Intake Module Venturi Entrainment for Respiratory Gas Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intake modules for respiratory devices are inefficient in steadily entraining ambient air into the compressed oxygen stream, resulting in an inconsistent increase in the total flow rate of gas flowing into the respiratory mask.
Innovation Solution
An intake module comprising an air delivery tube, an intake lid, an entrainment cover, and a needle tube, where the entrainment cover is conical and includes a positioning hole and an entrainment port to establish fluid communication between the intake chamber and the intake hole, and the needle tube provides a jet hole for spraying compressed gas, utilizing the Venturi effect to uniformly entrain ambient air into the compressed oxygen stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If current diversion mechanisms are used to entrain ambient air, then the total flow rate can be increased, but the entrainment is unstable and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a jet pump mechanism utilizing compressed gas flow through a nozzle to create a vacuum that draws ambient air through a diffuser. This pneumatic system provides stable and controllable entrainment by using the kinetic energy of the compressed gas to consistently pull ambient air into the flow stream, resolving the instability issue while maintaining high total flow rate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the entrainment process by adjusting parameters such as the compressed gas pressure, nozzle diameter, and diffuser geometry. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves both high total flow rate and stable entrainment performance, converting the unstable current mechanism into a reliable controlled system
2Reliability
If a jet pump mechanism is implemented, then stable entrainment is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the jet pump mechanism directly into the existing intake module housing, combining the nozzle, diffuser, and ambient air intake pathways into a unified structure. This merging approach achieves stable entrainment functionality while minimizing the increase in device complexity by avoiding separate standalone components
Solution Approach 2:
The intake module design allows the same structural elements to serve multiple functions: the housing provides both structural support and defines the ambient air intake pathways, while the nozzle and diffuser serve both fluid dynamics purposes and structural roles. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining entrainment stability
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 solution achieves a steady and uniform entrainment of ambient air into the compressed oxygen stream, increasing the total flow rate of gas delivered to the respiratory mask through the Venturi effect, ensuring a consistent and enhanced gas flow.
Implementation Method 1
the needle tube provides a jet hole for spraying compressed gas, utilizing the Venturi effect to uniformly entrain ambient air into the compressed oxygen stream
Implementation Method 2
an intake module having an entrainment cover by which ambient air is entrained to increase the total flow rate of the intake module
Data Source
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AI summary
An intake module includes an outer tube body defining an intake chamber (113) and having an intake end (111), and an inner tube body (12) disposed in the outer tube body and having an intake hole (121) communicating with the intake chamber (113). An intake lid (2) covers the intake end (111) and has an inlet hole (221) for allowing the intake chamber (113) to be in fluid communication with the outside so that a compressed gas is fed into the inlet hole (221). A needle tube (4) defines a jet hole (41) for spraying the compressed gas from the needle tube (4) into the intake hole (121). When the compressed gas is delivered from the intake lid (2) into the inner tube body (12), air is drawn into the intake hole (121) to mix with the compressed gas according to Venturi effect.