FILTER WITH COMPLIANT SECTION

Abstract

A filter having a hollow body extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end and comprising a plurality of holes formed through said body, and a first compliant section formed in said body, said compliant section comprising a plurality of slits which extend through said body and in a circumferential direction around said filter. A nozzle/filter assembly is also described as well as a method for making the same.

Claims

1. A filter comprising: a hollow body extending longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end, the hollow body comprising: a central section, positioned between the first and second end and comprising a plurality of holes; and a first compliant section formed at said first end of said filter, said compliant section comprising a plurality of slits which extend through said body and in a circumferential direction around said filter.

2. The filter of claim 1, wherein said slits have a length that extends in said circumferential direction around the filter and a width that extends in the longitudinal direction of said body.

3. The filter of claim 2, wherein said width of said slits in said longitudinal direction is smaller than a width of said holes in said longitudinal direction.

4. The filter of claim 1, wherein said compliant section comprises a plurality of adjacent rows of said slits.

5. The filter of claim 4, wherein said plurality of adjacent rows of slits are provided so as to be in a staggered in position in the circumferential direction relative to each other.

6. The filter of claim 4, wherein the compliant section has a first row, which is adjacent to a second row, wherein the second row is adjacent to a third row and the third row is adjacent to a fourth row; wherein each, or some, of the slits in the first row has a length that is the same as, and starts and ends at the same points as, each, or some, of the slits in the third row and/or wherein each, or some, of the slits in the second row has a length that is the same as, and starts and ends at the same points as each, or some of, the slits in the fourth row.

7. The filter of claim 1, further comprising: a second compliant section and wherein said first compliant section is provided at said first end of said filter and said second compliant section is provided at said second end of said filter.

8. A nozzle/filter assembly comprising: the filter of claim 1; wherein said filter is mounted so as to be positioned and extend within first and second nozzles, and wherein said nozzles each have a filtration section with holes formed therein, said holes being aligned with said holes of said filter.

9. The nozzle/filter assembly of claim 8, wherein the compliant section(s) of the filter is positioned so that it is not aligned with the filtration section of the nozzles.

10. A method of making a filter having a hollow body extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end comprising: forming a plurality of holes through said body, and forming a first compliant section in said body by forming a plurality of slits which extend through said body and in a circumferential direction around said filter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said slits have a length that extends in said circumferential direction around the filter and a width that extends in the longitudinal direction of said body and the method further comprising forming said holes and said slits such that said width of said slits in said longitudinal direction is smaller than a width of said holes in said longitudinal direction.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming a plurality of adjacent rows of said slits in said compliant section.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming said plurality of adjacent rows of slits so that they are staggered in position in the circumferential direction relative to each other.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming two or four adjacent rows of said slits in said compliant section such that there is a first row, which is adjacent to a second row, the second row also being adjacent to a third row and the third row being adjacent to a fourth row and further comprising forming each of the slits in the first row so that it has a length that is the same as, and starts and ends at the same points as, each of the slits in the third row and/or forming each of the slits in the second row so that it has a length that is the same as, and starts and ends at the same points as the slits in the fourth row.

15. A method of making a nozzle/filter assembly comprising: mounting a filter as claimed in claim 1 so as to be positioned and extend within first and second nozzles; wherein said nozzles each have a filtration section with holes formed therein, and the method comprising positioning said holes of said nozzles so that they are aligned with said holes of said filter, and optionally positioning the compliant section(s) of the filter so that it is/they are not aligned with the filtration section of the nozzles.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in greater detail by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a known filter with holes cut therein

[0026] FIG. 2a shows a cross-sectional view of the filter of FIG. 1 positioned so as to be mounted within two nozzles

[0027] FIG. 2b shows a perspective view of the filter of FIG. 1 positioned so as to be mounted within two nozzles

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a new type of filter having two compliant sections

[0029] FIG. 4 shown the filter of FIG. 3 positioned so as to be axially preloaded within a nozzle support structure

[0030] FIG. 5 shoes the deformation of the compliant section of the filter of FIG. 4 using finite element (FE) modelling

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] A new method is described herein for manufacturing a filter, and the filter created by this method is also described herein.

[0032] An example of a known type of filter 10 for use in a hydraulic system is shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The filter comprises a hollow cylindrical tube. Holes 11 have been cut into the outer cylindrical wall of the filter so as to create channels that extend from the outside surface 12 of the filter 10, through the wall and into the internal cavity 13 of the filter 10. New technologies such as laser cutting may be used to create the holes 11 in the wall of the filter 10. The size of the holes depends on the required filtration level and in some examples the holes may be 0.1 mm or smaller. In some examples the filter wall thickness may be in the range of 0.2 mm, however, the pressure drop decreases as the thickness decreases. The thickness is limited by manufacturing, handling, etc. If the flow is travelling from outside to inside the filter, too small a thickness may cause collapse of the filter. Since the filter wall itself is also thin, the filter may be weakened due to the presence of the many holes 11. This results in excessive mechanical loads such as axial loads, or bending forces being generated on the filter 10, as described above.

[0033] In the examples shown in FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b, the filter is held in place by being mounted within two nozzles 14, 15, each of which is slotted onto either longitudinal end of the filter 10. The filter is clamped between these two nozzles 14, 15 so that they act as a structural support for the filter 10. The presences of these nozzles 14, 15 axially fixes the filter in place and prevent its movement.

[0034] As described in the background section, the length of the filter can vary and so unless the filter 10 and nozzles 14, 15 are specifically manufactured so as to perfectly fit each other (which requires very high tolerance), it is difficult to achieve face to face contact between the face of the filter and the nozzles. This results in the filter 10 being be loose or compressed within the nozzles 14, 15 and may also be able to move axially.

