Filter element, in particular for filtering exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine
A filter element, in particular for filtering exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, includes mutually parallel flow channels, at least two filter segments being provided which each have a subset of flow channels, the filter segments having a spacing from one another and being interconnected via connecting device(s) arranged integrally with the filter segments.
1. A filter element, comprising:
at least two filter segments each having a subset of flow channels of mutually parallel flow channels;
wherein the filter segments have a spacing from one another and are interconnected via a connection arrangement provided integrally with the filter segments, multiple connecting devices being provided between mutually adjacent filter segments;
wherein the connecting devices are arranged as a strut that extends parallel to the flow channels; and
wherein a material thickness of the strut is less than the wall thickness of a filter wall, adjoining a flow channel, of a filter segment.
2. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the filter element is adapted to filter exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine.
3. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the filter segments are made at least in part of silicon carbide.
4. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the filter segments are made at least in part of cordierite.
5. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the filter segments complement one another to yield a filter element that is cylindrical in entirety.
6. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the filter segments are, in cross section, between 400 and 1600 square millimeters in size.
7. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the filter element has at least four filter segments.
8. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one centrally disposed filter segment is square in cross section.
9. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein at least one centrally disposed filter segment is circular in cross section.
10. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein at least filter segments disposed along a periphery of the filter element are shaped at least in sections as a circle segment.
11. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein a cell density of the flow channels is between 80 and 350 channels per square inch.
12. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the spacing between mutually adjacent filter segments is between 0.5 and 10 mm.
13. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the strut has a material thickness between 0.5 and 10 mm.
14. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein the strut has in a central region a material thickness that is less than in outer regions directly adjacent to the filter segments.
15. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein a flexural strength of at least one of (a) the strut and (b) a central region of the strut is equal to at most 60% of a flexural strength of a filter segment.
16. The filter element according to claim 1 , wherein an interstice resulting from the spacing between two interconnected filter segments is filled up at least in sections with a filler material.
17. The filter element according to claim 16 , wherein the interstice is filled up, in a direction parallel to the flow channels, over at least 20% of a length of the flow channels.
18. The filter element according to claim 16 , wherein the filler material includes at least one of (a) ceramic powder, (b) silicon dioxide, (c) aluminum oxide; (d) inorganic binder, (e) silicon dioxide sol, (f) aluminum oxide sol; (g) ceramic fibers, (h) mullite fibers, and (i) aluminum oxide fibers.
19. The filter element according to claim 12 , wherein the spacing between mutually adjacent filter segments is between 1 and 5 mm.