WO2009007052A1

WO2009007052A1 - Air filter for being directly fitted to a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: WO2009007052A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/005420
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erich Eder; Alois Zechmann
Original assignee: Motorenfabrik Hatz Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2007-07-06
Filing date: 2008-07-03
Publication date: 2009-01-15
Also published as: DE102007031731A1; DE102007031731B4

Abstract

In an air filter (1) for being directly fitted to a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, the air filter (1) is constructed, in a modular fashion, from a connecting shell (5) which is designed for fitting the air filter (1) to the internal combustion engine and which has a plurality of air outlet openings (6), from a cover (2) and from a frame-like intermediate element (3), which is arranged between the connecting shell (5) and the cover (2), with a filter insert (4) held therein. A first air chamber is formed between the cover (2) and the filter insert (4), and a second air chamber is formed between the filter insert (14) and the connecting shell (5), wherein the first air chamber is connected to an untreated air connection (7) of the air filter (1) and wherein the second air chamber is connected to the first air chamber via the filter insert (4). Furthermore, sealing surfaces (20, 21) are provided within the connecting shell (5), on which sealing surfaces (20, 21) a partition can be mounted in such a way that a third air chamber (25) can be separated in a gas-tight fashion from the second air chamber (18'), which third air chamber (25) is connected to the air outlet openings (6), wherein the second and third air chambers (18', 25) can be connected by means of in each case one air passage opening (26, 27), which is to be formed in the connecting shell, to the air supply and air discharge of a turbocharger.

Description

Air filter for direct attachment to a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine

The present invention relates to an air filter for direct attachment to a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, in particular a multi-cylinder diesel engine.

Such air filters are known from the prior art and are usually characterized by a structure which, in its entirety, must be adapted constructively to the type and geometry of the relevant internal combustion engine. Therefore, in practice usually resorted to universally applicable, external air filter, which are connected by means of appropriate air ducts via an intake manifold mounted on the cylinder head of the respective internal combustion engine only indirectly on the internal combustion engine. This allows existing differences within an engine series to be compensated by a different design of the intake manifold adapted to the respective internal combustion engine.

However, especially in the case of industrial diesel engines - not least for reasons of space savings - the use of an attached directly to the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine air filter is desirable. Such mounted directly on the engine air filter systems in which the air outlet openings of the air filter are attached directly to the intake ports of the individual cylinders of the engine, however, are rarely found in practice, since in particular their variability in terms of different installation situations and other application requirements is not guaranteed , In addition, the use of directly on the combustion

BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE makes it difficult for engine-mounted air filters to be designed so that various engines of an engine series, both naturally aspirated and turbocharged, have to design different air filters, which entails increased design costs.

From GB 1 255 095 A, an air filter is already known, which is modularly constructed from a trained directly to the air filter to an internal combustion engine connecting shell with a plurality of air outlet openings and a lid, in which between the lid and a filter cartridge, a first air space and two filter cartridge and Connection shell, a second air space are formed, wherein the first air space communicates with a raw air port of the air filter and wherein the second air space is connected to the first air space via the filter cartridge. However, this air filter is not designed for attachment to turbo engines and can not be converted in a simple manner for this purpose.

Other air filters with disadvantages of the type described above are known from DE 10 2004 026 105 A1, US Pat. No. 6,474,284 B1, FR 28 48 612 A1, DE 100 36 241 A1 and DE 2 151 187 A.

Based on the above-mentioned prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simplistic designed and versatile air filter for direct attachment to a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, which by simple means to various installation situations and to various engines of an engine series is customizable. It should in particular an air filter can be provided, which can be attached with as few modifications as possible to both suction and turbo engines.

The above object is achieved with an air filter for direct attachment to a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine according to claim 1.

This is characterized by the fact that it is constructed in a modular fashion from a connecting shell designed for mounting the air filter on the internal combustion engine with a plurality of air outlet openings, a lid and a frame-like intermediate element arranged between connecting shell and lid with a filter insert accommodated therein. It is provided that between the lid and filter insert, a first air space is formed, which is on the one hand fluidly connected to a raw air connection and on the other hand connected via the filter insert with a second, formed between the filter cartridge and terminal shell airspace.

