Air Filter Bypass Line for Snow Icing Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air filter devices for internal combustion engines are prone to clogging or icing up during heavy snowfall, leading to reduced air intake and potential engine failure.
Innovation Solution
An air supply assembly with a bypass line that directs heated, snow-free air from the intercooler to the engine, ensuring continuous air supply even if the filter insert is clogged or iced over, and a flap mechanism that activates the bypass line when negative pressure indicates filter clogging or icing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the air intake is located upstream of cooling devices to draw in the coldest possible air, then engine power is improved, but the air filter device becomes vulnerable to snow and ice clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is divided into two separate paths: a primary air intake path through the filter device for normal operation, and a secondary bypass path for emergency operation when the filter is clogged with snow or ice. This segmentation allows the system to maintain engine power while protecting against snow-related failures by providing an independent alternative air supply route.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass line changes the temperature parameter of the intake air by routing it through the charge air cooler, which heats the air using waste heat from the turbocharger. This parameter change transforms the cold, snow-prone air into warmer air that is less susceptible to freezing and clogging, thereby improving reliability while maintaining adequate engine power.
2Reliability
If a bypass line is added to provide emergency air supply, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass line is merged with the existing charge air cooler system, utilizing the cooler's housing and internal structures as part of the bypass path. This integration approach allows the bypass functionality to be added without requiring completely separate components, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge air cooler serves dual functions: its primary function of cooling charged air during normal operation, and its secondary function of heating bypass air during snow/ice conditions. This multi-functionality allows the same component to contribute to both normal performance and emergency reliability, reducing overall system complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the bypass line uses heated air from the charge air cooler, then protection against snow and ice is improved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waste heat from the turbocharger, which would otherwise be dissipated uselessly, is captured and utilized to heat the bypass air. This converts a harmful waste product (excess heat) into a beneficial resource that prevents snow and ice clogging in the bypass line, thereby protecting against harmful factors while actually improving overall energy efficiency by recovering wasted thermal energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers thermal energy that would otherwise be discarded from the charge air cooling process and uses it to preheat the bypass air. This recovery and reuse of thermal energy reduces the net energy loss, as the heat is not truly wasted but rather redirected to serve a protective function against snow and ice accumulation.
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
Ensures emergency operation of the internal combustion engine by providing a continuous air supply free from snow and ice, while preventing the bypass line from becoming clogged or icy, and maintaining high engine performance by using the coolest ambient air during normal operation.
Implementation Method 1
an end 42 of the bypass line 38 associated with the charge air cooler 14 is connected to an air outlet side 20 of the charge air cooler 14
Implementation Method 2
a filter insert which is received in the filter housing and divides the interior of the filter housing into a raw air section and a clean air section
Implementation Method 3
a flap mechanism that activates the bypass line when negative pressure indicates filter clogging or icing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to an air filter device (12) for a motor vehicle, provided with a filter housing (26) comprising an air inlet (28) and an air outlet (30), a filter insert (32) which is received in the filter housing (26) and divides the inside of the filter housing (26) into an untreated air section (34) and a pure air section (36), and a bypass line (38) for supplying air into the untreated air section (34), the bypass line (38) extending from a connection opening (40) in the filter housing (26) to a cooler, especially a charge air cooler (14) of the motor vehicle.