Pneumatically inflatable clean area with a pressure lock and method for producing this clean area
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of cleanliness areas, such as clean rooms, often requires significant surface loads on floors and ceilings due to overpressure, complicating their structural design and conversion, especially when creating or modifying existing spaces.
Innovation Solution
A predominantly flexible envelope that obtains its shape solely from overpressure, allowing the clean area to be self-supporting without additional surface loads, and utilizing a column for anchoring the ceiling and ventilation, with a transparent and reinforced fabric structure for homogeneous airflow and aesthetic features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid structure is used to maintain clean area shape, then structural stability is improved, but surface loads on floors and ceilings increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible envelope made of fabric or foil material that can adapt its shape through internal overpressure without requiring rigid structural support. The envelope is tensioned by the positive pressure differential between the clean area and surroundings, eliminating the need for heavy structural frameworks while maintaining structural integrity and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic pressure (overpressure of 5-50 Pa) as the primary structural support mechanism. This internal pressure differential inflates and maintains the shape of the flexible envelope, allowing the clean area to be self-supporting without transferring significant surface loads to the building's floor and ceiling structures.
2Stress or pressure
If a flexible envelope is used, then surface loads are reduced, but shape stability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible envelope is designed with sufficient tensile strength and is tensioned by internal overpressure to maintain its shape. The fabric or foil material, when inflated, develops membrane stresses that stabilize its configuration, allowing it to resist external disturbances while remaining flexible and lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The controlled overpressure (5-50 Pa) serves dual purposes: it maintains the cleanliness function by preventing contamination while simultaneously providing structural stability to the flexible envelope. The pressure differential creates outward forces that counteract gravitational and external loads, stabilizing the envelope's shape without requiring rigid support structures.
3Strength
If rigid walls and ceilings are used, then structural strength is improved, but ease of manufacture and conversion worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible envelope can be manufactured as a prefabricated module that is easily transported and installed within existing building spaces. The fabric or foil covering is stretched over a minimal support framework and sealed to create the clean area, significantly simplifying installation compared to constructing rigid walls and ceilings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static rigid structures to a dynamic inflatable structure that can be deployed and removed as needed. The envelope is inflated to its operational shape using air pressure, allowing for quick setup and teardown, thereby improving ease of manufacture and conversion while maintaining structural strength through pneumatic tension.
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
Enables the creation of clean areas with reduced structural impact and enhanced airflow, maintaining cleanliness standards while providing visual connectivity and flexibility in design and usage.
Implementation Method 1
the clean area has an overpressure relative to the structure
Implementation Method 2
the overpressure keeps the envelope in the shape of the clean area
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates firstly to a room (1) in a building having at least one pressure lock (12, 13) for the exchange of materials and persons between the building and the room (1), having a ventilation apparatus for supplying supply air from the building into the room (1) at the top and an extraction apparatus for extracting exhaust air from the room (1) into the building at the bottom in such a manner that the room (1) has an overpressure by comparison with the building, wherein the room (1) has a floor (5) and an enclosure (6) enclosing the room (1) above the floor (5) in a pressure tight manner and the building has an outer enclosure which protects the room (1) against the weather conditions outside the building. The invention further relates to a method for producing a room (1) of this type. According to the invention, in order to simplify the production of a clean room, the enclosure (6) is at least predominantly flexible and the overpressure holds the enclosure (6) in the shape of the room (1).