Removable Cassette Sealing for Nanoparticle Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nanoparticle sampling apparatuses face inefficiencies in ensuring aerosol particles pass through filters without bypassing, and handling of filtration assemblies is cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A filtration assembly with an annular support and a cover ring that includes a skirt to seal external peripheral walls, allowing for secure attachment and easy handling, featuring flat seals to prevent aerosol bypass and a clip-fastening mechanism for secure assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filtration assembly with annular support and filter membrane is used, then nanoparticle retention is achieved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to potential bypass passages between base and cap
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: an annular support structure with peripheral step, a filter membrane, a cover with integrated ring and skirt, and separate sealing elements. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall sealing reliability without requiring a monolithic complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A flat seal positioned between the annular support and the base acts as an intermediary element to prevent bypass passages. The seal mediates the interface between components, ensuring aerosol particles must pass through the filter membrane rather than finding shortcuts through gaps between the base and cap.
2Reliability
If multiple seals are positioned to close off passages, then aerosol bypass is prevented, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex assembly and disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The cover integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural coverage, includes an integrated ring for sandwiching the filter membrane periphery, incorporates a skirt for sealing against the annular support, and offers external peripheral walls for gripper engagement. This merging simplifies handling while maintaining reliable bypass prevention through the integrated sealing surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration assembly design allows the cover's skirt to automatically align and seal against the annular support's external peripheral wall when assembled, and the flat seal positioned between components self-positions to close off passages. The external peripheral walls of the skirt serve as built-in gripper engagement surfaces, enabling easy handling without requiring separate manipulation mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If a ring is used to sandwich filter periphery, then filter tensioning is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The ring and skirt are formed as a single integrated component, combining the filter-tensioning ring function with the sealing skirt function. This merger maintains the precision needed for filter planarity while simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of separate parts that need to be assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated ring-skirt component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it sandwiches the filter membrane periphery to ensure planarity, provides a sealing surface against the annular support, and offers external peripheral walls for handling. This multi-functionality reduces assembly complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
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
Enhances the efficiency and reliability of nanoparticle sampling by ensuring aerosol particles pass through filters without bypassing and simplifies the handling of filtration assemblies, ensuring effective sealing and secure attachment.
Implementation Method 1
The tunnel is barred by a filtration assembly such that the aerosol drawn in by the tunnel passes through the filter of the filtration assembly. This filter halts and retains the nanoparticles of the sucked-in aerosol that passes through the tunnel.
Implementation Method 2
a first seal that extends simultaneously against said faces in order to close off a first passage between the annular support and the cover, thereby preventing the aerosol sucked in via the tunnel from bypassing the filter membrane
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a filtration assembly (5) comprising an annular support (12) which comprises an annular step (13) having an apex on which a filter membrane (11) rests, and a cover (20) covering the annular support in order to hold a periphery of the membrane between the cover and the annular support. The cover comprises a ring (21) which fits around the step to trap the periphery of the membrane between the ring and the annular support, the ring being extended by a skirt (22) which extends as a projection from the ring to cover an external peripheral wall of the annular support and to exhibit an end face (23) which extends in continuity with a bearing face (24) of the annular support. The invention also relates to a removable cassette for an apparatus for sampling nanoparticles comprising such a filtration assembly.