Evacuation Device Pressure Control for Storage Bag Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage bags face issues with trapped air causing food spoilage or dehydration, and evacuation methods using mechanical devices can damage the bags or distort contents due to excessive pressure differentials.
Innovation Solution
A handheld evacuation device generating a maximum evacuation pressure of about 6 PSIA, with optional pressure control features, is used to evacuate air from storage bags through a one-way valve element, preventing bag damage and content distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a mechanical evacuation device creates a pressure differential to open the one-way valve element, then air can be drawn through the valve element, but the pressure differential may damage the storage bag
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from high pressure differentials (traditional mechanical evacuation) to a controlled low pressure differential (maximum 6 PSIA). This parameter change allows the one-way valve element to open sufficiently for air evacuation while preventing damage to the storage bag and its contents, resolving the contradiction between evacuation efficiency and bag damage prevention
2Reliability
If air is evacuated from the interior volume to remove trapped air, then food preservation is improved, but the flexible sidewalls may collapse in a manner that damages stored items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a maximum evacuation pressure of 6 PSIA, which is sufficient to remove trapped air and improve food preservation while being low enough to prevent the flexible sidewalls from collapsing around the food items. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between preservation reliability and content protection
3Reliability
If evacuation proceeds to lower pressures to improve preservation, then food freshness is enhanced, but system complexity and precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the evacuation pressure parameter to a maximum of 6 PSIA, which provides sufficient food preservation without requiring complex systems to achieve lower pressures. This parameter selection balances food freshness with reasonable system complexity, avoiding the need for sophisticated vacuum systems while still achieving effective preservation
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 removes trapped air while preventing damage to the storage bag and maintaining food freshness, with reduced risk of dehydration and simpler system complexity compared to lower pressure evacuations.
Implementation Method 1
the evacuation device typically operates by creating a pressure differential across the one-way valve element causing the valve element to open. Entrapped air can then be drawn from the interior volume through the one-way valve element by the evacuation device
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system for storing and preserving food items or the like includes a sealable storage bag having attached to it a one-way valve element that communicates with the interior volume of the storage bag. The system also includes an evacuation device that can be positioned over the one-way valve element to evacuate air entrapped in the interior volume via the valve element. To avoid possible damage to the storage bag, the valve element, or the stored food items, the evacuation device is configured to have a maximum evacuation pressure of 6 pounds per square inch absolute or greater. In an embodiment, to control the maximum evacuation pressure of the evacuation device, the evacuation device can include a pressure control feature which in further embodiments may be pressure activated or user selectable.