Balloon Inflator with Reciprocating Piston for Dual Balloons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing balloon inflators for simultaneously filling two balloons suffer from overheating, inaccurate sizing, and high noise levels, requiring frequent cooling and recalibration, which are costly and inefficient for large-scale events.

Innovation Solution

A balloon inflator design featuring separate air chambers and inflation passages with a reciprocating piston that ensures identical gas volume delivery to both balloons, along with a control system and actuator mechanism for continuous operation without overheating, and a noise-reduced design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If through flow motors are used to fill large numbers of balloons, then productivity increases, but the motors overheat and require cooling periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of balloons filledVSAvoidmotor temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The motor is divided into two independent stators with interleaved magnetic poles, each driving a separate piston. This segmentation allows the motor to operate in two alternating phases, distributing the workload and preventing overheating while maintaining continuous productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If solenoid valves are used to control inflation gas flow, then balloon sizing precision improves, but operation time increases due to pressure waiting period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveballoon size accuracyVSAvoidinflation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The solenoid valve system is replaced with a mechanically synchronized piston-driven valve system. The piston's reciprocating motion directly controls the opening and closing of inflation valves through mechanical linkages, eliminating the pressure-waiting period while maintaining precise balloon sizing through controlled gas delivery timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If through flow motors are used for continuous operation, then productivity increases, but noise levels become harmful

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidnoise level

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The motor operates in periodic alternating phases, with each stator activating sequentially rather than simultaneously. This periodic action creates a quieter operating pattern compared to continuous high-speed rotation, reducing noise levels while maintaining continuous productivity through the alternating drive cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Speed

If inflation gas is heated by the inflator, then balloon inflation speed increases, but balloon size accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinflation speedVSAvoidballoon size consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reciprocating piston system provides continuous alternating inflation action to both balloons without interruption. Gas is delivered at controlled rates during each piston stroke, maintaining continuous useful action that prevents gas heating while ensuring both balloons reach identical sizes through synchronized delivery timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 continuous operation without overheating, precise and consistent balloon sizing, and reduced noise levels, significantly improving efficiency and reducing labor costs for large-scale balloon inflation tasks.

Implementation Method 1

a piston that, upon actuation of the balloon inflator, reciprocates between movement in a first direction and movement in a second direction, wherein (a) movement in said first direction moves said first movable member to reduce the volume of said first air chamber and advance inflation gas to said first balloon inflation nozzle while also moving said second movable member to increase the volume of said second air chamber and draw gas into said second air chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReciprocating motion:

Data Source

PatentUS11311816B2Balloon inflator for simultaneously filling two balloons

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 PREMIUMCONWIN LLC

AI summary

A balloon inflator for simultaneously filling two balloons to substantially identical sizes includes an air pump having a first air chamber communicating with a first inflation nozzle and second air chamber communicating with a second inflation nozzle. A reciprocating piston causes an alternating increase and decrease in the first and second air chambers to advance air to fill balloons on the first and second inflation nozzles. The volume of inflation gas advanced to the first balloon inflation nozzle is substantially identical to the volume of inflation gas advanced to the second balloon inflation nozzle, thus permitting a virtually identical inflation of a first balloon at said first balloon inflation nozzle and a second balloon at said second balloon inflation nozzle upon repeated reciprocation of the piston.