DE102010006519A1 - Air filter device for tank ventilation system of internal combustion engine of motor car, has adaptor mounted at duct element of in combustion engine, and air filter releasably mounted at adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has an air filter (30) comprising terminals (32, 34), where one of the terminals is connected with an air line (28). The air line is connected to a container (24) for storing fuel vapors lead from a fuel tank (10) of an internal combustion engine. An adaptor is mounted at a duct element (14) of the combustion engine, and the air filter is releasably mounted at the adaptor. The air filter comprises a lock element, and the adaptor comprises another lock element, where the lock elements are engaged with each other.

Description

The invention relates to an air filter device according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular such an air filter device for a tank ventilation system of an internal combustion engine.

Tank ventilation systems for internal combustion engines have long been known. They usually comprise a fuel tank, which is connected via a vent line with a memory, which contains, for example, an activated carbon filter. The memory in turn is connected via an intake with an intake of an internal combustion engine and connectable via a ventilation line with the ambient air. During operation of the internal combustion engine and during refueling of the fuel tank, volatile hydrocarbon vapors form in the fuel tank, which can pass through the vent line into the reservoir and are reversibly bound in the activated carbon filter in a known manner.

Since the storage capacity of the storage is generally limited, it must be regenerated regularly. This is usually done by a rinsing process in which the memory sucks ambient air through a negative pressure in the intake of the engine via the vent line. This ambient air flows through the reservoir, thereby flushing the hydrocarbons bound in the activated carbon filter out of it in order to supply it to the intake tract of the internal combustion engine.

In order to prevent foreign bodies in the ambient air from entering the store, an air filter is generally provided in the ventilation line of the store.

This air filter is conventionally mounted directly on the memory or on a diagnostic module for leak detection in the tank ventilation system connected to the memory (cf. DE 102 04 132 A1 ). This arrangement of the air filter may be unfavorable depending on the embodiment and application of the internal combustion engine, since no corresponding space is available or the mounting position is difficult to access. Furthermore, the mounting position of the air filter in this variant can be very deep, so that it is possibly still in the field of wading depth in a motor vehicle.

In another known embodiment, the air filter is attached directly to a double tube of the filler neck of the fuel tank (see. DE 10 2005 034 812 B4 ). Depending on the filler pipe or filler neck air filters are provided with different housings so far, to allow in each case an optimal attachment of the air filter.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved air filter device which enables easy mounting of the air filter in variable mounting situations.

This object is achieved by an air filter device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The air filter device includes an air filter having a first port and a second port. The first port is connectable to the ambient air and the second port is connectable to an air line leading to a reservoir for storing volatile fuel vapors from a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine. According to the invention, it is provided that the air filter device further comprises an adapter which can be mounted on a line element of the internal combustion engine, and the air filter can be mounted on the adapter.

The air filter of the air filter device according to the invention can be mounted via an adapter to a line element of the internal combustion engine. This allows a uniform air filter for different mounting situations are used, it only needs the adapter to the respective mounting situation, d. H. be adapted in particular to the respective line element of the internal combustion engine. This may allow a variable use of provided air filters, whereby the number of different air filter to be kept can be reduced.

Furthermore, the installation of the air filter via an adapter allows easier installation of the air filter. For example, the adapter can be preassembled on the line element of the internal combustion engine in order to then attach the air filter to the adapter at a later time.

A "line element" of the internal combustion engine is an element for conducting fuel, air or an additive or auxiliary for the operation of the internal combustion engine. In the case of motor vehicles, these are usually tubular or hose-like connection or connection lines; however, the present invention is in no way limited in either form or material of the conduit member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air filter is detachably mountable to the adapter. This allows both the assembly as well Maintenance or repair work on the air filter device can be simplified.

In this case, the air filter may have a first latching element and the adapter having a second latching element, wherein the first latching element of the air filter with the second latching element of the adapter is releasably engageable.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the adapter has a pipe element at least partially encompassing pipe clamp, which is adapted to the outer diameter of the conduit element. The clamp can achieve a simple installation of the adapter and thus the air filter in particular to tubular or hose-like line elements of the internal combustion engine.

In one embodiment of the invention, the adapter can be designed, for example, to be able to be mounted on a filler pipe or filler neck connected to the fuel tank.

The above and other features, advantages and applications of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show:

1 a schematic representation of the construction of a tank ventilation system with an air filter device according to the present invention;

2 a partial perspective view of an attached to a filler pipe air filter device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

3 a perspective view of an adapter of the air filter device of 1 ,

An in 1 schematically shown and greatly simplified tank ventilation system of an internal combustion engine, for example, an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, includes a fuel tank 10 for picking up a volatile fuel (gasoline, diesel, etc.). The fuel 12 Can via a filler pipe or a filler neck 14 be filled with a gas cap 16 is closable.

The fuel 12 can out of the fuel tank 10 by means of a fuel pump 18 via a fuel supply line 20 an intake tract (not shown) of the internal combustion engine (not shown) are supplied. For example, the supply of the fuel 12 possible to one or more injectors.

The fuel tank 10 is also with a vent line 22 provided by which during a refueling operation of the fuel tank 10 or during the operation of the internal combustion engine resulting fuel vapors from the fuel tank 10 can be dissipated. This vent line 22 leads to a memory 24 in which the fuel vapors, more precisely, the volatile hydrocarbons of the fuel 12 , at least temporarily can be bound. The memory 24 For example, it may contain an activated carbon filter for reversibly binding the volatile hydrocarbons.

