Magnetic Surface Contaminant Testing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for testing surfaces for soluble salts before applying protective coatings are labor-intensive, prone to contamination, and inaccurate, especially on complex or sloped surfaces, due to the use of adhesives, sharp objects, and the need for laboratory samples.
Innovation Solution
A testing system utilizing an air-permeable water-resistant membrane and a test chamber with a magnetically secured overlay that forms a watertight seal on surfaces, allowing for the deposition and retrieval of a solvent to measure contamination levels without adhesives or sharp objects, and is reusable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If swabbing method is used to collect surface contaminants, then the testing process can be performed on-site, but the method is labor intensive and subject to contamination from swabs, hands, and tweezers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the contaminant collection function from manual swabbing operations and transfers it to a passive magnetic collection mechanism. The magnetic collection device with magnetic particles automatically attracts and collects soluble salt contaminants from the surface solution, eliminating the need for manual handling with swabs, hands, and tweezers that cause contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary mechanism between the collector and contaminants. Magnetic particles suspended in the solution are attracted to and collected by the magnetic collection device through magnetic forces, providing a contamination-free collection method that maintains on-site testing capability while improving measurement reliability.
2Reliability
If Bresle patch method is used, then a watertight seal can be formed on the surface, but adhesives and sharp objects are required which complicate the process and risk contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the adhesive and sharp object components from the sealing process. Instead of using adhesives to attach a patch or sharp objects to pierce the patch, the system uses a magnetic collection device that forms a watertight seal through magnetic attraction to the surface, eliminating the need for adhesives and sharp objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field serves as an intermediary that creates the watertight seal without requiring adhesives or sharp objects. The magnetic collection device attracts magnetic particles and forms a sealed environment through magnetic forces, simplifying the process while maintaining reliable seal formation.
3Quantity of substance
If test sleeve method is used, then contaminants can be collected in a measured amount of water, but gravity pulls the solution towards the open end making it difficult to employ on horizontal surfaces and to remove the solution
Solution Approach 1:
The invention counteracts the effect of gravity on the solution using magnetic forces. The magnetic collection device holds the solution containing collected contaminants against gravity through magnetic attraction to magnetic particles, preventing the solution from flowing toward the open end and enabling operation on horizontal and overhead surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic forces serve as an intermediary mechanism to counteract gravity's effect on the solution. The magnetic collection device uses magnetic attraction to hold the solution in place, allowing precise measurement of a controlled amount of water while eliminating the gravity-related operational difficulties of the test sleeve method.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple cotton swabs are used in swabbing method, then contaminants can be collected through repeated swabbing, but the process is labor intensive and each swab may introduce contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple swabbing operations into a single magnetic collection process. Instead of using multiple cotton swabs that each require separate handling and introduce potential contamination, the magnetic collection device collects all soluble salt contaminants in one operation through magnetic attraction, improving both contaminant collection efficiency and testing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the contaminant collection function from manual multiple-swab operations and consolidates it into a single magnetic collection mechanism. This eliminates the labor-intensive repeated swabbing process while maintaining effective contaminant collection, as the magnetic particles automatically attract and collect all soluble salts in the solution.
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
This solution simplifies the testing process, reduces contamination risks, and provides accurate measurements of soluble salt contamination on various surface types, including complex and sloped surfaces, while being more efficient and cost-effective than existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetically secured overlay that forms a watertight seal on surfaces
Implementation Method 2
an air-permeable water-resistant membrane
Implementation Method 3
deposition and retrieval of a solvent to measure contamination levels
Data Source
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AI summary
The testing apparatus facilitates the testing of surfaces for contaminants such as soluble salts prior to applying a protective coating. The testing apparatus includes an air-permeable water-resistant membrane, an overlay, and a test chamber. When assembled, the testing apparatus provides an easily removable and testing apparatus that encloses a void into which a solvent may be injected to determine the level of contamination of the surface.