JP2006341143A - Filter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filter constituted so that a filter element is prevented from falling down even if a filter casing is tilted when draining water separated from fuel on the bottom of the filter casing. <P>SOLUTION: This filter has: the filter casing 2 having a flow-in passage 21 and a flow-out passage 22, and an element arranging space 20 inside thereof; and the filter element 3 vertically extended in the element arranging space 20 of the filter casing 2. The filter casing 2 consists of an upper half casing 23 and a lower half casing 24, both being screw-connected. In the filter 1, the lower half casing 24 is provided with multiple ribs 25 upward extended along the side wall from the upper face of the bottom, and by screw-connecting the upper half casing 23 to the lower half casing 24, the filter element 3 is assembled in the filter casing 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a filter device including a filter element that separates water contained in a fuel such as light oil, and more particularly to a filter device that prevents the filter element from falling off when water separated from fuel is discharged out of the device.

  Some engines of a power machine that operates using light oil as a fuel and a part of a power machine that operates using gasoline as a fuel include a fuel injection supply system that supplies fuel in a mist form into a cylinder or into an intake port. . This fuel injection supply system includes a fuel tank, a fuel pump, and a nozzle. In the flow path between the fuel tank and the fuel pump, foreign matter such as dust and dust contained in the fuel in the fuel tank is removed. A filter device is provided for removal. In this filter device, a filter element having a filter medium made of filter paper or the like is attached so as to be replaceable, so that it can be easily replaced when clogged.

  The filter element has a function of removing moisture contained in the fuel in addition to the function of removing the foreign matter. Fuels such as light oil contain moisture, which is divided into dissolved water and free water. Dissolved water is not harmful because it is consumed together with fuel without stagnation in the fuel path, but free water has a higher specific gravity than light oil, so it stagnates in the fuel pump and easily causes rusting. This free water is contained in the supplied fuel as free water, enters as rain water during refueling, moisture in the air enters as water droplets, or dissolved water precipitates due to a drop in fuel temperature. Etc. Thus, the free water enters the fuel system through various paths, and most of it accumulates at the bottom of the fuel tank. Then, the water collected at the bottom of the fuel tank is sent out to the fuel system by vibration during traveling, so that the water separation function is indispensable in the filter element.

  By the way, conventionally, in a filter device having a filter element having a water separation function as described above, a filter case having a fuel inflow path and an outflow path is composed of two upper and lower case halves and has a cylindrical filter medium. In a state where the filter element is attached to the lower case half, the upper case half is screwed into the lower case half and the both case halves are joined together to assemble the filter element in the filter case. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

According to this filter device, the fuel is introduced into the filter case from the inflow passage formed in the upper case half, and the contained water is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the filter element toward the inner peripheral surface through the filter medium. Then, the inner circumferential space of the filter element is moved upward, passes through the outflow passage formed in the upper case half, and flows out of the filter case. Since the water separated from the fuel by the filter medium has a higher specific gravity than the fuel, after passing through the filter medium, it moves downward in the inner space of the filter element and is stored as separated water at the bottom of the filter case. It is like that.
JP 2004-136203 A

  In the filter device as described above, there is no problem if the amount of separated water is small, but if it is large, it is sent to the fuel pump via the outflow passage, and it may stagnate in the fuel pump and cause problems such as rusting. . Further, the fuel is sent to the cylinder or the intake port, which may cause fuel failure. For this reason, when the separation water in the filter case reaches a predetermined amount, it is necessary to discharge the separation water accumulated in the lower part of the filter case.

