Filter Element Strain-Relief for Adhesive Shrinkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter elements for fluids, particularly in internal combustion engines and motor vehicles, face challenges in maintaining long service life and reliability due to adhesive shrinkage causing tensile stress and potential damage, leading to positional changes and leaks.
Innovation Solution
A filter element with a zigzag-shaped filter medium and reinforcement frame, featuring elongate adhesive sections along adhesive tracks and strain-relief means to compensate for adhesive shrinkage, connected via interlocking ribs or molding, ensuring stable operation and preventing adhesive openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If adhesive sections are used to connect the filter medium to the frame, then the filter element can be assembled and sealed, but the adhesive shrinks over time causing tensile stress and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing strain-relief means (relief cuts or relief notches) in the filter medium before assembly. These pre-designed features compensate for the adhesive shrinkage that occurs over time, preventing tensile stress from damaging the filter medium or causing seal failures, thus maintaining reliability throughout the service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the continuous filter medium into sections with relief cuts or relief notches. This segmentation allows different portions of the filter medium to move independently, accommodating adhesive shrinkage without creating harmful tensile stresses across the entire medium, thereby preventing damage while maintaining the seal.
2Strength
If continuous adhesive tracks are used to secure the filter medium, then the connection is strong, but adhesive shrinkage causes positional changes and leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by introducing relief cuts or relief notches that divide the continuous adhesive track into segments. This allows the adhesive to shrink without causing the entire filter medium to shift position, maintaining both connection strength and seal tightness by localizing the shrinkage effect to non-critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by strategically placing relief cuts or relief notches in specific locations where adhesive shrinkage can occur without compromising the seal. This allows the adhesive to maintain strong connection in critical sealing areas while providing controlled flexibility in non-critical areas to accommodate shrinkage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the filter medium is firmly fixed to prevent movement, then positional stability is achieved, but adhesive shrinkage creates internal stress and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-designing relief cuts or relief notches in the filter medium to accommodate adhesive shrinkage. This allows the filter medium to maintain positional stability in critical areas while providing built-in stress relief paths that prevent internal stress accumulation and potential damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a semi-flexible connection system where the filter medium can undergo controlled local deformations at relief cut locations. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to adhesive shrinkage over time while maintaining overall positional stability and structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A filter element for filtering a fluid has a frame and a filter bellows provided with a filter medium folded in a zigzag shape to folds. The filter bellows has an inflow face at a raw side of the filter bellows and an outflow face at a clean side of the filter bellows. The filter bellows is arranged in the frame. A seal is arranged circumferentially at least partially continuously at least in sections at an outer circumferential side of the filter medium at the inflow face of the filter bellows or at the outflow face of the filter bellows. Elongate adhesive sections are arranged along at least two adhesive tracks on the filter medium at the inflow face of the filter bellows and/or at the outflow face of the filter bellows. Strain-relief devices for compensating a length change of the at least two adhesive tracks in relation to the filter medium and/or to the seal are provided. A filter system is provided with such a filter element.