Air Cleaner With Inclined Element Bottom For Reduced Flow Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air cleaners for straddle-type vehicles face challenges in efficiently separating water and mud from induced air, increasing air flow resistance, and requiring large cleaner cases to accommodate cleaner elements with sufficient filtration area, while also complicating the process of changing the cleaner elements.
Innovation Solution
An air cleaner design featuring a cleaner case with a bottom wall and circumferential side wall, a support wall inside the cleaner case, and a cylindrical cleaner element with an inclined bottom, allowing air to flow smoothly and uniformly over the cleaner element, eliminating the need for a large cleaner case and simplifying element replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the support wall is formed in a fixed height to minimize the vertical dimension, then the cleaner case volume is reduced, but the filtration area of the cleaner element is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner element transitions from a conventional flat configuration to a three-dimensional honeycomb structure. This dimensional change allows the filter media to be arranged in multiple layers along the height direction, effectively increasing the total filtration area within the same vertical space. The honeycomb configuration enables air to flow through multiple filtering surfaces simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between compact height and sufficient filtration area.
Solution Approach 2:
The honeycomb structure consists of multiple filtering layers nested within each other in a compact arrangement. Each hexagonal cell contains filter material, and these cells are stacked and arranged to maximize the use of available space. This nested configuration allows the cleaner element to achieve large filtration area while maintaining a compact overall dimension, directly addressing the technical contradiction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the deflecting wall sharply changes the flowing direction of induced air upward, then water and mud are separated from air, but air flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deflecting wall is designed with a curved surface instead of a sharp angular structure. This curvature allows the air flow to change direction gradually and smoothly, reducing turbulence and flow resistance. The curved geometry maintains the water-mud separation function while minimizing energy loss, as the airflow follows the contour of the curved surface rather than being abruptly redirected.
Solution Approach 2:
The angle and orientation of the deflecting wall are optimized to create an gradual transition zone for airflow. By adjusting the geometric parameters of the deflecting wall, the design achieves effective separation of water and mud while controlling the airflow resistance. The parameter optimization allows the airflow to be redirected upward without excessive pressure loss, resolving the contradiction between separation efficiency and flow resistance.
3Productivity
If the cleaner case is made large to accommodate a cleaner element with large filtration area, then the filtration capacity is improved, but the device complexity and space requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The honeycomb structure utilizes the vertical dimension efficiently by stacking multiple filtering layers. This allows the filtration capacity to be increased without proportionally increasing the horizontal footprint or overall volume of the cleaner case. The three-dimensional arrangement of filter media maximizes the filtration area within a compact volume, resolving the contradiction between filtration capacity and case size.
Solution Approach 2:
The honeycomb configuration creates an asymmetric, space-efficient packing arrangement of filter media. The hexagonal cells are optimized to fit together in a compact pattern that minimizes empty space while maximizing filtration surface area. This asymmetric structure allows high filtration capacity within a smaller case volume compared to conventional symmetric arrangements.
4Length of stationary object
If the support wall is formed at the lowest possible height to minimize vertical dimension, then the cleaner case is compact, but the cleaner element cannot be easily removed for replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner element is designed as a separable component that can be independently removed from the cleaner case. The honeycomb structure is configured as a discrete module that interfaces with the support wall in a way that allows for easy insertion and removal. This segmentation enables maintenance operations without requiring disassembly of the entire cleaner case, resolving the contradiction between compact design and ease of replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The support wall and cleaner element interface is designed to allow dynamic insertion and removal of the filter element. The geometric configuration enables the cleaner element to be easily positioned onto or removed from the support wall structure, facilitating maintenance while maintaining a compact overall design. This dynamic interface resolves the contradiction between minimal vertical dimension and ease of operation.
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
The design effectively separates water and mud from the air, reduces air flow resistance, allows for a larger filtration area within a smaller case, and facilitates easy replacement of cleaner elements by eliminating the need for a decorative cover.
Implementation Method 1
The support wall separates water and mud from the induced air
Implementation Method 2
A bottom of the cleaner element is inclined at an angle to the bottom wall of the cleaner case so that a distance between the bottom wall of the cleaner case and the bottom of the cleaner element increases from a side opposite to the air inlet toward an air inlet side
Data Source
AI summary
The present air cleaner includes: a cleaner case having a bottom wall, a circumferential side wall provided with an air inlet in its lower part, and a support wall formed on the bottom wall inside the circumferential side wall; and a cylindrical cleaner element supported on an upper end portion of the support wall. An air chamber is defined by the cleaner case, the support wall, and the cleaner element so as to surround the cleaner element and the support wall. A bottom of the cleaner element is inclined at an angle to the bottom wall of the cleaner case so that a distance between the bottom wall of the cleaner case and the bottom of the cleaner element increases from a side opposite to the air inlet toward an air inlet side.