Pivoting Air Filter Element for Blindfold Sealing Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Servicing straight through flow filter elements in vehicles is challenging due to space constraints, elevated mounting, and access orientation, making blindfold installation complex.
Innovation Solution
A filter assembly with a housing featuring V-shaped grooves and L-shaped protrusions allows for pivotable installation and secure sealing, using a cover with locking structures to prevent unwanted movement and rotation, facilitating easy servicing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filter housing is mounted at an elevated position with upwardly oriented access opening, then the filtering function is achieved, but the servicing becomes difficult and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is designed with pivotable protrusions that allow it to be rocked into sealing engagement with the housing. This dynamic installation method enables the filter to be securely installed even in elevated positions with upwardly oriented access openings, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable filtering function and improving servicing ease.
2Device complexity
If the filter element uses simple insertion without pivoting mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing engagement and fixation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element features asymmetric L-shaped protrusions with first and second legs of different lengths. When inserted into the V-shaped groove, these asymmetric protrusions rock the filter element into proper sealing engagement against the housing. This asymmetric design provides reliable sealing without requiring complex additional mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and sealing reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3(a)~3(d)
AI summary
An air cleaner comprising: a) a housing b) a cover; c) a filter element within the housing; wherein the surrounding housing-wall defines a pair of opposing receiving V-shaped grooves; wherein the filter element comprises first and second protrusions extending from opposing sides of the filter element and arranged along a common axis; the protrusions being adapted and arranged within the receiving grooves such that the filter element can be rocked about a pivot axis defined by pivot points of the first and second protrusions within the housing pivot the filter element into sealing engagement with the housing; and wherein the protrusions comprise a generally L-shaped cross-section comprising a first leg and a second leg, connected by an elbow connection portion, the elbow connection portion being arranged and adapted to serve as the pivot point for the filter element in the housing.