Asymmetric Profiled Wire Filter Prevents Filament Jamming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filters with profiled wires are unsuitable for removing filamentary impurities due to wedge effects during backwashing, as the impurities get jammed between the wires, and previous solutions either allow impurities to pass through or are inefficient in cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A filter design featuring longitudinally running supporting wires with profiled wires having side flanks connected via a weld foot and head part, where the distance between the flanks increases towards the weld foot, creating a protruding portion that connects with the supporting wire, forming square filtering openings with adjustable gap widths to prevent jamming and enhance filtration efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If profiled wires with constant width are used to form filtering openings, then the filter structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but filamentary impurities get jammed between the wires during backwashing due to wedge effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidease of cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The profiled wire is designed with asymmetric geometry: one side has a constant width while the other side has an increasing width towards the weld foot, forming a ramp-like structure. This asymmetric design prevents the wedge effect during backwashing by allowing impurities to slide off the ramp surface rather than getting jammed, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a single wire profile design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Manufacturing precision

If the gap width between profiled wires is reduced to capture smaller impurities, then filtration precision is improved, but filamentary impurities become more difficult to remove during backwashing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration precisionVSAvoidease of cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The asymmetric profiled wire design with ramp-like increasing width on one side creates a self-cleaning effect. Even with small gap widths (10-500 microns) for high filtration precision, the ramp surface prevents impurity jamming by providing a smooth sliding path during backwashing, allowing easy removal of captured impurities regardless of opening size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Stability of the object's composition

If profiled wires are connected with weld foot to longitudinal bars, then the filter element structure is stable, but weld upset forms and partially closes off the filtering openings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidfiltering opening area
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The asymmetric design concentrates the weld connection at the narrow weld foot end of the profiled wire, where the increasing width profile begins. This positioning ensures that weld upset is confined to a minimal area that does not significantly block the filtering openings, maintaining both structural stability and open filtration passages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The profiled wire design applies different geometric properties at different locations: the weld foot area has a compact geometry for stable connection, while the main body has the increasing width ramp profile for preventing impurity jamming. This local differentiation optimizes both welding stability and filtration performance.

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

Enables effective filtration of filamentary impurities with lengths between 10 microns and 10 mm by preventing wedge effects and maintaining open filtering openings, allowing for precise control of gap sizes to capture a wide range of impurities while ensuring easy cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

the openings between the profiled wires will become larger in the direction of the weld foot of the profiled wires, and the jammed (filtered-out) threads cannot be removed in the course of the cleaning (backwashing) due to the wedge effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWedge effect: Wedge

Implementation Method 2

the distance between the said side flanks of the said supporting and profiled wires becomes larger in the direction of the weld foot, which is formed of at least one protruding portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometric structure: Geometry

Data Source

PatentEP3209405B1Liquid or gas filter suitable for removing filamentary impurities
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 UNISLOT
  • EP3209405B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3209405B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7
  • EP3209405B1 patent drawingFigure 8

AI summary

This invention relates to a liquid or gas filter (1) suitable for removing filamentary impurities from liquids or gases, comprising a number of longitudinally running supporting wires (7) on which a profiled wire (2) is welded, and wherein filtering openings (8) are provided between one or more mutually adjacent profiled wires (2), the said supporting wires (7) and profiled wires (2) each comprising two side flanks (3,4), which at a first end are connected to each other via a weld foot and at a second end are connected to each other via a head part (5) situated opposite the weld foot, wherein the distance between the said side flanks becomes larger in the direction of the weld foot, wherein the weld foot comprises at least one protruding portion (6), and wherein the protruding portion (6) of the profiled wire (2) is connected to the protruding portion of the supporting wire (7).