A shape-preserving shell 260 can represent a support framework, into which the bellows 210 and 230 fail. tightly glued or sealed. The two bellows 210 and 230 can be separated from each other by an intermediate sealing region 253.

Figure 10 shows another exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which the safety filter element 200 is not provided with a bellows with transverse to the axial flow direction A filter edge, but with bellows 210 and 220, the filter folds in a substantially axial direction A extend. In this case, an axial extent is also to be understood as an arrangement inclined to the axial direction. The arrangement of a safety filter element 200 shown in FIG. 10 can be configured in such a way that the bellows 210, 220 extending in the axial direction extend into corresponding outflow channels, which are formed by the interspace of the bellows 10 and 20 of the filter element 1. In this way, an arrangement results in which the safety filter element 200 can save space in a discharge channel of a filter element 1, so that the total length of the filter element 1 and the safety filter element 200 together is less than the sum of the individual lengths of the filter element and the safety filter element. At the same time, with such an embodiment of the safety filter element 200 with filter folds of the bellows 210 and 220 extending essentially in the axial direction, a larger filter surface for the safety filter element can be provided so that the flow resistance through the safety filter element is reduced at this point. The shape-retaining shells 60 of the filter element or 260 of the safety filter element 200 are shown here only schematically. Of course, appropriate sealing configurations can also be provided here again, which can serve for a false-air-tight separation of the raw gas space area and the clean gas space area.

11 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which an air filter housing 100, a filter element 1 is installed, which has a first bellows 10 and a second bellows 20 in the embodiment shown here. The safety filter element 200 may have a bulged filter medium region 210, which can adapt to a geometry of an outflow tube of the air filter housing 100. This can be be done by a filter fleece or for example an open-cell foam. Such an arrangement is particularly important if the Abströmgeometrie or the outflow openings leave enough space to accommodate such a scoop-shaped bulge region. In this way, the inflow surface of the safety filter element 200 can be increased without significantly increasing the overall depth of the safety filter element with respect to its reception and sealing. Rather, the actual outflow region of the air filter housing 100 can be included, regardless of a further curvature of a downstream pipe, so that such Sicherheitsfilterelementan- order represents a flexible application to different Abströmrohrgeometrien. Such a foam or nonwoven stocking may be important, for example, if it is merely intended to prevent dust or dirt particles from entering the intake area of an internal combustion engine during brief change periods of the main filter element 1.

However, a nonwoven filter may be used as a prefilter instead of a safety filter element. A pre-felt or a corresponding porous foam sheath, which is placed around the outer bellows, can fulfill several functions. The first function is an increase in dust capacity. The additional volume of nonwoven material that can be used for dust storage increases the dust capacity. The pre-fleece is used as a typical depth filter and can be optimized for pre-separation of very coarse or very fine dusts. The ratio of pre-filter area to the total media area of the outer bladder is significantly higher compared to a compact air filter, which results in a lower filtration rate in the pre-filter compared to the compact air filter, which is better for deposition. The filter surface load of the prefilter material should correspond, for example, at most 35 times the filter surface load and, for example, at least 4 times the filter surface load of the outer bellows.

The filter surface load is understood to mean the quotient of the flowed-on filter surface to the volume flow which flows against the corresponding filter surface. For the filtration of very NEN dusts, eg Rußaerosole as they occur in the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines, the highest possible residence time of the volume flow to be filtered as well as the largest possible surface in the pre-filter must be provided. This can be achieved, for example, by using particularly fine fibers with fiber diameters of less than 5 μm in the medium or, in the case of a foam, by means of particularly fine pores. The use of such a Feinst- Vorabscheidermaterials offers decisive advantages, as it comes through the pre-filter to a much later blocking of the main filter medium, which in turn results in an increased life of the overall filter.

