Filter Housing Latching Element With Predetermined Breaking Point
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter housings for internal combustion engines face challenges in ensuring reliable sealing and preventing the reuse of latching elements, which can lead to air leaks and reduced filter efficiency when used with incorrect or used filter elements.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a latching element with a predetermined breaking point that separates upon opening, ensuring that the filter housing can only be closed with a matching replacement latching element, thus preventing the reuse of the latching element and ensuring proper assembly and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a reusable latching element is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of air leaks and improper sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The latching element is designed as a single-use component that breaks at a predetermined breaking point after the first opening operation. This disposable approach ensures that the latching element cannot be reused, thereby eliminating the risk of air leaks and improper sealing associated with reusable latching elements. The breaking point is engineered to fail safely, ensuring that only a new latching element can seal the housing properly.
2Reliability
If a complex latching mechanism is used, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latching element is divided into distinct functional segments: positioning elements for alignment, a movable connection for actuation, and a predetermined breaking point for single-use verification. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply and reliably, avoiding the need for complex mechanisms while maintaining high reliability through clear functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching element performs self-verification through its predetermined breaking point. When the housing is opened, the breaking point automatically breaks, providing visual confirmation that the latching element is new and suitable for sealing. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional verification systems or complex checking procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If a latching element without predetermined breaking point is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to prevent reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The predetermined breaking point is incorporated into the latching element during manufacturing, preparing it in advance to fail at a specific moment. This preliminary action ensures that the latching element is designed to break exactly when needed (after first opening), providing reliable single-use verification without complicating the manufacturing process. The breaking point is integrated as a standard feature during molding or fabrication.
Data Source
AI summary
A filter housing has first and second housing parts connected to each other to be openable and secured by a latching element. The latching element is connected to the first housing part by a moveable connection with a predetermined breaking point and is pivotable by the movable connection into the closed state. The latching element has two positioning elements and the housing parts have counter positioning elements. In the closed state, the counter positioning elements are axially arranged between the two positioning elements and the positioning elements form a stop for the counter positioning elements. The latching element has an element locking section locking at a housing locking section on the first or second housing part. The predetermined breaking point is subjected to mechanical stress such that the predetermined breaking point breaks upon locking or release of the latching element.