Ozone Cleaning System for Firefighter Gear Decontamination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Firefighters are at a higher risk of health ailments due to exposure to carcinogens from burning materials, which persist on their gear for up to nine hours after a fire, posing a significant health risk.

Innovation Solution

An ozone cleaning system integrated into fire vehicles, comprising a decontamination chamber, a utility chamber, and a utility assembly that uses ozone, humidified air, and ultraviolet light to break down organic carcinogens into harmless carbon dioxide and water, effectively decontaminating gear and equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional cleaning methods are used on fire gear, then the gear can be washed, but carcinogens remain on the gear for up to nine hours after exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecontamination effectivenessVSAvoidcarcinogen exposure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs ozone (O3), a strong oxidant, to rapidly decompose organic carcinogens on fire gear. The ozone generator produces ozone gas that penetrates the gear materials and oxidizes carcinogenic compounds like benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, converting them into harmless substances such as carbon dioxide and water within minutes, dramatically reducing the nine-hour exposure risk associated with traditional cleaning methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #38Strong oxidants (Accelerated oxidation)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces mechanical cleaning methods (washing, scrubbing) with a chemical oxidation process using ozone. Instead of physically removing contaminants through mechanical action, the system uses ozone gas to chemically transform carcinogens into non-harmful byproducts, achieving superior decontamination effectiveness without the limitations of traditional mechanical cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If ozone is used to decontaminate gear, then carcinogens are effectively broken down, but the system complexity increases with multiple chambers and components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarcinogen degradationVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The decontamination system is divided into distinct functional chambers: an ozone generation chamber, a decontamination chamber for gear treatment, and a utility chamber housing supporting components. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system organization and manageability despite the increased complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The utility chamber serves multiple functions by housing the ozone generator, humidifier, and vacuum blower components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated spaces for each subsystem, thereby managing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive decontamination capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a vacuum system is added to remove ozone after treatment, then residual ozone is eliminated, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresidual ozoneVSAvoidvacuum energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum blower acts as an intermediary component that removes residual ozone and decomposition byproducts from the decontamination chamber after treatment. While this adds a component, it ensures complete safety by eliminating any remaining harmful gases, and the energy consumption is justified by the critical need to protect firefighter health from residual ozone exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 ozone cleaning system significantly reduces the presence of harmful pollutants like benzene and other carcinogens on fire gear, ensuring a safer environment for firefighters by completely oxidizing them into harmless by-products, thereby reducing the risk of health ailments.

Implementation Method 1

treating organic carcinogens... completely oxidizing them into harmless by-products

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

a humidifying unit configured to provide humidity to the decontamination chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHumidification:

Implementation Method 3

a vacuum blower configured to at least one of (i) generate a vacuum within the decontamination chamber and (ii) pull the ozone from the decontamination chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum suction: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentUS11420085B2Ozone cleaning system

Publication Date: 2022.08.23 OSHKOSH CORPORATION

AI summary

An ozone cleaning system includes a decontamination chamber, a utility chamber coupled to the decontamination chamber, and a utility assembly disposed within the utility chamber. The utility assembly is configured to decontaminate at least one of contaminated gear and contaminated equipment positioned in the decontamination chamber by treating organic carcinogens. The utility assembly includes an ozone generator configured to provide ozone to the decontamination chamber, a humidifying unit configured to provide humidity to the decontamination chamber, and a vacuum blower configured to at least one of (i) generate a vacuum within the decontamination chamber and (ii) pull the ozone from the decontamination chamber following a decontamination process.