Suction Anchor Vent Damping to Prevent Premature Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anchoring apparatus with suction cups or suction seal stabilizers face issues with premature vent port opening due to spurious upward accelerations, leading to inadvertent release from surfaces, and reliance on pressure for maintaining connectivity, which can result in instability and unintended detachment.
Innovation Solution
A universal quick-release anchoring apparatus with a non-porous resilient anchor member and a dual auxiliary component system, where one component is movable to control the vent port, using flexible members to resist accelerations and maintain seal integrity independently of pressure, allowing controlled release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical stopper is used to control the vent port, then the anchoring apparatus can be released when needed, but spurious upward accelerations can cause premature vent port opening and inadvertent release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical stopper system with an acceleration-damped mechanical system. The flexible member acts as a damper that filters out spurious accelerations while allowing intentional release actions to pass through, substituting acceleration-sensitive mechanical coupling with acceleration-insensitive controlled coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the coupling between the stopper and vent port by introducing a flexible member with specific damping characteristics. This parameter change allows the system to distinguish between spurious accelerations (below threshold) and intentional release actions (above threshold), resolving the contradiction between quick-release ease and premature release prevention.
2Device complexity
If rigid material stoppers are used to maintain suction, then the structure is simple, but they cannot be actuated except by specific movement patterns involving noticeable distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible member (thin film/spring element) to connect the stopper to the vent port closure member. This flexible element allows the stopper to actuate with minimal movement distance while maintaining structural simplicity, replacing the need for rigid, large-distance actuation mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If reliance on pressure is used to maintain connectivity, then the system is simple, but instability and unintended detachment occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an acceleration damping mechanism as an intermediary between the pressure system and the vent port control. This intermediary filters out spurious pressure changes caused by acceleration, allowing the simple pressure-based connectivity system to operate reliably without unintended detachment.
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 solution provides stable and controlled attachment and detachment of the anchoring apparatus, resisting spurious accelerations and ensuring secure attachment without premature release, while allowing intentional venting for removal, thus enhancing usability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
One or more flexible members resiliently deform to generate resistance as the second auxiliary component moves in a venting direction away from the vent port closure position toward the vent port open position
Implementation Method 2
the air pressure in the volumetric cavity to proportionately decrease in accordance with Boyle's Law. A pressure differential is generated in which the pressure within the volumetric cavity is lower than the ambient air pressure outside the cavity, thereby resulting in a partial vacuum
Data Source
AI summary
A quick-release anchoring apparatus with acceleration damping includes an anchor member configured to engage an external reference surface and form a substantially airtight seal therewith that defines a controlled pressure zone. A first auxiliary component carries the anchor member. A vent port provides fluid communication between the controlled pressure zone and an area of ambient pressure. A second auxiliary component moves relative to the first auxiliary component between a vent port closure position and a vent port open position. The second auxiliary component and the first auxiliary component are discrete components. One or more flexible members deform as the second auxiliary component moves in a venting direction away from the vent port closure position toward the vent port open position. The one or more flexible members resist accelerations of the second auxiliary component away from the vent port closure position but allow normal lifting of the anchoring apparatus.