Filter Insert Bearing Device for Shaft Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The storage of long central shafts in filter or reactor devices is challenging due to the instability of the plastic tubular housing, which can lead to alignment issues and difficulties in storing the shaft within the housing, especially when multiple elements are arranged one behind the other.

Innovation Solution

A filter or reactor insert with a rotatably mounted central shaft, equipped with a bearing device that includes support and clamping elements to securely hold the shaft within a conventional tubular housing, allowing for stable storage and alignment through radial and axial fixation, using clamping elements that can be actuated externally to secure the bearing device inside the tube.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a large number of filter or reactor elements are arranged one behind the other on a common shaft, then the filtering or reacting capacity is improved, but the overall length of the filter or reactor insert becomes large, making storage of the shaft inside the housing difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering or reacting capacityVSAvoidstorage of shaft inside housing
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft is divided into multiple shaft sections that can be stored in a folded or collapsed configuration within the housing. During operation, these sections are extended and connected to form the full-length shaft required for high-capacity filtering or reacting. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high productivity (when fully extended) and easy storage (when collapsed).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft sections are designed to nest within each other during storage, similar to a telescopic structure. The inner shaft sections fit within outer sections, allowing the entire shaft assembly to be compacted to a small size for storage within the housing, while still providing the necessary length when deployed for operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If the housing is formed by a relatively unstable plastic tube, then manufacturing cost and ease of assembly are improved, but the ability to securely store and align the long shaft becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing fabricationVSAvoidshaft alignment and storage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A bearing device is introduced as an intermediary component between the plastic tube housing and the shaft. This bearing device provides the necessary structural support and alignment for the shaft, compensating for the instability of the plastic tube. The bearing device can be secured to the tube via clamping elements, creating a stable mounting structure without requiring the tube itself to be structurally rigid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the structural parameters of the support system by moving from relying on the tube's inherent rigidity to using a separate bearing device with appropriate mechanical properties. The bearing device can be made from materials and designs that provide the necessary stiffness and precision for shaft support, while the plastic tube maintains its advantages of ease of manufacture and assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If a bearing device with support and clamping elements is added to securely hold the shaft, then shaft storage stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaft storage stabilityVSAvoidbearing device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing device is designed to perform multiple functions: supporting the shaft during operation, securing the shaft during storage, and providing alignment. The clamping elements serve dual purposes of both securing the bearing device to the tube and providing adjustable positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1980306B1Filter or reactor insert
Publication Date: 2009.01.28 GRUNDFOS MANAGEMENT AS
  • EP1980306B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1980306B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1980306B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The filter or reactor insert has a filter or reactor element (2) mounted on a rotatable central shaft (4), and a bearing device (20) with a bearing that is located in a central region of the bearing device. The shaft is rotatably supported in the bearing, and a supporting element is spaced radially outward from the bearing and connected to the bearing by a connecting element. A tensioning element braces the supporting inside a pipe that receives the insert against inside walls of the pipe.