Collapsible Air Filter Sleeve for High-Flow Low-Noise Filtration

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air filtering devices often suffer from low exit velocity, leading to reduced filtering performance and increased noise or size due to the need for higher-powered fans and rigid housings, making them less consumer-friendly and cost-effective.

Innovation Solution

A compact air filtering device with a fan that moves 70 to 150 CFM of air at 15 to 25 Pa pressure, combined with a substantially air-impermeable outer sleeve and a non-woven air filter, achieving an exit velocity of 0.6 to 2.6 m/s and effective particulate removal of 40% or more of particles between 1 to 10 microns in 20 minutes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a higher-powered fan is used to achieve sufficient exit velocity for filtering desired particulate levels, then filtering performance is improved, but the device becomes noisier and requires a rigid housing that increases size and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltering performanceVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible, collapsible bag-like filter housing that can be compressed during shipping and expanded during use. This flexible structure replaces the rigid housing that would be required for traditional high-powered fan designs, reducing both size and cost while maintaining the ability to achieve sufficient exit velocity through optimized fan placement and airflow path design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes a collapsible, expandable filter bag that transitions from a compact state for shipping to an expanded state for operation. This dynamic structure allows the device to achieve the necessary volume and airflow characteristics only when needed, enabling effective particulate filtration without requiring a permanently large rigid housing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a higher-powered fan is used to achieve sufficient exit velocity for filtering desired particulate levels, then filtering performance is improved, but device size increases due to rigid housing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltering performanceVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible, collapsible bag-like filter housing that can be compressed during shipping and expanded during use. This flexible structure replaces the rigid housing that would be required for traditional high-powered fan designs, reducing both size and cost while maintaining the ability to achieve sufficient exit velocity through optimized fan placement and airflow path design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The filter bag is designed to be collapsible and nestable, allowing multiple units to be shipped in a compact configuration. When deployed, the bag expands to provide the necessary filtration volume and surface area, effectively nesting the functional structure within a smaller shipping footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional rigid housing is used to support the air filter, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible, collapsible bag-like filter housing that can be compressed during shipping and expanded during use. This flexible structure replaces the rigid housing that would be required for traditional high-powered fan designs, reducing both size and cost while maintaining the ability to achieve sufficient exit velocity through optimized fan placement and airflow path design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The filter bag is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that can be manufactured at low cost using simple materials and processes. This approach eliminates the need for expensive rigid housing structures while providing sufficient structural stability for the application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 device provides effective particulate removal with reduced noise and size, maintaining high air flow rates while minimizing power consumption and noise levels, ensuring efficient air filtration in medium to large-sized rooms.

Implementation Method 1

a fan functionally attached to the base, wherein the fan moves about 70 to about 150 CFM of air through the air outlet, at about 15 to about 25 Pa of pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

an air filter in air flow communication with the air outlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2994701A1Methods of filtering air

Publication Date: 2016.03.16 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A method for filtering air of about 1 to about 10 microns particles at a greater than 40% filtering efficiency is provided. The method includes providing an air filtering device comprising a base, a fan functionally attached to the base, an air filter releasably attached to the base, and a substantially air impermeable outer sleeve; and activating the device for at least about 20 minutes.