Filter element comprising a filter medium folded in a zig-zag-shape with discontinuous end-edge bonding, and method for producing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12390752-B2
Application number	US-202218091164-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2022
Priority date	Jul 31, 2020
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

A filter element for filtering a fluid has a filter body with a filter medium folded in a zigzag shape with folds extending in a fold direction. The filter body has an end edge bonding which seals fold ends of the folds. The filter body has an outer contour with recesses. The end edge bonding, in a region of the recesses of the outer contour of the filter body, is embodied discontinuously. The end edge bonding has at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment and an inwardly positioned second bonding segment, viewed in the fold direction. The inwardly positioned second bonding segment, in a transverse direction relative to the fold direction, is arranged at a spacing to the at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment. The at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment and the inwardly positioned second bonding segment bond at least one common fold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filter element for filtering a fluid, the filter element comprising:
a filter body with a filter medium folded in a zigzag shape with folds extending in a fold direction;
the filter body comprising an end edge bonding sealing fold ends of the folds;
the filter body comprising an outer contour with one or more recesses;
wherein the end edge bonding, in a region of the one or more recesses of the outer contour of the filter body, is embodied discontinuously;
wherein the end edge bonding comprises at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment and further comprises an inwardly positioned second bonding segment positioned inwardly in the fold direction relative to the at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment;
wherein the inwardly positioned second bonding segment, in a transverse direction relative to the fold direction, is arranged at a spacing to the at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment;
wherein the at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment and the inwardly positioned second bonding segment bond at least one common fold.

2. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment follows the outer contour of the filter body in the transverse direction relative to the fold direction.

3. The filter element according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment follows the outer contour of the filter body in a straight line.

4. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment is discontinuously embodied in relation to the one or more recesses.

5. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the inwardly positioned second bonding segment is discontinuously embodied.

6. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment and/or the inwardly positioned second bonding segment is continuously embodied in the transverse direction relative to the fold direction.

7. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the inwardly positioned second bonding segment extends in the transverse direction relative to the fold direction.

8. The filter element according to claim 7 , wherein the inwardly positioned second bonding segment extends in a straight line in the transverse direction relative to the fold direction.

9. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the inwardly positioned second bonding segment begins and ends at an outer contour of the one or more recesses.

10. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the inwardly positioned second bonding segment begins and ends at a spacing from an outer contour of the one or more recesses.

11. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more recesses are arranged in a corner region of the filter body.

12. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the filter medium comprises a passage cutout, wherein the folds of the filter body at both sides of the passage cutout are sealed relative to the passage cutout by a bonding.

13. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the outer contour of the filter body, at least in sections thereof, extends curved.

14. The filter element according to claim 13 , wherein the outer contour of the filter body extends convexly curved.

15. The filter element according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of said inwardly positioned second bonding segment spaced apart from each other, wherein the plurality of said inwardly positioned second bonding segment include neighboring second bonding segments bonding at least one common fold, respectively.

16. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the filter element is a flat filter element or a round filter element.

17. The filter element according to claim 1 , further comprising a seal, wherein, in a region of the one or more recesses, the seal covers, extending from the outer contour in the transverse direction relative to the fold direction, at least one of the folds bonded by the at least one outwardly positioned first bonding segment and by the inwardly positioned second bonding segment.

18. The filter element according to claim 17 , wherein the seal is arranged at a clean side of the filter element.

19. A method for producing a filter element according to claim 1 , the method comprising:
a) providing a filter medium blank configured to be folded in a zigzag shape for forming the filter body along predetermined fold lines extending from a first longitudinal side of the filter medium blank to an oppositely arranged second longitudinal side of the filter medium blank;
b) producing one or more recesses in a region of at least one of the first and second longitudinal sides of the filter medium blank;
c) defining a first linear adhesive application path along the first and second longitudinal sides of the filter medium blank, respectively, wherein the first linear adhesive application paths are arranged so as to extend at a spacing to each other and wherein one of the first linear adhesive application paths intersects the one or more recesses;
d) defining at least one second linear adhesive application path along the at least one of the first and second longitudinal sides provided with the one or more recesses, wherein the at least one second linear adhesive application path is arranged so as to extend between the first linear adhesive application paths and parallel thereto, without intersecting the one or more recesses;
e) applying an adhesive on the filter medium blank by following the outer contour of the filter medium blank in the transverse direction relative to the fold direction along the first linear adhesive application paths and interrupting or stopping an adhesive application in the region of the one or more recesses and, instead, carrying out the adhesive application in the region of the one or more recesses along the at least one second linear adhesive application path in the transverse direction relative to the fold direction at a spacing from the one of the first linear adhesive application paths intersecting the one or more recesses; and
f) erecting the filter medium blank to a filter medium folded with folds in a zigzag shape so that fold ends of the folds of the filter medium are sealed by the end edge bonding formed by the adhesive, wherein the adhesive, applied along the at least one second linear adhesive application path and along the one of the first linear adhesive application paths intersecting the one or more recesses, bonds at least one common fold of the filter medium.

20. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
providing the filter medium blank with a passage cutout;
defining two third linear application paths extending parallel to each other at both sides of the passage cutout on the filter medium blank;
applying the adhesive along the two third linear application paths such that folds extending toward the passage cutout after erecting the filter medium blank are sealed by bonding formed by the adhesive applied along the two third linear application paths.

21. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising selecting a hot melt as the adhesive.

Assignees

• Mann & Hummel Gmbh

Inventors

• Schmid Daniel
• Dirnberger Timo
• Weber Andreas
• Schmidl Markus
• Goldbrunner Christoph
• DONAUER Nadine
• Hettkamp Philipp
• Lehmann Martin
• Wagner Markus

Classifications

• B01D2279/30

  for treatment of exhaust gases from IC Engines · CPC title

• B01D2271/027

  Radial sealings · CPC title

• B01D2265/04

  Permanent measures for connecting different parts of the filter, e.g. welding, glueing or moulding · CPC title

• B01D46/521 Primary

  using folded, pleated material · CPC title

• B01D46/106

  Ring-shaped filtering elements · CPC title