“How Can We Squeeze This Bag?”: The Question Behind a COVID-19 Innovation

Responding to one of the many problems that emerged from the COVID-19 outbreak, Husky Corporation engineers designed rapid-manufacture ventilators; simple yet reliable units produced inexpensively from readily available components, delivered at minimal cost, and that can be used promptly with little operator training.

The inspiration came from when nurse anesthetist Nick Till asked his friend, Husky Corporation Engineering Manager Zach Holcomb, if he could think of ways to use manual resuscitator bags as stand-alone respirators. “How can we automatically squeeze this bag?” prompted Holcomb and Husky Design Engineer Derek Willers to launch the project.

An all-electric version of Husky Corporation's rapid-manufacture ventilators, which were conceived in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. The company seeks input from the medical community about how to keep improving the units.

The result in a few short days was a ventilator apparatus using a standard size 1500ml resuscitator bag, compressed by a rubber ram attached to an air cylinder that is used in product testing applications. The apparatus will deliver air or oxygen at adjustable flow rates appropriate for patients in need. The ventilators can be made quickly and without a lot of ‘bells and whistles’ that would add time and cost. 

A pneumatic version of the ventilator progressed from idea to proof of concept in approximately one week, with refinements and improvements added from the beginning. Then an all-electric version was developed for use in areas away from hospital rooms that do not have access to compressed air. Both are self-contained units housed in outdoor-rated fiberglass boxes and have a back-up battery supply. The company is also exploring applications where the ventilator could be deployed to third world countries, where a low-cost ventilator would be potentially invaluable. Here is a short video of the all-electric version of the Husky ventilator.

Medical Experts: How Can Husky Improve These Ventilators?

The proof of concept for the Husky ventilator is comprised of readily available components or those which could quickly be produced with a 3D printer. The key component is the air cylinder, operated by compressed air, to “squeeze” the resuscitation bag repeatably and reliably. It’s the same type of air cylinder used in the equipment Husky Corporation uses to test its industry-leading fuel nozzles and components, which often require test cycles that number in excess of several hundred thousand or more without failure.

 

Husky is actively seeking input from the medical community and health professionals to make improvements during the development process. Even those the idea was conceived as a response to the COVD-19 pandemic, the Husky ventilator will be a solution into the future as well.

Contact Husky Corporation at 800 325 3558 for additional information.

New “Why Didn’t I Think of That” Product Keeps Techs and Shop Floors Clean & Safe

S.U.R.&R., the vehicle fluid line repair solutions division of Husky Corporation, has unveiled a new specialty tool that will keep service technicians safer and shop floors cleaner during everyday jobs that involve oil and fuel filter replacement.

The FC5 Filter Removal Cup is designed to protect exposed skin from heat and eliminate the mess of fluid drips that commonly occur during routine vehicle maintenance.

Made of pliable and non-slip material, the FC5 Filter Removal Cup permits easy manipulation to access tight or oddly shaped filter placement locations. The FC5 is designed for filters commonly found on cars, SUVs, light duty trucks and vans.

“Residual oil in the filter at the connection point drips out during nearly every oil change. That’s always annoying and potentially harmful,” said S.U.R.&R. National Sales Manager Bob Joy. The FC5 Filter Removal Cup will catch those potentially dangerous hot fluids before they can drip on your hand and down your arm.”

The FC5 Filter Removal Cup will also keep work areas safer by preventing potential slipping on vehicle fluids that accidentally hit the shop floor. The FC5 Filter Removal Cup can also serve to store loose nuts, bolts, screws, drain plugs and other items during service.

“This is the kind of product that every vehicle technician would use on a daily basis and should have wide appeal in the automotive service industry,” Mr. Joy said. “We strive to always keep the tech in mind.”

The FC5 Filter cup is Made in the U.S.A for S.U.R.&R. customers at production facilities in Pacific, Missouri. Contact S.U.R.&R. at 1-800-390-3996 to learn more.

Work for Husky Corporation!

Be part of an American-made success story when you join Husky Corporation – a leading manufacturer of products for the fuel dispensing and transportation industries.

Based in Pacific, Missouri, Husky is a state of the art manufacturer with 170 employees that ships its more than 2,000 products to every state in the union and more than 60 countries.

This short video shows what it's like to work for Husky, including competitive wages, health care, paid time off, 401(k) plan, great working conditions and even a gym. Here's a short video that shows what it's like working at Husky - in the words of people who work there.

Join a family-owned company that appreciates its customers and respects its employees. Check out https://www.husky.com/careers/ to learn about current open positions at Husky Corporation!

Innovation is the Core: Husky Corporation

The Husky Corporation family of companies sets the standard for petroleum dispensing and automotive customers with the highest quality products made right here in the U.S.A. The company has developed a new video that shows what really makes Husky "A Breed Apart".

"Innovation is the core. It's what started us. It's what keeps us going today," said Husky President G.G. Sutcliffe.

The video provides an inside look at the company's product line and what makes Husky stand out from the competition. The company focuses on hanging hardware for the petroleum dispensing industry, where it holds 50 percent of the new nozzle market. Husky diversified into related transportation industries in recent years, which has permitted growth and expansion.

"What sets us apart is we remained an American manufacturer. We do all of our design work, customer service and manufacturing out of this facility in Pacific, Missouri," Suttcliffe said. "We are truly a state of the art manufacturer."

Husky has 170 employees and sells its more than 2,000 products in 63 countries.  The video includes a look inside the facility and a discussion of five pillars on which the company is built:  Safety, Quality, Customer Loyalty, Team-building, and Productivity. Learn more at www.husky.com.