Inflatable Barriers for Air Containment and Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for drying affected structures in the water restoration industry are time-consuming, costly, noisy, and environmentally polluting, and there is a need for effective containment of infectious diseases in healthcare and personal care settings.
Innovation Solution
Inflatable barriers that can separate air in one section of a space from another, allowing for containment at different pressures, using edge seals, vents, and air movers to control temperature, humidity, and airflow, while minimizing waste and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable plastic sheeting is used for containment, then containment effectiveness is improved, but waste generation and environmental pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs reusable inflatable barriers made of flexible material that can be inflated and deflated multiple times. These barriers provide effective containment while eliminating the need for disposable plastic sheeting, thereby reducing waste generation and environmental pollution associated with single-use containment materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the state of the containment system from disposable to reusable by utilizing inflatable barriers that can be inflated and deflated. This parameter change allows the same containment structure to be used repeatedly, reducing waste while maintaining containment effectiveness.
2Productivity
If high-powered fans and dehumidifiers are used for drying, then drying effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the affected space into isolated zones using inflatable barriers. By containing only the specific wet areas rather than treating the entire structure, the system reduces the volume of air that needs to be circulated and dehumidified, thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining effective drying in the targeted zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies drying equipment only to the specific localized wet areas that are contained within the inflatable barriers. This local approach ensures that energy-intensive equipment operates only where needed, reducing overall energy consumption compared to treating the entire structure.
3Reliability
If the entire structure is treated for drying, then drying completeness is improved, but time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the structure into separate zones using inflatable barriers, allowing simultaneous treatment of multiple wet areas with portable dehumidifiers. This segmentation enables parallel processing of different zones, reducing the overall drying time while ensuring complete drying of all affected areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses preliminary action by first isolating the wet areas with inflatable barriers before applying drying equipment. This preliminary containment step ensures that drying efforts are concentrated on the specific affected zones, making the subsequent drying process more efficient and reducing total drying time.
4Reliability
If disposable plastic sheeting is used for containment, then containment effectiveness is improved, but installation time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic inflatable barriers that can be quickly inflated and deflated, replacing static disposable plastic sheeting. The inflatable barriers can be rapidly deployed by inflating them with air, significantly reducing installation time and labor requirements compared to the time-consuming process of installing and securing disposable plastic sheeting.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic inflation to deploy the containment barriers. By utilizing air pressure to inflate the barriers, the system achieves rapid deployment without requiring extensive manual labor for installation, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining effective containment.
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 inflatable barriers efficiently dry affected areas, reduce environmental impact, and provide cost-effective containment solutions for infectious diseases by creating controlled pressure zones, enhancing safety and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The inflatable barrier is configured to keep the air in the first section at a different pressure than the air in the second section
Implementation Method 2
a first opening, which is configured to receive air inflow from an air mover
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable barrier allows separating air in a first space from air in a second space to provide containment.The inflatable barrier may include an inflatable bag with edge seals in the form of parallel tubes. The bag receives air from an air mover through a first opening. It has a carrier for a vent that releases air while the bag stays inflated. A tension rod prevents the bag from bulging out of shape. The bag may be hung from an expandable rod. An internal channel may route air through the whole bag.The inflatable barrier may comprise an outer sleeve and two or more inflatable inner chambers. The circumference of a main sleeve matches the circumference of a combination of the inner chambers. The inner chambers include an air inlet/outlet. The outer sleeve may have connector halves to couple the barrier with another barrier, or to couple the main sleeve with a top, a bottom, or an extension.