Liquid Filter With Transverse And Axial Holes For Household Valves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid filters for hydraulic electric valves in household appliances lack optimal design features that simplify manufacturing and ensure effective particulate matter distribution, leading to inefficiencies in sedimentation and flow management.

Innovation Solution

A filter design featuring a central cup-shaped portion with a frusto-conical lateral wall and a peripheral flange, with through holes transverse to the axis in the central portion and parallel to the axis in the flange, optimizing dimensions and simplifying moulding equipment requirements, allowing for efficient sedimentation and flow management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the filter body is designed with complex hole patterns in both central and peripheral portions, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity and moulding equipment requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration effectivenessVSAvoidmoulding equipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter body is divided into two distinct portions: a central cup-shaped portion with transverse holes and a peripheral plate-like portion with axial holes. This segmentation allows each portion to be formed by dedicated, simpler moulding carriages rather than requiring a single complex moulding system to create all hole patterns simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the filter body are given different hole configurations tailored to their specific functional requirements. The central portion has transverse holes optimized for its filtration role, while the peripheral portion has axial holes suited to its position and flow characteristics, allowing each region to be manufactured with appropriate simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the central portion diameter is reduced to increase free surface area for sedimentation, then sedimentation effectiveness is improved, but flow capacity and structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesedimentation effectivenessVSAvoidflow capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the diameter of the central cup-shaped portion as a critical parameter, setting it to not exceed 0.8 times the conduit diameter. This parameter optimization balances the need for sufficient free surface area for sedimentation against the requirements for maintaining adequate flow capacity and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of simply reducing the central portion diameter to increase free surface area, the invention utilizes the axial dimension by extending the peripheral plate-like portion with its own pattern of holes. This distributes the filtration function across both radial and axial dimensions, maintaining flow capacity while providing adequate sedimentation surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the filter is designed with optimized dimensions for sedimentation, then filtration performance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration performanceVSAvoiddimensional precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for the filter dimensions: central portion diameter between 0.45-0.8 times conduit diameter, and axial length at least 0.7 times conduit radial dimension. These parameter specifications provide clear manufacturing targets that balance performance optimization with achievable precision levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 optimized filter design enhances manufacturing efficiency, ensures optimal particulate matter distribution, and maintains a considerable free surface area for effective filtration, aligning with experimental findings and theoretical proofs.

Implementation Method 1

In the lateral wall of the central portion there is provided a plurality of through holes, essentially transverse with respect to said axis, and in the peripheral portion there is provided a plurality of through holes essentially parallel to said axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow through holes: Porosity

Implementation Method 2

the axial length of the central portion of the filter is conveniently greater than or equal to about 0.7 times the average radial dimension of the conduit. These ranges of values enable the behaviour of the filter to be optimized

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentEP2624933B9A filter for liquids, in particular for electric valves of household appliances and the like
Publication Date: 2015.02.25 ELBI INT
  • EP2624933B9 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2624933B9 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2624933B9 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The filter (1) comprises a body of moulded plastic material, including a central hollow portion (3) shaped like a cup, having an axis (A-A), and a peripheral plate-like portion (4), shaped as an annular flange, extending radially toward the outside around the open end of the central cup-shaped portion (3), and wherein in the lateral wall (3a) of the central cup-shaped portion (3) there is provided a plurality of through holes (6), essentially transverse with respect to the axis (A-A), and in the peripheral flange-like portion (4) there is provided a plurality of through holes (5) essentially parallel to the axis (A-A).