Filter Guide Ring With Outer Legs for Pneumatic Bulk Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter guide systems in pneumatic bulk transport systems are prone to contamination and airflow obstruction due to guide wire failure, which can lead to inefficient unloading and contamination of food products, and generate excessive noise.
Innovation Solution
A filter guide ring with a unique annular design featuring four legs that extend outwardly and upwardly from the outer ring side, positioned to maintain the filter element centrally within the housing, ensuring no disruption in airflow and preventing guide wire contamination, constructed from few components for reliability and ease of operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If guide wires are used to align the filter element, then the filter element can be positioned correctly, but the guide wires are subject to failure and breakage which causes contamination of bulk material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the guide wires from the air path entirely by repositioning them to the outer surface of the housing, eliminating the risk of wire breakage contaminating bulk material while maintaining filter element alignment functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a filter element retention tool as an intermediary device to align and position the filter element during installation, replacing the unreliable guide wire system with a dedicated alignment tool that does not interfere with bulk material flow
2Manufacturing precision
If guide wires are positioned in the air path to align filter element, then proper seal can be ensured, but the wires create obstruction in air flow path through filter element
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guide wires from the air path and relocates them to the outer surface of the housing, eliminating air flow obstruction while preserving the filter element alignment and sealing function through alternative positioning mechanisms
3Productivity
If blower operates at high revolutions per minute to force air into discharge pipe, then unloading efficiency is improved, but noise levels and contamination from oil grease and dirt increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an air filter that converts the harmful pressurized air containing oil, grease, and dirt into clean air by filtering out contaminants before the air contacts bulk material, turning a potentially harmful air stream into a beneficial cleaning mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an air filter as an intermediary device between the blower and the bulk material handling system, filtering out oil, grease, and dirt contaminants from the pressurized air while allowing the high-velocity air flow to continue driving efficient unloading
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 filter guide ring effectively seals the filter element, prevents contamination, maintains airflow efficiency, and reduces noise, ensuring reliable and efficient pneumatic system operation during bulk cargo unloading while meeting food safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
an inline air filter for dry bulk tank trailers... The filter guide is used to align the filter element near the outlet to ensure that a proper seal exists between the filter element and the outlet
Implementation Method 2
The pressurized air then attracts by venturi flow the granular material, by gravity out of the tank trailer, and it is conveyed within the stream of the pressurized flowing air
Implementation Method 3
A pneumatic system begins with a blower mounted to a tractor, such as a truck. When turning at high revolutions per minute, the blower forces air into a discharge pipe that pressurizes the collection pipes below a trailer
Data Source
AI summary
A filter guide ring is disclosed which comprises a ring having a top surface, a bottom surface; an inner ring side, and an outer ring side, a first leg having a first short leg portion extending outwardly from the outer ring side, a first elbow connected to the first short leg portion, and a first long leg portion extending upwardly from the first elbow, a second leg having a second short leg portion extending outwardly from the outer ring side, a second elbow connected to the second short leg portion, and a second long leg portion extending upwardly from the second elbow, and a third leg having a third short leg portion extending outwardly from the outer ring side, a third elbow connected to the third short leg portion, and a third long leg portion extending upwardly from the third elbow.