Arched Inner Walls for Deformation Control in Respirator Cooling Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coolants used in closed-circuit respirators change volume near their melting point, causing deformation and making removal or replacement challenging, which can lead to structural changes in the cooling element and affect its functionality, especially in critical applications like firefighting or mining.

Innovation Solution

A cooling element design featuring two plate-like housings with arched inner walls that allow for controlled deformation without altering the outer structure, ensuring a constant surface area for heat exchange and easy handling, even under temperature or pressure changes, using a mechanical fastening device for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a coolant is used in the cooling element, then cooling effect is achieved, but volume change during phase transition causes deformation and handling difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectVSAvoidhandling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling element is divided into two separate plate-shaped housings (first and second) that can be independently filled with coolant and then fastened together. This segmentation allows each housing to accommodate volume changes independently through the arched inner walls, preventing deformation while maintaining the cooling function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner walls of both plate-shaped housings are arched (curved) in the direction of the respective outer walls. This curvature provides structural flexibility to absorb volume changes of the coolant during phase transition without causing deformation to the overall cooling element structure, enabling easy handling and replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the cooling element housing is made rigid to maintain structure, then structural stability is improved, but volume change of coolant causes deformation and functional issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidfunctionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure has different properties at different locations: the outer walls are rigid to maintain structural stability and constant outer dimensions, while the inner walls are arched to provide local flexibility for accommodating coolant volume changes. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The arched inner walls are designed to dynamically adapt to volume changes of the coolant during phase transition. The curvature allows the inner structure to flex and deform locally while the outer structure remains stable, maintaining both structural integrity and functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the cooling element is designed with simple flat walls, then manufacturing is simplified, but volume change causes uncontrolled deformation affecting outer structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidouter structure consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The arched inner walls are designed to contain and direct the deformation caused by coolant volume changes inward, away from the outer walls. This curvature geometry allows the deformation to be absorbed within the housing structure itself, maintaining the flatness and consistency of the outer surfaces while still accommodating phase change volume variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

Enables simple and rapid replacement or removal of the cooling element, maintaining a constant outer structure and efficient heat exchange, thus ensuring reliable operation in time-critical situations and extending the coolant's lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

many coolants, which are typically used in case of the use of a closed-circuit respirator, such as water, change their volume in the range of their melting point and above that range

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

maintaining a constant outer structure and efficient heat exchange

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11786765B2Cooling element for use in a cooling device of a closed-circuit respirator

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 DRAGER SAFETY AG & CO KAAA

AI summary

A cooling element (100) for use within a cooling device (600) of a closed-circuit respirator (690), includes a plate shaped cooling element housings (110, 120), each with a respective liquid-tight closure (112, 122) filled or to be filled with a coolant (211). The cooling element housings (110, 120) each have a plate outer wall (114, 124) and a plate inner wall (116, 126) arched in the direction of the plate outer wall, which form, together with additional side walls (115, 125), cooling element volumes (118, 128) for the coolant. The plate shape cooling housings can be fastened or are fastened to each other such that the one plate inner wall and another plate inner wall are located opposite each other and are arched away from one another.