DE10111118A1 - Filter device for equipping a ventilation and / or heating and / or air conditioning system, in particular for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Filter device for equipping a ventilation and / or heating and / or air conditioning system, in particular for motor vehicles, consisting of a filter medium (31) which comprises pleats and is at least partially surrounded by a frame (32) attached to the filter medium (31): the Frame (32) is made of plastic and is attached to the filter medium (31), the side walls (33, 34, 133) of the frame (32) adapting to the V-shape of the ends of the folds (42) of the filter medium (31) and at least alternately contain openings.

Description

The present invention relates to a filter device for equipment a ventilation and / or heating and / or air conditioning system, especially for motor vehicles.

Such a device is described, for example, in the publications US-A-5,667,545 and US-A-5,679,122.

In these publications the device contains a flexible one Filter medium that includes pleats and a frame with two Side walls and two transverse walls is surrounded. The sidewalls have an angular shape in cross section and include a Intermediate piece and floors with a triangular shape, which can be found on the extend the entire height of the pleats of the filter medium to the Seal ends of these folds.

The side walls therefore have a sawtooth shape.

In US-A-5,667,545 the frame is rigid, so that the filter device cannot be deformed.

There is a filter device in US-A-5,679,122 have been proposed, either temporarily at her  Inserting or removing from a system or permanently can be deformed to a non-planar shape of its inclusion in the Plant to be considered.

For this purpose, the intermediate piece comprises thin hinges between two successive floors. These wristbands can be used tear off various manipulations so that the frame a have shifted appearance and the filter medium in abnormal Way can be claimed.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages to park in a simple and economical manner.

According to the invention is a filter device for equipping a Ventilation and / or heating and / or air conditioning, in particular for motor vehicles, consisting of a filter medium that folds comprises and at least partially by one on the filter medium attached plastic frame is surrounded, the folds of the Filter medium have a V-shape in cross-section, thereby characterized in that the side walls of the frame to the V- Adjust the shape of the ends of the pleats of the filter medium and alternately contain openings so that the ends of the Wrinkles in the filter medium are not blocked.

Thanks to the invention, and especially thanks to the openings, it is Filter device temporarily or permanently deformable when in a recording with a non-flat shape is used.

The mechanical strength of the filter device is good.

It should be noted that it is not necessary to use a thin wrist band to create outside of the filter medium, since the frame adjusts to the Fits the ends of the folds. The filter medium and the side walls of the The frame is therefore deformed at the same time.  

It should also be noted that the material consumption due to the Presence of openings in the frame is reduced. Moreover reduces the weight of the filter device as well as theirs Susceptibility.

In one embodiment, the side walls are V-shaped, wherein they follow the ends of the pleats of the filter medium and thus attach themselves adjust them.

The ends of the folds are, considering the thickness of the Side walls, therefore open.

In another embodiment, the side walls also include alternately arranged half-bottoms, the ends of the folds partially close.

As a variant, these walls comprise alternating floors, that extend at a height that is less than the height of the folds is.

The frame can pass through at the ends of the pleats of the filter medium Gluing, ultrasonic welding, welding with indirect Heat supply, etc. must be attached.

The frame is advantageously at the ends of the folds of the Filter medium attached by molding, which easily a robust attachment and good control of the thickness of the side walls can bring about.

The filter medium advantageously comprises with regard to low density of the filter medium one from a carding fleece existing nonwoven mat.  

The carded nonwoven preferably forms a uniform layer.

The filter medium advantageously comprises a flexible grid in the With regard to good mechanical strength.

The filter medium advantageously comprises gas adsorbents attached between the grid and said nonwoven mat are.

The adsorbents preferably comprise a flexible one Activated carbon fabric.

The said adsorbents advantageously comprise a Activated carbon bed.

A nonwoven mat consisting of a carded nonwoven is preferably arranged on both sides of the adsorbent.

A grid is advantageously on both sides of the filter medium arranged.

