Twisted Polymeric Conduit Seal for Insulated Gas Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for sealing conduits in thermally insulated environments with controlled gaseous composition, such as incubators and refrigerators, suffer from thermal losses and gas leakage, limiting the size and number of conduits that can be accommodated, which impedes advancements in cell culture research and industrial processes.
Innovation Solution
A silicone or polymeric tube with flanges is twisted to form a hyperboloid-like structure around conduits, sealed with a ratchet mechanism, and filled with insulating material to minimize thermal conductivity and gas leakage, allowing larger conduits and varied configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a small aperture seal is used to minimize thermal losses and gas leakage, then thermal efficiency is improved, but the number and size of conduits that can be accommodated is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system transitions from a static small aperture to a dynamic expandable structure. The membrane material can deform and expand to accommodate multiple conduits of varying sizes while maintaining the seal integrity, allowing the aperture size to adapt to different conduit configurations without compromising thermal efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible membrane made of elastomeric material is used to create the seal. This thin film structure can conform to and seal around multiple conduits of different diameters, replacing rigid small aperture seals with a compliant structure that maintains thermal barriers while accommodating conduit diversity
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large aperture is used to accommodate more conduits, then adaptability is improved, but thermal losses and gas leakage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing approach segments the aperture into multiple smaller sealed regions around individual conduits rather than creating one large open aperture. Each conduit is sealed independently by the membrane, collectively forming a multi-conduit seal that maintains thermal efficiency while accommodating numerous conduits
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane seal is positioned within the aperture opening, with the seal material nested inside the aperture structure. This nested configuration allows the seal to conform to conduits while the aperture walls provide structural support and additional thermal insulation
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional sealing methods are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but sealing effectiveness against gas leakage and thermal loss deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism changes the physical parameters of the seal material by deforming it from a flat membrane into a three-dimensional hyperboloid shape. This geometric transformation creates a tighter seal around conduits, improving sealing effectiveness while the material itself remains a simple elastomeric membrane that is easy to manufacture
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 method effectively reduces thermal losses and gas leakage, enabling a wider range of conduits and devices to be used within thermally insulated environments, maintaining a controlled gaseous composition.
Implementation Method 1
filled with insulating material to minimize thermal conductivity and gas leakage
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system and method for sealing an opening through the boundary of a controlled thermal and gaseous environment such as an incubator or refrigerator, where conduit channels of arbitrary size and number are transferred across the boundary. A silicone or polymeric tube with flanges at either end is passed through the boundary opening, fixing one side to the boundary wall and attaching the other to a mechanism that controls or constrains the rotation of the tube. This is achieved by rotating or twisting one end of the tube, creating a hyperboloid-like structure that will seal around the conduits and thereby seal the opening. To further improve thermal efficiency, insulating material such as expanded polystyrene beads are placed into the space between the silicone or polymeric tube and the wall of the incubator, providing thermal stability that cannot be achieved by conventional conduit transferring methods.