Foldable filter, filter assembly and air purifier

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of foldable filter element, filter assembly and air purifier, wherein foldable filter element includes: multiple filter units, the filter unit includes the filter medium being set as continuous pleat;Multiple connecting pieces, the connecting piece includes first connecting part and second connecting part that can be opened and closed, the first connecting part and the second connecting part are fixed on adjacent filter unit respectively;Multiple filter units are connected with each other by multiple connecting pieces to form foldable filter element with inner cavity;Realize the modular production of transition unit, improve the yield of product;In addition, the filter unit between can be opened and closed by connecting piece between filter unit, so that foldable filter element can adapt to air purifier of different shape and size, and the versatility is strong.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of air purifier technology, specifically to a foldable filter element, a filter assembly, and an air purifier. Background Technology

[0002] Filtration technology plays a vital role in modern industrial production and daily life. Whether in air purification, water treatment, chemical production, or pharmaceutical manufacturing, efficient filtration devices are indispensable. Traditional filtration devices typically employ a fixed filter element structure. These elements are often one-piece, made of a single material, and have relatively fixed shapes and functions.

[0003] Document CN104667669B discloses an internal filter and a filter assembly, and document CN212701053U discloses a foldable filter element. The filter elements in these two documents have a common feature: they are made of a single filter unit. Either the filter unit has cuts to make it foldable, or the filter unit can be bent around an axis arranged parallel to the folding edge of the filter pleats when the side strip is deformed.

[0004] The filter elements mentioned above are all formed on the basis of a single filter unit, which results in the filter element having a single function, complex manufacturing process, and high scrap rate.

[0005] Therefore, how to provide a filter element that has a reasonable structural design, is easy to manufacture, has low cost, and has both good filtration performance and long service life is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved. Utility Model Content

[0006] The problem solved by this utility model is to provide a foldable filter element, filter assembly and air purifier, realize the modular production of transition unit and improve product yield; in addition, the filter units are connected by connectors to realize the openable connection between filter units, so that the foldable filter element can be adapted to air purifiers of different shapes and sizes, and has strong versatility.

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, this utility model provides a foldable filter element, comprising: multiple filter units, each filter unit including a filter medium configured with continuous pleats; multiple connectors, each connector including a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion that can be opened and closed, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion being fixed to adjacent filter units respectively; the multiple filter units are connected to each other through the multiple connectors to form a foldable filter element with an inner cavity.

[0008] Optionally, the filter unit is rectangular and includes sides disposed around the filter medium, with the first connecting part and the second connecting part respectively fixed on the first side or the second side of the adjacent filter unit.

[0009] Optionally, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are respectively fixed on a first side of the adjacent filter unit that is perpendicular to the pleat direction of the filter medium.

[0010] Optionally, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are respectively fixed on the second side of the adjacent filter unit, which is perpendicular to the pleat direction of the filter medium.

[0011] Optionally, the first side is a flexible side.

[0012] Optionally, at least one of the filter units differs from the other filter units in at least one aspect of the function, material, pleat shape, pleat spacing, or pleat height of the filter medium.

[0013] Optionally, the plurality of filter units may include HEPA filter units and / or activated carbon filter units.

[0014] Optionally, the material of the connector is polyester fiberboard.

[0015] Optionally, the connector is configured as a V-shape.

[0016] Optionally, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are integrally formed.

[0017] Optionally, the connector is fixed to the filter unit by adhesive bonding or welding.

[0018] Optionally, the filter medium (101) includes glass fiber paper, meltblown nonwoven fabric, polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon fiber reinforced cloth, or a composite material of meltblown carbon fiber reinforced cloth.

[0019] Optionally, the cross-sectional shape of the inner cavity is a regular hexagon.

[0020] Accordingly, the present invention also provides a filter assembly, including the above-mentioned foldable filter element and an accessory for accommodating and / or fixing the foldable filter element.

