Filter Assembly with Movable Inner Cap for Secure Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water purifier filter heads face difficulties in easy installation and disassembly due to linearly formed flow channels, leading to weak fastening under high water pressure, and backflow prevention mechanisms that can contaminate water when filters are replaced.
Innovation Solution
A filter assembly with a hollow external housing featuring uneven portions on its inner wall and a filter fastening unit with pressurized sections around an inner cap that moves up and down, providing a secure fastening mechanism and allowing for easy assembly and disassembly through an elbow structure for pipes and a ratchet member for one-touch operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If linear flow channels are formed below the pipe body, then the structure is simple, but installation and disassembly become difficult and fastening is weak under high water pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The filter head is divided into an outer housing and an inner cap that can move relative to each other. The inner cap segments the flow path into different regions (first region with uneven portions, second region without uneven portions) and can be positioned in different locations to achieve either filtration mode or easy removal mode, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner cap is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically change position between a first position (for secure fastening during filtration) and a second position (for easy filter removal). This dynamic capability enables the system to switch between strong fastening and easy disassembly states, resolving the contradiction.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional fastening structures are used, then manufacturing is simple, but fastening strength is insufficient under high water pressure
Solution Approach 1:
Uneven portions are locally formed on the inner wall of the outer housing in the first region, creating localized pressurization points. When the inner cap is positioned in the first location, these uneven portions pressurize against the filter holder, generating strong fastening force exactly where needed to resist high water pressure, while keeping the overall manufacturing process simple.
3Ease of operation
If filters are removed from the head, then filter maintenance is enabled, but water flow is automatically cut off and original water may be contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The movable inner cap enables dynamic switching between two operational states: when positioned in the first location, it maintains the filtration pathway for normal operation; when positioned in the second location, it opens a bypass pathway that allows water flow to continue even when the filter is removed, preventing both flow interruption and backflow contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner cap acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls water flow routing. It can direct water through the filter when installed or through a bypass pathway when the filter is removed, serving as a mediator that maintains system functionality and prevents contamination during filter maintenance operations.
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 secure fastening and easy handling of filters, preventing backflow and contamination, while simplifying the assembly and disassembly process, reducing manufacturing costs and improving productivity.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member (400) which is disposed between an upper portion of the inner wall of the external housing (100) and an upper portion of an outer surface of the inner cap (200) and has a repulsive force which acts when the head portion (310) of the filter (300) receives a force from a top in the inner cap (200)
Implementation Method 2
a filter fastening unit (500) which includes a plurality of pressurized sections (510) disposed on a lower circumference of the inner cap (200) corresponding to the plurality of the uneven portions (130), in which when the filter (300) is inserted into the inner cap (200), the plurality of pressurized sections (510) are pressurized by the plurality of uneven portions (130) formed on the inner wall of the external housing (100)
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a filter assembly including a hollow external housing which includes an inlet (110) and an outlet (120) and has an inner wall of an open bottom on which a plurality of uneven portions (130) circularly arranged at certain intervals are formed, an inner cap (200) which is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open bottom corresponding to an internal hollow shape of the external housing and moves up and down along the inner wall of the external housing (100), a filter (300) which includes a head portion (310) inserted into the bottom of the inner cap (200) and forms a fitting groove (320) on a side of the head portion (310), an elastic member (400) which is disposed between an upper portion of the inner wall of the external housing (100) and an upper portion of an outer surface of the inner cap (200) and has a repulsive force which acts when the head portion (310) of the filter (300) receives a force from a top in the inner cap (200), and a filter fastening unit (500) which includes a plurality of pressurized sections (510) disposed on a lower circumference of the inner cap (200) corresponding to the plurality of the uneven portions (130). Here, when the filter (300) is inserted into the inner cap (200), the plurality of pressurized sections (510) are pressurized by the plurality of uneven portions (130) formed on the inner wall of the plurality of pressurized sections (510) and steps formed at ends while protruding inside the plurality of pressurized sections (510) are fixed to the fitting groove (320) of the filter (300). Accordingly, in the filter assembly an uneven portion is formed on an inner wall of a hollow external housing and a filter fastening unit which includes a pressurized section pressurized by the uneven portion is formed around an inner cap which moves up and down along an inner surface of the external housing to firmly fasten a filter.