End Disk

Abstract

A plastic end disk for a hollow-cylindrical filter element has an end face plastic layer and a neighboring plastic layer. The end face plastic layer is transparent for infrared radiation. The neighboring plastic layer is absorbent for infrared radiation. The plastic end disk is connected to a folded filter medium in that the end face plastic layer is trans-irradiated with an infrared radiation source, wherein the infrared radiation is absorbed in the neighboring plastic layer so that a portion of the neighboring plastic layer and a portion of the end face plastic layer are completely melted. The infrared radiation source is removed and the filter medium is pressed into a melted area of the end face plastic layer. The filter medium is secured in the pressed-in position in the end face plastic layer until a fixed connection of filter medium and end face plastic layer has been formed.

1 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A plastic end disk for a hollow-cylindrical filter element, the plastic end disk comprising:
 an end face plastic layer and a neighboring plastic layer;   wherein the end face plastic layer is substantially transparent for infrared radiation;   wherein the neighboring plastic layer is substantially absorbent for infrared radiation;   wherein the plastic end disk is adapted to be connected to a hollow cylindrical zigzag-shaped folded filter medium by plastifying the end face plastic layer by infrared trans-irradiation.   
     
     
         10 . The plastic end disk according to  claim 9 , injection-molded by a two-component injection process from a thermoplastic synthetic material. 
     
     
         11 . The plastic end disk according to  claim 10 , wherein the end face plastic layer is comprised of a substantially glass fiber-free polyamide and the neighboring plastic layer is comprised of a glass fiber-reinforced polyamide comprising dark heat-absorbent particles. 
     
     
         12 . The plastic end disk according to  claim 9 , wherein the end face plastic layer has an axially projecting annular collar forming a sealing contour relative to a matching sealing counterpart. 
     
     
         13 . The plastic end disk according to  claim 12 , wherein the axially projecting collar is positioned at an inner radial end of the end face plastic layer. 
     
     
         14 . The plastic end disk according to  claim 9 , wherein the neighboring plastic layer has a functional element. 
     
     
         15 . The plastic end disk according to  claim 14 , wherein the functional element is a drainage for liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The plastic end disk according to  claim 9 , wherein a side of the neighboring plastic layer that is facing the end face plastic layer has a surface area-enlarging relief contour. 
     
     
         17 . A filter element comprising a filter medium and a plastic end disk according to  claim 9  connected to the filter medium. 
     
     
         18 . A method for providing a fixed, seal-tight connection between adjacently positioned terminal edges of a zigzag-shaped folded fluid-permeable filter medium and a plastic end disk according to  claim 9 , wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 trans-irradiating with an infrared radiation source an end face plastic layer that is substantially transparent for infrared radiation, wherein the infrared radiation is absorbed in a neighboring plastic layer substantially absorbent for infrared radiation and neighboring the end face plastic layer so that a portion of the neighboring plastic layer and a portion of the end face plastic layer are completely melted;   removing the infrared radiation source;   pressing the terminal edges of the filter medium into a melted area of the end face plastic layer;   securing the filter medium in the pressed in position in the end face plastic layer until a fixed connection of the filter medium and the end face plastic layer has been formed.