JP6896014B2 - Filter element - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to filter elements used for fluid filtration.

Conventionally, a filter device for filtering a fluid such as water, fuel, or oil has been known and has been widely put into practical use in various industrial fields (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The filter device is generally configured such that a filter element is detachably mounted in a filter case in which an element arrangement space is formed. For example, this type of filter element consists of a cylindrical filter medium formed by folding a sheet-shaped filter paper into a bellows shape (mountain valley shape) with a predetermined width, and end plates attached to the upper and lower ends of the filter medium. The fluid is filtered by passing the fluid from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side (or from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side) of the filter medium.

JP-A-2017-127795

However, in the conventional filter element, as shown in FIG. 10, the folds 910 of the filter medium 900 are deformed due to the pressure of the fluid or the pressure difference between the inside and the outside, and the folds 901 are in close contact with each other, so that the filter medium 900 is effectively filtered. There is a problem that the filtration performance and the filtration life are lowered because the area is substantially reduced and the pressure loss is caused by the increase in the filtration resistance.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a filter element capable of achieving both improvement in filtration performance and extension of filtration life.

In order to solve the above problems, the filter element according to the present invention is fold-folded in a bellows shape to form a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and the first fold group is arranged on the outer peripheral side and the first fold group is arranged on the inner peripheral side. A filter element having a filter medium in which two fold groups are arranged and the first fold group and the second fold group are alternately formed in the circumferential direction, and the first fold group is convex toward the outer peripheral side. It has a pair of first outer folds and a first inner fold that is continuously formed between the pair of first outer folds and is convex toward the inner circumference, and the first inner fold is formed. The top of the filter medium is configured to be located on the outer peripheral side of the innermost peripheral portion of the filter medium (for example, the second valley fold portion 121 in the present embodiment).

Sonouede, filter element according to the present invention, the second Hidagun includes a second inner fold of the pair which is convex on the inner peripheral side, continuously formed between the pair in the second fold portion It has a second outer fold that is convex on the outer peripheral side, and the top of the first inner fold is located on the outer periphery side of the top of the second outer fold and is formed in the first fold group. It is characterized in that the number of folds and the number of folds formed in the second fold group are the same.

Further, in the filter element according to the present invention, it is preferable that the amount of protrusion of the first inner fold portion toward the inner circumference side and the amount of protrusion of the second outer fold portion toward the outer peripheral side are equally formed.

According to the present invention, even if the pair of first outer folds is pushed inward (in the direction of approaching) due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the filter medium, the pressure of the fluid during filtration, etc., the pair of first outer folds is pushed inward. The folds of the first inner folds arranged between the folds of the folds first come into close contact with each other and function as a spacer, so that the folds of the first outer folds are spaced at intervals equal to or greater than the thickness of the close contact. The surfaces can be kept separated from each other, thereby preventing the folds of the first outer folds from coming into close contact with each other. Therefore, an effective filtration area of the entire filter medium can be sufficiently secured, and filtration resistance can be obtained. The pressure loss caused by the above can be reduced, and as a result, it is possible to improve the filtration performance of the filter element and extend the life of the filter element at the same time.

Further, according to the present invention, the number of folds (folds) of the first fold group and the number of folds (folds) of the second folds alternately formed in the circumferential direction of the filter medium are equal to each other. Therefore, the folding density on the outer peripheral side and the folding density on the inner peripheral side of the filter medium are substantially equal, so that the shape of the entire folds can be well balanced, which facilitates the production of the filter medium. Therefore, the productivity and handleability of the filter medium (filter element) can be improved.

It is a front view of the filter apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the filter apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a front view (partial sectional view) of the filter element which concerns on this embodiment. It is a top view (partial cross-sectional view) of the filter element which concerns on this embodiment. It is a development view of the filter medium which concerns on this embodiment. It is a partially enlarged view for demonstrating the operation of the filter medium which concerns on this embodiment. It is a development view of the filter medium which concerns on 1st modification. It is a development view of the filter medium which concerns on the 2nd modification. It is a development view of the filter medium which concerns on 3rd modification. It is a figure for demonstrating the filter medium of the prior art.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The filter device 1 to which the filter element according to the present invention is applied is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. First, the overall configuration of the filter device 1 will be described with reference to these figures. The filter device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided as a fuel filter device provided in a petroleum refining plant, a petrochemical plant, or the like to separate and remove solid particles (dust, iron rust, scale, sand, etc.) mixed in petroleum. Has been done.

