Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A pressure control device (102) for a controlled atmosphere storage chamber (100), wherein the pressure control device (102) comprising:
an air blower (106) to create a pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure inside the controlled atmosphere storage chamber (100);
a manometer (110) to measure an amount of pressure drop in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber (100); and
a control unit (114) connected to the air blower (106) and the manometer (110), wherein the control unit (114) is configured to:
receive the measured amount of pressure drop from the manometer (110);
compare the received amount of pressure drop with a pre-set amount of pressure drop stored in a memory (116); and
actuate a motor of the air blower (106) to create the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber (100), when the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop.
2. The device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manometer (110) is an inclined tube manometer.
3. The device (102) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the manometer (110) is having a range of 0 Millimeters (mm) to 100 Millimeters (mm) of water column.
4. The device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (114) is further configured to actuate a valve (108) to control a flow of the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure to be created inside the controlled atmosphere storage chamber (100), when the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop.
5. The device (102) as claimed in claim 1, the air blower (106) is attached to the controlled atmosphere storage chamber (100) through a flexible pipe (104), to create the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure.
6. The device (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (114) is further configured to enable a sound unit (112) to generate an alert, when the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop.
7. A method of controlling a pressure inside a controlled atmosphere storage chamber (100) by a pressure control device (102), wherein the method comprising steps of:
receiving a measured amount of pressure drop from a manometer (110);
comparing the received amount of pressure drop with a pre-set amount of pressure drop stored in a memory (116); and
actuating a motor of an air blower (106) to create a pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber (100), when the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the manometer (110) is an inclined tube manometer having a range of 0 Millimeters (mm) to 100 Millimeters (mm) of water column.
9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of actuating a valve (108) to control a flow of the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure to be created inside the controlled atmosphere storage chamber (100), when the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop.
10. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a step of generating an alert, when the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop.

Date: 24 March, 2021
Place: Noida
Dr. Keerti Gupta
Agent for the Applicant
(IN/PA-1529)
, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&

THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)

PRESSURE CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

APPLICANT(S)
NAME: DAMARLA RAMESH BABU
NATIONALITY: INDIAN
ADDRESS: S R ENGINEERING COLLEGE, ANANTHASAGAR (V), HASANPARTHY (M), WARANGAL, TELANGANA 506371

