High-Pressure Passthrough for Protective Suit Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protective suits face challenges in maintaining a comfortable temperature and preventing chemical contamination due to the use of bulky cooling systems and the risk of ambient air exposure, which can lead to severe injury or death from toxic vapor penetration, even with hermetically sealed designs.
Innovation Solution
A high-pressure passthrough apparatus that utilizes high-pressure breathing gas from a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to cool the interior of the protective suit, allowing for the transfer of compressed gas at pressures between 900 PSI and 6,500 PSI through a hermetically sealed penetrator body, reducing the need for bulky cooling components and ambient air use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid cooling systems are used to cool the protective suit, then the temperature comfort is improved, but the weight and bulkiness of the suit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function with the existing SCBA breathing system by using the high-pressure breathable air already available in the suit. The SCBA system serves dual purposes: providing breathable air and providing the cooling medium, eliminating the need for separate cooling system components and their associated weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the SCBA's own high-pressure breathable air to cool the suit interior. The breathable air serves as both the life-support gas and the cooling medium, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external cooling components or additional weight.
2Temperature
If ambient air is used as cooling material, then the cooling effect is improved, but the risk of chemical contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the SCBA's clean, filtered breathable air to create a safe inert atmosphere for cooling. This pre-filtered air is free from chemical contaminants and provides a safe cooling medium that cannot introduce toxic substances into the suit interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the SCBA's own clean breathable air for cooling purposes, eliminating the need to introduce ambient air that may be contaminated. The same air supply that protects the user through filtration also provides safe cooling.
3Reliability
If hermetically sealed couplings are used to prevent chemical penetration, then the protection integrity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cooling function through the existing SCBA coupling interface, eliminating the need for separate cooling system couplings. The SCBA connection serves dual purposes: breathable air supply and cooling medium delivery, reducing the number of couplings and their associated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The SCBA coupling interface is designed to handle multiple functions: supplying breathable air, providing cooling through high-pressure air flow, and maintaining hermetic sealing. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of couplings needed and simplifies the overall system architecture.
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
This solution effectively cools the protective suit without adding bulk, maintains a hermetic seal, and prevents chemical infiltration by using high-pressure gas to create a positive pressure within the suit, enhancing user comfort and safety.
Implementation Method 1
A high-pressure inlet is positioned on a first side of the penetrator body. A high-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) outlet is positioned on a second side of the penetrator body.
Implementation Method 2
prevents chemical infiltration by using high-pressure gas to create a positive pressure within the suit
Implementation Method 3
utilizes high-pressure breathing gas from a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to cool the interior of the protective suit
Data Source
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AI summary
A high-pressure passthrough apparatus and protective suit having a high-pressure passthrough is provided. A high-pressure passthrough having a penetrator body is connected to a protective suit, wherein a first half of the penetrator body is positioned exterior of the protective suit and a second half of the penetrator body is positioned interior of the suit. A high-pressure passthrough valve is positioned on the second half of the penetrator body, wherein high-pressured air is supplied to an interior space of the protective suit. Releasing the quantity of high-pressure air to the interior of the protective suit with the high-pressure passthrough valve may act to cool the interior of the protective suit.