The filter device 1 includes a filter case 30 having an element arrangement space 10 inside, a filter cover 20 detachably attached to the upper end portion of the filter case 30 to close the upper end opening of the element arrangement space 10, and an element arrangement. It is mainly composed of a filter element 40 that can be detachably attached to the space 10. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, respectively, with reference to the arrangement posture of the filter device 1 shown in FIG.

The filter case 30 is formed in a vertically long bottomed cylindrical shape that opens upward. On the outer surface of the filter case 30, there is an inflow pipe connecting portion 31 to which a pipe for flowing a fluid (referred to as “sewage”) before filtration from the outside (upstream side) into the element arrangement space 10 is connected. , The outflow pipe connecting portion 32 to which the pipe for letting the filtered fluid (referred to as "clean oil") that has passed through the filter element 40 flow out to the outside (downstream side) is joined. Each of the connecting portions 31 and 32 is projected from the outer surface of the filter case 30, a circular hole-shaped inflow port 31a is formed on the tip side of the inflow pipe connecting portion 31, and a circle is formed on the tip side of the outflow pipe connecting portion 32. A pore-shaped outlet 32a is formed.

In the filter case 30, the sewage discharge unit 33 that discharges the sewage accumulated in the filter case 30 to the outside and the clean oil accumulated in the filter case 30 are discharged to the outside by a route different from the outlet 32a. A clean oil discharge unit 34 is provided.

A hollow disk-shaped flange portion 35 forming a seating surface of the filter cover 20 is joined to the upper end portion of the filter case 30. The filter cover 20 is formed in a disk shape having substantially the same diameter as the flange portion 35, and is detachably fastened and fixed to the upper surface of the flange portion 35 using a plurality of bolts and nuts. The filter cover 20 is provided with an air vent portion 21 for discharging the air in the filter case 30 to the outside at the start of operation.

Further, between the filter cover 20 and the filter case 30, a cover lift mechanism 25 for moving the filter cover 20 up and down and swiveling with respect to the filter case 30 is provided. The cover lift mechanism 25 operates the lever 26 to swing the mechanism portion downward in a state where the plurality of bolts and nuts fixing the filter cover 20 and the filter case 30 are removed, thereby causing the filter cover. After lifting 20 from the flange portion 35, the filter cover 20 is horizontally swiveled around the axis of the mechanical portion, so that the upper end opening of the element arrangement space 10 can be opened and the filter element 40 can be replaced. It is configured as follows.

Inside the filter case 30, a partition wall 37 for vertically partitioning the internal space is provided. An element arrangement space 10 is formed on the upper side of the partition wall 37, and a storage space 15 is formed on the lower side of the partition wall 37. The inflow pipe connection portion 31 and the sewage discharge portion 33 are communicated with the element arrangement space 10, and the outflow pipe connection portion 32 and the clean oil discharge portion 34 are communicated with the storage space 15. A baffle plate 38 facing the inflow port 31a in the left-right direction is provided in the vicinity of the outlet of the inflow pipe connecting portion 31 in the element arrangement space 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the filter element 40 includes a cylindrical filter medium 100, an outer peripheral sheet 41 provided so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the filter medium 100, and upper and lower ends of the filter medium 100 and the outer peripheral sheet 41. A pair of end plates 42 attached to each end plate 42 and a pair of gaskets 43 attached to each end plate 42 are provided.

The filter medium 100 is formed by pleating (folding) a filter paper such as a non-woven fabric in a bellows shape and winding it into a substantially cylindrical shape. The type of the filter medium 100 may be any of woven fabric, knitted fabric, non-woven fabric, paper and the like, or a combination thereof, as long as pleating molding is possible. The material of the filter medium is also not particularly limited, and examples thereof include chemical fibers, natural fibers, metals, and resins.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the filter medium 100 has a first fold group 110 arranged on the outer peripheral side (outer peripheral space side of the filter medium 100) and an inner peripheral side (inner peripheral space side of the filter medium 100). The second fold group 120 to be formed is formed continuously and alternately in the circumferential direction. In the following, a folding method that becomes convex toward the outer peripheral side is referred to as a "mountain fold", and a folding method that becomes convex toward the inner peripheral side is referred to as a "valley fold".

