US20110017657A1 - Filter Device, Especially Liquid Filter - Google Patents

Abstract

A filter device comprises a hollow cylindrical filter element in a filter housing. The fluid that is to be purified is to radially flow through the filter element. The interior of the filter element forms an axial flow chamber for the fluid. An end plate is arranged on the front side of the filter element. An annular neck, onto which a sealing element is injection-molded, is connected to the end plate.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• The invention concerns a filter device, especially a liquid filter, such as a fuel filter or oil filter, according to the preamble of claim1.
PRIOR ART
• A filter device that is used as an oil filter or a fuel filter is disclosed in DE 197 46 752 A1. The filter device comprises a hollow cylindrically embodied filter element that is secured on a radially inwardly positioned support structure and is flowed through by the fluid to be purified radially from the exterior to the interior wherein the filter interior forms an axial discharge passage for the purified fluid. The filter element is framed by terminal disks at the end faces that have a central cutout for discharging the fluid from the filter interior. In the central cutout of the terminal disk a sealing ring is inserted that is supported on an inner housing wall and separates the axial discharge space from the inflow side of the filter element. Such sealing elements are mandatorily required for a flow-tight separation of raw side and clean side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The invention has the object to separate with simple means and in a space-saving as well as effective way the raw side from the clean side in a filter device.
• This object is solved according to the invention with the features of claim1. The dependent claims provide expedient further embodiments.
• The filter device has in a filter housing a hollow cylindrical filter element that is to be flowed through by the fluid to be purified in radial direction. The interior of the filter element forms an axial flow space. At one end face of the filter element there is a terminal disk where the sealing element is arranged. According to the invention, this sealing element is injection-molded onto an axially projecting, annular socket that is connected to the terminal disk.
• With this embodiment different advantages are achieved. By injection-molding the sealing element separate assembly steps are no longer required that in an embodiment of the sealing element as its own component, in particular as a sealing ring, would be otherwise required. In the embodiment according to the invention, it is instead sufficient to injection-mold, before mounting the filter device, the sealing material onto the annular socket; subsequently, the filter element including sealing disk and socket together with the injection-molded sealing element can be inserted into the filter housing. Leakage flows caused by mounting are prevented in this way.
• Moreover, the stability of the filter device is improved because forces in the axial direction are transmitted substantially from the socket onto the filter housing. This means that the sealing element is positioned between the end face of the socket and the inner wall of the filter housing; since this section of the sealing element is however usually very thin-walled, a tilted positioning of the filter device that could lead to leakage flows is not to be expected as a result of the deformation of the sealing element.
• According to an advantageous embodiment, the sealing element is comprised of an injection-moldable silicone material, in particular a fluorosilicone rubber (FVMQ) that is characterized by an excellent fuel resistance, in particular by excellent diesel fuel resistance and therefore in a special way is suitable for use in fuel filters.
• According to a further advantageous embodiment, the socket has shaped elements that contribute to an improved adhesion of the sealing material on the socket. These shaped elements change the surface of the socket and are embodied as projections or, according to a preferred embodiment, as cutouts in the wall of the socket. In the embodiment as cutouts, they can be distributed uniformly about the circumference of the socket. During the injection molding step, the sealing material will deposit on the shaped elements so that an additional resistance with respect to accidental removal of the sealing material from the socket is provided. In case of the cutouts in the wall of the socket, the cutouts are advantageously completely filled with the sealing material so that no leakage flows through these cutouts may occur.
• The sealing material is expediently injection-molded onto the inner side, the outer side as well as the free end face of the socket so that the best possible sealing action is achieved. Even though, it is in principle sufficient to provide the sealing material only on the inner side or only on the outer side or optionally to provide the sealing material only on the end face of the socket or on a combination of end face and inner side or outer side of the socket.
• The annular socket in its simplest embodiment is a cylinder whose side walls and free end face form the support for the sealing material. However, other geometries may be provided also for the socket, for example, a socket with a cylindrically shaped section and a further section angularly extending therefrom or a socket with a slantedly extending wall that is positioned at an angle to the plane at the terminal disk. The sealing material may extend either about the entire inner side and outer side of the socket or, according to a further embodiment, only across a partial area of the socket, for example, on the angularly projecting section of the socket.
• According to yet another advantageous embodiment, two concentric sockets are provided that are spaced apart radially from one another wherein the sealing material is injection-molded onto both sockets. Since each one of the two sealing elements is provided with a sealing line, the sealing action is improved.
