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DE-102025141988-A1 - FLUID FILTER MODULE

DE102025141988A1DE 102025141988 A1DE102025141988 A1DE 102025141988A1DE-102025141988-A1

Abstract

A fluid filter module for a motor vehicle can include a housing shell and a filter. The housing shell can be cup-shaped. The filter can be at least partially located within the housing shell. The housing shell and the filter can be connected to each other and together define a housing. The filter can divide the interior of the housing into an unfiltered area and a filtered area. The housing can include an inlet and an outlet. The filter can include a filter frame and a filter medium configured to remove and/or collect contaminants from the fluid. The unfiltered area and the filtered area can be fluidically connected via the filter medium. The filter frame can be connected to the filter medium and can include a frame wall that seals an open end of the housing shell.

Inventors

  • Edson Valdomiro de Azevedo
  • Fernando Yoshino

Assignees

  • MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251015
Priority Date
20241112

Claims (15)

  1. Fluid filter module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) for a motor vehicle, comprising: a cup-shaped housing shell (130); a filter (150) arranged at least partially within the housing shell (130); the housing shell (130) and the filter (150) being connected to one another and together defining a housing (102), the filter (150) dividing an interior (104) of the housing (102) into an unfiltered area (104A) and a filtered area (104B); the housing (102) comprising i) an inlet (110) through which a fluid can flow into the unfiltered area (104A), and ii) an outlet (120) through which the fluid can flow out of the filtered area (104B); wherein the filter (150) includes i) a filter frame (154) and ii) a filter medium (152, 152A, 152B) configured to remove or collect impurities from the fluid, wherein the unfiltered area (104A) and the filtered area (104B) are fluidically connected to each other via the filter medium (152, 152A, 152B); and the filter frame (154) is connected to the filter medium (152, 152A, 152B) and includes a frame wall (170) that closes an open end (130A) of the housing shell (130).
  2. Fluid filter module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) according to Claim 1 , wherein the housing shell (130) is a monolithic component.
  3. Fluid filter module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (102) further includes a plurality of access openings (114A, 114B, 214A-214D, 514A, 514B) through which the filter (150) is accessible in order to be clamped and/or pressed onto the housing shell (130) when connecting the housing shell (130) and the filter (150) together.
  4. Fluid filter module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) according to Claim 3 , wherein the multitude of access openings (114A, 114B, 214A-214D, 514A, 514B) opens into the unfiltered area (104A) of the interior (104).
  5. Fluid filter module (100, 500) according to one of the above Claims 3 and 4 , wherein the multiple access openings (114A, 114B, 514A, 514B) in are arranged and defined by the frame wall (170).
  6. Fluid filter module (100, 200, 500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet (110) includes a plurality of inlet openings (112, 212, 512) which are arranged in and defined by the frame wall (170).
  7. Fluid filter module (100, 200, 500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame wall (170) is of a grid frame wall (176), a perforated frame wall (276) or a slat frame wall (576).
  8. Fluid filter module (200, 300, 400) according to one of the Claims 3 , 4 and 6 , wherein the plurality of access openings (214A-214D) are arranged in and defined by the housing shell (130).
  9. Fluid filter module (300, 400) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 and 8 , wherein the inlet (110) includes a plurality of inlet openings (312) arranged in and defined by the housing shell (130).
  10. Fluid filter module (300, 400) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , 8 and 9 , wherein the frame wall (170) is a fixed frame wall (376) and the open end (130A) of the housing shell (130) is fluid-tight.
  11. Fluid filter module (200, 300, 400) according to one of the Claims 3 , 4 and 6 until 10 , wherein: the filter frame (154) further comprises a base body (156) and a plurality of clamping supports (284A to 284D) projecting transversely from the base body (156); and the plurality of access openings (214A-214D) are each aligned with a corresponding clamping support (284A-284D) of the plurality of clamping supports (284A-284D) such that the plurality of clamping supports (284A-284D) are accessible for clamping and/or pressing the filter (150) against the housing shell (130) when connecting the filter (150) and the housing shell (130) together.
  12. Fluid filter module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the filter frame (154) further includes a base body (156) and a circumferential wall (160) projecting transversely from the base body (156); the filter (150) is connected to the housing shell (130) via the circumferential wall (160); and the circumferential wall (160) is laser-welded to the housing shell (130) and at least partially defines the filtered area (104B) of the interior (104).
  13. Fluid filter module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing shell (130) has a trapezoidal cross-section in at least one plane that is perpendicular to the open end (130A) of the housing shell (130).
  14. Fluid filter module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the filter frame (154) further includes a flat base body (156) with a trapezoidal ring shape, which defines an opening (158) in which the filter medium (152, 152A, 152B) is arranged, wherein the base body (156) includes a first section (156A), a second section (156B), a third section (156C) and a fourth section (156D), whereby the first section (156A) is arranged adjacent to the open end (130A) of the housing shell (130); the second section (156B) is arranged opposite the first section (156A) and has a length that is less than the length of the first section (156A); and the third section (156C) and the fourth section (156D) extend between and connect the first section (156A) and the second section (156B).
  15. Fluid filter module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) according to Claim 14 , wherein: the frame wall (170) has a plurality of access openings (114A, 114B, 214A to 214D, 514A, 514B) through which the filter (150) is accessible in order to be pressed or clamped against the housing shell (130) when connecting the housing shell (130) and the filter (150); and the plurality of access openings (114A, 114B, 214A-214D, 514A, 514B) includes: a first access opening (114A, 214A, 214C, 514A) which is arranged in alignment with the third section (156C) of the base body (156); and a second access opening (114B, 214B, 214D, 514B) which is aligned with the fourth section (156D) of the base body (156).

