WO2023180516A1

WO2023180516A1 - Filter element, filter element unit, and filter

Info

Publication number: WO2023180516A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/057606
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerrit-Tobias Speidel; Lavanya Kagitha; Dietmar Talmon-Gros; Martin Weindorf; Oliver GLÜCK; Rafael Salom; Günter Jokschas; Arndt-Udo Rolle; Marco FAISST; Mike MÄRTZ; Pius Trautmann; Herbert Jainek; Matthias RÜGNER; Christian Thalmann; Stefan Uhl
Original assignee: Mann+Hummel Gmbh
Priority date: 2022-03-24
Filing date: 2023-03-24
Publication date: 2023-09-28
Also published as: DE102022106933A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter element (14). The filter element (14) can be received in the housing (12) of a filter (10) and is designed to receive a drain plug (36). The filter element (14) has an inner seal (44) for sealing the filter element off from the drain plug (36). The filter element (14) additionally has an outer seal (42) for sealing the filter element off from the filter housing (12) such that the drain plug (36) is only indirectly sealed off from the filter housing (12). The filter element (14) has an axial protrusion (32) in particular in the lower end, said axial protrusion comprising an opening structure (34). The invention additionally relates to a filter element unit (56) comprising the filter element (14) and the drain plug (36) and to the filter (10) comprising the filter element unit (56) and the filter housing (12).

Description

Filter element, filter element unit and filter

Technical area

The invention relates to a filter element that can be inserted into a filter housing of a filter. The invention further relates to a filter element unit with such a filter element and a drain plug arranged in or on the filter element. The invention finally relates to the filter with the filter element unit which is at least partially accommodated in the filter housing.

State of the art

The WO 2015/153006 A1, the WO 2016/105963 A1, the WO 2017/053377 A1, the DE 10 2016 221 686 A1 and the WO 2019/032440 A1 each disclose a filter with a replaceable filter element. The filter has a drain on the bottom.

From DE 1 1 2008 001 517 B4, DE 10 2010 063 822 A1, DE 10 2014 216 637 A1 and WO 2017/058984 A2, a filter with a filter element which is inserted into a filter housing has become known. A drain plug on the filter seals directly against the filter housing.

Since the filter housing is typically not replaced during service, but is sometimes handled improperly, a direct seal of the drain plug against the filter housing can lead to leakage over the life of the filter.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a particularly leak-free filter element for a filter with a filter housing closed by a drain plug. It is a further object of the invention to provide a corresponding filter element unit and a corresponding filter. Disclosure of the invention

This object is achieved by a filter element with the features specified in claim 1, a filter element unit according to claim 1 1 and a filter according to claim 17. Preferred embodiments are specified in the subclaims and the description.

According to the invention, a filter element is provided for insertion into a filter housing of a filter. The filter element has the following:

- A filter medium body arranged around an internal cavity of the filter element;

- a first end disk at a first axial end of the filter medium body;

- an axial projection on the first end plate, which circumferentially encloses a channel fluidly connected to the cavity, in particular axially extending;

- an opening structure, in particular of radial design, in a wall of the projection, which fluidly connects the outside of the projection to the in particular axially extending channel;

- an external seal on the projection, which seals the filter element from the external environment when the filter element is installed on the filter housing;

- a fastening structure on the projection, via which a drain plug can be fastened to the filter element;

- At least one component of an inner seal that seals the filter element from the drain plug.

The filter element according to the invention enables the drain plug to be arranged indirectly on the filter housing. During service, both the filter element and the drain plug are replaced, so that leaks are significantly reduced over the life of the filter.

When installed, a drain plug closes a channel, in particular an axial one, on an axial projection on a first end plate to the external environment. An opening structure, in particular designed radially, fluidly connects a channel, in particular axially extending, to the raw side of the filter element.

In the intended operating state, the channel, which runs in particular axially, is fluidically separated from an inner cavity of the filter element, in particular the pure fluid, in order to prevent raw fluid from passing into the inner cavity of the filter element during filtration operation.

The outer seal and/or the component of the inner seal can each be designed in the form of a sealing surface or comprise a sealing element.

