Cleaning Element Gasket Seal for Filter Suction Losses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filtration devices experience inefficiencies in suctioning solid particles due to excessive losses, and they are not suitable for use with chemically aggressive fluids like seawater.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning element with a cylindrical design featuring a gasket between the connection tube and the cleaning block for a hermetic seal, combined with a rotatable central suction duct and elastic pushing means, allows for improved suction efficiency and compatibility with aggressive fluids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the connection tube is inserted in the receiving cavity in a sliding contact relationship, then the device structure is simple, but excessive losses occur in the suction of solid particles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction lossesVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A gasket is introduced as an intermediary element between the connection tube and the receiving cavity. This gasket creates a hermetic seal that prevents excessive losses during suction while maintaining the sliding contact relationship for simplicity. The gasket acts as a mediator that resolves the contradiction by enabling both low losses and simple structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a hermetic seal is implemented during suction, then suction efficiency increases, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket serves as a simple intermediary component that provides hermetic sealing without significantly increasing device complexity. It enables high suction efficiency by preventing losses while adding minimal structural complexity through a single sealing element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cleaning element is used with chemically aggressive fluids like seawater, then versatility increases, but material durability becomes a concern

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid compatibilityVSAvoidmaterial durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning element employs composite material construction, combining stainless steel components (connection tube, receiving cavity) that provide chemical resistance with elastomeric gasket material that offers both sealing and corrosion protection. This composite approach enables versatility with aggressive fluids while maintaining material durability through selective material properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 enhances suction efficiency by minimizing losses and enables effective cleaning with chemically aggressive fluids, such as seawater, while being easy to set up and maintain.

Implementation Method 1

at least one respective gasket is provided, which is adapted to allow a corresponding hermetic seal during the suction step of said solid particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHermetic seal:

Implementation Method 2

through which said solid particles retained by the same filter are sucked

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3928851B1Element for cleaning a filtering surface
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 ELFI SRL
  • EP3928851B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3928851B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

An element (10) for cleaning a filtering surface (11) of a corresponding filter (13), which is adapted to retain solid particles which are contained in a respective fluid, in particular in the form of a liquid, and preferably consisting of water, comprises a respective block (12) having a respective end surface (121) which is adapted to be arranged at, and preferably in contact with, said surface to be cleaned (11) of said filter (13), in which end surface at least one corresponding opening (122) is provided through which said solid particles retained by the same filter (13) are sucked. The cleaning element (10) further comprises one or more nozzles, preferably in the form of a first and a second nozzles (14, 14), the respective nozzle (14, 14) being defined at the end of a corresponding tube (141, 141) for connection to a corresponding suction duct (25). It is included that between said outer surface (142, 142) of said connection tube (141, 141) and the peripheral surface (125) defining the corresponding cavity (124, 124) of said block (12) which receives the same tube (141, 141), at least one respective gasket (16) is provided to allow an advantageous hermetic seal during the suction step of said solid particles.