Breathing Apparatus Housing with Load-Absorbing Fastening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing closed-circuit breathing apparatuses face challenges in mechanical stabilization and fluid-tight sealing between breathing tubes and respirator components, leading to increased complexity and mechanical effort, which can result in component overload and reduced safety.

Innovation Solution

A housing with a fastening section that absorbs mechanical loads from breathing tubes, providing mechanical stabilization and a positive-locking seal against contaminants, fire, and glowing particles, allowing for a simpler and cost-effective configuration with reduced component complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the breathing tube connection is used for both fluid-tight sealing and mechanical stabilization, then the connection must provide both sealing and mechanical strength, but this leads to increased complexity and mechanical effort on the respirator components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid-tight connectionVSAvoidmechanical stabilization complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the mechanical stabilization function from the sealing function by introducing a dedicated housing structure with fastening sections. The housing mount and housing cover provide mechanical anchoring points that bear tensile loads, while the breathing tube connection focuses solely on fluid-tight sealing. This functional segmentation eliminates the need for the connection to simultaneously provide both sealing and mechanical strength, thereby reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing acts as an intermediary structure between the breathing tube and the external environment. The fastening sections of the housing mount and housing cover serve as intermediate anchoring points that absorb mechanical loads before they reach the breathing tube connection. This intermediary structure protects the sealing connection from mechanical stresses while maintaining fluid-tight integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the breathing tube connection provides both sealing and mechanical load bearing, then the connection must be robust, but this increases the mechanical effort and stress on the connection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidmechanical stress on connection

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the mechanical load-bearing function from the breathing tube connection and relocates it to the housing structure. The fastening sections embedded in the housing mount and housing cover assume the role of bearing tensile loads, while the breathing tube connection is relieved of mechanical stresses and focuses exclusively on providing fluid-tight sealing. This extraction reduces mechanical stress on the original connection point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure with its fastening sections serves as a pre-established mechanical support system that cushions and absorbs tensile loads before they can be transmitted to the breathing tube connection. By providing this mechanical cushioning in advance, the patent protects the sealing connection from excessive mechanical stresses and forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the connection is designed for high mechanical stability, then the breathing tube configuration becomes more complex, but this reduces ease of manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidbreathing tube configuration simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mechanical stabilization function into the housing structure itself, combining the housing mount and housing cover into a unified assembly that provides both structural support and fastening capabilities. This merging eliminates the need for complex breathing tube configurations, as the housing assumes the mechanical stabilization role, thereby simplifying the breathing tube design and manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11883696B2Housing for a closed-circuit breathing apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 DRAGER SAFETY AG & CO KAAA

AI summary

A housing (10) for a closed-circuit breathing apparatus (100) is provided for mounting respirator components (110) in an interior (40) thereof. The housing (10) includes a housing mount (20) and a housing cover (30) for covering the interior (40). The housing mount (20) has a first partial section (52) of at least one passage opening (50) for passage of a breathing tube (120) into the interior (40). The housing cover (30) has a second partial section (54) of this passage opening (50). The housing mount (20) and/or the housing cover (30) further have/has a fastening section (60) for the mechanical fastening to a counter-fastening section (122) of the breathing tube (120), which breathing tube (120) is guided through the passage opening (50).