Open-Body Surface Treatment Using Inner Volume Confinement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating the surfaces of open bodies require large volumes of treatment fluid, which can be inefficient due to the expense and limited lifetime of the fluid, and often result in uneven treatment, especially for articles with complex shapes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses an inner structure shaped to complement the interior of the open body, allowing a reduced volume of treatment fluid to be applied efficiently and uniformly by generating plasma within the fluid volume via electromagnetic energy, with RF electrodes, and optionally using a tank to treat both inner and outer surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large volume of treatment fluid is supplied to accommodate all articles of varying shapes and sizes, then all articles can be treated, but the amount of treatment fluid required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment process is segmented into two separate treatment zones: an inner treatment zone for the interior surfaces of open bodies and an outer treatment zone for exterior surfaces. This segmentation allows each zone to use only the amount of treatment fluid needed for its specific purpose, eliminating the need to supply enough fluid to fill the entire volume of all articles simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner treatment zone is extracted as a separate system from the outer treatment zone. By providing treatment fluid only to the inner zone where it is actually needed (inside open bodies), the system removes the waste of supplying fluid to the entire article volume when only surface treatment is required.
2Manufacturing precision
If treatment fluid is supplied in large quantities to ensure complete coverage, then uniform treatment can be achieved, but the cost and waste increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by concentrating treatment fluid only in the inner treatment zone where it is needed for interior surface treatment. This localized application ensures uniform treatment of interior surfaces while avoiding the waste of distributing large quantities of fluid throughout the entire article volume or outer environment.
3Loss of substance
If the treatment fluid volume is reduced to minimize waste, then cost and environmental impact decrease, but achieving even coverage becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Segmentation of the treatment zones ensures that reduced fluid volume in the inner zone does not compromise coverage, because the fluid is confined to and concentrated in the specific region where interior surface treatment is needed, maintaining even coverage with minimal fluid.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a large reservoir of treatment fluid is used to accommodate all articles, then complete treatment is possible, but storage requirements and energy usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and eliminates the need for a large storage reservoir by providing treatment fluid only to the inner treatment zone where it is actually consumed. This removes the energy burden of maintaining, heating, or pressurizing large volumes of treatment fluid that would otherwise be required to fill entire article volumes.
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
Reduces the amount of treatment fluid needed, enhances uniformity of treatment, and improves the quality of the treated surface, while minimizing waste and environmental impact, and allows for reuse of excess fluid.
Implementation Method 1
generating the plasma within the treatment fluid volume via electromagnetic energy applied via electrodes
Implementation Method 2
applying the treatment fluid comprises applying a plasma
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of applying a treatment to a surface of an open body having a volume within an interior of the open body comprises; providing an inner structure (110) shaped to complement the shape of the interior of the open body and to fill a major portion of the volume or a major portion of a width of the interior of the open body; positioning the inner structure (110) within the open body in order to form a treatment fluid inner volume comprising an inner space (150) confronting an inner surface within the interior of the open body; and introducing a treatment fluid into the treatment fluid inner volume to thereby modify the inner surface of the open body by applying the treatment using the treatment fluid. Optionally, the method includes providing a tank (120) shaped to complement and contain the open body; positioning the open body within the tank (120) in order to form a treatment fluid outer volume comprising an outer space confronting the outer surface of the open body; and introducing the treatment fluid into the treatment fluid outer volume to thereby modify the outer surface of the open body by applying the treatment using the treatment fluid.