Pivotable Fan Insert for Cabin Filter Self-Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle cabin filters, particularly in agricultural vehicles, become clogged with impurities, reducing fresh air intake and leading to operator fatigue and increased stress due to increased pressure difference across the filter, necessitating a solution to reduce clogging and improve maintenance of fresh air flow.
Innovation Solution
A fan arrangement with a pivotable insert within a receiving housing that reverses the air flow through filter elements, allowing for partial air flow to be directed counter to the normal flow direction, effectively cleaning the filters and reducing clogging by connecting the filter elements to the pressure side of the fan in reversing positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If filter elements are used to clean fresh air intake, then air quality in the cabin is improved, but the filter elements become clogged with impurities over time, increasing pressure difference and reducing fresh air intake
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies reverse flow cleaning by inverting the normal air flow direction through the filter elements. During operation, the system switches between normal forward flow for air intake and reverse flow for cleaning, where contaminated air is directed backwards through the filter elements to remove accumulated impurities, thus restoring filtration efficiency without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic switching between forward and reverse air flow modes. The control system alternates the fan operation between normal intake mode and reverse cleaning mode at predetermined intervals or based on pressure differential sensors, enabling continuous maintenance of filter performance through periodic self-cleaning cycles
2Reliability
If filter elements are continuously used without maintenance, then initial air filtration performance is maintained, but clogging increases over time requiring manual cleaning or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the filter system to clean itself automatically through reverse flow operation. The same fan that draws air through the filters during normal operation is used to blow contaminated air backwards through the filters during cleaning cycles, eliminating the need for external cleaning equipment or manual disassembly for maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers the pressure differential energy that builds up during normal filtration operation by utilizing it to drive the reverse flow cleaning process. The system captures the accumulated pressure and redirects it to power the self-cleaning function, converting what would be a harmful effect into a useful cleaning resource
3Productivity
If the fan operates continuously in one direction, then fresh air supply is maintained, but filter clogging accelerates, but if the fan reverses direction, then filter cleaning is achieved, but fresh air supply is temporarily interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements periodic switching between forward operation mode for fresh air supply and reverse operation mode for filter cleaning. By alternating between these two modes at optimized intervals, the system maintains overall productivity while preventing excessive filter clogging, ensuring long-term reliability without continuous interruption of fresh air supply
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial reverse flow, where not all air flow is redirected for cleaning at any given moment. Instead, the system uses a portion of the fan's capacity for reverse cleaning while maintaining sufficient forward flow to sustain acceptable fresh air supply levels, balancing cleaning needs with operational requirements
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 design extends the service life of filter elements, reduces maintenance effort, and maintains improved fresh air flow by temporarily reversing air flow through the filters, thereby reducing clogging and enhancing the supply of fresh air to the vehicle cabin.
Implementation Method 1
at least one fan (20) arranged in a receiving housing (14) for generating a pressure difference between an intake side and a pressure side
Implementation Method 2
the insert can be pivoted between an operating position and at least a first reversing position and/or a second reversing position, wherein in the first and/or the second reversing position of the insert the first and/or the second filter element is connected to the pressure side of the blower in a fluid-permeable manner and can be pressurized
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A blower arrangement (10) for cabin filtration for a motor vehicle cabin with at least one blower (20) arranged within a receiving housing (14) for generating a pressure difference between an intake side (30) and a pressure side (32), wherein the receiving housing (14) has a discharge opening (34) on the pressure side and at least a first and a second intake opening (36,38) for the fluid-permeable connection of the blower (20) with at least a first and a second filter element (40,42).According to the invention, the at least one blower (20) is arranged in an insert (18) pivotably mounted in the receiving housing (14), wherein the insert (18) is pivotable between an operating position and at least a first reversing position and/or a second reversing position, wherein in the first and/or the second reversing position of the insert (18) the first and/or the second filter element (40, 42) is fluid-permeable to the pressure side (32) of the blower (20) and can be pressurized. By temporarily reversing the airflow through the respective filter element (40, 42) in the first and/or second reversing position, the filter elements (40, 42) can be cleaned.