# US 8,784,522 B2 · Air filter system and filter element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,522 B2 - Document ID: US8784522B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/969,942 - Filed: 2013-08-19 - Published: 2013-12-12 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-17 - Assignees: Mann+Hummel GmbH - Applicants: Mann+Hummel GmbH - Inventors: Joerg Menssen; Stefan Becker; Kai Hilarius; Klaus-Dieter Ruhland; Steffan Ackermann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784522B2 ## CPC - B01D 46/106: {Ring-shaped filtering elements} - B01D 46/2403: {characterised by the physical shape or structure of the filtering element} - B01D 46/2411: {Filter cartridges} - B01D 46/2414: {End caps including additional functions or special forms} - B01D 46/521: {using folded, pleated material} - B01D 50/20: Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00 - F02M 35/02416: {Fixing, mounting, supporting or arranging filter elements; Filter element cartridges} - B01D 2265/028: Snap, latch or clip connecting means - B01D 2275/206: Special forms, e.g. adapted to a certain housing - B01D 2275/208: Oval shape - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF ## Abstract An air filter system (30) includes a filter housing (10) with a filter element (1) received within the housing. A secondary housing is secured to and closing the filter housing. The secondary housing includes a locking element operable to engage the filter housing and the filter element. The filter element (1) includes at least one fastening element (7) wherein the locking element (22) of the secondary housing (20) engages the at least one fastening element (7) in such a way, when the filter element (1) is accommodated in the filter housing (10) and is disposed between the filter housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), that the secondary housing (20) is detachably clamped to the filter housing (10). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air filter system (30) for the intake air of internal combustion engines, comprising: a filter housing (10); an annular filter element (1) replaceably received into a chamber within the filter housing; a secondary housing (20) secured to and closing the filter housing (10) such that the secondary housing and filter housing enclosed the filter element in the chamber therein, the secondary housing including: at least one locking element (22) operable to engage the filter housing and the filter element to lock the housing closed and lock the filter element therein; wherein the filter housing (10) is designed to internally accommodate and lock the filter element (1) therein; wherein the filter element (1) includes an end disk (8) secured onto an axial end face of the filter element (1), the end disk sealingly closing the axial end face separating a raw side from a clean side of the filter element; at least one fastening element (7), each embodied as an elongated axial protrusion (7) having a first end arranged at and secured onto a radially outer portion of the end disk (8), the elongated axial protrusion (7) elongated in an axial direction extending axially away from the end disk (8); wherein the filter housing (10) on its exterior forms a least one receptacle (12) arranged on the exterior of the filter housing and having an axially extending hole (12) extending through the receptacle and opening at opposing axial sides of the receptacle; wherein the protrusion (7) extends axially from the filter element end disk and completely through the hole and continues outwardly beyond the hole when the filter element (1) is assembled with the filter housing (10) in such a way that the filter element (1) is accommodated in the filter housing (10); wherein a portion of the axial protrusion that continues outwardly beyond the hole has a locking surface; wherein the at least one locking element (22) of the secondary housing (20) engages the at least one fastening element (7) in such a way, when the filter element (1) is accommodated in the filter housing (10) and is disposed between the filter housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), that the secondary housing (20) is detachably clamped to the filter housing (10). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air filter system (30) according to claim 1, wherein the filter element include a sealing element secured thereto and having a sealing element surface corresponding to a complimentary sealing surface of the filter housing (10); wherein the sealing element is sealingly pressed against by press-fitted onto the corresponding sealing surface of the filter housing (10) when the secondary housing (20) is clamped to the filter housing (10). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The air filter system (30) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element (22) on the secondary housing (20) are pivotally mounted to the secondary housing, each of the at least one locking element operable to lock onto the locking surface of a respective one of the at least one fastening element (7). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The air filter system (30) according to claim 3, wherein the at least one locking element (22) has a hook-shaped end, the hook-shaped end engaging against a respective one of the at least one fastening element (7) and behind the respective one of the at least one fastening element (7) or into a recess or undercut provided at or on the respective one of the at least one fastening element (7). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The air filter system (30) according to claim 4, wherein the at least one locking element (22) on the secondary housing (20) is embodied as a resilient metal clamp. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The air filter system (30) according to claim 1, wherein the hole of the at least one receptacle (12) on the filter housing (10) is disposed on the outer side of the filter housing facing away from the filter element (1) on inclined filter housing sections which extend under an angle between 45 and 90 degrees in relation to a longitudinal extension direction of the at least one receptacle hole (12). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air filter system (30) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fastening element (7) is at least four fastening elements (7); wherein the filter housing (10), the filter element (1) and the secondary housing (20) are secured together by the at least four fastening elements (7). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A filter element (1) of the filter system (30) according to claim 1, the filter element comprising: an annularly closed filter medium (2); an end disk secured to the filter medium; at least one fastening element (7), each embodied as an elongated axial protrusion (7) having a first end arranged at and secured onto a radially outer portion of the end disk (8), the elongated axial protrusion (7) elongated in an axial direction extending axially away from the end disk (8); wherein when the filter element (1) is accommodated in the filter housing (10) and disposed between the filter housing (10) and the secondary housing (20), a respective one of the at least one locking element (22) of the secondary housing (20) engages with the at least one fastening element (7) such that the secondary housing (20) is clamped onto the filter housing (10). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The filter element (1) according to claim 8, wherein the at least one fastening element (7) axial protrusion extends through and engages into a respective hole (12) provided on the on the filter housing (10). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The filter element (1) according to claim 9, wherein the filter element (1) includes an end disk secured on an axial end of the filter element (1) and sealingly closing the end face of the filter element to separate a raw side from a clean side of the filter medium; wherein the axial protrusion engages into a recess on the filter housing (10) or into the respective hole (12). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The filter element according to claim 10, wherein the protrusion extends axially from an end disk of the filter element (1) in a mounting direction of the filter element (1) into the filter housing (10). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The filter element according to claim 11, further including a circumferential a sealing element embodied as a seal ring, sealing the filter element and separating a raw side from a clean side in the filter housing (10); wherein the sealing element is arranged on and secured to the end disk (8). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The filter element according to claim 12, wherein the axial protrusion (7) is arranged at an exterior of the filter housing, spaced outwardly from the sealing element and outside of space enclosed by the filter housing (10) in which the filter element (1) is received.