DE102010033741A1 - Fluid filter i.e. fuel filter, for use at internal combustion engine of motor vehicle, has heating device comprising diverting channel axial-downwardly extending into raw space, and inlet connected with space over heating device and channel - Google Patents

Abstract

The filter (1) has a housing (4) in which a ring filter element (5) is arranged. A raw space (6) of a clean room (7) is formed by a pot (2), a lid (3) and upper and lower end disks (11, 12). An inlet (8) and an outlet (9) are arranged in the lid. A heating device (10) heats fluid to be filtered, where the ring filter element is made to flow radially from an inner side into an outer side. The heating device comprises a diverting channel (13) axial-downwardly extending into the raw space, where the inlet is connected with the raw space over the heating device and the diverting channel.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid filter, in particular a fuel filter with a radially flowed through annular filter element according to the preamble of claim 1.

From the DE 10 2006 060 128 A1 a generic fluid filter is known, which is used as a fuel filter on an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. Particularly when using such fluid filters as fuel filters, it is important for a long service life of the internal combustion engine that as much of the water still contained in the fuel is filtered out in order to prevent resulting corrosion processes within the internal combustion engine.

The present invention is based on the general idea to provide an improved embodiment for a fluid filter of the generic type, which is characterized in particular by a structurally different construction.

This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The present invention is based on the general idea, in a per se known fluid filter, not to let a ring filter element flow from radially outside to radially inside as in the past, but in the opposite direction, that is from radially inward to radially outward. At the same time, a heating device for heating fluid to be filtered, that is to say for heating fuel to be filtered, is provided. This heating device is to be mounted above the ring filter element and above the cover and to be connected to a discharge channel which extends in the axial direction above or within or within a partial region of the ring filter element and at the same time forms part of an inflow channel. The heater can be attached in a structurally simple manner close to a lid of the fluid filter and plugged into the housing, which in particular an exchange for maintenance purposes, ie an exchange of the ring filter element or the filter cartridge is significantly simplified. The heating device is tightly and detachably connected to the cover of the housing, in particular screwed, latched or clipped.

The fluid filter according to the invention has in a known manner a housing formed by a pot and a lid, in which the radially flowed through ring filter element is located. The ring filter element has an upper and a lower end disk and separates a raw space from a clean room.

In an advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the lid has at least two parts, that is, it is at least two parts, consisting of an inner part and an outer part. The outer part serves to connect the lid to the pot of the housing, wherein this compound can be made detachable or insoluble. The lid may be sealed to the pot by any suitable means, such as screwing, clipping, latching or the like. Alternatively, in a disposable filter in which only the heater is not changed, the lid may also be tightly welded, crimped or crimped to the pot. The inner part of the cover is used together with the heater, the discharge channel and the end plates of the flow guide through the fluid filter.

The housing may be wholly or partly made of metal and or plastic.

In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, on the one hand over the upper end of the Roh- sealed from the clean room to the lid and on the other separates the lower end plate by means of a seal, preferably O-ring seal or sealing lip, towards the pot from the clean the raw space.

In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, the outflow channel extends into the raw space of the ring filter element. Preferably, the outflow channel extends over the entire length of the ring filter element or only to the seal with the upper end plate. The outflow channel can also go only to the middle of the ring filter element.

In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, a water collecting space for collecting unfiltered water is arranged below the ring filter element. Since, for example, fuel always contains a portion of water which can not be completely eliminated and this can lead to corrosion processes during combustion in an internal combustion engine, the proportion of water should be reduced as far as possible before the actual combustion process. In this way, in particular, a higher efficiency of the internal combustion engine can be achieved. For this reason, the fluid filter according to the invention has a arranged below the ring filter element water collection space in which the example. In the fuel entrained water can be collected and possibly discharged or deposited.

In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, a drain plug with or without integrated water level sensor is provided on the pot of the housing. It is also possible to connect the filter device to an automatic water discharge system.

Other important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated figure description with reference to the drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail in the following description, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

Show, in each case schematically,

1 a fluid filter according to the invention in a sectional view,

2 a detailed view 1 ,

According to the 1 has a fluid filter according to the invention 1 a through a pot 2 and an associated lid 3 formed housing 4 in which a radially flowed through ring filter element 5 is arranged, which is a crude space 6 from a clean room 7 separates. In the lid 3 are beyond a feed 8th as well as a process 9 arranged so that the fluid filter according to the invention 1 can be supplied from one side. In addition, a heating device 10 provided for heating the fluid to be filtered, for example. For heating of fuel to be filtered, the one in the crude space 6 axially downwardly extending outflow channel 13 having. The ring filter element 5 has in known manner an upper end plate 11 and a lower end plate 12 on. The feed 8th is over the outflow channel 13 the heater 10 with the raw space 6 connected. A flow of the fluid to be filtered, or the fuel to be filtered, within the fluid filter 1 is by flow arrows 14 indicated.

The discharge channel 13 , which in the example shown over almost the entire axial length of the ring filter element 5 extends, serves the flow guide. The heater 10 , especially one with the outflow channel 13 connected upper room 20 accommodates suitable heating elements, eg. B. self-regulating PTC elements, for heating the fluid to be filtered. The fluid to be filtered, that is, for example, the fuel to be filtered, passes through the inlet 8th via a corresponding channel section in the lid 3 in the room 20 in which the heating elements heat the fuel. Subsequently, the heated still to be filtered fluid or the fuel to be filtered at the bottom of the outflow channel occurs 13 out of this and indeed into the crude space 6 , Below the ring filter element 5 , there is a water collection room 15 for collecting water separated from the fluid to be filtered. To determine a water level within the water collection room 15 can be a water level sensor 16 be provided. This generates a signal, provided in the water collection room 15 sets a certain water level. Depending on the structure, the water can then be drained automatically or manually.

