Compressible Vacuum Hose Structure That Stays Open Under Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum hoses are hindered by their rigidity and weight due to reinforcement methods like metal rings or spirals, making them less flexible, compressible, and difficult to store, while also being prone to channel closure under suction, which affects their functionality and storage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum hose design featuring a compressible and expandable honeycomb or spongelike connection portion between the tube and external cover tube, allowing for easy flattening and reduced weight, along with a pressurizable connection to maintain channel openness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tube is reinforced with metal rings or spirals to maintain channel openness, then the structural strength is improved, but the weight increases and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection portion is made from a foam material with cellular structure that provides mechanical strength while maintaining low weight. The porous foam structure acts as a lightweight reinforcement that prevents channel closure under suction without requiring heavy metal rings or spirals.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum hose combines different materials: an elastic tube for flexibility, a foam material for lightweight reinforcement, and an external cover tube for protection. This composite structure achieves both strength and weight reduction by distributing functions across multiple materials.
2Strength
If the tube is reinforced with metal rings or spirals to maintain channel openness, then the structural strength is improved, but the flexibility and compressibility decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The foam material's cellular structure provides reinforcement while maintaining elasticity and flexibility. Unlike rigid metal rings, the foam can deform with the tube during bending and compression, then recover its shape, preserving the tube's adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam material's mechanical properties are optimized to balance strength and flexibility. By selecting appropriate foam density and cell structure, the connection portion provides sufficient reinforcement while allowing the tube to bend and compress as needed for storage and handling.
3Ease of manufacture
If the tube is made highly flexible and compressible for easy storage, then the ease of storage is improved, but the ability to maintain channel openness under suction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection portion is segmented into a foam structure with multiple cells that can compress independently. This segmentation allows the tube to bend and compress for storage while the foam cells provide distributed support to prevent complete channel collapse during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam material's porous structure provides a balance between compressibility for storage and structural support for channel openness. The cellular structure can be compressed for storage but expands to maintain channel shape when the hose is in use.
4Strength
If the connection portion is made rigid to maintain channel openness, then the structural strength is improved, but the ease of flattening for storage decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The foam material's mechanical parameters are selected to allow flattening during storage while maintaining structural integrity during use. The foam can be compressed flat for storage but recovers its shape and provides support when the hose is deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous foam structure allows the connection portion to be compressed and flattened for storage while maintaining enough structural support to prevent channel closure during operation. The material transitions between compressed and expanded states as needed.
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 solution enables a lightweight, flexible, and compressible vacuum hose that can be easily stored, maintains functionality by preventing channel closure, and alerts users to leaks, thus enhancing usability and environmental safety.
Implementation Method 1
the connection portion comprises a compressible and expandable honeycomb structure
Implementation Method 2
when the connection portion is pressurized the external cover tube expands outwardly and causes the closable channel of the tube to open or to remain open
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A vacuum hose (1) comprising a tube (2) defining a closable channel (3) through the tube (2), wherein the tube (2) is comprised within an external cover tube (4) and the ex-ternal cover tube (4) is connected to the tube (2) with a connection portion (5) which is pressurizable so as to arrange that when the connection portion (5) is pressurized the external cover tube (4) expands outwardly and causes the closable channel (3) of the tube (2) to open or to remain open.