JP5664486B2 - Fluid filter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid filter, and more specifically, a fluid filter capable of ensuring the joining of members by welding and preventing a welding burr generated during welding from entering the filtration chamber. About.

  Conventionally, as a fluid filter used in a vehicle automatic transmission or the like, a resin upper case member having an outlet, a resin lower case member having an inlet, a filter medium, and a peripheral portion of the filter medium are held. A filter element having a resin-made holding frame sandwiched between both case members is generally known. Such a fluid filter is integrated by joining members by laser welding, vibration welding, or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-353783

  However, in the structure as disclosed in Patent Document 1, since welding burrs generated at the time of welding are exposed in the filtration chamber, the welding burrs drop off, which may cause clogging of the filter medium, blockage of the fluid flow path, and the like. There was a problem that it would cause problems.

  It is also known to provide a blind wall in the vicinity of the weld for the purpose of preventing the weld burr generated at the weld from being exposed to the outside. Such a wall portion is usually set to a length that creates a gap with the counterpart member so that the tip does not contact the counterpart member. This is for ensuring the joining of the members so that the progress of welding is not hindered. However, even if such a wall portion is provided, the welding burr may flow out from this gap.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described situation, and can ensure the joining of members by welding, and can prevent welding burrs generated during welding from entering the filtration chamber. An object of the present invention is to provide a fluid filter that can be used.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a resin upper case member having an outlet, a resin lower case member having an inlet, a filter medium, and a peripheral portion of the filter medium. And a filter element having a resin-made holding frame that is sandwiched between the upper case member and the lower case member, and the upper case member and the lower case member are held together by welding. A filtration chamber is formed by being joined to each frame, and a fluid filter in which a pump for sucking a fluid to be filtered from the filtration chamber is connected to the outflow port directly or via a pipe. In addition, at least one of the upper case member and the lower case member has the filter element at a position spaced apart from a joint portion with the holding frame toward the inside of the filtration chamber. A convex wall portion formed so as to protrude toward the front side, and the convex wall portion is formed when the upper case member and the lower case member are deformed by a pressure change during filtration. The gist is that it is provided so as to come into contact with the holding frame.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the abutment surface of the holding frame that abuts on the convex wall portion is a wall surface formed so as to extend in the vertical direction, and is separated from the joint portion. The gist is that the wall surface at a certain position is inclined so as to incline toward the inner side of the filtration chamber.

  The invention according to claim 3 is summarized in that, in claim 1 or 2, the fluid filter is an oil filter for an automatic transmission.

  According to the fluid filter of the present invention, at least one of the upper case member and the lower case member protrudes to the filter element side at a predetermined distance from the joint with the holding frame toward the inside of the filtration chamber. The convex wall portion is provided so as to come into contact with the holding frame when the upper case member and the lower case member are deformed due to a pressure change during filtration. ing. With such a configuration, the welding burr generated at the time of welding is accommodated in the space between the joint portion and the convex wall portion. When the fluid flows through the filtration chamber, the space in which the welding burr is accommodated is isolated from the space of the filtration chamber because the convex wall portion is in contact with the holding frame. As a result, it is possible to prevent welding burrs from entering the filtration chamber. Further, since the convex wall portion is provided so as to come into contact with the holding frame at the time of filtration, the fusion of the joint portion due to the contact between the convex wall portion and the holding frame does not occur at the time of welding. For this reason, a junction part is welded with the set welding amount (penetration amount). For this reason, the joining of the members by welding can be ensured.

  The abutment surface of the holding frame that abuts on the convex wall portion is a wall surface formed to extend in the vertical direction, and the wall surface at a position away from the joint portion is directed toward the inner side of the filtration chamber. In the case where the inclined surface is inclined so as to face, the convex wall portion and the holding frame are more firmly pressed against each other as the deformation of the case member proceeds. For this reason, it is possible to more reliably prevent the welding burr from entering the filtration chamber.

