Modular Containment Panel With Inner-Mounted Sealing Sheet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containment systems for healthcare facilities face challenges in providing effective air filtration and containment of hazardous and non-hazardous particulate and gas phase contaminants during maintenance and construction, due to issues with airflow control, compatibility, and reliability, particularly in environments with non-horizontal floors and ceilings.
Innovation Solution
A modular containment system with adjustable height panel assemblies, featuring a sealing member that maintains a seal in both locked and unlocked configurations, and includes guides for precise alignment, allowing for adaptation to various environments and configurations while minimizing exposure to contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sheet is mounted on the outer surface of the panel frame to facilitate sealing, then sealing capability is improved, but the sheet becomes more exposed to impacts and abrasion, reducing its durability
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the sheet on the outer surface of the frame as in prior art, the patent inverts the approach by mounting the sheet on the inner surface of the frame. This protects the sheet from impacts and abrasion while maintaining sealing capability through the engagement of the sheet with the frame members from the interior side.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet is nested within the frame structure by mounting it on the inner surface of the frame members. This nesting arrangement protects the fragile sheet from external damage while still allowing it to function as a sealing element between panels.
2Reliability
If panels with surface-mounted sheets are used, then sealing is facilitated, but panels with surface-mounted sheets are not compatible with panels that do not include surface-mounted sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal panel design where all panels use the same inner-surface mounting method for the sheet. This standardized approach ensures that all panels in the system are compatible with each other, regardless of their specific configuration or size, while maintaining reliable sealing through the consistent mounting method.
3Reliability
If the seal depends on a perfectly flat surface during movement and adjustment, then sealing reliability is improved, but the slightest surface imperfection or deflection creates an inconsistent surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mounting parameter from outer-surface mounting to inner-surface mounting of the sheet on the frame. This parameter change allows the sheet to be less sensitive to surface flatness variations during panel movement and adjustment, as the inner-surface mounting provides a more stable reference plane that accommodates minor imperfections while maintaining consistent sealing.
4Device complexity
If a single guide block is used for controlling movement between adjacent frame members, then device complexity is reduced, but all forces relevant to aligning frame members must be managed by this single component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the guiding function by providing separate guide blocks at different locations (e.g., upper and lower guide blocks) to control movement between adjacent frame members. This segmentation allows each guide block to manage specific alignment forces, improving overall alignment precision while maintaining reasonable device complexity through modular placement of multiple simple guide components.
Data Source
AI summary
A containment system may include four different widths of panel assemblies, at least four different types of corner assemblies, various types of door assemblies, multiple types of three-way corners or âTâ intersections, multiple types of exhaust panel assemblies, multiple types of wall seal assemblies, and other components that form a modular system capable of adapting to various configurations using a minimal number of fasteners, brackets, and/or clamps. Each panel assembly includes a lower assembly, an upper assembly slideably attached to the lower assembly, at least one adjustment mechanism that interfaces with both the lower assembly and the upper assembly, and a sealing member extending between the upper assembly and the lower assembly.