Radial Flow Filter Cartridge Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radial flow filtration systems in air handling systems are costly and generate significant waste due to the need for entire units or cartridges to be replaced when individual filter sections become spent.

Innovation Solution

A radial flow filtration system design where filter cartridges and sections are removable, allowing for the replacement of spent sections within the cartridge shell and housing without discarding the entire unit, reducing maintenance expenses and waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If entire filter units or cartridges are replaced when filter sections become spent, then filtration reliability is maintained, but maintenance cost increases and waste is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration reliabilityVSAvoidwaste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The filter system is divided into separate modular components: housing, cartridge shell, and filter section. This segmentation allows the filter section to be replaced independently while retaining the housing and cartridge shell, reducing waste and maintenance costs while maintaining filtration reliability through systematic component replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design enables recovery and reuse of the housing and cartridge shell components after the filter section becomes spent. By discarding only the consumable filter section and recovering the durable structural components, the system reduces material waste and maintenance expenses while ensuring continuous filtration capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If entire filter units or cartridges are replaced when filter sections become spent, then filtration reliability is maintained, but maintenance cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The filter system is divided into separate modular components: housing, cartridge shell, and filter section. This segmentation allows the filter section to be replaced independently while retaining the housing and cartridge shell, reducing waste and maintenance costs while maintaining filtration reliability through systematic component replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design enables recovery and reuse of the housing and cartridge shell components after the filter section becomes spent. By discarding only the consumable filter section and recovering the durable structural components, the system reduces material waste and maintenance expenses while ensuring continuous filtration capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Loss of substance

If filter sections are made removable from cartridge shells, then waste is reduced and maintenance cost decreases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewasteVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter system is divided into separate modular components: housing, cartridge shell, and filter section. This segmentation allows the filter section to be replaced independently while retaining the housing and cartridge shell, reducing waste and maintenance costs while maintaining filtration reliability through systematic component replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter section is nested within the cartridge shell, which itself is nested within the housing. This nested structure allows for hierarchical disassembly where the innermost filter section can be removed and replaced while keeping the outer cartridge shell and housing in place, reducing complexity compared to complete unit replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9259676B2Refillable filter system

Publication Date: 2016.02.16 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO

AI summary

A radial flow filtration system includes a housing and one or more generally cylindrical filter cartridges including a filter cartridge shell and a filter section. The filter cartridge is removable with respect to the housing and the filter section in removable with respect to the filter cartridge shell.