Liquid Filter Device Sealing Sequence for Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid filter devices, such as fuel and oil filters, there is a risk of non-purified liquid being inadvertently transferred from the raw side to the clean side during the emptying process, which needs to be prevented to maintain cleanliness and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a specific arrangement of seals within the filter housing and ring filter element, where the first seal opens followed by the housing seal and second seal, allowing air to flow and liquid to drain without cross-contamination, and optionally a third seal for simultaneous discharge, ensuring that the raw side liquid does not reach the clean side. This arrangement includes a pin and seals that interact with the filter housing to control the flow and prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the filter housing is opened by unscrewing the filter housing cover to empty the liquid filter device, then the liquid can be drained from the filter housing, but non-purified liquid can inadvertently pass from the raw side to the clean side
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into multiple seals (first seal on pin, second seal on ring filter element, third seal on ring filter element, housing seal) positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows controlled opening sequences where each seal opens at a specific stage during filter housing opening, ensuring liquid is drained before any seal that could allow cross-contamination opens.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge channel is opened preliminarily by drawing the pin out of the discharge channel at the beginning of the opening operation. This preliminary action creates a drainage path before any seal opens that could allow liquid to pass from raw side to clean side, ensuring liquid drains first.
Solution Approach 3:
The seals are designed to open dynamically in a specific sequence during the opening operation. The first seal opens first to allow drainage, followed by the second and third seals opening subsequently. This dynamic opening sequence ensures that at no point can liquid flow from raw side to clean side, as the drainage path is already established.
2Reliability
If multiple seals are arranged to control the opening sequence, then cross-contamination is prevented, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The ring filter element serves multiple functions: it performs filtration and also carries the second and third seals that control the opening sequence. The pin serves both to close the discharge channel during operation and to open it during emptying by being drawn out. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The seals are nested within the filter structure - the first seal is on the pin, the second and third seals are on the ring filter element, and the housing seal is in the filter housing cover. This nested arrangement allows multiple sealing functions to be integrated within the compact filter housing structure without significantly increasing overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid filter device may include a filter housing and a ring filter element arranged in the filter housing. The filter housing may include a filter housing cover and a filter housing pot connectable tightly therewith via a housing seal. A discharge channel, a central clean channel, and a vent channel may be disposed in the filter housing pot. The ring filter element may include an upper end plate, a lower end plate, and a pleated star. When the liquid filter device is in an operating state, a pin arranged on the lower end plate may be disposed in and seal the discharge channel via a first seal, a second seal arranged on the lower end plate may be disposed against a surface of the clean channel, and a third seal arranged on the upper end plate may be disposed against a surface of the vent channel.