Gas Supply Assembly With Piercing Priming Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current oxygen supply systems for high concentration oxygen delivery are limited by weight, bulkiness, and pressure constraints, making them difficult to transport and use in emergency situations, and existing portable oxygen concentrators cannot provide sufficient high concentration oxygen for extended periods or in contaminated environments.

Innovation Solution

A gas supply set comprising a gas container with adsorbent material and a gas racking system featuring a mobile priming mechanism with drilling means and an activation mechanism that allows the drilling mechanism to pierce the container, enabling the release of high concentration oxygen for extended periods while being portable and adaptable for use in various environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If high pressure gas cylinders (200 bar) are used to store oxygen, then the oxygen storage capacity is increased, but the weight and bulkiness increase making them difficult to transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen storage capacityVSAvoidcylinder weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The gas storage system is divided into two independent parts: a lightweight flexible bladder for gas storage and a rigid outer shell for structural support and adsorbent containment. This segmentation allows the heavy rigid structure to be minimized while the flexible bladder provides lightweight gas storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Adsorbent material with porous structure is used to increase oxygen storage capacity within the flexible bladder. The porous material provides high surface area for gas adsorption, enabling compact storage of large volumes of oxygen without increasing the overall system weight or volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Duration of action of moving object

If high pressure gas cylinders are used, then oxygen delivery duration is extended, but the device complexity and handling difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen delivery durationVSAvoidcylinder handling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible bladder is pre-filled with oxygen gas at ambient pressure before use. This preliminary action eliminates the need for high-pressure filling operations during deployment, simplifying handling while maintaining extended delivery duration through the flexible storage medium.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible bladder is designed as a single-use disposable component that is pre-filled and sealed. After use, it is discarded rather than refilled or maintained, eliminating complex refilling mechanisms and reducing device complexity while providing sufficient duration for emergency oxygen therapy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Weight of moving object

If portable oxygen concentrators are used, then weight and portability are improved, but the oxygen concentration and delivery capacity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice weightVSAvoidoxygen delivery capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the pressure parameter from high-pressure storage (200 bar cylinders) to ambient pressure flexible bladder storage. This parameter change reduces weight and improves portability while the adsorbent material compensates for the lower pressure by increasing storage density through adsorption mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a composite structure combining flexible bladder material for containment, rigid shell for structural support, and adsorbent material for gas storage enhancement. This composite approach achieves high oxygen delivery capacity in a lightweight portable format by leveraging the strengths of each material type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Adaptability or versatility

If ambient air is drawn in for oxygen extraction, then portability is improved, but the system cannot operate in contaminated environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental adaptabilityVSAvoidcontaminated air sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Oxygen is pre-stored in the flexible bladder before deployment, eliminating the need to draw ambient air during operation. This preliminary storage action allows the system to operate independently of environmental air quality, providing adaptability to contaminated environments such as CO poisoning scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 system provides a portable and efficient means to deliver high concentration oxygen for several tens of minutes, overcoming weight and bulk constraints, and can operate in environments with contaminated air, ensuring reliable oxygen therapy in emergency situations.

Implementation Method 1

a gas container (1) including a peripheral casing (11) defining an internal volume (12) containing at least one adsorbent (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3848076B1Gas supply assembly comprising a gas container
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 LAIR LIQUIDE SA POUR LETUDE & LEXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE
  • EP3848076B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3848076B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3848076B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a gas supply assembly (1, 4) comprising a gas container (1) and a gas withdrawal system (4) cooperating with the gas container (1). The gas container (1) contains an adsorbent material (5). The gas withdrawal system (4) comprises a movable priming mechanism (2) including drilling means (226, 227, 228), and an activation mechanism (3) actuated by a user and cooperating with the priming mechanism (2) to move the priming mechanism (2) towards the gas container (1) such that the drilling means (226, 227, 228) of the priming mechanism (2) puncture the peripheral casing (11) of the gas container (1).