Filter element and dirt suction device with filter receptacle for such a filter element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Filter elements for dirt suction devices face mechanical stress and wear due to their stability and durability requirements, while maintaining a secure seal during suction and cleaning operations, especially in wet conditions.

Innovation Solution

A filter element with a radially protruding seal featuring a groove and profiled sealing surfaces, including ribs or grooves, that securely engages with the filter receptacle, reducing mechanical stress and wear by aligning forces directly along a vertical axis, thus preventing shearing forces and ensuring a tight seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a stable and durable filter material (such as filter fleece) is used to resist mechanical stress and wear, then the durability and reliability of the filter element is improved, but the weight and mass of the filter element increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of filter materialVSAvoidweight of filter element

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element is divided into distinct functional components: a lightweight filter frame, a filter medium, and a separate seal. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling the use of durable sealing materials without increasing the overall weight of the entire filter assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seal is designed to protrude radially outward from the filter frame in a direction perpendicular to the main filtering surface. This dimensional extension allows the seal to engage with the filter receptacle walls, providing mechanical strength and durability in the sealing dimension without adding weight to the filtering surface area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the filter element is designed to be securely sealed in the filter receptacle during suction and cleaning operations, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the mechanical stress and wear on the seal increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmechanical stress on seal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The seal acts as an intermediary element between the filter frame and the filter receptacle. It provides a dedicated sealing interface that mediates the connection, allowing the filter element to be securely retained while protecting the main filter structure from direct mechanical stress and wear during insertion, removal, and cleaning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal is designed as a flexible component that can deform to accommodate the filter receptacle geometry and operational forces. This flexibility allows the seal to maintain effective contact and sealing under varying mechanical stress conditions while distributing loads to reduce localized wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If the seal protrudes radially over the filter frame to ensure proper sealing engagement, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the filter element becomes more susceptible to mechanical stress during insertion and removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing engagementVSAvoidmechanical stress during insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The seal is pre-positioned and pre-formed on the filter frame during manufacturing, creating a ready-to-eng age sealing interface. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the filter element is inserted into the receptacle, the seal is already in the correct position and configuration to engage smoothly, reducing mechanical stress during the insertion process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If a groove and profiled sealing surfaces are added to the radially protruding section of the seal, then the ease of insertion and secure retention is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of insertionVSAvoidcomplexity of seal structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The groove and profiled sealing surfaces are integrated directly into the radially protruding seal section as a unified structure. Rather than adding separate components, the sealing features are merged with the seal body itself, creating an optimized insertion interface that guides the filter element into the receptacle while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10596502B2Filter element and dirt suction device with filter receptacle for such a filter element

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 NILFISK AS

AI summary

A filter element for a dirt suction device is provided, with a filter frame, on which a filter medium is attached, wherein on the filter frame, a continuous seal is arranged, the inner circumferential surface of which is arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the filter frame and has a section that radially protrudes over the filter frame, wherein a groove is arranged on a front side of the protruding section of the seal, and that a sealing surface is arranged on the opposite front side of the protruding section of the seal.