Annular Filter Element Support Collar Axial Force Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter devices with annular filter elements face challenges in maintaining long-term tightness between the dirty and clean sides, particularly due to axial forces and sealing issues during operation.
Innovation Solution
A filter device with an annularly closed filter element featuring a central tube and a support collar, where the support collar is partially covered by a sealing element, decouples axial support from radial sealing, ensuring that axial forces are transmitted through the support surface while the sealing surface remains free of axial forces, thus minimizing wear and maintaining tightness over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the support collar is integrated with the central tube and protrudes axially beyond the filter medium body, then axial forces are effectively transmitted and sealing is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support collar is merged with the central tube to form an integrated support structure. This combination allows the central tube to simultaneously provide structural support and transmit axial forces through the support collar to the housing, while the sealing element integrated on the support collar provides sealing without requiring separate components. This merging resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable tightness through integration while managing complexity through functional consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated support collar serves multiple functions: it provides axial support by transmitting forces to the housing, provides sealing surfaces for the sealing element, and structurally connects the central tube to the housing. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address multiple requirements (support, sealing, connection), thereby improving reliability while keeping the overall structure manageable.
2Force
If the sealing surface is subjected to axial forces, then the sealing force is sufficient, but the wear increases over time compromising long-term tightness
Solution Approach 1:
The support collar is segmented into distinct functional zones: a support surface area that receives axial forces from the housing, and a sealing surface area that remains free of axial forces. The sealing element is positioned on the support collar such that axial forces are transmitted through the support surface to the housing, while the sealing surface only experiences radial sealing forces. This segmentation prevents wear on the sealing surface while maintaining sufficient sealing force, thereby ensuring long-term tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The support collar acts as an intermediary component between the housing and the sealing element. It receives axial forces from the housing on its support surface and transmits these forces to the central tube, while its sealing surface provides a force-free interface for the sealing element. This intermediary function decouples the axial support function from the radial sealing function, preventing wear on the sealing surface while maintaining effective sealing.
3Device complexity
If the support collar is separate from the end disk, then the axial support is simplified, but the sealing reliability between dirty and clean sides deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support collar is merged with the central tube to form an integrated support structure, while the end disk remains separate. This integration ensures that axial forces are reliably transmitted from the housing through the support collar to the central tube, and the sealing element on the support collar provides reliable sealing between the dirty and clean sides. The merging of the support collar with the central tube maintains sealing reliability while keeping the axial support structure relatively simple.
Data Source
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AI summary
An annular filter element having a filter medium body and a central tube on the inner side of the filter medium body has a support collar which supports a sealing element and is connected to the central tube. The support collar is integral with the central tube. An end face of the support collar forms a support surface and a radial lateral face forms a sealing surface for a housing component.