Smart Air Pump Pressure Replenishment for Inflatable Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air pumps for inflatable products lack the ability to periodically and automatically detect air pressure and maintain it within a constant range, leading to inconvenience and potential damage due to manual inflation methods.
Innovation Solution
A smart electric air pump with a central control unit, air replenishing pump, and driving switch that periodically checks and adjusts air pressure by inflating or deflating the inflatable product to maintain a preset pressure, using a time control module to set cycle times and an actuator to manage air passage configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual air pump or hand-held electric air pump is used to inflate the inflatable product, then the user can control the inflation process, but the user needs to manually and repeatedly inflate the inflatable product to maintain air pressure, which causes inconvenience and consumes time
Solution Approach 1:
The air pump system performs self-service by automatically detecting air pressure through the barometer and executing replenishment operations without user intervention. The control unit autonomously decides when to inflate or deflate the product based on real-time pressure data, eliminating the need for manual repeated inflation and achieving complete self-maintenance of air pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback through the barometer that monitors air pressure inside the inflatable product and relays information to the control unit. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adjust inflation/deflation operations to maintain pressure within the predetermined range, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the inflatable product is made from thermoplastic fabric, then the product is durable and flexible, but after inflation the product can expand and deform causing air pressure to drop, making it difficult to maintain constant air pressure for a long period
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures continuous maintenance of air pressure through periodic detection and automatic replenishment operations. The barometer continuously monitors pressure, and the control unit activates the air pump whenever pressure falls outside the predetermined range, creating an uninterrupted cycle of pressure maintenance that overcomes the deformation issue of thermoplastic fabric.
Solution Approach 2:
The air pump system autonomously compensates for pressure loss due to fabric deformation by automatically detecting pressure changes and performing replenishment operations without user intervention, thereby maintaining stable air pressure indefinitely despite the inherent deformation characteristics of thermoplastic material.
3Measurement precision
If no barometer is used to detect air pressure, then the device structure is simple, but the air pressure can only be determined by manually pressing the inflatable product, which is neither convenient nor accurate and prolongs inflation time
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical method of manually pressing the inflatable product to estimate pressure with an electronic barometer that directly measures air pressure. This substitution provides accurate quantitative measurement of pressure, eliminating the imprecision and inconvenience of manual assessment while enabling automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The barometer serves as an intermediary device between the air pressure inside the inflatable product and the control unit. It converts physical pressure into measurable signals that the control unit can process, enabling precise and objective pressure detection without requiring direct user interaction with the inflated product.
4Strength
If the air pressure is too high for the inflatable mattress, then the mattress provides strong support, but the mattress would expand and deform and being susceptible to be easily damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts air pressure by continuously monitoring with the barometer and automatically controlling inflation/deflation operations. This dynamic adjustment ensures pressure remains within the optimal predetermined range, providing sufficient support strength while preventing excessive pressure that would cause deformation and damage, thereby balancing strength and reliability.
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 smart electric air pump ensures consistent air pressure within inflatable products over time, reducing user effort and preventing damage by automatically replenishing air as needed, thus enhancing user experience and product longevity.
Implementation Method 1
The air replenishing pump includes a core, at least one pivot arm, and an electromagnetic device. The electromagnetic device is configured to generate magnetic flux to drive the magnet and the at least one pivot arm so that the cup can compress and expand the air chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A smart air pump comprises a housing defining an accommodating chamber. A main air pump is located in the accommodating chamber for inflating or discharging air from an inflatable body. The main air pump includes a cover defining an inlet and an outlet port. The cover divides the accommodating chamber into an impeller and a driving chamber. An air replenishing pump is located in the accommodating chamber. A driving switch, located in the driving chamber, connects to the main air pump. A central control unit electrically connects to the main air pump, the air replenishing pump, and the driving switch. The central control unit comprises a time control module configured to initiate periodic replenishment of air to the inflatable body. The time control module has a setting module and a counting module. An inflatable device including a smart air pump is also disclosed herein.