The nonwoven mat is preferably based on long fibers executed, the length of which is preferably at least equal to 38 mm.

Said long fibers advantageously have a medium one Diameter greater than or equal to 10 microns.

Said long fibers are preferably made of thermoplastic.

The said long fibers are advantageously polypropylene fibers.

The plastic of the frame is preferably flexible Thermoplastic to further increase the flexibility of the filter device improve.  

The plastic of the frame is advantageously a thermoplastic elastomer.

As a variant, the plastic of the frame is a rigid thermoplastic, such as a polypropylene containing talc.

The side walls are advantageously at one end by a Transverse face connected with a peripheral edge and on the outside is provided with handle means. The transverse front surface bears Fasteners.

The side walls are preferably at one end by a Bottom wall connected on the transverse edge of the filter medium is molded on.

The side walls and / or the bottom wall are outside with a attached seal.

The side walls preferably include, in addition to the molding of the V- shaped ends of the folds two alternately arranged half-bottoms. The alternately arranged half-floors are made by molding manufactured. As a variant, they are arranged alternately Raised floors in the form of inserts added.

The side walls advantageously comprise a bar.

The filter device according to the invention therefore arises advantageously in the form of a flexible cassette, which at her Insertion in or when removing them from a ventilation and / or heating and / or air conditioning temporarily deformed can be, making the corresponding work significant be simplified, especially if accessibility to recording the filter device is generally not easy.  

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the below description of an embodiment Reference to the accompanying drawings. In it show in single:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a filter device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial view of section II of Fig. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2, where they each represent a variant.

The filter device 30 comprises a flexible filter medium 31 which serves as a particle filter and which is advantageously formed by a non-woven fiber mat which consists of a single-layer carded fleece. The filter medium 31 is folded.

The said nonwoven mat is based on long fibers executed, the length of which is preferably at least equal to 38 mm. The said long fibers have an average diameter larger or equal to 10 µm. The said fibers consist of Thermoplastic, here made of polypropylene for economic reasons.

The nonwoven mat is preferably connected to a flexible grid made of polypropylene, for example. In relation to the direction of flow of the air in the filter device 30 , this grid is arranged at the rear.

The filter medium 31 can be connected to two, likewise folded, flexible grids.

This or these grids are firmly connected to the nonwoven mat or not. If they are firmly attached to said mat, this fixed connection takes place, which can only be partially executed can, for example by ultrasonic welding, by gluing, by mechanical consolidation, in particular by means of a water jet, or other.

The filter device 30 can form a particle filter or a so-called combined filter, that is to say a combination of a particle filter and a gas filter. In this case, gas adsorbents are added.

Said gas adsorbents may comprise an activated carbon bed or a flexible carbon fabric folded in the same way as the filter medium 31 .

A frame 32 is provided, the task of which is to hold the various components of the filter device 30 and which is attached to the filter medium by any means, for example by gluing, ultrasonic welding, welding with indirect heat supply.

The frame 32 is attached to the filter medium here by molding.

In particular, the frame 32 comprises two side walls 33 , 34 which, by molding, adapt to the V-shape of the ends of the folds 42 of the pleated filter medium 31 . The section II of FIG. 2 illustrates the increased shaping of the ends of the folds 42 , which laterally forms the two walls 33 , 34 .

The folds of the filter medium 31 have a V-shape in cross section with an apex section and two base sections spaced apart from the apex section. There are therefore troughs between the vertices of the folds.

On a side referred to as the front side, the side walls 33 , 34 are connected at one of their ends by a transverse wall 36 , referred to as a transverse front surface, which extends parallel to the folds 42 and in height and width in relation to the side walls 33 , 34 and protrudes to the flexible filter medium 31 , so that a peripheral edge strip 37 is defined, which can cooperate with the bottom of an opening for the insertion of the filter device 30 , which contains the system to be equipped. If this is desired, the insertion of a seal causes a tight interaction.