Description

The present disclosure relates generally to fluid filter modules that can be used, for example, in connection with transmission systems (e.g. for traction engines), internal combustion engines and/or motor vehicles. Conventional fluid filter module designs utilize multiple parts and/or components to enclose a filter and guide a fluid (e.g., gear oil) through the filter for filtration. For example, some conventional filter modules enclose a filter within a multi-part housing. The filter is located in a first housing part and covered by a second housing part. The first housing part, the second housing part, and the filter are then joined together by welding (e.g., vibration welding). Welding the two housing parts creates a seam between them, which represents a potential weak point that is (e.g., more) susceptible to unwanted leaks and/or breakage. Furthermore, each part and/or component included in a conventional fluid filter module design requires tooling and its own processing equipment, adding extra steps to the module's assembly process. Therefore, the cost of manufacturing a conventional fluid filter module increases with the number of parts and/or components. This is important because minimizing costs is a key factor for competitiveness in the market. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved fluid filter module that minimizes or eliminates one or more challenges or shortcomings of existing fluid filter modules. From a first perspective, a fluid filter module for a motor vehicle can include a housing shell and a filter. The housing shell can be cup-shaped. The filter can be located at least partially within the housing shell. The housing shell and the filter can be connected to each other and together define a housing. The filter can divide an interior of the housing into an unfiltered area and a filtered area. The housing can include i) an inlet through which a fluid can flow into the unfiltered area and ii) an outlet through which the fluid can flow out of the filtered area. The filter can include i) a filter frame and ii) a filter medium configured to at least remove and/or collect contaminants from the fluid. The unfiltered area and the filtered area can be fluidically connected to each other via the filter medium. The filter frame can be connected to the filter medium and can include a frame wall that closes an open end of the housing shell. According to one implementation, the housing shell can be a monolithic component. According to one implementation, the housing may also include a variety of access openings through which the filter is accessible in order to be clamped and/or pressed onto the housing shell when connecting the housing shell and filter. According to one implementation, the multitude of access openings can open into the unfiltered area of the interior. According to one implementation, the multitude of access openings can be arranged in and defined by the frame wall. According to one implementation, the inlet can include a multitude of inlet openings that can be arranged in and defined by the frame wall. According to one implementation, the frame wall can be a grid frame wall, a perforated frame wall, or a slat frame wall. According to one implementation, the multitude of access openings can be arranged in and defined by the housing shell. According to one implementation, the inlet can include a multitude of inlet openings that can be arranged in and defined by the housing shell. According to one implementation, the frame wall can be a solid frame wall and/or seal the open end of the housing shell in a fluid-tight manner. According to one embodiment, the filter frame can further include a base body and/or a plurality of clamping supports projecting transversely from the base body. Each of the plurality of access openings can be aligned with a corresponding clamping support of the plurality of clamping supports, so that the plurality of clamping supports are accessible for clamping and/or pressing the filter against the housing shell when connecting the filter and the housing shell. According to one implementation, the filter frame can also include a base body and/or a circumferential wall projecting transversely from the base body. The filter can be connected to the housing shell via its circumferential wall. The circumferential wall can be laser-welded to the housing shell and/or can at least partially define the filtered area of the interior. According to one implementation, the housing shell can have a trapezoidal cross-section in at least one plane that is perpendicular to the open end of the housing shell. According to one implementation, the filter frame can further include a flat base body, which may have a trapezoidal ring shape and/or define an opening in which the filter medium is arranged. The base body can include a first section, a second section, a third section, and/or a fourth section. The first section can be located adjacent to the open end of the housing shell.