  Furthermore, when the fluid filter is an oil filter for an automatic transmission, an automatic transmission capable of suitably filtering oil can be realized.

The present invention will be further described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings referred to, with reference to non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments according to the present invention. Similar parts are shown throughout the several figures.
It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fluid filter which concerns on an Example. It is principal part sectional drawing of the fluid filter which concerns on an Example. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the fluid filter which concerns on an Example. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the effect | action of the fluid filter which concerns on an Example. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the effect | action of the fluid filter which concerns on an Example. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the fluid filter which concerns on other embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the effect | action of the fluid filter which concerns on other embodiment.

  The items shown here are exemplary and illustrative of the embodiments of the present invention, and are the most effective and easy-to-understand explanations of the principles and conceptual features of the present invention. It is stated for the purpose of providing what seems to be. In this respect, it is not intended to illustrate the structural details of the present invention beyond what is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the present invention. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how it is actually implemented.

  The fluid filter (1) according to this embodiment includes a resin upper case member (2) having an outlet (2A), a resin lower case member (3) having an inlet (3A), and a filter medium. (4) and a filter element (6) having a resin holding frame (5) that holds the peripheral edge of the filter medium and is sandwiched between the upper case member and the lower case member. The lower case member is joined to the holding frame by welding to form a filtration chamber (S), and a pump (P) for sucking a fluid to be filtered from the filtration chamber is provided at the outlet. It is a fluid filter connected directly or via piping (for example, see FIG. 1 etc.).

  The structure, shape, size and the like of the “upper case member” and the “lower case member” are not particularly limited. The material of the upper case member and the lower case member is not particularly limited as long as it is a resin. For example, it can be a laser-transmitting resin. Further, the upper case member and the lower case member can be formed in a box shape with the lower or upper part opened (see, for example, FIG. 1 and the like).

The size, shape, etc. of the “filter material” are not particularly limited. Examples of the material of the filter medium include non-woven fabric, woven fabric, and paper.
The structure, size, shape and the like of the “holding frame” are not particularly limited. The material of the holding frame is not particularly limited as long as it is a resin, and examples thereof include a laser absorbing resin. On the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the holding frame, for example, convex edge portions (51, 52) each having a convex cross section can be formed along the periphery of the holding frame (see, for example, FIG. 2). .
The configuration, shape, size and the like of the “filter element” are not particularly limited. This filter element can be in the form in which the resin-made holding frame is formed on the peripheral edge of the filter medium by insert molding, for example.

The fluid filter according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a lower end surface of the peripheral portion (21) of the upper case member, an upper end surface of the holding frame, an upper end surface of the peripheral portion (31) of the lower case member, and the above The lower end surface of the holding frame can be joined to form a joined portion (7, 8) (see, for example, FIGS. 1 to 3).
The joining form of the “joining part” is not particularly limited, and for example, it can be joined by laser welding, vibration welding, ultrasonic welding, high-frequency welding, or the like. In particular, when bonded by laser welding, the material of the upper case member and the lower case member can be a laser transmissive resin, and the material of the holding frame can be a laser absorbing resin.

In the fluid filter according to the present embodiment, at least one of the upper case member and the lower case member protrudes to the filter element side at a predetermined distance from the joint portion with the holding frame toward the inside of the filtration chamber. Convex wall portions (22, 32) formed as described above are provided (see, for example, FIGS. 2 and 3). And this convex-shaped wall part is provided so that it may contact | abut with a holding frame, when an upper case member and a lower case member deform | transform by the pressure change at the time of filtration (for example, refer FIG.4, FIG.5 etc.). ).
The “predetermined interval” is not particularly limited, but is usually set to an interval that can secure a sufficient space for accommodating the burrs in consideration of the size of the burrs generated during welding.

