Secondary Filter Element Lock Hooks for Vibration-Stable Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air filter systems for internal combustion engines face challenges in ensuring reliable sealing and safe mountability of secondary elements during filter element exchange, particularly in environments with strong vibrations or shocks, while avoiding the use of metallic components for easy disposal.
Innovation Solution
A secondary element with a conical filter medium and a plastic end disk featuring radially inwardly oriented lock hooks is designed to securely attach to a central tube using complementary connection devices, preventing complete insertion and allowing easy detachment, while incorporating a bulge for positioning aid and vibration dampening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secondary element with connection devices is used to ensure reliable sealing during filter element exchange, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device is segmented into complementary parts: lock hooks on the secondary element and corresponding receptacles on the central tube. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component while achieving reliable connection through their interaction, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary element with its connection devices is nested within the filter system housing the central tube. The connection devices are integrated into the secondary element itself rather than being separate components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining sealing reliability through the nested configuration.
2Reliability
If lock elements with radially inwardly oriented lock hooks are used to secure the secondary element, then mounting reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lock hooks are oriented radially inwardly toward the center of the secondary element rather than outwardly. This inverted orientation allows the lock hooks to engage with the central tube during insertion (improving mounting reliability) while still permitting straightforward pull-off detachment (maintaining ease of operation), as the hooks simply disengage when force is applied in the removal direction.
3Ease of operation
If the distance between lock elements is larger than the deflection element measurement, then ease of operation is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing between lock elements is optimized locally: sufficient distance is provided to allow easy insertion without interference from deflection elements, while the lock hooks are positioned and dimensioned to ensure adequate engagement depth and contact area with the central tube, maintaining sealing reliability despite the increased spacing.
4Ease of repair
If a plastic end disk is used instead of metallic components, then ease of repair is improved, but strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device uses composite construction: the end disk is made of plastic for ease of disposal and corrosion resistance, while the lock hooks are designed with optimized geometry and material properties to compensate for the lower inherent strength of plastic, achieving sufficient connection strength through shape and structural design rather than relying solely on material strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary element for a filter system has first and second ends oppositely positioned to each other in longitudinal direction. The first end is closed by a closed end disk. The closed end disk has a first connection device for interacting with a complementary second connection device of a central tube of the filter system and for fixing the secondary element on the central tube. The first connection device has lock elements with radially inwardly oriented lock hooks distributed circumferentially on the closed end disk. A filter medium surrounds the lock elements. The lock elements include two directly neighboring lock elements having a distance relative to each other along the circumference of the closed end disk that is larger than a circumferential measurement of a radially outwardly oriented deflection element arranged at a collar of the central tube. A filter system with such a secondary element is provided.