Fluid Filter Element Socket for Secure Sealing and Anti-Twist Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter arrangements face challenges in providing a simple and cost-effective mounting process while ensuring a secure seal and anti-twist protection between the filter element and the retaining device.

Innovation Solution

The use of a connecting socket with a polygonal cross-section, featuring alternating flat portions and curved transitions, which serves as a receiving groove for a sealing ring, provides a secure anti-twist protection and ensures a leak-free seal, simplifying production and assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a cylindrical connecting socket is used for mounting filter elements, then the mounting process is simple, but anti-twist protection is not provided and sealing reliability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting process simplicityVSAvoidsealing reliability and anti-twist protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting socket is designed with an asymmetric polygonal cross-section featuring alternating flat portions and curved transitions, rather than a symmetric cylindrical shape. This asymmetric geometry provides both anti-twist protection through the flat portions that prevent rotation and improved sealing reliability through the curved transitions that conform to the sealing surface, while maintaining ease of mounting through the overall polygonal shape that guides insertion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If separate securing elements are used to prevent release of filter elements, then anti-twist protection is provided, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-twist protectionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-twist protection function is merged into the connecting socket structure itself through the polygonal cross-section with flat portions, eliminating the need for separate securing elements. The connecting socket simultaneously provides mounting, sealing, and anti-twist protection functions, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a polygonal cross-section with flat portions and curved transitions is used for the connecting socket, then anti-twist protection and sealing are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing and anti-twist protectionVSAvoidproduction cost and complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting socket geometry is defined by changing the cross-sectional shape parameters from circular to polygonal with specific flat portions and curved transitions. This parameter change achieves the desired anti-twist protection and sealing improvement while maintaining manufacturability through standard forming processes that can create the polygonal cross-section in a single operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3606640B1Filter element and filter arrangement having fluid filters and filter element
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 BOLL & KIRCH FILTERBAU GMBH
  • EP3606640B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3606640B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3606640B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

The invention relates to a fluid filter arrangement with filter element 10 and fluid filter, and to filter element therefor, having an element body 10A containing a filter means and having at least one connecting socket 21 which is open on the front face at one end of the element body for fastening of the filter element to a through-opening 6 in a retaining device in the fluid filter, wherein the connecting socket 21 comprises a lateral surface which is partially provided with a flattened portion and a bearing surface for a sealing ring 14 for cooperating with an internal wall of the through-opening. In order to simplify mounting by ensuring secure seal, a receiving groove is provided for the sealing ring 14 on the connecting socket 21, the groove base of which as a radial bearing surface for the sealing ring is having a polygonal cross section with flat portions and curved transitions alternating with one another.