Engine Oil Filter Cartridge with Integrated Drain Seal

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter cartridge systems for engines are complex and expensive due to the requirement of additional moving parts in the engine block for draining oil, which complicates assembly and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A filter cartridge with a fixed closure member that seals the drain channel when mounted, eliminating the need for additional moving parts in the engine block and allowing for economic replacement, featuring a movable closure member with elastic biasing and sealing mechanisms to prevent liquid spillage during dismantling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a movable plug is used in the engine block to close the drain channel, then liquid spillage during dismantling is prevented, but the system complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to additional moving parts and assembly requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of liquid spillageVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure function is extracted from the engine block and transferred to the removable filter cartridge itself. The closure member is now part of the cartridge assembly rather than a separate component in the engine block, eliminating the need for complex moving parts in the engine while maintaining the ability to prevent liquid spillage during dismantling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter cartridge becomes self-sufficient by incorporating its own closure member that automatically seals the drain channel when the cartridge is installed. This eliminates the need for separate engine block mechanisms, as the cartridge itself provides the sealing function through its design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a movable plug is used in the engine block, then liquid spillage is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases due to additional assembly steps in the foundry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of liquid spillageVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The closure function is extracted from the engine block and transferred to the removable filter cartridge itself. The closure member is now part of the cartridge assembly rather than a separate component in the engine block, eliminating the need for complex moving parts in the engine while maintaining the ability to prevent liquid spillage during dismantling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure member is integrated into the disposable filter cartridge rather than being a permanent part of the engine block. This allows the closure function to be achieved with simpler, less expensive components that are replaced along with the filter cartridge, eliminating the need for expensive permanent modifications to the engine block

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If additional moving parts are mounted in the engine block, then drain channel control is improved, but assembly complexity increases requiring foundry assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrain channel controlVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure function is extracted from the engine block and transferred to the removable filter cartridge itself. The closure member is now part of the cartridge assembly rather than a separate component in the engine block, eliminating the need for complex moving parts in the engine while maintaining the ability to prevent liquid spillage during dismantling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure function is merged with the filter cartridge assembly, combining two functions (filtration and drain channel sealing) into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate moving parts in the engine block and simplifies the overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 effectively prevents liquid spillage during cartridge removal without additional engine block modifications, simplifying assembly and reducing costs by allowing for economic replacement of the closure member, ensuring reliable sealing and efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

the closure member is mounted movably in lost motion on the bottom of the case and is elastically biased away from the bottom

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic biasing: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the seal being the sealing surface; the seal being adapted to come into sealing contact with the support

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing contact:

Data Source

PatentEP1949950B1Liquid filtering cartridge, engine sub-assembly comprising such a cartridge.

Publication Date: 2009.03.11 FILTRAUTO

Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 4

AI summary

The cartridge has a case forming an inner volume (12) containing a filtering element (14) which separates the volume into upstream and downstream spaces. The case has a bottom (30) forming a liquid inlet passage (32) and an outlet passage communicating with upstream and downstream spaces, respectively. The case is mounted on a support (11) that has a liquid inlet channel and outlet channel (22) for communicating with inlet and outlet passages, respectively. A closing unit fixed at a bottom (30) of the case closes a discharge channel (24) when the cartridge is mounted on the support.