An elevation starting from the inside of the transverse front surface 36 surrounds the transverse edge of the filter medium 31 here by molding. In the form shown, the transverse edge of the filter medium 31 is the edge of the overall horizontal narrow partition 38 , which extends the last V-shaped fold 42 in the direction of the transverse front surface 36 . Lateral connections 43 , 44 naturally connect the inside of the front surface to the side walls 33 , 36 in order to also overlap the longitudinal edges of said narrow intermediate wall 38 and the first flank of the first V-shaped fold 42 . On the outside, the transverse front surface 36 is provided with grip means, such as, for example, with a tongue 40 , and with attachment lugs 45 .

On the side opposite the side on which the transverse front surface 36 is attached, a transverse wall 41 , referred to as the bottom wall, covers here by molding the transverse edge of a narrow intermediate wall 39 which, like the narrow intermediate wall 38, runs horizontally overall and the last V-shaped one Fold of the filter medium 31 extended. This bottom wall 41 is intended to cooperate with the bottom of the housing of the system to be equipped. It is of course extended laterally along side connections 53 , 54 , which cover the longitudinal edges of the narrow intermediate wall 39 .

In the example shown, the side walls 33 , 34 therefore consist of an overmolding of the V-shaped ends of the folds 42 and therefore themselves have a V-shape, so that the material consumption is reduced accordingly and the frame is light in weight. The solution is simple and economical. Apart from the small dimensions of the side walls, the V-shaped ends of the folds 42 are not closed by the frame.

The filter medium 31 can be molded on using a rigid thermoplastic or a flexible thermoplastic with properties comparable to those of a vulcanized rubber. Regardless of the respective material, the deformation of the filter device 30 is made possible thanks to the natural deformation of the filter medium 31 caused by the folds and thanks to the deformation of the frame 32 , in particular its side walls 33 , 34 , which can deform, for example, in their plane, without the deformation of the filter medium 31 in directions perpendicular to the direction of the pleats.

The one made advantageously by injection The molding process enables, as explained above, the Inclusion of special functions, such as fastening. It other functions can also be provided, such as Sealing if the plastic used is one flexible plastic.

Different materials can be molded on at the same time, these materials depending on the required Stresses have different properties.  

As far as the materials are concerned, there are good results with talc Polypropylenes or achieved with thermoplastic elastomers with the company under the MULTFLEX brand MULTIBASE sold or with the under the brand SANTOPRENE sold by Advanced Elastomer Systems, AES Elastomer.

Thanks to the composition of the filter described above this has interesting pliability properties that it allow you to briefly bend it or even turn it in, to make the filter easier in a heating and / or ventilation and / or Use air conditioning system of a motor vehicle or from it to be able to remove. This is particularly advantageous if the Accessibility to include the filter proves difficult this is very often the case.

In the form shown, the side walls 33 , 34 and the bottom wall 41 are covered with a seal 35 , for example by gluing. Such a seal 35 can advantageously be a foam seal. The seal 35 is arranged at the apex portions of the folds 42 .

According to the variant of FIG. 3, the side walls, such as the side wall 133 , comprise, in addition to the formation 33 of the V-shaped ends of the folds 42, half-bottoms 63 with an overall triangular shape and in an alternating arrangement, which form the formation 33 in a transverse plane with respect to the folds 42 extend. These half-bottoms 63 are either produced either by molding or as a variant by introducing inserts during the molding process of the V-shaped ends of the folds 42 .

According to the variant of FIG. 4, the side wall 133 comprises a bar 73 with a small cross section, which is intended, for example, to guide the filter device 30 when it is inserted in the housing, which grooves inside for receiving said bars 73 or for receiving one Has seal.

According to a variant, not shown, the side walls 33 , 34 of FIGS. 1 and 2 likewise comprise a strip similar to the strip 73 of FIG. 4.

As may be easily understood, the side walls, as described in connection with FIGS . 3 and 4, retain the filter device 30 all of its flexibility, which was pointed out in connection with FIGS . 1 and 2.

