FR2594350A3 - AIR FILTER FOR VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an air filter for vehicles. The filter 1 comprises an outer container 2 for an inner filtering element 37, this container 2 being provided with at least one removable closure body 11 to allow the insertion and extraction of the filtering element 37 and comprising a single actuating element 16 for sealingly fixing both the filter element 37 inside the container 2 and the closure body 11 on the container 2. Application to the automotive field. (CF DRAWING IN BOPI)

Description

The present invention relates to an air filter for vehicles, in

  particular industrial vehicles, of the type comprising an outer container for a replaceable type internal filter element, and wherein said container has an end cap which is removable for insertion and extraction of

this filter element.

  As is known, air filters of the aforementioned type comprise a rod fixed inside the container body, and coaxially thereto, and at the end of which is screwed a wing nut to seal the seal. filter element in the container; then the end closure cap is put in place and is hermetically sealed against the edge of the container by means of external fasteners. The operation of replacing the inner filter element therefore requires acting on two different types of locking elements, which are the external fasteners arranged between the fitting and the end cap, and the nut.

  who blocks the filter element.

  An object of the present invention is to create a

  improved air filter of the aforementioned type, making it possible

  rer faster for the replacement of the inner filter element, a simple and eliminating

  bulky elements outside the container.

  In accordance with the present invention, there is created an air filter for vehicles, comprising an outer container for an inner filter element, said container having at least one removable closure body for insertion and extraction of said filter element, characterized in that it comprises a single actuating means for sealingly fastening both the filter element inside said container and said closure body

on said container.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will be highlighted later in the

  description, given by way of non-limiting example, in

  reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a side view and in partial section;

  an air filter arranged in accordance with the present invention.

tion; and

  Figure 2 is a plan view of the filter of Figure 1.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the filter of the present invention is designated as a whole by reference numeral 1 and it comprises a container 2 of cylindrical shape, but of oval cross section as best shown in FIG. 2, this container being advantageously formed of plastic material. In the upper zone, the container 2 comprises a closure wall 3 provided with an annular recessed portion 4 and radial reinforcing ribs, and it is further provided with a central opening 6. At the lower end, the container 2 comprises an annular portion 8 of reduced thickness provided with a free edge 7,

  in the inner zone of which there is a protruding

  9 of an upper portion 10 of an end closure cap 11 for the container 2; this end cap 11 also has a cylindrical shape and an oval section, like the container 2, and it is also advantageously formed of plastic material. In addition, a cavity formed in the projection 9 contains an annular seal 12 directed towards the part 8. In the part

  closed bottom, cap 11 has an annul-

  13 recessed towards the interior of the container 2 and having radial reinforcing ribs 14 and a non-recessed central portion 15 on which rests an end surface of a handle 16 which is provided with a molded inner annular element 17 in which is screwed axially an end portion 18 of a metal rod 19 which is engaged in an axial hole of the central portion 15 of the closure cap 11, and which-further comprises a threaded upper portion 20 which can be screwed into a

  threaded axial hole of a body 21 formed of a metallic material

  and which is rigidly supported by a metal carrier body 22. This rod 19 is fixed by torsion on the handle 16 so that the outer surface of the end portion 18 is applied against the element 17. The carrier body 22, of which a cross-sectional view is shown in FIG. 1, is formed of a metal sheet and is U-shaped with a lower part on which the body 21 is fixed, for example by welding, while the two ends 24 are welded to an annular element 26 whose upper part is folded and is interposed so as to be locked between the inner annular portion of the closure wall 3 of the container 2 and a base portion 27 of a sleeve 28 coaxial with the central opening 6 of the container 2; this sleeve 28, also advantageously formed of plastic material, is fixed on the wall 3 of the container 2, for example, by welding by means of a heated blade in the peripheral portion 31

  in contact with the base portion 27 of the wall 3.

  The central portion 15 of the closure cap 11 has an annular portion 32 extending towards the interior of the container 2 and above which is disposed an annular metal disc 33 which is screwed on the rod 19 and welded thereto. and which further carries an annular sealing body 34 against which an inner annular zone 35 of a lower extreme cap is applied

  36, formed of a metal, a filter element 37, advantageously

  of a known type, eg paper -

  pleated. This filtering element 37 further comprises a metal upper end cap 38, while an annular seal 39 is compressed between this cap

  end 38 and the recessed annular portion 4 of the container 2.

  The filter element 37 is positioned in the container 2 by spaced radial ribs 40 which are formed near the inner upper zone of the container 2 and close to the lower inner zone of the end cap 11 and have dimensions different along their periphery so that this filter element 37, whose section is circular, is disposed coaxially with respect to the central opening 6 and relative to the rod 19 so that the cross section of the container

  2 being oval, there is a larger gap between the surface

  this outside of the filter element 37 and the inner surface of the container 2 in a zone 42 which is placed in correspondence with an inlet port 43 of the container 2, formed by means of a sleeve 44 directed outwards

  and placed on the side surface of the container 2.

