Removable Cavity Inserts for Fluid and Debris Volume Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Equipment with internal cavities often have unoccupied spaces that lead to inefficiencies, resource wastage, and increased maintenance due to excess fluid or debris accumulation, necessitating a method to reduce cavity volume without impairing operation.

Innovation Solution

The use of removable inserts that occupy space within the cavities, allowing fluid flow paths and being interchangeable, to reduce the volume of fluids and debris, while maintaining equipment functionality and ease of maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the cavity volume is reduced using removable inserts, then the volume of fluid and debris is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume of fluidVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity is segmented by inserting removable inserts that divide the continuous fluid space into smaller regions. This segmentation reduces the total volume of fluid that can accumulate in the cavity while maintaining the overall equipment structure. The inserts create multiple smaller compartments rather than one large open space, thereby reducing fluid volume and debris accumulation potential.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inserts are designed to be removable and interchangeable, allowing the cavity configuration to be dynamically adjusted based on operational needs. This dynamic capability enables users to remove inserts for cleaning or maintenance, and to interchange inserts to optimize fluid volume reduction for different operating conditions, thus managing the trade-off between fluid volume reduction and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If removable inserts are added to occupy cavity space, then debris accumulation is reduced, but ease of repair deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris accumulationVSAvoidease of repair

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity is segmented by inserting removable inserts that divide the continuous fluid space into smaller regions. This segmentation reduces the total volume of fluid that can accumulate in the cavity while maintaining the overall equipment structure. The inserts create multiple smaller compartments rather than one large open space, thereby reducing fluid volume and debris accumulation potential.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inserts are designed to be removable and interchangeable, allowing the cavity configuration to be dynamically adjusted based on operational needs. This dynamic capability enables users to remove inserts for cleaning or maintenance, and to interchange inserts to optimize fluid volume reduction for different operating conditions, thus managing the trade-off between fluid volume reduction and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the cavity volume is reduced, then maintenance needs are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance frequencyVSAvoidmanufacturing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity is segmented by inserting removable inserts that divide the continuous fluid space into smaller regions. This segmentation reduces the total volume of fluid that can accumulate in the cavity while maintaining the overall equipment structure. The inserts create multiple smaller compartments rather than one large open space, thereby reducing fluid volume and debris accumulation potential.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inserts are designed to be removable and interchangeable, allowing the cavity configuration to be dynamically adjusted based on operational needs. This dynamic capability enables users to remove inserts for cleaning or maintenance, and to interchange inserts to optimize fluid volume reduction for different operating conditions, thus managing the trade-off between fluid volume reduction and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20230323751A1Systems, apparatus and methods for occupying one or more spaces in an item of equipment or component

Publication Date: 2023.10.12 PALOMA TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Apparatus, systems and methods for occupying at least part of a cavity within an item of equipment includes at least one removable insert configured to occupy at least part of the cavity without impeding movement in the cavity of any movable internal components of the equipment during normal operation thereof. Each insert may be configured to be spaced away from at least one among the cavity wall, one or more internal components of the equipment and any other inserts in the cavity and allow the flow of fluid around at least part of the insert in the cavity.