Pneumatic-Hydraulic Back-Flushing for Fluid Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid filters face challenges in effectively cleaning the filter elements during back-flushing processes, as dirt particles often mix with clean fluid, contaminate it, or require filter removal for external cleaning, which affects filter efficiency and service life.
Innovation Solution
A fluid filter design with a bottom-side inlet and outlet, a support body, and a compressed air system that uses a fluid guide pipe to direct fluid flow from the inside out through the filter element, allowing compressed air to dislodge and remove dirt without pressure, using the filter's internal fluid as a cleaning reservoir and controlling flow directions with control elements to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filter element is cleaned externally by reversing flow direction, then dirt is removed from the filter, but the stripped dirt mixes with clean fluid causing re-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cleaning process from the main fluid path by creating a separate cleaning reservoir that collects dirt away from the clean fluid. The cleaning fluid is directed through a separate route that prevents contact with the filtered fluid, thereby removing the harmful mixing effect while maintaining effective cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
A separate cleaning fluid pathway acts as an intermediary between the filter element and the clean fluid. This intermediary system allows dirt to be removed and collected without directly contacting the clean fluid, preventing re-contamination while enabling effective cleaning.
2Strength
If the filter element is surrounded by a stretchable support sleeve for cleaning, then the filter structure is reinforced, but the filter candle is no longer suitable for back-flushing and must be removed for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the support structure into a rigid support body rather than a continuous stretchable sleeve. This segmentation allows the filter element to maintain stability while enabling the cleaning fluid to access and flow through the filter from the inside, making back-flushing possible without removal.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of cleaning from the outside in, the invention inverts the cleaning approach by introducing cleaning fluid from the inside of the filter element outward. This inversion allows the cleaning process to occur in-situ while maintaining filter stability, eliminating the need for removal.
3Reliability
If compressed air is used to press fluid through the filter for cleaning, then dirt is effectively removed from the filter medium, but additional energy and complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the compressed air system multi-functional by using it for both the filtering operation and the cleaning operation. The same compressed air source that drives fluid through the filter during operation is reused to drive cleaning fluid through the filter during cleaning, eliminating the need for separate energy sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter system performs its own cleaning using the same compressed air infrastructure already present in the system. The cleaning process is self-contained and uses the system's own resources, eliminating the need for external cleaning equipment or additional energy input.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If the filter housing is designed with separate cleaning and filtering paths, then dirt and clean fluid are separated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the cleaning reservoir and filtering chamber into a single integrated housing space. By combining these functions in one housing structure with strategically placed inlet and outlet openings, the design achieves separation of cleaning and filtering paths without requiring separate housings, thereby reducing overall 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
This method enables efficient, integrated cleaning of filter elements, minimizing technical and energetic effort, and significantly extends the service life of filter cartridges by preventing dirt re-contamination and allowing for in-situ cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
a reservoir with cleaned fluid is formed in such a manner that for the back-flushing process said reservoir is suddenly pressed from the inside outwards through the filter medium with the aid of compressed air
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a pneumatic-hydraulic back-flushing method according to claim 1 and a device for back-flushing fluid filters using an integrated hydro-dynamic cleaning process with a filter element (5) arranged in a housing (1) about a support body (9), wherein the housing (1) is designed in such a manner that a fluid inlet (7) and, preferably on the housing lid (2), a fluid outlet (7) are arranged in such a manner that the fluid flow flows through the filter element (5) from the outside to the inside in the filtering process, such that the support body (9) is closed on both sides and a supply pipe (3) is arranged in the interior of the support body (9) in such a manner that said support body projects from the housing lid (2) into the interior of the fluid filter and is open at the bottom, and said supply pipe (3) is arranged in a fluid guide pipe (4), wherein the fluid guide pipe (4) is closed by a base (6) and a compressed air connection (10) is preferably arranged in the housing lid (2) and the fluid flow in the filter process (16) adopts the direction of flow illustrated (16), wherein the fluid is guided through the filter element (5) and the support body (9) into the fluid guide pipe (4), which is open at the top and closed at the bottom, and is guided into the supply pipe (3), which is open at the bottom, in such a manner that said fluid flows to the fluid outlet (8), and for the cleaning process the fluid inlet (7), the fluid outlet (8) and the compressed air inlet (10) are operated by control elements such that the fluid adopts the direction of flow (17).