Modeling Apparatus Gas Circulation Bypass

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Solution Overview

Problem

The modeling apparatus faces issues where the adsorption device's oxygen and moisture adsorption capacity reaches its limit during the model preparation stage due to high initial oxygen and moisture concentrations in the chamber.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a discharge port, suction port, adsorption device, circulation passages, determination unit, and switching unit, which directs gas flow to bypass the adsorption device until the chamber is filled with inert gas, preventing excessive adsorption and ensuring the adsorption device's performance is maintained.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the adsorption device is used to remove oxygen and moisture from the chamber, then the gas purity is improved, but the adsorption capacity reaches the upper limit during the model preparation stage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas purityVSAvoidadsorption capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between two circulation modes: during the model preparation stage, gas circulates through the second circulation passage that bypasses the adsorption device to preserve adsorption capacity; after preparation when oxygen and moisture levels are low, gas circulates through the first circulation passage that includes the adsorption device to maintain gas purity. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between maintaining gas purity and preserving adsorption capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The determination unit detects whether the chamber is filled with gas before activating the adsorption device. This preliminary detection ensures that the adsorption device is only activated when appropriate, preventing premature adsorption that would deplete the adsorption capacity during the critical model preparation stage while still ensuring gas purity is maintained when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If gas circulates through the adsorption device during model preparation, then oxygen and moisture are removed, but the adsorption amount reaches the upper limit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxygen and moisture contentVSAvoidadsorption device performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The switching unit dynamically controls gas circulation paths based on the modeling stage. During model preparation, it directs gas through the second circulation passage bypassing the adsorption device to preserve device performance. After preparation, it switches to the first circulation passage that routes gas through the adsorption device to remove harmful factors. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between removing harmful factors and maintaining device reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The determination unit acts as an intermediary that detects the chamber gas state and controls the switching unit accordingly. It mediates between the need to remove oxygen and moisture and the need to preserve adsorption device performance by determining when the chamber is filled with gas and controlling the appropriate circulation path activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration avoids the adsorption device's capacity limit during model preparation, ensuring effective gas circulation and preventing performance degradation, thereby optimizing the modeling process.

Implementation Method 1

The adsorption device adsorbs at least one of oxygen and moisture from the gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

irradiating a powder layer formed from a powdered material with laser to partially solidify the powder layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser heating: Laser

Data Source

PatentEP3560715B1Modeling apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 NABTESCO CORP
  • EP3560715B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3560715B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(d)
  • EP3560715B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A modeling apparatus 1 includes an adsorption device 70 that adsorbs oxygen and moisture from gas, a first branching passage 53 in which the adsorption device 70 is arranged, a second branching passage 54 in which the adsorption device 70 is not arranged, a determination unit that determines whether a chamber 20a is filled with gas, and a first switching valve 62, a second switching valve 64, and a controller that switch a circulation state of gas in a circulation passage so that the gas passes through only the second branching passage 54, among the first branching passage 53 and the second branching passage 54, until the determination unit determines that the chamber 20a is filled with the gas and so that the gas passes through at least the first branching passage 53, among the first branching passage 53 and the second branching passage 54, from when the determination unit determines that the chamber 20a is filled with the gas.