Filter Holding Frame With Hemmed Flanges for Airtight Sealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter frames in swine and poultry environments allow bypass air, leading to the transmission of contaminants like viruses, and face sealing issues, while also requiring internal stiffening supports and not being durable in harsh conditions.

Innovation Solution

A filter holding frame with intersecting members forming filter cells, featuring upstream hemmed edges and downstream opposing flanges that create a planar sealing face, secured by latches and welded flanges to reduce air bypass and enhance durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If typical filter frames are used in swine and poultry environments, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but air bypass occurs around the filters allowing contaminant transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidframe structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is divided into multiple members (front member, rear member, side members) that intersect to form filter cells. Each member has hemmed edges and flanges that create sealing surfaces, allowing the sealing function to be distributed across multiple segmented components rather than requiring a single complex sealing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces flanges extending from the hemmed edges of frame members, creating a new dimensional sealing surface that protrudes into the filter cell. This dimensional addition provides a positive sealing contact surface that prevents air bypass without requiring complex internal support structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If internal stiffening supports are added to prevent frame compromise, then sealing face integrity improves, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing face integrityVSAvoidframe assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The frame members are pre-formed with hemmed edges and attached flanges during manufacturing. This preliminary action creates the sealing surfaces and structural strength in advance, eliminating the need for additional internal stiffening supports to be installed later, thereby simplifying assembly while maintaining sealing face integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If conventional filter frames are used, then manufacturing is straightforward, but the frames do not withstand harsh environmental conditions including temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental durabilityVSAvoidframe construction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame members are constructed from metal material that provides durability in harsh environmental conditions. The combination of hemmed edges and flanges creates a composite structural feature that integrates sealing and strengthening functions, allowing the frame to withstand temperature variations and other environmental stresses without compromising integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3634603B1Filter holding frame

Publication Date: 2025.08.06 AMERICAN AIR FILTER CO INC

Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4

AI summary

A filter holding frame that may be used agricultural environments. The filter holding frame may include a plurality of interconnecting members with an upstream hemmed edge and downstream opposing flanges. The opposing flanges of the members may define a sealing face configured for a plurality of air filters. The members of the outer periphery of the filter holding frame may include the mounting surface and the sealing face.