Claims:We claim:

1. A filter unit(70) for an air cleaner assembly (100), the air cleaner assembly (100) having an air inlet (20), an upper housing (30), a lower housing (40) and an air outlet (50), the filter unit (70) comprising:
a holder (54) having a projection (52) configured on each corner thereof;
a filter element (56) fixed in the holder (54);
a frame trap (60) having an opening (58) configured on each corner thereof, the openings (58) of the frame trap (60) receive the projections (52) of the holder (54); and
a sealing (64) positioned on the holder (54) and assembled between an interface of the upper housing (30) and the lower housing (40),
characterized in that, the sealing (64) having a lip (62) configured circumferentially on either side thereof, the lips (62) capable of arresting leakage between the housings (30, 40)thereby preventing dust entry into a clean side of the air cleaner assembly (100) that in turn prevents damage to an engine of a vehicle.

2. The filter unit(70) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing (64) is made of any one of a rubber, a sealingfoam and a synthetic media.

Dated this 3rd day of February, 2020

Prafulla Wange
(Agent for Applicant)
(IN/PA-2058)
, Description:FILTER UNIT FOR AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY

Field of the invention:

The present invention generally relates to an air cleaner assembly used in vehicles and more particularly, to a filter unit for the air cleaner assembly.

Background of the invention:

Dust particles in the air cause wear of engine components. Air cleaners are used to remove particulate matter from an atmospheric air entering to the engine. Figures1a-1b show a conventional cassette type design of an air filter (10). The air filter (10) includes an upper housing (2), a filter element (4) and a lower housing (6). The sealing between theupper housing (2) and thelower housing (6) is provided by a gasket (8). However, in this cassette type filter element (4), there is a possibility of dust leakage between the interface of the upper housing (2) and the lower housing (6)as shown by an arrow A in figure 1bas the plastic part interface will not provide perfect seating.

Efforts are seen in the prior art to prevent leakage between the housings. Reference may be made to German patent application no. DE10257543A1that discloses an automotive air filter to deliver air to vehicle occupants. The filter comprises an outer housing with an air inlet and an air outlet separated by a filter insert. The insert and housing inner wall are separated by a seal with twin sealing lips, each inclined in opposite directions and each a mirror image of the other. The lips are formed by bending the projecting filter sidewall frames. The frame is formed by a pre-molded bonded plastic strip. The filter housing inner wall has locating nipples.However, the sealing mentioned in this patent is for main sealing which is present in all four sides of the filter element and the filter element used is a panel type (sliding is along the perpendicular direction of the frame).
Another German patent application no.DE102014014396A1 discloses a filter arrangement for filtering indoor air in a vehicle with a filter element that can be arranged in a filter housing and a sealing device that at least partially surrounds the filter element and has a fluid volume. In a state inserted into the filter housing, the sealing device is set up to seal the filter element in a fluid-tight manner with respect to the filter housing, the sealing device having at least a first section and a second section and, by inserting the filter element into the filter housing, the fluid volume can be displaced from the second section into the first section for sealing the filter element with respect to the filter housing.The sealing mentioned in this patent is for a drawer type filter element (sliding along the longitudinal direction of the frame). However, the sealing is not there at the interface between the upper and the lower housing where leakage could happen.

European patent no.EP1137474B1 discloses a filter consisting of a housing with a bottom shell and a cover for receiving a filter element. Said filter element has a seal that is made of nonwoven material and is also used as filtering medium. Said filter element is clamped in a sealed slot between clamping ribs and clamping grooves. To this end, the seal is supported exclusively by the clamping ribs while a cavity remains in the clamping grooves. However, the sealing mentioned in this patent is for main sealing which is present in all four sides of the filter element and the filter element used is a panel type (sliding is along the perpendicular direction of the frame).

United States patent no. US6682683B2 discloses a method for manufacturing an accordion filter insert in which an accordion filter pack is introduced into a mold and a space remaining thereafter in the mold is filled with a liquefied polymer material so as to form a frame surrounding the accordion filter pack. At least one peripheral elastically deformable sealing lip, consisting of the material of the frame, is produced together with the frame and is consolidated concurrently therewith. However, the sealing mentioned in this patent is for main sealing which is present in all four sides of the filter element and the filter elementused is a panel type (sliding is along the perpendicular direction of the frame).

The documents in the prior art are having filter elements most of which are panel type of elements and not the sliding type. Further, the prior art documents includes lipsall-round the filter element used for sealing. However, the sealing is not provided in the prior art at the interface between the upper and the lower housing where leakage could happen.

