Air Filter Pulling Elements for Dust-Free Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air filters are difficult to remove from furnace housings due to limited user access, leading to frustration and potential dust contamination during removal.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating one or more pulling elements, such as flaps, threads, split pins, or loops, directly attached to the air filter frame to facilitate easy extraction without dislodging dust.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air filter is tightly held in the housing to facilitate strong air flow, then filtration performance is improved, but ease of removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air filter is divided into two functional segments: a filter body that remains tightly secured in the housing for effective filtration, and a separate pulling element (such as a loop, flap, or handle) that extends outward to provide easy grip and removal. This segmentation allows the filter to maintain strong housing engagement while providing a convenient removal mechanism through the external pulling element.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulling element acts as an intermediary between the user and the air filter. Instead of directly gripping the filter body (which is difficult due to limited access), the user interacts with the pulling element (loop, flap, or handle) that extends outward, providing a mediator that facilitates easy removal while the filter body remains tightly held in the housing for effective air flow.
2Reliability
If the air filter is tightly held in the housing to facilitate strong air flow, then filtration performance is improved, but dust contamination during removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the air filter into a securely held filter body and an external pulling element, the design allows the filter to remain tightly secured during operation (maintaining filtration performance) while providing a controlled removal mechanism that minimizes dust disturbance. The pulling element enables gentle extraction without requiring forceful manipulation of the filter body.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulling element serves as an intermediary that enables dust-free removal. Users interact with the external pulling element (loop, flap, or handle) rather than directly manipulating the filter body, allowing for controlled and gentle extraction that minimizes dust contamination while the filter body remains tightly held during normal operation.
3Device complexity
If conventional air filters are used without pulling elements, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air filter is segmented into a simple filter body and a separate pulling element. This segmentation adds minimal complexity while dramatically improving ease of operation. The pulling element (loop, flap, or handle) provides an easy grip point for removal, while the filter body maintains its simple structure for effective filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulling element acts as a simple intermediary component that greatly enhances ease of operation. Instead of requiring complex handling mechanisms, a simple pulling element (loop, flap, or handle) extends outward to provide easy grip and removal, adding minimal complexity while solving the difficult removal problem.
Data Source
AI summary
An air filter includes a filter frame, a filter cloth, a plurality of wires, and one or more pulling elements directly attached to a surface of the filter frame. The air filter is characterized by an installed condition in which a majority portion of the air filter is disposed in a housing and an uninstalled condition in which another majority portion of the air filter is out of the housing. The one or more pulling elements facilitate a user's pulling the air filter out of the housing. The one or more pulling elements comprises a flap, a recess region, a thread, a split pin type pulling element, a patch, a loop, a letter L-shape dual hook tool, and a tool with a self lock tool. An other air filter is wider than a housing. A first member of a filter frame of the other air filter serves as a handle for a user to pull.