  By the way, the filter element is assembled in a state where it is simply placed on the upper horizontal surface of a plurality of ribs extending upward from the bottom of the lower case half. Therefore, when draining the separated water collected at the bottom of the filter case, if the upper case half is removed from the lower case half and the lower case half is tilted, the filter element assembled in the filter case will fall off. There was a risk of damage or loss.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. Even when the filter case is tilted when the water separated from the fuel by the filter element accumulated in the bottom of the filter case is discharged, the filter element is provided. It aims at providing the filter apparatus which prevents that falls.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a filter case having an inflow passage and an outflow passage for fluid and having an element arrangement space therein, and a vertical direction in the element arrangement space of the filter case. The filter case comprises an upper case half that opens downward and a lower case half that opens upward, and is formed on one of the case halves. In the filter device in which a male screw is coupled to a female screw formed on the other side, the lower case half is provided with a plurality of ribs extending upward along the side wall from the bottom upper surface side, A clamping portion corresponding to the shape of the lower portion of the filter element is formed on the upper portion of the rib, and the lower portion of the filter element is connected to the plurality of re- ages of the lower case half. The upper case half and the lower case half are screwed and joined after being press-fitted into a space surrounded by the inner end surface of the holding portion formed in and clamped by the plurality of gripping portions. By doing so, the filter element is assembled in the filter case.

  In the present invention, the clamping portion formed at the top of the plurality of ribs includes a locking portion formed in a tapered shape that narrows downward from a side wall of the lower case half, and the filter element as the filter. It is preferable to have a configuration including a mounting portion on which a horizontal surface on which the filter element is mounted when the filter element is assembled to the case.

  In the present invention, the filter element includes a cylindrical filter medium, and an upper plate and a lower plate that sandwich the filter medium from the upper and lower ends, and the lower plate has a locking projection protruding in the outer peripheral direction. When the upper case half is rotated relative to the lower case half to release the coupling, the locking projection of the filter element is connected to the rib of the lower case half. It is preferable that the configuration is such that the filter element is prevented from rotating together with the upper case half by abutting.

  As described above, according to the filter device of the present invention, the lower portion of the filter element is press-fitted into the space surrounded by the inner end face of the clamping portion formed in the lower case half and can be firmly assembled. ing. As a result, it is possible to prevent the filter element from dropping off even when the filter case is tilted when the water separated from the fuel by the filter element, which has accumulated in the bottom of the lower case half (filter case), is discharged. Also, the filter element can be assembled very easily into the lower case half.

  In the present invention, the clamping portion formed at the top of the plurality of ribs includes a locking portion formed in a tapered shape that narrows downward from a side wall of the lower case half, and the filter element as the filter. It is preferable to have a configuration including a mounting portion on which a horizontal surface on which the filter element is mounted when the filter element is assembled to the case. According to such a configuration, since the filter element is urged downward from the axial center by the locking portion formed in a tapered shape, the filter element is more firmly assembled to the lower case half, and at the time of drainage Prevents falling off when tilted.

  In the present invention, the filter element includes a cylindrical filter medium, and an upper plate and a lower plate that sandwich the filter medium from the upper and lower ends, and the lower plate has a locking projection protruding in the outer peripheral direction. When the upper case half is rotated relative to the lower case half to release the coupling, the locking projection of the filter element is connected to the rib of the lower case half. It is preferable that the configuration is such that the filter element is prevented from rotating together with the upper case half by abutting. With such a configuration, when releasing the coupling by rotating the upper case half relative to the lower case half, the filter element does not rotate together with the upper case half by the locking projection, It stays more securely in the lower case half, and can be prevented from falling off when tilted during drainage.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the filter device 1 according to the present invention has an element arrangement space 20 inside, and a filter case provided with an inflow path 21 and an outflow path 22 that allow the element arrangement space 20 to communicate with the outside. 2 and the filter element 3 installed in the element arrangement space 20 extending in the vertical direction.

