Flat-to-Curved Filter Element with Peripheral Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cylindrical air filters are voluminous during transportation and storage, making them inefficient and costly, and they often require complex designs to achieve proper sealing, which can be difficult to manufacture and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A filter element that can transition from a flat state for storage and transportation to a curved state for use, featuring a locking mechanism on its outer peripheral sides for secure engagement within a filter housing, allowing for efficient stacking and easy assembly, while also providing a sealing function using a compressible material for effective fluid filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a cylindrical filter design is used, then the filtering surface area is large, but the volume during transportation and storage is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is designed to dynamically change its shape from a compressed flat state during transportation to an expanded curved state during operation. This dynamic transformation allows the filter to achieve its full filtering surface area only when needed, while minimizing storage volume during transit.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element can be compressed into a compact flat configuration that nests efficiently with other filters during storage and transportation. The filtering surface is folded or compressed within a smaller envelope volume, similar to how a nested doll structure allows one object to contain another.
2Volume of stationary object
If a flat filter design is used, then storage and transportation efficiency is improved, but sealing performance becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element transitions from a flat compressed state to a curved expanded state during operation. This dynamic shape change enables the filter to form proper sealing surfaces against the housing when expanded, while maintaining compact storage volume when compressed.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element is designed to assume a curved or cylindrical shape when expanded for operation, rather than remaining flat. This curvature allows the filter surfaces to conform to the housing geometry and create effective sealing contact areas, solving the sealing problem inherent in flat filter designs.
3Reliability
If a curved shape is used for filtering operation, then sealing is improved, but the filter becomes voluminous during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element dynamically changes shape based on its operational state. During transportation, it maintains a compressed flat configuration to minimize volume. During installation and operation, it expands to a curved shape that provides effective sealing performance. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between sealing requirements and transportation efficiency.
4Reliability
If complex sealing designs are used, then sealing performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex sealing mechanisms, the invention achieves sealing through the inherent curvature of the expanded filter element. The curved shape naturally conforms to the housing geometry and creates sealing surfaces, eliminating the need for additional complex sealing components and simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element's own curved shape provides the sealing function. The geometry of the expanded filter body itself creates the necessary sealing contact with the housing, rather than requiring separate sealing mechanisms. This self-service approach to sealing reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliable sealing performance.
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 reduces storage and transportation costs, allows for easy manufacturing, and ensures proper sealing and filtration efficiency by maintaining the curved shape during use, making it a cost-effective and versatile alternative to traditional cylindrical filters.
Implementation Method 1
The filter element is further adapted to be locked in the second state when arranged in the filter housing... a locking means for locking the filter element in the second state
Implementation Method 2
The filter element may furthermore comprise a sealing means adapted for sealing between the filter element and the filter housing... a sealing function using a compressible material for effective fluid filtration
Implementation Method 3
comprising a filter material body... adapted for a filtering operation... effective fluid filtration
Data Source
AI summary
A filter element is provided for being removably arranged in a filter housing, the filter element including a filter material body. The filter element is adapted to assume a first state, in which it has a substantially flat shape, and a second state, in which it has such a curved shape, such that opposite outer peripheral sides of the filter element are directed towards each other and in which it is adapted for a filtering operation. The filter element is adapted to be locked in the second state when arranged in the filter housing. A filter system is also provided including a filter element and an anchoring device adapted to be arranged between the opposite outer peripheral sides of the filter element when it is curved to the second state.