Filter Element End Cap Seal Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter systems face challenges in providing a sufficient fluid-tight seal, particularly due to separate seals that can be inadvertently omitted during assembly, leading to potential fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A filter element with an integrated end cap and sealing wall, where the sealing wall is formed from a material providing a fluid seal and extends transversely to the plate, ensuring a secure compression between the filter canister and base, preventing fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate gasket is used to seal between the end cap and housing, then the filter assembly can be assembled, but the seal may be insufficient and the gasket may be unintentionally omitted during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing wall is integrated directly into the end cap structure, forming a unified component rather than using a separate gasket. This merging of the end cap and sealing functions eliminates the need for separate seal installation and ensures consistent sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The end cap with integrated sealing wall serves its own sealing function without requiring an external gasket. The sealing wall is formed from sealing material that directly contacts the housing to create the fluid seal, making the system self-sufficient.
2Ease of operation
If a separate gasket is used for sealing, then assembly is flexible, but it is easy to fail to include the seal during reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the end cap itself, so that when the end cap is installed, the seal is automatically installed with it. This eliminates the possibility of forgetting to install a separate gasket during maintenance or reassembly operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If a gasket is mounted separately on the end cap, then assembly is possible, but fluid leakage may occur upon operation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing wall is formed as an integral part of the end cap, ensuring consistent positioning and compression. This integrated design eliminates gaps or misalignments that could occur with separate gasket installation, preventing fluid leakage during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing wall is formed from sealing material that provides fluid-tight sealing properties. This material is integrated into the end cap structure, combining the structural function of the end cap with the sealing function of the gasket material.
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 integrated sealing solution ensures a reliable fluid-tight seal, reducing the risk of leakage and simplifying assembly by making it difficult to assemble the filter system without the seal, thus enhancing the operational integrity of the filter assembly.
Implementation Method 1
an end of the sealing wall remote from the plate comprises a seal portion configured to be compressed between an end of a wall of a filter canister and a portion of a filter base to provide a seal between the filter canister and the portion of the filter base
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A filter element (16) may include a tubular member (46) including an end portion (60) at least partially defining an inlet port (62) configured to provide flow communication to a filter medium (48) of the filter element, and at least partially defining an outlet port (64) configured to provide flow communication from the filter medium. The filter element may further include a filter medium associated with the tubular element, and an end cap (50) associated with the end portion of the tubular member and the filter medium. The end cap may include a plate (142) transverse to the longitudinal axis (X) of the tubular member, and a sealing wall (146) coupled to the plate and extending transverse to the plate. The sealing wall may include a seal portion (148) configured to be compressed between a filter canister (14) and a portion of a filter base (12) to provide a seal between the filter canister and the portion of the filter base.