Air Filter Cover Plate Detection to Prevent Ozone Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air treatment devices with activated carbon filters face challenges in ensuring the correct installation and presence of the filter, particularly with deformable filter materials, which can lead to ozone leakage and user safety risks due to the inability to reliably detect and prevent improper filter installation.

Innovation Solution

An air treatment device with a detection element that is actuated via a cover plate applied to the filter element, allowing for the monitoring of both the filter's presence and correct installation, ensuring that the filter is properly seated and preventing ozone escape by requiring both the filter and cover plate to be in place before actuating the detection element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid frame filter arrangement is used to enable switching means actuation, then safety monitoring is improved, but adaptability to deformable filter materials is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety monitoringVSAvoidadaptability to deformable filter materials
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible membrane instead of a rigid frame structure. The membrane can deform to accommodate different filter materials (rigid or deformable) while still providing the necessary actuation surface for the switching means. This flexible membrane approach maintains safety monitoring capability while adapting to various filter types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state or properties of the filter arrangement by introducing a deformable membrane that can change its shape or position based on the filter material inserted. This allows the same structure to work with both rigid framed filters and deformable activated carbon filters by adapting its physical configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the detection element is actuated only by the filter element, then ease of installation is improved, but measurement precision of correct installation is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidmeasurement precision of correct installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the actuation mechanism into two distinct components: the filter element itself and the cover plate. Both components must be present and correctly positioned to actuate the detection element. This segmentation ensures that mere insertion of the filter is insufficient - the cover plate must also be properly installed, providing precise verification of complete and correct installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent requires preliminary action by mandating that the cover plate be installed over the filter element before the detection element can be actuated. This preliminary step ensures that the filter is not only present but also properly covered and sealed, verifying complete installation before the system becomes operational.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2199688B1Air treatment device and method for operating the same
Publication Date: 2015.07.08 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2199688B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2199688B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2199688B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an air treatment device for air-conducting household appliances, which has a housing (2) with an air treatment space (22) formed therein, which is delimited at least in certain areas by at least one filter element (3), and at least one detection element (7). The air treatment device is characterized in that the detection element (7) is arranged at least partially in a receiving area (23) for the filter element (3) and the detection element (7) is supported above the filter element (3) by a cover plate (4) which is on at least a part of the filter element (3) is applied, can be actuated. The invention also relates to a method for detecting a filter element in an air treatment device for an air-conducting household appliance, which has a housing (2) with an air treatment space (22) formed therein, which is delimited at least in regions by at least one filter element (3), and at least one detection element (7) has. The method is characterized in that the detection element (7) detects the filter element (3) by means of a cover plate (4) applied to at least part of the filter element (3).