[0021] Accordingly, this utility model also provides an air purifier, including the above-mentioned foldable filter element or the above-mentioned filter assembly.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this utility model has the following advantages:

[0023] The technical solution of this utility model's foldable filter cartridge includes multiple filter units, each filter unit comprising a filter medium configured with continuous pleats; multiple connectors, each connector including a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion that can be opened and closed, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion being respectively fixed to adjacent filter units; the multiple filter units are connected to each other through the multiple connectors to form a filter cartridge with an inner cavity; the openable and foldable design of the connectors allows the foldable filter cartridge to be folded, significantly reducing the volume of the foldable filter cartridge when not in use, facilitating transportation, storage, and installation and replacement in space-constrained environments; at the same time, the multiple filter units can be flexibly combined to form the foldable filter cartridge with an inner cavity, adaptable to filtration equipment of different shapes and sizes, and highly versatile. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a foldable filter element in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view in Part A;

[0026] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional image;

[0027] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a flat, foldable filter cartridge;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable filter element in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a flat-lay filter element structure;

[0030] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the filter assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the foldable filter element in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a foldable filter element in another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Currently, air purifier filters suffer from complex manufacturing processes, high scrap rates, and low yield rates, making it difficult to reduce product costs and limiting their widespread application.

[0034] Based on this, the present invention provides a foldable filter element, comprising multiple filter units, each filter unit including a filter medium configured with continuous pleats; multiple connectors, each connector including a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion that can be opened and closed, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion being fixed to adjacent filter units respectively; the multiple filter units are connected to each other through the multiple connectors to form a filter element with an inner cavity; the openable and foldable design of the connectors allows the foldable filter element to be folded, significantly reducing the volume of the foldable filter element when not in use, facilitating transportation, storage, and installation and replacement in space-constrained environments; at the same time, the multiple filter units can be flexibly combined to form the foldable filter element with an inner cavity, adapting to filtration equipment of different shapes and sizes, and exhibiting strong versatility.

[0035] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] First, please refer to the reference. Figures 1 to 4 A foldable filter element 100 includes a plurality of filter units 101 and a plurality of connectors 102.

[0037] In this embodiment, the filter unit 101 includes a filter medium 101a configured as continuous pleats; the connection 102 includes a first connection portion 102a and a second connection portion 102b that can be opened and closed, the first connection portion 102a and the second connection portion 102b are respectively fixed on adjacent filter units 101, and the plurality of filter units 101 are connected to each other through the plurality of connectors 102 to form the foldable filter element 100 with an inner cavity.

[0038] In this embodiment, the connector 102 enables the filter unit 101 to be opened and closed, allowing multiple filter units 101 to be folded, significantly reducing the volume of the foldable filter element 100 when not in use, and facilitating transportation, storage, and installation and replacement in space-constrained environments.

[0039] In this embodiment, the filter unit 101 is a single piece of filter medium, rather than being formed by cutting a single piece of filter medium. This enables the filter unit 101 to be manufactured separately, which is simple and has a high yield. Furthermore, the filter units 101 are connected to each other through the connector 102, which improves the connection stability between the filter units 101 and has a wider range of applications.

[0040] In this embodiment, each filter unit 101 can be customized according to actual needs. It can be a HEPA filter unit and / or an activated carbon filter unit. The HEPA filter unit can efficiently filter fine particulate matter in the air, such as PM2.5, pollen, bacteria, etc., to provide clean air. The activated carbon filter unit can adsorb harmful gases and odors in the air, effectively improve air quality, and provide users with a more comprehensive and healthier air quality guarantee.

[0041] In this embodiment, please refer to Figure 4 The adjacent filter units 101 are connected by the connector 102 to form a structure similar to a hinge. Multiple filter units 101 can be laid flat and stacked along the thickness d direction of the filter unit 101, which can greatly reduce the volume of the foldable filter element 100 during transportation and save transportation space.

[0042] In this embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 The foldable filter element 100 has a regular hexagonal cross-sectional shape for its inner cavity. When unfolded, the hexagonal shape allows for better adaptation to the installation space inside the air purifier. Compared to other shapes such as round or square, the regular hexagon provides a larger filtration area within a limited space while maintaining good airflow and improving filtration efficiency. Furthermore, the symmetry of the regular hexagon ensures more even stress distribution in all directions, helping to extend the filter element's lifespan. Its unique appearance also adds visual appeal to the air purifier, satisfying consumers' personalized design preferences.

[0043] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The cross-sectional shape of the inner cavity of the foldable filter element 100 can also be a regular octagon.

