Filter Element Circumferential Seal Axial Radial Leakage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter systems for motor vehicles face challenges in maintaining reliable sealing during operation and after maintenance, particularly when replacing the filter element, which can lead to fluid leakage and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A filter element design featuring a housing with a plastic cover and a circumferential seal having two separate sealing surfaces for axial and radial sealing, along with a connection area that can be easily changed using a buttress thread or bayonet connection, ensuring reliable tightness and preventing fluid leakage during maintenance and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal is used to seal the connection area, then sealing effect is improved, but leakage during filter element replacement may still occur
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into two separate sealing surfaces: a first sealing surface for sealing the connection area during operation, and a second sealing surface for sealing during filter element replacement. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimized for its specific function, ensuring reliable sealing in both operational states without fluid leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element is designed with a drain outlet that can be opened before removal to drain residual fluid. This preliminary action prevents fluid leakage during the replacement process by removing the fluid that would otherwise leak when the connection is broken.
2Loss of time
If the filter element is designed for easy replacement, then maintenance time is reduced, but sealing reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into a quick-connect interface for rapid replacement and a separate sealing mechanism with two distinct sealing surfaces. This allows the connection function to be optimized for speed while the sealing function is optimized for reliability, resolving the contradiction between easy replacement and sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sealing surface acts as an intermediary sealing mechanism that engages when the filter element is being replaced. This intermediate sealing path maintains fluid containment during the transition state of replacement, ensuring sealing reliability even when the primary connection is being disconnected.
3Loss of substance
If a drain outlet is provided for draining fluid, then fluid loss is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain outlet function is merged into the existing cover structure of the filter element. The drain outlet is formed as an integrated feature of the cover rather than as a separate component, reducing device complexity while still providing the fluid drainage function to minimize fluid loss during replacement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a filter element (10) for filtering a fluid, comprising a housing (12), a filter body (14) arranged in the housing (12), a cover (16) closing the housing (12), wherein at least one inlet (20) on the cover (16) is arranged on a dirty side (22) for admitting a fluid into the filter element (10) and an outlet (24) is arranged on the clean side (26) for discharging the fluid out of the filter element (10). A connection region (17) for connecting the filter element (10) to a counter element (101) of a filter system (100) and a sealing region (27) between the filter element (10) and a recess (102) of the filter system (100) are provided on the cover (16). Further, at least one circumferential seal (28) is arranged for sealing the connection region (17), wherein the seal (28) has at least two separate sealing surfaces (30, 32) which affect a sealing in the axial and radial directions (40, 42). The invention further relates to a use of a filter element (10) and a filter system (100) comprising a filter element (10) of this type.