Insulated chamber with phase change material and door with controllable transparency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional incubators lack the temperature stability required for consistent results, with radiant-walled units offering quick recovery but limited control, and water-jacketed units providing better stability but being complex and requiring maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An insulated chamber incorporating phase change material (PCM) between the insulation and the interior chamber, along with a controllable transparency door, to maintain temperature stability and allow user access while minimizing heat loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If water-jacketed heating system is used, then temperature stability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water jacket system from the incubator design, eliminating the need for water circulation pumps, reservoirs, and complex thermal management infrastructure. Instead, radiant heating elements directly heat the interior chamber walls, which then radiate heat uniformly to maintain temperature stability without requiring a water-based thermal management system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical water circulation system with an electromagnetic radiant heating system. Electric heating elements convert electrical energy directly to thermal radiation, which then transfers heat to the chamber interior without requiring mechanical pumps, valves, or water circulation infrastructure, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining temperature stability.
2Ease of operation
If door transparency is increased for user access, then ease of operation is improved, but heat loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs smart glass or electrochromic material in the door that can dynamically change its optical properties between transparent and opaque states. When transparency is needed for user access, the glass becomes transparent; when heat retention is prioritized, the glass transitions to an opaque state, thereby reducing heat loss through the door while maintaining ease of operation when required.
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 PCM enhances temperature stability and uniformity, allowing the chamber to maintain temperature during power outages and rapid recovery, while the controllable transparency door enables user access without compromising temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
a phase change material (PCM) disposed between the insulation and the interior chamber
Implementation Method 2
The PCM enhances temperature stability and uniformity, allowing the chamber to maintain temperature during power outages and rapid recovery
Implementation Method 3
a door with controllable transparency
Data Source
AI summary
A hinged door for gaining access to a chamber interior region for receiving a storage item therein. The hinged door comprising a frame, a transparent material pane within the frame, a smart glass material disposed proximate the material pane and controllable between a transparent and opaque condition responsive to an electric current supplied to the smart glass material, a phase change material within the frame, and a temperature controlling device proximate the phase change material.