MEASURING AN AIR CUSHION
Measuring minimum pressure from cushions.
You can detect what you can’t see by using a proximity mechanism. Measure the moment of bottoming out in the cushion or the moment of not touching bottom, this is measuring an air cushion peak performance. At that point the cushion has the most supporting contact with the person.
The reason for doing this, is to aid the people depending on these expensive devices and the professionals prescribing them. All Medical cushions, I believe, should have a min. peak pressure value labeled on them. This measurement benefits the consumer, the health care professionals and Insurance companies.
One simple way to detect and measure bottoming out is by using the following principle;
When a ball on top of 2 balloons both connected to the same pump, this is what happens. At the state of equilibrium, two actions are consistent.
1.The heights of the top and bottom balloons always remain the same.
2.The internal air pressure always equals the peak pressure against the ball.
LEAST AMOUNT OF AIR PRESSURE TO ELEVATE EQUALS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PEAK PRESSURE BEING ELEVATED.
The ball represents the bony prominence. The top balloon represents a cushion, and the bottom balloon is a proximity indicator. The shape and size can vary as long as the center of gravity is located at the center of the bottom balloon.
The bottom balloon has 2 aluminum foil patches fastened inside, one laminated to the top and the other at the bottom. The top foiled patch is aligned and perpendicular to the bottom. The foil patches break from ELECTRICAL contact when air pressure within creates a levitating lift. The foil patches are located right where the bony protrusions will make contact.
THREE CUSHIONS TESTED FOR MIN. PEAK PRESSURE
The indenter, shown, weighs 63.8 lbs. Not shown myself weighing 152 lbs. Pressure was recorded when the light turns off when adding air or turns on when releasing air.
WAFFLE Indenter 20 mm hg Myself 60 mm hg
Vio Comfort Indenter 18 mm hg Myself 39 mm hg
ROHO HP Indenter 14 mm hg Myself 36 mm hg
This information is vital for the consumer but also to develop a better high performance cushion.
Thank you for watching and comments are welcome.