• The socket is advantageously embodied as a monolithic part of the terminal disk; both components can be manufactured of injection-moldable plastic material. Basically, it is however also possible to embody socket and terminal disk as two separate components that are connected to one another
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Further advantages and expedient embodiments may be taken from the additional claims, the figure description, and the drawings. It is shown in:
• FIG. 1 a perspective view of the lower part of a filter device with a hollow cylindrical filter element whose end face is framed by a terminal disk that is provided with a central cutout for discharging the purified fluid, wherein the central cutout is surrounded by a socket onto which sealing material is injection-molded;
• FIG. 2 a section view of the filter device according toFIG. 1 in the area of the socket;
• FIG. 3 a section illustration of a further embodiment according to which two sockets concentrically arranged relative to one another are provided onto which sealing material is injection-molded, respectively;
• FIG. 4 a further embodiment in which the socket has additionally an angularly arranged section that is a support for the sealing element;
• FIG. 5 a further embodiment in which the socket is comprised of a slantedly extending wall that is formed monolithically with the terminal disk.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
• In the Figures the same components are identified with same reference numerals.
• The filter devices illustrated in the Figures are suitable for filtration of liquid or gaseous fluids, in particular for filtering fuel such as diesel fuel or oil. Also, a use, for example, as an air filter is possible.
• The filter device1 illustrated inFIG. 1 comprises a hollowcylindrical filter element2 in afilter housing3 wherein thefilter element2 is flowed through radially from the exterior to the interior by the fluid to be purified so that the outer wall surface represents the raw side and the axial interior in the filter element represents the clean side from where the purified fluid is discharged axially through the end face. The axial end face of thefilter element2 is framed by aterminal disk4 that has acentral cutout5 that communicates with the axial interior of thefilter element2. In the central cutout5 acylindrical socket6 is inserted that advantageously is monolithically formed with theterminal disk4. In the wall of thesocket6 a plurality ofcutouts7 are provided that are distributed uniformly about the circumference and penetrate the wall. Thesocket6 is a support for asealing element8 that is comprised of an injection-moldable material, in particular of a silicone material such as partially fluorinated liquid silicone (FVMQ) and is injection-molded onto thesocket6. The sealing material is located on the outer side, the inner side and the free end face of thesocket6 and covers also completely thecutouts7 in the wall of thesocket6. Thecutouts7 have the function of shaped elements that ensure improved adhesion of the sealing material on thesocket6.
• The selection of the sealing material depends on the fluid to be purified. For use as a diesel fuel filter, advantageously the aforementioned material FVMQ is used that is characterized by high fuel resistance while at the same time providing excellent injection molding properties.
• As illustrated in the section view ofFIG. 2, thesocket6 is formed monolithically with theterminal disk4. The sealingelement8 has two contact lines: on the one hand, in the area of the free end face on thesocket6 and, on the other hand, at the transition area betweensocket6 andterminal disk4 on the side facing away from thecentral cutout5. In the area of the two contact lines thesealing element8 has a greater wall thickness. In order to design the seal to be more resistant with regard to high pressure peaks, in a supplemental embodiment a circumferentially extending ring in the area10 of the seal support a reinforcement ring can be provided. This ring is positioned circumferentially below or on theseal8. There is also the possibility to employ high-strength sealing materials or sealing materials that have a high tear resistance.
• In the embodiment according toFIG. 3, on the terminal disk4 asecond socket9 is provided that extends concentrically relative to thefirst socket6 but in comparison to thefirst socket6 has a smaller diameter. Also, the axial extension of thesecond socket9 is less than that of thefirst socket6. Thesecond socket9 is also formed as a monolithic part with theterminal disk4 as is thefirst socket6. The sealingelement8 is injection-molded onto thefirst socket6 as well as onto thesecond socket9 and extends along the inner side of thefirst socket6, on the inner and outer sides of thesecond socket9 as well as in the intermediate area on theterminal disk4 between first andsecond sockets6 and9. Moreover, the two free end faces of thesockets6 and9 are covered with sealing material.
• There are a total of two sealing lines between the sealingelement8 and the filter housing or the components of the housing; both sealing lines are located in the area of the free end faces of thesockets6 and9.
• In the embodiment according toFIG. 4, thecylindrical socket6 in the area of its end face is provided with asection6athat is radially inwardly angled at a 90 degree angle whose free end face is a support of the injection-moldedsealing element8.
• In the embodiment according toFIG. 5 thesocket6 that is a monolithic part with theterminal disk4 is angularly embodied; it is positioned relative to the plane of theterminal disk4 at an angle deviating from 90 degrees and is oriented radially outwardly. The sealingelement8 that is injection-molded on thesocket6 engages the end face of the socket as well as the inner side and the outer side and has a relatively complex cross-sectional geometry. Two sealing lines are formed by means of which thesealing element8 is seal-tightly supported on a further component of the filter device.

