Sealing device of a filter system for filtering fluids

1. A sealing arrangement of a filter system for filtering fluids, comprising:

a filter element ( 14 );

an end plate ( 20 ) having a flange-sided end plate opening ( 18 ), said end plate ( 20 ) arranged on an axial end of said filter element ( 14 ), said end plate ( 20 ) further including

a central tube ( 16 ) extending through said flange-sided end plate opening ( 18 );

a seal ring ( 26 ) including

a central section ( 58 ) connected to said tubular receiving collar ( 56 ) of end plate ( 20 );

elastic sealing sections ( 60 , 62 ) extending axially outwards at opposing sides of said central section ( 58 ), said elastic sealing sections elastically defect in a radial direction relative to said central tube ( 16 ), said elastic sealing sections causing a reduction each of an inner diameter of said sealing ring ( 26 ) compared with said central section ( 58 ) of said seal ring ( 26 );

wherein said elastic sealing sections ( 60 , 62 ) are freely flexible and bend away from said central section ( 58 );

wherein said elastic sealing sections ( 60 , 62 ) sealably press in a radial direction against an exterior wall of said central tube ( 16 ), sealing radially between said central tube ( 16 ) and said end plate ( 20 );

wherein a sealing force pressing said elastic sealing sections against said central tube ( 16 ) is augmented by prevailing fluid pressures acting on said elastic sealing sections

a recess ( 36 ) formed between, surrounded and enclosed by said exterior wall of said central tube ( 16 ) and said seal ring ( 26 ), said recess ( 36 ) extending on said exterior wall of said central tube ( 16 ) in a circumferential direction, said recess arranged axially between said elastic sealing sections ( 60 , 62 ) of said seal ring ( 26 );

a fluid return duct ( 32 ) arranged radially within said central tube ( 16 ) and extending axially within said central tube ( 16 );

a drain channel ( 34 ) arranged within said central tube ( 16 ) and extending traversely relative to the axially extending fluid return duct ( 32 ) of the central tube ( 16 );

said drain channel ( 34 ) having a first end opening through the exterior wall of said central tube ( 16 ) into said recess ( 36 );

said drain channel ( 34 ) connected within said central tube ( 16 ) to said fluid return duct ( 32 ) to drain fluid from said recess ( 36 ) to said fluid return duct ( 32 ) within said central tube;

wherein said first end of said drain channel opens through said exterior wall of said central tube ( 16 ) at a position radially under said seal ring ( 26 ) and sealably closed by said seal ring ( 26 ).

2. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

a fluid opening ( 34 , 36 ) of said central tube ( 16 ) is disposed in an axial direction between said sealing surfaces of said elastic sealing sections ( 60 , 62 ); and

wherein said fluid opening ( 34 , 36 ) is tightly closed by the sealing of said elastic sealing sections of sealing ring ( 26 ) to said exterior wall of said central tube ( 16 ).

3. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

said seal ring ( 26 ) tightly separates a clean fluid side ( 44 ) of said filter system from a raw fluid side ( 54 ) of said filter system.

4. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

said elastic sealing sections ( 60 , 62 ) each have exterior sides ( 72 , 74 ) exposed to fluid pressures;

wherein an interior fluid area is arranged between said elastic sealing sections ( 60 , 62 ), said central section ( 58 ) and said central tube ( 16 ) are exposed to another fluid pressure; and

wherein sealing force of said sealing sections is related to differences between said fluid pressures and said other fluid pressure.

5. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

said central section ( 58 ) of said sealing ring ( 26 ) is secured to said end plate ( 20 ) by vulcanization.

6. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

said sealing ring and said end plate are realized as a unitary two-component part.

7. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

said receiving collar ( 56 ) includes a plug-in bar at the radial interior side of the receiving collar ( 56 ) and extending radially inwardly from said radial interior side of said receiving collar ( 56 );

wherein said seal ring ( 26 ) includes a circumferential groove provided in a radial exterior side of said seal ring receiving said plug-in bar; and

wherein said sealing ring ( 26 ) is connected to said end plate ( 20 , 56 ) by said engagement of said plug-in bar to said circumferential groove on a radial interior side of said receiving collar.

8. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

said end plate ( 20 ) is made of plastic material;

said sealing ring ( 26 ) is made of an elastomer material, said elastomer material different from plastic material of said end plate;

wherein said sealing ring and said end plate are realized as a unitary two-component part.

9. A filter element of a fluid filtering system, comprising:

the sealing arrangement according to claim 1 ;

a filter housing; and

said filter element arranged in said filter housing;

wherein said elastic sealing sections ( 60 , 62 ) extend freely flexible and can be bent away from said central section ( 58 ) and have sealing pressures augmented by prevailing fluid pressures when the filter system is operated.

10. The sealing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein

said drain channel has a second end opening radially through the exterior wall of said central tube ( 16 ) into said recess ( 36 );

wherein second end of said drain channel opens through said exterior wall of said central tube ( 16 ) into at a position radially under said seal ring ( 26 ), said seal ring closing over said second end.