Inflatable Heat Enclosure for Non-Damaging Pest Elimination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pest treatment methods require discarding infested articles, use harmful pesticides, or damage items with traditional heat treatments, and are often inefficient or impractical for large objects like furniture and mattresses.

Innovation Solution

A flexible, inflatable enclosure with a heating system and programmable logic controller is used to gradually increase and maintain high temperatures within the enclosure to kill pests, while protecting the treated articles from damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional heat treatment methods are used to kill pests, then pests are eliminated, but the treated articles are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest elimination effectivenessVSAvoidarticle damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment process is segmented into distinct phases: a gradual heating phase (ramping temperature at 10-15°F per hour) followed by a sustained treatment phase (holding at target temperature for 4+ hours). This segmentation allows the article to adapt to temperature changes, preventing thermal shock damage while ensuring complete pest elimination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temperature parameter over time rather than applying immediate high heat. By controlling the rate of temperature increase (10-15°F per hour) and maintaining the target temperature for an extended period, the treatment achieves pest mortality while the article undergoes gradual thermal adaptation, avoiding damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high heat temperatures are applied to kill pests, then pest elimination is effective, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest elimination effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system maintains continuous operation throughout the treatment process, gradually increasing temperature and then sustaining the target temperature for the required duration. This continuous action ensures uniform heat distribution throughout the article and enclosure, eliminating pests effectively while optimizing energy utilization through consistent thermal input rather than intermittent high-power bursts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of time

If rapid temperature increase is used to kill pests quickly, then treatment time is reduced, but article damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment durationVSAvoidarticle damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary gradual heating before reaching the target pest-killing temperature. This preliminary action of slowly ramping up temperature (10-15°F per hour) prepares the article for thermal stress, preventing damage while ensuring that when the target temperature is reached, the pests are effectively eliminated within the required hold time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If pesticides are used to treat pests, then pest elimination is achieved, but harmful chemical residues remain on treated items

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepest elimination effectivenessVSAvoidchemical residues

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical pesticide treatment with a physical thermal treatment system. By using controlled heat application through heating elements in the enclosure, the system achieves pest elimination through thermal energy rather than chemical agents, completely avoiding the issue of harmful chemical residues on treated articles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 method effectively kills all life stages of pests, including bed bugs, without damaging treated items, and can be safely applied to large objects like mattresses and furniture.

Implementation Method 1

The heating system has a heater. The heating system also has at least one thermocouple electrically connected to the heater and located inside of the inflated enclosure.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The heating system also has at least one thermocouple electrically connected to the heater and located inside of the inflated enclosure. The thermocouple measures the actual air temperature inside of the enclosure (Tactual).

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSeebeck effect: Seebeck Effect

Data Source

PatentUS12408650B2Heat system for killing pests

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 ECOLAB USA INC

AI summary

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of pest elimination including all life stages of bed bugs. The present disclosure includes articles, systems, and methods of heat treatment to target and kill pests.