JP2003190732A - Filter element - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filter element, including a reinforcing material provided in an internal space of a filtration part, which can be manufactured at a low cost and further can be easily abandoned or can be easily separated and disposed of. <P>SOLUTION: In this filter element, the reinforcing material provided in the internal space of the filtration part 10 includes: a tube 40 formed by providing a sheet-like porous material 40a formed of a flexible synthetic resin material while deforming the porous material 40a substantially along the internal face of the filtration part 10; and a holder 50, formed of a synthetic resin material, for holding the tube 40. The sheet-like porous material 40a is in substantially a lattice form, and the sectional area of a longitudinal part 41 constituting the lattice is larger than that of a lateral part 43. The holder 50 includes a ring part 51 substantially along the inner periphery of the tube 40 and a plurality of protrusions 54 which are locked in holes of the tube 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filter element, and more particularly to a filter element suitable as an air filter element for an internal combustion engine, a dust collector or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an air filter element for an internal combustion engine, a plurality of pleats are formed on a filter paper, and the whole is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape to form a filter portion, and both end portions of the filter portion are vertically arranged. A filter element of a type that filters fluid in a radial direction and is closed by an end plate is known. In such a filter element, a metal cylinder having a large number of holes having a height over the upper and lower end plates is used as a reinforcing body so that the filter can withstand pressure differences in the inside and outside of the filter and in the radial direction. It is provided in the internal space of the filtration unit.

[0003]

However, since the filtering portion made of a flammable filter paper and the like and the different materials such as the non-combustible metal cylinder are mixed, they are formed as they are. Is difficult to dispose of. In addition, it is difficult to disassemble the integrated filter element for separate disposal. Further, the metal cylinder is heavy in weight, and in some cases, the aperture ratio cannot be sufficient.

Therefore, it has been proposed to use a hard synthetic resin body molded into a cylindrical shape by injection molding as a reinforcing body, but the molding die has a complicated structure and various filter elements are used. Since the size of each is different, the cost is inevitable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and is a filter element having a hollow cylindrical filtering portion and filtering by passing a fluid in the radial direction of the filtering portion. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filter element having a novel reinforcing body structure in the filter element having the reinforcing body provided in the inner space of the filtering portion. Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter element that can be manufactured at a low cost and that can be easily disposed of collectively (discarded) or separated.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] (1) A filter element of a type having a hollow cylindrical filter section for filtering a fluid by passing a fluid in a radial direction of the filter section, wherein the inside of the filter section In a filter element having a reinforcing body provided in a space, the reinforcing body holds a tube formed by bending a flexible sheet-shaped porous material so as to substantially extend along an inner surface of the filtering portion, and the tube. A filter element comprising a holder.

The present invention may further have the following configuration. (2) The sheet-shaped porous material is made of a synthetic resin material. (3) In the sheet state, the sheet-shaped porous material has greater flexibility in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction than in the axial direction of the filtration unit. (4) The sheet-shaped porous material has a substantially lattice shape, and the cross-sectional area of the lattice-shaped vertical portion is larger than that of the horizontal portion. (5) The holder is made of a synthetic resin material. (6) The holder has a plurality of protrusions that engage with the holes of the tube. (7) The holder is located inside the tube. (8) The holder has a ring portion that extends substantially along the inner circumference of the tube.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to examples. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view / side view of the filter element according to the first embodiment. The filter element 1 is configured as an air filter element suitable for an internal combustion engine. Filter element 1
The filter unit 10 has a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape, and an upper end plate 20 and a lower end plate 30 that close both end faces in the axial direction. As shown by the arrow in the figure, a fluid (air) is passed from the outer side to the inner side in the radial direction of the filtering unit 10 for filtering.

The hollow cylindrical filter portion 10 is formed by bending a sheet-like filter material so that the cross-section thereof has a substantially chrysanthemum shape and forming a large number of pleats 11. The inner diameter and the outer diameter of the filtering unit 10 are usually the same on the upper side and the lower side (right cylinder), but they are not necessarily the same. As the sheet-shaped filter medium, a combustible material such as filter paper or nonwoven fabric is usually used.

