Intake noise muffler and method of making and using same

Abstract

In the case of an intake noise muffler for a brake booster, a gas-permeable and noise muffling filter element, which is of plastic, is provided as the filter element for the intake air and extends along the entire length of the distributor housing or of a sleeve of a control valve housing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Intake noise muffler for a brake booster, comprising a filter element on a pedal-side control valve housing, wherein the housing is surrounded by the filter element, which is gas-permeable and noise muffling, constructed as a tube, which said filter element is further constructed in a dimensionally stable manner and with a plurality of pores and is tightly closed off on a face side by way of a cap.  
     
     
         2 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is made of a porous sintered plastic material.  
     
     
         3 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 1 , wherein intake air can be fed along an entire exterior surface of the filter element to an interior of the housing by way of a face-side mouth opening.  
     
     
         4 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 2 , wherein intake air can be fed along an entire exterior surface of the filter element to an interior of the housing by way of a face-side mouth opening.  
     
     
         5 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 3 , wherein the exterior surface of the filter element has a length which is formed between a connection on the housing and a connection on the cap.  
     
     
         6 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 4 , wherein the exterior surface of the filter element has a length which is formed between a connection on the housing and a connection on the cap.  
     
     
         7 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 1 , wherein a maximal noise muffling with a low flow resistance can be adjusted as a function of a size of the pores and a wall thickness (d) of the filter element.  
     
     
         8 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 2 , wherein a maximal noise muffling with a low flow resistance can be adjusted as a function of a size of the pores and a wall thickness of the filter element.  
     
     
         9 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 3 , wherein a maximal noise muffling with a low flow resistance can be adjusted as a function of a size of the pores and a wall thickness of the filter element.  
     
     
         10 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is arranged coaxially to a sleeve of the housing and extends close to the cap, and intake air can be fed in a labyrinth-type manner by way of a face-side space and an adjoining annulus to an interior of the housing.  
     
     
         11 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 2 , wherein the filter element is arranged coaxially to a sleeve of the housing and extends close to the cap, and intake air can be fed in a labyrinth-type manner by way of a face-side space and an adjoining annulus to an interior of the housing.  
     
     
         12 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 3 , wherein the filter element is arranged coaxially to a sleeve of the housing and extends close to the cap, and intake air can be fed in a labyrinth-type manner by way of a face-side space and an adjoining annulus to an interior of the housing.  
     
     
         13 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 7 , wherein the filter element is arranged coaxially to a sleeve of the housing and extends close to the cap, and intake air can be fed in a labyrinth-type manner by way of a face-side space and an adjoining annulus to an interior of the housing.  
     
     
         14 . Brake booster comprising the intake noise muffler of  claim 1 , wherein the face-side cap of the filter element has a receiving device for an operating rod of the brake booster.  
     
     
         15 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter element and the face-side cap consist of an identical gas-permeable and noise muffling material.  
     
     
         16 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 2 , wherein the filter element and the face-side cap consist of an identical gas-permeable and noise muffling material.  
     
     
         17 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 7 , wherein the filter element and the face-side cap consist of an identical gas-permeable and noise muffling material.  
     
     
         18 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter element is constructed in one piece with the cap and consists of a gas-permeable and noise muffling material.  
     
     
         19 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 2 , wherein the filter element is constructed in one piece with the cap and consists of a gas-permeable and noise muffling material.  
     
     
         20 . Intake noise muffler according to  claim 10 , wherein the filter element is constructed in one piece with the cap and consists of a gas-permeable and noise muffling material.  
     
     
         21 . A method of using an intake noise muffler comprising utilizing the intake noise muffler of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         22 . A method of making an intake noise muffler comprising making the intake noise muffler of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         23 . A method of making an intake noise muffler for a brake booster, comprising: 
 surrounding a pedal-side control valve housing with a gas-permeable and noise muffling filter element which is constructed as a tube, the filter element being dimensionally stable and having a plurality of pores, and    tightly closing off a face side of the filter element by way of a cap.