Abstract:
In a filter housing ( 100 ) for at least one axial flow filter element ( 70 ) capable of receiving axial flow between its end faces and having at least one continuous sealing collar on its outer circumference which can be pressed against a sealing flange ( 17 ) on the housing, a plurality of filter elements ( 70 ) can be inserted side by side into cutouts ( 19 ) of a common clamping frame element ( 30 ). Each of the sealing collars rests on the clamping frame element ( 30 ) which is plane parallel to the at least one sealing flange ( 17 ) and displaceable toward the sealing flange ( 17 ) by a clamping device ( 50 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a filter housing for At least one axial flow filter element through which fluid to be filtered flows axially between its axial end faces and which has at least one continuous sealing collar on its outer circumference which can be pressed against a sealing flange on the housing. 
     German Patent Publication No. DE 32 49 151 C2 discloses an axial flow filter element. The compact filter element disclosed in that document comprises a corrugated and a smooth filter paper. The filter papers are bonded together and then wrapped together to form a filter element of the desired size. Bonding is effected by applying bands of adhesive in the margin such that interspaces between the corrugated and the smooth layer are alternately closed at the two end faces to prevent direct flow through the channels formed between the filter papers. An air stream flowing from the unfiltered air side to the filtered air side flows initially only into a dead-end channel, then through the filter paper and out of a dead-end channel on the other side. Compared to conventional pleated filters, these compact air filters have the advantage of offering either a larger filter surface for the same overall size or the same filter surface for a smaller overall size. The wrapped filter core is formed in such a way that the air can flow only through the filter paper. 
     In these and other compact air filter elements the flow is axial from one end face to the other. For flawless functioning, it is essential that the compact air filter element is hermetically sealed along its outer circumference in relation to the filter housing. To this end, a sealing collar is circumferentially formed, which must be placed against a corresponding locating shoulder in the filter housing and then pressed against this shoulder. 
     If the filter surface is to be increased, e.g., to lower the flow resistance, the wrapping diameter of the filter element and thus the filter housing dimensions also increase. There are usually limits to the expansion of the filter housing, however, because of the available installation space. As an alternative, a plurality of small filters with their own filter housings may be operated in parallel, but this is expensive, takes up installation space because of the additionally required inlet and outlet lines and has the result that for servicing the connections on several filter housings must be released, each housing must be opened, the filter elements must be replaced and the connections subsequently reestablished, so that any filter replacement is very labor intensive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved arrangement of a plurality of axial flow filter elements. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of a plurality of axial flow filter elements that saves space and is easy to service. 
     These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a filter housing for at least one axial flow filter element through which fluid to be filtered flows axially between inlet and outlet axial end faces and having at least one continuous sealing collar around its outer circumference which can be pressed against a sealing flange on the housing, wherein a plurality of filter elements can be inserted side by side into cutouts of a common clamping frame element, wherein each of the sealing collars rests on the clamping frame element, and wherein the clamping frame element is plane parallel to the at least one sealing flange and can be displaced by a clamping device toward the sealing flange. 
     An advantage of the invention is that a plurality of filter elements can be arranged in a housing with only a single connecting line. A common sealing unit is provided for the filter elements, which saves space. The common clamping frame element makes it possible to use a common clamping device to clamp, or subsequently loosen, all the filter elements inserted into the housing; an individual element cannot be forgotten. This enables rapid mounting or removal of the filter elements. It also has the advantage that a central clamping device prevents tilting on the sealing collars if the central clamping devices are centrally placed between the filter elements. 
     For servicing, the housing is opened, the clamping frame loosened and then pulled out of the housing with all the inserted filter elements simultaneously. The filter elements are then removed from the clamping frame and replaced with new elements. The clamping frame and the filter elements are then jointly reinserted into the housing and, with the aid of the clamping device, are moved toward the sealing flange on the housing, where the sealing collar provided on each of the filter elements is pressed onto the sealing flange. 
     The housing may be constructed to have a parting plane, which does not have to coincide with the press-on plane of the sealing collar but can be oriented perpendicularly thereto. 
     The housing can moreover be configured, for example, to comprise a housing pan which tapers to a flow opening in a funnel region at each of two opposite ends and is open on one side for the removal of the filter element in a central area between the funnel regions and closable by a cover. As a result, the filter housing can remain installed during servicing and the air lines connected to the fittings of the housing need not be released, so that a significant error source during servicing work is eliminated. Especially when filter housings are large, e.g., those used in construction machinery, the labor savings are substantial if only a single cover needs to be removed from the housing pan of the filter housing and the greater part of the housing can remain installed. 
     A separate contour can be formed as a sealing flange for each of the filter elements. It is also possible to form a common sealing flange having as many cutouts as there are sealing elements and offering a smooth contact surface around each of these cutouts, against which the sealing collar provided on each filter element can be pressed. 
     In an embodiment with two filter elements, the clamping device is preferably arranged between the two filter elements and pushes the common clamping frame of the filter elements forward from this position. 
     To minimize the height of the construction it is provided to insert filter elements with an oval or oblong cross section into a goggle-shaped clamping frame element. The filter elements are in particular arranged side by side so that their longitudinal axes are approximately aligned. This principle may also be extended to constructions with three or four filter elements. 
