Breathing Mask Membrane Flushing via Pendular Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breathing masks with membrane valves for compressed-air breathing apparatuses lack effective protection and efficient flushing arrangements, leading to suboptimal membrane protection and airflow management.
Innovation Solution
A breathing mask design featuring a membrane with a flushing arrangement that includes an exhalation chamber and channel system, allowing for a pendular airflow between the flushing area and exhalation chamber, which alternates exhaled air to ventilate the membrane without direct exposure to the outside environment, enhancing membrane protection and airflow efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If exhaled air is expelled directly through air outlet openings in the region of the membrane, then the flushing function is achieved, but the membrane is exposed to external contaminants and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary covering element that covers the air outlet openings and defines a covering space between it and the membrane. This intermediary structure protects the membrane from direct exposure to external contaminants while still allowing the flushing function to operate through the covering space, thus resolving the contradiction between membrane protection and flushing effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the membrane is covered to protect it, then membrane protection is improved, but the flushing arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The covering element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the membrane from external contaminants, defines the flushing space, and works with the exhaled air flow path. By making the covering element multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate protective structures, thus improving membrane protection without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If air outlet openings are provided for flushing, then the flushing function is achieved, but the membrane is directly exposed to the outside environment
Solution Approach 1:
The covering element acts as an intermediary between the membrane and the outside environment. It allows the flushing function to operate by defining a covering space through which exhaled air can flow, while simultaneously blocking direct exposure to external contaminants. This resolves the contradiction by mediating between flushing effectiveness and environmental protection.
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 solution provides improved membrane protection and enhanced airflow management by utilizing a pendular flow system that effectively ventilates the membrane using exhaled air, reducing exposure to external contaminants and optimizing breathing gas flow.
Implementation Method 1
during user inhalation, air from the at least one exhalation chamber flows through the at least one channel into the flushing area, and during user exhalation, air from the flushing area flows through the at least one channel into the at least one exhalation chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A breathing mask, including a mask body having an inner area; a breathing valve configured to control the flow of breathing gas into the inner area of the mask body, the breathing valve comprising a membrane having an outer surface; and a flushing arrangement, comprising: a flushing area located adjacent the outer surface of the membrane; at least one exhalation chamber configured to receive exhaled air from the inner area of the breathing mask; and at least one channel fluidly connecting the flushing area and the at least one exhalation chamber; wherein, during user inhalation, air from the at least one exhalation chamber flows through the at least one channel into the flushing area, and during user exhalation, air from the flushing area flows through the at least one channel into the at least one exhalation chamber.