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed
BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an air pressure control device and particularly to a pressure control device for a controlled atmospheric storage chamber and a method of operating the same.
Description of Related Art
[002] Controlled atmosphere storage chambers are used for preserving edibles for a longer period of time which is approximately 6 months to 12 months. Traditional controlled atmosphere storage chambers typically provide an ability to control a temperature, a humidity, and atmospheric gas mixtures such as, oxygen (O2) and carbon-dioxide (CO2) levels. The controlled atmosphere storage chambers must be tested for an airtightness to maintain a low oxygen before storing the edibles in the controlled atmosphere storage chambers. However, it is impossible to maintain the low oxygen if any leakages are there in the controlled atmosphere storage chambers.
[003] Conventionally, a pressure drop is measured by checking a pressure difference inside and outside of the controlled atmosphere storage chambers by using pressure difference calculation formulas. However, a manual work is required to calculate the pressure drop inside the controlled atmosphere storage chambers. Moreover, an involvement of a human in calculating the pressure drop may produce inaccurate results. Also, a manual process of calculating the pressure drop consumes a lot of time.
[004] There is thus a need of an improved pressure control device for the controlled atmosphere storage chamber that can administer the drawbacks faced by the conventional devices.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a pressure control device for a controlled atmosphere storage chamber. The pressure control device comprising: an air blower to create a pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure inside the controlled atmosphere storage chamber. The pressure control device further comprising: a manometer to measure an amount of pressure drop in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber. The pressure control device further comprising: a control unit connected to the air blower and the manometer. The control unit is configured to: receive the measured amount of pressure drop from the manometer; compare the received amount of pressure drop with a pre-set amount of pressure drop stored in a memory; and actuate a motor of the air blower to create the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber, when the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop.
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method of controlling a pressure inside a controlled atmosphere storage chamber by a pressure control device, wherein the method comprising steps of: receiving a measured amount of pressure drop from a manometer; comparing the received amount of pressure drop with a pre-set amount of pressure drop stored in a memory; and actuating a motor of an air blower to create a pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber, when the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop.
[007] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application provide a pressure control device that automatically controls an atmospheric pressure inside a controlled atmosphere storage chamber, which in turn ensures air tightness requirements accurately and speedily. Next, embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic control unit that makes a pressure control device fully automatic to obtain accurate pressure drop results. Next, embodiments of the present invention provide an automatic pressure controlling method that monitors a pressure drop faster than a manual method.
[008] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[009] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1A illustrates a controlled atmosphere storage chamber, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 1B illustrates a pressure control device for the controlled atmosphere storage chamber, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 1C illustrates a connection of the controlled atmosphere storage chamber to components of the pressure control device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of modules of a control unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method of controlling a pressure inside the controlled atmosphere storage chamber by the pressure control device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0018] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.
[0019] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0020] FIG. 1A illustrates a controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 may be provided to store edibles at controlled parameters such as, but not limited to, atmospheric gases, a temperature, a humidity, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the controlled parameters. The edibles may be, but not limited to, fruits, vegetables, meat, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the edibles to be stored in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 may have a length of 10 Meter (m), a width of 9 m and a height of 8 m. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, a total volume of the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 may be 720 cubic meters.
[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 may be made up of sendzimir steel panels having an insulation material that may be sandwiched between the steel panels. The sendzimir steel panels may have a thickness of 1 Millimeters (mm), in an embodiment of the present invention. Further, the insulation material may be, but not limited to, a glass wool, a rock wool, a Styrofoam, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insulation material may be a polyurethane foam. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the insulation material including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, a thickness of the insulation material may be in a range of 100 mm to 120 mm. In an embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the insulation material may depend on the temperature of the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100.
[0022] FIG. 1B illustrates a pressure control device 102 for the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 (as shown in the FIG. 1A), according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pressure control device 102 may be an automatically actuated device that may monitor the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 for controlling an atmospheric pressure inside the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100, to ensure air tightness requirements accurately and speedily. In an embodiment of the present invention, the pressure control device 102 may comprise a flexible pipe 104 that may be removably attached to the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100. In another embodiment of the present invention, the flexible pipe 104 may be fixedly attached to the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100.
[0023] In an embodiment of present invention, the flexible pipe 104 may be, but not limited to, a High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, a ductile iron pipe, a steel pipe, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible pipe 104 may be a Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the flexible pipe 104 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible pipe 104 may have a diameter of 30 millimeter (mm). Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible pipe 104 may have a length of 1.2 meter (m) and a wall thickness of 1 mm.
[0024] According to embodiments of the present invention, the pressure control device 102 may comprise an air blower 106, a valve 108, a manometer 110, a sound unit 112, a control unit 114 and a memory 116. The air blower 106 may be attached to the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 through the flexible pipe 104, to create a pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure inside the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100. The air blower 106 may be having a motor (not shown) that may be actuated based on an output received from the control unit 114. According to embodiments of the present invention, the motor may be, but not limited to, a Direct Current (DC) motor, an Alternate Current (AC) motor, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the motor, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0025] Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the valve 108 may be attached to the flexible pipe 104, to control a flow of the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure to be created by the air blower 106 in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 based on the output generated by the control unit 114, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The valve 108 may be, but not limited to, a gate valve, a globe valve, a plug valve, a ball valve, a check valve, a diaphragm valve, a pressure relief valve, a control valve, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve 108 may be a T valve. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the valve 108 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the valve 108 may be provided with a baffle (not shown) to check and/or obstruct the flow of the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure to be created inside the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100. The baffle may be, but not limited to, a longitudinal flow baffle, an orifice baffle, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the baffle including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0026] Further, according to embodiments of the present invention, the manometer 110 may be affixed to a wall of the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 through the flexible pipe 104, to measure an amount of pressure drop in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the sound unit 112 may be associated with the manometer 110, to generate an alert for users based on the output generated by the control unit 114, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sound unit 112 may be, but not limited to, a beeper, an alarm, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the sound unit 112 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0027] According to embodiments of the present invention, the control unit 114 may be connected to the air blower 106, the valve 108, the manometer 110 and the sound unit 112. The control unit 114 may be configured to generate the output based on the measured amount of pressure drop received from the manometer 110. The control unit 114 may be further configured to execute computer readable instructions stored in the memory 116 to generate the output.
