Inflatable Structure Sealing via Edge Contraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines for inflating inflatable structures are often large, expensive, noisy, and require high fluid pressures, which are inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A machine that includes a drive to advance the inflatable structure, an inflation nozzle to direct fluid into pre-formed chambers, a sealing device to close the openings, and a sheet engagement device that intermeshes belts or rollers to prevent fluid escape and keep openings open during inflation, allowing for lower pressure and quieter operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional inflation machines are used, then inflatable structures can be inflated, but they produce excessive noise and require high fluid pressures

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovenoiseVSAvoidfluid pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The sheets are engaged together along the longitudinal edge before inflation occurs. This preliminary engagement prevents fluid escape during the inflation process, allowing inflation to proceed at lower pressures without compromising effectiveness, and reduces the noise associated with high-pressure operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet engagement device prevents fluid from flowing out the longitudinal edge before inflation can complete. By anticipating and preventing fluid loss, the system maintains pressure efficiency without requiring excessive pressure input, thereby reducing noise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Device complexity

If pre-formed inflatable chambers are used, then machine size and cost are reduced, but excessive noise and high pressure requirements remain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine complexityVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet engagement device is positioned to engage sheets together before the inflation nozzle directs fluid into the chambers. This preliminary engagement ensures that pre-formed chambers inflate efficiently at lower pressures, maintaining the simplicity of the machine while eliminating the noise and high pressure problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If sheets are not engaged together, then fluid can escape through the longitudinal edge, but chamber openings cannot remain open during inflation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinflation reliabilityVSAvoidfluid loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet engagement device engages the sheets together along the longitudinal edge before inflation begins. This preliminary action prevents fluid escape and maintains chamber opening integrity throughout the inflation process, ensuring reliable inflation without fluid loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet engagement device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sheets and the inflation process. It provides the necessary constraint to prevent fluid escape while allowing the inflation nozzle to successfully direct fluid into the chambers, solving the contradiction between preventing fluid loss and maintaining opening openness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 machine efficiently inflates inflatable structures with lower fluid pressure and reduced noise, using a sheet engagement device to prevent fluid loss and maintain open chamber openings, resulting in a cost-effective and reliable solution.

Implementation Method 1

an inflation nozzle positioned to direct the fluid into the openings of the inflatable chambers as the inflatable structure is advanced in the machine direction to thereby inflate the inflatable chambers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

The sheet engagement device aids in directing fluid into the inflatable chambers by preventing it from flowing out the longitudinal edge, and further helps keep the openings to the inflatable chambers open during inflation by contracting the length of the longitudinal edge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP2416952B1Machine and method for inflating and sealing an inflatables structure

Publication Date: 2017.03.15 SEALED AIR CORP

AI summary

A machine (10) for inflating and sealing an inflatable structure (26) having a longitudinal edge generally comprises a drive (12), an inflation nozzle (22), a sealing device (16), and a sheet engagement device (18). The machine may define an engaging assembly (70) and an opposing assembly (72). The drive may be rotationally coupled to the sheet engagement device such that when the drive rotates, the engagement device also rotates. The engagement device may comprise belts (52, 62) or engagement rollers (349) which may have a plurality of teeth (54, 64, 354) thereon. The teeth may intermesh between a drive roller (80) and a backing roller (82) on the longitudinal edge of the inflatable structure. Thereby, the sheets of the inflatable structure may be engaged together and the length of the longitudinal edge may contract to facilitate inflation. The resulting inflated inflatable structure may comprise an embossed longitudinal edge.