Contoured Filter Cartridge Seal for Engine Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current filter systems face challenges in maintaining a positive seal and easy servicing across different engine compartments, particularly due to increasing complexity and varying sizes, which complicates the installation and maintenance of filter cartridges and housings.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of contoured end members with axially extending alignment and seal projections, and reconfigurable filter housing assemblies with pivotable cover members, allowing for proper angular alignment and sealing, and adaptable configurations for different mounting scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single filter system design is used across different engine compartments, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but adaptability to different locations and proper sealing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The filter cartridge is designed with a contoured end member featuring alignment projections and seal projections that can adapt to multiple mounting configurations. The housing assembly includes corresponding alignment features and seal surfaces that work with the contoured end member across different engine compartment layouts, allowing a single design to serve multiple locations while maintaining proper sealing and alignment
2Volume of moving object
If the filter housing is made compact to reduce size, then space requirements are reduced, but accessibility for servicing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing assembly includes a cover member that can be moved between a closed position for compact operation and an open position for servicing. This dynamic configuration allows the housing to maintain a compact form factor during normal operation while providing easy access to the filter cartridge for maintenance and replacement
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment projections are made short, then manufacturing is simpler, but angular alignment precision between filter cartridge and housing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment projections extend axially from the contoured end member in a direction perpendicular to the seal surface, creating a three-dimensional alignment mechanism. This axial extension provides sufficient leverage for precise angular alignment between the filter cartridge and housing without requiring complex manufacturing processes, as the projections can be formed through standard molding or machining operations
4Reliability
If seal projections are made prominent, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal projections are designed with specific dimensional parameters including height, radial extent, and profile shape that optimize sealing performance. By carefully selecting these parameters, the seal projections can provide reliable sealing without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances, as the design incorporates inherent compensation for normal manufacturing variations
Data Source
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AI summary
A filter cartridge and filter assembly using the filter cartridge is provided. The filter cartridge having a contoured end member to angularly orient and/or axially orient the filter cartridge, and particularly a seal thereof, relative to a filter housing. The filter housing is reconfigurable to allow it to be used in different locations having different spatial configurations.