Device for drying a protective suit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drying devices for protective suits, especially those made of rigid materials like firefighting or chemical protection overalls, require significant physical exertion to place on a support stand due to their weight and size, especially when wet, making the process difficult and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A tilting device connects the support stand to the supply pipe, allowing the stand to be tilted from a drying position to a loading position, reducing the effort required to place the suit on the stand by minimizing the lifting distance and effort, and includes a locking mechanism to secure the stand in place during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the support stand is fixed vertically to ensure stable drying position, then drying stability is improved, but the effort required to place the protective suit on the stand increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying stabilityVSAvoidease of placing suit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support stand is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamically adjustable one through the tilting device. The stand can be tilted to a loading position during suit placement and then locked into a drying position during operation, allowing the system to adapt its configuration to different operational phases and reduce manual effort while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The tilt angle of the support stand is changed as a parameter to optimize performance. By adjusting the tilt angle between loading and drying positions, the system reduces the lifting distance and physical effort required during suit placement while ensuring proper vertical orientation during the drying process for stable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the support stand is tilted to a loading position to reduce lifting effort, then ease of operation is improved, but stability during drying process deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of placing suitVSAvoiddrying stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tilting device with locking mechanism enables the support stand to dynamically switch between two stable states: a tilted loading position for easy suit placement and a vertical drying position for stable operation. The locking mechanism ensures that once positioned, the stand remains stable in either configuration throughout the respective operational phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a locking mechanism is added to secure the support stand in position, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the support stand's position. As the stand is tilted or returned to vertical, the locking mechanism self-activates to secure the stand in the appropriate position, eliminating the need for manual locking operations and reducing operational complexity despite adding structural components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3879215B1Device for drying a protective suit
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 KRIEGL MAXIMILIAN
  • EP3879215B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3879215B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3879215B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a drying device (1) for drying a protective suit, comprising a support stand (2) formed with one or more tubes, onto which a protective suit can be placed, and a supply tube (3) connected to the support stand (2) for conveying a gaseous or liquid medium through the supply tube (3) into the support stand (2). To achieve high practicality, the invention provides that the support stand (2) and the supply tube (3) are connected by a tilting device (4) such that the support stand (2) can be moved from a drying position, in which the medium can be conveyed through the supply tube (3) into the support stand (2), to a loading position by tilting the support stand (2), in order to facilitate placing the protective suit onto the support stand (2).