# US 9,873,073 B2 · Air filter element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,873,073 B2 - Document ID: US9873073B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/997,193 - Filed: 2011-12-19 - Published: 2014-01-02 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-23 - Assignees: Mahle International GmbH - Applicants: Andreas Enderich; Alexander Jerger; Matthias Traub; Hendrik Von Merkatz; Hans Waibel - Inventors: Andreas Enderich; Alexander Jerger; Matthias Traub; Hendrik Von Merkatz; Hans Waibel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9873073B2 ## CPC - B01D 46/58: connected in parallel - B01D 46/103: {Curved filtering elements} - B01D 46/521: {using folded, pleated material} - B01D 46/60: arranged concentrically or coaxially - B01D 2275/206: Special forms, e.g. adapted to a certain housing - 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) ## Abstract An air filter element for an air filter may include a first end plate and a second end plate spaced apart from each other in an axial direction and configured to bound the filter element in the axial direction. The first filter body may be arranged axially between the first and second end plates. A second filter body may be arranged axially between the first and second end plates. An intermediate plate may be arranged axially between the first and second filter bodies and have an intermediate plate area enclosed by an intermediate outer contour and a first end plate area enclosed by a first outer contour. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air filter element for an air filter, comprising: a first filter body comprising a filter material, a first end plate and a second end plate spaced apart from each other in an axial direction and configured to bound the filter element in the axial direction, wherein the first filter body is arranged axially between the first and second end plates, a second filter body arranged axially between the first and second end plates, an intermediate plate arranged axially between the first and second filter bodies, wherein the intermediate plate has an intermediate plate area greater than at least one of a first end plate area of the first end plate and a second end plate area of the second end plate; wherein the first and second end plates are closed and the intermediate plate defines at least one intermediate opening extending through a first interior bounded by the first filter body to a second interior bounded by the second filter body; wherein the first filter body is U-shaped having an open side sealed with a closure plate, the closure plate defining a connection opening creating a fluid connection to the inside of the filter element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second end plates each project onto the intermediate plate completely perpendicularly to the intermediate plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The air filter element according to claim 2, wherein the first and second plates form at least one projection at the intermediate plate and an overlap region is formed at an area of the projection and defines at least one opening, wherein the overlap region is smaller than the projection of at least one of the end plates. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second end plates are one of geometrically different and identical. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second filter bodies are one of identical and different. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the first end plate closes the first filter body in an airtight manner on a first axial side, the intermediate plate closes the first filter body on a second axial side and the second filter body on a first axial side in an airtight manner, the second end plate closes the second filter body in an airtight manner on a second axial side. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the closure plate extends substantially parallel to an axial direction at least in a region of the first filter body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the closure plate extends axially over at least one of the first and second filter bodies. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the second filter body is U-shaped having an open side sealed with a closure plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the second filter body encloses a second interior in a circumferential direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second filter bodies are different in at least one of geometrically and in terms of their filtration effect. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the end plates and the intermediate plate run parallel to each other. ### Claim 13 An air filter, comprising: a filter housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet and enclosing a receiving space, a filter element configured to be inserted into the receiving space and separate an untreated side, the untreated side being fluidly-connected to the air inlet from a clean side which is fluidly-connected to the air outlet; wherein the filter element includes a first end plate and a second end plate spaced apart from each other in an axial direction, a first filter body and a second filter body arranged between the first and second end plates, and an intermediate plate arranged axially between the first and second filter bodies; wherein the first and second end plates are closed and the intermediate plate defines at least one intermediate opening extending through a first interior bounded by the first filter body to a second interior bounded by the second filter body; wherein the first filter body is U-shaped having an open side sealed with a closure plate, the closure plate defining a connection opening creating a fluid connection to the inside of the filter element; and wherein the second filter body is U-shaped having an open side sealed with a closure plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The air filter of claim 13, further comprising: a first end plate and a second end plate spaced apart from each other in an axial direction and configured to bound the filter element in the axial direction, a first filter body is arranged axially between the first and second end plates, a second filter body arranged axially between the first and second end plates, and an intermediate plate arranged axially between the first and second filter bodies, wherein the intermediate plate has an intermediate plate area greater than at least one of a first end plate area of the first end plate and a second end plate area of the second end plate. ### Claim 15 An air filter element for an air filter, comprising: a first filter body comprising a filter material, a first end plate and a second end plate spaced apart from each other in an axial direction and configured to bound the filter element in the axial direction, wherein the first filter body is arranged axially between the first and second end plates, a second filter body arranged axially between the first and second end plates, and an intermediate plate arranged axially between the first and second filter bodies, wherein the intermediate plate has an intermediate plate area, and the first end plate has a first end plate area; wherein the first and second end plates are closed and the intermediate plate defines at least one intermediate opening extending through a first interior bounded by the first filter body to a second interior bounded by the second filter body; wherein the first filter body and the second filter body are arranged offset with respect to one another; wherein the first filter body is U-shaped having an open side sealed with a closure plate, the closure plate defining a connection opening creating a fluid connection to the inside of the filter element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The air filter element of claim 15, wherein the intermediate plate area is greater than the first end plate area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The air filter element of claim 15, wherein the first end plate area is greater than a second end plate area of the second end plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The air filter element of claim 15, further comprising: a filter housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet and enclosing a receiving space, wherein the filter element is configured to be inserted into the receiving space and separate an untreated side, the untreated side being fluidly-connected to the air inlet from a clean side which is fluid-connected to the air outlet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The air filter element according to claim 1, wherein the first filter body and the second filter body are arranged offset with respect to one another.