  The abutment surface of the holding frame that abuts the convex wall is not particularly limited. For example, (i) the upper end surface or the lower end surface of the holding frame (see, for example, FIG. 4), (ii) the holding frame in the vertical direction It can be a wall surface formed so as to extend (see, for example, FIGS. 6 and 7). In the case of (ii), for example, the wall surface may be an inclined surface that is inclined so as to be directed toward the inner side of the filtration chamber as the wall surface at a position away from the joint portion (for example, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, etc.). reference).

  Further, in the fluid filter according to the present embodiment, for example, at least one of the upper case member and the lower case member is provided with a filter element at a position spaced apart from the joint with the holding frame by a predetermined distance from the outside of the filtration chamber. The outer convex wall part (23, 33) formed so that it may protrude to the side can be provided (for example, refer FIG. 2, FIG. 3, etc.). Thereby, since the welding burr | flash generate | occur | produced on the outer side of the filtration chamber is covered among the welding burr | flashes (B) which generate | occur | produce in a junction part in the case of welding, designability can be improved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an oil filter used in an automatic transmission is illustrated as a “fluid filter” according to the present invention.

(1) Configuration of Oil Filter As shown in FIG. 1, the oil filter 1 according to this embodiment includes an upper case member 2 having an outlet 2A, a lower case member 3 having an inlet 3A, a filter medium 4, and And a filter element 6 having a holding frame 5 that holds the peripheral edge of the filter medium 4 and is sandwiched between the upper case member 2 and the lower case member 3. In the oil filter 1, an upper case member 2 and a lower case member 3 made of a laser transmitting resin are laser-welded to a holding frame 5 made of a laser absorbing resin. A filtration chamber S is formed by these members.

  The oil filter 1 is immersed in oil in an oil pan (not shown). Oil used on the automatic transmission side is stored in the oil pan, and the inlet 3A opens into the oil pan so that the oil in the oil pan can flow into the oil pan. Further, an oil pump P for supplying oil to the automatic transmission is connected to the outlet 2A via a pipe (not shown). The oil in the oil pan flows into the filtration chamber S through the inlet 3A and is filtered by the filter medium 4 when the oil pump is operated.

  The filter element 6 is formed by integrally molding the filter medium 4 and the holding frame 5 by insert molding. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the filter medium 4 is formed in a fold shape. On the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the holding frame 5, convex edge portions 51 and 52 each having a convex cross section are formed over the entire circumference. As shown in FIG. 2, the convex edge portions 51 and 52 are welded to the lower end surface of the peripheral portion 21 of the upper case member 2 and the upper end surface of the peripheral portion 31 of the lower case member 3 to form the joint portions 7 and 8. doing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper case member 2 is formed in a box shape with the lower part opened. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower end surface of the peripheral portion 21 of the upper case member 2 is in contact with and welded to the convex edge portion 51 of the holding frame 5 to form a joint portion 7. Moreover, the convex wall part formed in the lower end surface of the peripheral part 21 so that it might protrude in the filter element 6 side in the position spaced apart from the junction part 7 with a holding frame to the inner side of the filtration chamber S. 22 is provided. Thereby, a space is formed between the joint portion 7 and the convex wall portion 22, and a welding burr B generated at the time of welding is accommodated in this space.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower case member 3 is formed in a box shape with the top opened. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end surface of the peripheral portion 31 of the lower case member 3 is in contact with and welded to the convex edge portion 52 of the holding frame 5 to form a joint portion 8. Further, a convex wall portion formed on the upper end surface of the peripheral edge portion 31 so as to protrude toward the filter element 6 at a position spaced apart from the joint portion 8 with the holding frame toward the inside of the filtration chamber S by a predetermined distance. 32 is provided. Thereby, a space is formed between the joint portion 8 and the convex wall portion 32, and a welding burr B generated at the time of welding is accommodated in this space.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower end surface of the peripheral portion 21 of the upper case member 2 has a filter element 6 side at a position spaced apart from the joint 7 with the holding frame in the outer direction of the filtration chamber S. An outer convex wall portion 23 formed so as to protrude in the direction is provided. Thereby, a space is formed between the joint portion 7 and the outer convex wall portion 23, and a welding burr B generated at the time of welding is accommodated in this space.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the filter element 6 is located on the upper end surface of the peripheral edge portion 31 of the lower case member 3 at a position spaced apart from the joint 8 with the holding frame in the outer direction of the filtration chamber S. An outer convex wall 33 formed so as to protrude to the side is provided. Thereby, a space is formed between the joint portion 8 and the outer convex wall portion 33, and a welding burr B generated at the time of welding is accommodated in this space.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the convex wall portions 22 and 32 are provided so as to contact the holding frame 5 when the upper case member 2 and the lower case member 3 are deformed due to a pressure change during filtration. It has been. There is a gap between the tips of the convex wall portions 22 and 32 and the upper end surface of the holding frame 5 with which the tips contact. In the present embodiment, the contact surfaces of the holding frame 5 that contact the convex wall portions 22 and 32 are the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the holding frame 5, respectively.