Consequently, the raw air flowing through the raw air connection into the first air space flows through the filter insert into the second air space. The filtered during the passage through the filter cartridge clean air finally flows through the air outlet openings formed in the terminal shell of the air filter according to the invention in the immediately adjacent intake ports of the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, to which the air filter is mounted directly. In the context of the invention it is further provided that within the terminal shell sealing surfaces are formed such that a partition wall is mounted on them so that from the second air space, a third air space is gas-tight separable, which is connected to the Luftaus- rittsoffnungen, the second or third air space can be connected to the air supply or air discharge of a turbocharger via one respective air passage opening to be formed in the connection shell. These sealing surfaces may preferably be formed by at least one separating web, on which then a preferably flat partition wall for the separation of the third air space can be screwed tight or glued.

This design of the air filter according to the invention makes it possible to use the remaining in its outer dimensions unchanged air filter for both intake and turbocharged engines of a series. For this purpose, then only the said partition must be connected to the sealing surfaces in the connection shell and the air passage openings - preferably in the form of one hole in a side wall of the connection shell - introduced in the second and third air space in the connection shell and via suitable air ducts, e.g. in the form of air ducts, are connected to the exhaust gas turbocharger.

The unfiltered air then enters the air filter through the raw air connection as before, then enters the cover-side first air space of the air filter and flows through the filter element to the second air space on the connection side. The filtered clean air then flows through the first air passage opening into a direction leading to the exhaust gas turbocharger Air duct and is compressed in the exhaust gas turbocharger in the usual way by means of a turbine driven by the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine. From there, the compressed clean air flows back through another air duct through the second Luftdurchtrittsöff- back into the air filter according to the invention, in the third, created by means of the partition airspace. From there it passes through the air outlet openings of the air filter in the individual cylinders of the associated intake ports of the internal combustion engine to act there as combustion air.

Appropriately, it must be ensured that the sealing surfaces provided in the connecting shell are arranged for the partition so that even when not mounted partition, so if the air filter is provided for direct mounting to a naturally aspirated, a sufficient air flow to the with the Adjust the intake ports of the engine connected air outlet openings of the air filter. This can - by selectively mounting the partition and the only if necessary introduced air passage openings - find one and the same air filter without major structural changes both to a naturally aspirated engine and to a turbocharger engine.

Characterized that a separate cover, a separate, the filter element receiving intermediate member and a separate connection shell are provided in an air filter according to the invention, the air filter according to the invention by simply varying the individual components can be easily adapted to a variety of installation situations. If, for example, the Rohluftansaugung space must be done at another location, simply the the Rohluftanschluss having component of the air filter can be adapted or reoriented accordingly; all other components can remain unchanged. If the air filter according to the invention is to be used in an engine series with a three-cylinder and a four-cylinder diesel engine, simply two different connection shells with a corresponding number and position of the air outlet openings can be provided for this purpose; the remaining components of the air filter can also remain unchanged here. Finally, an air filter according to the invention, as already explained above, can be used both for direct attachment to suction engines and to turbo engines with only slight modifications in the area of the connection shell.

It proves to be particularly advantageous if the frame-like structure of the intermediate element comprises an outer frame connecting the outer contour of the lid and terminal shell and an inner frame, wherein on the inner frame, a circumferential flange is formed, against which the filter insert to be inserted therein fully sealed with a ring seal is. Preferably, in this case, a lip seal running around on the filter insert is used, which finds its sealing counterpart on the flange circulating in the inner frame.

This allows a reliable separation of raw air and clean air in the two air spaces connected by the filter insert due to the full-circumferential seal within the inner frame of the intermediate element with at the same time particularly simple construction of the air filter. In addition, this ensures that the filter insert - eg for maintenance purposes or to replace the filter cartridge - is easy to disassemble and can be easily reassembled later.

It also proves to be particularly advantageous if the raw air connection is formed in the intermediate element. This can be a different installation situation, which requires an air intake from different directions, be met without structurally changing the cover or the connection shell. The raw air connection is formed in a preferred manner in the outer frame of the intermediate element structurally separate from the inner frame in this region, so that the unfiltered air entering the air filter through the unfiltered air inlet firstly enters an intake air space formed between the outer and inner frame, from where it exits continues to the first air space (between the lid and filter cartridge) flows. The required diversion of the air flow can optionally be supported by suitable deflection within the intake air space.

