Cannula Cutting Means for Membrane Opening in Chemical Oxygen Generators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for opening membranes in chemical oxygen generators (COGs) are inefficient and unreliable, particularly due to the risk of incomplete or unreliable opening of the membrane, which can lead to uncontrolled release of gases.
Innovation Solution
A membrane arrangement using a cannula as a cutting means that pierces the membrane at a specific pressure limit, ensuring a controlled and complete opening by maintaining a high surface pressure and defined passage size through an outlet channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the membrane is opened by deforming it due to increasing internal pressure and being pressed against a metal nose, then the membrane can be opened, but the opening may be incomplete or unreliable leading to uncontrolled gas release
Solution Approach 1:
A cutting edge is introduced as an intermediary element between the membrane and the gas flow path. This cutting edge reliably severs the membrane at a controlled location, ensuring complete opening while maintaining control over when gas release occurs. The cutting edge acts as a mediator that transforms the gradual deformation process into a definitive, controlled separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is pre-formed with a specific geometry and is positioned in advance against the cutting edge. The cutting edge is pre-positioned at a precise location where the membrane should be severed. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when pressure builds up, the membrane opens reliably at the intended location without causing uncontrolled gas release.
2Reliability
If the membrane is made thin and media-tight to ensure sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but the membrane becomes more vulnerable to incomplete opening and cutting difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting edge is designed with specific local properties - it is positioned at a precise location on the membrane and has optimized geometry to effectively sever thin media-tight material. The local quality of the cutting edge (its position, shape, and interaction with the membrane) is specifically tailored to handle the thin, sealing-critical membrane material without compromising either the sealing integrity or the cutability.
3Ease of operation
If the outlet opening is sealed until pressure limit is reached, then controlled release is achieved, but the membrane deformation required for opening may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting edge serves as an intermediary that facilitates the final separation of the membrane from the sealing structure. It provides a controlled mechanism for the membrane to transition from its deformed sealed state to an opened state, ensuring that the deformation accumulated during pressure buildup is effectively utilized to achieve reliable cutting at the pressure limit.
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
Ensures reliable and controlled release of gases by preventing leakage until the pressure limit is reached, providing a defined passage for the gas to escape, thus enhancing the safety and efficiency of the COG.
Implementation Method 1
the diaphragm seals the outlet opening in a media-tight manner... the diaphragm is designed to increasingly bulge away from the interior as the internal pressure increases
Implementation Method 2
the membrane contacts the cutting means... the cutting means is designed to develop a cutting effect on the membrane when the membrane contacts it
Implementation Method 3
maintaining a high surface pressure and defined passage size through an outlet channel
Implementation Method 4
providing a defined passage for the gas to escape... the outlet channel passes through the hollow needle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A membrane arrangement (10) for an outlet opening (8) of a hollow body (4) comprises a membrane (16) that seals the outlet opening (8) in a media-tight manner and increasingly bulges away from the interior (6) as the internal pressure (PI) increases, and a cutting element (18) in a relative position (R) to the membrane (16) in which the cutting element (18) does not bear against the membrane (16) up to an internal pressure (PI) at the level of a limit pressure (PG) and, when the limit pressure (PG) is exceeded, bears against the membrane (16) in a cutting action that cuts through the membrane (16), wherein the cutting element (18) is designed in the manner of a cannula (20) tapering towards the membrane (16) at a tip end (22) in at least one cutting tip (24), which has an outlet channel (26) and a wall (28) surrounding it.wherein the medium (12) can pass through the outlet opening (8) via the outlet channel (26) when the membrane (16) is cut, and the outlet opening (8) is at least partially open to the medium (12) via the outlet channel (26) when the membrane (16) is cut. A hollow body arrangement (2) comprises the membrane arrangement (10) and the hollow body, wherein the membrane (16) is attached to the hollow body (4) in a media-tight manner, sealing the outlet opening (8), and the cutting element (18) is attached to the hollow body (4).