Sieve Element for Vehicle Compressed Air Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing operating pressures and temperatures in compressed air systems of commercial vehicles lead to charring and accumulation of oil and dirt particles, which can cause jamming and incomplete closure of shut-off valves, necessitating a solution to protect the compressed air treatment system and its components from contamination and damage.
Innovation Solution
A screen element with a screen grid and a settling surface is inserted into the ventilation line, featuring openings of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm diameter and a basket-like depression for collecting oil and dirt particles, positioned to prevent charring and protect the shut-off valve, with a mounting element for easy access and assembly integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shut-off valve is positioned before the air dryer cartridge to close the compressed air path during normal operation, then the valve can effectively prevent pressure loss during ventilation, but the valve is constantly exposed to untreated compressed air containing oil and dirt particles, leading to charring and accumulation that impairs valve functionality
Solution Approach 1:
A screen element is introduced as an intermediary component between the compressed air supply and the shut-off valve. This screen element captures oil and dirt particles from the compressed air stream before the air reaches the shut-off valve, thereby protecting the valve from contamination while maintaining its pressure control function. The screen element acts as a mediator that filters harmful substances from the airflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen element is positioned upstream of the shut-off valve to perform preliminary filtration of the compressed air. By capturing oil and dirt particles before they reach the valve, the screen element prevents charring and accumulation that would otherwise occur during normal operation. This preliminary action protects the valve from future contamination issues.
2Power
If the compressed air system operates at increasing pressures and temperatures to meet higher performance demands, then the system can deliver greater power, but the higher temperatures cause charring of absorbed oil and dirt particles that accumulate in the system
Solution Approach 1:
The screen element converts the harmful effect of high-temperature compressed air by using the thermal energy to facilitate the capture and accumulation of oil and dirt particles on the screen surface. The heat accelerates the condensation and adhesion of particles to the screen element, making the harmful high temperature condition beneficial for particle capture rather than just causing charring.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a screen element with small openings is used to retain harmful particles, then the filtration effectiveness increases, but the screen element may become clogged more easily and require frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The screen element features a non-uniform pore size distribution with different opening dimensions in different regions. The screen includes larger openings in certain areas to prevent clogging and facilitate maintenance, while smaller openings in other areas provide effective particle filtration. This local variation in quality allows the screen to maintain both high filtration effectiveness and ease of maintenance.
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 screen element effectively retains harmful particles, prevents contamination, and ensures the shut-off valve's functionality by collecting and removing oil and dirt particles, thereby extending the service life of air dryer cartridges and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a passage surface arranged in the frame, comprising a screen grid, the screen element comprising a top surface, which, together with the passage surface, separates an outflow side of the screen element from an inflow side of the screen element
Implementation Method 2
part of the inflow side of the screen element is covered by a molded part which has a settling surface on its side facing the passage surface, with a basket-like depression being formed for collecting oil and dirt particles
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a sieve element (24) for insertion into an insertion channel (26) of a vent line (22) of a compressed air preparation system (10) for a vehicle, in particular for a commercial vehicle, which includes at least the following: a frame (86), a passage surface (32) arranged in the frame (86) comprising a sieve grid, wherein openings within the sieve grid have a diameter between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.