The upper end plate 20 closes (seals) the upper end surface of the filtering portion 10 in the axial direction. An opening 21 is formed in the center of the upper end plate 20 for discharging the fluid filtered through the filter 10. The internal space of the filter unit 10 and the outside of the filter element 1 communicate with each other through the opening 21 to form a fluid passage. The upper end plate 20 and the filtering unit 10 may be bonded by adhesion, or may be integrally bonded with the filtering unit 10 when the upper end plate 20 is molded. The upper end plate 20 and the lower end plate 30 may be formed of a combustible material, preferably a synthetic resin material.

The lower end plate 30 closes the lower end surface of the filtering portion 10 in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the lower end plate 30 includes a closing portion 32 that divides the inner space and the outer space of the filtering unit 10.
However, depending on the configuration of the case that accommodates the filter element 1, an opening may be provided in the center like the upper end plate 20. Good. The lower end plate 30 and the filtration unit 10 are
It may be bonded by adhesion, or may be integrally bonded with the filtering unit 10 when the lower end plate 30 is molded.

No metal cylinder having a large number of holes is provided inside the filter section 10. Instead, as a reinforcing member, a flexible sheet-shaped porous material 40a is bent (rounded) so as to be substantially along the inner surface of the filtration unit 10.
The tube 40 thus formed and a holder 50 for holding the tube 40 are provided.

The tube 40 is formed by bending a flexible sheet-shaped porous material 40a so as to be wound so as to be substantially along the inner surface of the filtering portion 10. Tube 40
Is almost in contact with the inner surface of the filtration unit 10 (may have some clearance). The tube 40 preferably has a height that extends substantially above and below each end plate 20,30. The upper and lower ends of the tube 40 may be embedded in the upper and lower end plates 20, 30. Sheet-shaped porous material 40
It is convenient and preferable to use one a, but it is also possible to form the tube 40 by using a plurality of a. Moreover, you may comprise by multiple layers.

An example of the sheet-shaped porous material 40a is shown in FIG. The sheet-shaped porous material 40a is preferably made of a synthetic resin material. Examples of synthetic resins include polyolefin resins such as polypropylene and polyamide resins. By using a synthetic resin material, unlike the metal cylinder, it is possible to collectively dispose (discard) the filter member 10.

In the sheet state, the sheet-shaped porous material 40 is orthogonal to the axial direction of the filter portion 10 rather than the axial flexibility (flexibility when bending the vertical portion 41 extending vertically in FIG. 2). It is preferable that the flexibility in the direction of bending (the flexibility in bending the lateral portion 43 extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 2) is greater. With this configuration, when the tube 40 is formed, the sheet-shaped porous material 40a can be easily rolled and can be manufactured easily, and the strength of the filter element 1 in the vertical direction can be secured.

The sheet-shaped porous material 40a preferably has a substantially lattice shape. As a result, a sufficient open area ratio can be obtained. The sheet-shaped porous material 40a made of a synthetic resin material in a substantially lattice shape can be molded regardless of a molding die having a complicated structure, is easy to manufacture, and is easily available because it is generally sold, and the cost can be suppressed. You can Each hole 44 in the sheet-shaped porous material 40a may be formed in various polygons, circles, etc. other than the rectangle shown in FIG. The size and pitch of the holes 44 are set in the filter element 1
It can be set as appropriate according to the size and type. As shown in FIG. 2, by making the cross-sectional area of the lattice-shaped vertical portion 41 larger than the cross-sectional area of the horizontal portion 43, as described above,
Flexibility in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction (flexibility in the left-right direction in FIG. 2) rather than flexibility in the axial direction of the filtration unit 10 (flexibility when bending the vertical part 41 extending in the vertical direction in FIG. 2). The flexibility when bending is larger). Vertical part 41 and horizontal part 4 forming a lattice
The cross-sectional shape of 3 can be formed in a circular shape, a rectangular shape, or another polygonal shape, and is not particularly limited.