The first fold group 110 is formed between a pair of first mountain fold portions (outer fold portions) 111 that are convex on the outer peripheral side and a pair of first mountain fold portions 111, and is convex on the inner peripheral side. It has one valley fold portion (inner fold portion) 112, and is configured to have an M shape as a whole. The first mountain fold portion 111 has a length (24 mm) substantially equal to the distance between the outer peripheral end and the inner peripheral end of the filter medium 100, and has a large fold surface 101 extending from the outer peripheral end to the inner peripheral end of the filter medium 100. The large fold surface 101 has a length (3 mm) that is about one-eighth of the length of the large fold surface 101, and is formed with a small fold surface 102 that extends slightly from the outer peripheral end of the filter medium 100 to the inner peripheral side. .. An empty portion (gap) is formed between the large fold surface 101 and the small fold surface 102 of the first mountain fold portion 111. Further, the top of the first mountain fold portion 111 is arranged on the circumference having a radius R4 centered on the axis of the filter medium 100. The first valley fold portion 112 is formed to have a pair of small fold surfaces 102. An empty portion (gap) is formed between the pair of small fold surfaces 102 of the first valley fold portion 112. The top of the first valley fold portion 112 is arranged on the circumference of a radius R3 (R3 <R4) centered on the axis of the filter medium 100. The first valley fold portion 112 is formed between a pair of first mountain fold portions 111, and maintains a distance between the large fold surfaces 111 arranged on both sides thereof to prevent the large fold surfaces 111 from coming into close contact with each other. Has the function of At this time, the fold height of the first valley fold portion 112 (the length of the small fold surface 112) is about one-eighth of the fold height of the first mountain fold portion 111 (the length of the large fold surface 111). Since it is formed in a size, even if the large fold surface 111 and the small fold surface 112 are in close contact with each other, the remaining length (7/8) effectively functions as a filtration surface. The fold height (length of the small fold surface 102) of the first valley fold portion 112 is as low as possible (length of the fold surface) in order to suppress a decrease in the effective filtration area due to contact between the fold surfaces. ) Is preferable.

The second fold group 120 is formed between a pair of second valley folds (inner folds) 121 that are convex on the inner peripheral side and a pair of valley folds 121, and is a second mountain that is convex on the outer peripheral side. It has a folded portion (outer fold portion) 122, and is configured to have a W shape as a whole. The second valley fold portion 121 has a length (24 mm) substantially equal to the distance between the outer peripheral end and the inner peripheral end of the filter medium 100, and has a large fold surface 111 extending from the inner peripheral end to the outer peripheral end of the filter medium 100. It is formed with a small fold surface 103 having a length (3 mm) of about one-eighth of the length of the large fold surface 111 and slightly extending from the inner peripheral end of the filter medium 100 to the outer peripheral side. An empty portion (gap) is formed between the large fold surface 101 and the small fold surface 103 of the second valley fold portion 121. The top of the second valley fold portion 121 is arranged on the circumference of a radius R1 (R1 <R3) centered on the axis of the filter medium 100. The second mountain fold portion 122 is formed to have a pair of small fold surfaces 103. An empty portion (gap) is formed between the pair of small fold surfaces 103 of the second mountain fold portion 122. The top of the second mountain fold portion 122 is arranged on the circumference of a radius R2 (R1 <R2 <R3) centered on the axis of the filter medium 100. The fold height of the second mountain fold portion 122 is set to substantially the same size (minimum necessary size) as the fold height of the first valley fold portion 112.

Since the number of folds (number of folds) of the first fold group 110 on the outer peripheral side and the number of folds (number of folds) of the second fold group 120 on the inner peripheral side are equal to each other in the filter medium 100, the entire filter medium is formed. Has a well-balanced shape and is very easy to handle during manufacturing and assembly.

The outer peripheral sheet 41 is made of a non-woven fabric such as polyester fiber. The outer peripheral sheet 41 is provided so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the first mountain fold portion 111 (first fold group 110) forming the outermost circumference of the filter medium 100. A plurality of small holes (punched holes) 41a are formed through the outer peripheral sheet 41 in order to suppress the passage resistance of the fluid.