In all cases there are openings in the side walls of the frame so that the ends of the pleats 42 of the filter medium are not blocked. These openings are distributed at least alternately.

Without regard of the survey are shown in FIG. 2, the side walls 33, 34, the interior of the folds and the troughs not clogged.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the half-trays 63 extend in an alternating arrangement. A half-bottom 63 closes the inside of a fold 41 at its apex section, while a half-bottom 63 closes the bottom of each recess adjacent to the aforementioned fold, the two half-ends 63 extending outside the relevant fold 42 and in the vicinity of the base sections of this fold 42 . There are therefore openings in the frame in an alternating arrangement and with the half bottoms 63 form-fitting arrangement.

There are strips of material on the one hand between the half floors 63 , which close the interior of the folds 42 at their apex sections, and on the other hand the half floors which close the floors of the troughs adjacent to the base sections of the folds. In FIGS. 3 and 4, this strip of material extending at half the height of the pleats, since half-trays 63 are present. The height of these half-bottoms 63 can of course be reduced and the height of the material strips can thereby be increased, as a result of which the filter device can be deformed.

This reduction can take place until the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is brought about, in which the side walls 33 , 34 have a V-shape and follow the ends of the pleats 42 of the filter medium and therefore adapt to said pleats.

As a variant, the strips of material that separate the bottoms 63 can be arranged slightly below or above half the height of the pleats 42 , so that the side walls comprise alternately arranged bottoms with a height that is smaller than the height of a pleat 41 of the filter medium.

The execution of the nonwoven mat, which forms the filter medium 31 , can be carried out as follows.

Polypropylene fibers with a fineness of 1.7 dtex are used (Diameter 14 µm) cut to a length of 40 mm are introduced into a mixer.

The fiber mixture obtained is then in a decoupler and then inserted into a storage container before being used for a Double customer wool card is carded with a tangled fiber Tangling device is equipped to an isotropic carding fleece receive.

When leaving the card, the carded fleece is put into a compressor introduced to form a non-woven layer.

The parameters of the card and the compressor are selected so that a nonwoven or nonwoven fabric with a mass per unit area of about 20 to about 150 g / m ² results.

The fleece or nonwoven is placed on a belt and then solidified by a process to bind water pressure.

The process of water pressure binding is through that on a fleece or non-woven fabric applied to a rotating drum Water jets under very high pressure (40 to 200 bar) to let it pass through.

By bouncing on the drum, the water jets cause an intertwining of the fibers, whereby the fleece or non-woven fabric is a maintains high mechanical strength, without a corresponding To increase its density.

After staying in a drying oven, the fleece or Nonwoven wound up.

With a 0.84 mm thick fleece or non-woven fabric, a filter could be formed which had a mass per unit area of 66 g / m ² and a density of 0.07.

In order to test the efficiency of the filter produced in this way, it was arranged transversely in a strand with a cross section equal to 100 cm ² , through which a particle-containing air flow flowed at a speed of 20 cm / s.

The particles correspond to a powder called "SAE- Fine Powder "by the standard of the United States with the reference number SAE J 726 / ISO 5011.

The particle concentration is 100 mg / m ³ .

On the one hand, it should be noted that the pressure loss at Filter passage under these conditions is only 14 Pa, and on the other hand, that the efficiency reaches 80%.

Thanks to these arrangements, a filter medium with less is obtained Dense, low manufacturing costs and high mechanical Strength. This filter medium is very flexible.

As a variant, the fibers of the nonwoven mat can of course also be made of selected from the group of thermoplastic fibers, such as from Polyethylene, polyester, polycarbonate and polyamide fibers, etc.

The filter medium can comprise nonwoven layers between which a flexible reinforcement grid is arranged, the two Nonwoven layers interpenetrate at least partially in order to the system formed by the two layers and the grid connect.

