Vehicle Filter Element Connector With Replaceable Female Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid filters in vehicles, such as those used in heavy-duty vehicles, face durability issues due to the frequent replacement of filter elements, which can damage the connecting device and affect filtration quality over time.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves replacing the female coupling piece of the male-female connector each time the filter element is changed, ensuring a liquid-tight connection by using a locking member with tapered surfaces for automatic engagement and disengagement, and an elastically deformable ring for secure locking, preventing axial movement and rotation of the male coupling piece.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filter element is periodically replaced to maintain filtration effectiveness, then the filtration quality is improved, but the connecting device is damaged and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two separate parts: a male coupling piece that remains permanently mounted on the pipe, and a female coupling piece that is integrated with the filter element. This segmentation allows the filter element (with its female coupling piece) to be replaced without affecting the permanently mounted male coupling piece, thus preserving the connecting device's reliability while maintaining filtration effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The female coupling piece is designed as a short-lived component that is replaced together with the filter element. This disposable approach allows frequent replacement of the filter element without damaging permanent components, as the female coupling piece is intended to be replaced along with the filter medium it connects.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the connecting device is made robust to withstand frequent replacements, then the durability is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the connector into male and female coupling pieces with distinct functions, the system achieves durability through the permanently mounted male piece while keeping the overall structure simple. The male coupling piece provides a stable, reusable connection point, while the female coupling piece simplifies the replacement process.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire connecting device robust and reusable, the invention inverts the approach by making only the male coupling piece permanent and robust, while the female coupling piece is designed for temporary use and replacement. This inversion simplifies the overall system while maintaining durability where needed.
3Reliability
If the female coupling piece carries sealing members for liquid-tight connection, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the wear on sealing members increases due to frequent stress
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing members are integrated with the female coupling piece, which is replaced periodically along with the filter element. This approach treats the sealing members as consumable components that are replaced before they fail, ensuring continuous liquid-tight connection while avoiding the complexity of maintaining reusable seals.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing members are discarded when the filter element is replaced, and new sealing members are automatically installed with the new female coupling piece. This ensures that worn sealing members are regularly replaced, maintaining sealing effectiveness without requiring separate maintenance operations.
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 configuration enhances the durability and efficiency of the liquid filtering device by ensuring a consistent liquid-tight connection throughout its service life, reducing wear on sealing members and minimizing damage to the connecting device during filter element changes.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable ring for secure locking, preventing axial movement and rotation of the male coupling piece
Implementation Method 2
a locking member with tapered surfaces for automatic engagement and disengagement
Data Source
Figure 1~6
Figure 7~8
Figure 9~12
AI summary
The filter element (20) comprises: - a filter medium (21) having an axis and forming a channel (22) extending substantially axially; - a first and a second end plates (25, 26), each end plate covering one axial end of the filter medium and being sealingly mounted on said axial end, the first end plate (25) having an opening (27) in fluid communication with the channel (22); whereby a liquid to be filtered can flow through the filter medium (21 ) towards the channel (22) and out of the filter element (20) through the opening (27), or reversely. The filter element further comprises: - a protrusion fixedly secured to the first end plate (25) and extending outwardly from said first end plate, the protrusion being substantially tubular and having a through hole in fluid communication with the first end plate opening, the protrusion forming a female coupling piece (100) of a male - female connector (50); - a locking member (300) capable of releasably locking a male coupling piece (200) of said male - female connector (50) in the female coupling piece (100).