Oxygen-Isolated Blower Assembly for Breathing Assistance Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is an explosion safety risk if high concentration oxygen gases come into contact with electrical and/or electronic components in breathing assistance apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A bearing mount design that isolates the gas flow from electrical and electronic components, featuring an annular body with a central bore and a ledge for radial and axial support of the bearing, and a flexible or resilient design to absorb forces and maintain constant bearing support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high concentration oxygen is used for breathing assistance, then the therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but the explosion safety risk increases due to potential contact with electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is divided into distinct pneumatic zones: a first pneumatic zone containing the gas flow path and a second pneumatic zone containing electrical components. A pneumatic barrier (shield) physically segments these zones, preventing oxygen from reaching electrical components while maintaining therapeutic oxygen delivery to the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
A pneumatic barrier or shield acts as an intermediary element between the high concentration oxygen flow and electrical components. This barrier mediates the interaction by blocking oxygen ingress into the motor housing while allowing the motor to continue driving the impeller for gas delivery.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid bearing mount is used to support the bearing, then the structural stability is improved, but the force transmission to the bearing increases causing premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing mount's mechanical properties are changed from rigid to compliant by using a material with appropriate elasticity. This parameter change allows the mount to maintain structural stability while absorbing excessive forces through elastic deformation, thereby protecting the bearing from premature wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing mount is made from a composite or elastomeric material that combines structural integrity with shock-absorbing properties. This material enables the mount to provide stable support while simultaneously reducing force transmission to the bearing during motor startup and operation.
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 solution effectively reduces the risk of explosions by isolating oxygen gases from electrical components and maintains consistent bearing support even under increasing forces, ensuring safe and reliable operation of breathing assistance apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
at least part of the bearing mount is arranged to flex or resiliently deform when a force is applied to the bearing mount to reduce the amount of the force that is translated to the bearing
Implementation Method 2
a shield to pneumatically isolate the stator from the gasflow passage
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus for delivering a flow of gas having a controller, a housing defining a gasflow passage, a motor with an impeller to deliver gas through the gasflow passage, and a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to the motor for electrically connecting the motor to the controller. There is also provided an apparatus for delivering a flow of gas having a housing defining a gasflow passage. The gas flowing through the gasflow passage is a high concentration oxygen gas. The apparatus has a motor with windings and an impeller to deliver gas through the gasflow passage, and an elastomeric shield to pneumatically isolate the windings from the gasflow passage.