Shared Pressure Measurement Container for Vacuum Leak Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum systems for suction cups are costly and complex due to the need for multiple pressure sensors and vacuum sources, and they fail to efficiently detect leaks without additional sensors.

Innovation Solution

A system with a container in fluid communication with multiple pressure sources, using a single pressure sensor to detect pressure changes in an enclosed volume, allowing identification of leaking sources without individual sensors for each source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple vacuum sources are used, then the vacuum reliability is improved, but the system cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevacuum reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent connects multiple vacuum sources to a common container, merging their output into a single enclosed volume. This allows a single pressure sensor to monitor all sources simultaneously, reducing the number of sensors needed while maintaining the ability to detect leaks from any individual source, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common container serves multiple functions: it encloses the volume for pressure measurement, connects multiple vacuum sources, and provides a centralized monitoring point. This multi-functional design reduces overall system complexity while maintaining vacuum reliability across all sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If a pressure sensor is added for each vacuum source, then the leak detection precision is improved, but the system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleak detection precisionVSAvoidsensor quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple vacuum sources are merged into a common container, allowing a single pressure sensor to monitor the combined volume. The sensor can detect pressure changes indicating leaks from any source, achieving adequate measurement precision without requiring one sensor per vacuum source, thus reducing system cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If multiple vacuum sources are used, then the productivity is improved, but the system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction cup operation efficiencyVSAvoidvacuum source quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple vacuum sources are combined and connected to a common container with a single pressure sensor. This configuration enables monitoring of multiple suction cups simultaneously, improving productivity by allowing parallel operation while controlling system cost through reduced sensor requirements.

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

Reduces system cost and complexity by using a single sensor to detect and quantify leaks in pressure sources, ensuring efficient operation of suction cups.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure sensor arranged to detect a pressure in the enclosed volume

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Data Source

PatentEP3427030B1Pressure measurement
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 AVAC VAKUUMTEKNIK
  • EP3427030B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a device for pressure measurement in a system 1. The device comprises a container 8 enclosing a volume, and a pressure sensor 7 arranged to detect a pressure in the enclosed volume. The container is provided with a plurality of openings, each opening being configured for allowing the enclosed volume to be in fluid communication with a respective pressure source 4.