Comparable to the filtration of fine dusts, the prefilter material can also be optimized for the separation of coarse dust. For this purpose, a lower packing density and a larger pore volume of the prefilter is required, so that the grit can be stored better in the depth of the medium. Otherwise, there is too fast blocking of the pre-filter material, which has a negative effect on the service life.

The advantage of a prefilter, which is present only on the outer bellows, but not on the inner bellows, is as follows: If a Vorvlies blocked too fast (eg by the interplay of different dusts), the inner bellows can still flow through the Ensure elements.

The second function of a Vorvlieses on the outer bellows is that of a scuff protection (depending on the interaction with the housing), which prevents it at the pleat tips to chafing of the wrinkles and thus to a leak, if there are corresponding areas which the distance from the element to the housing is structurally very low.

The third function is that of a handle protection that protects the element or the outer bellows from damage during assembly or disassembly.

Of course, other materials are conceivable instead of a nonwoven or an open-cell foam, which can be selected according to the external conditions. A multiplicity of filter media, both for the main filter element 1 and for the safety filter element 200, can be processed such that a double bellows system can be constructed from you.

For example, impregnated cellulosic materials may be used to equip the filter medium. Filter paper per se often does not provide sufficient stability, so that impregnation with synthetic resins can be carried out in order to achieve the necessary resistance to environmental influences (temperature, humidity, hydrocarbons,...) As well as sufficient rigidity, in particular against moisture. By adding flame-retardant chemicals, the impregnation can be equipped so that the filter medium becomes flame retardant. This is a function that may be beneficial for a double bellows depending on the field of application - especially when glowing materials (e.g., cigarettes) that are in the area of the air cleaner intake are to be expected. When using a corresponding medium, an additional pre-separator or a correspondingly designed air intake tract can be made more cost-effective.

Cellulose media can also be equipped with nanofibers. By using an extremely thin nanofiber network on the inflow side of the medium, a normal cellulose medium can be regarded as a pure surface filter, since no more dust can penetrate into the pores of the cellulose support. By nanofibers is meant fibers having diameters between 10 nm and 500 nm. Usually, the layer thickness of such nanofiber coatings is only a few fiber diameters.

The above-mentioned flame retardancy can be done purely by the cellulose carrier in such a medium, since the amount of the nanofiber layer on the fire behavior has no significant influence. The degree of separation of a nanofiber-coated material is significantly higher than in conventional cellulose media. With regard to the service life or the dust capacity, especially for very fine dusts, for example soot from combustion engines, a significantly higher capacity is seen when using a nanofiber layer on the anode. strömseite. For coarse dusts (ISO fine, ISO coarse) was so far a much higher

Abscheidegrad be detected.

The nanofiber layer results in the following possibilities, which are advantageous in particular for a double-bellows element. The cellulose carrier can be made very thin, since the inner pore volume is not needed for a Staublaglagerung. Thus, filter bladders with narrower pleat pitch can be used, resulting in a larger total filter area and thus an increase in performance is achieved. Furthermore, depending on the flow distribution and the required degree of separation, only one of the two bellows can be designed with nanofibres and the flow distribution can be chosen such that the nanofiber-coated bellows receives a pre-separator which retains coarse particles. With this combination, an increase in service life is to be expected. In addition, if space requirements for the required filter surface are not housed so that adjusts a comparable flow velocity at the inner and the outer bellows, the bellows flowed at a higher speed are provided with a nanofiber layer to achieve the required degree of separation. The background to this is that the degree of separation decreases with increasing speed (in the case of small particles due to the insufficient residence time in the medium for deposition via diffusion mechanisms, in the case of large particles due to the high kinetic energy which leads to a rebound).

Furthermore, it is possible to use impregnated cellulose media with glass or synthetic fiber components. To increase the degree of separation, it is possible to add to the cellulose medium portions of glass fibers or synthetic fibers. This increases the degree of separation of the medium compared to pure cellulose.

