Filter element and support body for such a filter element

Abstract

A filter element for purifying a fluid at risk of freezing such as a urea-water solution for exhaust gas after treatment has an annular filter body and a support body surrounded by the filter body. The support body is made of an elastomer and is able to yield in a radial inward direction to compensate volume expansion when the fluid freezes.

1 . A filter element for purifying a fluid at risk of freezing, the filter element, comprising:
 an elongated annular filter body including a filter media separating an unfiltered fluid side from a filtered fluid side;   an elongated support body received with an interior of said annular support body, wherein said filter body circumferentially surrounds said filter body;   wherein said fluid includes fluid components that expand in volume upon freezing;   wherein said support body is comprised of an elastomer operable to radially compress or deform under fluid forces induced on said support body by said expansion of volume.   
     
     
         2 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein said elastomer is EPDM. 
     
     
         3 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said support body defines and axially extending cavity within an interior of said support body;   wherein said cavity is not in communication with the fluid to be purified; and   wherein said support body cavity is compressible, enabling further radial compression of said support body under said fluid forces induced by freezing.   
     
     
         4 . The filter element according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said support body has an exterior side facing an inner side of said annular filter body, said exterior side provided with radially extending support ribs;   wherein said support ribs define fluid passages therebetween; and   wherein said filter body is supported on said support ribs.   
     
     
         5 . The filter element according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said filter body is a star-shaped filter bellows including a plurality of axially aligned folds;   wherein said support ribs and said fluid passages are arranged in a coil shape on said exterior side of said support body.   
     
     
         6 . The filter element according to  claim 5  wherein
 said fluid passages defined between said ribs are in immediate fluid communication with fluid passages formed between said folds at a radially interior surface of said filter body, combined fluid passages comprising the clean fluid side of the filter element.   
     
     
         7 . A support body for the filter element according to  claim 1 .