Elastic Connecting Port for Engine Air Filter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connecting pieces between internal combustion engines and air filters in hand-held tools lack sufficient elasticity for relative movement without damage, making simple and secure connections challenging.

Innovation Solution

A connecting piece design featuring channel tubes with a common connection flange on the air filter side, allowing for increased elasticity through a continuous opening between peripheral walls and an expansion fold in one channel tube, enabling relative movement between the engine and air filter while maintaining a secure connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If channel tubes are arranged separately and connected individually to components, then elasticity of the connecting pipe is sufficient to allow relative movement, but the connection process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveelasticityVSAvoidconnection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple channel tubes into a single integrated connecting piece with a common connection flange. The first and second channel tubes are merged into one structural unit, allowing both to be connected to components simultaneously through a single flange interface, thereby reducing connection complexity while preserving elasticity through the integrated design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If channel tubes are connected rigidly to components, then connection security is improved, but elasticity is reduced causing damage during relative movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidelasticity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible membrane structure that separates the first and second channel tubes while allowing relative movement. This membrane acts as a flexible barrier that maintains connection security through the common flange while accommodating elasticity and relative displacement between the connecting piece and components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Loss of time

If a common connection flange is used for multiple channel tubes, then connection time is reduced, but sealing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection timeVSAvoidsealing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane structure integrated into the common connection flange provides sealing for multiple channel tubes simultaneously. This single sealing solution replaces multiple separate sealing requirements, reducing both connection time and sealing complexity by addressing all sealing needs through one unified flexible barrier

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 design allows for large relative movements between the internal combustion engine and air filter while ensuring a tight connection, preventing uncontrolled fuel entry and maintaining mobility, especially at low temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

The first channel tube (10) has an expansion fold (12) extending in a circumferential direction (101) of the first channel tube (10). When the connecting piece (2) is installed between an internal combustion engine (40) and an air filter (90) of a hand-held power tool (1), the expansion fold (12) allows for relatively large, relatively large relative movements between the air filter (90) and the engine (40) while maintaining a tight connection.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

Due to the shared connection flange for the two channel tubes on the air filter side of the connecting piece, only a single connection needs to be sealed to ensure a tight seal between the two channel tubes on the air filter side... This results in high elasticity of the connecting piece... the elasticity of the connecting fitting, due to the spacing of the channel tubes along its length, is sufficient to allow relative movement between the combustion engine and the air filter of the handheld implement when the connecting fitting is installed, without damaging the fitting.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3611367B1Elastic connecting port
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO KG
  • EP3611367B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3611367B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3611367B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to an elastic connecting piece (2) for arrangement between an internal combustion engine (40) and an air filter (90) of a hand-held power tool (1). The connecting piece (2) has a first channel (10) for largely fuel-free air and a second channel (20) for a fuel/air mixture. The connecting piece (2) is formed in one piece and has a motor connection flange (5) on a first side (3) for connection to the internal combustion engine (80), to which the first channel (10) and the second channel (20) open. The first channel (10) has a first circumferential wall (17), and the second channel (20) has a second circumferential wall (27). The first circumferential wall (17) and the second circumferential wall (27) are arranged at a distance (v, h2) from each other in a longitudinal section (31) of the connecting piece (2).The channel tubes (10, 20) extend from the first side (3) to a second side (4) of the connecting stub (2). The first channel tube (10) and the second channel tube (20) open onto a common connecting flange (6) on the second side (4).