Filter Assembly Sloping Locking Mechanism for Hydraulic Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter assemblies for hydraulic systems face difficulties in easy replacement due to the filter element becoming clogged, requiring significant force and space for removal, and often result in oil drips and complex disassembly processes.

Innovation Solution

The filter assembly incorporates a sloping side wall face and corresponding protrusion design, allowing for easy axial pulling of the filter element from the housing, reducing required removal height and minimizing oil drips by guiding the protrusion into the undercut opening, facilitating simple and low-force removal and installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the filter element stays attached to the head when the filter housing is removed, then the filter element can be securely held during operation, but the removal height increases and oil drips onto the machine or floor below

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure holding of filter elementVSAvoidremoval height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The locking assembly is segmented into a protrusion on the filter element and a corresponding opening in the filter housing, allowing the filter element to be securely held during operation but easily removed when the housing is detached from the head

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter element is extracted from the head along with the filter housing as a unit, eliminating the need to leave the filter element attached to the head and preventing oil drips during removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the filter element stays attached to the head when the filter housing is removed, then the filter element remains positioned, but large forces are required for removing the filter element from the head

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning of filter elementVSAvoidremoval force
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The locking assembly is divided into a protrusion and a corresponding opening with a sloping side wall face, creating a mechanical advantage that reduces the force required for removal while maintaining stable positioning during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring force to overcome a tight fit, the sloping side wall face of the opening is designed to guide the protrusion during removal, inverting the force requirement by using the geometry of the locking assembly to facilitate rather than resist removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If the filter element is removed after removing the filter housing, then the filter housing can be easily detached, but the removal process becomes complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetachment of filter housingVSAvoidremoval process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element and filter housing are merged into a single removable unit through the locking assembly, allowing both to be detached together in one simple operation rather than requiring separate removal steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking assembly is pre-configured with the protrusion and opening geometry that automatically guides the filter element during removal, eliminating the need for complex manual manipulation or additional tools

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2421629B1A filter assembly and a method for replacing a filter element
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 PARKER HANNIFIN MFG NETHERLANDS FILTRAT
  • EP2421629B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2421629B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2421629B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a filter assembly, comprising a head, a filter housing which can be connected to the head, and a filter element which can be received in the filter housing. The invention further relates to a filter element and a method of replacing a filter element. The filter element comprises a tubular wall provided with a filtration medium; a first end part provided at a first axial end of the filter element; and a second end part provided at a second axial end of the filter element. The second end part of the filter element is provided with a either a protrusion or an undercut opening, on the one hand, and the second end of the housing is provided with either an undercut opening or a protrusion, on the other hand. A side of the protrusion or opening is provided with a sloping face which slopes at a slope with respect to the axial direction of the filter element.