Filter Element Axial Drain Sealing for Reliable Liquid Drainage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter technologies face challenges in efficiently and reliably draining liquids from filter elements and filter housings, often requiring excessive force due to radial sealing mechanisms and potential swelling issues.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates axially oriented sealing surfaces and elements, utilizing annular seals that act exclusively in the axial direction to enhance sealing efficiency and prevent radial forces, with separate sealing surfaces on the filter element and drainage closure elements, and a housing part with distinct drainage openings to prevent cross-contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If radial sealing mechanisms are used for drainage closure, then sealing function is achieved, but excessive force is required and seal swelling causes reliability issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidforce required for sealing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional radial sealing approach by implementing axial sealing surfaces on both the filter element and drainage closure element. Instead of sealing radially as is common, the sealing surfaces are oriented axially, allowing sealing forces to act in the axial direction rather than radially. This inversion resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable sealing with reduced force requirements and eliminating swelling-related reliability issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the orientation parameter of the sealing surfaces from radial to axial. By reorienting the sealing surfaces and changing the direction in which sealing forces act, the system achieves reliable sealing with lower forces. This parameter change also prevents the swelling problems that occur with radial sealing mechanisms, as the axial orientation allows for different material behavior under compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If separate drainage openings are used for filter element and filter housing, then cross-contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-contamination preventionVSAvoiddrainage system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the drainage system into two separate drainage openings: one for the filter element and another for the filter housing. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination by providing independent drainage paths. The filter element drainage opening drains the element interior, while the filter housing drainage opening drains the surrounding housing interior, eliminating the risk of contaminated liquid from one area mixing with liquid from another area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If axially oriented sealing surfaces are used, then sealing efficiency is enhanced and radial forces are prevented, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing efficiencyVSAvoidsealing surface precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11565203B2Filter element of a filter for liquid, drain closure element for a drain opening in a filter housing, housing part of a filter housing and filter

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 MANN HUMMEL GMBH

AI summary

A filter element of a filter for liquid, a drainage closure element, a housing part, and a filter are described, wherein the filter element has a filter medium which continuously surrounds circumferentially an element interior relative to a virtual axis and is connected to an axial end body. The end body is provided with a filter element drainage opening surrounding the axis and communicating with the element interior. A filter element sealing surface or filter element seal surface of a filter element sealing device is provided at the end body and continuously surrounds circumferentially the filter element drainage opening. The filter element drainage opening is closed by the filter element sealing device when the filter element is mounted in the filter housing of the filter. The filter element sealing surface or filter element seal surface is axially oriented with at least one direction component relative to the axis.