Fuel Filter Cartridge Electrical Connection Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of fuel filter cartridges for internal combustion engines faces challenges due to the need for different configurations of electrical connections, which requires adjustments to the housing, cover, and filter element, increasing manufacturing and logistical efforts and costs.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves dividing the electrical connection into a base plug and a separate adapter plug, allowing for different configurations without altering the other components, ensuring the crimp connection can be made without issues and reducing manufacturing costs by using a pressure plate and crimping ring to position the cover correctly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different electrical connection configurations are implemented by adjusting the housing, cover, and filter element, then the adaptability to different vehicle manufacturers is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection is segmented into a base connector integrated into the cover and a separate adapter connector. This allows the base connector to remain standardized while the adapter connector provides the necessary variations for different vehicle manufacturers, eliminating the need to modify the housing, cover, or filter element for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable electrical connection components are extracted from the main housing and cover structure and placed into separate adapter connectors. This extraction allows the main components to remain uniform while the adapters provide the required configurability, reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs.
2Ease of manufacture
If clearance is provided for crimping operations in the electrical connector area, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the available space for electrical connection components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection is divided into a base connector integrated into the cover and a separate adapter connector. The base connector is positioned to provide necessary clearance for crimping operations, while the adapter connector is attached afterward to provide the electrical connection interface. This segmentation allows sufficient space for both crimping and electrical connection components.
3Strength
If the lid is crimped directly to the housing edge, then the structural strength is improved, but the adaptability to different electrical connection configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection is segmented into a base connector integrated into the cover and a separate adapter connector. This allows the lid to be crimped directly to the housing edge for structural strength, while the adapter connector provides the necessary variations for different electrical connection configurations without requiring modifications to the housing or lid.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable electrical connection components are extracted from the main housing and lid structure and placed into separate adapter connectors. This extraction maintains the direct crimp connection between lid and housing for structural strength while providing adaptability through interchangeable adapters.
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 approach simplifies variant formation and reduces manufacturing costs by allowing the same components to be used across various configurations, ensuring the crimp connection can be made easily and efficiently, while adapting to different vehicle-side connector plugs.
Implementation Method 1
Crimping is a joining process in which two components are connected by plastic deformation, preferably in adjacent edge areas
Implementation Method 2
Such a cartridge can also be equipped with an electric heating element for heating the fuel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fuel filter cartridge (1) for filtering and heating fuel for an internal combustion engine, comprising: - a pot-shaped housing (2) having a housing shell (4), a housing bottom (5) and a housing opening (6), - a filter element (8) for filtering the fuel, - a heating device (11) for heating the fuel, - a lid (12) for closing the housing opening (6), - an inlet nozzle (13) and an outlet nozzle (14) for the fuel, - a pressure plate (15), - a crimp ring (17) which is crimped to an end face of the housing shell (4) surrounding the housing opening (6), and - an electrical connection (22) for supplying electrical power to the heating device (11).The crimping is simplified if the electrical connection (22) has a base plug (24) formed on the cover (12) which can be plugged with an adapter plug (25), wherein the base plug (24) protrudes axially outwards on the cover (12) and is guided axially through a through-hole (28) formed in the pressure plate (15).