Filter element

A filter element having a longitudinal center axis for a fresh air system of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a first plate filter body composed of a pleated filter material, the first plate filter body having a first transverse end disposed opposite a second transverse end in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis and a first longitudinal end disposed opposite a second longitudinal end in a longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis;
• a separate second plate filter body composed of a pleated filter material disposed opposite the first plate filter body in a lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis, the second plate filter body having a first transverse end disposed opposite a second transverse end in the transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis and a first longitudinal end disposed opposite a second longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis;
• a first wall body rigidly and tightly connected to the first transverse end of the first plate filter body and the first transverse end of the second plate filter body;
• a second wall body disposed opposite the first wall body in the transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis, the second wall body being rigidly and tightly connected to the second transverse end of the first plate filter body and the second transverse end of the second plate filter body;
• a first end body rigidly and tightly connected to the first longitudinal end of the first plate filter body and the first longitudinal end of the second plate filter body;
• a second end body disposed opposite the first end body in the longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis, the second end body being rigidly and tightly connected to the second longitudinal end of the first plate filter body and the second longitudinal end of the second plate filter body;
• wherein at least one of the first end body and the second end body includes a gas passage opening;
• wherein the first plate filter body has a different extent in the transverse direction than the second plate filter body with respect to the longitudinal center axis;
• wherein at least one of the first wall body and the second wall body between the first plate filter body and the second plate filter body includes a curvature projecting into an interior space in a profile extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the first plate filter body and the second plate filter body;
• and
• wherein the pleated filter material of at least one of the first plate filter body and the second plate filter body is folded in the transverse direction to provide folds extending parallel to the transverse direction, and wherein end folds of the pleated filter material of the first plate filter body and the second plate filter body are disposed at the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end of the first plate filter body and the second plate filter body and are rigidly and tightly connected to the first end body and the second end body.

A filter element having a longitudinal center axis for a fresh air system of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a first plate filter body composed of a pleated filter material, the first plate filter body having a first transverse end disposed opposite a second transverse end in a transverse direction of the longitudinal center axis and a first longitudinal end disposed opposite a second longitudinal end in a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal center axis;
• a separate second plate filter body composed of a pleated filter material disposed opposite the first plate filter body in a lateral direction of the longitudinal center axis, the second plate filter body having a first transverse end disposed opposite a second transverse end in the transverse direction and a first longitudinal end disposed opposite a second longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction;
• a first wall body rigidly and tightly connected to the first transverse end of the first plate filter body and the first transverse end of the second plate filter body;
• a second wall body disposed opposite the first wall body in the transverse direction of the longitudinal center axis, the second wall body being rigidly and tightly connected to the second transverse end of the first plate filter body and the second transverse end of the second plate filter body;
• a first end body rigidly and tightly connected to the first longitudinal end of the first plate filter body and the first longitudinal end of the second plate filter body;
• a second end body disposed opposite the first end body in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal center axis, the second end body being rigidly and tightly connected to the second longitudinal end of the first plate filter body and the second longitudinal end of the second plate filter body;
• a gas passage opening disposed in at least one of the first end body and the second end body;
• the first plate filter body defining a transverse extent in the transverse direction different from that of the second plate filter body, wherein the first transverse end of the first plate filter body lies in a first plane and the first transverse end of the second plate filter body lies in a second plane, the first plane offset in the transverse direction from the second plane;
• wherein the first wall body has a curvature between the first plate filter body and the second plate filter body in a profile extending transversely to the longitudinal direction, and wherein the curvature transitions the first wall body in the transverse direction from the first transverse end of the first plate filter body lying in the first plane to the first transverse end of the second plate filter body lying in the second plane such that the first wall body in a first region connected to the first transverse end of one of the first plate filter body and the second plate filter body is elevated in the transverse direction with respect to a second region of the first wall body connected the first transverse end of the other of the first plate filter body and the second plate filter body.