Mass Flow Measurement in Hermetically Sealed Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring the gaseous content in hermetically sealed containers are inaccurate, expensive, difficult to conduct, and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An instrument that includes a connection device, a vacuum pump, a mass flow rate sensor, and a check valve to accurately measure the mass flow rate of gas from a hermetically sealed container by evacuating the gaseous content and preventing backflow, allowing for precise measurement of the gas content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current available instruments are used to measure gaseous content in hermetically sealed containers, then measurement can be conducted, but the measurement accuracy is unacceptably inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement instruments with a simplified system using a vacuum pump, mass flow rate sensor, and check valve. This substitution achieves accurate measurement of gaseous content by measuring the mass flow rate of gas evacuated from the container, rather than using complicated existing instruments that were inaccurate and unreliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct gas volume or pressure measurement to mass flow rate measurement. By measuring the mass flow rate of gas being evacuated over time, the system achieves accurate determination of total gaseous content, resolving the accuracy and reliability issues of previous methods.
2Measurement precision
If current available instruments are used to measure gaseous content, then measurement can be conducted, but the cost is prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive components such as a standard vacuum pump, a mass flow rate sensor, and a check valve to create an affordable measurement system. These components are readily available and cost-effective, eliminating the need for expensive specialized instruments while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive specialized measurement instruments with a combination of common, affordable components. The system uses a vacuum pump and mass flow rate sensor that are widely available and inexpensive compared to dedicated gas measurement devices, making the measurement capability accessible and cost-effective.
3Measurement precision
If current available instruments are used to measure gaseous content, then measurement can be conducted, but the procedure is difficult to conduct
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential components needed for measurement: a vacuum pump to evacuate gas, a mass flow rate sensor to measure the evacuation rate, and a check valve to prevent backflow. By removing unnecessary complexity from current instruments, the procedure becomes simple to conduct while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically measures gaseous content by connecting to the container, evacuating the gas, and recording the mass flow rate data. The instrument performs the measurement process autonomously without requiring complex manual operations, making it easy to conduct while maintaining accurate measurement capability.
4Measurement precision
If current available instruments are used to measure gaseous content, then measurement can be conducted, but the measurement speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous evacuation and measurement of gas from the container. The vacuum pump continuously removes gas while the mass flow rate sensor continuously measures the flow, allowing rapid determination of total gaseous content. This continuous process eliminates the slow, step-by-step measurements required by current instruments, significantly increasing measurement speed while maintaining accuracy.
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 instrument provides an inexpensive, quick, and accurate method for determining the gaseous content, enabling effective shelf life assessment of perishable products by ensuring accurate measurement of gas content in sealed containers.
Implementation Method 1
The vacuum pump sealingly communicates with the lumen defined by the connection device for evacuating gaseous content from a hermetically sealed container through the lumen
Implementation Method 2
The mass flow rate sensor sealingly communicates with the lumen defined by the connection device for sensing mass flow rates pulled through the lumen
Implementation Method 3
The check valve sealingly communicates with the lumen defined by the connection device and is positioned intermediate the vacuum pump and the mass flow rate sensor for inhibiting the sensing of negative flow spikes by the mass flow rate sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An instrument for accurately measuring mass flow rate of a fluid pumped from a hermetically sealed container, through attainment of a steady state mass flow rate, having a check valve positioned between a vacuum pump and a mass flow rate sensor.