Breathable Air Regulation System for Closed Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for regulating breathable air in enclosed spaces, such as vehicle cabs, face limitations in providing continuous air supply due to limited storage capacity and high maintenance costs, especially when dealing with toxic substances or low oxygen levels.
Innovation Solution
A system that integrates an air intake opening, a measuring system for detecting ambient conditions, an air filter, and a control system to switch between ambient air filtration and reservoir air supply based on measured conditions, ensuring continuous breathable air availability while preventing toxic substance infiltration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If breathable air is stored in bottles and guided to the cab, then operator safety is ensured in contaminated environments, but the system can only be used for a limited successive period of time due to limited storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the air supply function into two independent paths: a primary path using ambient air filtration and a secondary path using reservoir air supply. This allows the system to use the most efficient method (filtration) for normal operation and switch to the backup method (reservoir) only when necessary, thereby extending operational duration without compromising safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between two air supply modes based on real-time measurements of ambient air quality. The control system monitors oxygen levels and toxic substance concentrations, automatically transitioning from economy mode (filtration) to safety mode (reservoir supply) when thresholds are exceeded, optimizing both duration and reliability.
2Reliability
If breathable air is stored in bottles and guided to the cab, then operator safety is ensured, but the system is time-consuming and expensive due to the necessity of replacing or filling the air bottles
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is segmented into a primary filtration path and a secondary reservoir path. By designing the system so that the reservoir is only activated when ambient air quality deteriorates beyond filterable thresholds, the frequency of reservoir refilling is dramatically reduced, minimizing maintenance time and costs while preserving safety capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automatic monitoring and control that eliminates the need for manual intervention in normal operation. The measuring system continuously assesses ambient air quality and the control system automatically manages the switch between air supply modes, reducing the time and effort required for system management and maintenance.
3Reliability
If the air intake opening is closed and reservoir air is supplied, then breathable air availability is ensured in contaminated environments, but breathable air from the reservoir is consumed unnecessarily if used before needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a feedback control mechanism where the measuring system continuously monitors ambient air quality parameters (oxygen level, toxic substance concentrations) and feeds this information to the control system. Based on this feedback, the control system intelligently decides when to switch from filtration mode to reservoir supply mode, ensuring reservoir air is consumed only when truly necessary, thereby minimizing substance loss while maintaining breathable air availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air supply system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on real-time environmental conditions. It transitions from economy mode (using filtered ambient air) to safety mode (using reservoir air) only when measured conditions indicate contamination or low oxygen levels, optimizing the balance between reliability and resource conservation.
4Reliability
If filter overpressure systems are used to prevent infiltration of toxic substances, then operator safety is improved, but the system requires a completely airtight cab which is generally not achievable
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the critical safety function from the structural requirement of an airtight cab. Instead of relying on perfect sealing, it provides breathable air through filtration or reservoir supply that actively counteracts any potential infiltration, thereby achieving safety without requiring complex airtight construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary substance (filtered breathable air or reservoir air) that mediates between the potentially contaminated ambient environment and the operator. This intermediary air supply creates a protective barrier at the respiratory level rather than requiring structural sealing, simplifying the overall system design while maintaining safety.
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 system ensures operator safety by maintaining sufficient breathable air and optimizing air usage, reducing costs by only using reservoir air when necessary, and providing overpressure filtration to prevent toxic substance infiltration.
Implementation Method 1
an air filter, for filtering ambient air from the intake opening
Implementation Method 2
a measuring system for measuring a predetermined condition... The control system can for instance comprise a sensor from the group of an O2 sensor, a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) sensor, a CO sensor or an ammonia sensor
Implementation Method 3
supply breathable air to the space under overpressure relative to the pressure of the ambient air, in particular an overpressure of more than 50 Pa, preferably more than 75 Pa, and in particular around 100 Pa
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system (1) for regulating the breathable air in a closed space (2), comprising an air intake opening (3) for taking in ambient air (4) from outside the space, a measuring system for measuring a predetermined condition, a control system (8) for supplying intake ambient air (4) to the space (2) as breathable air via an air filter (6) or closing the air intake opening (3) and supplying breathable air to the space (2) from a reservoir (7), both subject to the measured condition. The invention also relates to a vehicle provided with such a system.