Plastic Filter Housing with Conductive Decoupling Element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter housings for fuel filtration in internal combustion engines face challenges in being both mechanically robust and electrically conductive while maintaining cost-effectiveness, as well as effectively managing mechanical vibrations and electrical charging.
Innovation Solution
A filter housing with a peripheral, electrically conductive decoupling element on its outer circumference, made of plastic such as polyamide reinforced with glass or carbon fibers, which is manufactured using a two-component injection molding process, providing mechanical vibration decoupling and electrical charge dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filter housing is made of electrically conductive plastic, then electrical charges can be dissipated, but the production cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two functional layers: an inner layer made of electrically conductive plastic for charge dissipation and an outer layer made of electrically insulating plastic for cost-effective production. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function while optimizing overall system cost and performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Only the inner layer of the housing that contacts the fuel and filter elements is made of electrically conductive plastic, while the outer layer is made of insulating plastic. This local application of conductivity ensures electrical charge dissipation where needed without incurring the high cost of making the entire housing conductive.
2Strength
If the housing wall is made thick to increase mechanical robustness, then the housing can withstand crash effects, but the weight and material cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing wall is designed with corrugations or deformations that create curved, rib-like structures. These geometric features increase the moment of inertia and structural rigidity of the housing wall, enabling it to withstand crash effects and mechanical impacts without requiring increased wall thickness, thereby avoiding additional weight and material costs.
3Strength
If the housing wall is corrugated to increase rigidity, then mechanical robustness improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugations are designed with specific geometric parameters including optimized radii at transitions to eliminate stress peaks. By carefully controlling these dimensional parameters, the housing achieves maximum rigidity with minimal material while avoiding manufacturing defects and stress concentrations.
4Ease of manufacture
If a two-layer housing design is used for cost savings, then production cost decreases, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two-layer housing structure is manufactured as an integrated component using co-injection molding technology. This merging of layers into a single manufactured part eliminates the need for separate assembly operations, reduces the number of components, and simplifies production despite the dual-material construction, thereby achieving cost savings without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
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 solution enhances the mechanical robustness and electrical conductivity of the filter housing, effectively managing vibrations and electrical charges, thereby extending the service life and ensuring high functionality under varying operational conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an inner layer of the housing pot facing the interior is made of an electrically conductive plastic, whereas an outer layer of the housing pot facing away from the interior is made of an electrically insulating plastic, since the electrically conductive plastic is many times more expensive than an electrically non-conductive plastic. Due to the two-layer design of the housing pot, electrostatic charges can thus be dissipated from the interior of the filter housing to the electrical ground facing the interior
Implementation Method 2
The modulus of elasticity (modulus of elasticity) of the decoupling element can advantageously be smaller than the modulus of elasticity of the at least first housing part (measured at the same temperature, in particular at 20° C.). In this way, mechanical vibration decoupling is additionally achieved, in particular vibration decoupling from the filter housing to receptacles for the filter housing and/or holders for the filter housing.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a filter housing (110) for a filter system (100) for fuel filtering, comprising at least one inlet (102) and an outlet (104) for a fluid, wherein a circulating decoupling element (120) is provided on an outer periphery (116) of at least a first housing part (112), said decoupling element being electrically conductive. The invention further relates to a filter system (100) for fuel filtering, comprising such a filter housing (110).