     In the simplest case, the clamping device is formed by a plurality of individually actuatable clamping closure elements. The clamping frame element with the inserted filter elements is placed in front of the sealing flange of the housing and then pulled toward the sealing flange by successively actuating the clamping closure elements. 
     To make the clamping closure elements more easily accessible, it is possible to place the clamping frame against a stop edge or individual stop elements in the floor region of the housing and then to apply the biasing force through clamping closure elements that are arranged only in the upper region of the clamping frame or the housing and are therefore freely accessible when the cover is taken off the housing. 
     Another convenient embodiment of the invention provides a clamping lever arranged in the center, which is pivotably supported on a pin disposed on the floor of the housing adjacent the clamping frame pan and which is formed as a sliding link at its end contacting the clamping frame element, such that the distance of the surface of the sliding link to the pin increases during the closing movement of the clamping lever. 
     When the unit of clamping frame and filter elements is inserted into the housing, the clamping lever is initially upright to allow an unhindered insertion of the clamping frame. Once the clamping frame and the filters have been placed into their position, the clamping lever is moved toward the floor of the housing. Since the radial distance of the sliding link from the pivot pin continues to increase, the sliding link of the clamping lever contacts the clamping frame element and pushes it onto the sealing flange together with the inserted filter elements. The achievable biasing forces can be influenced through the geometry of the sliding link on the clamping lever. 
     To prevent the clamping lever from popping up during operation, e.g., as a result of vibrations, hold-down elements are preferably formed on the underside of the cover, which contact the clamping lever once the cover has been mounted or which are arranged to be at least close enough above the clamping lever to prevent it from popping up and thus prevent a loosening of the tight seal. 
     In a third embodiment, the clamping device is formed by a toggle-type unit. A first and a second toggle are interconnected in an articulated manner and disposed one behind the other perpendicularly to the clamping frame element. The first toggle, which is remote from the clamping frame element, is supported in a fixed bearing on the housing floor. The second toggle has a sliding guide bolt at its end intended for contact with the clamping frame and supported in a sliding guide element functioning as a movable bearing. 
     Actuation is effected, for example, by means of a handle mounted to one of the toggles in the area of the flexible toggle joint between the toggles. By pressing on the actuating element, the toggles, which are initially at an angle to each other, are increasingly extended, such that the free end of the second toggle presses against the clamping frame element. The additional sliding guide on the movable bearing is provided to define the point of force application of the second toggle. 
     If the toggle clamps are pressed even further against the housing floor from their extended position, the dead point is overcome and the clamping device self-locks. 
     In addition to the various embodiments of the clamping device, the cover, beyond its function as a pure complementing element to the housing pan, can also be provided with advantageous features. This includes, for example, support elements contacting the free, non-clamped end of the filter elements. Particularly in interaction with corresponding support elements on the housing floor, the free ends of the filter element are slightly compressed in order to prevent relatively large bending moments at the clamping point when vibrations occur during operation. 
     In addition to the support elements which engage at specific points and can also assume the function of an end stop for the filter elements, reinforcing ribs may be formed on the underside of the cover, which not only stiffen the cover and can save on material for the cover, but can also support the filter elements inserted into the housing. 
     A particularly advantageous feature on the cover is a safety element (in the form of control blades) extending conically into the housing pan from the underside of the cover in such a way that the blade contacts the rear of the clamping frame when the filter elements are correctly inserted and clamped. Conversely, this means that the cover cannot be mounted if the clamping frame is incorrectly positioned because the control blades strike against the clamping frame element. When mounting the cover, the operator therefore receives final confirmation that he has correctly inserted and firmly clamped the filter elements. Visual inspection of the seat of the filter elements, which may be difficult due to installation and/or environmental conditions, is therefore replaced or supplemented by a simple additional element. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in further detail hereinafter with reference to illustrative preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a filter housing according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detail view of the filter housing of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a cover for the filter housing of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second filter housing embodiment according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a filter housing according to the invention, and 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , but with the filter elements removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a filter housing  100  comprising a housing pan  10  designed to receive a cover (not shown) along a flange  15 . The housing pan  10  tapers to a connection fitting  14  via a funnel region  13  on the filtered air side and to a connection fitting  12  via a funnel region  11  on the unfiltered air side. 
     Support elements  16  may be seen on the housing floor on which the filter elements  70  rest with their loose unclamped end. 
     At their other end, the filter elements are inserted into a clamping frame  30  and by this frame are pressed against sealing flanges  17  within the housing. To apply the biasing force, clamping closure elements  50  each are provided on the left, the right and in the center. 
       FIG. 2  shows the filtered air side of the filter housing  100  in detail. Here, the filter elements and the clamping frame have been omitted to provide a better view. On the housing floor, profiling may be seen which extends along a groove extending parallel to the sealing flanges  17 . This profiling forms a fixed bearing  21  into which the clamping frame element can first be hooked with its underside before being pressed against the flange by means of the clamping closure elements  50  disposed at the top of the sealing flange  17 . In this embodiment, a cutout  19  and a sealing flange  17  are formed on a common transverse bulkhead  22  for each filter element. Filtered air is taken in at the fitting  14 , is distributed in the funnel region  13  to the two cutouts  19  and then flows through the filter elements, which are not depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     To enable the discharge of any moisture or condensate, a bottom drain  23  is provided in the embodiment depicted here. 
       FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the filter housing  100 ′ according to the invention. Here, the housing pan is substantially similar to that of the first embodiment, including the support elements  16 ′ may be seen on the housing floor on which the filter elements  70  rest with their loose unclamped end, similar to support elements  16  of  FIG. 1 . However, a bearing block is formed on the housing floor to receive a pivot pin  52 ′ supporting a clamping lever  50 ′. The air filter elements  70  are again seated in a clamping frame element  30 ′, which differs from the clamping frame  30  of the first embodiment only in that it has no bearings for the clamping lever elements. In the clamping frame, the clamping lever  50 ′ is provided with a slide link  51 ′, which is a smooth surface of the upper edge of the clamping lever  50 ′. The center of the curvature of the slide link is disposed eccentrically to the pivot pin  52 ′ so that, with a pivoting movement, the initially upright clamping lever  50 ′ presses the slide link increasingly toward the clamping frame  30 ′ and through the clamping frame presses the filter elements  70  with their sealing collars against the sealing flange in the housing. 
       FIG. 4  shows the matching cover  60 ′ for the second embodiment of a filter housing  100 ′. The cover  60 ′ has reinforcing ribs  63 ′ on its underside, the contours of which are adapted to the outer contour of the air filter elements  70  and thus support the filter elements to prevent them from beginning to oscillate about their clamping point inside the housing when vibrations occur. A flange  65 ′ is designed to be compatible with flange  15 ′ of the housing pan  10 ′. Cutouts  64 ′ in some of the ribs  63 ′ serve to receive the thickened handle area of the clamping lever  50 ′ to prevent the clamping lever  50 ′ from popping up once the cover  60 ′ is mounted. 
     Support elements  66 ′ engage the edge area of the free end of each air filter element  70  from the top as well as laterally and cause a slight compression there. 
     In addition, the safety element (in the from of control blades  62 ′) is provided, which can be pushed laterally into the gap between the housing wall and the filter elements if the clamping frame  2  is fixed in the proper operating position. If the clamping frame  30 ′ is too far back because no biasing force has been applied, the safety element  62 ′ runs with its transverse ribs against the clamping frame  30 ′ from the top and thereby prevents the cover from being placed correctly at the flanges  65 ′,  15 ′ until the operator establishes the biasing force and thereby brings the clamping frame into its operating position. 
       FIG. 5  shows a third embodiment of an inventive filter housing  100 ″. This embodiment again comprises a housing pan  10 ″ with funnel regions  11 ,  13  which open into connection fittings  12 ,  14 . Two air filter elements  70  are inserted side by side and are connected by a common clamping frame element  30 ′. 
     In this embodiment, the biasing force is again applied at a central application point on the goggle-shaped clamping frame  30 ′. The clamping device in this case is a toggle unit  50 ″, the construction and operation of which will be explained in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     A fixed toggle bearing  52 ″ in which a first toggle  51 ″ is pivotably supported is formed on the housing floor toward the unfiltered air side  12 . The first toggle  51 ″ is connected to a second toggle  54 ′ at a toggle joint  53 ″. The second toggle  54 ″ has a sliding guide bolt  56 ″ arranged perpendicularly to its longitudinal extent and with its rounded free end  57 ″ strikes against a central region of the clamping frame element  30 ′. Near the free end  57 ″ the sliding guide bolt  56 ″ is longitudinally guided in a sliding guide on a movable bearing  58 ″. Because of this guidance and the arrangement of the sliding guide bolt  56 ″ near the free end  57 ″, the end  57 ″ executes a substantially axial movement toward the clamping frame element  30 ′. In doing so, it drifts slightly in vertical direction. 
     In horizontal direction it does not drift perpendicularly to the sliding guide because the second toggle  54 ′ is guided between two bearing blocks of movable bearing  58 ″, which form the sliding guide. If a handle formed on the first toggle  51 ″ is used to apply a force to the toggle joint  53 ″, the toggles  51 ″,  54 ″ are moved into an extended position, causing the second toggle with its free end  57 ″ to shift the clamping frame element  30 ′ toward the sealing flanges on the transverse bulkhead in the housing. The elevated arrangement of the sliding guide bolt  56 ″ on the movable bearing  58 ″ and the arrangement of the fixed toggle bearing  52 ″ directly on the housing floor enables the toggle joint  53 ″ to be pushed under the imaginary line between the bearing points  52 ″,  56 ″ to overcome the dead point given in the extended position and to bring the toggle unit  50 ″ into a self-locking position, so that there is no risk that the toggles  51 ″,  54 ″ will pop up, not even if the inventive filter housing  100 ″ is subject to relatively large shocks. 
     In addition, the handle on the first toggle  51 ″ can be positively fixed by means of positive-fit elements formed on the underside of the cover. 
     The foregoing description and examples have been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and are not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the described embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed broadly to include all variations within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.