Vehicle Air Filter Cleaning Device with Containment Casing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manual cleaning methods for air filters in internal combustion engines are cumbersome, lead to impurity dispersion, and result in non-uniform cleaning, posing challenges in heavy-duty applications.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with a containment casing and air flow generation means that directs a controlled air flow through the filter, capturing impurities and preventing their dispersion, while ensuring uniform cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual cleaning with a compressor is used, then the filter can be cleaned, but impurities are dispersed into the surrounding environment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidimpurity dispersion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A containment casing is introduced as an intermediary structure between the filter and the environment. The casing captures impurities during the cleaning process and channels them through a controlled path to an outlet, preventing direct dispersion into the surrounding environment while maintaining the effectiveness of the compressed air cleaning method

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If manual cleaning with a compressor is used, then the filter can be cleaned, but the cleaning quality is non-uniform and depends on operator ability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidcleaning uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The containment casing is divided into multiple functional zones: a treatment zone where the filter is positioned for cleaning, a containment zone that captures impurities, and an outlet zone that directs the cleaned air and impurities outward. This segmentation ensures that the compressed air flow is properly distributed across the filter surface and that impurities are systematically captured rather than randomly dispersed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The containment casing acts as a mediator that standardizes the cleaning process. It provides a fixed structure that ensures consistent positioning of the filter and controlled delivery of compressed air, eliminating the variability introduced by different operator techniques while maintaining cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If manual cleaning with a compressor is used, then the filter can be cleaned, but the operator performs hard work to accurately clean the filter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidoperator effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The containment casing is designed to automatically capture and contain impurities as they are dislodged from the filter surface by the compressed air. The structure itself performs the function of impurity collection and containment without requiring additional manual intervention, allowing the operator to simply direct the compressed air stream while the system handles the rest of the cleaning process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If compressed air with increased pressure is used for cleaning, then the filter can be cleaned, but the filtering surface may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidfilter surface integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The containment casing provides a protective environment before the compressed air contacts the filter. By confining the air stream within the structured treatment zone, the casing ensures that the pressure is distributed more evenly across the filter surface and prevents localized high-pressure spots that could damage delicate filtering materials, thus cushioning the filter from potential damage while maintaining cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 device effectively cleans filters with improved quality and reduced operator effort, minimizing the risk of filter damage and ensuring efficient impurity collection.

Implementation Method 1

generation means of an air flow which passes through said treatment zone; said casing being provided with an outlet and being configured to convey said air flow coming from said generation means towards said outlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP4548995A1Cleaning device for cleaning a filter of the type used to filter the air sucked into an internal combustion engine of a vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.05.07

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AI summary

A cleaning device (1; 101) for cleaning a filter (F) of the type used to filter the air sucked into an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The device (1; 101) comprises a containment casing (10; 110) suitable to internally define a treatment and positioning zone (12; 112) of the filter (F) to be cleaned and generation means (20; 120) of an air flow (A; A') which passes through said treatment zone (12; 112). The casing (10; 110) is provided with an outlet (14; 114) and is configured to convey the air flow (A; A') coming from the generation means (20; 120) towards the outlet (14; 114).