Pleated Air Filter for Motorcycle Helmet Breathing Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorcycle helmets, particularly full-face helmets, face challenges with inefficient air filtration due to geometrically limited filter areas and additional openings that increase breathing resistance, reducing the effectiveness of the filter mat.
Innovation Solution
A full-face helmet design featuring a removable pleated air filter element positioned inside the shell with an access opening for servicing, providing a larger filter media area and incorporating a hydrophobic layer and active carbon to enhance filtration, along with a ring-shaped layer to seal the neck area and reduce unfiltered air entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a flat filter mat is used in the helmet, then the filter area is geometrically limited, but the breathing resistance becomes too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a flat 2D filter mat to a pleated 3D filter element. The pleated structure creates multiple layers and folds that dramatically increase the filter media area within the limited space of the helmet's receiving space, thereby reducing breathing resistance while maintaining high filtration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The pleated filter element is designed to be inserted into a receiving space within the helmet shell. The pleated structure allows the filter element to be compact when not in use and expand to fill the receiving space when installed, maximizing the use of available volume to achieve large filter area.
2Area of stationary object
If the filter area is increased to reduce breathing resistance, then more filter media is needed, but the helmet space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By folding the filter media into a pleated configuration, the patent achieves a large filter surface area within a compact volume. The pleats create multiple layers that stack vertically, effectively utilizing the helmet's internal space to accommodate extensive filter media without increasing the overall helmet size.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving space and filter element are designed with curved surfaces that conform to the helmet's internal geometry. This curved design allows the pleated filter element to be optimally positioned and secured within the available space, maximizing filter area while maintaining a compact form factor.
3Ease of repair
If a removable filter element is implemented for easy servicing, then maintenance becomes convenient, but additional access openings are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is designed as a separate, removable component that can be independently accessed and replaced. The receiving space is structured with an access opening that allows the filter element to be inserted and removed without disassembling other parts of the helmet, simplifying the servicing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element is extracted from the helmet's main structure as a removable insert. The access opening provides a dedicated pathway for inserting and removing the filter element, allowing maintenance personnel to service the filter without affecting other components of the helmet system.
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 increases filtration efficiency by allowing higher-grade filter media selection, reduces humidity and hazardous substance entry, and provides easy filter replacement and maintenance, while maintaining operational integrity during use.
Implementation Method 1
The filter media can comprise a single or multiple layers of paper, woven or non-woven filter media... active carbon particle layers
Implementation Method 2
The media can comprise or consist of layers of textile media, synthetic nonwoven media, cellulose media, paper media laminated with fine or nano-fiber layers
Implementation Method 3
the air filter element comprises a hydrophobic layer of filter media
Implementation Method 4
The air filter element comprises active carbon to reduce the amount of hazardous substances entering the helmet
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Helmet (1), especially full face helmet, comprising an outer shell (3), a lower opening (3) in the outer shell, a closable visor (2), an air intake opening (5) in the outer shell for breathing air, a receiving space (6) adapted to receive an air filter element inside the shell, the air intake opening allowing air to flow from the outside of the outer shell to the receiving space, a clean side opening connecting the receiving space to the inside of the helmet for providing filtered air, and a removable air filter element (7), wherein the air filter element is positioned in the receiving space, wherein the receiving space comprises an access opening (22) to the lower side (9) of the helmet for servicing the filter element.