Hydrogen Filter Spiral Holder for Bidirectional Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filtering units for fuel supply systems require significant material removal to create bores for holding filters, leading to inefficiencies in material usage and cost, and are not designed to handle fluid flow in both directions effectively.
Innovation Solution
A filtering unit with a cylindrical spiral holder that uses a spring to maintain the filter in a cylindrical shape, allowing for efficient fluid flow and reduced material usage, and is capable of filtering contaminants larger than 5µm or 10µm in diameter, with the holder made from materials like wire, plastic, or metal, and featuring adjustable flow characteristics through varying slopes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a holder is formed from a single part with bores for holding the filter, then the filter can be held in position, but a lot of material needs to be removed from the holder
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into multiple separate components: a cylindrical casing and a filter holder with bores. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured independently with minimal material removal, as the filter holder can be designed with bores that require less material subtraction compared to a monolithic single-part holder.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter holder is inserted into the cylindrical casing, creating a nested structure. This allows the filter holder with its necessary bores to be positioned within the casing without requiring the casing itself to have complex bore structures, thereby reducing overall material removal from the main housing component.
2Ease of manufacture
If bores are created in the holder for filter attachment, then the filter can be held, but significant material removal is required
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the holder into a casing and a distinct filter holder component, the bores are concentrated in the smaller filter holder piece rather than being distributed throughout a large single-part structure. This makes the boring operation more efficient and reduces the total volume of material that must be removed.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter holder is extracted as a separate functional element from the main casing. This allows the bores to be created in the filter holder independently, optimizing the material removal process for that specific component while leaving the main casing intact with minimal material subtraction.
3Manufacturing precision
If a complex structure with bores in various directions is used, then the filter can be held in position, but the structure becomes more complex and material-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The holder functionality is segmented into two parts: the cylindrical casing provides the outer housing and positioning, while the separate filter holder contains the bores for filter attachment. This division allows each component to have a simpler, more focused structure rather than one complex monolithic structure trying to perform all functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter holder is nested within the cylindrical casing, allowing the casing to provide external positioning and support while the inner filter holder provides the bore structure. This nested arrangement distributes structural complexity across two simpler components rather than concentrating it in one complex 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 cylindrical spiral holder design reduces material and production costs while ensuring high efficiency in filtering hydrogen-containing fluids, supporting bidirectional fluid flow, and maintaining fluid integrity with low flow resistance.
Implementation Method 1
the holder comprises a cylindrical spiral that holds the filter in a cylindrical shape
Implementation Method 2
the holder includes a spring. Loaded springs, i.e. torsion springs, compression springs, or extension springs, provide for a force that acts on the filter to hold the filter in a cylindrical shape
Implementation Method 3
The filter may be configured for holding back contaminations larger than 5μm or 10μm in diameter
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a filtering unit (100) for filtering of a hydrogen containing fluid, the filtering unit (100) comprising: - a filter (101), - a connector (103), - a plug (105), - a holder (107), wherein the connector (103) is connected to the filter (101) at a first end (109) of the filter (101) and the plug (105) is connected to the filter (101) at a second end (111) of the filter (101), opposite to the first end (109), and wherein the holder (107) comprises a cylindrical spiral (113) that holds the filter (101) in a cylindrical shape.