Rotary End Cap Filter Seal Avoids O-Ring Shear
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional filter assemblies with transverse sliding motion for sealing can damage sealing elements like O-rings or gaskets due to shearing or tearing actions, leading to faulty seals.
Innovation Solution
A filter assembly design where the end cap is inserted and then rotated relative to the housing head about a perpendicular axis to form a seal, avoiding transverse sliding and reducing the risk of damaging sealing elements, with optional features such as stop formations, guide arrangements, and camming mechanisms to ensure proper alignment and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transverse sliding motion is used to form the seal between the flow conduit and manifold port, then the seal is formed, but the sealing element is damaged due to shearing or tearing action
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of sliding the flow conduit transversely across the port opening to form a seal, the invention inverts the approach by having the flow conduit inserted axially into the port opening and then rotated about its own axis. This inversion of the sealing motion direction eliminates the shearing and tearing actions that damage sealing elements while still achieving a reliable seal between the conduit and port interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the transverse sliding mechanical motion with a rotational mechanical motion about the conduit's longitudinal axis. This substitution of the sealing mechanism's motion type eliminates the harmful shearing action on the sealing element (typically an O-ring) that occurs during transverse sliding, while still achieving the necessary sealing contact between the conduit opening and port.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the flow conduit is inserted axially and then rotated about its axis to form a seal, then damage to sealing elements is avoided, but additional alignment steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates preliminary alignment features such as a spigot on the flow conduit that fits into a receiving port in the manifold, and stop formations that pre-position the conduit axially before rotation. These preliminary actions ensure proper alignment is achieved automatically during insertion, eliminating the need for complex manual alignment procedures and reducing overall assembly complexity despite the added rotation step.
Data Source
AI summary
A filter assembly for collecting material entrained in a fluid stream includes a filter element having a tubular filter and an end cap providing a flow conduit which extends between first and second conduit openings communicating with the internal void of the tubular filter. A housing for the filter element has inlet and outlet ports for the fluid stream, a housing bowl in which the tubular filter is located, and a housing head which provides at least one of the ports as a docking port for the first conduit opening. The housing head and end cap are arranged such that the end cap is inserted into the housing head, and then rotated relative to the housing head about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the tubular filter and to the axis of the first conduit.