Liner Bag for Warming Device with Fluid Flow Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for warming breast milk or baby formula often result in hot and cold spots due to uneven heat distribution and require frequent cleaning and disinfection due to milk spills, which complicates the warming process.
Innovation Solution
A liner bag system comprising an inner bag for the milk container and an outer bag filled with a heat transfer fluid, where the inner bag is not fully enclosed by the outer bag to allow fluid flow around it, enhancing heat distribution and incorporating anti-microbial agents and temperature indicators for safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If direct contact heating is used to warm milk containers, then heating speed is improved, but uneven heat distribution occurs causing hot and cold spots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the heating well and the milk container. The heating well heats the water, and the water in turn heats the container through convection and conduction, distributing heat more evenly around the container rather than concentrating it at the contact point.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by using liquid water as the heat transfer medium. The water circulates around the container in the heating well, utilizing fluid dynamics to distribute thermal energy uniformly throughout the container, eliminating the hot spots caused by direct solid-to-solid contact heating.
2Ease of operation
If heating wells are used to warm milk containers, then warming function is provided, but milk spills transfer to other containers requiring frequent cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable plastic bags as liners inside the heating wells. These single-use bags prevent milk spills from contaminating the heating well and subsequent containers. After use, the contaminated bags are discarded rather than cleaned, eliminating the need for frequent disinfection of the heating device while maintaining hygiene.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable liner bag acts as an intermediary barrier between the milk container and the heating well. It prevents direct contact between spilled milk and the heating surface, thereby preventing cross-contamination of other containers while still allowing effective heat transfer through the thin bag material.
3Reliability
If liner bags are used to prevent milk transfer, then cleanliness is improved, but heat transfer efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thin plastic film bags as liners in the heating well. These thin films provide effective contamination barrier while maintaining high thermal conductivity. The minimal thickness of the plastic film ensures that it does not significantly insulate the heat transfer from the water to the milk container, thus preserving heating efficiency while achieving cleanliness.
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 liner bag system ensures even warming of breast milk or formula, prevents milk spills into heating wells, and maintains cleanliness by containing spills within the outer bag, while providing a clear indication of when to replace the bag and when the desired temperature is reached.
Implementation Method 1
Heat from a well is passed to a container placed therein via conduction to warm the milk in the container
Implementation Method 2
the heat transfer fluid in the outer bag to rise and surround significant portions of the inner bag. Heat from the heating well warms the heat transfer fluid, which in turn evenly warms the inner bag and the container enclosed therein
Data Source
AI summary
A liner bag for use with a warming device has an inner bag and an outer bag. The inner bag has an inner chamber for receiving and at least partially enclosing a container. The outer bag has an outer chamber that at least partially encloses the inner bag and that receives and encloses a heat transfer fluid that transfers heat to the container. The side edges of the inner bag are joined to the side edges of the outer bag but the front face, rear face, and bottom edge of the inner bag are not joined to the front face, rear face, and bottom edge of the outer bag so that the heat transfer fluid may flow between the outer bag and inner bag for more effectively transferring heat to the inner bag and the container enclosed in the inner bag. The liner bag may also have an anti-microbial agent for disinfecting the heat transfer fluid placed in the outer bag.