Air Filter Element With Circumferential Seal And Perforated Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air filters for internal combustion engines face challenges in optimizing flow behavior and achieving good sealing, leading to inefficiencies in pressure loss and potential signal drift in air mass sensors due to uneven dust distribution.

Innovation Solution

The air filter design incorporates a circumferential seal and a partially transparent, perforated plate component to ensure even air flow distribution and reduce pressure loss, with a sealing foam that allows for additional space utilization in the filter housing, and a frame supporting the filter surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a seal is provided on the filter element, then sealing performance is improved, but pressure loss increases due to reduced flow cross-section

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the seal from a traditional position that blocks the flow cross-section to a circumferential seal at the outer edges of the filter element. This dimensional repositioning allows the seal to contact the housing parts at the periphery, leaving the central flow area open and maintaining pressure loss reduction while achieving reliable sealing.

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

2Productivity

If filter area is increased to improve filtering capacity, then dust distribution becomes uneven, but this causes signal drift in air mass sensors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering capacityVSAvoidair mass sensor accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a semi-permeable component selectively covering specific areas of the filter element - particularly the inflow and outflow sides - while leaving other areas open. This local application creates preferential flow paths that distribute dust evenly across the entire filter surface, preventing localized dust accumulation that would cause sensor drift, while still maintaining high overall filtering capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If filter element is designed to fit complex geometries, then space utilization is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidfilter element geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the filter element into functional segments: a frame structure providing the basic geometry, a filter medium for filtering, and a semi-permeable component for flow distribution. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using standard processes, then assembled to create the final complex geometry, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while achieving good space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design achieves optimized flow behavior and reduced pressure loss, preventing signal drift in air mass sensors even when the filter is loaded with dust, by ensuring uniform dust distribution and minimizing additional space requirements.

Implementation Method 1

The filter insert is at least partially covered on the inflow and/or outflow side with a semi-permeable component, which causes at least a partial equalization of the pressure distribution in the airflow.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure equalization through semi-permeable membrane: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

The semi-permeable component consists of a perforated sheet. The invention achieves a uniform distribution of the airflow into and out of the air filter by partially covering the filter element.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration through perforated structure: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

a circumferential seal is advantageously provided on one side of the filter element at the outer edges, with which the filter element rests against housing parts of a filter housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical sealing: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP1733778B1Air filter
Publication Date: 2012.06.06 MANN HUMMEL GMBH
  • EP1733778B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a filter element for an air filter, comprising at least one filter insert (2;4;11) and a seal (3;7) circumferentially surrounding the outer edges of the filter insert (2;4;11) on one side, with which the filter element (2;4;11) abuts housing parts (5,6) of a filter housing, wherein the filter insert (2;4;11) is designed such that the installation space on one side of the filter element can be opened or closed with minimal pressure loss. The filter insert (11) can be at least partially covered on the inflow and/or outflow side by a partially permeable component (12), which causes at least partial equalization of the pressure distribution in the airflow.Furthermore, the filter element can be mounted in the filter housing via a circumferential seal (7) such that the seal (7) is located on the outside in a receptacle (8) of the lower housing part (5) and can be acted upon by the upper housing part (6) in a sealing manner such that the seal (7) is essentially flush with the surface of the filter insert (4).