Dual Pleat Pack Oil Filter With Over-Molded Frame Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current filtration devices for engine and transmission oils face challenges in achieving desired levels of filtration, compactness, and manufacturability, particularly in automotive applications.
Innovation Solution
The development of a fluid filter design featuring a pleat pack element with a peripheral frame and internal ribs, over-molded onto filtration media, which allows for efficient assembly and integration with housing shells, providing a compact and efficient filtration system with adjustable filtration density and pre-filtration capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional filtration devices are used, then filtration function is provided, but device complexity and lack of compactness occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filtration media, peripheral frame, and internal ribs into a single integrated pleat pack element through over-molding. This merging of components eliminates the need for separate structural elements, achieving compactness while maintaining filtration function.
Solution Approach 2:
The pleat pack element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides filtration through the media, structural support through the integrated frame and ribs, and maintains pleat configuration. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the filter system.
2Reliability
If filtration efficiency is increased, then contaminant trapping improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pleats are pre-formed in the filtration media before the over-molding process. This preliminary action allows the complex pleated structure to be created once during manufacturing, rather than requiring complex assembly steps later, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving high filtration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction combining the filtration media with the peripheral frame and internal ribs through over-molding. This composite approach integrates multiple functions into a single manufacturable component that maintains both filtration performance and manufacturing simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used, then assembly flexibility is provided, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the filtration media, peripheral frame, and internal ribs into a single integrated pleat pack element. This reduction in component count simplifies assembly while the modular design of the pleat pack itself maintains flexibility for different filter applications.
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 enables the creation of compact, efficient, and easily manufacturable fluid filters that effectively trap contaminants while allowing fluid to pass through, offering customizable filtration efficiency and reducing the need for additional structural components, thus enhancing both performance and production simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
a felt type media that is permeable to the fluid but traps particles or other contaminants
Implementation Method 2
a filtration media such as, for example, a felt type media that is permeable to the fluid but traps particles or other contaminants
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid filter apparatus comprising an upper housing shell; a lower housing shell; a pleat pack element comprising a peripheral frame and a folded pleated media. The frame is at least partially molded over the media to secure the media in the frame, and the pleat pack is sandwiched between the upper and lower housing shells and a frame of the pleat pack forms a side of the housing.