[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the memory 116 may be connected to the control unit 114. The memory 116 may be used to store the computer readable instructions executed by the control unit 114. The memory 116 may also be configured to store the amount of pressure drop. In an embodiment of the present invention, non-limiting examples of the memory 116 may be a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random-Access Memory (RAM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), a hard drive, a removable media drive for handling memory cards, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the memory 116, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0029] FIG. 1C illustrates a connection of the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 with components of the pressure control device 102, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The components may be, the air blower 106, the valve 108, the manometer 110 and the control unit 114. In an embodiment of the present invention, the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 may have an outlet port (not shown) that may be provided to receive a first end of the flexible pipe 104. The outlet port of the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 may have cover joints (not shown) that may be sealed with gaskets to prevent a leakage from the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100. The gaskets may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a paper, a rubber, a metal, a fiber glass, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gaskets may be made up of a silicon material. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the gaskets including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air blower 106 may be attached to the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 through the flexible pipe 104 (as shown in the FIG. 1B), to create the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure. The air blower 106 may be operated at a volume flow rate of 5 Cubic Meter Per Minute (m3/min), in an embodiment of the present invention. The air blower 106 may be, but not limited to, a regenerative blower, a high-speed blower, a helical screw blower, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the air blower 106 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0031] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the manometer 110 may be attached to the wall of the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 through the flexible pipe 104. The manometer 110 may have an operating range of 0 mm to 100 mm of water column. The manometer 110 may be, but not limited to, a U-tube manometer, a differential U-tube manometer, a small manometer, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the manometer 110 may be an inclined tube manometer. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the manometer 110 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0032] The control unit 114 may be connected to the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 through the flexible pipe 104, in an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 114 may be, but not limited to, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a development board, a digital signal processor, and alike. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 114 may be an Arduino. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the control unit 114, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The control unit 114 may comprise of several modules, each responsible for own functions. Further, the working of the modules of the control unit 114 will be explained in conjunction with FIG. 2.
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the modules of the control unit 114, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 114 may comprise a data receiving module 200, a data storage module 202, a comparison module 204, a sound control module 206, a blower control module 208 and a valve control module 210.
[0034] The data receiving module 200 may be configured to receive the measured amount of pressure drop from the manometer 110 (as shown in the FIG. 1B). The data receiving module 200 may be configured to transmit the received amount of pressure drop to the data storage module 202 and the comparison module 204. The data storage module 202 may be configured to store the received amount of pressure drop in the memory 116 (as shown in the FIG. 1B).
[0035] The comparison module 204 may be configured to compare the received amount of pressure drop with a pre-set amount of pressure drop stored in the memory 116. In an embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to generate a sound activation signal, when the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop. In such embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to transmit the generated sound activation signal to the sound control module 206. The comparison module 204 may also be configured to generate a blower activation signal and a valve activation signal, when the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop.
[0036] In another embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 204 may be configured to generate a blower deactivation signal and a valve deactivation signal, when the received amount of pressure drop is greater than or equal to the pre-set amount of pressure drop. Further, the comparison module 204 may be configured to transmit the blower activation signal and the blower deactivation signal to the blower control module 208. The comparison module 204 may also be configured to transmit the valve activation signal and the valve deactivation signal to the valve control module 210.
[0037] The sound control module 206 may be configured to enable the sound unit 112 (as shown in the FIG. 1B) to generate the alert of the pre-defined sound based on the received sound activation signal. The sound control module 206 may be configured to enable the sound unit 112 to generate the alert of the pre-defined sound to indicate the users about the amount of pressure drop in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 (as shown in the FIG. 1A).
[0038] The blower control module 208 may be configured to actuate the motor of the air blower 106 (as shown in the FIG. 1B) to create the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 based on the received blower activation signal. Further, the valve control module 210 may be configured to trigger the valve 108 (as shown in the FIG. 1B) to control the flow of the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure to be created inside the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 based on the received valve activation signal, in an embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment, the blower control module 208 may be configured to deactivate the motor of the air blower 106, based on the received blower deactivation signal. The valve control module 210 may be configured to close the valve 108 based on the received valve deactivation signal. In such embodiment of the present invention, the valve control module 210 may further enable the data receiving module 200 to continue receiving the measured amount of pressure drop from the manometer 110.
[0039] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 of controlling the pressure in the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100 by using the pressure control device 102, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] At step 302, the pressure control device 102 may receive the measured amount of pressure drop from the manometer 110.
[0041] At step 304, the pressure control device 102 may compare the received amount of pressure drop with the pre-set amount of pressure drop. If the received amount of pressure drop is less than the pre-set amount of pressure drop, then the method 300 may proceed to a step 306 and a step 308. Otherwise, the method 300 may return to the step 302.
[0042] At the step 306, the pressure control device 102 may generate the alert of the pre-defined sound.
[0043] At the step 308, the pressure control device 102 may actuate the motor of the air blower 106 and the valve 108 to supply the pre-defined amount of atmospheric pressure to the controlled atmosphere storage chamber 100.
[0044] Embodiments of the invention are described above with reference to block diagrams and schematic illustrations of methods and systems according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the diagrams and combinations of blocks in the diagrams can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto one or more general purpose computers, special purpose computers, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce machines, such that the instructions which execute on the computers or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks. Such computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the block or blocks.
[0045] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0046] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.