In a again preferred development of the invention with an unfiltered air connection formed on the intermediate element, it is provided that the intermediate element is designed and dimensioned such that it can be installed in at least two different orientations, in which the unfiltered air connection points to different sides of the air filter. Preferably, two mounting positions of the intermediate element are made possible by the rotation of the intermediate element by 180 ° in the plane defined by the frame of the filter insert carrier Level differ, so that the raw air connection can optionally point to opposite sides of the air filter. Incidentally, it is advantageous that the outer dimensions of the air filter in both orientations of the intermediate element - with the exception of an optionally existing and pointing in another direction intake for the Rohluftanschluss - are the same.

Lid, intermediate element and connection shell are to be connected to each other gas-tight by means of suitable connecting means. It proves to be extremely advantageous if the lid is connected to the frame-like intermediate element by means of a quick-release system and if the filter element with the cover removed from the lid-facing side of the frame-like filter element carrier can be removed, which in turn significantly facilitates the maintenance of an air filter according to the invention. Connection shell and intermediate element are preferably screwed together.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. It shows

1 is a perspective view of the not yet assembled components of an embodiment of an air filter according to the invention,

2 shows a section in a plane perpendicular to the arrow A of FIG. 1 level through the frame-like intermediate element of FIG. 1,

3 shows a cross section according to the course of plane III -III of FIG. 1 sectional view of FIG. 3 corresponding cross section through the illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 embodiment of an air filter according to the invention with mounted partition plate for attachment to a turbo engine.

The air filter 1 shown in perspective in its individual components in Fig. 1 consists of a cover 2, a frame-like intermediate element 3, in which the constructed as a commercial air filter cartridge filter insert 4 is used according to arrow A, and a connection shell 5 for direct cultivation of the air filter. 1 to a - not shown - four-cylinder internal combustion engine. FIG. 3 shows that the cover 2 consists of an outer cover shell 2a and an insulation layer 2b disposed therein on the inside for noise damping. However, such an insulating layer 2b is not necessarily required. While the cover shell 2a and the frame-like intermediate element 3 are made of plastic, aluminum is preferably chosen as the material for the connection shell 5 to be fastened to the internal combustion engine. In the connection shell 5, a total of four air outlet openings 6 are formed at equal intervals, which are opposite to the intake of the four cylinders directly after assembly of the air filter 1 on the engine and thereby fluidly connected with these. In the case of another cylinder number of the engine, the number of air outlet openings is adjusted accordingly. On the outside of the intermediate element 3, a raw air inlet 7 is formed with an outwardly projecting air intake 8. The frame-like structure of the intermediate element 3 comprises, as shown in more detail in the section of Fig. 2, an outer frame 9 which fully connects the outer contour of the cover 2 and the connection shell 5, and an inner frame 10, in which the filter element 4 is received , For this purpose, on the inner frame 10 on the inside there is a peripheral flange 11 with a stop 12 (see also Fig. 3), against which the filter element 4 until its raised edge 13 from the side of the lid 2 in the direction of arrow A. can be inserted into the intermediate element 3. The filter insert 4 is then sealed against the flange 11 by means of a ring seal 14 running around the raised edge 13.

Connection shell 5 and intermediate element 3 are screwed together in a suitable manner (not shown). Intermediate element 3 and cover 2 are connected by means of a simple to open by hand and equally easy to be closed quick-release system of several ironing clamps 15.

The unfiltered air sucked in the direction of the arrow B penetrates through the air intake stub 8 via the unfiltered air connection 7 according to the arrows C firstly into an intake air space 16 between the outer frame 9 and the inner frame 10 - laterally of the filter insert 4 - from which the air flows in the direction 2 leading out of the plane of the drawing arrows D in the first air space 17 (see Fig. 3) passes, which is formed between the lid 2 and 4 filter insert. For this purpose, the intake air space 16 formed in the intermediate element 3 is closed towards the connection cover. From the first air space 17, the air flows in the direction of the arrows E through the blank air filtering filter element 4 into the second air space 18, which is formed between the connection shell 5 and the filter insert 4. The filtered in this way clean air then flows finally according to arrow F through the respective air outlet openings 6 in the respective cylinders associated with intake ports of the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine.

