Pleated Suction Strainer Venting Without Check Valve Bulk

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suction strainers face challenges in compact design due to the need for a check valve structure that increases in size, making it difficult to efficiently remove air bubbles.

Innovation Solution

A suction strainer with a tubular filtration section and an upper plate featuring an air vent hole, where a moving member is used to open and close the air vent hole, allowing for a compact and simple configuration to remove air bubbles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a check valve structure is provided on the first lid member, then air bubbles can be removed, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair bubble removalVSAvoidstrainer device size
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the air venting function from the traditional check valve structure and implements it separately through an air vent hole in the upper plate combined with a float mechanism. This separation allows the main strainer body to remain compact while adding a dedicated, space-efficient air removal system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The float mechanism is nested within the strainer assembly, with the float moving within the space created by the tubular filtration section and upper plate. The air vent hole is integrated into the upper plate structure itself, nesting multiple functions within a compact arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a traditional check valve is used, then air venting function is achieved, but the structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair bubble removalVSAvoidcheck valve structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the air venting function from the traditional check valve structure and implements it separately through an air vent hole in the upper plate combined with a float mechanism. This separation allows the main strainer body to remain compact while adding a dedicated, space-efficient air removal system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameter of the air venting mechanism from a pressure-based check valve to a buoyancy-based float system. This parameter change simplifies the structure by eliminating complex valve seating and spring mechanisms, relying instead on the simple rise and fall of the float with air bubble accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively removes air bubbles using a compact and simple air vent structure, ensuring efficient operation while maintaining a downsized moving member and air vent portion configuration.

Implementation Method 1

The moving member is provided to be movable between a position of closing the air vent hole and a position of opening the air vent hole. Thus, air bubbles are removable with the use of an air vent structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

The tubular filtration section is formed by bending a thin plate in a pleat shape

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4008421B1Suction strainer
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 YAMASHIN FILTER CORP
  • EP4008421B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4008421B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4008421B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Air bubbles are removable with the use of an air vent structure having a compact and simple configuration. An air vent hole is formed in an upper plate that covers an entire upper end surface of a filtration section having a substantially tubular shape formed by bending a thin plate in a pleat shape. A moving member is provided to be movable between a position of closing the air vent hole and a position of opening the air vent hole.