Compact Air Precleaner with Retroflexed Flow Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air precleaners are often too large for limited space applications and require custom manufacturing due to variations in configuration and performance requirements, leading to increased time and cost, and suffer from reduced motor life and clogged ejector ports, which affect operational efficiency and filter life.
Innovation Solution
A compact, versatile powered air precleaner with a retroflexed flow path and adjustable components, including a motor-driven fan and disposable air filter cartridge, that allows for independent adjustment of the outlet, ejector ports, and mounting positions, reducing the need for custom manufacturing and extending motor life by shielding the motor from debris and allowing easy filter replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a compact design is used to reduce size for limited space applications, then the device can be used in space-constrained environments, but it becomes difficult to accommodate adjustable components and retroflexed flow paths
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is folded back on itself in a retroflexed configuration, with the outlet positioned intermediate along the longitudinal axis rather than at the end. This nesting of the flow path within a compact longitudinal envelope reduces the overall volume while maintaining the necessary flow separation and ejection functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector ports are made adjustable in position along the separator chamber, allowing the device to adapt to different application requirements. This dynamic adjustability compensates for the compact design constraints while maintaining versatility across different configurations and airflow rate requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom manufacturing is performed for each application variation, then the precleaner can be optimized for specific configurations and performance requirements, but the manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The precleaner is designed with universal features including adjustable ejector ports, variable outlet orientations, and configurable mounting positions, all achieved through modular components. This allows a single standardized manufacturing process to produce units that can be adapted to multiple applications without requiring custom manufacturing for each variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into modular sections including the separator chamber, motor housing, and adjustable components that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows for standardized mass production of components while enabling field adjustment to meet specific application requirements, eliminating the need for complete custom manufacturing.
3Productivity
If the motor is exposed to debris-laden air for drawing air into the precleaner, then the fan can effectively intake debris-laden air, but the motor life is reduced due to debris buildup and overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is extracted from the direct path of debris-laden air and positioned in a protected location. The fan draws air through a path that bypasses the motor, separating the motor from the harmful debris environment while maintaining effective air intake capability through the fan's positioning and airflow management structure.
4Ease of manufacture
If ejector ports are positioned in fixed locations in the separator chamber, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the ports become prone to clogging and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector ports are designed to be adjustable in position along the separator chamber rather than fixed. This dynamic positioning capability allows operators to optimize port locations to prevent clogging and maintain operational efficiency, while the adjustment mechanism is designed to be simple enough to maintain ease of manufacture and serviceability.
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 efficient removal of heavier-than-air particulate debris in limited spaces with reduced manufacturing costs and extended motor life, while maintaining operational efficiency by allowing for easy adaptation to different configurations and airflow rates.
Implementation Method 1
an airflow management structure positioned along the flow path to rotate debris laden air drawn into an inlet about an axis to form a rotating flow that stratifies the debris laden air with the heaviest particles in the outermost orbits of the rotating flow
Implementation Method 2
A separator chamber in the flow path centrifugally separates and removes particulate debris laden air from the rotating flow
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A versatile compact air precleaner, air cleaning method and disposable air filter cartridge for air precleaner for separating heaver-than-air particulate debris from debris laden air to provide a clean airflow, are disclosed. A flow path for air passing through a separator chamber of the air precleaner is retroflexed en route to the outlet. A motor of a motor-driven fan is located in the flow path downstream from the separator chamber. A plurality of independently rotatably adjustable housing sections of a housing are formed with respective ones of the air precleaner debris laden air inlet, particulate debris ejector ports, clean air outlet, and mounts for mounting the air precleaner to a support to provide utility with different configurations. A separator chamber end section including the debris ejector ports is connected to the filter as a removable, disposable air filter cartridge to obviate ejector port clogging with change of filters.