Humidification Chamber Float Suspension and Gas Flow Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing humidification chamber designs face challenges in ease of assembly, cost, and effective water level control, with prior-art systems being complex and costly, and contact issues between the float and heated plate.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a hollow float with an extending portion and hooks that suspend on an extending tube within the shell body, forming a distance between the float and heated plate, along with passage spacer plates creating complex gas passages and annular passages for improved moisture mixing and foolproof assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a float retention arrangement with coupling arm and push rod is used, then water level control is achieved, but assembly complexity increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the float, retention arrangement, and water level control functions into an integrated structure. The float directly engages with the water inlet valve mechanism through a simplified coupling structure, eliminating the need for separate coupling arms and push rods while maintaining effective water level control.
Solution Approach 2:
The float structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides buoyancy for water level sensing, engages with the valve mechanism for water control, and its hollow container design allows it to function as both a sensing element and a structural component of the humidification system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a stand-off rib is added to prevent float contact with heated plate, then contact prevention is improved, but the stand-off rib may still contact when water level is too low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance between the float and heated plate. When water level is sufficient, the float is buoyant and naturally suspended above the heated plate. The stand-off rib provides secondary protection but does not contact the heated plate under normal operating conditions, eliminating the problem of rib contact when water level is low.
3Productivity
If passage spacer plates and concave portions are used to form gas passages, then gas residence time increases and mixing improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the humidification chamber into multiple flow paths using passage spacer plates that create separate gas passages. These plates segment the single large chamber into multiple smaller flow channels, increasing gas residence time and mixing efficiency while using simple planar components rather than complex three-dimensional structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave portions on the float and corresponding protrusions on the spacer plates create vertical dimensionality in the gas flow paths. This adds a third dimension to the gas passage geometry, enhancing mixing and residence time without requiring additional horizontal space or complex external structures.
4Ease of manufacture
If hooks and positioning blocks are used to suspend float on extending tube, then assembly is simplified and cost reduced, but suspension reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric positioning blocks on the extending tube that correspond to asymmetrically positioned hooks on the float. This asymmetric design provides a foolproof assembly mechanism where the hooks can only engage with the positioning blocks in the correct orientation, ensuring reliable suspension while maintaining simple assembly. The asymmetric geometry prevents incorrect assembly attempts.
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 design simplifies assembly, reduces costs, enhances gas residence time, ensures foolproof interchangeability of gas inlets and outlets, and prevents float contact with the heated plate, effectively controlling water levels and improving humidification efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the float is suspended on a shell body of the humidification chamber... the float can rise and fall with the water level of the humidification chamber
Implementation Method 2
a heated plate, the heated plate is located below the shell body, and the heated plate is used for sealing the shell body to form a chamber space
Data Source
AI summary
An auto feed humidification chamber with improved structure, the humidification chamber comprises a shell body, an extending tube, a float, a sealing element and a heated plate; the inside of the shell body is provided with a plurality of passage spacer plates, the extending tube is integrally formed on the inside of the shell body, the extending tube has a plurality of positioning blocks; the float is a hollow container, the central portion of the float has an extending portion, a top end of the extending portion has a plurality of hooks, the sealing element can be disposed on the top end of the extending portion; the heated plate is located below the shell body, and the heated plate is used for sealing the shell body to form a chamber space; wherein the extending portion can be suspended on the extending tube by the plurality hooks and the plurality positioning blocks, the passage spacer plates and the concave portions form at least two complicated gas passages in the chamber space, the outside surface of the float and the wall surface of the shell body form at least two annular gas passages in the chamber space.