Variable Output Pump for Inflatable Support Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Person support apparatuses, such as hospital beds, face a trade-off between high flow rates needed for initial inflation of inflatable support structures and low flow rates required for maintaining pressure, leading to inefficiencies and noise during operation.
Innovation Solution
A variable output pump system with a controller that dynamically adjusts the flow rate to maintain a constant pressure gradient, using sensors and a processor to regulate the pump's operation, ensuring a consistent flow rate and reducing energy consumption and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a high flow pressurized air source is used, then the initial fill of the inflatable structure is timely, but there is excess capacity during the low fill operation
Solution Approach 1:
The pump's flow rate is dynamically adjusted based on the inflation stage. During initial fill, the pump operates at high flow rate to quickly inflate the structure. During maintenance phase, the pump automatically reduces to low flow rate to maintain pressure, optimizing energy consumption throughout the operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure sensor provides continuous feedback to the controller about the pressure in the inflatable structure. The controller uses this feedback to detect when the structure is fully inflated and automatically transitions the pump from high flow rate to low flow rate operation, eliminating excess capacity and reducing energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a low flow pressurized air source is used, then energy consumption is reduced during maintenance, but it fails to provide sufficient flow for timely initial fill
Solution Approach 1:
The pump's flow rate is dynamically adjusted based on the inflation stage. During initial fill, the pump operates at high flow rate to quickly inflate the structure. During maintenance phase, the pump automatically reduces to low flow rate to maintain pressure, optimizing energy consumption throughout the operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary high-flow inflation to quickly fill the structure before transitioning to low-flow maintenance mode. This preliminary action ensures timely initial fill while the subsequent low-flow operation reduces energy consumption during the maintenance phase.
3Productivity
If a high flow pressurized air source is used, then the initial fill is rapid, but noise is generated during continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The pump's flow rate is dynamically adjusted based on the inflation stage. During initial fill, the pump operates at high flow rate to quickly inflate the structure. During maintenance phase, the pump automatically reduces to low flow rate to maintain pressure, reducing noise during continuous operation while maintaining productivity during the critical initial fill phase.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure sensor provides continuous feedback to the controller about the pressure in the inflatable structure. The controller uses this feedback to detect when the structure is fully inflated and automatically transitions the pump from high flow rate to low flow rate operation, reducing noise during maintenance while maintaining rapid inflation during the initial phase.
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 system efficiently maintains a constant flow rate during inflation and operation, reducing energy consumption and noise, while optimizing the pump's performance to meet the competing demands of initial fill and maintenance pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The source of pressurized air used to inflate the support structure
Implementation Method 2
a first sensor operable to sense a pressure in the inflatable support structure
Implementation Method 3
maintain an output pressure of the pump to a value slightly higher than the pressure in the inflatable support structure
Data Source
AI summary
A constant low-flow air source control system and method is used to operate a pump to inflate an inflatable support structure used to support a person.