[0044] Of course, in some other implementations, the cross-section of the foldable filter element 100 may also be a regular decagon, a regular dodecagon, etc.

[0045] It should be noted that the cross-sectional shape of the inner cavity of the foldable filter element 100 can also be a regular odd-sided polygon, such as a regular heptagon or a regular nonagon. However, in this case, the space occupied by the foldable filter element 100 during transportation is larger than that of a regular even-sided polygon.

[0046] In this embodiment, since the cross-sectional shape of the inner cavity of the foldable filter element 100 is a positive even-numbered polygon, wherein the positive even number is greater than or equal to 6, that is, the number of filter units 101 is a positive even number, and the filter units 101 are the same size, then during transportation, the filter units 101 can be symmetrically divided into two parts and stacked along the thickness, so that the foldable filter element 100 occupies the smallest possible volume during transportation, greatly saving transportation space.

[0047] In this embodiment, the filter unit 101 is rectangular.

[0048] In some embodiments, the filter unit 101 may also be in other shapes such as square.

[0049] In this embodiment, the filter unit 101 further includes side edges 101b disposed around the filter medium 101a, wherein the side edges 101b include a first side edge 101b-1 and a second side edge 101b-2, the first side edge 101b-1 and the second side edge 101b-2 being perpendicularly distributed. The connector 102 includes a first connecting portion 102a and a second connecting portion 102b connected to the first connecting portion 102a. The first connecting portion 102a and the second connecting portion 102b are respectively fixed to the first side edge 101b-1 or the second side edge 101b-2 of the adjacent filter unit 101. Figure 3 The first connecting part 102a and the second connecting part 102b shown are respectively fixed on the first side 101b-1 of the adjacent filter unit 101.

[0050] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 8 The first connecting part 102a and the second connecting part 102b are respectively fixed on the second side 101b-2 of the adjacent filter unit 101. In the figure, 101b-2 (102a) indicates that the first connecting part 102a is pasted and connected to the second side 101b-2, and 101b-2 (102b) indicates that the second connecting part 102b is pasted and connected to the second side 101b-2.

[0051] In some embodiments, the filter unit 101 contains only the filter medium 101a. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 9 The first connecting part 102a and the second connecting part 102b are respectively fixed on the continuously pleated filter medium 101a of the adjacent filter unit 101. The filter medium 101a that is not connected to the first connecting part 102a and the second connecting part 102b is also provided with the first side 101b-1. Of course, the first side 101b-1 can be omitted, and can be selected according to actual needs.

[0052] In this embodiment, the first connecting portion 102a and the second connecting portion 102b are integrally formed.

[0053] Of course, in some embodiments, the first connecting portion 102a and the second connecting portion 102b may not be integrally formed.

[0054] In this embodiment, the first connecting part 102a is glued to the first side 101b-1, and the second connecting part 102b is glued to the first side 101b-1.

[0055] In some embodiments, the first connecting portion 102a is ultrasonically welded to the first side 101b-1, and the second connecting portion 102b is ultrasonically welded to the first side 101b-1.

[0056] In this embodiment, the filter medium 101a is folded into a wave shape along the length or width direction of the filter unit 101, increasing the filtration area of ​​the filter medium 101a, improving the filtration efficiency and service life of the foldable filter element 100, and the wave-shaped folded structure of the filter medium 101a can effectively utilize space, allowing the foldable filter element 100 to have a larger filtration area within a limited volume, thus improving the filtration effect and value of the foldable filter element 100; at the same time, the first side 101b-1 and the second side 101b-2 are configured as the filter unit The element 101 provides additional support and protection to prevent the filter medium 101a from deforming or being damaged during use, ensuring the structural integrity and filtration performance of the foldable filter element 100. In addition, connecting the connector 102 to the first side 101b-1 or the second side 101b-2 between adjacent filter media 101a not only further enhances the connection stability between the filter units 101, but also allows the connector 102 to function better, realizing the flexible rotation of the filter unit 101 and the foldability of the foldable filter element 100.

[0057] In this embodiment, the filter medium 101a is folded into a wavy shape along the width direction of the filter unit 101.

