Robotic Air Sampling Hose for Contaminant Remediation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current air filtration systems in facilities lack the ability to selectively sample and filter contaminants in specific sub-volumes of air, leading to inefficient contamination remediation as contaminants disperse throughout larger air volumes.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a flexible, ribbed hose for selective air sampling and testing within air volume zones, with the capability to divert and filter contaminated air flows before re-releasing it, and a networked architecture for coordinated sampling and filtering across multiple zones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional air intake and exhaust subsystems are contained in walls and ceilings to provide steady ventilation, then air filtration and temperature control are achieved, but air current speed is relatively slow and contamination remediation time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair filtration effectivenessVSAvoidcontamination remediation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic, mobile robotic units with flexible sampling hoses that can move throughout the air volume zone, rather than fixed wall-mounted systems. This mobility allows the system to dynamically respond to contamination events and actively pursue contaminants, significantly reducing remediation time while maintaining filtration effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously samples air throughout the volume zone and detects contamination before it can disperse widely. By identifying and responding to contaminants in their localized state, the system performs preliminary action to contain and remediate contamination before it becomes a widespread issue, reducing overall remediation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If air sampling is performed in localized sub-volumes to enable selective contamination detection, then contamination detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for flexible positioning and control systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination detection precisionVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air volume zone is divided into multiple selectable sub-volumes for targeted sampling. The robotic system can position sampling points at different locations and orientations, segmenting the monitoring task into manageable zones. This segmentation enables precise contamination detection in specific areas without requiring complex instrumentation throughout the entire space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible sampling hose acts as an intermediary between the robotic positioning system and the air quality sensors. This flexible hose can be positioned virtually anywhere within the air volume zone to sample air from selected sub-volumes, simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling precise localized measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If multiple systems are linked together for parallel sampling and filtering, then productivity and coverage speed are improved, but device complexity and coordination requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling and filtering speedVSAvoidsystem coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple independent systems are linked together to operate in parallel within the same or adjacent air volume zones. Each system maintains its own sampling, detection, and filtering capabilities, but they coordinate through a networked architecture to share information and avoid redundant operations. This merging approach multiplies productivity while managing complexity through modular design and standardized communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables rapid detection and filtration of contaminants in localized areas, reducing dispersion time and optimizing contamination remediation through selective sampling and parallel processing across multiple systems, providing near real-time data for efficient air quality management.

Implementation Method 1

the air intake subsystem draws in air from a selected sub-volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow:

Implementation Method 2

The sensor subsystem allows the air to pass over a sensor operative to detect particulate, or gaseous, or biologic pathogen contaminants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection:

Implementation Method 3

the filter subsystem removes the contaminants prior to releasing the air back into the air volume zone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11465088B2System for sampling, testing and filtering air for contaminants

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 TANNENBAUM ADAM BENJAMIN

AI summary

The invention herein disclosed is a system that supports sampling, testing and filtering of air in selected small volumes of air within a larger air pool.