[0035] A new type of filter 100 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of this new filter. The filter 100 is cylindrical (but may have other similar shapes) and extends along a longitudinal axis from a first end 112 to a second end 113. A central section is provided between the first 112 and second ends 113 and has a plurality of holes 111 formed therein. In some examples these holes 111 may be formed by laser cutting. Other techniques may also be used. Each of the holes 111 creates a passageway extending from the outside surface of the filter 100, through the cylindrical wall of the filter 100 and into the hollow cavity within the filter 100. In some examples, the holes 111 may be circular. Other shapes may also be envisaged.

[0036] The unique design of this filter 100 is advantageous over known filters in that it allows for the filter to be axially adjustable in length. This is achieved due to the filter 100 comprising at least one compliant section 160. In the example shown in FIG. 3, there are two compliant sections 160, however, more may also be provided. For example, some filters 100 may only have one compliant section provided, however, in others, a first compliant section may be formed at the first axial end 112 of the filter 100 and a second compliant section 160 may be formed at the other, opposite end 113 of the filter 100 as shown in FIG. 3. The central section which is positioned between these compliant sections and between the first and second ends acts as a filtration mechanism, allowing fluids to flow through the holes 111 formed in the central filtration section.

[0037] The compliant section 160 comprises a section of the filter 100 wherein slits 161 are formed which extend circumferentially around the filter 100 as shown in FIG. 3. These slits 161 may be formed by different techniques, however, in some examples they may be formed by laser cutting at the same time that the holes 110 are formed. The slits 161 have a length 162 that extends circumferentially around the filter 100 and a width 163 that extends perpendicularly to the length, i.e. axially.

[0038] The slits 161 may be formed so that there are a plurality of axially adjacent rows of slits 161 formed, so that they are staggered in position in the circumferential direction. That is, the rows are positioned so as to be positionally offset relative to each other in the circumferential direction and are not aligned in the axial direction. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the compliance section 160 at the second end of the filter 100 has a first row 161a, which is adjacent to a second row 161b, the second row also being adjacent to a third row, 161c and the third row being adjacent to the fourth row 161d. Each of the slits 161 in the first row 161 has a length that is the same as, and starts and ends at the same points as, each of the slits in the third row 161c. Similarly, each of the slits 161 in the second row has a length that is the same as, and starts and ends at the same points as the slits in the fourth row 161d. Since the material between two slits in the row are therefore located in the middle of the slits of the adjacent row, thereby allowing compliance but still retaining the stiff axial bridge.

[0039] The number of slits 161 and rows of slits may vary based on the required compliance and stress levels of the filter 100. In some examples the axial width 163 of the slits 161 may be smaller than the axial width 111 of the holes (e.g. in the case where the holes are circular, the width of the slits 161 is smaller than the diameter of the circular holes 110.

[0040] These circumferentially extending slits 161 provide a compliance to the filter, which allows the length of the filter to extend or contract axially, i.e. longitudinally.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows an example wherein the new type of filter 100 shown in FIG. 3 is positioned so as to be mounted within first 140 and second 150 nozzles. A first nozzle 140 is provided so as to surround the outer surface of the filter 100 at its first end 120 and the second nozzle 150 is provided so as to surround the surface of the filter 100 at its second end 113. The nozzles meet each other in the middle so that the entire outer surface of the filter 100 is surrounded by these nozzles as shown in FIG. 4. The nozzles 140, 150 each have a section of their walls that acts as a filtration surface, wherein holes 141, 151 are formed in their outer cylindrical surface. Since at least some of the holes 110 of the filter 100 are aligned with the holes 141, 151 in the nozzles, fluid can pass through the holes 110 in the filter 100 and out through the holes 141, 151 in the nozzles 140, 150.

[0042] When the filter 100 is provided within these nozzles 140, 150, the compliant section(s) of the filter 100 may be positioned so that it is not aligned with the filtration section of the nozzles 140, 150. Instead, only central, filtration section of the filter is provided so as to be aligned with the filtration section of the nozzles. In some examples, the inner surface of the nozzles 140, 150 that are in contact with the compliant section(s) 160 of the nozzle 100 may be sized and shaped so as to grip the filter 100. In some examples this may provide a friction fit, however this is not required. There should be a small or no clearance between the filter and the nozzles in order to prevent the compliant section from acting as a filter area. If the compliant section is smaller than the filter holes then no particles larger than that hole can reach the compliant section.

[0043] The filter 100 shown in FIG. 4 is preloaded so that it is axially fixed within the nozzle 140, 150 due to its larger length and compliant sections 160.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows the results of a finite element (FE) calculation wherein it can be seen that, due to axial compression of the filter 100, the width 163 of the slits 161 is reduced and the entire displacement of the filter due to axial forces is absorbed by the compliant section 160 of the filter, 100.

[0045] Although the above examples have been described in relation to filters for use in hydraulic systems this same technology may be used on filters for use in other technologies.

[0046] The new types of filters 100 described herein with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 have advantages over known filters in that they are able to maintain compliance of the filter, thereby preventing the excessive loading of the filter during assembly in the supported structure. Additionally, since the width of the slits is smaller than the width of the holes (and the width of the slits reduces even further under compression) the compression caused by axial forces does not affect the filtering function even for the sections of the filter that are not covered. A further advantage is that, during manufacture by laser cutting, the slits can be cut at the same time as the holes. Compliance is also obtained for rotation which may reduce bending loads from the supporting structure (i.e. the nozzles).