Air Filter Element With Segmented Chambers For Surface Area

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air filter elements in motor vehicles and machinery face challenges in achieving high filter performance and long service life due to limitations in filter surface area and structural design, which affect the efficiency of air filtration and pressure loss.

Innovation Solution

An air filter element with a support structure that has setbacks or indentations, allowing for a larger filter medium surface area and improved sealing, is designed to maximize filter performance by optimizing the arrangement of filter folds and supporting structure within the air filter housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If the filter medium is pleated or has multiple filter chambers to increase surface area, then the service life is extended, but the pressure drop increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidpressure drop
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The filter medium is divided into multiple filter chambers (first, second, and third filter chambers) with different depths. This segmentation allows air to flow through multiple paths simultaneously, increasing the effective filtration surface area while distributing the pressure drop across several chambers rather than one deep pleated section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the filter element have different filter chamber depths. The first filter chamber has a first depth, the second filter chamber has a second depth, and the third filter chamber has a third depth. This local variation optimizes the balance between filtration surface area and pressure drop by having shallower sections in areas where less filtration capacity is needed and deeper sections where maximum filtration is required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If the pleats are folded to the same depth forming a cuboid shape, then the structure is simplified, but the functional component does not occupy the entire installation space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidinstallation space utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element employs asymmetric pleat depths rather than uniform symmetric folding. The varying depths of the filter chambers create an irregular three-dimensional structure that allows the functional component to be positioned more effectively within the housing, utilizing otherwise wasted space and improving overall space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Productivity

If the filter surface area is increased to improve filtration performance, then the service life is extended, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration performanceVSAvoidfilter element complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter medium is segmented into multiple chambers of varying depths, which increases the effective filtration surface area without requiring a single complex deep pleated structure. This modular approach to increasing surface area makes the overall design more manageable and less complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing surface area by making pleats deeper in a single dimension, the invention varies the depth across multiple dimensions (first, second, and third filter chambers with different depths). This multi-dimensional approach increases filtration surface area while distributing structural complexity across several simpler, varied sections.

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

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 solution enhances air filtration efficiency and extends the service life of air filter elements by increasing the filter surface area and reducing pressure loss, while ensuring proper positioning and fixation within the air filter housing.

Implementation Method 1

The filter element consists of a filter medium, such as filter paper, through which the air to be filtered flows when the engine draws in air, so that the dirt particles are separated or separated from the flowing air in the filter medium.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2802404B1Air filter element and air filter
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 MANN HUMMEL GMBH
  • EP2802404B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2802404B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2802404B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5E

AI summary

Disclosed are an air filter element, a filter housing, and an air filter in which the air filter elements have a high filtering capacity and a long service life by increasing the filter surface of an air filter element taking into account structural requirements for the air filter housing.