PPE Battery Pack Contact Isolation for Conductive-Liquid Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Articles of personal protective equipment (PPE) with powered components face corrosion issues at electrical contacts due to exposure to conductive liquids during cleaning, leading to increased resistance, heat, and potential damage to the battery pack.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack with a switching arrangement and controller that selectively connects and disconnects electrical contacts from the battery based on predefined conditions to prevent corrosion, allowing the PPE system to be immersed in conductive liquids for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the battery pack is frequently cleaned by immersion in conductive liquid, then the hygiene and cleanliness of the PPE system is improved, but the electrical contacts corrode and de-plate due to battery voltage across them
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting the cleaning condition before actual cleaning occurs. The controller detects when the battery pack is removed from the PPE system and proactively disconnects the electrical contacts from the battery, preventing corrosion before it can occur during subsequent cleaning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the battery and electrical contacts. It monitors the operational state and controls the connection status, inserting itself as a managing layer that prevents direct harmful interaction between the battery voltage and conductive cleaning liquids
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective wash strap is mounted on the electrical contacts, then protection from conductive liquid is improved, but the wash strap blocks portion of the battery pack preventing proper cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a physical barrier (wash strap) that blocks cleaning, the controller acts as an intelligent intermediary that selectively manages electrical connection. This electronic control mechanism provides protection without physical obstruction, allowing complete access to the battery pack surface for cleaning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical protective wash strap with an electronic control system. The controller uses electrical switching and detection mechanisms to provide protection, substituting a mechanical barrier with an intelligent electronic system that achieves the same protective goal without blocking cleaning access
3Reliability
If the electrical contacts remain energized during storage or cleaning, then readiness for operation is maintained, but energy is drained from the battery and contacts are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the electrical connection state based on operational conditions. The controller continuously monitors whether the PPE system is in use or in storage/cleaning mode, and dynamically switches the connection state accordingly - connected during operation for readiness, disconnected during storage to prevent energy drain and corrosion
Solution Approach 2:
The controller uses feedback from detecting whether the battery pack is attached to the PPE system to control the connection state. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically transition between operational readiness mode (connected) and energy conservation mode (disconnected), preventing unnecessary energy drain while maintaining reliability when needed
Data Source
AI summary
A personal protective equipment (PPE) system is disclosed herein. The PPE system includes an article of PPE and a battery pack. The article includes a battery pack interface and one or more components. The battery pack includes a battery and electrical contacts configured to electrically connect the battery to the one or more components via the battery pack interface. The battery is configured to electrically power the components of the article via the electrical contacts. The battery pack further includes a switching arrangement electrically disposed between the electrical contacts and the battery. The battery pack further includes a battery controller configured to control the switching arrangement to electrically connect the electrical contact to the battery, and to electrically disconnect the electrical contact from the battery based on predefined conditions so as to prevent corrosion of the electrical contacts when a conductive liquid contacts the electrical contacts.