The filter medium 100 and the outer peripheral sheet 41 are sandwiched by the upper and lower end plates 42. At the center of the lower end plate 42, a circular opening that penetrates vertically and communicates with the inner peripheral space of the filter medium 100 is formed, and a gasket 43 is attached to this opening. Then, when the filter element 40 is mounted in the element arrangement space 10 in the filter case 30, a flow path forming pipe 39 extending upward from the storage space is fitted into the gasket, and the flow path forming pipe 39 extends through the flow path forming pipe 39. The inner peripheral space of the filter medium 100 and the storage space 15 communicate with each other. Further, the element arrangement space 10 includes a space on the outer peripheral side of the filter element 40 (referred to as "inflow space 10a") and a space on the inner peripheral side of the filter element 40 ("" It is roughly divided into two parts (referred to as "outflow space 10b"). The inflow space 10a is a dirty side through which the fluid before filtration flows, and the outflow space 10b is a clean side through which the fluid after filtration flows.

In the filter device 1 having such a configuration, as shown by the thick arrow in FIG. 2, the sewage flowing in from the inflow port 31a collides with the baffle plate 38. Then, when the sewage that has flowed into the inflow space 10a in the filter case 30 passes through the filter medium 100 of the filter element 40, solid matter in the sewage is captured and removed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, even if the large fold surfaces 101 try to be pushed inward (in the direction of approaching) due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the filter medium 100 and the pressure of the fluid during filtration, the large fold surfaces Adjacent small fold surfaces 102 arranged between the 101s are in close contact with each other and function as a spacer, so that the large fold surfaces 101 are kept separated from each other at intervals equal to or greater than the thickness of the close contact. This makes it possible to prevent the large folds 101 from coming into close contact with each other and secure an effective filtration area for the filter medium. The length of the small fold surface 102 is formed to be about one-eighth the length of the large fold surface 101 (the fold height is formed as low as possible in relation to the effective filtration area). Even when the small fold surfaces 102 are in close contact with each other, it can be effectively used as a filtration surface except for the tip portion of the large fold surface 101 (the portion in close contact with the small fold surface 102), so that the reduction in the effective filtration area is minimized. It can be suppressed to the limit. Then, the clean oil from which the solid matter has been removed by the filter medium 100 flows into the outflow space 10b formed on the inner peripheral side of the filter medium 100, and the flow path forming pipe 39, the storage space 15 and the outflow port 32a flow from the outflow space 10b. Are distributed in this order and flow out to the outside of the filter case 30.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the large fold surfaces 101 are pushed inward (in the direction of approaching) due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the filter medium 100, the pressure of the fluid during filtration, and the like, the large fold surfaces 101 Adjacent small fold surfaces 102 arranged between each other come into close contact with each other first and function as a spacer, so that the large fold surfaces 101 are kept separated from each other at intervals equal to or greater than the thickness of the close contact. As a result, the large folds 101 can be prevented from coming into close contact with each other, so that an effective filtration area of the entire filter medium can be sufficiently secured and the pressure loss caused by the filtration resistance can be reduced, and as a result, the filter can be obtained. It is possible to improve the filtration performance of the element 40 and extend the life of the element 40 at the same time.

Further, in the present embodiment, the number of folds (folds) of the first fold group 110 alternately formed in the circumferential direction of the filter medium 100 is equal to the number of folds (folds) of the second fold group 120. By making the folding density on the outer peripheral side and the folding density on the inner peripheral side of the filter medium 100 substantially equal, it is possible to maintain a good balance of the shape of the entire folds, thereby manufacturing the filter medium 100. Therefore, the productivity and handleability of the filter medium 100 (filter element 40) can be improved.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately improved as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the fold height of the second mountain fold portion 122 (the length of the small fold surface 103) is formed to be equal to the fold height of the first valley fold portion 112 (the length of the small fold surface 102). However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the fold height of the second mountain fold portion 122 (the length of the small fold surface 103) is changed to the fold height of the first valley fold portion 112 (the length of the small fold surface 102). ) May be formed larger. FIG. 7 shows a developed view of the filter medium 200 of the first modified example. In the filter medium 200 of the first modification, the length of the small fold surface 102 of the first valley fold portion 112 is set to 3 mm, and the length of the small fold surface 103 of the second mountain fold portion 122 is set to 15 mm. FIG. 8 shows a developed view of the filter medium 300 of the second modified example. In the filter medium 300 of the second modification, the length of the small fold surface 102 of the first valley fold portion 112 is set to 3 mm, and the length of the small fold surface 103 of the second mountain fold portion 122 is set to 21 mm. Therefore, in the filter medium 300 of this second modification, the top of the first valley fold portion 112 and the top of the second mountain fold portion 122 are located on the same line (on the circumference of the same radius (R2 = R3)). , The folding density can be made uniform over the entire area between the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side of the filter medium 100.

