Filter Element Support Body Hexagonal Honeycomb Rigidity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter elements struggle to balance high rigidity with favorable flow characteristics and effective support for filter materials, particularly when subjected to large pressure gradients.

Innovation Solution

A supporting body with hexagonal honeycomb openings and V-shaped end-face delimiting struts, combined with internal stiffening ribs, enhances rigidity while maintaining good flow characteristics and supporting the filter material effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the supporting body uses a dense structure to increase rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the flow characteristics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverigidityVSAvoidflow characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting body is segmented into multiple struts that form a lattice structure with numerous through openings. These openings are distributed throughout the supporting body, creating multiple flow paths that allow fluid to pass through while maintaining structural rigidity through the strut network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting body employs a porous lattice structure composed of struts with through openings formed between them. This porous design allows fluid flow through the structure while the strut arrangement maintains mechanical strength and rigidity, resolving the contradiction between density and flow characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Ease of manufacture

If the supporting body uses a simple structure to improve manufacturing ease, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to support filter material under pressure gradients deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidsupport capability under pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functions are merged into a single supporting body structure: the struts provide both mechanical support for the filter material and create flow paths through their arranged openings. The end pieces are integrated with the strut structure to form a complete supporting assembly that maintains filter material stability under pressure gradients while being manufacturable as a unified component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting body combines multiple structural elements (struts, end pieces, through openings) into a composite lattice structure. This composite design provides enhanced mechanical properties and support capability under pressure while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through integrated construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If the supporting body uses large through openings to improve flow characteristics, then the flow characteristics are improved, but the support stability for flexible filter material deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow characteristicsVSAvoidsupport stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting body divides the flow path into multiple segments through numerous distributed through openings in the strut structure. This segmentation allows fluid to pass through many small openings rather than fewer large ones, maintaining flow characteristics while the distributed strut network provides stable support for flexible filter material across the entire surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3781283B1Support body for filter elements and filter element herewith
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 BOLL & KIRCH FILTERBAU GMBH
  • EP3781283B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3781283B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3781283B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

SUMMARY The invention relates to a supporting body for filter elements as well as filter elements therewith, in particular filter candles for reversible flow filters, comprising a supporting structure connecting two end pieces 11 and delimiting a cavity 5 extending along a body axis A. The supporting structure has supporting struts which delimit through openings into the cavity 5 being offset in the axial direction and offset in the peripheral direction. In order to provide a supporting body which has a high inherent rigidity and enables both good supporting of a filter material and favourable flow characteristics of the filter material, a majority of the through openings 1 are configured as hexagonal honeycomb openings having supporting struts, running parallel to the body axis, as lateral delimiting struts 13, and having supporting struts, converging in a V-shape, as end-face delimiting struts 14, wherein on an inner side 16 of the supporting structure at least two stiffening ribs 17 are configured, extending parallel to the body axis A and protrude partially into the cavity 5 enclosed by the supporting structure.