Air Filter Assembly with Angular Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air filter assembly systems face challenges in limited installation space, accessibility, and maintenance in mobile applications, particularly in trucks and construction equipment, due to rigid mounting requirements and lack of versatile angular and rotational adjustments, which complicates filter replacement and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The air filter assembly system features a housing with abutting cylindrical halves, a primary filter pack with a rigid end cap, a safety filter, and a filter attachment base with T-shaped appendages and a locking mechanism, allowing for angular and rotational adjustments, easy installation, and tool-less removal, along with radial sealing surfaces for secure attachment and easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid mounting system is used for the air filter assembly, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to different mounting positions and angles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates adjustable components that allow the air filter assembly to be positioned at multiple angles and orientations. The housing includes features such as adjustable mounting brackets and repositionable filter elements that can be rotated or reoriented to accommodate different installation spaces while maintaining secure attachment through locking mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the housing structure is made complex to provide angular adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into separable components including the main housing body, removable end caps, and detachable mounting brackets. This segmentation allows each component to be independently adjusted or replaced, providing angular adjustment capability while keeping individual parts simple in design and easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing design incorporates multi-functional features such as standardized mounting interfaces that can accommodate various positions, integrated sealing elements that serve both sealing and positioning functions, and universal attachment points that work with different filter configurations, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the filter assembly is designed for easy access and replacement, then ease of operation is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly incorporates quick-release mechanisms such as spring-loaded latches, snap-fit connections, and removable mounting brackets that allow the filter element to be easily accessed and replaced while maintaining secure attachment during operation through robust locking features.
Data Source
AI summary
An air filter assembly including abutting, cylindrical housing halves, with toothed outer ends, joined via spaced, T-shaped appendages; a cylindrical air inlet of abutting semi-cylindrical housing inlet portions; a primary filter pack, for slip-fit insertion into either housing half, having an end cap integral with a cylindrical primary filter pack having sealing material on its inner end; a filter outlet end with a toothed peripheral portion, for slip-fit insertion into and angular adjustment relative to either housing end, and a plurality of ribs defining locating surfaces for an air outlet portion, and main and safety filters; the latter having a truncated cone body and an inverted conical portion; and a filter attachment base having curved bed portions, for receiving a housing periphery portion, including spaced support pads and slot portions for angularly adjustably receiving like numbers of T-shaped appendages, with a locking mechanism joining the housing and attachment base.