Air filter system of a motor vehicle

• US 8,241,413 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH (Hummel Familien-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH + Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH (Hummel Familien-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH + Co. KG)
• Inventors: Dirnberger, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORLANDO, AMBER ROSE
• Application Number:
  US12/507,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20100018400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 55522-524, 553/853, 422169-172, 422177-182, 602/97, 964/22, 95/23
• US Class Current: 96/422
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/02 Air cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/024 using filters, e.g. moistened F02M35/026 takes precedence; cleaning of the filtering material F02M35/08
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10386 for flow rate air flow meters in air cleaners F02M35/021; circuit arrangements for generating control signals by measuring intake air flow F02D41/18

Abstract

An air filter system of a motor vehicle has an air filter housing with a housing part of a moisture-sensitive plastic material and an air passage section with a circumferentially extending passage wall, wherein the passage wall of the air passage section is integrally formed of identical material on the housing part of the air filter housing. A mass air flow sensor is arranged in the air passage section. A plastic insert of a moisture-insensitive plastic material is disposed on an inner side of the passage wall of the air passage section and lines the passage wall.

Claims

1. An air filter system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

an air filter housing conducting an intake air flow, said air filter housing comprising a housing part of a moisture-sensitive plastic material; and

an air passage section having an air flow course within conducting said intake air flow in an air flow direction, said air passage section including

a passage wall extending in said air flow direction and circumferentially surrounding said air flow course along said air flow direction

wherein said passage wall has an inner side facing said air flow course,

wherein said passage wall of said air passage section is integrally formed of identical material on said housing part of said air filter housing;

a mass air flow sensor arranged in said air passage section and operative to measure drawn-in mass air flow of said intake air flow;

a plastic insert of a moisture-insensitive plastic material disposed on said inner side of said passage wall of said air passage section, said plastic insert including

an enveloping circumferential wall arranged on said inner side of said passage wall and extending in said air flow direction, said enveloping circumferential wall circumferentially enclosing a flow cross-section through which said air flow course extends,

said enveloping circumferential wall extending from a location upstream of said mass air flow sensor to a location downstream of said mass air flow sensor,

said enveloping circumferential wall lining said inner side of said passage wall, separating said intake air flow in said plastic insert from said passage wall.

2. The air filter system according to claim 1, wherein

said moisture-insensitive plastic material of said plastic insert is comprised at least predominantly of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

3. The air filter system according to claim 1, wherein

said moisture-insensitive plastic material of said plastic insert is a fiberglass-reinforced polybutylene terephthalate.

4. The air filter system according to claim 3, wherein

said moisture-insensitive plastic material is PBT GF30.

5. The air filter system according to claim 1, wherein

said moisture-sensitive plastic material of said housing part is at least predominantly comprised of polyamide.

6. The air filter system according to claim 1, wherein

said plastic insert is inserted into said air passage section.

7. The air filter system according to claim 6, wherein

said plastic insert is locked in said air passage section.

8. The air filter system according to claim 1, further comprising

an air guiding grid formed integrally with said plastic insert,

wherein said air guiding grid is elongated in said air flow direction and operable to configure said intake air stream for laminar flow upstream of said mass air flow sensor, said laminar flow improving measuring precision of said mass air flow sensor.

9. The air filter system according to claim 1, wherein

said plastic insert is an injection-molded part.

10. The air filter system according to claim 1, wherein

said mass air flow sensor is integrated into said plastic insert.

11. The air filter system according to claim 8, further comprising:

at least one locking nose formed onto an exterior portion of a circumferential wall of said plastic insert; and

at least one locking opening provided in said circumferentially extending passage wall;

wherein said locking noses are aligned and configured to be engageably lockable into said locking openings and operable to axially fix position said plastic insert in said air passage section,

wherein said air guiding grid extends axially along a first portion of an axial length of said plastic insert; and

wherein in a differing second portion of said plastic insert, said circumferential wall is provisioned such that said mass air flow sensor is extendable therethrough into an interior of said plastic insert.

12. The air filter system according to claim 3, wherein

said moisture-insensitive plastic material of said plastic insert is a fiberglass-reinforced polybutylene terephthalate,

wherein said plastic insert further comprises an air guiding grid formed integrally with said plastic insert,

wherein said plastic insert is substantially unaffected by moisture caused dimensional changes.

13. The air filter system according to claim 12, further comprising:

at least one locking nose formed onto an exterior portion of a circumferential wall of said plastic insert; and

at least one locking opening provided in said circumferentially extending passage wall;

wherein said locking noses are aligned and configured to be engageably lockable into said locking openings and operable to axially fix position said plastic insert in said air passage section,

wherein said air guiding grid extends axially along a first portion of an axial length of said plastic insert; and

wherein in a differing second portion of said plastic insert, said circumferential wall is provisioned such that said mass air flow sensor is extendable therethrough into an interior of said plastic insert.