Mobile Gas Containment for Plasma Treatment Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasma treatment systems face challenges in safely ventilating potentially harmful gases produced during the treatment process, which restricts mobility and access for technicians, especially when dealing with contoured parts, and are not suitable for automated or robotic operations.
Innovation Solution
A mobile gas containment apparatus coupled to a robotic end effector with a duct system and vacuum pump to capture and channel gases produced by plasma heads, allowing for safe ventilation and processing without the need for physical barriers, enabling safe proximity working and efficient treatment of contoured parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a physical barrier is used to contain harmful gases, then technician safety is improved, but mobility and access to the system deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful gases are extracted from the treatment zone using a vacuum pump and vented away through a separate pathway. This allows the physical barrier to be removed entirely, enabling technicians to access the system freely while maintaining safety through active gas removal rather than passive containment.
Solution Approach 2:
A vacuum pump system acts as an intermediary between the plasma treatment zone and the surrounding environment. The pump actively draws harmful gases through a vacuum port and channels them away, mediating the interaction between the treatment process and technician safety without requiring direct physical separation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a stationary ventilation system is used, then gas containment is improved, but adaptability to contoured parts and automated operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system transitions from a static, stationary configuration to a dynamic, mobile setup. The vacuum pump and enclosing structure can be repositioned along with the robotic end effector, allowing the system to adapt to different workpiece locations and contoured surfaces while maintaining effective gas containment through active vacuum extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile ventilation system serves multiple functions: it contains gases for various contoured parts, supports automated robotic operations, and can be repositioned for different treatment zones. The vacuum pump system acts as a universal solution that adapts to different workpiece geometries and operational modes rather than being fixed for a single configuration.
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
Enables safe and efficient ventilation of gases produced during plasma treatment, allowing technicians to work closely with the system without barriers, facilitating the treatment of contoured parts and supporting robotic operations by removing gases at the point of production.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pump coupled in flow communication with the gas containment apparatus and configured to extract the gas from the at least one enclosing structure through the duct
Data Source
AI summary
A gas containment apparatus for use with an end effector including at least one plasma head includes at least one enclosing structure coupled to the end effector. The enclosing structure is configured to capture a gas produced by the at least one plasma head. The gas containment apparatus also includes a duct coupled to the at least one enclosing structure and configured to channel the gas from within the enclosing structure.