Vehicle Filter Element Coupling for Durable Leak-Tight Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid filters in vehicles, such as those used in heavy-duty vehicles, face durability issues due to the frequent replacement of filter elements, which can damage the connecting devices and affect filtration quality over time, particularly regarding the liquid-tight connection between the filter medium and the piping system.

Innovation Solution

A filter element design featuring a protrusion with a through hole forming a female coupling piece and a locking member for a male-female connector, allowing for easy and automatic engagement/disengagement of the male coupling piece, ensuring a secure and durable liquid-tight connection by regularly replacing the female coupling piece and associated sealing members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the filter element is periodically replaced to maintain filtration effectiveness, then the filtration quality is improved, but the connecting device is damaged and the liquid-tight connection is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration qualityVSAvoidconnecting device durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting device is segmented into two separate coupling pieces: a male coupling piece fixed to the pipe and a female coupling piece integrated with the filter element. This segmentation allows the filter element (with its female coupling piece) to be replaced independently without affecting the male coupling piece or the pipe connection, thereby maintaining the durability of the pipe connecting device while enabling regular filter replacement to sustain filtration quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The female coupling piece is designed as a short-living component that is replaced with each filter element, while the male coupling piece and pipe connection are designed as durable, long-living components. This approach sacrifices the short-living female coupling piece to protect the long-living pipe connecting device from damage during frequent filter replacements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If the filter element is frequently replaced to maintain filtration effectiveness, then the filtration quality is improved, but the sealing members get worn and the liquid-tight connection is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration qualityVSAvoidsealing member service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing members are integrated with the female coupling piece, which is replaced with each filter element. This ensures that worn sealing members are regularly replaced along with the filter element, maintaining the liquid-tight connection and filtration quality over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing members are segmented from the pipe connecting device and integrated with the replaceable filter element. This allows the sealing members to be replaced periodically with the filter element, preventing wear-related leakage issues while maintaining the durability of the pipe connection system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the male coupling piece is manually manipulated during filter replacement, then the filter element can be changed, but the connecting device is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter element replacementVSAvoidconnecting device durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of attaching the male coupling piece to the filter element (conventional approach), the female coupling piece is integrated with the filter element and the male coupling piece is fixed to the pipe. This inversion allows the filter element to be replaced by simply disconnecting the female coupling piece from the male coupling piece, eliminating the need for manual manipulation of the male coupling piece and preventing damage to the pipe connecting device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The female coupling piece is designed as a short-living component that absorbs the wear and stress of frequent connection and disconnection operations. By making the female coupling piece replaceable with each filter element, the durable male coupling piece and pipe connection are protected from damage during filter replacement operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11583791B2Filter element for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 VOLVO TRUCK CORP

AI summary

The filter element includes a filter medium having an axis and forming a channel extending substantially axially, a first and a second end plate, each end plate covering one axial end of the filter medium and being sealingly mounted on the axial end whereby a liquid to be filtered can flow through the filter medium towards the channel and out of the filter element through an opening in fluid communication with the channel, or reversely. The filter element includes a protrusion fixedly secured to the first end plate and extending outwardly from the first end plate, the protrusion being substantially tubular and having a through hole in fluid communication with the first end plate opening, the protrusion forming a female coupling piece of a male-female connector, and a locking member capable of releasably locking a male coupling piece of the male-female connector in the female coupling piece.