Filter Element V-Shaped Tab for Cabin Air Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter elements for vehicle interior air filtration face challenges in reliable and tight insertion into filter housings, leading to increased installation effort and potential sealing issues.
Innovation Solution
A filter element with a flat, zigzag-folded filter bellows and a circumferentially applied side band featuring a V-shaped tab that overlaps the seal, allowing for easier insertion and enhanced sealing by pre-compressing the seal and providing additional support during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter element is designed with a seal and side band for tight insertion into a filter housing, then the sealing effect is improved, but the insertion process becomes more difficult and requires higher installation effort
Solution Approach 1:
The tab is folded back in a V-shape in advance during manufacturing, so that during insertion it automatically presses against the seal to guide and facilitate the insertion process. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for manual seal compression while ensuring proper sealing contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The V-shaped tab acts as an intermediary element between the side band and the seal. It transfers the insertion force to the seal in a controlled manner, pre-compressing the seal against the filter housing wall and reducing the risk of seal detachment during installation.
2Reliability
If the side band is designed to completely surround the filter bellows for tight sealing, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side band serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides lateral sealing of the filter bellows, supports the V-shaped tab for insertion assistance, and works together with the seal to ensure complete sealing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab is integrated directly into the side band as an integral part, rather than being a separate component. The V-shaped tab is formed from the side band material itself, combining the sealing function and the insertion assistance function into a single unified structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution simplifies the insertion process, reduces the risk of seal detachment, and enhances the sealing effect, thereby improving filtration efficiency and service life by ensuring a secure fit within the filter housing.
Implementation Method 1
the tab is pressed against the seal and is at least partially clamped between the seal and the filter housing, so that the tab is firmly fixed and/or rests on the filter housing
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a filter element (10) for filtering a fluid. The filter element (10) comprises at least one, in particular flat, filter bellows (12) made of a filter medium (14) with a designated raw side (52) and a designated clean side (50) opposite it. A flat side band (28) is arranged circumferentially on the end faces (16, 17, 18, 19) surrounding the filter bellows (12). A circumferential seal (32) is arranged on an outer surface of the side band (28). The side band (28) has a tab (36) projecting beyond the clean side (50) of the filter bellows (12), which tab (36) can be folded back in a V-shape over the seal (32) on the end faces (16, 17, 18, 19). The invention further relates to a filter system (100) with such a replaceable filter element (10) and to the use of the filter system (100) for air filtration, in particular for cabin air filtration, especially of a vehicle.