Furthermore, impregnated cellulose media can be provided with a membrane pad. Instead of a nanofiber layer can also be a membrane (eg, stretched PTFE) are mounted on the upstream side. The functions and advantages are comparable to those of a nanofiber coating (see above). Furthermore, impregnated cellulose media can be provided with a Feinstfaserauflage.

Comparable to the previously described media with nanofibers, it is also possible to apply a very fine fiber support on the upstream side of a cellulose support. Fine fibers are usually understood to mean polymer fibers with diameters between 200 nm and 5 μm, which can be produced, for example, by means of a meltblown process. Compared to the nanofiber coating, the layer thickness is significantly higher - with layer thicknesses that correspond to 200 times the mean fiber diameter are possible. Assuming a unimodal distribution of the fibers, then a lower limit can be set, which corresponds to 20 times the average fiber diameter and an upper limit which corresponds to 300 times the average fiber diameter. The basis weight of the layer moves between 5 g / m ² and 70 g / m ² . Compared to the nanofiber layer, the fine-fiber layer is a depth-filter layer that delimits a corresponding internal dust-storage capacity and thus separates itself from the pure surface filter (medium together with nanofiber).

The ultrafine fiber support may be bonded to the support medium in a variety of ways. A distinction is made between laminated layers in which the support and layer are bonded together by means of an adhesive substance, thermally calendered composite in which support and layer are bonded together by pressure and temperature and welded layers in which the layer is welded to the support medium, e.g. by ultrasound.

Here again, the cellulose carrier can serve primarily as a stable layer, and the dust accumulation takes place for the most part in the superfine fiber layer. If this blocks, then it comes as in the nanofiber coating to a pure surface filtration or the so-called cake filtration. Similar to the nanofiber media, again, a very thin carrier can be used, which provides comparable advantages in terms of the pleat spacing and the realizable filter surface. Further, impregnated cellulosic media may be provided with a mixed fiber pad.

In principle, the Feinstfaserauflage can also be constructed so that it contains coarse fibers as supporting tissue and a second fraction of significantly finer fibers, which are primarily responsible for the filtration performance. These finer fibers can be between 50 nm and 1 μm. The benefits and advantages are comparable to those of cellulose media with fine fiber overlay.

Filter media can also be provided with or consist of synthetic fibers. Similar to the production of filter media with paper fibers, media made from pure synthetic fibers can also be constructed. Due to the thinner fiber diameter that can be achieved with synthetic fibers in comparison to cellulose, higher degrees of separation are possible.

It is also possible to construct media with a gradient structure. This refers to media of several layers of different density, with a very open-pored structure on the upstream side and a very narrow pore structure on the downstream side. The gradient structure increases the dust storage capacity of such a medium, which works as a so-called depth filter. The advantage of these media lies in the significantly higher flow velocity compared to cellulose media.

Synthetic fiber filter media may also be provided with integrated nanofibers. Another type of media that is suitable for the design of a double bellows is an artificial fiber medium (fleece) with integrated nanofibers. The advantage over a conventional nonwoven material is the higher degree of separation achieved by the nanofibers. As a consequence, the pore volume of the medium can be increased by reducing the proportion of coarser fibers without reducing the degree of separation compared to a medium without nanofibers. The larger storage volume allows the medium to absorb more dust before clogging occurs. The advantage for a double bellows element would again be the fact that the media thickness can be reduced, and thus a higher total filter area can be realized by a narrower folding pitch. It should be noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements, as well as the terms "a" and "an" do not preclude a plurality of elements and steps. [0099] The reference numerals used are merely intended to enhance the comprehensibility and convenience are not to be considered as limiting, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims.

Claims

claims

1. Air filter assembly having a filter element (1) with a first filter bellows (10) and a safety filter element (200), wherein the filter element has a Abströmgeometrie, wherein the security element downstream of the filter element in the axial direction of expansion downstream, wherein the safety filter element with a Abströmgeometrie Having the filter element corresponding Anströmgeometrie.

