Vehicle Ambient Air Filter Mounting With Pleated Stud Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ambient air filter devices for vehicles are not compact or easily mountable in the front area, and they often require hard plastic parts that can lead to a downgrade in insurance classification.
Innovation Solution
A compact ambient air filter device with a spacer element and a filter element featuring a comb-like structure and pleated filter medium, where the spacer element has studs for secure mounting and a foam sealing for proper positioning and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a separate filter frame is used in the front area, then the filter device is structurally stable, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is directly mounted on the spacer element that is already positioned in front of the cooler, eliminating the need for a separate filter frame. The studs on the spacer element serve dual purposes: securing the spacer to the cooler and securing the filter element to the spacer, thus merging multiple functions into a single integrated structure.
2Strength
If hard plastic parts are used in front of the cooling fins, then the filter device is durable, but the insurance classification of the vehicle is downgraded
Solution Approach 1:
The material properties of the filter element are changed from hard plastic to soft foam material. This parameter change allows the filter to maintain durability while avoiding the negative insurance classification associated with hard plastic parts in the front area of vehicles.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for mounting, then the filter device is reliable, but the ease of operation and installation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into studs that are pre-integrated on the spacer element. These studs allow the filter element to be independently mounted onto the spacer in a simple snap-fit or insert manner, separating the mounting function from the filter function and enabling easy installation without complex assembly steps.
4Device complexity
If the filter element is not properly secured, then the device complexity is reduced, but the filter element may move or become dislodged during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The studs are pre-positioned and integrated on the spacer element before the filter element is installed. This preliminary arrangement of mounting features ensures that when the filter element is placed on the spacer, it is automatically and securely positioned without requiring additional alignment or securing steps, thus maintaining both simplicity and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An ambient air filter device (100) for arrangement in a front area of a vehicle includes a spacer element (30) for being mounted to a cooler of the vehicle, and a filter element (10) arranged on the spacer element (30) and including a comb-like structure, the filter element (10) further including an air inlet side (32) and an air outlet side (34) for air flowing therethrough in a through-flow direction (60). The spacer element (30) includes a plurality of studs (40) on a top side (28), the plurality of studs (40) for inserting into the filter element (10) along an insertion direction (50). The filter element (10) further includes a filter medium body (12) including a pleated filter medium (14), the pleated filter medium (14) including a plurality of pleats (16) arranged parallel to the plurality of studs (40). The plurality of studs (40) are inserted between adjacent ones of the plurality of pleats (16).