The memory 24 is also via a vent line 28 connected to the atmosphere or ambient air. In this ventilation line 28 is an air filter 30 provided, the one of the atmosphere-facing first connection 32 and one the memory 24 facing the second port 34 having. The air filter 30 should prevent foreign bodies in the ambient air in the store 24 reach.

Further, a suction pipe 26 provided the memory 24 connects with the intake of the engine downstream of the throttle. In addition, optionally, an evaporation line may be provided which the fuel tank 10 connects directly to the intake of the engine.

Furthermore, numerous sensors (eg pressure, temperature, etc.), valves and, if necessary, leak diagnosis devices are provided in or on the tank ventilation system 1 have been omitted for simplicity and are coupled to a controller (not shown) of the tank ventilation system or the entire internal combustion engine.

During a refueling operation, for example, the vent line 22 and the ventilation line 28 opened, the suction line 26 closed and the fuel pump 18 switched off. So can the volatile fuel vapors from the fuel tank 10 through the vent line 22 to escape pressure equalization, the hydrocarbons in the activated carbon filter of the memory 24 bound and not through the ventilation duct 28 be delivered to the atmosphere.

In normal operation of the internal combustion engine are the filler neck 14 of the fuel tank 10 and the ventilation line 22 closed. Due to the resulting fuel vapors can then in the fuel tank 10 build up an overpressure. This pressure may preferably be over the in 1 not shown evaporation line can be dismantled.

As the recording capacity of the memory 24 or its activated carbon filter in general is limited, it must be regenerated regularly. This happens, for example, by a flushing process, in which during operation of the internal combustion engine, the ventilation line 28 and the suction line 26 with closed vent line 22 be opened. In this way, the negative pressure in the intake tract of the internal combustion engine to the memory 24 created so that this over the ventilation line 28 Aspirates ambient air. This ambient air flows through the memory 24 and thereby flushes the hydrocarbons bound in the activated carbon filter out of this to supply them to the intake tract of the internal combustion engine.

To the air filter 30 In a simple way and to be able to mount at a favorable position (preferably above the wading depth of the motor vehicle), this is according to the invention to a line element of the internal combustion engine such as the filler pipe or filler neck 14 of the fuel tank 10 assembled.

As in 2 and 3 Illustrated is an adapter for this purpose 36 intended. This adapter 36 has, for example, at least one pipe clamp 38 on which the tubular or tubular conduit member 14 the internal combustion engine at least partially surrounds and with the help of the adapter 36 on the filler neck 14 can be attached.

How best in 3 to recognize is the Adapater 36 with a locking element 40 Mistake. In this locking element 40 of the adapter 36 can a corresponding locking element on the air filter 30 intervene, so the air filter 30 on the adapter 36 can be mounted. This latching connection is preferably detachable, so that the air filter 30 can be easily removed or replaced.

Since various motor vehicles or internal combustion engines have differently constructed tank ventilation systems with different arrangements of the components and different variants of the components, the adapter is 36 in a simple manner adaptable to a line element of the respective internal combustion engine. In particular, the pipe clamps 38 to the outer diameter of the respective conduit element 14 adaptable to the respective mounting position.

The air filter 30 on the other hand, it does not have to be changed for the various motor vehicles or internal combustion engines. The locking connection between the adapter 36 and the air filter 30 remains unchanged, so that an embodiment of the air filter 30 with the help of a variably adaptable adapter 36 on different line elements 14 and / or different mounting positions can be attached. In other words is an air filter 30 can be used for different series of tank ventilation systems or internal combustion engines.

In a preferred embodiment, the adapter 36 at the respective line element 14 the tank ventilation system pre-assembled. The air filter 30 can then at a later time on the adapter 30 be attached.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10204132 A1 [0005]
• DE 102005034812 B4 [0006]

Claims (5)

Air filter device, with an air filter ( 30 ), which has a first connection ( 32 ) and a second port ( 34 ), wherein the first connection ( 32 ) is connectable to the ambient air and the second connection ( 34 ) with an air line ( 28 ) leading to a container ( 24 ) for storing volatile fuel vapors from a fuel tank ( 10 ) of an internal combustion engine, is connectable, characterized in that the air filter device further comprises an adapter ( 36 ), which is connected to a line element ( 14 ) of the internal combustion engine is mountable; and the air filter ( 30 ) on the adapter ( 36 ) is mountable. Air filter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the air filter ( 30 ) detachable on the adapter ( 36 ) is mountable. Air filter device according to claim 2, characterized in that the air filter ( 30 ) has a first latching element and the adapter ( 36 ) a second latching element ( 40 ) having; and the first locking element of the air filter ( 30 ) with the second locking element ( 40 ) of the adapter ( 36 ) is releasably engageable. Air filter device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter ( 36 ) a the line element ( 14 ) at least partially encompassing pipe clamp ( 38 ), wherein the pipe clamp ( 38 ) to the outer diameter of the conduit element ( 14 ) is adjusted. Air filter device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter ( 36 ) is adapted to be connected to the fuel tank ( 10 ) connected filler pipe or filler neck ( 14 ) to be mountable.

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