Breathing Bag Monolithic Design for Closed-Circuit Respirators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breathing bags for closed-circuit respirators are complex, time-consuming, and costly to manufacture, with intricate constructions requiring labor-intensive welding and extensive quality control, limiting their production efficiency and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A breathing bag design featuring a one-piece bag section and tray section with varying flexibility and rigidity, allowing for a simpler configuration with fewer sealing lines, enabling automated manufacturing and easier quality control, using materials like thermoplastic polyurethanes and ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers to achieve a cyclically variable gas volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior-art breathing bags are constructed from pattern pieces connected by welding, then the bag can achieve the required tightness and functionality, but the manufacturing process becomes complicated, time-consuming, and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple pattern pieces into a single monolithic bag component made from one piece of sheet material. This eliminates the need for welding connections between separate pieces, thereby maintaining tightness while significantly simplifying the construction and enabling automated manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The bag component is designed with integrated functional zones (bottom section, side walls, folding sections) all formed from a single piece of material with varying flexibility. This segmentation within a monolithic structure allows different regions to perform specific functions without requiring separate components and connections.
2Reliability
If prior-art breathing bags are constructed from multiple pattern pieces requiring welding, then the bag can achieve required functionality, but the manufacturing cost increases due to labor-intensive processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components into a single monolithic bag component formed from one piece of sheet material. This eliminates welding operations and reduces manufacturing steps, thereby maintaining functionality while significantly reducing manufacturing cost and enabling automated production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical welding connections with integrated material design. The monolithic construction eliminates the need for welding equipment and skilled welders, substituting a simpler forming process that can be automated and performed at lower cost.
3Reliability
If prior-art breathing bags use intricate welding connections, then the bag can maintain tightness, but quality control becomes time-consuming and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple welded components into a single monolithic bag component. This eliminates numerous welding seams that require individual inspection, thereby maintaining tightness while dramatically reducing quality control time and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A breathing bag (1) for a closed-circuit respirator (100) has a bag component (2), which encloses an inner volume (3). The bag component (2) can reversibly assume at least one unfolded state (4) and a folded-in state (5). The bag component (2) encloses a larger inner volume (3) in the unfolded state (4) than in the folded-in state (5). Moreover, a closed-circuit respirator (100) is provided, having at least one counter-lung, a filter device, an oxygen source as well as a housing. The counter-lung, the filter device and the oxygen source are arranged in the housing.