(2) Operation of Oil Filter Next, the operation of the oil filter 1 having the above configuration will be described. In the normal state where the oil pump P is not operating, the oil filter 1 is not deformed in the upper case member 2 and the lower case member 3 as shown in FIGS. , 32 are not in contact with the holding frame 5. When the oil pump P is operated for oil filtration, the internal pressure in the filtration chamber S decreases as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the upper case member 2 and the lower case member 3 are filtered by this pressure change. By deforming inward of the chamber S, the convex wall portions 22 and 32 abut against the holding frame 5. And the space in which the welding burr | flash B is accommodated is isolated from the space of the filtration chamber S by the convex-shaped wall parts 22 and 32 contact | abutting with the holding frame 5. FIG. Therefore, even when the oil pump P is activated and the oil is circulating in the filtration chamber S, the welding burr B does not flow out into the filtration chamber S.

(3) Effects of Example As described above, according to the oil filter 1 of the present example, the peripheral portions 21 and 31 of the upper case member 2 and the lower case member 3 are joined to the holding frames 5 and 7 and 8. Convex wall portions 22 and 32 formed so as to protrude toward the filter element 6 are provided at positions spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance inward of the filtration chamber S. The convex wall portions 22 and 32 are respectively provided. Is provided so as to abut against the holding frame 5 when the upper case member 2 and the lower case member 3 are deformed due to a pressure change during filtration. With such a configuration, the welding burr B generated during welding is accommodated in the space between the joint portions 7 and 8 and the convex wall portions 22 and 32. When the oil flows through the filtration chamber S, the convex wall portions 22 and 32 are in contact with the holding frame 5, so that the space in which the welding burr B is accommodated is from the space of the filtration chamber S. Isolated. As a result, it is possible to prevent the welding burr B from entering the filtration chamber S. Further, since the convex wall portions 22 and 23 are provided so as to come into contact with the holding frame 5 at the time of filtration, the joint portion 7 due to the contact between the convex wall portions 22 and 32 and the holding frame 5 at the time of welding. , 8 does not inhibit the penetration. For this reason, the joining parts 7 and 8 are welded with the set welding amount (penetration amount). For this reason, the joining of the members by welding can be ensured.

  In the present embodiment, the peripheral portions 21 and 31 of the upper case member 2 and the lower case member 3 are spaced apart from the joint portions 7 and 8 with the holding frame 5 by a predetermined distance in the outer direction of the filtration chamber S. Since the outer convex wall portions 23 and 33 formed so as to protrude toward the filter element 6 are provided, the filtration chamber S of the welding burrs B generated at the joint portions 7 and 8 at the time of welding is provided. Since the welding burr generated on the outside is covered and not exposed to the outside, the design can be improved.