  A replacement of the filter element 37 is therefore achieved by unscrewing the handle 16 so that a gradual disassembly of the threaded upper part 20 of the rod 19 with respect to the body 21 and a progressive disassembly of the extreme hat of

  closing 11 relative to the container 2 to a separa-

  rod 19, with the associated handle 16

  and the end cap 11 supported by it.

  The fluffing member 37 can thus be removed from the container 2 and replaced with a new one. The following closing operation is performed by operating on the handle 16 by fully screwing the threaded upper portion 20 of the rod 19 in the body 21 and, at this stage, there is simultaneously a compression of the annular seal of sealing 34 against the inner annular zone 35 of the extreme hat

  lower 36 and a compression of the annular sealing gasket

  39 between the end cap 38 and the upper wall 4 of the container 2, and simultaneously occurs a complete sealing of the upper portion 10, provided with the projection 9, and the annular seal 12 of the cap

  end 11 in the lower part 8 of the container 2.

  The advantage obtained with the air filter of the present invention

  consequently follows from what has been described; in fact, for a single operation performed on the handle 16, both sealing position of the filter element 37 inside the container 2 and sealing of the end closure cap 11 on the container 2 are obtained at the same time said. In addition, there is no longer any need for additional bulky external elements for closing the end cap 11. Another advantage obtained is that, since the rod 19 is completely removed during a replacement of the filter element 37, this filtering element 37 must only be removed coaxially from the container 2 in correspondence with the lower edge of the body 21, which results in a reduction of the axial free space which is necessary outside the container 2 for the

filter replacement.

  The container 2 provided with the end cap 11 is advantageously formed of a plastic material, but the strength enabling it to withstand the forces generated during the closure of the handle 16 is provided by

  metal elements that absorb the corresponding reactions.

  dantes, said elements being in fact the rod 19, the body 21, the carrier body 22, the annular element 26, the upper and lower metal end caps 38 and 36 associated with the inner annular metal walls 45 of the filter element 37 , and the metal annular disk 33. The reaction to the forces exerted between the annular element 26 and the upper metal cap 38 also acts during

  a short moment on the annular part 4 of the upper wall

  container 3, but this does not weaken the characteristics

  Filter strength characteristics due to the appropriate strength of this reduced area. Finally, since the air arriving at the inlet orifice 43 is located in correspondence with the initial zone 42 of great radial width, the losses

  this charge through the filter 1 itself is reduced

  your. Finally, it is clear that the described and illustrated embodiment of the air filter according to the present invention can undergo various modifications and variations without

  go beyond the scope of the invention itself.

  Advantageously, the portion 20 of the rod 19 may be provided with a thread for rolling so as to have a diameter greater than that of the central portion of the rod 19 to prevent escape of the annular seal 34 during the dismantling and

  reassembly of the rod 19 itself.

Claims (9)

  An air filter (1) for vehicles, comprising an outer container (2) for an inner filter element (37), said container (2) having at least one removable closure body (11) for insertion and extraction of said filter element (37), characterized in that it comprises a single actuating means (16) for sealingly securing both said filter element (37) in said container (2) and said body closing (11) on said container (2).   2. Filter according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuating means comprises a single element (16) operable manually and which can act on said closure body (11) to apply it sealingly against said container (2). ) and on said filter element (37) to position it sealingly inside said container (2). 3. Filter according to claim 2, characterized in that the manual actuation of said single element (16) ensures its insertion into said container (2) or its removal out of it.   4. The filter of claim 3, characterized in that said single element has the shape of a handle (16) and is fixed by torsion on a rod (19) having a threaded portion (20) engageable in a hole in one   body (21) fixed in said container (2).   5. Filter according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized   characterized in that said single element (16) acts directly on said closure body (11) and further acts on a first sealing element (34) which forms a first sealing zone on said filter element (37) and urging it toward a second sealing member (39) which forms a second sealing zone on said sealing member filtering (37).   6. Filter according to one of claims 4 or 5,   characterized in that said fixed body (21) is disposed in an inner central area of said container (2) and is supported by a support (22) fixed on said container (2), said rod (19) being vertically disposed at the inside the container (2).   7. Filter according to claim 6, characterized in that said rod (19), said fixed body (21), said support (22) and the end elements (36, 38) of said filter element (37) against which s' apply said first (34) and second (38) sealing members are formed of a metallic material, while said container (2) and said   closure body (11) is formed of plastics material.   8. Filter according to any one of the claims   4 to 7, characterized in that said rod (19) can be   completely removed from said container (2).   9. Filter according to any one of the claims   1 to 8, characterized in that the cross-section of said container (2) is oval while the cross-section of said filter element (37) is annular, and that said container (2) internally comprises elements (40) of positioning the filter element (37), which are placed in positions such that there is a larger gap (42), between the outer surface of said filter element (37) and the inner surface of said container (2), in the zone (43) of air intake from the outside. o10. Filter according to claim 9, characterized in that said container body (2) has, on its lateral surface, an orifice (44) for penetrating the air to be filtered and, on an extreme surface (3), an orifice ( 6) of output of filtered air.   Filter according to any of claims 4   at 10, characterized in that said rod (19) has an end portion (20) of radially larger dimensions to prevent accidental escape of said first sealing element (34).