  The filter case 2 is formed with the inflow path 21 and the outflow path 22 described above, and is opened downward to form a bottomed cylindrical upper case half 23 and opened upward to form a bottomed cylindrical lower case half. And a body 24. These case halves 23 and 24 are formed with an internal thread (not shown) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the side wall portion of the upper case half 23 and an external screw (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall portion of the lower case half 24. And is detachably coupled.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lower case half 24 includes a plurality of (four in this embodiment) ribs 25 extending radially from the bottom upper surface side about the vertical axis and along the side wall. Is provided. The plurality of ribs 25 are formed with clamping portions 26 corresponding to the shape of the lower part of the filter element 3 at the upper part.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the clamping portion 26 includes a locking portion 26 a formed in a tapered shape that narrows downward from the side wall of the lower case half 24, and the filter element 3 when the filter element 3 is assembled to the filter case 2. It is comprised from the mounting part 26b in which the horizontal surface to mount was formed.

  With such a configuration, the lower portion of the filter element 3 is press-fitted into a space (dotted line in FIG. 2) surrounded by the inner end face of the clamping portion 26 (provided on the upper portions of the plurality of ribs 25). After being clamped by the portion 26, the upper case half 23 and the lower case half 24 are screwed together to be assembled into the filter case 2.

  Further, the lower case half 24 is provided with a float guide 27 that guides the vertical movement of the float 40 indicating the liquid level in the inflow space 20 </ b> A, extending upward from the bottom upper surface side. The flow guide 27 is a central opening (not shown) of the float 40 formed in a ring shape.

  The float 40 is made of a material lighter than the specific gravity of water (for example, polyethylene), and the lower surface abuts against the bottom of the lower case half 24 according to the liquid level of the inflow space 20A by the flow guide 27 described above. From this state, the range from the upper surface to the lower plate 33 of the filter element 3 is supported so as to move up and down.

  The filter element 3 includes a bellows-shaped filter medium 31 that is folded into a cylindrical shape, and an upper plate 32 and a lower plate 33 that sandwich the filter medium 31 from the upper and lower ends. The upper plate 32 and the lower plate 33 are formed in a ring shape, and have openings 34 and 35 that communicate with an outflow space (inner peripheral space) 20 </ b> B configured with the filter medium 31. The filter element 3 having such a structure divides the element disposition space 20 in the filter case 2 into an inflow space 20A connected to the inflow passage 21 and an outflow space 20B connected to the outflow passage 22.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower plate 33 is formed with a locking projection 33 a projecting in the outer peripheral direction, and the filter element 3 assembled in the filter case 2 can be removed or separated. When releasing the coupling by rotating the upper case half 23 relative to the lower case half 24 for draining water or the like, the locking projection 33a of the filter element 3 is connected to the rib 25 of the lower case half 24. The filter element 3 is prevented from rotating together with the upper case half 23.

  In the filter device 1 of the present invention configured as described above, fuel containing moisture such as light oil is introduced into the filter case 2 from the inflow path 21 formed in the upper case half 23, and the outer peripheral surface of the filter element 3. After passing through the filter medium 31 toward the inner peripheral surface, the filter element 3 is moved upward in the outflow space (inner peripheral space) 20A and passes through the outflow passage 22 formed in the upper case half 23 to pass through the filter. It flows out of the case 2. Since the water separated from the fuel by the filter medium 31 has a higher specific gravity than the fuel, it passes through the filter medium 31 and then moves below the outflow space (inner peripheral space) 20B in the filter element 3 to form a filter case. 2 is stored as separated water at the bottom of the lower case half 24.

  Then, the assembly procedure of the filter element 3 in the filter case 2 in the filter device 1 of the present invention and the removal procedure at the time of draining will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the filter element 3 is placed in the lower case half 24 until the lower surface of the lower plate 33 of the filter element 3 contacts the element mounting portion 26 b of the lower case half 24. The rib 25 is press-fitted into a space (see FIG. 2) surrounded by the inner end face of the clamping part 26 and is clamped by the plurality of gripping parts 26.

