Filter element

Details Filter element Filter element

1998-05-07

2000-03-21

Simmons, David A.

Gas separation

With means securing or retaining separating media

Unit or cohesive sheet-like media in flow line or frame

55501, 55514, 55524, 55DIG31, B01D 4652

Patent

active

060397799

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A filter element is proposed comprising a pleated filter element of paper or non-woven fabric in the form of a plate fixed in a frame. German Patent 40 02 078 discloses a filter element. This consists of a nonwoven fabric material folded in zig-zag form which is provided with frame elements, the frame elements being produced in part by thermoplastic welding of the nonwoven fabric. Such a filter element is used, for example, in automobile manufacture. A disadvantage of this filter element is to be seen in the fact that it shows a certain instability. Especially in the event of pressure surges there is the danger that the pleats may buckle or collapse. The filtering action is thus considerably reduced, and the filter's resistance to flow is greatly increased.
To avoid these disadvantages, it is known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,058,669 to provide a filter element folded in zig-zag form with a supporting comb. This supporting comb is adapted to improve the stability of the folds considerably. However, a disadvantage of the supporting comb is to be seen in the fact that the effective filter surface is very greatly reduced.
The invention is addressed to the problem of providing a filter element which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages, exhibits great stability, and at the same time produces only an insignificant increase in the resistance to flow. Moreover, the filter element should be simple to dispose of.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This problem is solved by the present invention.
The significant advantage of the invention is that the support of the filter material is partial, i.e., the filter material is supported in those areas in which increased flexure can occur. Thus the effective filter surface area is reduced only to a very limited degree or not at all. The support is advantageously provided on the raw air side, i.e., the projecting segment engages the raw air pleat, supports the plate in the direction of flow, and at the same time varies any buckling of the folds.
According to one embodiment of the invention the projecting segment is adhesively bonded to the filter medium. This increases the stability.
A further embodiment of the invention envisions providing the projecting segment with an aperture. This aperture forms pockets which can be filled with adhesive material or glue. This embodiment achieves an additional increase in the stability, i.e. a reliable attachment of the filter element.
Especially when the filter is used in the air intake of an internal combustion engine, pulsations may occur which are caused by the motor. This pulsation may cause a vibration of the filter element. The device of the invention effectively forestalls the effect of the pulsation on the filter element.
To secure the flat plate to the frame, in an additional embodiment of the invention a polyurethane foam gasket is arranged along the frame. It is poured in the uncured state into a gasket chamber of the frame. As it hardens it flows slightly into the pleat pockets of the filter element and thus produces the sealing and the connection between the frame and the plate. Instead of a polyurethane foam, a silicone foam or other similar resilient material can be used.
Handling is facilitated in another embodiment of the invention by removal tabs. These are arranged on the frame and can be turned up for removal of the filter element from a housing.
These and additional features of preferred embodiments of the invention will be found in the description and drawings as well as in the claims, and the individual features can be realized individually or together in the form of subcombinations in the embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and may represent advantageous as well as independently patentable embodiments for which protection is hereby claimed.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further explained below with reference to an illustrative embodiment.
FIG. 1 shows a filter element in sectional view,
FIG. 2 shows a filter element in plan view,
FIG. 3 shows a detail view o

REFERENCES:
patent: 3158458 (1964-11-01), Babbitt
patent: 4363643 (1982-12-01), Elbrader et al.
patent: 4707167 (1987-11-01), Saito et al.
patent: 5043000 (1991-08-01), Kadoya

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