Air Filter Suction Fan with Guide Vane and Chimney Casing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air filtration devices suffer from insufficient air throughput and contamination risks when filters are unscrewed, due to inadequate design and noise issues from impeller interactions with diffuser ribs.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a guide vane, impeller with conical lateral surface and curved blades, a chimney-shaped casing, and a dust flap mechanism with magnetic and Hall element safety features to ensure correct filter installation and prevent contamination, along with a cylindrical filter housing for enhanced suction capacity and space efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional suction fan with impeller and diffuser ribs is used, then the device structure is simple, but the air throughput is insufficient and noise is generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair throughputVSAvoidfan structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fan assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: guide vane with angled blades for pre-swirling air flow, impeller with curved blades for pressure generation, and chimney-shaped casing for flow direction. Each segment performs a specific aerodynamic function to collectively achieve high throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The impeller blades are designed with curved geometry rather than straight edges, and the chimney-shaped casing features smooth curved transitions. These curved surfaces optimize air flow patterns, reduce turbulence, and minimize noise while maximizing air throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of repair

If filters are made removable for maintenance, then ease of maintenance is improved, but contamination risk increases when filters are unscrewed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter maintenance easeVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dust flap is positioned to close the inlet opening before any filter removal can occur. This preliminary protective action prevents contaminated air from entering the housing during filter maintenance, addressing the contamination risk before it can manifest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The dust flap acts as an intermediary protective element between the external contaminated environment and the internal clean housing space. It provides a mechanical barrier that can be actuated independently of filter removal operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a dust flap is added to prevent contamination, then contamination protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination protectionVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dust flap is merged with the existing inlet opening structure of the housing. The flap utilizes the same mounting locations and structural interfaces already present in the design, adding protective functionality without requiring separate complex mechanisms or additional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 significantly increases air throughput to 800 l/min, prevents contamination by ensuring correct filter installation, and reduces noise, while maintaining a compact design.

Implementation Method 1

The guide vane 29 has a circular-cylindrical lateral surface 32 with angled vane blades 33 formed thereon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow direction control:

Implementation Method 2

The impeller 30 is designed with a conical lateral surface 35 and arcuate impeller blades 36 formed thereon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

a chimney-shaped casing 25 with a rosette-like outlet 26

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 4

If the flap is provided with a magnet and a Hall element is provided on the filter housing, which can be switched by the magnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Hall Effect

Implementation Method 5

The flap is advantageously provided with a spring-elastic closure means in order to press the flap against the inlet opening of the housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2694163B1Device for cleaning contaminated air
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 TB SAFETY AG
  • EP2694163B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2694163B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP2694163B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for filtering contaminated air, comprising an air filter, an intake fan (27) driven by an electric motor (28), a filter housing (2), to which the air filter can be fastened by means of a threaded connection, and a battery (18) for driving the electric motor, characterized in that the intake fan (27) has a guide blade (29) and an impeller (30), and the intake fan (27) is arranged in a chimney-shaped shell (25) on the filter housing (2).