Looking in particular at the 1 so you can tell that the lower end disc 12 of the ring filter element 5 to the pot 2 is sealed off, whereas the upper end plate 11 of the ring filter element 5 one compared to the pot 2 smaller diameter, so that the filtered fluid or the filtered fuel between the pot 2 and the upper end disc 11 the end 9 can flow.

The heater 10 is in this case via a respective seal tight in the upper end plate 11 and also tight in the lid 3 inserted. The discharge channel 13 and the heater 10 can be integrally formed to simplify manufacturing. Generally form the heater 10 , which also includes the discharge channel 13 belongs, together with the lid 3 a channel system that the lid-side inlet 8th via the flow-through heating device 10 that means especially about the room 20 and then the flow-through outflow channel 13 , with the raw space 6 combines. A fixing of the heater 10 on the lid 3 and / or at the upper end disc 11 of the ring filter element 5 can be done, for example, via a snap-in connection, a clamping connection, a screw or a clip connection, which in particular also an exchange is simplified for maintenance purposes.

The lid 3 has an inner part 21 and an outer part 22 on. With the outer part 22 , is the lid 3 with the pot 2 releasably and tightly connected, for example by means of screwing, latching, clamping or bayonet closure. Alternatively, when changing the filter instead of the ring filter element 5 also the entire filter device without heating 10 be replaced. In this case, the lid is 3 with its outer part 22 tight and tight with the pot 2 connected, in particular crimped, welded or crimped. The housing 4 the filter device 1 can be made of plastic or of metal or of a combination of materials.

The at least two-part lid 3 forms with his inner 21 and outer part 22 , as well as the heater 10 , the outflow channel 13 and the end discs 11 and 12 a channel structure along which the fuel is fed into the filter device. Therefore, the heater needs 10 in the floor of the room 20 openings 23 through which all the fuel in the room 20 provided heating elements is passed before passing through the further opening 24 in the outflow channel 13 and thus into the raw space 6 flows in and from the ring filter element 5 is filtered.

The flow control by means of the outflow channel 13 can cause a 180 degree deflection of the fuel so that the rate of water separation can be improved. The discharge channel 13 extends into the crude space 6 of the ring filter element 5 , Preferably, the discharge channel extends 13 over the entire length of the ring filter element 5 or only up to the seal 26 with the upper end disc 11 , The discharge channel 13 can only up to the middle of the ring filter element 5 walk.

The heater 10 , especially the room 20 is about the environment over a seal 25 on the outer part 22 sealed the lid. The at the outflow channel 13 attached further seal 26 lies on a collar of the inner part 21 the lid and thus ensures a deflection of the fuel in the heater 10 into it. Another seal 27 located on the inner edge of the upper end disc 11 she writes the clean 7 from the raw space 6 from. Also the lower end disc 12 has on its outer periphery a seal that the clean room 7 from the raw space 6 seals. The seals shown are all O-ring seals, where appropriate, but also other forms we injected seals or sealing lips can be used to achieve the desired tightness. On the inside of the ring filter element 5 may be suitable layers which require increased water separation.

The feed 8th and the process 9 or, the associated nozzles are close to the lid 3 especially on the outer part 21 attached, in particular welded or soldered.

In the fluid filter according to the invention 1 In particular, in comparison to previously known fluid filters reverse flow through the ring filter element 5 Of importance, since this flow reversal allows the possibility of a structurally different structure. Because the heater 10 and in particular their outflow channel 13 In addition, forming a part of a fluid-carrying channel system, is an operation of the fluid filter according to the invention without mounted heater 10 not possible.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102006060128 A1 [0002]

Claims (8)

Fluid filter ( 1 ), in particular a fuel filter, with - a through a pot ( 2 ) and a lid ( 3 ) formed housing ( 4 ), in which a radially flowed through annular filter element ( 5 ), which is a raw space ( 6 ) from a clean room ( 7 ) and which separates an upper and a lower end plate ( 11 . 12 ), - one in the lid ( 3 ) arranged inlet ( 8th ) and expiration ( 9 ), - a heating device ( 10 ), which allows heating of the fluid to be filtered, characterized in that - the ring filter element ( 5 ) is flowed through radially from inside to outside, - that the heating device ( 10 ) with one in the raw space ( 6 ) axially downwardly extending outflow channel ( 13 ), - that the feed ( 8th ) via the heating device ( 10 ) and the outflow channel ( 13 ) with the raw space ( 6 ) connected is. Fluid filter according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating device ( 10 ) via a respective seal tight in the upper end plate ( 11 ) and tight in the lid ( 3 ) can be inserted. Fluid filter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outflow channel ( 13 ) and the heater ( 10 ) are integrally formed. Fluid filter according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the heating device ( 10 ) together with the lid ( 3 ) form a channel system that the lid-side inlet ( 8th ) via the flow-through heating device ( 10 ), that is via the outflow channel ( 13 ), with the raw space ( 6 ) connects. Fluid filter according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outflow channel ( 13 ) over a portion of the ring filter element ( 5 ) in the raw space ( 6 ), preferably over the entire ring filter element ( 5 ) or over the upper end disc ( 11 ) extends. Fluid filter according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that below the ring filter element ( 5 ) a water collection room ( 15 ) is arranged to collect unfiltered water. Fluid filter according to claim 6, characterized in that a water level sensor ( 16 ) for detecting a water level in the water collecting space ( 15 ) is provided. Fluid filter according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the heating device ( 10 ) via a latching connection, a clamping connection, a screw connection or a clip connection with the cover ( 3 ) and / or with the upper end disc ( 11 ) connected is.

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