The holder 50 retains the shape of the tube 40 formed by using the sheet-shaped porous material 40a and prevents the deformation thereof. Since the tube 40 is formed by bending a flexible sheet-shaped porous material 40a, it suppresses the deformation. The holder 50 is
Like the tube 40, it is preferably made of a synthetic resin material.
By using a synthetic resin material, different materials such as a flammable filter section and a nonflammable metal cylinder do not coexist. Therefore, it can be collectively disposed (incinerated and discarded) together with the filter member 10 and the tube 40. It will be possible.

The holder 50 is located inside the tube 40 and has a ring portion 51 that extends substantially along the inner circumference of the tube 40. FIG. 3 shows an example of the holder 50 that holds the tube 40 in detail. The ring portion 51 substantially along the inner circumference of the tube 40 can more effectively suppress the deformation of the tube 40 with respect to the pressure of the fluid passing through the filtration unit 10. In the holder 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the ring portion 51
Has a U-shaped cross section (inverted U shape), and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 52 are radially provided in the U-shaped space. However, the cross-sectional shape of the ring portion 51 is arbitrary. Usually, a plurality of holders 50 each having the ring portion 51 are provided at appropriate intervals in the height direction according to the height of the filtering portion 10, but a single holder may be provided.

The holder 50 includes a tube 40 (porous material 40
a) a plurality of protrusions 54 (54a, 54a) locked in the holes 44.
b, 54c, 54d, 54e). Corresponding to the tube 40 formed using the flexible sheet-shaped porous material 40a, the tube 40 (the porous material 40a
The holder 44 is fixed by utilizing the hole 44 of a) and locking a plurality of projections 54 in the hole 44. It is easy to manufacture and easy to disassemble. After use, the tube 40 and the holder 50 can be separated from the filtration unit 10 and reused.

The protrusion 54 has a locking portion 55 larger than the inner diameter (height) of the hole 44. By pushing the protrusion 54 into the hole 44, the locking portion 55 is locked in the hole 44 and the holder 50 can be fixed to the tube 40. Since the locking portion 55 is tapered toward the tip,
It is easy to push the locking portion 55 into the hole 44.

In the holder 50 having the ring portion 51 shown in FIG. 3, a total of five protrusions 54 (54a, 54b, 54) are provided.
c, 54d, 54e). Each protrusion 54a, 5
4b, 54c, 54d and 54e are ring parts 5 respectively.
It radially projects from the outer peripheral edge of 1. Among these, the protrusions 54a and 54b form a pair and are provided adjacent to each other. As shown in FIG. 3C, the protrusions 54a and 54b
Are respectively positioned near the ends 46 and 47 of the sheet-shaped porous material 40a forming the tube 40 (indicated by a chain double-dashed line) and are locked to the tube 40. As a result, the vicinity of the end portions 46 and 47 of the sheet-shaped porous material 40a is stably held. Ends 46, 47 of the sheet-shaped porous material 40a
Since it is not necessary to directly join each other, it is easy to manufacture.

The holder 50 shown in FIG. 4 is a modification of the holder 50 shown in FIG. This is different from that shown in FIG. 3 in that the outer peripheral edge of the ring portion 51 has a plurality of auxiliary surface portions 56 erected vertically. The auxiliary surface portions 56 are provided at a plurality of locations (four locations above and below the ring portion 51 in the example of FIG. 4) at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the ring portion 51. The auxiliary surface portion 56 extends substantially along the inner circumference of the tube 40. The auxiliary surface portion 56 allows the tube 4 of the holder 50 to
It is possible to increase the contact area with respect to 0, suppress the deformation of the tube 40 against the pressure of the fluid passing through the filtration unit 10 during use, and hold the tube 40 more stably.

