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A large US company is looking for proposals for a desktop vacuum pump and control unit that are both cost-effective and quiet. They are interested in licensing, product acquisition, proof of concept leading to scale up to manufacturing, supplier agreement for up to 1.4 million units/year.
Description
A number of consumer products contain electric pumps. Unfortunately, the pumps
used in most of these products are noisy, irritating and unrealiable. Products containing electric
vacuum pumps are especially offensive.
The goal of this request is to find a consumer vacuum
pump system that is compact, quiet, reliable and pleasant to use.
Possible approaches might
include, but are not limited to:
- Novel piston, diaphragm or rotary electric pump designs
that meet most or all of the stated specifications.
The following approaches are not of
interest:
- Systems further than 1 year from commercialization
- Systems unsuitable
for consumer products.
Existing electric pump designs adapted from other industries or
applications are highly desirable.
Technical specifications / Specific technical
requirement:
Proposals that adapt existing technologies from military, medical, printing,
automotive or other positive pressure/vacuum pump applications are highly desirable.
The
successful technology will use either one or two pumps/unit to achieve the following functional
specifications:
- Have cycle frequency ≥ 1.7Hz (atmospheric to max. vacuum and back to
atmospheric)
- Evacuate 70ml air/cycle/pump
- Achieve a max. vacuum of 300mmHG/cycle
- Maintain maximum vacuum for 0.5 secs
- Exhibit no loud or harsh sounds (Max. noise
≤ 52dBA)
- Be durable (>1100 hrs of repeated cycles)
- Include rechargeable
batteries capable of providing >3 hrs of vacuum pump use
- Include 110/240V transformer
capable of recharging batteries in 1- 3 hrs.
- Able to achieve functional specifications at 0
– 40oC
- Able to be used as a regulated medical device
Physical Specifications:
- Complete unit must include motor, vacuum pump, electronic controls and software
-
Electronic controls must include switches to control power on/off, charging, frequency/mode
selection & vacuum level
- Complete unit must have dimensions that are compatible with a
desktop appliance (approx. 30x15x15cm)
- Complete unit must be <0.5Kg
Intellectual
Property:
The ideal response will include patented technology available for licensing.
Technologies meeting most but not all of these criteria will be considered.
Further
information (technical details about the profile)
The respondent should start by submitting a
written response briefly describing the technical approach and providing information on technology
performance, background, and description of the responding team and its related experience.
The response will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Overall
scientific and technical merit of the proposed approach.
- Approach to proof of concept and
performance.
- Potential for proprietary position (i.e. novel or protectable technology).
- Economic potential of the concept.
- The respondent’s capabilities and related
experience.
- Realism of the proposed plan and cost estimates.
Some items that will be
especially important to include:
- Meets the stated criteria for successful technology
- Is mature enough to provide prototypes for laboratory testing
- Has a well defined
intellectual property position (patented or patentable)
- Is capable of scaling to large
scale production.
Collaboration details:
Responses from small to large companies,
academic researchers, other research institutes, consultants, entrepreneurs or inventors are
welcome. The technology sought may either be ready for testing and transfer to commercial use or
require further development.
ANTICIPATED PROJECT PHASES OR PROJECT PLAN
Phase 1a
–Evaluation of economic and operability studies.
Phase 1b- Testing of prototype devices
for performance against specifications
Phase 2 – Commercial development.
Collaboration Type
- Absolutely novel process
- License Agreement
- Testing of new applications
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