Automated Swab Sampling Module for Industrial Vessel Surface Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sampling from industrial vessels require personnel to descend into confined spaces, posing safety risks and necessitating extensive mobilization and resources, while alternative methods using sampling sticks are cumbersome and difficult to handle effectively.
Innovation Solution
A sampling module comprising a swab holder and conveyor system that allows for automated sampling without human descent, enabling precise movement of the swab tip over the surface using motors and sensors to ensure repeatable gestures and efficient surface coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a person descends into the industrial vessel to carry out sampling, then sampling can be performed directly on the surface, but safety risks increase and extensive mobilization of personnel and resources is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sampling stick as an intermediary tool that allows the operator to perform sampling from outside the vessel without descending inside. The sampling stick comprises a pole with a swab attached, enabling the operator to reach into the vessel through an opening and perform sampling operations remotely, thus eliminating the need for the operator to enter the confined space and exposing themselves to safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical action of manually holding and maneuvering a long pole with an automated sampling module. The sampling module includes a conveyor system that automatically moves the swab holder along predefined paths and a positioning system that precisely controls the swab tip's movement across the surface, eliminating the need for manual manipulation and enhancing both safety and operational ease.
2Reliability
If a sampling stick is used to avoid descending into the vessel, then safety is improved, but handling the stick becomes difficult and repeatable gestures cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling module performs self-positioning and self-movement functions. The conveyor system automatically transports the swab holder along predetermined trajectories without requiring manual manipulation, while the positioning system autonomously adjusts the swab tip's location and orientation. This self-service capability eliminates the difficulty of manually handling a long pole while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical manipulation of the sampling stick with an automated sampling module that uses motors, sensors, and control systems. The module's conveyor mechanism and positioning system work together to precisely control the swab's movement, achieving repeatable gestures that are impossible with manual handling of a long pole.
3Device complexity
If manual sampling with a swab is performed, then sampling can be done with simple equipment, but the operation is time-consuming and requires multiple personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling module enables continuous sampling operation by automatically moving the swab holder along predefined paths without interruption. The conveyor system continuously transports the swab across different areas of the surface, and the positioning system maintains constant precision throughout the movement, eliminating the pauses and adjustments required in manual sampling and thereby increasing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual sampling operations with an automated module that uses motors for movement, sensors for positioning and detection, and control systems for coordination. This mechanical and electronic substitution eliminates the need for multiple personnel and significantly reduces the time required for sampling, while the module's integrated design keeps the overall system relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a module for sampling from a surface of an industrial vessel without requiring a person to descend into the industrial vessel, using a swab including a stem and a sampling tip, including a swab holder and a conveyor; the swab holder is adapted to receive and secure one end of the swab stem; and the conveyor is configured to set the swab holder in motion on the surface of the vessel.