Self-Cleaning Filter With Flexing Media

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing industrial fluid filters generate significant waste and expose workers to harmful chemicals during the process of replacing saturated filtration media.

Innovation Solution

A self-cleaning filter design featuring a tube with perforations, a filter media positioned concentrically around the tube, and spacers creating a space between the tube and the filter media. This configuration allows the filter media to flex inward during liquid flow and outward during gas flow, facilitating the removal of filter cake without disassembling the filter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If traditional industrial fluid filters are used, then filtration function is provided, but significant waste is generated and workers are exposed to harmful chemicals during media replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewasteVSAvoidfilter media replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The filter media is designed to clean itself by flexing outward during gas flow to dislodge and remove filter cake automatically, eliminating the need for manual disassembly and replacement by workers. This self-cleaning mechanism reduces waste generation and worker exposure to harmful chemicals while maintaining continuous filtration operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The filter media transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that can flex and change shape. The media flexes inward during liquid flow for filtration and outward during gas flow for self-cleaning, enabling automatic filter cake removal without system shutdown or manual intervention, thus reducing waste and improving operational safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If filter media is replaced when saturated, then filtration efficiency is maintained, but the entire filtration assembly must be disassembled and resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidfilter media

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Only the filter cake (contaminated portion) is removed from the filter media through automatic flexing and dislodgment, while the filter media itself remains in place and reusable. This selective removal maintains filtration efficiency by eliminating contaminants without requiring disposal of the entire filter assembly, reducing resource waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter media is recovered and retained in the system after filter cake removal, allowing it to be reused for subsequent filtration cycles. Only the discarded filter cake is removed, while the valuable filter media structure is preserved and continues to provide filtration function, optimizing resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Quantity of substance

If filter cake accumulates on filter media, then filtration capacity increases, but filter performance degrades and manual cleaning is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter cakeVSAvoidfiltration performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter media undergoes periodic flexing cycles: inward during liquid flow to capture contaminants and outward during gas flow to dislodge filter cake. This periodic expansion and contraction automatically removes accumulated filter cake before it degrades filtration performance, maintaining continuous high productivity without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The filter media experiences mechanical deformation through flexing inward and outward during alternating liquid and gas flow. This mechanical movement creates vibration and displacement that dislodges accumulated filter cake from the media surface, preventing performance degradation and maintaining filtration capacity automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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 self-cleaning filter reduces waste by allowing the filter cake to be dried and removed without replacing the entire filtration assembly, thereby minimizing exposure to hazardous substances and optimizing resource utilization.

Implementation Method 1

a portion of the filter media is configured to flex inward into the space during the flow of liquid into the filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

flex outward from the space during the flow of gas exiting the filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20250065251A1Self-cleaning filter

Publication Date: 2025.02.27 CECO ENVIRONMENTAL IP INC

AI summary

Embodiments relate generally to a self-cleaning filter. A filter may include a tube comprising perforations. The tube may be configured to receive a flow of a liquid from a first direction or a flow of a gas from a second direction opposite to the first direction. The filter may also include a filter media positioned concentrically around the tube, and spacers positioned between the tube and the filter media to create a space between the tube and the filter media. A portion of the filter media is configured to flex inward into the space during the flow of liquid into the filter, and flex outward from the space during the flow of gas exiting the filter.