Layered Air Filter Layout for Unobstructed High-Pressure Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air filters, such as oil-water separators, suffer from obstructed airflow due to small air inlets and outlets, affecting airflow pressure and filtration efficiency, particularly in applications like automobile painting where high-pressure air is required.

Innovation Solution

The air filter design includes a centrifugal separation assembly with a centrifugal mounting portion and filtration assemblies featuring '7'-shaped import pipe fittings, filtration shells, and filtration apparatuses with annular air guide channels, allowing for unobstructed airflow and layered filtration, along with a pressure-regulating assembly to manage airflow pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the air inlet and air outlet are disposed in a compact arrangement around the connecting screw, then the mounting head structure is compact, but the airflow channel becomes obstructed and filtration efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting head structureVSAvoidfiltration efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a planar arrangement of air inlet and outlet to a three-dimensional spatial configuration. The air inlet is positioned at the bottom of the mounting head while the air outlet extends laterally along the side surface, creating a spatial separation that avoids obstruction while maintaining compact overall dimensions. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction between structural compactness and airflow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The air inlet channel and air outlet channel are nested within the mounting head body structure rather than being external additions. The channels are integrated into the mounting head's internal geometry, with the air inlet channel extending from the bottom interior and the air outlet channel forming a lateral passage. This nesting approach maintains compact external dimensions while providing unobstructed internal airflow paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Area of stationary object

If the air outlet size is reduced to fit within the base dimensions, then the mounting head remains compact, but the airflow pressure and filtration effect deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting head base sizeVSAvoidairflow pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The air outlet channel is designed with a curved lateral extension rather than a straight linear path. This curved configuration allows the air outlet to extend further from the mounting head in a space-efficient manner, increasing the effective outlet area without proportionally increasing the bounding box dimensions. The curvature enables better airflow expansion while maintaining a compact overall footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If the air inlet is positioned in the middle surrounding the connecting screw, then the mounting structure is simplified, but the airflow circulation becomes obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting structureVSAvoidairflow circulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The air inlet is extracted from the traditional middle position surrounding the connecting screw and relocated to the bottom of the mounting head. This extraction allows the air inlet channel to be positioned independently of the screw connection area, eliminating the obstruction caused by the screw head blocking the airflow path. The connecting screw remains in its functional position while the air inlet operates from an unobstructed bottom location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 ensures unobstructed airflow channels, enhances filtration efficiency by layering filtration stages, and allows for adjustable airflow pressure, resulting in improved filtration performance and extended filter life.

Implementation Method 1

a centrifugal separation assembly, wherein the centrifugal separation assembly is removably connected with the centrifugal mounting portion, and the centrifugal separation assembly is used for separating a solid and liquid in an airflow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of filtration assemblies, wherein the plurality of filtration assemblies include '7'-shaped import pipe fittings, filtration shells and filtration apparatuses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4686503A1Air filter
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 ZHEJIANG NAN PU PNEUMATIC COMPONENT CO LTD
  • EP4686503A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4686503A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4686503A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air filter includes a mounting head, a centrifugal separation assembly and a plurality of filtration assemblies. The mounting head is provided with a centrifugal mounting portion and a plurality of filtration mounting portions. The centrifugal separation assembly is removably connected with the centrifugal mounting portion. The centrifugal separation assembly is used for separating a solid and liquid in an airflow. The plurality of filtration assemblies include "7"-shaped import pipe fittings, filtration shells and filtration apparatuses, the filtration shells are provided with filtration cavities and openings connected with the filtration cavities, the filtration shells are connected with the filtration mounting portions, the filtration apparatuses are disposed in the filtration cavities, inner walls of the import pipe fittings are defined to form import channels, first ends of the import pipe fittings are connected with the filtration mounting portions.