Suction device with a filter element

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing suction devices face challenges in achieving a secure and efficient sealing of filter elements within the filter holder, leading to potential leaks and reduced performance due to cumbersome assembly methods.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves utilizing a sealing arrangement with elastic and flexible materials, where the pressure difference between the vacuum area and ambient pressure forces the sealing element to rest firmly against the sealing contour, ensuring tightness and preventing dust-laden air from entering while allowing fresh air to flow in case of leaks, thus enhancing the sealing efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a clamping device is used to secure the filter element to the filter holder, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the sealing function from a complex clamping device and implements it through a simple elastic sealing element that leverages the existing pressure differential in the vacuum system. The sealing element is integrated into the filter element or filter holder structure, eliminating the need for separate clamping mechanisms while maintaining reliable sealing through the natural suction force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing arrangement utilizes the self-generated suction force from the vacuum system to press the elastic sealing element against the sealing contour. The system serves itself by using its own operating principle (pressure differential) to achieve sealing, eliminating the need for external clamping devices or additional sealing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a rigid sealing structure is used to ensure tight sealing, then the sealing tightness is improved, but the ease of assembly and disassembly deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing tightnessVSAvoidease of assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a dynamic sealing solution where an elastic sealing element responds to pressure differential. During assembly, the element is easily inserted in a relaxed state, and during operation, the suction force dynamically presses it against the sealing contour to achieve tight sealing. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between ease of assembly and sealing tightness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element's contact pressure is not fixed but changes based on operating conditions. The elastic material allows the sealing force to increase automatically when suction is applied, transitioning from a low-force assembly state to a high-force operating state, thereby achieving both easy assembly and reliable sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the sealing element is pressed firmly against the sealing contour, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the risk of dust-laden air leakage through gaps increases if misalignment occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoiddust contamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic sealing element acts as an intermediary that absorbs misalignment and positioning errors. Its flexibility allows it to deform and conform to the sealing contour even if the filter element is not perfectly aligned, maintaining sealing effectiveness while preventing dust leakage paths that would occur with rigid sealing structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The use of a flexible elastic sealing element instead of a rigid seal allows the sealing surface to adapt to minor positioning variations. The flexible material can deform to maintain contact with the sealing contour, ensuring that dust-laden air cannot penetrate through gaps caused by misalignment while still allowing easy assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

This approach provides a secure and efficient sealing mechanism that maintains the suction device's performance by ensuring that the filter element is properly sealed, even during operation, and allows fresh air to flow in case of misalignment, protecting the suction unit from contamination.

Implementation Method 1

the pressure difference between the vacuum area of the suction device and in particular the ambient pressure or atmospheric pressure ensures that force is applied to at least one sealing element in the direction of the sealing contour

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The at least one sealing element of the sealing arrangement advantageously consists of an elastic, flexible plastic material, rubber or the like

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3332684B1Suction device with a filter element
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 FESTOOL GMBH
  • EP3332684B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3332684B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3332684B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a suction device (10) with a suction unit (20) for generating a suction flow (S) and with a suction housing (11) in which a dirt collecting chamber is located within a vacuum area (U) in which a vacuum can be generated by the suction unit (19) is arranged to receive dirt particles contained in the suction flow (S), which has a suction inlet (17) and is flow-connected to the suction unit (20) via at least one filter element, the filter element (30) being attached to a filter holder (50) is held in a detachable manner and can be removed from the filter holder (50) or introduced into the filter holder (50) by means of a sliding movement and/or pivoting movement, with a sealing arrangement (90) with at least one flexible sealing element (91 , 92) for sealing contact with a sealing contour (44). The at least one flexible sealing element (91, 92) is designed in the manner of a sealing membrane or sealing lip (95) and is positioned between the vacuum area (U) of the suction device (10) and a vacuum area (U) opposite the vacuum area (U) during operation of the Suction unit is arranged in an ambient pressure region (UG) having a higher ambient pressure, in particular atmospheric pressure, so that the at least one sealing element (91, 92) can be acted upon by the negative pressure generated by the suction unit from a release position into a sealing position in which the at least one sealing element (91, 92) rests tightly against the sealing contour (44), the at least one sealing element (91, 92) being spaced apart from the sealing contour (44) in the release position or bearing against the sealing contour (44) with less force than in the sealing position.