Rotating Filter Insert for Continuous Plastic Melt Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plastic melt filtration devices face difficulties in efficiently separating contaminants of varying sizes and densities, leading to high cleaning efforts and costly, time-consuming filter replacements due to complex and expensive filter insert designs.

Innovation Solution

A device with a disc-shaped filter insert and a discharge system featuring a screw conveyor and scraper, allowing for easy filter installation, quick change, and continuous purification, with the filter insert mounted on a rotating body and housed in detachable parts for simplified maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If conventional filter inserts are used in existing filtration devices, then filtration function is provided, but filter replacement becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter replacement easeVSAvoidmaintenance downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The filter insert is divided into a modular design with a filter carrier and a separate filter screen that can be independently removed. The filter screen can be detached from the filter carrier without removing the entire filter insert from the housing, enabling quick replacement of only the consumable filter element while retaining the expensive carrier component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter screen is extracted as a separate replaceable component from the filter carrier. This allows the filter screen to be removed and replaced independently through the housing opening, eliminating the need to remove the entire filter insert assembly and significantly reducing maintenance downtime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If complex filter insert designs are used to achieve high purification, then filtration performance improves, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification efficiencyVSAvoidfilter insert complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter insert is segmented into functional components: a simple cylindrical filter carrier and a separate filter screen. This segmentation allows the complex filtration function to be achieved through a simple carrier structure combined with a replaceable filter element, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining high purification performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter carrier is designed as a universal component that can accommodate different filter screens and can be reused across multiple filter replacements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for complex integrated designs, as the carrier serves multiple purposes: structural support, rotational movement, and interface with the discharge device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If filter inserts are firmly fixed in the housing for stable operation, then filtration stability improves, but filter removal becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration stabilityVSAvoidfilter removal ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The filter carrier is designed to rotate relative to the housing during operation to enable the discharge device to access and clean the filter screen. This dynamic rotational capability allows the filter to be firmly fixed for stable filtration while enabling easy access and removal during maintenance through rotational movement that brings the filter screen to an accessible position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables problem-free filter replacement and high purification efficiency with reduced maintenance downtime and costs, as the disc-shaped filters can be easily accessed and replaced, ensuring continuous operation with minimal effort.

Implementation Method 1

a conveyor screw that interacts with the filter insert

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew conveyor mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

at least one screw conveyor in the direction of rotation of the filter insert behind the screw conveyor arranged and employed against the filter scraper includes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical scraping: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2061575B1Device for continuous filtration of impurities from a molten plastic
Publication Date: 2013.08.07 SCHULZ HELMUTH
  • EP2061575B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2061575B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for continuous filtration of impurities from a free-flowing mass, in particular a plastic melt, having a filter insert (3) in the form of a hollow rotating body rotatably mounted about its axis of rotation (A) with respect to a housing (1, 2) and through which the free-flowing mass flows, which rotating body is arranged in a flow channel of the housing (1, 2) between a feed channel (7) for the mass to be filtered and an outlet channel (8) for the filtered mass and having a discharge device comprising a transport screw (9) interacting with the filter insert (3), which discharge device is for impurities retained by the filter (5). In order to provide advantageous construction conditions, it is proposed that the filter insert (3) comprises a disk-shaped filter (5) coaxial to the axis of rotation (A) and arranged at the end side of the rotating body.