Filter Device Guide Vanes for Particle Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter devices do not effectively separate dirt particles from fluid flows prior to filtration, particularly in gas filtration for internal combustion engines, where contaminants can clog the filter medium body and reduce efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The filter device incorporates an annular circumferentially extending flow path with guide vanes projecting from the end disk into this flow path, and a cover that covers a portion of the flow path to accelerate and swirl the fluid, enhancing the separation of dirt particles at the inner side of the filter housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a simple filter element structure is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but dirt particle separation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter element structureVSAvoiddirt particle separation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element is segmented into multiple functional zones: an outer annular filter medium body for primary filtration, an inner cylindrical filter medium body for secondary filtration, and guide vanes for flow management. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner cylindrical filter medium body is nested within the annular filter medium body, creating a concentric dual-filter system. This nested configuration maximizes filtration surface area within a compact structure, improving dirt particle separation efficiency without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the filter medium body is flowed through radially from exterior to interior, then filtration efficiency is improved, but the filter element requires more complex housing structure to manage the flow path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidhousing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of introducing fluid axially and filtering radially outward, the design introduces fluid radially at the exterior surface and filters inward toward the central axis. This inverted flow direction optimizes the pressure gradient across the filter medium, improving filtration efficiency while the guide vanes simplify the housing structure by naturally directing the radial flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

Guide vanes are introduced as intermediary components between the fluid source and the filter medium body. These vanes radially distribute the incoming fluid across the exterior surface of the annular filter medium body, enabling efficient radial flow-through filtration while keeping the housing structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If guide vanes are arranged to deflect and accelerate gas flow for contaminant separation, then separation efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant separation efficiencyVSAvoidguide vane arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide vanes are designed to automatically deflect and accelerate the incoming gas flow without requiring external control mechanisms. The vanes passively utilize the kinetic energy of the incoming fluid to create centrifugal forces that separate coarse contaminants, achieving improved separation efficiency while minimizing added device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This configuration effectively separates dirt particles from the fluid flow before it enters the filter medium body, improving filtration efficiency and reducing the dirt load on the filter medium body, allowing for better airflow and extending the filter's operational lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

guide vanes are arranged axially distributed that serve for flow guiding in the inflow region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 2

The annular filter medium body of the filter element is flowed through by the fluid to be purified in radial direction, in particular radially from the exterior to the interior

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11338235B2Filter device comprising a filter element in a filter housing

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 MANN HUMMEL GMBH

AI summary

A filter device is provided with a filter housing provided with a housing wall and with a filter element arranged in the filter housing. The filter element has an annular filter medium body and an end disk arranged at an end face of the filter medium body. The filter medium body surrounds in a ring shape an inwardly positioned flow space for receiving a fluid to be filtered. An annular circumferentially extending flow path is positioned between an outer contour of the end disk and an inner side of the housing wall of the filter housing. Guide vanes project into the annular circumferentially extending flow path. The guide vanes are fastened at the end disk at the filter element. A cover is arranged at the end disk at the filter element and covers a portion of the annular circumferentially extending flow path.