Dual-Outlet Air Filter Element With Separated Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air filters with both primary and secondary air outlets suffer from significant interference in the flow through the primary outlet due to the flow through the secondary outlet, affecting the flow rate profile.
Innovation Solution
A hollow-cylindrical filter element with a filter medium that surrounds a longitudinal axis, featuring a primary air passage and a secondary air passage separated by an axial recess, where the secondary air passage is formed by a channel in the first end disk, reducing the influence of the secondary air flow on the primary air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single filter element with both primary and secondary air outlets is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the flow rate profile of the primary air outlet is significantly affected by the secondary air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The filter medium is segmented into different regions: a first region with folds extending over the entire axial length for primary air flow, and a second region with reduced axial length for secondary air flow. This segmentation allows independent flow paths while maintaining a single integrated filter element structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the filter medium are given different axial lengths to optimize local flow characteristics. The first region maintains full axial length for primary air outlet performance, while the second region has reduced axial length to minimize interference with primary flow, creating local quality variations that resolve the flow interference problem.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate filter elements are used for primary and secondary air outlets, then the flow rate profile of the primary air outlet is not affected by secondary air flow, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Two separate filter elements (one for primary air outlet, one for secondary air outlet) are merged into a single integrated filter element with differentially sized regions. The merging maintains the flow independence benefits of separate elements while achieving the structural simplicity of a single component.
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 ensures that the flow rate profile of the primary air outlet is not significantly affected by the secondary air flow, maintaining optimal performance and allowing for separate and efficient use of both outlets.
Implementation Method 1
a filter medium that annularly surrounds a longitudinal axis of the filter element, wherein the filter medium can be flowed through radially from the exterior to the interior
Data Source
AI summary
A filter element has a filter medium annularly surrounding a longitudinal axis of the filter element. The filter medium can be flowed through radially from an exterior to an interior and has a plurality of folds. A first end disk is arranged at a first end face of the filter element. A primary air passage and a secondary air passage are provided. The filter medium has an axial recess at the first end face. The first end disk has a channel forming the secondary air passage and extending in the axial recess. The plurality of folds include first folds in a region of the recess and second folds away from the recess. An axial length of the first folds is reduced relative to an axial length of the second folds. An air filter with such filter element and an assembly method for the air filter are provided.