Claims (12)

1-11. (canceled)

12. A liquid filter device for filtering oil or fuel, comprising:

a filter housing;

a hollow cylindrical filter element arranged in said filter housing and having an axial direction, wherein a fluid to be filtered flows radially through said filter element;

wherein an interior of said filter element (2) forms an axial flow space for said fluid after filtering;

said filter element further comprising

a terminal disk arranged at an axial end face of the filter element;

an axially projecting annular socket secured to said terminal disk, said annular socket including an axially outward projecting annular wall surrounding an open central portion; and

a sealing element arranged on said annular socket over at least a portion of said annular wall, said sealing element operative to form a seal between said terminal end disk and said filter housing to seal between a raw side and a clean side of said filter element;

wherein said sealing element comprises sealing material injection-molded onto said axially projecting annular socket.

13. The filter device ofclaim 12, wherein said sealing material is comprised of a silicone material.

14. The filter device ofclaim 13, wherein said silicone material is a fluorine-silicone-rubber (FVMQ).

15. The filter device ofclaim 12, wherein said annular socket includes shaped elements formed thereon and configured to improve adhesion of said sealing element to said annular socket.

16. The filter device ofclaim 15, wherein said shaped elements are embodied as cutouts formed into said annular wall of said socket.

17. The filter device ofclaim 12, further comprising:

a second axially projecting annular socket secured to said terminal disk and arranged concentrically to said first socket, said second annular socket including an axially outward projecting annular wall surrounding an open central portion; and

a sealing element arranged on said second annular socket over at least a portion of said annular wall, said sealing element operative to form a seal between said terminal end disk and said filter housing;

wherein said sealing element is injection-molded onto said second annular socket.

18. The filter device ofclaim 12, wherein

said socket includes a section extending at an angle to said axial direction and onto which section said sealing material is injection-molded.

19. The filter device ofclaim 12, wherein

said socket including a first axially extending section and a second section connected to said first section and extending at an angle relative to said first section, said second section extending perpendicularly relative to said first axially extending section.

20. The filter device ofclaim 18, wherein said socket includes a section configured to support said sealing element at a non-perpendicular and non-zero angle relative to said terminal disk.

21. The filter device ofclaim 12, wherein said sealing material arranged onto an inner side, an outer side, and a free end face of said socket.

22. The filter device ofclaim 12, wherein said socket is formed monolithically with said terminal disk.

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