Due to the symmetrical design of the outer frame 9 of the intermediate element 3 and the symmetrical arrangement of the Schneilverschuss bracket clips 15 and the connecting means, not shown, between the connection shell and intermediate element, the intermediate element 3 both in the orientation shown in Fig. 1, in which the intake manifold 8 to the rear directed, are installed between the cover 2 and the connection shell 5, as well as in a second orientation in which the intermediate element 3 with respect to the installation position shown in Fig. 1 by 180 ° in the plane perpendicular to the arrow A plane through the frame-like structure of Intermediate element 3 is clamped, is twisted, so that the air intake 7 would then point forward.

In addition, two mutually aligned sealing surfaces 20, 21 are provided within the connection shell 5, which are formed on a separating web 19 and a step-like edge 22 of the connection shell 5 and with which a (not shown in FIG. 3) partition plate for gas-tight separation of the air outlet openings adjacent third airspace - eg by means of a bond or screw - can be connected.

Finally, FIG. 4 again shows the exemplary embodiment of an air filter according to the invention according to FIG. 3, wherein certain modifications have now been made for the purpose of mounting the air filter 1 on a turbocharged engine. However, since with the exception of the differences explained in more detail below in terms of design and operation with the air filter shown in Figs. 1 - 3, may be made to avoid repetition on the relevant statements.

In constructive terms, there is a first difference of the air filter shown in Fig. 4 relative to the air filter of FIGS. 1 to 3 in that now on the upper and lower sealing surfaces 21, 22 - and not shown lateral sealing surfaces - a partition plate 23 is mounted with which a third air space 25 has been separated from the now smaller second air space 18 ", an insulation layer 24 made of a sound absorbing material is applied on the surface of the separating plate 23, preferably made of aluminum, facing the air outlet openings 6. Furthermore, in the rear side wall the terminal shell 5 in the region of the second air space 18 'and third air space 25 each have a circular Luftdurchtrittsoffnung 26, 27 is introduced, to which a turbocharger is connected by means of suitable air ducts.

This results in the following air flow: The raw air entering the first air space 17 flows in the direction of the arrows E through the filter element 4 into the second air space 18 ', which is separated by the partition plate 23 from the air outlet openings 6 of the air filter 1. Therefore, the filtered clean air is now sucked in the direction of pointing in the plane of Fig. 4 in arrow G through the first newly added air passage opening 26 to the turbocharger, is compressed there and finally passes through the second air passage opening 27 according to arrow H, the off the drawing plane has, in the third air space 25 of the air filter to from there - according to arrow F - to pass through the air outlet openings 6 in the intake ports of the internal combustion engine.

Claims

claims

1. Air filter (1) for direct attachment to a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, wherein the air filter (1) modularly formed from a for mounting the air filter (1) to the internal combustion engine connecting shell (5) with a plurality of air outlet openings (6), a cover (2 ) and a between frame (5) and cover (2) arranged frame-like intermediate element (3) is incorporated therein with a filter insert (4), wherein between the lid (2) and filter insert (4) a first air space (17) and between the filter insert (4) and connecting shell (5) a second air space (18, 18 ') are formed, wherein the first air space (17) with a raw air connection (7) of the air filter (1) is in communication and wherein the second air space

(18, 18 ') with the first air space (17) over the

Filter insert (4) is connected, wherein within the connection shell (5) sealing surfaces

(20, 21) are provided, to which a partition wall

(23) is mountable such that from the second air space (18 '), a third air space (25) is gastightly separated, which with the air outlet openings

(6) is connected, wherein the second or third air space (18 ', 25) via a respective trainees in the connection shell air passage opening

(26, 27) are connectable to the air supply or air discharge of a turbocharger.

2. Air filter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame-like structure of the intermediate element (3) comprises an outer frame (9) connecting the outer contour of the lid (2) and connecting shell (5) and an inner frame (10), wherein on the inner frame (10) a circumferential flange (11) is formed against which to be used in filter insert (4) is completely sealed with a ring seal (14).

3. Air filter (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the raw air connection (7) in the intermediate element (3), in particular in the outer frame (9) of the intermediate element (3) is formed.

4. Air filter (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the intermediate element (3) is designed such that it can be installed in at least two different orientations, in which the raw air connection (7) to different sides of the air filter (1).