Clean room

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clean room designs face complexity in assembly and inflexibility due to fixed bolt assignments and the formation of hollow grooves between panels, which can accumulate impurities and hinder a hermetic seal.

Innovation Solution

The use of facade profiles with a screw channel running along their length, accommodating fastening elements with self-tapping threads, allows for flexible assembly and a seamless connection between panels without slots or grooves, enabling a hermetically sealed interior space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If panels are bent or edged in a Z-shape to avoid butt joints, then the hermetic seal is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehermetic sealVSAvoidpanel production
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of bending the panel edges in a Z-shape to avoid butt joints, the invention inverts the approach by using straight panel edges with a support profile that features a recessed channel. The sealing element is positioned within this channel, creating the hermetic seal without requiring complex panel geometries. This reverses the problem-solving approach from modifying the panel to modifying the support structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Stability of the object's composition

If screw bolts are welded onto support profiles with fixed positions, then the structural stability is improved, but the assembly flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidassembly flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support profile is segmented into functional zones: a recessed channel for the sealing element and a separate region for the fastening element. This segmentation allows the sealing function and fastening function to be independently optimized. The fastening element can be positioned at different locations along the profile while the sealing channel remains continuously positioned, providing assembly flexibility without compromising structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support profile serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the sealing element in its recessed channel, and accommodates the fastening element. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address both structural stability and assembly flexibility requirements, as the profile can be designed with appropriate geometry to fulfill all roles simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If panels are detachably fastened with multiple screw bolts, then the structural strength is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidfastening system
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function and fastening function are merged into a single integrated support profile structure. The recessed channel for the sealing element and the mounting features for the fastening element are combined in one component rather than being separate parts. This merging reduces the overall number of components and simplifies the assembly process while maintaining both the hermetic seal and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If hollow grooves are formed between panels and support profiles, then the panel connection is improved, but the cleanliness deteriorates due to impurity accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel connectionVSAvoidimpurity accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful hollow groove that accumulates impurities is extracted and replaced by a recessed channel specifically designed to house the sealing element. Instead of allowing a hollow space to form between the panel and support profile, the sealing element is positioned within a controlled recess that prevents impurity accumulation. The sealing element itself acts as a barrier, taking out the problem of impurity accumulation by providing a positive seal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4039904A1Clean room
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 PLUR ANDREAS
  • EP4039904A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4039904A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4039904A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a cleanroom (10), in particular for the manufacture and processing of medical films, comprising an interior space (24) bounded by wall areas (12, 14, 16, 18), a ceiling area (20) and a floor area (22), a support frame (26) constructed from support profiles (28, 30, 32) and encompassing the interior space (24), and panels (34, 66, 72) detachably attached to the support frame (26) by means of fastening elements (40), wherein edge sides (50, 52) of each panel (34, 66, 72) are clamped against a respective support profile (28, 30, 32) towards the interior space (24), each including a sealing element (54, 56).To enable simple and flexible assembly of the cleanroom while avoiding slots and grooves at connection points between two panels, the supporting profiles (38, 30, 32) are facade profiles that have a screw channel (36, 38) extending along the profile length, designed to accommodate the fastening element (40) in the form of a screw with a self-tapping thread.