One-Piece Filter End Body With Flexible Sealing Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter elements for internal combustion engines require complex assembly and separate sealing components, which increase material expenditure and assembly complexity.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece end body with integrated closing, joining, and sealing sections, where each section has differing mechanical flexibility, allowing for optimized functionality and simplified assembly, with the sealing section being flexible and ring-like to enhance sealing performance and compensate for tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate sealing components are used, then sealing function can be achieved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing section is integrated into the end body as a single-piece component, merging the sealing function with the structural component. This eliminates separate sealing components and reduces assembly steps while maintaining reliable sealing through the flexible joining section that allows the sealing section to adapt to tolerances.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used, then functional optimization is possible, but material expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The end body is formed as a one-piece component comprising the closing section, joining section, and sealing section, reducing the total quantity of material required compared to multiple separate components while maintaining functional optimization through differentiated flexibility in each section.
Solution Approach 2:
The end body utilizes composite construction with sections having different mechanical flexibility properties, allowing each section to be optimized for its specific function while being manufactured as an integrated component, thus reducing overall material expenditure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid closing section is used, then mechanical stability is improved, but sealing adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The end body exhibits local quality differentiation where the closing section has high rigidity for mechanical stability, the joining section has intermediate flexibility for connection, and the sealing section has high flexibility for sealing adaptability. Each section's properties are locally optimized for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The end body transitions from rigid (closing section) to flexible (sealing section) properties through the joining section, allowing dynamic adaptation where the flexible sealing section can deform to accommodate tolerances while the rigid closing section maintains structural stability.
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 improves mechanical stability, reduces assembly complexity, and enhances sealing efficiency by integrating flexible sealing sections directly into the end body, eliminating the need for separate components and simplifying production and installation.
Implementation Method 1
The flexibility of the at least one joining section can advantageously be such that it allows a movement of the at least one sealing section relative to the closing section
Implementation Method 2
at least one sealing section at the end body for circumferentially sealing the fluid opening with respect to the tube-like connecting element
Data Source
AI summary
A filter element (10) of a filter for fluid, in particular fuel, oil, water, urea solution or air, in particular of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, and a method for producing the same are described. The filter element (10) comprises a filter medium (14), which is designed as a filter medium hollow body (12) and is circumferentially closed at least with respect to an imaginary axis (16). On at least one end face, the filter medium (14) comprises an end body (20). The end body (20) comprises a closing section (28), which is sealingly connected at least to the filter medium (14). Moreover, the end body (20) has a central fluid opening (24) into which a tube-like connecting element (38) of the filter can be inserted. At least one sealing section (30) is provided on the end body (20) for circumferentially sealing the fluid opening (24) with respect to the tube-like connecting element (38). The at least one sealing section (30) is integrally connected to the closing section (28) by way of at least one flexible joining section (32).