Helicopter Air Filter With Joule Heating Mesh

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air filters in helicopters are ineffective in low temperatures due to hygroscopic materials absorbing humidity, forming ice, and existing heating devices are large and heavy, making them impractical for aircraft use.

Innovation Solution

An air filter with a heating device that uses an electric current to generate heat through the outer reinforcement mesh, which is coated with insulating enamel, to maintain the filtering material at a suitable temperature, ensuring airflow even in cold conditions, while being compact and lightweight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional heating device using hot air jets from a compressor is used to prevent ice formation on the air filter, then the air filter can operate in low temperatures, but the heating device becomes large and heavy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair filter operation in low temperaturesVSAvoidheating device weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical heating system (compressor-driven hot air jets) with an electrical heating system. The heating element is integrated directly into the air filter housing, using electrical resistance heating to warm the filtering material and prevent ice formation. This substitution eliminates the need for bulky compressors and ducting while achieving the same thermal protection function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element is nested within the air filter housing structure itself, rather than being a separate external component. The heating coil or resistance element is positioned inside the housing, surrounded by insulation material, which in turn surrounds the filtering material. This nested arrangement minimizes space requirements and integrates the heating function into the existing filter structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair filter operation in low temperaturesVSAvoidheating device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex mechanical system involving compressors, air ducts, and flow control mechanisms is replaced with a simple electrical heating element connected to the aircraft's electrical system. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity while maintaining the heating function necessary for cold weather operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element is designed to automatically regulate its operation based on the thermal conditions within the air filter housing. The system uses the existing temperature differential and thermal mass of the filter components to maintain appropriate temperatures without requiring complex control systems, sensors, or active regulation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The air filter effectively operates in low temperatures by heating the filtering material efficiently, maintaining airflow and preventing ice formation, while being economically and structurally suitable for aircraft integration.

Implementation Method 1

designed to cause an electric current I to flow through at least part of the outer reinforcement mesh 9, so as to generate heat, due to Joule effect, on the inside of the outer reinforcement mesh 9

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The outer reinforcement mesh 9 is coated with a coating made of an electrically insulating and heat conductor material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS10874973B2Vehicle provided, at the intake, with an air filter provided with a heating device

Publication Date: 2020.12.29 BMC SRL

AI summary

A vehicle provided with an engine, at least one air intake opening through which the engine takes in the external air needed to operate, and an air filter, which is arranged in the area of the air intake opening; the air filter has: at least one wave-shaped filtering material element; an outer reinforcement mesh; an inner reinforcement mesh; and a heating device, which is electrically connected to a group of electrified wires of the outer reinforcement mesh and is designed to cause an electric current to flow through the electrified wires, so as to generate heat, due to Joule effect, on the inside of the outer reinforcement mesh.