Magnetic Drain Plug for Lubricating Oil Particle Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil filters are not 100% effective in removing particles from lubricating oil, leading to increased wear on internal device parts, and can clog, requiring frequent changes and potentially causing serious problems if neglected.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic drain plug with a removable magnet that captures ferromagnetic particles and allows nonmagnetic particles to adhere through particle aggregation, filtering both sizes of particles continuously, even when the device is off, without clogging and reducing the need for frequent oil changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an oil filter is used to remove particles from lubricating oil, then particle removal efficiency is improved, but the filter can clog and require frequent changes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the filtering function into two separate components: a magnetic drain plug that captures ferromagnetic particles continuously, and an oil filter that handles nonmagnetic particles. This segmentation prevents the oil filter from being overloaded with all particle types, reducing clogging and extending service life while maintaining reliable particle removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic drain plug acts as an intermediary component between the lubricating oil and the oil filter. It pre-captures ferromagnetic particles before the oil reaches the filter, reducing the burden on the filter and preventing it from clogging prematurely, thus extending its operational duration.
2Quantity of substance
If an oil filter is used to capture particles, then particle concentration in oil is reduced, but the filter clogs and increases oil pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering system is segmented into a magnetic drain plug for ferromagnetic particles and an oil filter for nonmagnetic particles. This division ensures that the oil filter only processes a fraction of the total particle load, preventing excessive pressure buildup while still achieving effective particle concentration reduction in the lubricating oil.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic drain plug serves as an intermediary that removes ferromagnetic particles before the oil enters the filter. This pre-filtration action reduces the quantity of particles reaching the filter, preventing clogging and maintaining normal oil pressure levels while still achieving the goal of reducing overall particle concentration.
3Productivity
If a magnetic drain plug captures ferromagnetic particles, then continuous filtering is achieved, but the magnet may attract nonmagnetic particles through particle aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic drain plug with its axial bore design acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates particle aggregation. The bore provides a controlled environment where nonmagnetic particles can aggregate around captured ferromagnetic particles, enabling continuous filtering while managing the complexity of particle interactions through a simple geometric feature.
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
Effectively cleans lubricating oil by removing both small and large particles, reducing wear on internal parts, improving device efficiency, and extending the life of oil filters by minimizing particle buildup, thus enhancing fuel economy and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic drain plug with a removable magnet that captures ferromagnetic particles
Implementation Method 2
allows nonmagnetic particles to adhere through particle aggregation
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic drain plug includes a plug body that has a head section and a screw section protruding from the head section. The screw section is includes external threads for threading into a drain hole of a device containing lubricating fluid. The plug body has an axial bore for receiving a removable magnet through the head section. The axial bore has an axial depth such that a bottom of the axial bore extends into the screw section.