CPAP Humidifier Shielding Section Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In CPAP apparatuses, high air flow speeds near the humidifying tank's second passage cause water surface waves, leading to water overflow and droplets entering the passage, which is not effectively addressed by existing designs.
Innovation Solution
A CPAP apparatus with a humidifying tank featuring a shielding section that intersects the shortest air flow path between the inlet and outlet, redirecting air flow to circumvent the shielding section, thereby reducing air speed and preventing water from entering the second passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air flows along the shortest distance from the first passage to the second passage in the humidifying tank, then the flow path is short and efficient, but the flow speed becomes excessively high causing water surface waves and water droplets to enter the second passage
Solution Approach 1:
A shielding section is introduced as an intermediary element between the first passage and the second passage. This shielding section forces the air flow to take a longer circumventing route, reducing flow speed and preventing water surface waves from generating. The shielding section acts as a mediator that sacrifices some flow path efficiency to eliminate the harmful effect of high-speed flow causing water droplets to enter the second passage.
2Speed
If the flow speed of air is high in the vicinity of the second passage, then the air can quickly exit the humidifying tank, but the water surface rises and falls to generate waves that wash over the second passage
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding section serves as an intermediary structure that reduces air flow speed in the vicinity of the second passage. By forcing the air to circumvent the shielding section, the flow speed is reduced to a level that prevents water surface waves from generating, thereby ensuring reliable operation of the second passage without water contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding section is positioned upstream to preemptively reduce air flow speed before it reaches the second passage. This preliminary anti-action prevents the formation of water surface waves and eliminates the harmful effect before it can occur, ensuring the second passage operates reliably without water droplet contamination.
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 effectively reduces air flow speed near the second passage, prevents water overflow, and attenuates waves at the water surface, ensuring reliable operation and preventing water from entering the outlet.
Implementation Method 1
the shortest distance of the air flowing from the inlet toward the outlet is blocked by the shielding section. Accordingly, the route of the air is a route that circumvents the shielding section toward the outlet. By causing the air to flow along such a circumventing route, it is possible to reduce the flow speed of the air in the vicinity of the second passage.
Implementation Method 2
If the flow speed of the air is high in the vicinity of the second passage, the water surface may rise and fall to generate a wave in the vicinity of the second passage. Therefore, the wave at the water surface may wash over the second passage, or the water droplets formed by the wave may flow into the second passage.
Data Source
AI summary
A CPAP apparatus includes a blower and a humidifying tank having an inner space that is capable of storing water. The humidifying tank includes a bottom wall, a side wall, and a top wall. The humidifying tank includes a first passage through which the blower communicates with the inner space and a second passage through which the inner space communicates with a portion that is outside of the humidifying tank and that is different from the blower. When an inlet is defined as an opening of the first passage on the humidifying tank side, an outlet is defined as an opening of the second passage on the humidifying tank side, and an imaginary line segment is imagined to connect the inlet and the outlet along a shortest distance, the CPAP apparatus includes a shielding section that intersects the imaginary line segment.