Removable Filter Container for Used Oil Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for used oils and other liquids/solids are cumbersome to use, prone to contamination, and inefficient in filtration due to external filters that require frequent washing and positioning changes, leading to poor handling and cleanliness issues during filling, transport, and emptying.
Innovation Solution
A container design with a removable filter positioned near the upper aperture, a lid that screws onto the container for secure closure, and a spout to prevent spills, allowing for easy filling and emptying without filter repositioning, and an auxiliary air hole for smooth liquid flow, ensuring cleanliness and convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filter is positioned outside the container or attached to it in the transport position, then the filter can be detached and positioned in correspondence with the entrance/exit channel for filtering, but this causes inconvenience in transport since the filter position between the handle and the body determines a bulk that prevents the user from firmly gripping the handle
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is designed to be movable between two functional positions: a transport position where it is stored within the container body near the upper aperture, and a filtering position where it is inserted into the entrance/exit channel. This dynamic repositioning allows the system to optimize for either handling convenience or filtering function as needed, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Productivity
If the filter is supplied with the container and positioned in correspondence with the entrance/exit channel during filling, then the oil is filtered and filling is facilitated, but the filter must necessarily be washed carefully to be returned to the inactive position
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is designed to be removable and reusable by the user. After filtering during filling, the user can easily remove the filter from the entrance/exit channel, rinse it with water to remove food remnants, and return it to its storage position within the container. This self-service design eliminates the need for specialized cleaning procedures or professional maintenance.
3Ease of operation
If the geometry of the entrance/exit channel allows easy filling and emptying, then the container is convenient to use, but part of the oil tends to adhere to the entrance/exit channel itself, with the risk of dirtying the external part of the container
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is extracted from the entrance/exit channel after the filling operation is completed. By removing the filter, any oil that may have adhered to the channel during filling is contained within the filter element rather than being transferred to the external environment during emptying. This extraction of the contaminated component prevents contamination of the container's external parts.
4Productivity
If the entrance/exit channel geometry is designed for efficient liquid flow, then the emptying process is improved, but there is a gurgling that occurs due to the difficulty that the air has in entering into the container
Solution Approach 1:
An auxiliary air hole is introduced as an intermediary element that allows air to enter the container during the emptying process. This additional air intake path works in conjunction with the main entrance/exit channel to enable smooth liquid flow without creating gurgling noises, as the air can bypass the liquid stream and enter the container through the auxiliary hole.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Container for oils, or other used liquids and granular solids, in particular for the domestic environment, comprising a containing body (11) defining a containing compartment (12) having an upper aperture (21), a filter element (20), a removable stopper (14) to selectively put said containing compartment (12) into communication with the outside of said container.