Cyclone Separator Sealing Element Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cyclone separators require precise manufacturing tolerances to prevent leaks, limiting the acceptance of larger manufacturing tolerances without compromising performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sealing element at the connection area between the cell tube and immersion tube, which can encircle the entire circumference of the outflow ends, enhancing tightness and allowing for larger manufacturing tolerances while maintaining performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If two housing components are connected by snap connection without sealing element, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision must be very tight to prevent leaks
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing element is introduced as an intermediary component between the first and second housing components. This sealing element compensates for manufacturing tolerances and ensures leak-free connection without requiring extremely tight tolerances on the housing components themselves, while also avoiding complex snap connection structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is made from elastomeric material that can deform elastically to accommodate manufacturing variations in the housing components. This flexibility allows the sealing element to maintain effective sealing even when the housing components have larger tolerances, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision requirements.
2Reliability
If sealing element is added to connection area, then tightness between components is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is implemented as a simple elastomeric ring or O-ring that can be easily manufactured and installed. Despite adding this component, the overall complexity increase is minimal because the sealing element is a standard, simple component that replaces the need for complex precision-machined sealing surfaces or complex mechanical interlocking structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element serves as a simple intermediary that provides reliable sealing between housing components. While it adds one component to the assembly, it eliminates the need for complex tolerance control and precision manufacturing, thereby trading minimal component complexity for significant simplification in manufacturing requirements and improved reliability.
3Reliability
If sealing element encircles entire circumference of outflow end, then tightness is maximized, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric sealing element can be manufactured as a continuous ring that encircles the entire circumference of the outflow end, providing maximum sealing effectiveness. The elastic nature of the material allows it to be compressed and installed relatively easily, and it can deform to accommodate slight misalignments during assembly, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving comprehensive sealing.
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 sealing element ensures reliable tightness between the cyclone components, enabling the use of larger manufacturing tolerances without affecting the pre-separation efficiency, making the cyclone separator more robust and easier to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sealing element is arranged in the connection area of the downstream end of the cell tube and the downstream end region of the immersion tube, which sealingly connects the cell tube and the immersion tube to one another
Implementation Method 2
a cyclone separator, in particular a cyclone pre-separator for an air filter of an internal combustion engine
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A cyclone separator (100; 100') for separating liquid and/or solid particles from a gas stream comprises a first cyclone component (10; 10') having at least one substantially cylindrical cell pipe (12), which comprises a guide device (14) by means of which the gas stream is caused to rotate in order to separate the particles, a particle outlet (30) for discharging the separated particles, and a second cyclone component (20; 20') that follows the flow direction of the gas stream and comprises at least one immersion pipe (22), wherein the immersion pipe (22) is received in the cell pipe (12), at the outflow side end following the flow direction of the gas stream, is connected at least partially to the outflow side end of the cell pipe (12) following the flow direction of the gas stream and comprises a central outlet (24) for letting out the purified gas stream. In order to further develop such a cyclone separator such that greater manufacturing tolerances can be allowed in the production of the first (10; 10') and second (20; 20') cyclone components, according to the invention at least one sealing element (40; 40'), which sealingly connects the cell pipe (12) and the immersion pipe (22) to one another, is disposed in the connecting region of the outflow side end of the cell pipe (12) and the outflow side end region of the immersion pipe (22).