Fabricated air duct and method of assembly thereof

Abstract

This invention provides a prefabricated air duct and its assembly method. The prefabricated air duct is formed by multiple panels, each panel having snap-fit ​​parts and / or mating parts that can seal and engage with adjacent panels. Under external force, the snap-fit ​​part on any panel can be pushed into the mating part on its adjacent panel to form a snap-fit, thus forming the air duct. Therefore, the panels can be prefabricated in a factory and then transported to the air duct installation site. At the installation site, the panels are assembled into an air duct using the snap-fit ​​parts and mating parts. Compared with traditional air duct installation methods, this prefabricated air duct only requires transporting the panel-shaped panels, resulting in a smaller volume and easier stacking, making transportation convenient, fast, and cost-effective. Furthermore, on-site assembly only requires snap-fit ​​connections, greatly reducing the difficulty of air duct assembly and significantly improving assembly efficiency. In addition, the factory-scale production of the snap-fit ​​parts and mating parts ensures controllable quality and precision, guaranteeing reliable air duct sealing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of building engineering technology, and in particular to a prefabricated air duct and its assembly method. Background Technology

[0002] Air ducts are the pipes used in air conditioning systems for supplying, returning, and exhausting air. They are typically composed of four sheet metal panels forming the four planes (top, bottom, left, and right), connected at the edges of the panels using L-shaped corner strips and self-tapping screws. This method requires multiple self-tapping screws to be tightened one by one, making the assembly process cumbersome and inefficient.

[0003] In addition, existing air ducts are generally prefabricated, meaning they are assembled in the manner described above before being transported to the installation site for installation. However, pre-assembled air ducts require a large amount of space for both transportation and storage, and are easily deformed by compression during transport and storage.

[0004] Therefore, the above-mentioned prior art has at least the following technical problems: the assembly process of the air duct in the prior art is cumbersome, inefficient, inconvenient to transport, and has high transportation costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a prefabricated air duct and its assembly method, which solves the technical problems of cumbersome assembly process, low efficiency, inconvenient transportation, and high transportation cost of the existing air ducts.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, in a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a prefabricated air duct, the prefabricated air duct comprising:

[0007] Multiple panels are used to combine and enclose to form a duct, and the panels are provided with snap-fit ​​parts and / or mating parts, and the snap-fit ​​parts and the mating parts are respectively sealed and fixed on the panels;

[0008] Under the action of external force, the snap-fit ​​part on any of the plates can be pushed into the mating part on the adjacent plate to form a snap-fit, thereby forming a sealed connection between the two adjacent plates and thus forming a duct.

[0009] Furthermore, the snap-fit ​​portion includes a first fixing plate laid on the plate body, and the first fixing plate is sealed and fixedly connected to the plate body by a first fixing member;

[0010] The snap-fit ​​portion also includes a snap-fit ​​member that extends along the first fixing plate and bends out to one side of the first fixing plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the mating part includes a second fixing plate laid on the plate body, and the second fixing plate is sealed and fixedly connected to the plate body by a second fastener;

[0012] The mating part also includes a limiting groove that extends horizontally along the second fixing plate and opens outward from the second fixing plate. The snap-fit ​​member is inserted into and constrained in the limiting groove, thereby achieving a snap-fit ​​engagement.

[0013] Furthermore, the snap-fit ​​component is integrally formed with the first fixing plate, and the limiting groove is integrally formed with the second fixing plate.

[0014] Furthermore, the limiting groove is formed by a bent baffle. One end of the bent baffle is connected to the second fixed plate, and the other end is folded towards the second fixed plate and then bent outward to form the limiting groove with a gradually expanding opening. The gradually expanding opening is elastic and is oriented away from the second fixed plate.

[0015] Under the action of external force, the snap-fit ​​component can be pushed into the limiting groove along the guide of the bending baffle, and is limited and constrained into the limiting groove by the bending baffle.

[0016] Furthermore, the snap-fit ​​component is provided with a plurality of locking elements at intervals, the height of which is greater than the minimum opening diameter of the limiting groove, to prevent the snap-fit ​​component from exiting the mating part.

[0017] Furthermore, the locking element is a protrusion provided on the snap-fit ​​element.

[0018] Furthermore, the top of the protrusion has a tapered shape with a rounded transition.

[0019] Furthermore, the joint gaps between adjacent plates are filled with fire-resistant sealing material.

[0020] Furthermore, the plate has four segments that are fixed to each other at their side ends.

[0021] Secondly, this application also provides a method for assembling a prefabricated air duct, the method comprising the following steps:

[0022] Precast concrete slabs;

[0023] Transport the panels to the duct installation site;

[0024] At the duct installation site, the panels are assembled into ducts by snap-fitting the snap-fitting parts and fitting parts.

