Integral Breather Filter Element for Moisture and Debris Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter elements do not effectively integrate a breather filter, leading to inefficiencies in moisture and debris management within hydraulic filtration systems, and require separate component replacements.
Innovation Solution
A filter element design that incorporates a breather filter housing and filter cover to create a breather filter cavity, with a tortuous airflow pathway and optional features like desiccants or regenerative hygroscopic filters, ensuring integral breather filter functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate breather filter is used, then moisture and debris management is achieved, but component replacement requires separate maintenance operations and increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The breather filter is integrated directly into the filter element assembly, combining two previously separate components (filter element and breather filter) into a single unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate maintenance operations and reduces system complexity while maintaining effective moisture and debris management capabilities
2Reliability
If a separate breather filter is used, then moisture management is achieved, but maintenance time increases due to separate component replacement
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the breather filter into the filter element assembly, the invention enables simultaneous replacement of both components in a single maintenance operation. This eliminates the time required for separate breather filter replacement while maintaining effective moisture management through the integrated design
3Reliability
If traditional filter element design is used, then filtration is achieved, but breather filter integration is lacking leading to inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the breather filter into the filter element assembly creates a unified filtration system that simultaneously addresses both fluid filtration and moisture/debris management. This merged design improves overall filtration efficiency by eliminating the inefficiencies associated with separate component operations and enabling coordinated performance optimization
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 integrated breather filter effectively manages moisture and debris, enhancing the filtration process and simplifying component replacement by bundling the breather filter with the filter element.
Implementation Method 1
The breather filter housing defines a first tortuous airflow pathway between an ambient environment and the first flow face, and the filter cover defines a second tortuous airflow pathway between the ambient environment and the second flow face
Implementation Method 2
the breather filter has a desiccant
Implementation Method 3
the breather filter has a regenerative hygroscopic filter
Data Source
AI summary
The technology disclosed herein relates to a filter element having a first endcap, a second endcap, and filter media extending between the first endcap and the second endcap. The filter media defines a central opening and is coupled to the first endcap and the second endcap. A filter cover is coupled to the first endcap, and a breather filter is integral to the filter cover. The breather filter defines a first flow face and a second flow face. The filter element defines an airflow pathway from ambient environment through the first flow face and the second flow face.