Boundary-Layer Air Mattress Pump for Fast Inflation and Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbed pumps, such as squirrel-cage blowers and diaphragm pumps, fail to meet the pressure and flow rate requirements of home-use and medical airbeds efficiently, leading to inefficiencies, noise, and increased costs when combined in sophisticated systems.
Innovation Solution
A boundary-layer pump system with a pressure recovery chamber, rotating disks, and a motor that expels gas radially to increase pressure, capable of both filling and powered dumping operations, is used to control air mattress pressure effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a squirrel-cage blower is used to inflate the air mattress, then the flow rate is high and inflation is quick, but the pressure produced is insufficient (limited to 0.1-0.5 psi)
Solution Approach 1:
The pumping system is segmented into two functional components: a squirrel-cage blower for high-flow rapid inflation and a diaphragm pump for high-pressure pressure building. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its performance for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between flow rate and pressure by using two specialized pumps rather than one pump trying to do both.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two different pump technologies (squirrel-cage blower and diaphragm pump) into a single integrated system. The squirrel-cage blower provides high flow rate for quick inflation, while the diaphragm pump provides high pressure for firmness control. By combining these two pumps with different strengths, the system achieves both high productivity and high pressure simultaneously.
2Stress or pressure
If a diaphragm pump is used to achieve high pressure, then the pressure capability is sufficient (up to 5 psi), but the flow rate is limited and inflation takes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The pumping system is segmented into two functional components: a squirrel-cage blower for high-flow rapid inflation and a diaphragm pump for high-pressure pressure building. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its performance for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between flow rate and pressure by using two specialized pumps rather than one pump trying to do both.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two different pump technologies (squirrel-cage blower and diaphragm pump) into a single integrated system. The squirrel-cage blower provides high flow rate for quick inflation, while the diaphragm pump provides high pressure for firmness control. By combining these two pumps with different strengths, the system achieves both high productivity and high pressure simultaneously.
3Stress or pressure
If both a diaphragm pump and a squirrel-cage blower are integrated to achieve both high pressure and high flow rate, then the performance requirements are met, but the cost, size, and complexity increase steeply
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to universally manage both pump types through a single controller that can identify and operate either pump based on real-time conditions. The system automatically selects which pump to use, when to switch between pumps, and how to coordinate their operation, thereby reducing operational complexity despite having multiple pump components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts pump operation based on real-time conditions such as mattress inflation status, desired pressure levels, and noise considerations. The controller can switch between pumps, adjust pump speeds, and coordinate operation sequences dynamically, optimizing performance while managing complexity through adaptive control rather than fixed mechanical arrangements.
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 boundary-layer pump system achieves high flow rates and pressures efficiently, reducing noise and cost, while maintaining flexibility and precision in pressure control, outperforming conventional pumps in airbed applications.
Implementation Method 1
a motor attached to the plurality of disks, configured to rotate the plurality of disks so as to expel gas passing through the pump inlet radially outwards along the disks and out through the pump outlet so as to increase pressure within the at least one air mattress chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An airbed system is provided. The airbed system includes: an air mattress having at least one air mattress chamber; a boundary-layer pump connected to the at least one air mattress, configured to fill the at least one air mattress with gas; and a control unit, configured to receive user input corresponding to increasing or decreasing the pressure in the at least one air mattress chamber and to control the boundary-layer pump based on the received user input. The boundary-layer pump includes: a pressure recovery chamber housing including a pressure recovery chamber, a pump inlet, and a pump outlet; a plurality of disks within the pressure recovery chamber; and a motor attached to the plurality of disks, configured to rotate the plurality of disks so as to expel gas passing through the pump inlet radially outwards along the disks and out through the pump outlet.