Segmented Air Filter Cover for Engine Intake Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engine air filters are difficult to install and maintain due to space constraints and interferences with surrounding engine parts, often requiring disassembly of other components, which increases labor costs and time.
Innovation Solution
The air filter cover is designed in two distinct parts with sealing mechanisms between them, allowing for modular adaptation to engine environments and enabling the filter cartridge to be replaced without disassembling other engine parts, by separating the upper and lower parts of the cover and using fastening members for assembly and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the air filter cover is made as a single piece, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but it requires disassembly of surrounding engine parts to access the filter cartridge for replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into two separate parts: a upper part and a lower part. The lower part remains fixed to the air filter housing, while the upper part can be removed independently to access the filter cartridge. This segmentation allows the filter cartridge to be accessed without disassembling surrounding engine parts, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and operational accessibility.
2Device complexity
If the air filter cover is made as a single piece, then there are fewer parts to assemble, but it cannot be adapted to different engine space configurations
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the cover into modular upper and lower parts, the design gains adaptability to different engine bay configurations. The upper part can be removed and the lower part's position or configuration can be adjusted to fit various space constraints, while still maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover design incorporates dynamic accessibility - the upper part can be selectively removed based on maintenance needs and space availability, providing adaptability without permanently increasing structural complexity.
3Ease of repair
If the cover is dismantled to access the filter cartridge, then the filter can be replaced, but it requires substantial disassembly and reassembly time increasing labor costs
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into an removable upper part and a fixed lower part. This allows the filter cartridge to be accessed by removing only the upper part, eliminating the need to disassemble surrounding engine parts. Maintenance time is significantly reduced as only the cover's upper section needs to be detached and reattached, rather than performing extensive disassembly and reassembly operations.
4Ease of manufacture
If the lower part of the cover has sufficient height, then the air duct connector can be properly integrated, but it increases the overall height of the air filter assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into upper and lower parts, with the air duct connector integrated into the lower part. This segmentation allows the connector to be properly formed with adequate height for functional integration, while the overall air filter assembly height is managed by keeping the lower part's height optimized for connector accommodation rather than excessive height.
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b~2c
Figure 2d
AI summary
The invention mainly relates to an air filter (10) for an intake line of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, said air filter (10) comprising: - a vessel (12), - a cover (16) which closes said vessel (12), and - a filter cartridge (14) housed inside said cover (12), said cover (16) comprising at least an upper portion (18) and a lower portion (19) which is positioned between said upper portion (18) and said vessel (12).