Hollow-Cylinder Filter Element With Annular Buffer Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid filters, such as those for internal combustion engines, face challenges in ensuring immediate availability of cleaned fluid after startup, as the cleaned oil is not retained effectively for subsequent use.
Innovation Solution
A hollow cylindrical filter element design featuring a closure tube with a smaller outside diameter and a central tube, creating an annular buffer space, where the cleaned fluid collects and is retained until it reaches an outflow opening, ensuring quick availability post-filter operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the filter element is designed without a buffer space, then the structure is simpler, but cleaned fluid is not retained and is not available immediately after startup
Solution Approach 1:
The closure tube is inserted into the central tube, creating a nested configuration where the closure tube (outer diameter 20-40mm) fits within the central tube (inner diameter 50-80mm). This nesting creates the annular buffer space between the two tubes, allowing cleaned fluid to be retained without requiring a separate external reservoir, thus improving fluid availability while maintaining relatively simple structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the radial dimension by creating an annular buffer space between the closure tube and central tube, rather than using a longitudinal extension. This radial arrangement allows the buffer space to be integrated within the existing filter element length, avoiding increased axial dimensions while providing fluid retention capability
2Quantity of substance
If the closure tube extends over the full axial length, then fluid retention is improved, but the outflow of cleaned fluid is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The closure tube has different functional zones along its axial length: the lower portion (extending at least half the axial length of the filter element) provides fluid retention with flow-tight walls, while the upper portion allows fluid passage. This local differentiation enables both effective fluid retention and timely outflow, as cleaned fluid accumulates in the annular buffer space and can exit through the upper opening of the closure tube once the filter is operational
Solution Approach 2:
The closure tube is pre-configured with flow-tight walls over the lower axial length to prepare the buffer space for fluid accumulation before operation. When the filter starts, the cleaned fluid is already positioned to flow into the buffer space and can quickly reach the outflow opening once the level rises, minimizing delay without requiring the closure tube to extend the full axial length
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 ensures that cleaned fluid remains in the buffer annulus, allowing for immediate reuse after startup, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of fluid availability in liquid filters.
Implementation Method 1
The closure tube has a flow-tight wall, so that liquid which is located in the buffer ring space cannot flow out via the flow-tight wall of the closure tube
Implementation Method 2
a filter medium through which the fluid to be cleaned flows radially from the outside to the inside
Implementation Method 3
The cleaned oil is drained axially downwards from the interior
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The filter element (1) has a closure tube (5) that is arranged in an interior (3) of the filter element. The closure tube with a fluid-tight wall is provided with a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the interior. The fluid after filtration is drained in the axial direction through the closure tube. A central tube (4) is inserted into the interior, such that the interior surrounds the closure tube. An annular buffer space (6) for the fluid is formed between an inner side of the central tube and an outer side of the closure tube.