[0058] In this embodiment, the first side 101b-1 and the second side 101b-2 are flexible sides, which allows the first side 101b-1 and the second side 101b-2 to bend and deform more flexibly during folding, reducing the risk of damage to the sides during folding, improving the foldability and service life of the filter element, and during folding, the flexible side can better maintain its sealing performance to prevent fluid leakage from the side and ensure the filtration performance of the filter element in different forms.

[0059] In other embodiments, the first side 101b-1 may also be a rigid side, and the second side 101b-2 may also be a rigid side.

[0060] In this embodiment, at least one of the filter units 101 differs from the other filter units in at least one aspect of the function, material, pleat shape, pleat spacing, and pleat height of the filter medium 101a. By making at least one of the filter units 101 different from the other units in terms of function and material, multi-stage filtration can be achieved, targeted purification can be carried out for different pollutants or filtration needs, the filtration effect and efficiency can be improved, and the filter unit 101 can be customized according to specific filtration application scenarios and requirements to optimize the filter performance and meet diverse user needs.

[0061] In this embodiment, the filter medium 101a is made of glass fiber paper, meltblown nonwoven fabric, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), carbon fiber reinforced cloth, or a composite material of meltblown and carbon fiber reinforced cloth. Glass fiber paper offers high filtration efficiency and large dust holding capacity; meltblown nonwoven fabric is low-cost and has good air permeability; PTFE exhibits strong chemical stability and corrosion resistance; and carbon fiber reinforced cloth and meltblown and carbon fiber reinforced cloth composite materials possess excellent adsorption properties, making them suitable for removing odors and harmful gases from the air. By providing multiple options for the filter medium 101a, the diverse needs of different users for the foldable air purifier filter 100 in terms of filtration effect, cost control, and applicable scenarios can be met, giving the foldable filter 100 a wider range of application prospects.

[0062] In this embodiment, the filter medium 101a is a single-layer filter medium 101a. The single-layer filter medium 101a has a relatively simple structure, uses relatively few types and amounts of materials in the production process, and has a relatively simple manufacturing process. This allows the production cost of the foldable filter element 100 to be effectively controlled, thereby reducing the overall price of the air purifier.

[0063] In some embodiments, the filter medium 101a may also be a multi-layer composite filter medium 101a. The multi-layer composite filter medium 101a can combine filter media 101a with different properties, give full play to the advantages of each filter medium 101a, form a synergistic filtration effect, thereby achieving efficient filtration of various pollutants in the air, effectively removing various pollutants in the air, providing cleaner air, and meeting users' needs for high-quality air.

[0064] In this embodiment, the connector 102 is made of polyester fiber. Polyester fiber sheets have good chemical stability and mechanical strength, and are not easily affected by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. This ensures that the connector remains stable during long-term use, extends the service life of the filter element, and the polyester fiber sheets have low cost, are easy to process and form, which helps to reduce the production cost of the filter element and improve production efficiency.

[0065] In other embodiments, the connector may also be made of rubber, soft leather, fabric, metal, or hard plastic, which allows the connector 102 made of different materials to have different performance characteristics. According to the actual application scenario and performance requirements of the foldable filter element 100, a suitable material for the connector 102 can be selected, which can not only meet the requirements of foldability and connection stability of the foldable filter element 100, but also take into account factors such as cost, appearance, and service life, thereby further improving the overall performance of the foldable filter element 100.

[0066] In this embodiment, the connector 102 is configured as a V-shape. The V-shape design makes the connector 102 more compact when connecting the filter unit 101, reducing the space occupied by the connector 102, while enhancing the stability of the connection and making the connection between the filter units 101 more secure. The V-shape structure may guide the fluid to a certain extent, so that the fluid is more evenly distributed to each filter unit 101, thus optimizing the filtration effect.

[0067] In some embodiments, the connector 102 may also be configured as H-type, N-type, M-type, or W-type, etc.

[0068] In this embodiment, the multiple filter units 101 are of the same size, which helps to ensure the regularity and symmetry of the appearance of the foldable filter element 100, and minimizes the space occupied during transportation, thus saving space. Furthermore, the identical size of the filter units 101 facilitates standardized and large-scale production during manufacturing, reducing production costs and quality control difficulties, and improving production efficiency and product quality consistency. In addition, during the folding and unfolding of the foldable filter element 100, the identical size of the filter units 101 also allows for a more uniform distribution of stress, avoiding localized stress concentration and deformation problems caused by size differences, extending the service life of the foldable filter element 100, and ensuring its reliability and stability during use.

