Ring Filter Drainage Pin Offset for Complete Liquid Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter devices often fail to completely drain liquids during maintenance, leading to contamination of clean surfaces and potential engine damage, especially when skewed, and are compromised by the use of non-original filter elements, affecting filtering performance and safety.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a ring filter element with at least two draining passages, offset by 120° or more, and a key-lock system using pins to ensure proper alignment and quality of filter elements, allowing for safe and quick drainage and preventing contamination, while ensuring only authorized elements are used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single draining passage with one pin is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the drainage completeness deteriorates when the filter device is in a skewed position
Solution Approach 1:
The single draining passage is segmented into multiple draining passages (at least two) arranged at different angular positions (offset by at least 120°) around the filter element. Each passage has its own pin, allowing the drainage function to be divided into multiple independent channels that work together to ensure complete drainage regardless of filter orientation.
2Reliability
If multiple draining passages with multiple pins are implemented, then the drainage completeness and speed are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple draining passages and pins are merged into a unified, symmetric configuration where at least two passages are arranged at equal angular intervals (120° or 180°) around the filter element. This merging creates a balanced system that achieves complete drainage coverage while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through geometric symmetry and standardized component placement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pins are arranged to provide position-independent drainage, then the adaptability to different installation positions is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pin arrangement utilizes asymmetric angular offsets (specifically 120° or 180°) that create a symmetric pattern around the filter element. This asymmetric-to-symmetric transformation ensures that regardless of how the filter is installed or oriented, at least one pin will be in a vertical or near-vertical position to enable complete drainage, while the symmetric spacing simplifies manufacturing tolerances compared to arbitrary asymmetric arrangements.
4Reliability
If a key-lock system with multiple pins is implemented, then the protection against non-original filter elements is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The key-lock system implements local quality differentiation by giving each pin specific characteristics (different lengths, diameters, or head styles) at specific angular positions. This localized variation creates a unique authentication pattern that must be precisely replicated by authorized manufacturers, while the overall symmetric arrangement (120° or 180° offsets) maintains manufacturing feasibility through standardized production processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A filter device may include a filter housing and a ring filter element arranged upright in the filter housing in an installed state. The ring filter element may include an upper end disc, a lower end disc, and at least two projecting pins, each of which in the installed state may engage in an associated draining passage. One of the connecting pins may be arranged offset relative to another of the connecting pins by at least 120° in a circumferential direction of the ring filter element.