Integrated Heating Support for Fuel Filter Water Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter devices for fluids, particularly in internal combustion engines, face challenges in achieving rapid heating with complex designs and requiring intricate assembly and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A compact filter device design with a heating element integrated into the filter housing cover, featuring a heat-conducting plate and drainage channel as a prefabricated module, which includes electrical contact pins for a water level sensor, allowing for simplified assembly and rapid heating of fluids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a heating device is integrated into the filter housing with multiple separate components (heating element, drainage channel, water outlet connection), then the heating function is achieved, but the assembly complexity and number of sealing elements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid heating capabilityVSAvoidnumber of components and sealing elements
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element, drainage channel, and water outlet connection are merged into a single integrated heating support component. This consolidation reduces the total number of parts and eliminates multiple sealing interfaces, directly resolving the technical contradiction by achieving heating functionality without increasing assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating support serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the heating element, forms the drainage channel for water separation, and includes the water outlet connection. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate parts, reducing both complexity and sealing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional separate component design is used for heating element and drainage system, then each component can be manufactured independently, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires multiple sealing elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent component manufacturingVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the heating element support, drainage channel, and water outlet connection into a single integrated component, the patent eliminates the need for complex assembly procedures and multiple sealing elements. The integrated design is manufactured as one piece, which simplifies the overall assembly process while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a compact filter device design is implemented with integrated heating support, then assembly is simplified and maintenance is easier, but the heating speed may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly and maintenance simplicityVSAvoidheating speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The integration of the heating element directly into the heating support structure with the drainage channel and water outlet connection creates efficient thermal pathways. This design allows heat to be rapidly transferred to the fluid while maintaining a compact, simplified structure that is easy to assemble and maintain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Ensures rapid fluid heating with simplified assembly and maintenance, eliminating the need for additional connections and sealing elements, while maintaining a compact and efficient filtration system.

Implementation Method 1

a heating device, via which heating device heat is introduced into the fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

heat is introduced into the fluid before the fluid reaches the filter element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2239034B1Filter device for fluids, in particular fuels
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 MANN HUMMEL GMBH
  • EP2239034B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2239034B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2
  • EP2239034B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The fluid filtering device (1) has a water outlet connection (11) that is directed outwardly from filter housing (2) through a recess in a cover (3) of the housing and designed as one piece with a heating support (15) of a heating device (6). A drainage channel (10) is arranged within filter housing and connected with the heating support. The channel is in fluid flow communication with a water collection chamber (9). The collected water from the drainage channel is delivered to the exterior of the housing through the water outlet connection.