Movable Cleaning Elements for Soot Removal from Protective Equipment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods struggle to effectively remove combustion residues, particularly soot, from personal protective equipment (PPE) and heavily soiled items like cooking pots due to electrostatic charging and low-temperature cleaning limitations, leading to incomplete rinsing.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a stationary cleaning basket and movable cleaning elements, combined with a pressurization system to protect gas-carrying elements, uses a combination of cleaning fluids and mechanical abrasion to remove contaminants while preventing fluid ingress into sensitive components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional cleaning methods are used on personal protective equipment, then the cleaning process is simple and quick, but combustion residues and soot cannot be effectively removed due to electrostatic charging and low-temperature limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device segments the cleaning chamber into multiple zones with different functions: a pre-cleaning zone with water nozzles for initial rinsing, a cleaning zone with cleaning elements and cleaning fluid application, and a drying zone with air nozzles. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific cleaning task, effectively removing combustion residues and soot while managing the overall cleaning process systematically
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning elements are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to adapt their position and movement pattern during the cleaning process. The cleaning elements can move relative to the cleaning basket, enabling dynamic contact with contaminated surfaces to mechanically remove stubborn residues like soot and combustion deposits that static cleaning methods cannot effectively remove
2Manufacturing precision
If cleaning fluid is applied heavily to remove soot, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but gas-carrying elements may come into contact with cleaning fluid which is not allowed
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies cleaning fluid locally and selectively to specific areas where contaminants are present, rather than flooding the entire cleaning chamber. The cleaning fluid is applied in the cleaning zone with controlled dosage, and the movable cleaning elements are positioned to contact only contaminated surfaces. This localized approach ensures effective soot removal while preventing cleaning fluid from reaching gas-carrying elements that must remain protected
Solution Approach 2:
The movable cleaning elements act as intermediaries between the cleaning fluid and the contaminated surfaces. These elements are impregnated with or exposed to cleaning fluid and then brought into contact with soot and combustion residues on PPE surfaces. The cleaning elements transfer the cleaning action to the contaminants while keeping the cleaning fluid contained, preventing direct contact between cleaning fluid and gas-carrying elements
3Manufacturing precision
If the cleaning basket is made stationary for stable cleaning, then cleaning precision improves, but the cleaning elements must be movable to effectively reach and clean all surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the cleaning basket movable to reach all surfaces, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the basket stationary and making the cleaning elements movable. The cleaning elements move relative to the stationary basket and its contents, allowing them to access and clean all surfaces of the PPE items while the basket remains fixed in position. This inversion simplifies the overall mechanism while achieving comprehensive cleaning coverage
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 device efficiently removes soot and other residues from PPE and pots by mechanical abrasion and controlled fluid application, ensuring thorough cleaning without damaging sensitive parts.
Implementation Method 1
The cleaning device has at least one pressurization device with at least one pressure port, wherein the pressure port is connectable to at least one gas-carrying element of the item to be cleaned, wherein the pressurization device is configured to pressurize the gas-carrying element with pressurized gas during the application of the cleaning item with the at least one cleaning fluid
Implementation Method 2
the movable cleaning elements are configured to be set in motion by the cleaning fluid, in particular by a flow of the cleaning fluid
Implementation Method 3
the movable cleaning elements are configured to exert a mechanical cleaning effect on the item being cleaned during the exposure of the item to be cleaned to the cleaning fluid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Proposed is a cleaning device (110) for cleaning articles (112) to be cleaned, a cleaning basket (114) for use in a cleaning device (110), a method for cleaning articles (112) to be cleaned and a use of a cleaning device (110). The cleaning device (110) comprises at least one cleaning chamber (116) for stationarily receiving at least one cleaning basket (114) with the articles (112) to be cleaned contained therein. Furthermore, the cleaning device (110) comprises at least one application device (118) for applying at least one cleaning fluid (120) to the articles (112) to be cleaned. The cleaning device (110) also comprises a plurality of movable cleaning elements (154), wherein: the movable cleaning elements (154) are arranged to move relative to the cleaning basket (114); the movable cleaning elements (154) are configured to remain in the cleaning chamber (116) while the cleaning fluid (120) is being applied to the articles (112) to be cleaned; the movable cleaning elements (154) are configured to be set in motion by the cleaning fluid (120); and the movable cleaning elements (154) are configured to exercise a mechanical cleaning effect on the articles (112) to be cleaned while the cleaning fluid (120) is being applied to the articles (112) to be cleaned.