Claims (28)

1. Filter device for equipping a ventilation and / or heating and / or air conditioning system, in particular for motor vehicles, consisting of a filter medium ( 31 ) comprising folds and at least partially of a frame ( 32 ) made of plastic attached to the filter medium ( 31 ) is surrounded, the folds ( 42 ) of the filter medium having a V-shape in cross-section, characterized in that the side walls ( 33 , 34 , 133 ) of the frame ( 32 ) match the V-shape of the ends of the folds ( 42 ) adjust the filter medium ( 31 ) and at least alternately contain openings so that the ends of the folds ( 42 ) of the filter medium are not blocked. 2. Filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter medium ( 31 ) comprises a nonwoven mat which consists of a carded nonwoven. 3. Filter device according to claim 2, characterized characterized in that the carded fleece a uniform location forms. 4. Filter device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the filter medium ( 31 ) comprises a grid. 5. Filter device according to claims 2 and 4 in combination, characterized in that they Gas adsorbent comprises between the grid and the said nonwoven mat are attached. 6. Filter device according to claim 5, characterized characterized in that the adsorbent include flexible activated carbon fabric. 7. Filter device according to claim 5, characterized characterized in that said adsorbent include an activated carbon bed. 8. Filter device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized characterized that one from a carded fleece existing nonwoven mat on both sides of the adsorbent is arranged. 9. Filter device according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that a grid is arranged on both sides of the filter medium ( 31 ). 10. Filter device according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the Non-woven mat is designed on the basis of long fibers, the Length is preferably at least 38 mm. 11. Filter device according to claim 10, characterized characterized in that said long fibers have a have average diameter greater than or equal to 10 microns. 12. Filter device according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that said Long fibers made of thermoplastic.   13. Filter device according to claim 10, characterized characterized that it is said Long fibers are polypropylene fibers. 14. Filter device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the plastic of the frame ( 32 ) is a flexible thermoplastic. 15. Filter device according to claim 14, characterized in that the plastic of the frame ( 32 ) is a thermoplastic elastomer. 16. Filter device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the plastic of the frame ( 32 ) is a rigid thermoplastic. 17. Filter device according to claim 16, characterized in that the plastic of the frame ( 32 ) is a talc-containing polypropylene. 18. Filter device according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the side walls ( 33 , 34 , 133 ) are connected at one end by a transverse front surface ( 36 ) which with a peripheral edge strip ( 37 ) and on the outside with grip means ( 40 ) is provided. 19. Filter device according to claim 18, characterized in that the transverse front surface ( 36 ) carries fastening means ( 45 ). 20. Filter device according to one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that the side walls ( 33 , 34 , 133 ) are connected at one end by a bottom wall ( 41 ) which is formed on the transverse edge of the filter medium ( 31 ). 21. Filter device according to claim 20, characterized in that the side walls ( 33 , 34 , 134 ) and / or the bottom wall ( 41 ) are provided on the outside with an attached seal ( 35 ). 22. Filter device according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the side walls ( 33 , 34 ) have a V-shape and the ends of the folds ( 42 ) of the filter medium ( 31 ) follow. 23. Filter device according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the side walls comprise alternately arranged half floors, the height of which is smaller than the height of a fold ( 42 ) of the filter medium. 24. Filter device according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the side walls ( 33 , 34 , 133 ) adapt to the V-shape of the ends of the folds ( 42 ) of the filter medium ( 31 ), so that the frame ( 32 ) made of plastic is attached to the filter medium ( 31 ) by molding. 25. Filter device according to one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that the side walls ( 133 ) in addition to the formation ( 33 ) of the V-shaped ends of the folds ( 42 ) comprise alternately arranged half-bottoms ( 63 ). 26. Filter device according to claim 25, characterized in that the half-bottoms ( 63 ) are made by molding. 27. Filter device according to claim 26, characterized in that the half-bottoms ( 63 ) are attached in the form of inserts. 28. Filter device according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that the side walls ( 33 , 34 , 133 ) comprise a strip ( 73 ).