Filter Housing Snap Connect Decoupling Radial Sealing Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter housings face challenges in providing a robust and reliable sealing mechanism, especially at low temperatures, due to the brittleness of materials like plastic, which can lead to damage or breakage during assembly and disassembly of filter elements.
Innovation Solution
A filter housing design featuring a snap connecting device with radially and axially decoupled forces, utilizing a U-shaped snap hook with an elastic spring section and a radial stay to absorb forces, ensuring the sealing element is radially clamped without transmitting forces to the snap hook, thus maintaining flexibility and preventing material brittleness-related issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing element is radially clamped between rim sections, then sealing reliability is improved, but the snap connecting device becomes more complex and vulnerable to damage at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the force transmission paths by introducing a dedicated force-absorbing structure (radial stay with elastic element) that is spatially separated from the snap connecting device. This segmentation allows the sealing function and connecting function to be independently optimized, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial stay with elastic element acts as an intermediary between the rim sections and the snap connecting device. It absorbs and decouples the radial contact forces, preventing them from being transmitted to the snap connecting device. This intermediary structure enables reliable sealing while protecting the snap mechanism from damage, especially at low temperatures.
2Ease of manufacture
If the snap connecting device is made of plastic material, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the material becomes brittle at low temperatures leading to potential breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by incorporating a radial stay with an elastic element that is pre-designed to absorb impact forces. This cushioning mechanism is in place before any potential damage can occur, protecting the plastic snap connecting device from brittle failure during assembly operations at low temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the system by introducing an elastic element with specific force-absorbing characteristics. This elastic element modifies the force transmission parameters, reducing peak stresses on the plastic snap connecting device and preventing brittle failure at low temperatures while maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Strength
If additional connecting elements like screws are used, then connection strength is improved, but the device complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function and the connecting function into a single integrated snap connecting mechanism. By decoupling radial forces from axial forces, the snap hook can simultaneously provide both sealing pressure and mechanical connection, eliminating the need for separate screw connections and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap connecting device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a mechanical connector and as a sealing mechanism. The force-absorbing radial stay enables the snap hook to perform dual functions reliably, providing both connection strength and sealing action without requiring additional dedicated components.
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 design enhances the robustness and reliability of the filter housing by allowing easy assembly and disassembly at low temperatures without risking damage, ensuring a reliable radial sealing action and extending the service life of the snap connecting device.
Implementation Method 1
a contact force or clamping force acting in radial direction by means of the rim sections on the sealing element is decoupled from the snap connecting device
Implementation Method 2
a snap connecting device for axially bracing the housing parts which is integrally formed such on the housing part
Data Source
AI summary
A filter housing has a first housing part with a first rim section and a second housing part with a second rim section. The housing parts can be joined and separated from each other in axial mounting direction and define a housing interior for a filter element provided with a circumferentially extending sealing element. The first and second rim sections form a receiving area in which the sealing element is seal-tightly clamped radially between the first and second rim sections when the housing parts are joined in the mounted state. A snap connecting device axially braces the first and second housing parts relative to each other. The snap connecting device is formed integrally on the first and second housing parts such that a clamping force applied by the first and second rim sections on the sealing element in radial direction is decoupled from the snap connecting device.