As described above, the holder 50 is the tube 4
The shape is not limited to a ring shape as long as it holds the shape of 0 and has an effect of preventing deformation, and the shape is not particularly limited. Also, the means for connecting (fixing) the holder 50 to the tube 40 is not limited. The holder 50 may be fixed to the tube 40 using an adhesive.

In the filter element 1 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the structure of the holder 50 is slightly different from that of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the holder 5
0 has a ring portion 51 located inside the tube 40 and extending substantially along the inner circumference of the tube 40.
1 is that a leg portion 58 is connected to the first portion. By providing such leg portions 58, the holder 50 having the ring portion 51 can be fixed at an appropriate position according to the height of the filtration portion 10. A plurality of legs 58 may be provided, preferably at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the ring portion 51. In the illustrated example, the ring portion 51 has an L-shaped cross section, and when a plurality of holders 50 are provided, one ring portion 5 is formed.
One leg 58 is adapted to be stacked in the other L-shaped section. Further, when a plurality of holders 50 are provided, a positioning means can be appropriately provided (not shown) so that the position of the leg portion 58 in the planar shape can be specified. The plurality of protrusions 54 and other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.
Since the configuration is almost the same as that of, the description thereof will be omitted.

The filter element 1 of each of the above embodiments is
Usually, it is housed and used in a case (not shown). A known means can be applied to the structure of the case and the mounting in the case, and the case is not particularly limited.

By forming the upper end plate 20, the lower end plate 30, the tube 40, and the holder 50 from a synthetic resin material, the filter element 1 does not include a non-combustible metal member. It is also possible to incinerate and discard 1 as it is without disassembling it.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
The present invention can be implemented with appropriate changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention. In each of the above embodiments, the filtering unit 1
A porous reinforcing member may be provided on the outer periphery of 0.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to manufacture at low cost a filter element in which a reinforcing member having a novel structure is provided in the inner space of the filtering portion without using a molding die having a complicated structure. In addition, the assembly and manufacturing thereof is very simple. Also, by constructing the reinforcing body consisting of the tube and the holder with a synthetic resin material,
It is possible to obtain a filter element that is light in weight, has a high porosity, and has low airflow resistance. Furthermore, a filter element that can be easily disposed of collectively (discarded) or separated is provided. Since the reinforcement can be removed and reused, it is useful from the viewpoint of environmental measures such as resource saving and waste treatment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view and a side view showing a filter element 1 according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a sheet-shaped porous material 40a.

3A and 3B show an example of a holder 50, FIG. 3A is a plan view, FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line bb of FIG. 3A, and FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a modified example of the holder 50 of FIG.
(A) is a top view, (b) is a bb sectional view of (a).

5A and 5B are a sectional view and a side view showing a filter element 1 according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 filter element 10 Filter 11 folds 20 Top plate 30 bottom plate 40 tubes 40a Sheet-like porous material 41 Vertical 43 Horizontal 44 holes 50 holder 51 Ring part 54 protrusions

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A filter element of a type having a hollow cylindrical filter portion and filtering by allowing a fluid to pass through in a radial direction of the filter portion, wherein a reinforcing body is provided in an inner space of the filter portion. In the filter element, the reinforcing body includes a tube formed by bending a flexible sheet-shaped porous material so as to substantially extend along an inner surface of the filtering portion, and a holder that holds the tube. A filter element characterized by the following. 2. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-shaped porous material is made of a synthetic resin material. 3. The sheet-shaped porous material, in its sheet state, has greater flexibility in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction than in the axial direction of the filtering portion. Or the filter element according to 2. 4. The filter according to claim 3, wherein the sheet-shaped porous material has a substantially lattice shape, and a vertical section of the lattice has a larger cross-sectional area than a horizontal section. element. 5. The filter element according to claim 1, wherein the holder is made of a synthetic resin material. 6. The filter element according to claim 5, wherein the holder has a plurality of protrusions that engage with the holes of the tube. 7. The filter element according to claim 6, wherein the holder is located inside the tube. 8. The filter element according to claim 5, wherein the holder has a ring portion that extends substantially along the inner circumference of the tube.