Air Warming Apparatus for Cold Environment Breathing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals engaging in physical activity in cold environments experience discomfort due to the inhalation of cold, dry air, which can lead to exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, as existing protective measures do not adequately warm and humidify the air for comfortable breathing.
Innovation Solution
An air warming apparatus that includes an intake manifold with an air filter, a tube assembly for temperature increase via body heat conduction, a return manifold with a moisture adding device to enhance humidity, and a mouthpiece assembly for delivering warm and humidified air, secured to the user's torso with keepers and a belt, featuring a valve to control airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If individuals wear protective clothing in cold environments, then their body is protected from cold temperatures, but their breathing experience remains uncomfortable due to inhalation of cold, dry air
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is divided into two independent parts: external protective clothing for body warmth and an internal air warming apparatus for respiratory comfort. The air warming apparatus includes separate functional modules (intake manifold, heating elements, humidifier, flow control) that work together to treat inhaled air independently from body clothing protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The air warming apparatus acts as an intermediary device between the cold external environment and the user's respiratory system. It introduces warm, humidified air generated by the apparatus into the user's breathing path, mediating the harmful effect of cold air inhalation while the user continues to breathe through mouth or nose.
2Productivity
If individuals breathe through their mouth during physical activity, then breathing rate increases to meet oxygen demands, but the inhaled air becomes colder and drier causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The air warming apparatus performs preliminary warming and humidification of air before it enters the user's respiratory system. The intake manifold draws in ambient air, which is then heated by heating elements and humidified by a humidifier before delivery through the mouthpiece, ensuring the air is pre-conditioned regardless of whether the user breathes through nose or mouth.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus includes a flow control valve that responds to user breathing patterns. During inhalation, the valve opens to allow warm, humidified air to flow into the mouthpiece. The system adapts to the user's breathing rate and depth, maintaining appropriate air delivery even during heavy exercise when breathing rate increases.
3Quantity of substance
If cold air is inhaled during physical activity, then oxygen intake is maintained, but exercise-induced bronchoconstriction occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus pre-conditions air by warming and humidifying it before inhalation. This preliminary treatment prevents the direct exposure of cold, dry air to the respiratory tract that would trigger bronchoconstriction, while still delivering adequate oxygen intake through the warmed air.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by counteracting the harmful effects of cold air before it reaches the lungs. The heating elements and humidifier create warm, moist air that opposes the bronchoconstrictive effect of cold, dry air, preventing airway narrowing before it occurs.
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 apparatus effectively warms and humidifies inhaled air to a comfortable temperature and humidity level, reducing the risk of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and enhancing breathing comfort during physical activity.
Implementation Method 1
a tube assembly for temperature increase via body heat conduction
Implementation Method 2
a return manifold with a moisture adding device to enhance humidity
Data Source
AI summary
An air warming apparatus operable to provide a user breathing air wherein the air is warmer than that of the user's environment. The air warming apparatus includes a filtered air intake operably coupled to an intake manifold. A lower air transport assembly circumferentially surrounds a user's torso and is adjacent thereto and provides the first phase of air warming for air flowing therethrough. A return manifold operably couples the lower air transport assembly and the upper air transport assembly and further contains a humidifier therein. The upper air transport assembly is surroundably mounted to the user and provides the second phase of air warming. An upper chamber of the intake manifold operably couples the upper air transport assembly and the breathing assembly. The breathing assembly includes a mouthpiece and a breathing valve that is operable to control the air flow through the air warming apparatus.