Respirator Cooling Element Collar Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The removal and insertion of cooling elements in a closed-circuit respirator's cooling device can be challenging due to potential volume changes or sticking issues, especially when multiple elements are involved.
Innovation Solution
A cooling element system with a collar and carrying area that allows for the collective removal and insertion of cooling elements, even when they have changed volume or position, ensuring easy handling and efficient cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cooling elements are removed individually, then each element can be checked separately, but the removal process becomes complex and time-consuming when multiple elements are involved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cooling elements into a single removable assembly using a common mounting arrangement. The collar encloses all cooling elements together, allowing them to be removed and inserted as one unit rather than individually, simplifying the operation while maintaining the ability to check each element separately when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar serves multiple functions: it encloses the cooling elements, provides a carrying area for manual handling, and acts as a unified removal mechanism. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate removal procedures for each cooling element, reducing operational complexity.
2Reliability
If cooling elements are tightly secured in the cooling device, then cooling performance is maintained, but removal becomes difficult when volume changes or sticking occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling elements from the cooling device through a detachable collar assembly. The cooling elements remain securely mounted during operation but can be easily separated as a group by removing the collar, allowing maintenance without compromising the secure fit during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar acts as an intermediary component between the cooling elements and the cooling device housing. It provides a controlled interface that maintains secure connection during operation while enabling easy removal when needed, mediating between the conflicting requirements of secure mounting and easy access.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple cooling elements are handled separately, then each element can be positioned precisely, but the handling effort and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The common mounting arrangement merges multiple cooling elements into a single handled unit. The collar encloses all elements and provides a carrying area, allowing the entire assembly to be positioned and installed in one operation rather than handling each element separately, significantly reducing handling time while maintaining positioning precision through the structured mounting arrangement.
4Ease of operation
If cooling elements are removed manually by grasping, then simple handling is achieved, but strong pulling forces from volume changes or freezing cannot be overcome
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple cooling elements into a single assembled unit enclosed by the collar, the patent creates a unified structure that can be handled together. This merging allows the user to apply sufficient collective pulling force to overcome strong adhesion or freezing forces that would prevent removal of individual elements, while maintaining simple manual handling through the unified carrying area.
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 system enables rapid and secure replacement or insertion of cooling elements, improving handling efficiency and maintaining effective cooling performance, especially in time-critical applications like firefighting.
Implementation Method 1
it stores a large part of the thermal energy fed into it in the form of latent heat for a phase change from solid to liquid
Implementation Method 2
phase change from solid to liquid
Implementation Method 3
cooling a breathing gas flow by thermal conduction
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling element system (100), for use within a cooling device (590) of a closed-circuit respirator (691), includes a plurality of cooling elements and a collar (120). The cooling elements each have an element housing (112), having a liquid-tight closure (114), filled or fillable with a coolant. The element housings allow for a common mounting arrangement of the number of cooling elements within the cooling device. The collar encloses the cooling elements in the common mounting arrangement and has a carrying area (122), which is configured to carry the number of cooling elements in the common mounting arrangement at the carrying area. A removal of the number of cooling elements, in the common mounting arrangement, from the cooling device and an insertion into the cooling device, are possible by means of the carrying area.