2. The air filter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the safety filter element (200) comprises a filter bellows (210) having a transversely to the axial extension direction (A) extending long extent and a transverse to the extension direction and orthogonal to a direction of long extension extending short extent, said Filter bellows (210) has a plurality of extending in the direction of long extension filter pleats (215).

3. Air filter arrangement according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the filter element (1) on one of the downstream side facing on an outer edge has a shape-preserving shell (60).

4. Air filter assembly according to claim 3, wherein the shape-retaining shell (60) extends only partially in a radial expansion direction inwardly over a pleat depth of the filter bellows (10).

5. Air filter arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the safety filter element (200) on a side facing the upstream side has a shape-preserving shell (260) which only partially in a radial expansion direction inwardly over an upstream end face of the safety filter element (200). extends.

6. Air filter assembly according to claim 5, wherein a radially inward expansion direction

Opening of the shape-keeping shell (60) of the filter element (1) and an opening in the radial direction of expansion of the shape-retaining shell (260) of the safety filter element (200) correspond to a fluid flow.

7. Air filter assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the filter element (1) a sealing arrangement (70) with a contact surface (72) and the safety filter element (200) has a sealing arrangement (270) with a cooperating with the contact surface of the seal assembly of the filter element contact surface (272).

8. An air filter assembly according to claim 7, wherein the seal assembly (70, 270) on the shape-retaining shell (60, 260) is provided.

9. An air filter assembly according to any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the seal assembly (270) of the safety filter element (200) has a second abutment surface (273) adapted to cooperate with a contact surface of a seal assembly of an air cleaner housing.

10. The air filter assembly of claim 9, wherein the abutment surface (72) of the seal assembly (70) of the filter element (1), the first contact surface (272) of the seal assembly (270) of the safety filter element (200) and the second bearing surface (273) of the seal assembly ( 270) of the safety filter element (200) are aligned in such a way that, upon a corresponding exertion of force on the filter element (1), both the abutment surface (72) of the seal arrangement (70) of the filter element (1) with the first abutment surface (272) of the seal assembly (270) of the safety filter element (200) and also the second abutment surface (273) of the sealing arrangement (270) of the safety filter element (200) interact with a contact surface of an air filter housing in a false air tight manner.

11. An air filter assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the safety filter element (200) comprises a first Filterfaltenbalg (210) having a fanned out substantially in a plane folding arrangement.

12. The air filter assembly according to claim 11, wherein the pleat assembly is fanned out in a circular manner such that in a radial expansion direction, the pleat edges (215c) extend radially outward.

13. An air filter assembly according to any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the fold assembly is fanned oval.

14. The air filter assembly according to claim 11, wherein the safety filter element (200) has a second filter bellows (230), with a substantially fanned out in a plane and radially outwardly extending fold assembly, wherein the first filter bellows (210) and the second Filter bellows are fanned substantially side by side in the same plane.

15. An air filter assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the safety filter element (200) has a filter bellows (210) with substantially in an axial extension direction (A) of the safety filter element (200) extending filter pleats (215) in a through a filter - Faltbalganordnung (10, 20) with substantially in an axial extension direction (A) of the filter element (1) extending filter folds (15) formed outflow channel of the filter element engages.

16. An air filter assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the safety filter element (200) comprises a filter medium having a direction in a direction Abström extending bulge.

17. Air filter arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the safety filter element (200) has a flexible nonwoven stocking as a filter medium.

18. Air filter arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the safety filter element (200) has an open-cell foam body as a filter medium.

19. An air filter with an air filter housing and an air filter assembly according to one of claims 1 to 18, wherein a raw gas side (102) of the air filter assembly incorrectly sealed against a clean gas side

(203) of the air filter assembly is sealed with respect to the air filter housing (100).

20. Air filter according to claim 19, wherein the safety filter element has a discharge flow channel (190) of the air filter housing (100) corresponding Abströmgeometrie