Chlorine Dioxide Air Sterilization for Comfortable Breathing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air intake systems for workers in virus- or bacteria-contaminated environments face breathing difficulties due to the need for extremely small pore filters to prevent viral passage, leading to high flow resistance and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A portable intake air sterilizing apparatus with a chlorine dioxide slow-release portion that inactivates viruses and bacteria in the intake air, eliminating the need for high-resistance filters and allowing comfortable breathing by releasing chlorine dioxide gas into the air intake.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a filter with extremely small pore diameter is used to prevent viral passage, then virus/bacteria prevention is improved, but flow passage resistance increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirus/bacteria preventionVSAvoidflow passage resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical filtration system with a chemical sterilization system. Instead of using a physical filter with extremely small pores to block viruses, the invention uses chlorine dioxide gas released into the intake air to chemically inactivate viruses and bacteria. This substitution eliminates the need for high-resistance filters while maintaining infection prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach from physical barrier (filter pore diameter) to chemical action (chlorine dioxide concentration). By controlling the release parameters of chlorine dioxide gas, the system achieves effective viral inactivation without requiring the intake air to pass through a restrictive filter, thus reducing flow passage resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a filter with extremely small pore diameter is used to prevent viral passage, then virus/bacteria prevention is improved, but breathing comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirus/bacteria preventionVSAvoidbreathing comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical filtration system with a chemical sterilization system. By using chlorine dioxide gas to chemically inactivate pathogens in the air, the system eliminates the need for physical filters that would restrict breathing, thereby maintaining both infection prevention and breathing comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces chlorine dioxide gas as an intermediary substance between the intake air and the worker's respiratory system. This intermediary chemically neutralizes viruses and bacteria in the air path, providing protection without requiring the air to pass through a restrictive filter, thus maintaining comfortable breathing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a dust-proof filter is provided in the air intake portion, then air purification is improved, but flow resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair purificationVSAvoidflow resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical dust-proof filter with a chemical sterilization approach. Chlorine dioxide gas is released into the intake air to chemically inactivate viruses and bacteria, eliminating the need for physical filters that would create flow resistance while maintaining air purification effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Prevents worker infection with viruses and bacteria while minimizing breathing difficulties, enabling comfortable work in contaminated environments without the need for high-flow resistance filters.

Implementation Method 1

a chlorine dioxide slow-release portion capable of releasing chlorine dioxide gas into an intake air in association with introduction of this intake air from the air intake portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChlorine dioxide gas release:

Data Source

PatentUS9022035B2Portable intake air sterilizing apparatus

Publication Date: 2015.05.05 TAIKO PHARMA

AI summary

There is provided a portable intake air sterilizing apparatus which allows prevention of a worker's infection with virus/bacteria and which allows, at the same time, the worker to work comfortably. The apparatus includes a cover member C for covering one or both of the nose and the mouth, an air intake portion K for the inner space of the cover member C, and a chlorine dioxide slow-release portion J capable of releasing chlorine dioxide gas into an intake air in association with introduction of this intake air from the air intake portion K.