Automotive Air Filter Gauge From Minnesota Rubber & Plastics Features LSR Diaphragm Indicating When It's Time To Change The Filter Diaphragm Design Provides Critical Air Pressure Change Function

Minneapolis, Minnesota: Precise diaphragm reaction is an important design benefit of automotive air filter indicator gauges molded and assembled from four components by Minnesota Rubber & 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. While the diaphragm is the key operating component in the indicator gauge, the other three components interlock and contribute to seal-ability, ease of assembly and overall long term indicator gauge function.

By consolidating sources for all four components including final assembly at Minnesota Rubber & Plastics, the automotive customer resolved diaphragm function and assembly fit issues while reducing tooling cycle requirements by 50 percent thereby accelerating time to market.

The four components and their material composition are: (1) Housing/body – polypropylene; (2) Lens – polycarbonate; (3) Diaphragm – LSR (liquid silicone rubber); (4) Liner/grommet – TPE (thermoplastic elastomer).

Correct material selection and molding of the four components was important to meet high quality automotive 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 color 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 & Plastics utilizes 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.