Screw-on Liquid Filter with Self-Draining Cover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid filters for internal combustion engines with screw-on covers face challenges in draining residual liquid, especially under tight installation conditions, where space is restricted and collecting the draining oil is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A liquid filter design with a screw-on cover featuring a round drain opening on its central axis, equipped with a device that automatically opens when the cover is unscrewed, allowing residual liquid to drain out before the cover is completely removed, facilitating filter cartridge replacement without the need for specialized tools or additional space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a drain plug is provided at the lowest point of the screw-on cover to drain residual liquid, then the filter cartridge replacement is facilitated, but the operation becomes difficult under tight installation conditions and requires additional space for collecting the draining liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element itself serves as the drainage device. When the screw-on cover is unscrewed, the filter element is automatically displaced axially relative to the drain opening, causing the drain opening to open and drain the residual liquid. This eliminates the need for a separate drain plug or external drainage tools, making the system self-servicing and simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage function is merged with the filter element and the cover removal operation. The filter element serves dual purposes: filtering liquid during operation and opening the drain when the cover is unscrewed. This combines multiple functions (filtration, drainage control, and drainage execution) into existing components, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If a drain plug is provided to remove remaining liquid in the screw-on cover, then the filter cartridge replacement is facilitated, but the installation space requirement increases due to the need for collecting containers
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element automatically performs the drainage function when the cover is removed, eliminating the need for external collecting containers or additional drainage equipment. The system uses its own components (filter element displacement) to achieve drainage, reducing the space required for installation while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The need for external collecting containers and separate drainage tools is extracted from the system. The drainage function is achieved through the inherent movement of the filter element relative to the drain opening, removing the requirement for additional space-consuming components and simplifying the installation environment.
3Reliability
If the drain opening is opened by a separate drain plug, then the drainage function is provided, but the device complexity increases and specialized tools are required
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element serves as both the filtering component and the drainage actuator. Its axial displacement upon cover removal automatically opens the drain opening, eliminating the need for separate drain plugs, valves, or specialized tools. This self-service approach maintains reliable drainage functionality while significantly reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element is given multiple functions: it filters liquid during operation and acts as the drainage control mechanism when the cover is unscrewed. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate drainage components, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable drainage through the same component that performs filtration.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid filter, in particular for the lubricating oil of an internal combustion engine, having a housing with an inlet and an outlet formed from a housing pot having a substantially downwardly open filter element installation opening and a screw-on cover that closes the installation opening, and a filter element arranged in the housing, sealingly separating the inlet from the outlet. The screw-on cover has a drain for residual liquid present in the housing with a round drain opening arranged in the central axis of the housing. A device for opening and closing the drain opening is arranged in the area of the drain and connected to an end disk of the filter element so that it moves relative to the drain opening and opens the drain when the cover is unscrewed.