Baffle Plate Filtering System for Machinery Air Intake

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air filters used in machinery to prevent particulates, contaminants, and grease from entering internal components through cooling air are prone to fouling and require frequent maintenance, leading to downtime and reduced service life.

Innovation Solution

A baffle plate filtering system is secured to the external housing wall of machinery, using angled deflector members and tab structures to deflect and trap particulates, allowing clean air to pass through and cool internal components while preventing contaminants from entering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional air filters (mesh screens, paper or fabric filters) are used to prevent particulates and contaminants from entering internal components, then the internal components are protected from contamination, but the filters get fouled or clogged quickly requiring frequent maintenance and replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of internal components from contaminationVSAvoiddowntime for filter maintenance and replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful particulates and contaminants are extracted from the cooling air stream by causing them to impinge on and adhere to the baffle plate surface, separating them from the clean air that continues to flow into the equipment interior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The baffle plate serves as an intermediary surface between the contaminated ambient air and the clean air intake, capturing contaminants on its exterior surface while allowing clean air to pass through openings to the interior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional air filters are installed to filter cooling air, then particulates and contaminants are removed from the air stream, but the filters require frequent cleaning or replacement by maintenance personnel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair filtration effectivenessVSAvoidmaintenance frequency and operational convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle plate performs self-cleaning by allowing accumulated contaminants to be washed off by rain or hose-down operations, eliminating the need for manual maintenance intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The baffle plate is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily replaced if needed, but more commonly requires no replacement as contaminants are naturally washed away by weather or cleaning operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If the baffle plate is positioned to effectively block and filter contaminants, then clean air intake is ensured, but the baffle plate may interfere with air flow to the induction fan

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant filtrationVSAvoidcooling air flow rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle plate features localized openings positioned and sized to provide sufficient cooling air flow to the induction fan while the solid portions of the plate provide contaminant filtration where the air stream contacts the plate surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The baffle plate provides more than complete blockage of contaminants while maintaining sufficient partial openings for cooling air flow, achieving effective filtration without excessive restriction of the air stream

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 baffle plate effectively filters out particulates and contaminants, reducing maintenance frequency and enhancing the service life of machinery by ensuring continuous clean air intake, thus preventing contamination and fouling of internal components.

Implementation Method 1

particulates, contaminants, grease, and the like, will adhere to the baffle plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS10406468B2Baffle plate filtering system for preventing ambient air contaminants from entering machinery or equipment in order to protect internal components of the machinery or equipment from being contaminated or fouled

Publication Date: 2019.09.10 ANTUNES AJ & CO

AI summary

A baffle plate filtering system is disclosed which is adapted to be operatively associated with an external housing wall of a piece of machinery or equipment, through which cooling air is to be ingested or inducted in order to cool internal operative components of the machinery or equipment, wherein the baffle plate filtering system will effectively prevent the ingestion or induction of ambient particulates, contaminants, grease, dirt, and the like into the internal regions of the machinery or equipment such that the operative components of the machinery or equipment do not become contaminated or fouled by means of the ambient particulates, contaminants, grease, dirt, and the like.