Vehicle Filter Cartridge Locking With Radial Tooth Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filtration systems for motor vehicles face challenges in ensuring simple and intuitive engagement and disengagement of filter cartridges with their base assemblies, often requiring complex operations and additional components, and lack a secure blocking mechanism to prevent unwanted detachment.

Innovation Solution

A filter group design featuring complementary first and second engagement members, allowing for axial blocking and disengagement through radial movement of tooth elements, facilitated by command devices and safety mechanisms, ensuring secure and intuitive assembly and disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex engagement operations are used to ensure secure blocking, then reliability of blocking is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblocking securityVSAvoidengagement simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement members are designed to automatically engage and block the filter cartridge to the base assembly without requiring additional safety plugs or complex manual operations. The radial movement of tooth elements automatically secures the connection, making the system self-servicing while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement mechanism is divided into multiple tooth elements that can move radially independently. This segmentation allows the blocking function to be distributed across multiple simple elements rather than requiring a single complex locking mechanism, improving both reliability through redundancy and ease of operation through simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If additional dedicated components are used to ensure secure blocking, then reliability of blocking is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblocking securityVSAvoidcomponent quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement members integrate multiple functions into a single component structure. The tooth elements with command devices combine the blocking, securing, and release functions into the engagement members themselves, eliminating the need for separate safety plugs or additional dedicated components while maintaining blocking security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement members are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide axial blocking, enable radial movement for securing, and allow controlled disengagement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components like safety plugs, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If radial movement mechanism is added for disengagement, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisengagement simplicityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement members incorporate radial movement capability that allows them to transition between engaged and disengaged states. This dynamic feature enables simple disengagement operations through command device actuation while the radial movement mechanism itself remains integrated within the engagement member structure, minimizing additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The command device acts as an intermediary that translates simple user input into radial movement of the tooth elements. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the disengagement operation for the user while the radial movement capability is already built into the engagement member design, so no additional complex mechanism is required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3752269B1Filter group
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 UFI FILTERS SPA
  • EP3752269B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3752269B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~1d
  • EP3752269B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2''

AI summary

A filter cartridge (10) of a filter group of a fluid (1) of a vehicle, wherein said filter group (1) extends along a main axis (X-X) comprising a base assembly (100) and means of engagement (2). Wherein said means of engagement (2) comprise first engagement members (20) comprised in the filter cartridge (10) and second engagement members (200) comprised in the base assembly (100), respectively specially shaped to engage each other in a blocking configuration. The filter cartridge (10) extends along a cartridge axis (Z-Z) and comprises at an axial end an engagement plane (15) on which said first engagement members (20) are made comprising at least two tooth elements (21) diametrically opposite the cartridge axis (Z-Z). Each tooth element (21) extends in height from the engagement plane 15 extending on an imaginary surface parallel to the cartridge axis Z-Z, having a substantially T shape. Each tooth element (21) is elastically yielding in a radial direction, so that said blocking configuration is achievable following the radial movement of the tooth element.