Annular Filter Element With Guide Vanes For Particle Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter devices for internal combustion engines do not effectively separate dirt particles from combustion air before it flows through the filter medium, leading to inefficiencies in air filtration.

Innovation Solution

A filter device with an annular filter medium body and guide vanes that impart a twist to the fluid flow, causing dirt particles to separate on the inner surface of the housing wall, combined with a filter housing design that includes an inlet channel with varying cross-sectional areas to enhance flow deflection and separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If guide vanes are added to the filter element to separate dirt particles, then filtration efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide vanes are integrated directly into the end plate structure of the filter element, merging the flow guidance function with the structural support function. This eliminates the need for separate guide vane components and reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the particle separation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide vanes are positioned to deflect and accelerate the gas stream before it reaches the filter medium body, performing preliminary separation of coarse contaminants. This pre-separation reduces the loading on the main filter medium, improving overall filtration efficiency without requiring additional filtration stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If the filter element is designed with an annular closed structure, then flow resistance is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The annular filter medium body is segmented into a modular structure with distinct end plates and a central filtering section. This segmentation allows for independent manufacturing and assembly of components, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining the low flow resistance characteristics of the closed annular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The end plates are designed with varying thickness and structural properties at different locations - thicker at mounting points for structural integrity and thinner at flow areas to minimize resistance. This local variation in quality optimizes both flow characteristics and manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively separates dirt particles from the combustion air, improving the filtration efficiency and allowing for a more compact installation design while maintaining low resistance to airflow.

Implementation Method 1

Adjacent to an end plate on one end face of the filter medium body, a plurality of guide vanes are arranged, which extend radially beyond the outer contour of the end plate in the direction of the longitudinal axis and protrude into a flow path that is arranged upstream of the inflow side of the filter medium body. The fluid flows against the guide vanes and influences the fluid flow. This flow is imparted, in particular, with a swirl, which promotes the separation of dirt particles entrained in the fluid.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

The fluid to be cleaned flows through the annular filter medium body of the filter element in a radial direction, particularly radially from the outside to the inside, so that the outside of the filter medium body forms the inflow or dirty side, and the inside forms the clean side.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3743190B1Filter element, in particular for gas filtration
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 MANN HUMMEL GMBH
  • EP3743190B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3743190B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3743190B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a filter element having an annular filter medium body, wherein a plurality of guide vanes, which extend radially beyond the outer contour of the end disk, are arranged on the filter element adjacent to an end disk on the filter medium body.