Filter Element Positioning via Thrust Collar and Drive Cams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter systems are cumbersome due to guide elements at the bottom of the filter housing, which occupy considerable space and make filter element installation difficult.
Innovation Solution
A filter system with a filter housing and filter element featuring a ring-shaped thrust collar on the filter lid for axial advancement and positioning, along with drive cams that engage with the thrust collar to align and secure the sealing plug with the drain hole, allowing for easy and secure mounting by screwing the filter lid onto the filter bowl.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If guide elements are provided at the bottom of the filter housing for guiding the filter element, then the filter element can be positioned correctly, but the guide elements occupy considerable space and make filter element installation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing guide elements at the bottom of the filter housing (traditional approach), the invention inverts the guiding function to the filter lid by providing a thrust collar with guiding surfaces that engage with the filter element during installation. This eliminates the need for bottom guide elements and simplifies the installation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions the guiding function from a horizontal/vertical guide rail arrangement at the bottom to an axial thrust collar arrangement at the top. The thrust collar uses axial and radial surfaces to guide the filter element into proper position, changing the dimensional approach to guidance from bottom-up to top-down.
2Manufacturing precision
If guide elements are provided at the bottom of the filter housing, then filter element alignment is improved, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the guiding function with the filter lid structure by integrating the thrust collar into the lid. Instead of separate guide elements in the housing, the thrust collar combines sealing and guiding functions in a single component that is part of the lid assembly, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust collar serves multiple functions: it guides the filter element into proper alignment, provides sealing contact, and enables axial positioning. This multi-functional component eliminates the need for separate guide elements, reducing structural complexity while maintaining alignment precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a filter system (10) for filtering a fluid, in particular fuel or oil, in particular for a combustion engine of a motor vehicle, which comprises a filter housing (12) with a filter bowl (16) having a drain hole (50) provided in a bottom section (62) thereof and with a filter lid (18) for closure of the filter bowl (16). The filter bowl (16) and the filter lid (18) each have a threaded portion (24, 28) corresponding to each other for directly screwing the filter lid (18) into or onto the filter bowl (16) in a predefined direction of rotation, wherein the threaded portions (24, 28) have a specified thread pitch with respect to the longitudinal axis (40) of the filter housing (12). The filter system further comprises a filter element (14) for arrangement inside the filter housing (12). The filter element (14) has a sealing plug (52) which is located eccentric with respect to a longitudinal axis (40) of the filter element (14) and which serves to seal off the drain hole (50) when the filter element (14) is seated in its predetermined mounting position inside the filter housing (12). The filter system (10) also comprises positioning means for positioning the filter element (14) in its predetermined mounting position.