  Next, the lower case half 24 holding the filter element 3 is inserted into the opening 34 of the upper plate 32 provided at the upper end of the filter element 3 while passing the outflow passage 22 of the upper case half 23. The male screw (not shown) provided on the side wall portion of the lower case half body 24 and the female screw (not shown) provided on the side wall portion of the upper case half body 23 are screwed together while being pushed upward from below. Then, the lower case half 24 is screwed into the upper case half 23.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the screwing of the lower case half 24 into the upper case half 23 is completed, the filter element 3 is sandwiched between the upper and lower case halves 23 and 24. And installed in the element arrangement space 20. At this time, the space between the upper case half 23 and the filter element 3 is tightly sealed (liquid tight) by the seal member 28 (see also FIG. 1).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the water m separated from the fuel is accumulated in the filter case 2 in which the filter element 3 is assembled as described above, and the float 40 rises to a predetermined height position. That is, when the maximum allowable water storage amount is reached, first, the upper case half 23 is rotated relative to the lower case half 24, and the case halves 23, 24 are uncoupled.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 5 (d), in the filter device 1 of the present invention, the locking projection 33 b provided on the lower plate 33 of the filter element 3 is connected to the rib 25 of the lower case half 24. It is configured to abut and prevent the filter element 3 from rotating with the upper case half 23 so that the filter element 3 remains in the lower case 24.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5 (e), the lower case half 24 from which the upper case half 23 is removed is tilted, and the separated water m stored therein is discharged. At this time, the filter element 3 is pressed against by the tapered locking portions 26a formed on the plurality of ribs 25 of the lower case half 24, and the force below the axis is urged. Even if the body 24 is tilted, it does not fall off. As a result, it is possible to prevent the float 40 supported by the flow guide 27 so as to move up and down between the bottom surface of the lower case half 24 and the lower plate 33 of the filter element 3.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment as described above, and can be improved as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is sectional drawing of the filter apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a top view of the lower case half which concerns on this invention. It is an enlarged view of the clamping part formed in the side wall of the said lower case half body. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of the lower plate attached to the lower end of the said filter element. It is a figure explaining the assembly procedure to the filter case of the filter element in the said filter apparatus, and the removal procedure at the time of drainage.

Explanation of symbols

1 Filter device 2 Filter case
3 Filter element 20 Element installation space 20A Inflow space
20B Outflow space
21 Inflow channel
22 Outflow channel
23 upper case half 24 lower case half 25 rib 26 clamping part 26a locking part 26b mounting part 31 filter medium 32 upper plate 33 lower plate 33a locking protrusion 40 float

Claims (3)

A filter case having an inflow path and an outflow path for fluid and having an element disposition space therein; and a filter element that extends vertically in the element disposition space of the filter case;
The filter case includes an upper case half opened downward and a lower case half opened upward, and a male screw formed on one of the case halves and a female screw formed on the other are screwed together. In the filter device to be combined,
The lower case half is provided with a plurality of ribs extending upward along the side wall from the bottom upper surface side,
At the upper part of the plurality of ribs, a clamping part corresponding to the shape of the lower part of the filter element is formed,
The lower portion of the filter element is press-fitted into a space surrounded by inner end surfaces of the holding portions formed in the plurality of ribs of the lower case half, and is held by the plurality of holding portions, and then the upper portion A filter device, wherein the filter element is assembled into the filter case by screwing and joining the case half and the lower case half. The clamping part formed on the upper part of the plurality of ribs,
A locking portion formed in a tapered shape that narrows downward from the side wall of the lower case half,
2. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the filter device includes a mounting portion formed with a horizontal surface on which the filter element is mounted when the filter element is assembled to the filter case. The filter element comprises a cylindrical filter medium, and an upper plate and a lower plate that sandwich the filter medium from the upper and lower ends,
The lower plate is formed with a locking projection that protrudes in the outer circumferential direction, and when the upper case half is rotated relative to the lower case half to release the coupling, 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the locking protrusion is brought into contact with the rib of the lower case half to prevent the filter element from rotating together with the upper case half. 2. The filter device according to 2.

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