Rapid Inflation Deflation Device for Reusable Protective Suit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current protective clothing inflating devices are typically disposable, slow to deflate, and bulky, leading to high costs and inconvenience due to their inability to be reused and stored efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A rapid inflating/deflating device with a multi-stage blade mechanism and reversible motor, allowing for complete air discharge and reconfiguration, enabling the protective clothing to be repeatedly used and stored compactly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a disposable explosive device or compressed gas device is used for inflation, then rapid inflation can be achieved, but the device cannot be reused and must be discarded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinflation speedVSAvoidreusability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces disposable chemical/explosive inflation systems with a reusable electric motor-driven air pump system. The motor (4) drives the blade (3) to compress air and inflate the protective clothing through holes (11, 25), eliminating the need for disposable cartridges while maintaining rapid inflation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables recovery and reuse of the inflation system through a reversible motor that can both inflate and deflate the protective clothing. The same pump system that inflates the garment can also extract air for deflation, allowing the device to be reset and reused multiple times instead of being discarded after single use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Ease of operation

If an extraction valve is used to release charged gas, then deflation can be achieved, but the process is slow and incomplete

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeflation capabilityVSAvoiddeflation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional deflation approach by using the motor-driven pump to actively extract air rather than relying on passive extraction valves. The motor (4) reverses rotation to create negative pressure, actively pulling air out through the blade accommodation portion (21) and holes (11, 25), achieving both complete and rapid deflation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention maintains continuous useful action by using the same motor-pump system for both inflation and deflation operations. The motor can continuously compress air for inflation or continuously extract air for deflation without requiring separate mechanisms, ensuring complete air removal and rapid response in both directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If airbags are disorderly arranged inside the protective clothing, then coverage can be achieved, but the clothing becomes bloated and clumsy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection coverageVSAvoidwearer mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the protective clothing into multiple independent air-filled cavities or regions, each capable of being inflated or deflated independently. This allows selective inflation of only necessary protective zones rather than filling the entire garment, reducing overall bulk while maintaining protection where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention makes the protective clothing dynamically adjustable by allowing the wearer to inflate or deflate different regions as needed. The motor-driven pump system enables real-time adjustment of air pressure in various sections, transforming the garment from a static bloated structure to a dynamic, adaptable protective system that can be optimized for both protection and mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 device enables rapid inflation and deflation of protective clothing, reducing costs and improving storage and wearability by allowing multiple uses and compact storage, while providing enhanced safety features through sensor integration for active protection.

Implementation Method 1

a blade (3) provided in the inner cylinder (2) and a motor (4) driving the blade

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

an one-way valve is provided on a third opening of the inner cylinder so as to only allow pressurized air to flow from the inner cylinder through the third opening to the outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOne-way flow control: Valve

Implementation Method 3

a spring (5) provided between the inner cylinder (2) and the end cap (6) and elastically acting on the inner cylinder (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3696422B1Rapid inflating and discharging device for protective suit and intelligent multi-purpose protective suit comprising same
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 BEIJING MKS RES INST
  • EP3696422B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3696422B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3696422B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an rapid inflating/deflating device used for a protective clothing and a smart protective clothing, the inflating/deflating device comprising: an outer cylinder provided with a first hole; an inner cylinder provided in the outer cylinder and provided with a second hole and being capable of sliding between a first position in which the second hole is aligned with the first hole and a second position in which the second hole is deviated from the first hole and is closed by the inner wall of the outer cylinder; a blade provided in the inner cylinder and a motor driving the blade; a biasing device for biasing the inner cylinder toward the first position; wherein the inner cylinder further comprises a third opening on which an one-way valve is provided so as to allow pressurized gas to flow only from the inner cylinder through the third opening to the outside, and to prevent the pressurized gas from flowing in an opposite direction. The protective clothing of the present invention can be rapidly inflated for protection purposes and can be rapidly deflated after use to be restored to a flat state for easy storage. Such reusable protective clothing reduces the cost for the user.