Gas Replenishment Component With Diffusive Seal for Enclosure Atmosphere

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic enclosures, such as disk drives, face challenges in maintaining optimal gas environments for reducing contamination and heat transfer, with helium and oxygen levels needing precise control and slow replenishment.

Innovation Solution

A gas replenishment component with a sealed containment volume containing a charging gas, a diffusive area, and a reversible seal, which passively releases gases like helium and oxygen at controlled rates, using adsorbents to manage contaminants and maintain desired gas concentrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealed enclosure is used to maintain gas environment, then gas contamination is reduced, but gas replenishment capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas environment stabilityVSAvoidgas replenishment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-charges an adsorbent material with oxygen gas before sealing the enclosure. This preliminary action stores the gas in advance within the adsorbent's porous structure, allowing controlled release later without requiring external gas supply systems, thus maintaining both sealing and replenishment capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an adsorbent material as an intermediary between the sealed enclosure and the external environment. This adsorbent acts as a gas reservoir that can release oxygen when needed, mediating between the sealed enclosure's need for stability and the requirement for gas replenishment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If helium is used to reduce heat transfer, then thermal insulation is improved, but gas composition control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer reductionVSAvoidgas composition control

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates different gas compositions in different locations: helium fills the main enclosure volume for thermal insulation, while oxygen is locally stored in the adsorbent material. This local quality differentiation allows both gases to coexist without requiring complex mixing or separation systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses porous adsorbent material to selectively store and release oxygen while allowing helium to pass through or bypass the material. The porous structure provides selective gas interaction, enabling precise control over gas composition and release rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If a diffusive area is created for gas release, then gas replenishment is enabled, but seal integrity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas replenishmentVSAvoidseal integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin film or membrane as the diffusive area, which allows controlled gas passage while maintaining structural integrity. The flexible nature of the thin film enables it to conform to pressure differences without creating large openings that would compromise seal integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs porous material for the diffusive area, which allows gas molecules to pass through via diffusion or effusion while the material's continuous structure maintains mechanical integrity and seal integrity. The porosity level can be controlled to achieve desired gas release rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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 component effectively maintains a controlled gas environment within electronic enclosures, reducing contamination and heat transfer by slowly diffusing gases over the enclosure's life, enhancing operational stability and longevity.

Implementation Method 1

the gas replenishment has an adsorbent disposed in the containment volume, wherein the charging gas is at least partially stored by the adsorbent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

The main body defines a diffusive area that is permeable to the gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

A reversible seal obstructs the diffusive area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier sealing: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 4

The adsorbent is dried by heating the adsorbent under a partial vacuum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 5

The adsorbent is dried by heating the adsorbent under a partial vacuum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 6

the containment volume has a pressure ranging from 85 kPa to 1000 kPa

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12512129B2Gas replenishment component for an enclosure

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 DONALDSON CO INC

AI summary

A gas replenishment component for an electronic enclosure is described. A main body defines a containment volume. The main body is sealed about the containment volume. A charging gas is contained in the containment volume. The containment volume has less than 5% N2. The main body defines a diffusive area that is permeable to the gas. A reversible seal obstructs the diffusive area.