Hydraulic Filter Assembly With Coiled Stilling Line for Particle Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
State-of-the-art filter assemblies for hydraulic systems face inaccuracies in particle measurement due to undissolved gas components, which are mistakenly detected as contamination by optical particle counters, necessitating a stilling section to re-dissolve gases before measurement.
Innovation Solution
A compact filter assembly design integrates a fluid line of predetermined length as a winding helix within the housing, allowing for a stilling section that re-dissolves gases, eliminating the need for external space and improving measurement accuracy by integrating the stilling section directly into the assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fluid line of predetermined length is used as a stilling section, then gases are re-dissolved and measurement accuracy is improved, but the assembly requires significant external space
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid line is wound into a coil configuration and integrated within the housing of the filter assembly. This nesting approach allows the stilling section to be contained within the existing assembly boundaries, eliminating the need for external hose sections and surrounding space while maintaining the required fluid line length for effective gas re-dissolution
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid line is transformed from a straight linear configuration to a coiled three-dimensional arrangement within the housing. This dimensional transformation allows the fluid line to achieve the necessary length for gas re-dissolution while occupying minimal space within the housing, effectively resolving the space requirement contradiction
2Volume of moving object
If the fluid line is wound into a coil and integrated into the assembly, then the design becomes compact, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into functional zones (filtering section, measurement section, stilling section) with the coiled fluid line integrated into specific compartments. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled independently, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the coiled configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions: it contains the filter element, houses the particle sensor, and accommodates the coiled fluid line as a stilling section. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate external components, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while achieving compact integration
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 compact design enhances measurement accuracy by ensuring gases are re-dissolved before reaching the particle sensor, preventing misinterpretation of fluid quality and allowing for effective contamination monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
gases carried along in the fluid re-dissolve in the fluid
Implementation Method 2
Within the stilling section, gases carried along in the fluid, such as air, are re-dissolved
Implementation Method 3
the counting of opaque particles in a fluid flow is performed by a light barrier whose light beam passes through a measuring channel for the fluid
Implementation Method 4
The bubbles of those gas components cause the optical particle counter erroneously to detect those bubbles as contamination of the fluid owing to the different refractive indices of gases (air) and medium
Data Source
AI summary
A filter assembly, in particular used as a portable service unit for hydraulic applications, has a motor-pump unit (8) with one outlet (14) connected to a filter element (18) in the main flow. Another other outlet (26) of the motor-pump unit is connected to a device for measuring particles in the fluid in a bypass flow having a particle sensor (36). As a component of the device for measuring particles, a fluid line (38) of predeterminable length as a stilling section is on the inflow side of the particle sensor (36) in such a way that gases carried along in the fluid re-dissolve in the fluid. The fluid line (38) of predeterminable length is accommodated in a housing part (52) of the assembly, combined to form at least one winding.