[0025] One or more technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0026] (1) The prefabricated air duct provided in this application embodiment can be pushed into the mating part on the adjacent plate to form a snap-fit ​​under the action of external force. During on-site assembly, the staff can directly push the plates to snap together to complete the assembly of the air duct, eliminating the assembly steps of bolt and screw fixing that require tools in the prior art. There is no need to carry redundant auxiliary assembly parts and auxiliary positioning materials, which greatly reduces the assembly difficulty of the air duct and greatly improves the assembly efficiency. In addition, the snap-fit ​​part and the mating part can be pre-assembled on the plate at the factory and then the plate is transported to the air duct installation site. The plate itself is small in size and easy to stack, making transportation convenient, fast and low cost. The snap-fit ​​part and the mating part are produced on a large scale in the factory, and the quality and precision are controllable. This effectively solves the technical problems of the cumbersome assembly process, low efficiency and inconvenient transportation and high transportation cost of the air duct in the prior art.

[0027] (2) The first fixing plate and the second fixing plate are attached to the plate body and are tightly attached to ensure the airtightness between the snap-fit ​​part, the mating part and the plate body; the snap-fit ​​part is inserted into and constrained in the limiting groove, thereby realizing the snap-fit, forming a sealed overlap, ensuring the airtightness of the connection between the snap-fit ​​part and the mating part, thereby ensuring that the enclosed duct does not leak air.

[0028] (3) Multiple locking elements are provided at intervals on the snap-fit ​​part. The locking elements are engaged in the limiting groove, which can prevent the snap-fit ​​part from coming out of the mating part and improve the airtightness of the connection between the snap-fit ​​part and the mating part.

[0029] (4) The angle of the snap-fit ​​component relative to the first fixed plate is 90°, which makes the two plates perpendicular to each other after assembly, so as to form a rectangular air duct.

[0030] (5) The snap-fit ​​part and the first fixing plate are integrally formed to ensure the airtightness of the snap-fit ​​part itself; the limiting groove and the second fixing plate are integrally formed to ensure the airtightness of the mating part itself, thereby ensuring that the enclosed duct is airtight.

[0031] (6) The bending baffle is first folded against the second fixed plate and then bent outward to form a gradually expanding opening. The minimum opening diameter of the gradually expanding opening formed by the bending baffle is less than the height of the locking part. When the locking part is pushed into the limiting groove under the action of external force, the bending baffle is deformed by the external force, which increases the diameter of the gradually expanding opening. After the locking part enters the limiting groove smoothly, the gradually expanding opening returns to its original state due to the elasticity of the bending baffle itself. Thus, the protrusion is limited and constrained in the limiting groove, which not only makes the locking firm and stable, but also has good airtightness.

[0032] (7) The joint gap between any adjacent plates is filled with fire-resistant sealing material, thereby improving the fire resistance of the duct.

[0033] (8) Compared with the traditional duct installation method, the assembly method described in this application only requires the transportation of plate-shaped panels, which are small in size and easy to stack, making transportation convenient, fast and low in cost. In addition, only snap-fit ​​connection is required on site, which greatly reduces the assembly difficulty of the duct and significantly improves the assembly efficiency. Furthermore, the use of factory-scale production of snap-fit ​​parts and mating parts ensures that the quality and precision are controllable, which can ensure reliable duct sealing and effectively solves the technical problems of cumbersome assembly process, low efficiency and inconvenient transportation and high transportation cost in the prior art. Attached Figure Description

[0034] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the assembled air duct in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Top view;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the interlocking and engaging parts in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Side view;

[0039] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged image;

[0040] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the snap-fit ​​part in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the mating part in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0043] 10. Plate body;

[0044] 20. Snap-fit ​​part; 21. First fixing plate; 22. First fixing member; 23. Snap-fit ​​member; 24. Locking member; 25. Through hole;

[0045] 30. Fitting part; 31. Second fixing plate; 32. Second fixing component; 33. Bending baffle; 34. Gradually expanding opening; 35. Limiting groove; 36. Perforation. Detailed Implementation

[0046] This application provides a prefabricated air duct and its assembly method, which solves the technical problems of cumbersome assembly process, low efficiency, inconvenient transportation, and high transportation cost of the existing air ducts.

[0047] The technical solution in this application is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and the general idea is as follows:

[0048] One or more embodiments of this application provide a prefabricated air duct, which is formed by multiple plates 10. Each plate 10 has a snap-fit ​​portion 20 and / or a mating portion 30 that can be sealed and snapped together with adjacent plates 10. This allows the plates 10 to be prefabricated in a factory, transported to the air duct installation site, and assembled into an air duct using the snap-fit ​​portions 20 and mating portions 30. Compared to traditional air duct installation methods, this prefabricated air duct only requires transporting the plate-shaped plates 10, resulting in a smaller volume and easier stacking, making transportation convenient, fast, and cost-effective. Furthermore, on-site snap-fit ​​connections significantly reduce the difficulty of air duct assembly and greatly improve assembly efficiency. In addition, the mass production of the snap-fit ​​portions 20 and mating portions 30 in a factory ensures controllable quality and precision, guaranteeing reliable air duct sealing. This effectively solves the technical problems of cumbersome assembly processes, low efficiency, inconvenient transportation, and high transportation costs in existing air duct technologies.