In the above embodiment, the filter medium 100 is configured to have the first fold group 110 and the second fold group 120, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and is further configured to have a plurality of fold groups. It may have been. FIG. 9 shows a developed view of the filter medium 400 of the third modified example. The filter medium 400 of the third modification has a pair of first fold groups 110 arranged on the outer peripheral side of the filter medium 400, and a second fold group 120 and a third fold group 130 arranged on the inner peripheral side of the filter medium 400. It is configured to have. The first fold group 110 has a pair of first mountain fold portions (outer fold portions) 111 and a first valley fold portion (inner fold portion) 112 formed between the pair of mountain fold portions 111. The second fold group 120 includes a pair of second valley folds (inner folds) 121 and a pair of second mountain folds (outer folds) 122 formed between the pair of second valley folds 121. It has a second valley fold portion (inner fold portion) 123 formed between a pair of second mountain fold portions 122. The third fold group 130 has only the third valley fold portion (inner fold portion) 131. Therefore, also in the filter medium 400 of this third modification, the number of folds (folds) of the first fold group 110 and the number of folds (folds) of the second fold group 120 and the third fold group 130 Are equal, and the folding density on the outer peripheral side and the folding density on the inner peripheral side of the filter medium 400 are substantially equal.

In the above embodiment, the fluid flows from the outer peripheral side to the inner peripheral side of the filter medium 100, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the fluid flows from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side of the filter medium 100. You may. In that case, the second mountain fold portion 122 (a pair of small fold surfaces 103) functions as a spacer for preventing the large fold surfaces 101 from coming into close contact with each other.

In the above embodiment, the case where the filter element according to the present invention is applied to a filter element for a fuel filter has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other liquids other than fuel (for example, lubricating oil, etc.) are described. The same effect can be obtained by applying it to a filter element for filtering hydraulic oil, water, etc., for example, a filter element for an oil filter, a filter element for a suction filter, a filter element for a return filter, and the like. ..

1 Filter device 10 Element arrangement space 20 Filter cover 30 Filter case 40 Filter element 100 Filter material 110 First fold group 101 Large fold surface 102 Small fold surface 103 Small fold surface 111 First mountain fold part (first outer fold part)
112 1st valley fold (1st inner fold)
120 2nd fold group 121 2nd valley fold part (2nd inner fold part)
122 2nd mountain fold (2nd outer fold)
200 filter media (first modification)
300 filter media (second modification)
400 Filter media (3rd modification)

Claims (2)

It is folded into a bellows shape to form a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and the first fold group is arranged on the outer peripheral side and the second fold group is arranged on the inner peripheral side, and the first fold group and the second fold group are arranged. A filter element having a filter medium in which folds are alternately formed in the circumferential direction.
The first fold group is a pair of first outer folds that are convex on the outer peripheral side and a first inner fold that is continuously formed between the pair of first outer folds and is convex on the inner peripheral side. Has a part and
The top of the first inner fold is located on the outer peripheral side of the innermost peripheral portion of the filter medium.
The second group of folds is a second outer fold that is continuously formed between a pair of second inner folds that are convex toward the inner circumference and a pair of second inner folds that are convex toward the outer circumference. Has a part and
The top of the first inner fold is located on the outer peripheral side of the top of the second outer fold.
A filter element characterized in that the number of folds formed in the first fold group and the number of folds formed in the second fold group are the same. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of protrusion of the first inner fold portion toward the inner peripheral side and the amount of protrusion of the second outer fold portion toward the outer peripheral side are formed to be equal.

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