Accordingly, there exists a need to providea filter unit for an air cleaner assembly that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention isto arrest leakage between an upper housing and a lower housing.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent dust entry into a clean side of an air cleaner assembly to prevent damage to an engine.

Summary of the invention:

Accordingly, the present invention provides a filter unit for an air cleanerassembly.The air cleaner assembly includes an air inlet, an upper housing, a lower housing and an air outlet.

The filter unit comprises a holder, a filter element, a frame trap and a sealing. The holder includes a projection configured on each corner thereof. The filter element is fixed in the holder. The frame trap includes an opening configured on each corner thereof. The openings of the frame trap receive the projections of the holder. The sealing is positioned on the holder and assembled between an interface of the upper housing and the lower housing. The sealing is made of any one of a rubber, a sealing foam and a synthetic media. The sealing includes a lip configured circumferentially on either side thereof. The lips are capable of arresting leakage between the housings thereby preventing dust entry into a clean side of the air cleaner assembly that in turn prevents damage to an engine of a vehicle.

Brief description of the drawings:

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein
Figure 1ashows an exploded view of a cassette type design of an air filter, in accordance with the prior art;

Figure 1bis a sectional view of the air filter of figure 1 showing a filter element sealing;

Figure 2 shows an air cleaner assembly, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3a shows an exploded view of the air cleaner assembly, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3b is a sectional view ofthe air cleaner assembly of figure 3a; and

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of afilter unit, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

In general aspect, the present invention provides a filter unit for an air cleanerassembly of a vehicle. The filter unit arrests leakage between an upper housing and a lower housing. The filter unit prevents dust entry from a dirty side to a clean side of the air cleaner thereby protecting an engine of the vehicle.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein numbers indicated in the bracket represent the components of the invention throughout the description. Table 1 below enlists the reference numerals and description of corresponding elements.

Table 1
Ref. No. Description Ref. No. Description
2 Upper housing of prior art 52 Projections of holder
4 Filter element of prior art 54 Holder
6 Lower housing of prior art 56 Filter element
8 Gasket of prior art 58 Openings of frame trap
10 Cassette type an air filter of prior art 60 Frame trap
20 Air inlet 62 Lips
30 Upper housing 64 Sealing
35 Gasket 70 Filter unit
40 Lower housing 100 Air cleaner assembly
50 Air outlet

Referring to figures2 to 4, an air cleaner assembly (100) (hereinafter “the assembly (100)”) in accordance with the present invention is shown. The assembly (100) comprises an air inlet (20), an upper housing (30), a lower housing (40), an air outlet (50) and a filter unit (70).
Dusty air enters the assembly (100) through the air inlet (20) and a clean, dust free air passes to an engine through the air outlet (50).The sealing between the upper housing (30) and the lower housing (40) is provided by a gasket (35). The upper housing (30) is mounted on the lower housing (40) such that the filter unit (70) is sandwiched there between.

As shown in figure 4, the filter unit(70) comprises a holder (54), a filter element (56),a frame trap (60)anda sealing (64). The holder (54) includes a projection (52) configured on each corner thereof. The filter element (56) is fixed in the holder (54). Specifically, the filter element (56) is used for four wheeler and two wheeler applications. The frame trap (60) includes an opening (58) configured on each corner thereof. The openings (58) of the frame trap (60) receive the projections (52) of the holder (54).

The sealing (64) is positioned on the holder (54). The sealing (64) is assembled between an interface of the upper housing (30) and the lower housing (40).The sealing (64) is made of any one of a rubber, a sealing foam and a synthetic media. The sealing (64) includes a lip (62) configured circumferentiallyon either side thereof.The lips (62) provided on the sealing (64) that goes in between the housings (30, 40) gives a positive sealing to arrest leakage as indicated by an arrow B in figure 3b.Specifically, the lips (62) on the sealing (64) are provided for panel air filters to arrest leakage between the housings (30, 40) in turn by providing good sealing.This prevents dust entry into a clean side of the assembly (100)therebypreventing damage to an engine of a vehicle.

In accordance with the present invention, the filter unit (70) is designed for a sliding type/drawer type (sliding along the longitudinal direction of the frame) of the filter element (56) and the lips (62) are provided locally only for a specific distance that seals the interface between the upper housing (30) and the lower housing (40) to prevent leakage.

Advantages of the invention:

1. The filter unit (70) arrests leakage between the upper housing (30) and the lower housing (40).
2. The filter unit (70) improves performance of the assembly(100).
3. The filter unit (70) prevents dust entry from a dirty side to a clean side of the assembly (100) thereby protecting the engine of the vehicle.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.