Compact Muffler for Breast Vacuum Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Breast pumps with self-contained reservoirs used discreetly in public settings generate noise, which is undesirable and not addressed in existing designs, as they were previously used in private settings where noise was not a concern.
Innovation Solution
A compact sound suppression system for breast pumps, featuring a muffler assembly with a tortuous air path and sound-absorbing materials like porous foam, which diverts and absorbs sound energy before it reaches the environment, reducing noise emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If breast pumps are used discreetly in public places with self-contained reservoirs, then privacy and social acceptance are improved, but noise emission increases and becomes a disturbance to others
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful noise is extracted from the breast pump system by introducing a separate muffler assembly that communicates with the air outlet. The muffler contains sound-absorbing materials that capture and absorb the noise generated by the vacuum pump, separating the noise-generating function from the pumping function while maintaining the discreet public use capability
Solution Approach 2:
The muffler assembly acts as an intermediary component between the vacuum pump and the external environment. It provides an intermediate chamber with sound-absorbing materials (porous foam, fibrous materials) that mediates the noise transmission, allowing the pump to operate discreetly in public places without disturbing others
2Object-generated harmful factors
If sound-absorbing materials are added to reduce noise, then noise emission is reduced, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The muffler assembly is designed as a compact nested structure where sound-absorbing materials are positioned within chambers that are integrated into the breast pump system. The multiple chambers with different materials are nested within each other, maximizing noise reduction within a minimized volume and avoiding excessive device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes porous sound-absorbing materials such as porous foam and fibrous materials with controlled porosity. These materials effectively absorb noise energy through their porous structure, achieving noise reduction without requiring large volumes or complex mechanical structures, thus balancing noise suppression with device simplicity
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 system effectively reduces or eliminates noise from breast pump operation, allowing discreet use in public areas without disturbing others, and can be applied to other small air pump systems for noise reduction.
Implementation Method 1
One way to suppress noise in such system is to interfere with the path the sound is likely to take before reaching one's ears through the use of absorbent rubbery or porous foam material that 'soaks up' or absorbs sound energy before the sound energy reaches the environment
Implementation Method 2
a tortuous air path creating an indirect flow of air through the sound suppressing muffler assembly to atmosphere, the indirect airflow suppressing the noise energy produced by air moving through the tortuous path
Data Source
AI summary
A sound suppression system for reducing or eliminating sound produced by the operation of a breast vacuum pump includes a sound suppressing muffler assembly having an air entry port adapted to communicate with an air outlet port of a vacuum pump or other air flow generating device. The sound suppressing muffler assembly also includes a muffler housing defining an internal space communicating with the air entry port, and an opening in the housing leading to atmosphere. The muffler housing has a tortuous air path in the muffler housing. In one embodiment, sound absorbing porous foam structure is disposed in the tortuous air path. The at least one sound absorbing porous structure absorbs sound energy from the air as the air moves through the at least one air path toward the opening in the muffler housing. In further embodiments, a tortuous air path is provided between an air entry port and an opening to atmosphere in the muffler assembly.