UV-Permeable Housing for Protective Clothing Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing test apparatuses for protective clothing materials are inefficient due to direct and uncentered gas flow, risk of breakage, and inability to simulate light exposure, particularly for light-active materials, leading to excessive loads and shading issues.

Innovation Solution

A test apparatus with a cylindrical, translucent first housing part made of UV-permeable materials, a gas-tight separation between cavities, and a flexible fastening system, allowing centered gas flow and uniform light exposure, while using chemically inert plastics for durability and cost-effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If glass apparatuses are used for testing protective clothing materials, then chemical substance retention can be tested, but the risk of breakage and injury increases and dismantling becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting reliabilityVSAvoidbreakage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces fragile glass apparatuses with durable plastic housing parts that can be easily dismantled and reassembled. The first and second housing parts made of chemically inert plastic eliminate breakage risks while maintaining testing reliability, allowing repeated use without degradation from stress or damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If vertical fixation of test object is provided in glass apparatus, then testing can be performed, but assembly and dismantling becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting capabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The testing apparatus is divided into separable first and second housing parts that can be independently assembled and dismantled. The test object with protective clothing material is fixed between these modular housing parts using fastening elements, allowing quick replacement of test specimens without dismantling the entire apparatus structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If connections are arranged for gas flow in existing apparatus, then chemical substance supply is possible, but gas flow is uncentered and generates excessive loads on test object

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical substance supplyVSAvoidload on test object
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetric positioning of supply and discharge connections relative to the test object. The supply connection directs gas flow through a centering arrangement that ensures uniform distribution across the protective clothing material, while the discharge connection is positioned to receive effluent without creating excessive localized pressure or uncentered flow patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Reliability

If glass apparatuses are used for testing, then testing can be performed, but light exposure cannot be effectively provided for light-active materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting capabilityVSAvoidlight exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the housing material from opaque glass to translucent or transparent plastic that permits light transmission. This allows light-active protective clothing materials to be effectively illuminated during testing, enabling the catalyst to convert chemical substances when exposed to light of certain wavelengths while maintaining testing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

5Quantity of substance

If connections are arranged in existing apparatus, then chemical substance supply is possible, but considerable parts of protective clothing material are shaded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical substance supplyVSAvoiduniform light distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making specific housing parts translucent or transparent in the regions where light exposure is required, while other parts can remain opaque for structural or chemical resistance reasons. This ensures uniform light distribution across the protective clothing material surface without compromising the overall apparatus functionality for chemical substance supply and discharge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Facilitates easier assembly and dismantling, reduces risk of breakage, and enables effective testing of light-active materials by ensuring uniform light exposure and centered gas flow, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the testing process.

Implementation Method 1

The first housing part is at least partially translucent, in particular UV-permeable... light can enter the first cavity through an end face of the preferably cylindrical first housing part, traverse this lengthwise and, particularly preferably, strike the protective clothing material to be tested at right angles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

The test specimen separates the first cavity from the second cavity in a gas-tight manner, so that the chemical substance introduced cannot flow over directly from the first cavity to the second cavity without penetrating the test specimen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas-tight separation:

Data Source

PatentEP2881723B1Testing equipment for safety clothing
Publication Date: 2017.06.07 BUNDESREP DEUT V D D BUNDESMINIST DES INNERN V D DAS BUNDESAMT F BEVOLKERUNGSSCHUTZ & KATASTROPHENHILFE V D DEN PRASIDENTEN
  • EP2881723B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A test apparatus for testing the retention capacity of protective clothing materials comprises a first housing part forming a first cavity and a second housing part forming a second cavity. The first cavity of the first part is separated from the second cavity of the second part by a test specimen. Furthermore, the test apparatus includes at least one fastening element for securing the test specimen between the first and second housing parts. The first housing part is at least partially transparent, in particular UV-transparent.