Hydraulic Filter Tangential Inlet Flow Redirection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic filters require large installation spaces and complex deflection mechanisms to manage fluid flow, leading to increased flow resistance and manufacturing costs, and often necessitate additional protective components to mitigate flow forces on the filter element.
Innovation Solution
A compact hydraulic filter design featuring a cylindrical filter element with an annular space and tangentially oriented inlet channel, which reduces flow forces on the filter element and eliminates the need for additional protective components by deflecting fluid flow around the element, allowing for a simpler and more efficient design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an axial inlet channel is used to direct fluid flow through the filter element, then the filtration function is achieved, but large flow forces act on the filter element requiring additional protective components and increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of directing fluid flow axially through the filter element, the invention inverts the approach by using a tangential inlet channel that directs fluid flow circumferentially around the filter element. This reversal of flow direction eliminates the need for protective components while maintaining filtration effectiveness, as the fluid enters the annular space and flows tangentially past the filter element before exiting through the outlet channel.
2Force
If a deflector plate is added to redirect fluid flow away from the filter element, then flow forces are reduced, but the device becomes more complex and requires larger installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for the deflector plate by integrating the flow redirection function directly into the inlet channel geometry. The tangential inlet channel is designed to naturally direct fluid flow circumferentially around the filter element, removing the separate deflector component and simplifying the overall device structure while achieving the same flow force reduction effect.
3Strength
If a perforated protective jacket is added to protect the filter element from flow forces, then element protection is improved, but flow resistance increases and manufacturing becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than adding a protective jacket with perforations that complicates manufacturing, the invention inverts the approach by designing the inlet channel to tangentially direct fluid flow around the filter element. This eliminates the need for the protective jacket entirely, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining element protection through intelligent flow path design.
4Device complexity
If the inlet channel is designed to flow directly into the annular space axially, then the structure is simpler, but large flow forces act on the filter element requiring additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetry in the inlet channel design by angling the inlet relative to the annular space, creating a tangential flow pattern rather than a symmetric axial flow. This asymmetric configuration naturally directs fluid flow circumferentially around the filter element, reducing flow forces without significantly complicating the overall structure.
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 minimizes flow forces on the filter element, reduces the need for protective components, and enables a more cost-effective manufacturing process while maintaining effective filtration performance.
Implementation Method 1
The inlet channel is advantageously designed such that a medium flowing into the annular space flows in approximately in the circumferential direction of the annular space
Implementation Method 2
The filter serves to separate particles from a medium, in particular from a fluid or a pressure medium
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The filter has a filter housing (2) in which a filter element (4) is provided. An inlet channel (8) and a discharge channel (10) are provided in filter housing. An annular space (20) is defined between an outer jacket surface (16) of filter element and an inner jacket surface (12) of filter housing. The inlet channel is arranged tangentially to filter element. The discharge channel is extended from an interior region (14) of filter element.