Inflatable Vision Enclosure With Expanding Housing for Smoke Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emergency vision systems fail to effectively maintain visual contact with instrument panels and external visual sources during smoke or particulate invasions, leading to unsafe conditions in critical operator environments such as cockpits, submarines, and nuclear power stations.

Innovation Solution

An emergency vision system with an inflatable enclosure and a blower mechanism, activated by a switch, that deploys a filtered air-filled vision unit to displace smoke and allow clear visibility through a housing expansion mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the housing volume is increased to accommodate the inflatable enclosure and blower, then the system can provide effective smoke displacement, but the device size and installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmoke displacement effectivenessVSAvoidhousing volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable enclosure is nested within the housing in a deflated state, allowing the blower and other components to be compactly arranged. When activated, the enclosure inflates to its functional size, providing smoke displacement without requiring the housing to be as large as the inflated state would suggest.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing includes an expandable portion that can transition between a retracted state (reducing overall device volume) and an extended state (increasing internal volume for inflated enclosure operation). This dynamic adjustment allows the housing to adapt its volume based on operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the opening in the housing is enlarged to facilitate access to the inflatable enclosure, then maintenance and deployment become easier, but the structural integrity and smoke sealing capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to inflatable enclosureVSAvoidsmoke infiltration through opening

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A cover acts as an intermediary element between the housing opening and the external environment. The cover can be opened to provide access for maintenance and deployment, then closed to seal the opening and prevent smoke infiltration, thus mediating between access requirements and sealing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing opening is designed to be dynamically adjustable between a closed state (maintaining structural integrity and smoke sealing) and an open state (providing access for deployment and maintenance). This dynamic opening allows the system to adapt its accessibility based on operational needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the inflatable enclosure is kept inflated continuously to maintain visibility, then visual access is always available, but energy consumption increases and the system becomes more vulnerable to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual access availabilityVSAvoidblower energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The blower operates periodically rather than continuously, inflating the enclosure when visual access is needed and allowing it to deflate when not needed. This periodic operation significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining availability when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The inflatable enclosure is designed to maintain its inflated state for extended periods without continuous power, using the initial inflation to provide sustained visual access. The system only requires power to inflate or deflate the enclosure as needed, rather than maintaining constant inflation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 operators to maintain visual access to critical information by inflating a filtered air-filled vision unit to displace smoke, ensuring safe operation during emergencies.

Implementation Method 1

a blower (42) disposed in the housing and in communication with the inflatable enclosure through a hose (48) to force air through the hose and into the inflatable enclosure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a switch (64) disposed at the second end for operating the blower, wherein removal of the wrapper from the inflatable enclosure activates the switch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPosition detection:

Data Source

PatentUS12545413B2Emergency vision assurance system device with wrapper activated switch and a volume-expanding, opening-enlarging housing

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 VISIONSAFE LLC

AI summary

An emergency vision assurance system device includes a housing; an inflatable enclosure having an inflated state and a deflated state, the main enclosure in the deflated state being disposed in the housing; a blower disposed in the housing; a hose with a first end attached to the blower and second end attached to the enclosure; and a switch disposed at the second end for operating the blower. The emergency vision assurance system device also includes a housing with an opening for access to the inflatable enclosure, the opening having a smaller opening when closed and a larger opening when open; and a cover for closing the opening.