Air Cleaner Filter Cartridge with Axial Pivot and Coiled Media
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air cleaners for engines face challenges in effectively filtering particulate contaminants from intake air due to issues with sealant surface areas and volumes at flute ends, which affect the quality of seals and overall operation.
Innovation Solution
The use of a z-filter media pack with a regular, curved wave pattern corrugation and a coiled configuration, along with a serviceable filter cartridge design featuring an outlet end perimeter band, grid arrangement, and axial pivot mechanism, facilitates improved sealing and ease of installation and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional filter media configurations are used, then the air cleaner can filter contaminants, but the sealant surface area at flute ends is insufficient resulting in poor sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The filter media is configured with a coiled, curved wave pattern instead of straight flutes. This curved configuration increases the surface area available for sealant application at the flute ends, improving sealing quality while maintaining the filtration function.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter media transitions from a two-dimensional flat configuration to a three-dimensional coiled structure. This dimensional change increases the effective surface area and provides additional sealing surface at the flute ends, resolving the sealing quality issue.
2Reliability
If a complex filter cartridge design is used to improve sealing, then sealing efficiency increases, but installation and replacement become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The filter cartridge is designed as a separate, removable component that can be easily extracted from the air cleaner housing. This segmentation allows the filter media with its coiled configuration to maintain sealing efficiency while enabling simple installation and replacement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter cartridge includes integrated features such as handles and alignment guides that enable users to perform installation and replacement operations independently without complex tools or procedures, maintaining ease of operation while preserving sealing efficiency.
3Ease of repair
If filter media is made serviceable for easy replacement, then maintenance ease improves, but the sealing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing features are integrated directly into the filter media structure itself, combining the filtration function with the sealing function in a single component. This merging eliminates the need for separate sealing mechanisms, maintaining ease of maintenance while reducing overall device complexity.
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
This configuration enhances the sealing efficiency of the z-filter media, ensuring effective filtration and simplifying maintenance by allowing for easy insertion and removal of the filter cartridge, thereby improving the performance and usability of air cleaners for diesel-powered systems.
Implementation Method 1
The techniques can be used together, for example as shown in the embodiments. However, it is not necessary for arrangements to utilize all of the techniques characterized herein, to obtain advantage from the present teachings.
Data Source
AI summary
Principles, techniques and configurations applicable in air cleaner arrangements and filter cartridges therefore, are described. In general the filter cartridge includes an axial pivot arrangement, for pivoting the filter cartridge in place, when mounted in an air cleaner for use. The air cleaner preferably includes a base pivot, for engagement with the pivot projection on the filter cartridge. Methods of assembly, installation and use are described.