Filter Element Sealing Ring Lip Support Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air filter designs for internal combustion engines fail to permanently separate dirty and clean sides in a flow-tight manner, leading to potential leaks and reduced sealing effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A filter element with a hollow, conical or cylindrical filter medium body featuring a central support structure, a radial flow path, and a circumferential sealing ring lip supported by a circumferential support ring that absorbs radial forces, allowing the sealing ring to focus on sealing without deformation, and an end disk with a central opening for fluid management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a circumferential sealing lip is formed directly on the end plate without support, then the sealing structure is simple, but the sealing lip deforms under radial forces and loses sealing effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing structure complexityVSAvoidsealing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A circumferential support ring is introduced as an intermediary element between the end plate and the sealing lip. The support ring absorbs radial forces and prevents deformation of the sealing lip, allowing the sealing lip to focus solely on sealing functionality without structural collapse or deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing structure is segmented into distinct functional components: the end plate provides mounting surface, the support ring provides structural reinforcement, and the sealing lip provides sealing function. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the sealing lip is made thicker or stiffer to prevent deformation, then sealing reliability improves, but the sealing lip becomes more prone to leakage due to excessive rigidity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidleakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different parts of the sealing structure have different mechanical properties: the support ring is made rigid to承受 radial forces, while the sealing lip is made flexible to maintain contact with the housing surface. This local differentiation of material properties optimizes both structural integrity and sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If the filter medium body is made more rigid to maintain shape, then structural stability improves, but the filter medium body becomes more susceptible to damage from radial forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter medium body stabilityVSAvoidresistance to radial forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The filter medium body combines a rigid support structure (central tube and radial ribs) with the filter medium material. This composite construction provides both shape maintenance and radial force resistance, as the support structure bears the mechanical loads while the filter medium performs filtration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3452205B1Filter element, in particular for gas filtration, and filter device

Publication Date: 2021.06.30 MANN HUMMEL GMBH

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Figure 3~4

AI summary

A filter element comprises a filter medium element, on the inside of which a supporting frame is arranged and which includes at least one continuous ring seal lip on the end face. A supporting ring is arranged at a radial distance from the ring seal lip.