Air Treatment Cartridge Adapter to Prevent Vehicle Mis-Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In the field of vehicle air treatment systems, particularly for utility vehicles, there is a challenge in ensuring that the correct type of air treatment cartridge is assembled for the intended application, leading to potential technical issues due to mis-assembly or unsuitable cartridge properties, and neglecting maintenance intervals.
Innovation Solution
An air treatment device design that requires a coupling adapter for connection between the air treatment cartridge and the housing structure, featuring unique configurations and sealing elements to ensure correct assembly and prevent mis-assembly, utilizing a gap between the cartridge and housing structure components to necessitate the adapter's use, and employing screw thread configurations and protrusions/recesses for secure and customizable connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a direct screw connection is used between cartridge and housing, then assembly is simple and device complexity is reduced, but mis-assembly risk increases and application-specific correctness cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling adapter is introduced as an intermediary component between the air treatment cartridge and the housing structure. The adapter has a first connection portion that connects to the cartridge's connecting base portion and a second connection portion that connects to the housing's connecting neck portion. This intermediary component ensures proper matching and prevents mis-assembly while maintaining a relatively simple overall connection structure.
2Reliability
If a unique coupling adapter is used for each application, then assembly correctness is ensured and mis-assembly is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling adapter employs asymmetric design features including different screw thread configurations (first and second screw thread portions with potentially different metrics), unique protrusion-recess combinations, and application-specific geometric characteristics. These asymmetric features ensure that each adapter is uniquely suited to its intended application, preventing mis-assembly while the modular nature of the adapter keeps the overall complexity manageable.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standardized connections are used, then manufacturing is easier and adaptability increases, but the ability to prevent mis-assembly for different applications decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling adapter implements local quality by having different connection characteristics at different locations: the first connection portion (connecting to cartridge) has specific thread metrics, protrusions, and recesses tailored to the cartridge type, while the second connection portion (connecting to housing) has matching complementary features. This localized customization at each connection interface ensures both adaptability to specific applications and prevention of mis-assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention provides an air treatment device (100, 200, 300, 400, 600) for a vehicle, especially utility vehicle, the air treatment device (100, 200, 300, 400, 600) comprising: an air treatment cartridge (102) having a connecting base portion (108), a housing structure (104) having a connecting neck portion (110), and a coupling adapter (106) having a leading portion (112) configured to connect or be connected to the connecting base portion (108) and a trailing portion (114) configured to connect or be connected to the connecting neck portion (110), wherein the air treatment cartridge (102) and the housing structure (104) are connectable or connected to each other by means of the coupling adapter (106).