Filter unit

• US 6,159,260 A
• Filed: 11/02/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IQAir AG
• Original Assignee: Clinix GmbH
• Inventors: Hammes, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US09/184,731
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 55/497, 55/502, 55/504, 55/521, 55/498, 55/499, 55/503, 55/DIG. 33, 55/DIG. 35, 55/490, 55/495, 55/DIG. 31, 210/435
• US Class Current: 55/502
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2271/02 Gaskets, sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00635 Air-tight sealing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 3/06 Filtering B60H3/0078 takes precedence

Abstract

A filter unit with a filter element receptacle and a filter element, where the filter element having a filter element box in which is inserted a filter pack or a filter medium. The filter element box has a filter element cover on which there is a peripheral projection which engages in a corresponding taper on the filter element box. In addition, the filter element can be inserted into the filter element receptacle which engages with a sealing effect in at least one corresponding packing groove of the filter element cover or box with at least one sealing web molded onto it.

Claims

1. A filter unit comprising:

a filter element receptacle formed with a sealing web; and

a filter element comprising;

a filter element box formed with a peripheral inside taper;

a filter pack in said filter box; and

a filter element cover formed with a peripheral projection shaped and configured to mate with said taper on said filter element box, said filter element cover also being formed with a packing groove shaped and configured to mate with said sealing web in said filter element receptacle, wherein said packing groove is slightly narrower than said sealing web, thereby sealing said filter element to said receptacle.

2. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter element box is formed with a packing groove shaped and configured to selectively sealingly mate with said sealing web of said receptacle.

3. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter pack comprises a pleated filter medium.

4. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter pack comprises at least one layer of a non-woven material.

5. The filter unit according to claim 4, and further comprising an absorbent medium arranged between the layers of said non-woven material.

6. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter pack inserted into said filter element box projects beyond the shoulder of said taper on said inside wall of said filter element box.

7. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein when said filter pack is inserted into said filter box, a peripheral clearance remains between said box and said filter pack in the area of said taper, said filter element further comprises an adhesive in said taper area, wherein said filter element cover is placed on said box and pressed against it before said adhesive solidifies.

8. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter element cover and said filter element box are each comprised of a molded part of foamed plastic.

9. The filter unit according to claim 1, and further comprising a sealing compound placed in said packing grooves.

10. The filter unit according to claim 1, and further comprising a rubber section formed with packing grooves and stacked on said sealing web so that conventional filter elements can also be used.

11. The filter unit according to claim 1, and further comprising at least two stacked said filter element receptacles with at least one said filter element inserted into each said receptacle.

12. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter unit comprises a combination of a plurality of said filter stages by mounting a plurality of said filter element receptacles together.

13. The filter unit according to claim 1, and further comprising a fan unit selectively connected upstream, or downstream between said filter element receptacles, said fan unit has a housing which is shaped and configured to couple to the upper and lower housing edges of said filter element receptacles.

14. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter element receptacle is formed with a shoulder bent at a right angle on the outside of the outside wall thereof, forming a groove for receiving a packing cord.

15. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein the top edge of the outside wall is formed with a taper and engages with a sealing effect in said groove in said filter element receptacle when two said filter element receptacles are stacked.

16. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter element receptacle is generally pan-shaped and comprises a self-contained outside wall, said receptacle is formed with an inside wall parallel to and spaced from said outside wall, thereby forming an interspace between said walls, and further comprising insulation material in said interspace.

17. The filter unit according to claim 16, wherein said filter element receptacle is formed with mutually spaced longitudinal slots running vertically in said inside wall parallel to one another and further comprising a filter clamp in each said longitudinal slot which has a clamping action.

18. The filter unit according to claim 17, wherein said filter clamp comprises an inside clamp pad and a web connected in one piece with said clamp pad and made of the same material.

19. The filter unit according to claim 17, wherein said filter clamp passes through said respective longitudinal slot and is connected to a generally U-shaped tensioning element whose free outer end is in contact with said outside surfaces of said inside wall and having a clamping action and friction contact.

20. The filter unit according to claim 18, wherein each said filter element receptacle is formed with a central internal recess which is bordered toward the outside in the direction of said inside wall by a peripheral stop wall with a generally horizontal inclination.

21. The filter unit according to claim 20, wherein after removing all said clamp pads from their said longitudinal slots, said filter element is shaped and configured to be clamped in place on said stop wall by said clamp pads which are inserted back into their respective longitudinal slots and pushed down.

22. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter element receptacle includes a base plate shaped and configured to receive filter cartridges anchored thereto with a bayonet closure.

23. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter unit comprises a plurality of said filter element receptacles stacked one above the other wherein at least one filter element is mounted in a recess formed by said filter element receptacles.

24. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter element receptacle includes a stop wall by means of which one said filter element arranged in one said filter element receptacle below it is pushed downward.

25. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter unit comprises at least two filter element receptacles engaged with one another due to the fact that a tapered area of the upper filter element receptacle projects partially into the interspace of the lower filter element receptacle, so that the filter element receptacles are mutually centered and lateral slippage is prevented.

26. The filter unit according to claim 1, wherein said filter unit comprises at least one filter element receptacle and one fan unit engaged with one another due to the fact that a tapered area of the upper filter element receptacle projects partially into the interspace of the lower filter element receptacle, so that the filter element receptacles are mutually centered and lateral slippage is prevented.

27. The filter unit according to claim 7, wherein the adhesive seals the filter element box to the filter element cover and also seals the filter pack to the filter element box.

28. A filter unit comprising:

a filter element receptacle formed with a sealing web; and

a filter element comprising;

a filter element box formed with a peripheral inside taper;

a filter pack in said filter box;

a filter element cover formed with a peripheral projection shaped and configured to mate with said taper on said filter element box, said filter element cover also being formed with a packing groove shaped and configured to mate with said sealing web in said filter element receptacle, thereby sealing said filter element to said receptacle; and

an adhesive in said peripheral inside taper that seals the filter element box to the filter element cover and also seals the filter pack to the filter element box.