In this respect, the term “seal” does not imply - unless otherwise explicitly defined - the presence of a sealing element, but is to be understood more broadly in the sense of “part of a sealing device”. In other words, the inner seal and/or the outer seal can also be referred to as “part of an inner and/or outer sealing device”.

The projection can comprise a cylindrical outer surface, on which in particular the outer seal is present. This enables the best possible sealing of the filter element against the filter housing on the outer seal.

The opening structure preferably has at least one circumferentially closed opening (a window) or several circumferentially closed openings (windows). The at least one circumferentially closed opening or the plurality of closed openings can preferably be designed in the form of a channel extending radially outwards or in the form of a plurality of channels extending radially outwards.

Further preferably, the filter element has a second end disk axially opposite the first end disk.

Alternatively or additionally, the filter medium body can be designed in the form of a folded filter medium, in particular in a star shape. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter element has a bypass valve. The bypass valve is preferably arranged on the underside of the filter element, in particular on the first end plate. If the raw fluid pressure is too high, raw fluid can flow unfiltered to the clean side of the filter element via the bypass valve. In the operating state of a high raw fluid pressure, when the bypass valve is open, there is a fluidic connection from the, in particular axially extending, channel into the inner cavity of the filter element. When closed, the bypass valve preferably seals against the first end plate of the filter medium body.

The first axial end of the filter medium body forms part of the underside of the filter element when the filter element is mounted. In other words, the first axial end of the filter medium body is preferably oriented downwards. This allows fluids to easily flow out of the filter or filter element during service.

The filter element can be designed to be particularly advantageous in terms of construction if the outer seal is spaced further from the first end plate than the opening structure. Alternatively or additionally, the opening structure can be formed near the first end plate.

The fastening structure can be located, in particular extending radially, on an inner wall of the projection. The fastening structure is preferably designed in the form of an internal thread and/or part of a bayonet lock.

The component of the inner seal is preferably provided on an inner wall of the projection, in particular extending radially. The component of the inner seal is or includes in particular a sealing surface.

An inner diameter of the axial projection can be larger, in particular in an area in which the fastening structure is present, than in an area in which the component of the inner seal is present.

The outer seal can have a radial sealing element, in particular in the form of an O-ring, which is arranged in a sealing groove of the outer seal. The sealing groove can be formed on the outer wall of the projection. In a further structurally preferred embodiment, the fastening structure can be at a greater distance from the first end plate than the outer seal. The attachment structure may be located near the free end of the projection.

The object according to the invention is further achieved by a filter element unit described here with a filter element described here and the drain plug attached to the filter element.

The component of the inner seal can have a radial sealing element, in particular in the form of an O-ring. The drain plug can have an outer wall in which a sealing groove is formed. The sealing element can be inserted into the sealing groove.

With regard to the lowest possible leakage, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the sealing element of the outer seal has a larger cross section than the sealing element of the inner seal.

The drain plug preferably has a fastening structure corresponding to the fastening structure of the filter element, in particular in the form of an external thread and/or in the form of part of a bayonet lock.

The fastening structure of the drain plug can be at a greater distance from the first end plate than the inner seal.

Furthermore, the component of the inner seal can be at a greater distance from the first end plate than the outer seal.

The drain plug can be designed to be cambered at least in sections in order to be able to withstand high fluid pressures.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the filter element unit, the drain plug is connected to the bypass valve. By removing the drain plug during service thereby removing the bypass valve. As a result, when removing the drain plug, raw fluid and pure fluid can be completely drained at the same time when replacing the filter element by removing the drain plug.

The drain plug can be attached to the bypass valve in a form-fitting manner, in particular via a snap connection. The drain plug is preferably permanently connected to the bypass valve without tools.

The object according to the invention is finally achieved by the filter with the filter element unit described here, which is at least partially inserted into the filter housing.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, from the patent claims and from the figures in the drawing, which show details of the invention. The previously mentioned and further detailed features can be implemented individually or in groups in any practical combinations in variants of the invention. The features shown in the drawing are shown in such a way that the special features according to the invention can be made clearly visible.

