Novel design for automotive air filter
A
Minnesota Rubber and Plastics product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jul 18, 2003
A novel automotive air filter gauge developed by Minnesota Rubber QMR Plastics features a liquid silicone rubber diaphragm indicating when it's time to change the filter.
A novel automotive air filter gauge from Minnesota Rubber QMR Plastics features a liquid silicone rubber diaphragm indicating when it's time to change the filter.
Precise diaphragm reaction is an important design benefit of automotive air filter indicator gauges moulded and assembled from four components by Minnesota Rubber QMR Plastics for a leading automotive manufacturer.
The air pressure change inside the gauge activates a specially designed diaphragm that displays a black dot through a view port (lens), indicating when its time to change a dirty air filter.
Although the diaphragm is the key operating component in the indicator gauge, the other three components interlock and contribute to sealability, ease of assembly and overall long term indicator gauge function.
By consolidating sources for all four components including final assembly at QMR Plastics, the automotive customer resolved diaphragm function and assembly fit issues while reducing tooling cycle requirements by 50%, thereby accelerating time to market.
The four components and their material composition are: the housing/body in polypropylene; the polycarbonate lens; theb liquid silicone rubber (LSR) diaphragm; and the liner/grommet made from TPE (thermoplastic elastomer).
Correct material selection and moulding of the four components was important to meet high automotive quality requirements.
The LSR diaphragm has very good mechanical properties over wide temperature ranges required in automotive under hood applications.
The LSR choice also provided white colour consistency with a high level of air aging resistance.
The polycarbonate lens provided high clarity for visual recognition when air filter change is needed.
The glass filled polypropylene housing material provided structural strength to lock the assembly securely together.
Minnesota Rubber QMR Plastics uses certified assembly processes for these gauges.
The view port (lens) aligns into the liner/grommet and forms a sealing groove around the diaphragm.
The liner/grommet press fits into the housing body, which locks the four components together as the completed assembly.
These indicator gauges exemplify the benefits of using advanced elastomers and thermoplastics from an experienced, single source supplier with combined design, manufacture and assembly capabilities.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact Minnesota Rubber and Plastics
Related Stories
- Lambert fits Schmitt AEMS into Bryant grinder
- Fraser-Nash completes ventilation system redesign
- Idac supplies support services for FPSO project
- Idac safety-checks temporary access platform
- Idac undertakes torque investigation
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
