Milk Filter With Extended Housing For Turbulent Countercurrent Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milk filters used in milking devices are poorly cleanable, leading to labor-intensive replacement and excessive consumption of materials, with countercurrent cleaning methods not effectively addressing the cleanability issues, especially for upper holes.
Innovation Solution
A milk filter design featuring a cylindrical housing with a concentric cylindrical filter plate and core, where the second volume part extends beyond the filter plate holes, allowing for countercurrent cleaning that improves the cleanability of the upper holes by ensuring the cleaning liquid develops a turbulent boundary layer before reaching the holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional milk filter with filter holes is used, then the filter can be cleaned in countercurrent, but the cleanability of the upper holes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second spatial dimension by extending the cylindrical housing beyond the filter plate in the longitudinal direction. This creates an extended cleaning liquid path that allows turbulent flow development, transforming the cleaning mechanism from simple direct impingement to a multi-dimensional flow pattern that effectively reaches all filter holes including upper ones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from laminar to turbulent by designing the housing extension to create sufficient flow path length. This parameter change in the cleaning liquid's flow state dramatically improves cleaning effectiveness by increasing shear stress and dislodging particles from the filter holes.
2Reliability
If filter sleeves are frequently replaced, then clean filtration is maintained, but labor and material consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter design enables self-cleaning capability through the countercurrent cleaning system with housing extension. The filter automatically removes its own contaminants without requiring manual intervention or replacement, transforming from a consumable component to a reusable one.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the filter after single use, the extended housing design allows the filter to be recovered, cleaned in place, and reused multiple times. This recovers the value of the filter component and eliminates continuous material consumption.
3Ease of operation
If the cylindrical part extends beyond the filter plate, then upper holes cleanability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extended cylindrical housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, defines the cleaning liquid flow path, enables turbulent flow development, and protects the filter plate. This multi-functionality justifies the additional structural elements without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter plate is nested within the extended cylindrical housing, with the housing providing a containing structure. This nested arrangement integrates multiple components into a compact assembly where the housing extension naturally accommodates the filter plate without requiring additional complex support structures.
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 improved design enhances the cleanability of the milk filter, particularly the upper holes, by ensuring effective turbulent flow of the cleaning liquid, reducing the need for frequent filter replacements and minimizing material consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The improved design enhances the cleanability of the milk filter, particularly the upper holes, by ensuring effective turbulent flow of the cleaning liquid
Implementation Method 2
a substantially concentric cylindrical filter plate containing a plurality of filter holes with a smallest diameter of between 60 and 100 μm
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
An automatically cleanable milk filter (8) comprises a cylindrical housing (23) with a longitudinal direction and with a cylindrical outer wall, a first end (15) with a first liquid connection, and a second end (17) with a second liquid connection, wherein, during use of the filter (8), the second end (17) is situated above the first end (15). A concentric cylindrical filter plate (21) containing a plurality of filter holes (31) with a smallest diameter of between 60 and 100 um and a cylindrical core (20) which is placed concentrically within the filter plate (21) are accommodated in the housing (23). The filter plate (21) divides the filter (8) volume into a first volume part (24) which is directly connected to the first liquid connection, and a second volume part (22) which is directly connected to the second liquid connection. The second volume part (22) comprises a cylindrical part, as well as a top part which narrows at a transition to the second liquid connection. The cylindrical part, viewed in a direction towards the second liquid connection, extends at least a predetermined distance beyond the plurality of holes (31) in the filter plate (21), and the first volume part, viewed in a direction towards the second liquid connection, does not extend beyond the filter plate (21). In this way, the stream of cleaning liquid, supplied from above, can develop beyond the top part to form a more turbulent stream parallel to the cylindrical part, and thus a more thorough cleaning of, in particular, the upper filter (8) holes (31). In addition, a milking device comprising this milk filter (8) is provided.