Show in the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a filter according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the filter from Fig. 1 in a sectional view along the plane AA

Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the filter from Fig. 2.

Embodiments of the invention

Fig. 1 shows a filter 10. The filter 10 is designed here in the form of a liquid filter, preferably in the form of an oil filter and/or fuel filter.

Fig. 2 shows the filter 10 in a sectional view. From Fig. 2 it can be seen that the filter 10 has a filter housing 12 in which a filter element 14 is arranged in a replaceable manner is. The filter housing 12 has a reversibly detachable cover 16, here in the form of a screw-on or unscrewable cover.

The filter element 14 has a filter medium body 18, here made of a star-shaped folded filter medium. The filter medium body 18 is held axially at the lower end by a first end disk 20 and axially at the upper end by a second end disk 22.

The filter medium body 18 encloses an axially extending cavity 24. At the lower end of the filter medium body 18, the filter element 14 has a bypass valve 26. The bypass valve 26 opens due to excess pressure on the raw side 28 compared to the clean side 30.

Fig. 3 shows the lower end of the filter 10 according to Fig. 2 in an enlarged view. From Fig. 3 it can be seen that the first end disk 20 has an axial projection 32 in which an opening structure 34, here extending radially, is formed. The projection 32 encloses a channel 35 which is fluidly connected to the cavity 24 via the bypass valve 26. The opening structure 34 fluidly connects the channel 35 to the raw side 28.

In the filter element 14, here in the projection 32, a drain plug 36 is fastened via a fastening structure 38 of the filter element 14 or a corresponding fastening structure 40 of the drain plug 36. The fastening structure 38 is designed here as an internal thread and the fastening structure 40 as a matching external thread.

The filter element 14 is sealed from the filter housing 12 by an outer seal 42. The filter element 14 is sealed from the drain plug 36 by an inner seal 44. The drain plug 36 is therefore only indirectly sealed from the filter housing 12. This makes the production of the filter 10 significantly easier.

The outer seal 42 has a sealing groove 46, the inner seal 44 has a sealing groove 48. A sealing element 50, 52, here each in the form of an O-ring, is arranged in the sealing grooves 46, 48. The drain plug 36 is attached to the bypass valve 26, here by a snap connection 54. Filter element 14 and drain plug 36 together form a filter element unit 56.

The axial projection 32 of the filter element 14 is received in an opening of the filter housing 12. The opening of the filter housing 12 is, in particular, an opening which, when installed as intended, lies at the bottom in the direction of gravity. The opening of the filter housing 12 has an inner circumference that provides a counter-sealing surface to the outer seal 42 of the filter element 14. The opening of the filter housing 12 is in particular free of engagement elements or connecting elements. In particular, the opening of the filter housing is free of undercuts. In particular, the opening of the filter housing has a cylindrical shape.

This ensures that the drain plug 36 can only be connected to the filter element 14 in the intended manner and cannot be connected directly to the filter housing 12. This prevents the installation of technically unsuitable filter elements in the filter housing.

Taking a synopsis of all the figures in the drawing, the invention relates to a filter element 14. The filter element 14 can be accommodated in a filter housing 12 of a filter 10 and is set up to receive a drain plug 36. The filter element 14 has an inner seal 44 for sealing against the drain plug 36. Furthermore, the filter element 14 has an outer seal 42 for sealing against the filter housing 12, so that the drain plug 36 is only indirectly sealed against the filter housing 12. The filter element 14 has an axial projection 32 with an opening structure 34, in particular at the lower end. The invention further relates to a filter element unit 56 with the filter element 14 and the drain plug 36 as well as the filter 10 with the filter element unit 56 and the filter housing 12. Reference symbol list

10 filters

12 filter housings

14 filter element

16 lids

18 filter media bodies

20 first end disk

22 second end plate

24 cavity

26 bypass valve

28 raw page

30 clean page

32 lead

34 opening structure

35 channel

36 drain plugs

38 Fastening structure of the filter element 14

40 Drain plug fastening structure 36

42 outer seal

44 inner seal

46 Sealing groove of the outer seal 42

48 Sealing groove of the inner seal 44

50 sealing element of the outer seal 42

52 Sealing element of the inner seal 44

54 snap connection

56 filter element unit

Claims

Claims Filter element (14) for insertion into a filter housing (12) of a filter (10), in particular a liquid filter, the filter element (14) having the following:

- a filter medium body (18) arranged circumferentially around an inner cavity (24);

- a first end plate (20) arranged at a first axial end of the filter medium body (18);

- a circumferentially formed axial projection (32) on the first end plate (20), the projection (32) having an open, in particular axially extending, channel (35) which is connected to the inner cavity (24);

- an opening structure (34) in a wall of the projection (32), which is fluidly connected to the, in particular axially extending, channel (35), the opening structure (34) in the removed state of the filter element (14) the external environment of the filter element (14) connects a raw side (28) to the channel (35) with the channel (35) and in the installed state of the filter element (14);

- an outer seal (42) arranged or formed on an outer wall of the projection (32) to seal the filter element (14) from the external environment in the installed state of the filter element (14);

- a fastening structure (38) on the projection (32), which can be connected to a drain plug (36) when the filter element (14) is installed, the drain plug (36) closing the channel 35 to the external environment when installed;

- At least one component of an inner seal (44) in order to seal the filter element (14) from the external environment against the drain plug (36) in the installed state of the drain plug (36). Filter element according to claim 1, in which the opening structure (34) has a circumferentially closed opening, in particular several circumferentially has closed openings.

3. Filter element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the filter element (14), in particular in the area of the first end plate (20), has a bypass valve (26) which is arranged in the inner cavity (24), the bypass valve (26) When opened by external fluid pressure, fluid flow is permitted from the channel (35) into the inner cavity (24) and, when closed, preferably seals against the first end plate (20).

4. Filter element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first axial end of the filter medium body (18) forms part of the underside of the filter element (14) in the assembled state of the filter element (14).

5. Filter element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the outer seal (42) is further spaced from the first end plate (20) than the opening structure (34) or the opening structure (34) is formed in the area of the first end plate (20). is.

6. Filter element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the fastening structure (38) is located on an inner wall of the projection (32), the fastening structure (38) preferably being designed in the form of an internal thread and/or a bayonet locking part.

7. Filter element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the component of the inner seal (44) is arranged or formed on an inner wall of the projection (32), in particular the component of the inner seal (44) comprising a sealing surface.

8. Filter element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the outer seal (42) has a radial sealing element (50), which is preferably arranged in a sealing groove (46) of the outer seal (42) on the outer wall of the projection (32). .

9. Filter element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the fastening structure (38) has a greater distance from the first end plate (20) than the outer seal (42), the fastening structure (38) preferably being in the area of a free end of the projection ( 32).

10. Filter element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the component of the inner seal (44) has a greater distance from the first end plate (20) than the outer seal (42).

1 1 . Filter element unit (56) with a filter element (14) according to one of the preceding claims and the drain plug (36) arranged on the filter element (14).

12. Filter element unit according to claim 1 1, in which the inner seal (44) has a radial sealing element (52), which is preferably arranged in a sealing groove (48) of the inner seal (44) on an outer wall of the drain plug (36).

13. Filter element unit according to claim 12 in conjunction with claim 8, wherein the sealing element (50) of the outer seal (42) has a larger cross section than the sealing element (52) of the inner seal (44).

14. Filter element unit according to one of claims 1 1 to 13, in which the drain plug (36) has a fastening structure (40) matching the fastening structure (38) of the filter element (14), the fastening structure (40) of the drain plug (36) preferably being in Formed in the form of an external thread and/or in the form of a bayonet locking part.

15. Filter element unit according to one of claims 1 1 to 14 with a filter element according to one of claims 3 to 10, in which the drain plug (36) is connected to the bypass valve (26) in order to close the bypass valve (26) when removing the drain plug (36 ) to be removed.

16. Filter element unit according to claim 15, in which the drain plug (36) is connected to the bypass valve (26) in a form-fitting manner, in particular by means of a locking connection. 17. Filter (10) with a filter element unit (56) according to one of claims 11 to

16 and a filter housing (12), the filter element unit (56) being inserted into the filter housing (12).