Flexible filter element with a plastic frame formed thereon by injection molding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9975072-B2
Application number	US-201615079108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 26, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A filter element to be inserted into a filter housing, has a filter medium with a rim, wherein the rim is connected to an injection-molded frame or at least one injection-molded frame element, providing a flexibly bendable filter element using a frame made of plastic attached by injection molding, wherein the frame or at least one frame element is made of plastics of different hardnesses in alternation in at least one extension direction, such that the filter element can be bent flexibly at least in part by deforming the filter medium and the frame or frame element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A filter element to be inserted into a filter housing, the element comprising:
a filter medium including a rim; and
an injection-molded frame arranged so as to surround the filter medium,
wherein the rim of the filter medium is connected to the frame or at least one injection-molded frame element of the frame, and
wherein the frame includes plastics of different hardnesses in at least one extension direction, including a first frame region comprised of a softer plastic adjoining a second frame region comprised of a harder plastic adjoining a third frame region comprised of the softer plastic, such that the filter element is configured to be bent flexibly at least in part by deforming the filter medium and the frame.

2. The element of claim 1 , wherein the plastics of different hardnesses include elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, and/or thermoplastics.

3. The element of claim 1 , wherein the plastics of different hardnesses include elastomers.

4. The element of claim 1 , wherein the plastics of different hardnesses include thermoplastic elastomers.

5. The element of claim 1 , wherein the plastics of different hardnesses include thermoplastics.

6. The element of claim 1 , wherein, at designated bending locations which are bendable, the frame or the at least one frame element includes a thermoplastic elastomer.

7. The element of claim 1 , wherein the plastics of different hardnesses are mutually interlocked.

8. The element of claim 1 , wherein the plastics of different hardnesses are connected in a material-bonded manner.

9. The element of claim 1 , produced in a process including two-component injection-molding.

10. The element of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sealing lip, arranged on the frame or on the at least one frame element.

11. The element of claim 1 , wherein the filter medium includes a bellows including fold tips and fold edges,
wherein the frame or the at least one frame element is at least partially connected to the fold edges.

12. The element of claim 11 , wherein the bellows include activated carbon or other adsorbent materials.

13. The element of claim 1 , wherein the rim is connected to the frame.

14. The element of claim 1 , wherein the rim is connected to the at least one frame element.

15. A filter element to be inserted into a filter housing, the element comprising:
a filter medium including a rim,
wherein the rim is connected to an injection-molded frame or at least one injection-molded frame element,
wherein the frame or at least one frame element includes plastics of different hardnesses in alternation in at least one extension direction, such that the filter element can be bent flexibly at least in part by deforming the filter medium and the frame or frame element, and
wherein the plastics of different hardnesses are connected in a material-bonded manner.

Assignees

• Freudenberg Carl Kg

Inventors

• Capuani Peter
• Stoesser Thomas
• Starec Tomas

Classifications

• B01D29/012

  Making filtering elements (making bag, cage, hose, tube, sleeve or like filtering elements B01D29/111) · CPC title

• B01D35/30 Primary

  Filter housing constructions · CPC title

• B01D46/521

  using folded, pleated material · CPC title

• B01D29/0093

  Making filtering elements not provided for elsewhere · CPC title

• B01D35/308

  Made of at least two different materials, e.g. metal and plastic · CPC title