Magnetic Filter Interconnect for Leak-Safe Cartridge Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art filter interconnects face technical hurdles such as fluid leakage into electronic components during installation or operation, and there is a need for an improved interconnection scheme that prevents leakage and ensures proper installation without increasing manufacturing cost or complexity.
Innovation Solution
The use of correlated magnetism, specifically magnetic repulsion, to actuate a switch and assist in filter cartridge installation and removal, which includes a filtration system with correlated magnets on the cartridge and manifold that align to generate a repulsion force to activate a switch and control fluid flow, thereby preventing leakage and ensuring proper installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mechanical interconnection schemes are used for filter cartridge installation, then the structure is simple and manufacturing cost is low, but fluid leakage into electronic components occurs during installation or operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical interconnection and valve actuation mechanisms with a magnetic field-based system. Correlated magnets on the filter cartridge and manifold interact through magnetic attraction and repulsion forces to automatically actuate the valve and secure installation without mechanical contact, preventing fluid leakage into electronic components while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the filter cartridge and manifold. The correlated magnets create magnetic forces that mediate the interaction, enabling non-contact valve actuation and interconnection. This magnetic intermediary prevents direct fluid pathways to electronic components while transmitting the necessary mechanical action
2Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components are integrated into the filter manifold, then system functionality is enhanced, but fluid leakage into these components becomes a critical risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical valve actuation that requires fluid pathways with magnetic field-based actuation. The correlated magnets on the filter cartridge and manifold interact through magnetic forces to actuate the valve without requiring fluid to travel to electronic components, eliminating the leakage risk while preserving enhanced system functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the valve actuation function from the fluid pathway and relocates it to a magnetic field interaction zone. By separating the valve actuation mechanism from the fluid flow path and using magnetic forces instead of fluid pressure, the system maintains functionality while removing the harmful leakage pathway
3Ease of operation
If magnetic repulsion force is used to assist filter cartridge removal, then ease of operation is improved, but the magnetic system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic magnetic interaction during installation and removal. During installation, magnetic attraction secures the cartridge; during removal, magnetic repulsion assists ejection. This periodic switching of magnetic interaction modes, achieved through correlated magnet orientation, provides ease of operation without requiring complex additional mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses magnetic repulsion (opposite magnetic force direction) to assist removal, inverting the typical attraction-based magnetic connection. The correlated magnets are oriented such that during removal, the magnetic force reverses from attraction to repulsion, providing automatic ejection assistance and improving ease of operation while maintaining magnetic system simplicity
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
This solution effectively prevents fluid leakage into electronic components, ensures proper filter cartridge installation, and provides an anti-counterfeiting mechanism by requiring specific magnetic alignment for operation, thus enhancing the reliability and security of the filtration system.
Implementation Method 1
The interconnection scheme utilizes magnetic repulsion to aid in filter cartridge installation and/or removal. The function of the correlated magnetism in the present invention is at least two-fold: first, an upstream valve is actuated during initial installation of a filter cartridge into a mating manifold through non-electronic and non-contact actuation of a switch
Implementation Method 2
The invention utilizes a correlated magnetism design that encompasses correlated magnets, and more specifically a magnetic attraction, repulsion, or combination thereof to generate shear force, is introduced upon filter cartridge insertion into a mating manifold to aid in interconnection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A filtration system interconnection structure having a filter manifold including a sump housing and a first correlated magnet located on or connected to a portion of the manifold, and a filter cartridge including a filter media, first and second end caps sealed to the filter media, and a second, paired correlated magnet located on or connected to the filter cartridge housing body. The first and second correlated magnets are interconnected via magnetic communication upon insertion of the filter cartridge into the sump housing, and upon movement of the filter cartridge into an alignment position, the correlated magnet located on or connected to the manifold is permitted to translate as a result of the magnetic communication. The polarity profiles of the paired correlated magnets are aligned such that a repulsion force is created when the filter cartridge is inserted within the manifold sump housing.