SAN Filter Media Preventing Fiber Protrusion in Enclosures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing recirculation filters in electronic enclosures, such as hard disk drives, face issues with protruding fibers causing damage and the use of polypropylene leading to contaminant formation, while current filters often require stabilizers that can generate vapor contaminants.

Innovation Solution

The development of a filter media using a fine fiber material composed of a styrene/acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer, which forms a layer on a substrate material, preventing fiber protrusion and eliminating the need for polypropylene and stabilizers, with a protective layer to enhance durability and filtration efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing recirculation filters are used, then filtration is provided, but fibers protrude causing damage to electronic components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration effectivenessVSAvoidfiber protrusion damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin film coating of styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer on the filter fibers. This thin film encapsulates the fiber ends, preventing them from protruding while maintaining the filter's structural integrity and filtration effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by coating existing filter fibers with styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer. This composite approach combines the filtration capabilities of the base fiber material with the protective and encapsulating properties of the copolymer coating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If polypropylene is used in filter media, then filtration is achieved, but contaminant formation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration performanceVSAvoidcontaminant formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition parameter by replacing polypropylene with styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer. This material substitution eliminates the contaminant formation issue while maintaining effective filtration performance through the copolymer's inherent filtration properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If stabilizers are added to filter materials, then material stability is improved, but vapor contaminant generation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter material stabilityVSAvoidvapor contaminant
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the stabilizer component from the filter material composition. The styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer provides inherent stability without requiring additional stabilizer chemicals, thereby removing the source of vapor contaminant generation while maintaining material stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The solution effectively prevents fiber protrusion and contaminant formation, enhancing the longevity and efficiency of electronic components by ensuring effective filtration without introducing additional contaminants, thereby improving the reliability and performance of recirculation filters.

Implementation Method 1

The layer including an adsorbent media includes activated carbon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

a filter media that includes the fine fiber material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3400086B1Styrene-acrylonitrile fine fibers, filter media, recirculation filters, and methods
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 DONALDSON CO INC
  • EP3400086B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3400086B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3400086B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~5

AI summary

The present disclosure provides styrene/acrylonitrile fine fibers, filter media including styrene/acrylonitrile fine fibers, a recirculation filter including a styrene/acrylonitrile fine fiber or filter media, and methods.