Modular Suction Unit Using Pressurized Gas for Extended Urinary Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircrew, especially female pilots, face challenges in bladder relief during long flights due to dehydration from reduced liquid intake to minimize urination needs, necessitating a safe and reliable urinary relief system.
Innovation Solution
A modular urinary relief system with a control head and modular control unit that utilizes pressurized gas sources, such as CO2 cartridges, integrated with a pressure regulator and ejector pump to create a vacuum for urine collection and storage, allowing bladder relief without removing flight equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a non-modular urinary relief system is used, then the system structure is simpler, but the operation time and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is divided into multiple control heads that can be coupled together in series. Each control head contains a pressurized gas source, valve, and connector. By segmenting the system into modular control heads, the operation time can be extended by adding more units in series, while each individual unit remains relatively simple in structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-pressure system is used, then the system design is simpler, but the adaptability to different flight durations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic configuration by enabling control heads to be coupled in series to extend operation time. The modular design permits the system to be adapted to different flight durations by adjusting the number of control heads connected, making the system versatile rather than fixed.
3Duration of action of moving object
If high-pressure gas sources are used directly, then the vacuum strength is sufficient, but the operation time is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single high-pressure gas source that depletes quickly, the system segments the gas source into multiple control heads connected in series. This allows the vacuum pressure to be maintained over an extended period as each control head contributes to the overall suction, effectively distributing the pressure requirement across multiple units.
4Volume of moving object
If integrated pressure regulation is used, then the system occupies less space, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulator is integrated into the ejector head assembly, combining multiple functions (pressure regulation and ejector operation) into a single component. This merging reduces the overall system volume by eliminating separate pressure regulation components, while the modular control head design keeps manufacturing manageable through standardization.
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 system provides a compact, extended-performance urinary relief solution that reduces pressure by up to 30 times, increasing operation time and reducing fabrication costs while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressurized gas source, a pressure regulator configured to regulate a pressure of the first pressurized gas source
Implementation Method 2
an ejector coupled to the pressure regulator and an output, an ejector head housing the pressure regulator and the ejector
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A control head (540a-540d) for a modular control unit (108) of a urinary relief system is disclosed herein. The control head includes a pressurized gas source input, a toggle (534a-534d) configured to activate a pressurized gas source (530a-530d) coupled to the pressurized gas source input, a first connector (512) fluidly coupled to the pressurized gas source input and configured to allow a first gas from the pressurized gas source input to flow through the control head, and a second connector (514) fluidly coupled to the first connector and configured to allow a second gas to pass through the control head.