Air Filter Cartridge Stiffness via Clamped Connection Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air filters for internal combustion engines face issues with deformation and vibration due to pressure differences, leading to noise and instability, particularly in compact, panel-like cartridges with low thickness and wide surfaces, which existing solutions do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The air filter design incorporates a panel-like filtering cartridge with a reinforcing net and a connection element that is clamped between a support element of the housing and an abutment portion of the lid, creating a non-peripheral constraint to increase stiffness and stability, reducing deformations and vibrations, and includes a fin to improve air flow distribution and reduce pressure drops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the filtering cartridge is made with low thickness and wide surface to achieve compact size, then the cartridge meets size requirements, but the cartridge undergoes important deformations and vibrations due to pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin diaphragm (film) as a support element integrated into the housing, which provides structural support to the filtering cartridge while maintaining compact dimensions. The diaphragm extends into the housing and creates a rigid support structure that prevents deformations and vibrations of the panel-like cartridge during operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a stiffening net is added to the filtering cartridge to reduce deformations, then cartridge stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the support function with the housing structure by integrating a support element (diaphragm) directly into the housing. This eliminates the need for separate stiffening nets or grids on the cartridge, as the housing itself provides the rigid support, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the housing and lid are made rigid to support the filtering cartridge, then cartridge stability improves, but vibrations and noise of the housing and lid increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin diaphragm (film) as a support element that is integrated into the housing. This thin film structure provides necessary support to the filtering cartridge while having minimal mass, thereby reducing vibrations and noise emissions from the housing and lid compared to using thick rigid structures.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the filtering cartridge is clamped tightly to reduce vibrations, then cartridge stability improves, but pressure drops downstream increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thin diaphragm support element provides structural support without creating significant flow resistance. Unlike rigid clamping structures that may obstruct airflow, the thin film diaphragm supports the cartridge while allowing optimal air flow through the filter, thus minimizing pressure drops.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
Air filter (10) for I.C. engines, comprising a housing (11), a lid (20) and a filtering cartridge (30). The filtering cartridge (30) comprises a first portion (31a) of pack of filtering material (31), a second portion (31b) of pack of filtering material (31) and a connection element (35) configured for being sealingly connected to the first portion (31a) and the second portion (31b) of the pack of filtering material (31). The housing (11) comprises a support element (15) and the lid (20) comprises an abutment portion (22). The connection element (35) comprises a portion (136; 236; 336; 436) clamped between the support element (15) of the housing (11) and the abutment portion (22) of the lid (20).