[0069] Accordingly, the present invention also provides a filter assembly 200, including the aforementioned foldable filter element 100.

[0070] In this embodiment, the aforementioned foldable filter element 100 is used as the core component of the filter assembly 200, improving the filtration effect and performance of the air purifier and meeting the high air quality requirements of different users. Simultaneously, this structural design of the filter assembly 200 also facilitates the overall layout and optimization of the air purifier, enhancing the compactness and aesthetics of the device, simplifying installation and maintenance, and strengthening the product's market competitiveness.

[0071] In this embodiment, an attachment 201 is also included to accommodate and / or fix the foldable filter element 100. After the multiple filter units 101 are unfolded, the attachment 201 is located inside the foldable filter element 100 and is used to support the foldable filter element 100. The attachment 201 provides additional structural support and stability for the foldable filter element 100. Especially in some application scenarios where the strength and rigidity requirements of the foldable filter element 100 are high, the attachment 201 can effectively prevent the foldable filter element 100 from deforming or being damaged during use due to airflow impact or its own weight, ensuring the filtration performance and service life of the foldable filter element 100. The presence of the attachment 201 also allows the foldable filter element 100 to better adapt to the installation environment inside the air purifier, improves the fitting accuracy and sealing of the foldable filter element 100 with the device, and further enhances the overall performance and reliability of the air purifier.

[0072] In this embodiment, the accessory 201 only needs to be put into use once and can be used for a lifetime. In the future, it can be replaced by purchasing the foldable filter element 100.

[0073] In this embodiment, the material of the accessory 201 is plastic or metal, which allows the accessory 201 to be flexibly selected according to different usage needs and cost budgets, further improving the applicability and market adaptability of the filter assembly 200.

[0074] Accordingly, this utility model also provides an air purifier, including the above-mentioned foldable filter element or the above-mentioned filter assembly.

[0075] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A foldable filter element, characterized in that, include: Multiple filter units, each filter unit comprising a filter medium configured with continuous pleats; Multiple connectors, each connector including a first connecting part and a second connecting part that can be opened and closed, wherein the first connecting part and the second connecting part are respectively fixed on adjacent filter units; Multiple filter units are connected to each other via multiple connectors to form a foldable filter element with an inner cavity.

2. The foldable filter element as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The filter unit is rectangular and also includes sides around the filter medium. The first connecting part and the second connecting part are respectively fixed on the first side or the second side of the adjacent filter unit.

3. The foldable filter element as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first connecting part and the second connecting part are respectively fixed on the first side of the adjacent filter unit, which is perpendicular to the pleat direction of the filter medium.

4. The foldable filter element as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first connecting part and the second connecting part are respectively fixed on the second side of the adjacent filter unit, which is perpendicular to the pleat direction of the filter medium.

5. The foldable filter element as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The first side is a flexible side.

6. The foldable filter element as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the filter units differs from the other filter units in at least one aspect of the function, material, pleat shape, pleat spacing, or pleat height of the filter medium.

7. The foldable filter element as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of filter units include HEPA filter units and / or activated carbon filter units.

8. The foldable filter element as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connector is made of polyester fiberboard.

9. The foldable filter element as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connector is configured as a V-shape.

10. The foldable filter element as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first connecting part and the second connecting part are integrally formed.

11. The foldable filter element as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connector is fixed to the filter unit by adhesive bonding or welding.

12. The foldable filter element as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The filter medium (101) includes glass fiber paper, meltblown nonwoven fabric, polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon fiber cloth, or a composite material of meltblown carbon fiber cloth.

13. The foldable filter element as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-sectional shape of the inner cavity is a regular hexagon.

14. A filter assembly, characterized in that, Includes the foldable filter element as described in any one of claims 1 to 13 and accessories for accommodating and / or securing the foldable filter element.

15. An air purifier, characterized in that, Includes the foldable filter element as described in any one of claims 1 to 13 or the filter assembly as described in claim 14.

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