Saddle-Shaped Filter Head With Support Struts

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filters with sleeve-shaped elements and annular bases face challenges in achieving a compact, high-flow-throughput design with minimal flow resistance while maintaining manufacturability and preventing leaks, often resulting in limited filter surface area and increased production costs.

Innovation Solution

A filter design featuring a saddle-shaped head area with a channel-shaped groove between lateral tips, a pocket-shaped filter element with an annular base and support struts, allowing for a large filter surface area and enhanced stability, manufactured through folding and welding of flat filter material with support struts covering welded edges to prevent leaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the filter element is made compact with an annular base and support struts, then the filter can be arranged in small fluid lines, but the filter surface area is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter compactnessVSAvoidfilter surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element transitions from a two-dimensional annular base to a three-dimensional pocket-shaped structure with vertical extension. The U-shaped cross-section creates depth in the vertical dimension, allowing the filter to maintain a compact footprint while significantly increasing the filtering surface area through the vertical walls of the pocket structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The pocket-shaped filter element is nested within the frame structure formed by the annular base and support struts. The filter element fits into the space defined by the support struts, maximizing the use of available volume while maintaining structural integrity and achieving both compactness and sufficient filter surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the filter element is made from several parts, then the structure can be stabilized, but the manufacturing becomes labor intensive and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter structural stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element is formed as a single integrated piece from a continuous strip of filter material. This unified structure eliminates the need for multiple separate components and complex assembly operations, reducing manufacturing labor and cost while maintaining structural stability through the continuous material construction and strategic support strut placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the filter element is made from a continuous strip, then manufacturing is simplified, but the filter surface area is limited by wide support struts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidfilter surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element utilizes thin filter material formed into a pocket-shaped structure with vertical walls. This thin-film construction allows the creation of large surface area within a compact volume, as the vertical walls provide extensive filtering surface without requiring wide support struts, thus maintaining both manufacturing simplicity and large filter surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP3047890B1Filter for filtering a liquid or a gas
Publication Date: 2017.04.19 SEFAR AG
  • EP3047890B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3047890B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3047890B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a filter for filtering a liquid or a gas, with a pocket-shaped filter element which has a sleeve-shaped circumferential region, a closed head region and an open foot region, and with a frame element which has an annular base, in which the foot region of the filter element is accommodated, and at least one supporting strut which extends away from the base along the circumferential region of the filter element. An advantageous design of the filter is achieved by forming the head region of the filter element with a saddle shape, wherein two lateral tips are provided between which a channel-shaped recess is formed.