Adjustable Air Filter Element for Compact Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air filter systems require an access path of at least the same dimension as the air filter element, making it difficult to accommodate closely spaced components and limiting versatility in servicing directions.
Innovation Solution
The air filter element features a filter medium pack with coupling elements that can move between a shortened and extended position, utilizing a reversibly deformable collar, bellows, or telescopic arrangement to fit through smaller openings, ensuring airtight seals and adaptability to different servicing orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air filter element is designed with fixed coupling elements, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the adaptability to different servicing directions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling elements are designed to be positionable between extended and retracted positions, allowing the air filter element to adapt its dimensions dynamically. This enables the same element to fit through openings of different sizes and orientations while maintaining proper sealing when installed, resolving the contradiction between fixed sealing reliability and adaptable servicing access.
2Device complexity
If the air filter element is designed to fit through small openings, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The positionable coupling elements allow the air filter element to be inserted in a compact retracted state through small openings, then extended to their proper operating positions to ensure adequate sealing capability. This dynamic dimension change resolves the contradiction between fitting through small openings and maintaining sealing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling elements are designed to be extendable from a retracted insertion state to an extended operating state. This preliminary action of extending after insertion allows the element to pass through small openings first, then achieve full sealing capability once in position, resolving the contradiction between access path size and sealing capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the coupling elements are made rigid and fixed, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability to different air filter system designs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling elements incorporate positionability between extended and retracted positions, allowing the same precision-manufactured element to adapt to different air filter system designs and servicing requirements. This dynamic capability enables universal application across various system configurations while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The positionable coupling elements enable a single air filter element design to serve multiple functions and accommodate different air filter system designs, servicing directions, and opening sizes. This universality resolves the contradiction between manufacturing precision and adaptability to different designs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the air filter element to be inserted and sealed through smaller openings, maintaining air-tightness and versatility in installation orientations, reducing the need for large access paths and accommodating various air filter system designs.
Implementation Method 1
a reversibly deformable collar arranged between the air outlet side of the filter medium pack and the second coupling element
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed towards filter elements whose overall length can be adjusted such that the filter element can be installed through an opening in an air cleaner opening having a relatively smaller dimension than the maximum dimension of the filter element. In one aspect, the filter element can include a radial seal member disposed on a positionable coupling element circumscribing at least a portion of a filter medium pack. The filter element has a first axial length when the positionable coupling element is in an extended position and has a second axial length when the positionable coupling element is in a collapsed position, wherein the first axial length is greater than the second axial length. In some examples, the filter element includes two positionable coupling elements.