Reversible Compressor Infrasound Cancellation in Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to effectively control infrasonic pressure fluctuations, which can cause health issues such as motion sickness and discomfort, particularly in moving structures like vehicles, due to their inability to address the underlying pressure disturbances caused by external sources like wind turbines or movement.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a reversible compressor with controllable elements and pressure sensors that detect and cancel infrasonic pressure oscillations by generating opposing pressure flows, using a controller to manage airflow between the interior and exterior of a structure, thereby maintaining a constant internal pressure and reducing disturbances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a reversible compressor with controllable elements is used to generate positive and negative pressure flows, then infrasonic pressure fluctuations can be suppressed and occupant comfort improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrasonic pressure fluctuationsVSAvoidcompressor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs pressure sensors to continuously monitor internal and external pressures and feeds this information back to a controller, which adjusts the reversible compressor's operation in real-time to counteract detected pressure fluctuations, creating a closed-loop control system that adaptively suppresses infrasonic pressures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The reversible compressor acts as an intermediary device between the external environment and the vehicle interior, generating opposing pressure flows that mediate and cancel out harmful infrasonic pressure fluctuations before they affect occupants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pressure sensors and controllers are added to detect and cancel pressure oscillations, then motion sickness incidence is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion sicknessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Pressure sensors detect infrasonic pressure fluctuations and feed this information to a controller that adjusts the reversible compressor's operation in real-time, creating a closed-loop system that adaptively suppresses pressure variations causing motion sickness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors and corrects its own operation through the feedback loop, where the controller automatically adjusts compressor output based on sensor data, enabling self-regulation of internal pressure without external intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the reversible compressor operates continuously to maintain constant pressure, then occupant comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant comfortVSAvoidcompressor energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The reversible compressor operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when pressure sensors detect infrasonic fluctuations that require correction, and remaining idle when pressure conditions are acceptable, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining comfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 effectively suppresses unwanted infrasonic pressure fluctuations, improving occupant comfort by reducing the incidence of motion sickness and discomfort within moving structures by actively canceling pressure disturbances.

Implementation Method 1

a reversible compressor including a housing defining an interior opening interface open to the interior of the structure and an exterior opening interface open to an exterior of the structure, and including at least one controllable element to generate positive pressure flows and negative pressure flows between the interior opening interface and the exterior opening interface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a first pressure sensor located to sense pressure indicative of the interior of the structure, a second pressure sensor located to sense pressure indicative of the exterior of the structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS10048151B2Systems and methods for control of motion sickness within a moving structure due to infrasound pressures

Publication Date: 2018.08.14 KEVIN ALLAN DOOLEY

AI summary

Systems and methods for controlling a source of physiological affliction within a moving enclosed structure, such as a vehicle, which defines an interior. The system includes: at least one pressure fluctuation generator, at least one pressure sensor located to sense pressure indicative of the interior of the structure; and at least one controller configured to: determine, from the first pressure sensor information, at least one pressure disturbance within the interior of the structure; and control the at least one pressure fluctuation generator to cancel the at least one pressure disturbance within the interior of the structure. In an example, the at least one pressure disturbance includes infrasonic pressure fluctuations (infrasound). In an example, the physiological affliction includes motion sickness or nauseogenicity.