  In the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention depending on the purpose and application. That is, in the above embodiment, the abutment surface of the holding frame 5 that abuts the convex wall portion 22 is the upper end surface of the holding frame 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, as shown in FIGS. Further, the abutting surface of the holding frame 5 that abuts the convex wall portion 22 is a wall surface formed so as to extend in the vertical direction, and the wall surface at a position farther from the joint portion 7 is directed toward the inner side of the filtration chamber S. It is good also as an inclined surface which inclines so that it may face. Accordingly, as the deformation of the upper case member 2 proceeds, the convex wall portion 22 and the holding frame 5 are firmly pressed against each other, and the entry of the welding burr B into the filtration chamber S can be prevented more reliably. . Similarly, the abutting surface of the holding frame 5 that abuts the convex wall portion 32 is a wall surface formed so as to extend in the vertical direction, and the wall surface at a position farther from the joint portion 8 is closer to the inner side of the filtration chamber S. It is good also as an inclined surface which inclines so that it may go to a direction.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the same convex wall parts 22 and 23 were provided in both the upper case member 2 and the lower case member 3, it is not limited to this, For example, an upper case member and a lower case member It is good also as a form which provides a convex-shaped wall part only in either one of a side case member. When the convex wall portion 22 is provided on the upper case member 2, there is an advantage that the welding burr B can be prevented from entering the filtered chamber S after filtration.

  Furthermore, in the said Example, although the outer side convex wall parts 23 and 33 were each provided in the upper case member 2 and the lower case member 3, it is not limited to this, For example, an outer side convex wall part is used as an upper case. You may make it provide only in any one case member of a member and a lower case member, and you may make it not provide in any case member.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the oil filter 1 used for an automatic transmission was illustrated as a fluid filter which concerns on this invention, it is not limited to this, For example, filtration, such as an air filter provided in the intake system of an internal combustion engine, is filtered. The present invention can be applied to all fluid filters used in a state where the indoor pressure is lower than the external pressure.

  The foregoing examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the language used in the description and illustration of the invention is illustrative and exemplary rather than limiting. As detailed herein, changes may be made in its form within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Although specific structures, materials, and examples have been referred to in the detailed description of the invention herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosure herein, but rather, the invention is claimed. It covers all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses within the scope of

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail above, and various modifications or changes can be made within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

  It is widely used as a technique for filtering fluid. In particular, it is suitably used as a fluid filter for automatic transmissions of passenger cars, buses, trucks, etc., as well as railway vehicles such as trains and trains, construction vehicles, agricultural vehicles, and industrial vehicles.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1; Oil filter, 2; Upper case member, 21; Periphery part of upper case member, 22; Convex wall part, 22, 32; Convex wall part, 23, 33; Outer convex wall part, 2A; 3; Lower case member, 31; Peripheral portion of lower case member, 3A; Inlet, 4; Filter medium, 5; Holding frame, 51, 52; Convex edge, 6; Filter element, 7, 8; Part, B: welding burr, P: oil pump, S: filtration chamber.

Claims (3)

An upper case member made of resin having an outlet,
A lower case member made of resin having an inflow port;
A filter element that holds a filter medium and a peripheral edge of the filter medium and has a resin-made holding frame that is sandwiched between the upper case member and the lower case member,
A filtration chamber is formed by the upper case member and the lower case member being joined to the holding frame by welding,
The outlet is a fluid filter to which a pump for sucking a fluid to be filtered from the filtration chamber is connected directly or via a pipe,
At least one of the upper case member and the lower case member is formed so as to protrude to the filter element side at a predetermined distance from the joint with the holding frame toward the inside of the filtration chamber. Convex wall is provided,
The fluid filter according to claim 1, wherein the convex wall portion is provided so as to contact the holding frame when the upper case member and the lower case member are deformed by a pressure change during filtration. The abutment surface of the holding frame that abuts on the convex wall portion is a wall surface formed so as to extend in the vertical direction, and the wall surface at a position away from the joint portion is directed toward the inner side of the filtration chamber. The fluid filter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid filter has an inclined surface inclined to the surface.
Fluid filter.   The fluid filter according to claim 1, wherein the fluid filter is an oil filter for an automatic transmission.

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