Vented Barrier Cover for Pipe Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current temporary barrier covers for plant systems restrict airflow, leading to potential catastrophic failures due to pressure imbalances and the risk of the cover itself becoming a foreign material, especially during maintenance operations in industrial settings.

Innovation Solution

A vented barrier cover with a tubular body and a mesh or aperture-based venting component that equalizes air pressure differentials, preventing foreign material entry while allowing airflow, and featuring a closure system such as a drawstring or elastic material for secure fit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a temporary barrier cover is placed over an opening in a pipe-like component to prevent foreign material entry, then foreign material exclusion is improved, but airflow is restricted which can cause pressure imbalances and cover displacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign material exclusionVSAvoidairflow restriction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier cover incorporates a porous filter material that allows air to pass through while blocking foreign materials. The porous structure provides multiple flow paths for air molecules while the pore size is sufficiently small to exclude particles, droplets, and contaminants, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining airflow and preventing foreign material entry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier cover uses composite material construction combining a supportive outer layer with an inner filtering layer. This composite structure provides both mechanical strength to maintain cover shape and position, and filtering capability to allow airflow while blocking contaminants, simultaneously addressing airflow restriction and foreign material exclusion requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a non-porous cover is used to fully block foreign material, then foreign material exclusion is improved, but pressure equalization deteriorates causing cover displacement or implosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign material exclusionVSAvoidpressure balance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The porous filter material inherently provides pressure equalization capability while blocking foreign materials. Air can freely pass through the porous structure to equalize pressure differences, preventing cover displacement or implosion, while the same porous structure excludes foreign materials based on pore size filtration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The porous filter material acts as an intermediary between the internal and external environments, allowing selective passage. It mediates the interaction between air molecules (which can pass through) and foreign materials (which are blocked), while simultaneously enabling pressure equalization to maintain stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a fabric-like material cover is used to allow airflow, then pressure equalization is improved, but foreign material exclusion deteriorates as the cover may be sucked into the component

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure equalizationVSAvoidforeign material exclusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material construction provides both airflow capability and foreign material exclusion. The supportive outer layer prevents the cover from being sucked into the component while the inner filtering layer excludes foreign materials, simultaneously achieving pressure equalization and reliable contamination prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The porous filter material provides structured airflow paths that maintain cover position while excluding foreign materials. The rigid porous structure prevents deformation under pressure differential unlike flexible fabric, while still allowing air passage for pressure equalization and blocking contaminants through pore size filtration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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

Prevents foreign material entry and maintains system integrity by equalizing air pressure, reducing the risk of cover displacement or implosion, and ensuring easy operation and maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

a venting component that equalizes any air pressure differential between the inside and the outside of the barrier cover

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir pressure equalization: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

A vented barrier cover with a tubular body and a mesh or aperture-based venting component that equalizes air pressure differentials, preventing foreign material entry while allowing airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS7900654B2Vented barrier cover

Publication Date: 2011.03.08 PURE SAFETY GROUP INC

AI summary

A vented barrier cover has a tubular body portion with a first body end and a second body end, an end wall connected to the first body end defining an inside cover space, and a venting component connected to the cover where the venting component is configured to prevent an air pressure imbalance between the inside cover space and the outside of the vented cover.