Self-Inflating Buoyancy Device for Submerged Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices, such as smartphones and cameras, often sink in water due to their high density, leading to potential loss and damage, especially during aquatic activities, as they lack sufficient buoyancy to float back to the surface.
Innovation Solution
A self-inflating device is attached to the electronic device or its protective case, containing a chemical compound that reacts with water to produce gas, increasing buoyancy and causing the device to float back to the surface when submerged below a predetermined depth, using a one-way valve and inflatable portion to manage pressure and prevent gas escape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If electronic devices are made compact and dense for portability, then device performance and portability are improved, but buoyancy deteriorates causing the device to sink in water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent attaches a self-inflating buoyant device to the electronic device. This buoyant device contains an inflatable portion that, when inflated, provides upward buoyant force to counteract the downward weight of the dense electronic device, preventing it from sinking and enabling retrieval from water.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-inflating device is pre-equipped with a chemical compound container and inflatable portion before water exposure. Upon contact with water, the chemical compound automatically reacts to generate gas that inflates the portion, providing immediate buoyancy without requiring manual intervention, thus ensuring the device floats back to surface promptly.
2Reliability
If a self-inflating device is added to provide buoyancy, then retrieval capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The self-inflating device is designed to automatically inflate upon water contact through a chemical reaction between the chemical compound and water. This self-activating mechanism eliminates the need for manual inflation operations, buttons, batteries, or external power sources, thereby maintaining simplicity despite the added buoyancy function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates the buoyancy function from the electronic device itself by attaching a dedicated self-inflating buoyant device. This modular approach allows the electronic device to remain simple while the buoyancy function is handled by a separate, self-contained system with its own chemical compound container and inflatable portion.
3Ease of operation
If the one-way valve actuation pressure is set high to prevent premature inflation, then operational control is improved, but retrieval response time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve is designed with a specific actuation pressure threshold that balances control and response time. The valve opens at a predetermined pressure that corresponds to a specific water depth, ensuring the device does not inflate prematurely during normal use but inflates quickly enough when accidentally submerged to enable timely retrieval.
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 self-inflating device effectively prevents loss and damage by ensuring the electronic device floats back to the surface, allowing for retrieval and minimizing impact on underwater environments, such as coral formations.
Implementation Method 1
containing a chemical compound configured to produce gas when exposed to water
Implementation Method 2
Archimedes' principle states that a buoyant force experienced by an object submerged in liquid is equal to the weight of liquid displaced by the object
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure-activated flotation device for use with an electronic device includes an attachment feature, chemicals, a container, a removable cap, an inflatable tube, and a pressure-activated valve. The inflatable tube is fluidly connected to the container and is configured to inflate with the expanding gas when the chemicals are exposed to a liquid. The pressure-activated valve leads from the outer surface of the container to the inner volume of the container and includes a one-way valve that opens to allow liquid to flow to the inner volume of the container when the pressure-activated flotation device is submerged in the liquid to a depth where the pressure applied against the pressure-activated valve by the liquid is greater than an actuation pressure. The one-way valve also closes when the expanding gas generates a gas pressure inside the inflatable tube that exceeds a threshold.