Tank Venting Filter Inverted Air Inlet Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tank venting filters clog quickly with dust, dirt, or water due to inadequate design, which leads to underpressure issues during liquid removal from tanks, such as fuel or urea tanks in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A tank venting filter with a housing having an air inlet at the bottom side and an air outlet at the topside, configured transversely to the longitudinal axis, featuring a housing bottom that closes off the filter interior and is positioned at an obtuse angle relative to the filter element, allowing air to rise and sediment dust, dirt, and water, preventing clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air inlets are positioned at the top side of the filter, then air can be easily introduced into the filter, but foreign matter such as dust, dirt, and water quickly clogs the filter element
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet is inverted from the conventional top-side position to the bottom-side position of the housing. This inversion changes the flow direction so that air enters from below and rises through the filter interior, allowing foreign matter to settle at the bottom before reaching the filter element, thereby preventing clogging while maintaining ease of air introduction
2Device complexity
If the housing bottom is positioned at a right angle to the longitudinal filter axis, then the structure is simple, but foreign matter cannot effectively settle before reaching the filter element
Solution Approach 1:
The housing bottom is designed with an asymmetric angle α that is acute relative to the longitudinal filter axis, deviating from the conventional right-angle design. This asymmetric angular configuration creates a sloped surface that directs rising air flow past the filter element, enabling foreign matter to settle effectively on the housing bottom while maintaining structural simplicity
3Volume of stationary object
If the filter element is positioned close to the housing bottom, then the filter housing volume is reduced, but foreign matter settles on the filter element causing rapid clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The solution utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning the air inlet at the bottom and creating an upward rising flow path. The housing bottom is angled to extend into the filter interior, creating a separation zone where foreign matter settles vertically before air reaches the filter element, effectively using spatial dimensioning to prevent clogging without significantly increasing housing volume
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 design significantly prolongs the filter's service life by allowing effective sedimentation of foreign matter, preventing clogging and ensuring efficient air flow, even with smaller particles and water droplets, thus maintaining tank pressure.
Implementation Method 1
the sucked-in air must rise across the distance A toward the filter element. As the sucked-in air rises, sedimentation of dust, dirt, and water occurs. In other words, dust, dirt, and water are deposited on the housing bottom by the effect of gravity.
Implementation Method 2
As the sucked-in air rises, sedimentation of dust, dirt, and water occurs. In other words, dust, dirt, and water are deposited on the housing bottom by the effect of gravity.
Data Source
AI summary
A tank venting filter is provided with a housing extending in a direction of a longitudinal filter axis and provided with a bottom side and a topside opposite the bottom side. A filter element is arranged in the housing. The housing has an air inlet at the bottom side and an air outlet at the topside. The air inlet is provided in the housing transverse to the longitudinal filter axis. The housing has a housing bottom at the bottom side, wherein the housing bottom closes off a filter interior of the housing in a downward direction and is positioned at a spacing from the filter element. The housing bottom has an inner side facing the filter interior. The inner side ends in the air inlet and is positioned at least sectionwise at an obtuse angle relative to the longitudinal filter axis.