Filter device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aspirational fire detection and air monitoring systems require frequent maintenance to prevent airflow fluctuations due to contamination and moisture, which is costly and labor-intensive, especially when using traditional blow-off methods that risk damaging sensitive detection units.

Innovation Solution

A filter component with a housing that includes a gas inlet and outlet, connected to a maintenance device for cleaning, allowing for the use of compressed air or vacuum for cleaning without the need for additional interfaces like 3-way ball valves, thereby simplifying maintenance and reducing components and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If traditional blow-off methods are used for maintenance, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but risk of damaging detection units increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoiddamage risk to detection units
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two separate pathways: a maintenance pathway for cleaning operations and a detection pathway for normal operation. The isolation valve enables selective closure of the detection unit connection during maintenance, segmenting the system to allow aggressive cleaning without exposing sensitive detectors to pressure pulses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The isolation valve acts as an intermediary component between the maintenance interface and the detection unit. It mediates the connection by allowing maintenance equipment to be attached to the housing while simultaneously protecting the detection unit through selective closure, thus enabling cleaning operations without direct exposure of detectors to harmful pressure pulses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of repair

If additional interfaces like 3-way ball valves are installed for maintenance, then maintenance capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance capabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The maintenance interface is merged directly into the housing structure of the air guiding component. Instead of requiring separate 3-way ball valves or additional interfaces, the housing itself incorporates a maintenance port that provides direct access to the internal chamber, eliminating the need for complex valve assemblies and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing serves multiple functions: it contains the air guiding component, provides structural support, and incorporates the maintenance interface directly. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated maintenance valves or separate access points, reducing the total number of components while maintaining full maintenance capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If frequent maintenance is performed to prevent airflow fluctuations, then airflow stability is improved, but installation and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow stabilityVSAvoidinstallation and maintenance costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The maintenance operations are extracted from the complex valve-based systems and simplified to direct access through the housing port. This extraction of the maintenance function from complex valve assemblies to a simple direct-access port reduces both installation complexity and maintenance costs while enabling frequent cleaning to maintain airflow stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables easy self-service maintenance through the directly accessible housing port. Maintenance personnel can perform cleaning operations without requiring complex valve manipulation or specialized equipment, reducing maintenance time and costs while allowing frequent servicing to prevent airflow fluctuations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3327689B1Filter device
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 WAGNER GROUP GMBH
  • EP3327689B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3327689B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3327689B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an air guiding component (1) for a pipe system, in particular for a pipe system for gaseous media that is preferably used in an aspirative fire detection and/or air monitoring system. The air guiding component (1) has a housing (7) with a gas inlet (12a) and a gas outlet (12b), wherein the gas inlet (12a) and the gas outlet (12b) are or can be connected in terms of flow to the pipe system to form one of the Gas inlet (12a) to the gas outlet (12b) running flow path inside the housing. Furthermore, a connection area with a connection (6) is provided for connecting the interior of the housing to a maintenance/cleaning device in terms of flow as required or optionally.