Inactive Gas Introducing Facility Inspection Door Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inactive gas introducing facilities cannot perform inspection operations simultaneously with and without continuous gas feeding, limiting the flexibility of inspection procedures.

Innovation Solution

An inactive gas introducing facility with a controller, inspection-door opening/closing detecting device, and manual operation type stop nullification commanding device, allowing for normal stop and stop nullification modes to control gas feeding based on inspection door status, ensuring continuous or stopped gas flow during inspections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If feeding of inactive gas is stopped in response to opening of the inspection door, then safety is improved, but inspection operations with continued gas feeding become impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidinspection operation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the gas feeding state based on the inspection door status and operational mode. When the inspection door opens, the controller can either stop gas feeding (normal stop mode) or continue gas feeding (stop nullification mode), making the system adaptive to different inspection requirements while maintaining safety through controlled transitions between states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter of gas feeding from a fixed state to a variable state with two modes: normal stop mode where gas feeding is halted when the door opens, and stop nullification mode where gas feeding continues despite door opening. This parameter change enables flexible inspection operations while maintaining safety through mode-based control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If feeding of inactive gas continues during inspection door opening, then inspection operations with gas feeding are enabled, but safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection operation flexibilityVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller receives feedback from the door opening/closing detecting device about the inspection door status and the operational mode state. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically adjusts the gas feeding state - stopping feeding in normal mode when door opens, or continuing feeding in stop nullification mode when door opens, thereby enabling safe flexible operations through closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If a simple stop control is used when door opens, then device complexity is reduced, but inspection operation versatility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidinspection operation types

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is designed with multi-functionality to handle both normal stop operations and stop nullification operations through a single controller that responds to door opening events differently based on the current operational mode. This universal controller enables diverse inspection operations (both with and without gas feeding) without requiring separate control systems, maintaining simplicity while enhancing versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables inspection operations with either continuous or stopped gas feeding, enhancing operational flexibility and ensuring worker safety by monitoring oxygen concentration and automatically adjusting gas flow.

Implementation Method 1

an inspection-door opening/closing detecting device for detecting an opened/closed state of an inspection door allowing access of a worker to/from the inside of the storage space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPosition detection:

Implementation Method 2

an introducing device for introducing inactive gas to the inside of the container stored in the storage section through a gas feed opening of the container with discharging gas present inside the container to the inside of the storage space through a gas discharge opening of the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS9064921B2Inactive gas introducing facility and inactive gas introducing method

Publication Date: 2015.06.23 DAIFUKU CO LTD

AI summary

An inactive gas introducing facility includes an introducing device for introducing inactive gas to the inside of a container stored in a storage section of a storage shelf with discharging gas present inside the container to the inside of a storage space partitioned from the outside and a controller for controlling operation of the introducing device. In a normal stop mode, the controller controls the operation of the introducing device to stop feeding of inactive gas to the container in response to detection of an opened state of an inspection door. And, in a stop nullification mode, the controller controls the operation of the introducing device to continue feeding of inactive gas to the container even in response to detection of the opened state of the inspection door.