Curved Filter Bed for Compact Powered Air Purifying Respirator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) often have a bulky design that can interfere with user tasks and provide discomfort due to their large profile.
Innovation Solution
The development of a powered air filtering device with a curved filter cartridge and bed, integrated into a compact housing with a blower assembly and motor positioned to optimize air flow and reduce device size, while maintaining effective air filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional PAPR design is used, then air filtration function is provided, but the device becomes bulky and interferes with user tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The filter bed is designed with a curved configuration where the filter media is arranged in a curved path rather than a straight line. The blower assembly is positioned at the center of curvature of the filter bed, allowing air to flow radially outward through the curved filter media. This curved arrangement reduces the linear dimensions of the device while maintaining the required filter media surface area, thereby reducing device volume without compromising filtration effectiveness or user comfort.
2Reliability
If filter media surface area is increased for better filtration, then filtration effectiveness improves, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved filter bed arrangement allows the filter media to be configured in a radial pattern around the blower assembly. This enables a large surface area of filter media to be packed into a compact volume by utilizing the radial space efficiently. The filter media surface area is maximized within the available device volume by arranging filters in a curved, radial configuration rather than a linear or planar arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter bed transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional radial configuration. By positioning the blower at the center of curvature and arranging filter media in a radial pattern, the system utilizes the third dimension (radial distance from center) to pack more filter surface area into a compact volume, effectively increasing filtration capacity without proportionally increasing device volume.
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 compact design of the air filtering device enhances user comfort and reduces interference with tasks, while maintaining the effectiveness of air filtration, providing a reliable and portable solution for contaminated environments.
Implementation Method 1
the blower output being a single opening
Implementation Method 2
Ambient air is filtered by being forced through filter elements that are contained within the filter cartridges
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
Air filtering devices are disclosed that contain a first filter cartridge having a cartridge inlet and a cartridge outlet and a curved filter bed having a concave surface disposed such that air to be filtered passes through the inlet, the curved filter bed, and the outlet. The air filtering devices also contain a blower assembly having a blower inlet in fluid communication with the cartridge outlet and a blower outlet, the blower assembly includes a motor proximate to the concave surface of the curved filter bed. The motor has a rotational axis such that the rotational axis is adjacent to the center of curvature of the curved filter bed. The air filtering device may be used in powered air purifying respirators.