[0049] To better understand the above technical solutions, the following will provide a detailed explanation of the technical solutions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0050] like Figures 1 to 7 As shown, the prefabricated air duct provided in this application embodiment includes a plurality of plates 10 for assembling and forming an air duct, and the plates 10 are provided with snap-fit ​​parts 20 and / or mating parts 30, the snap-fit ​​parts 20 and the mating parts 30 being respectively sealed and fixed on the plates 10;

[0051] Under the action of external force, the snap-fit ​​portion 20 on any of the plates 10 can be pushed into the mating portion 30 on the adjacent plate 10 to form an interlocking snap-fit, thereby constituting a sealed connection between the two plates 10.

[0052] As described above, the prefabricated duct provided in this application embodiment can be assembled by pushing the snap-fit ​​part 20 on any of the plates 10 into the mating part 30 on the adjacent plates 10 under external force. During on-site assembly, workers can directly push the plates 10 together to complete the assembly of the duct, eliminating the need for bolt and screw fixing with tools in the prior art. It also eliminates the need to carry redundant auxiliary assembly parts and auxiliary positioning materials, greatly reducing the assembly difficulty of the duct and significantly improving the assembly efficiency. In addition, the snap-fit ​​part 20 and the mating part 30 can be pre-assembled onto the plates 10 at the factory, and then the plates 10 can be transported to the duct installation site. The plates 10 are small in size and easy to stack, making transportation convenient, fast, and low in cost. The snap-fit ​​part 20 and the mating part 30 are mass-produced in the factory, and the quality and precision are controllable. This effectively solves the technical problems of the cumbersome assembly process, low efficiency, inconvenient transportation, and high transportation cost of the prior art duct assembly method.

[0053] It should be noted that the above-mentioned "the plate body 10 is provided with a snap-fit ​​part 20 and / or a mating part 30" means that the plate body 10 is provided with only a snap-fit ​​part 20, the plate body 10 is provided with only a mating part 30, or the plate body 10 is provided with both a snap-fit ​​part 20 and a mating part 30.

[0054] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, prefabricated air ducts are generally rectangular frames formed by four panels 10.

[0055] Each panel 10 is fixed to the others by snap-fit ​​connection of snap-fit ​​part 20 and mating part 30. Here, each panel 10 should also have a transition connecting member on each opposite end along its length. When the length of the prefabricated duct needs to be increased, one of the already fixed rectangular frames can be fixed to another rectangular frame through this transition connecting member. Here, the transition connecting member can be implemented using methods commonly found in architectural settings, and is not within the scope of protection of this application embodiment, and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0056] like Figures 3-5 As shown, in some embodiments, one of the plate bodies 10 has a snap-fit ​​portion 20 on each of its two ends, and the snap-fit ​​portion 20 is sealed and fixed on the plate body 10. The other plate body 10 adjacent to the first plate body 10 has a mating portion 30 fixed on each of its two ends, and the mating portion 30 is sealed and fixed on the plate body 10. In addition, the snap-fit ​​portion 20 and the mating portion 30 are interlocked, which can ensure that the adjacent plate bodies 10 are sealed and connected, thereby ensuring that the enclosed air duct is airtight.

[0057] Specifically, the snap-fit ​​part 20 includes a first fixing plate 21 laid on the plate 10, the first fixing plate 21 being fixedly connected to the plate 10 via a first fixing member 22; the snap-fit ​​part 20 also includes a snap-fit ​​member 23 extending from the first fixing plate 21 and bending towards one side of the first fixing plate 21. Preferably, the angle of bending of the snap-fit ​​member 23 relative to the first fixing plate 21 should be maintained at 90° to minimize the assembly angle error between the two plates 10, so that the two plates 10 are perpendicular to each other after assembly, thus forming a rectangular duct.

[0058] Furthermore, the mating part 30 includes a second fixing plate 31 laid on the plate body 10, and the second fixing plate 31 is fixedly connected to the plate body 10 by a second fixing member 32. The mating part 30 also includes a limiting groove 35 that extends horizontally along the second fixing plate 31 and opens outward from the second fixing plate 31. The snap-fit ​​member 23 is inserted into and constrained within the limiting groove 35, thereby achieving a snap-fit ​​connection. This not only facilitates assembly but also forms a sealed overlap, ensuring the airtightness of the connection between the snap-fit ​​part 20 and the mating part 30.

[0059] In the above embodiments, the first fixing member 22 and the second fixing member 32 can be screws, rivets, etc. For example, the first fixing plate 21 and the second fixing plate 31 are both fixed to the plate body 10 by riveting. The first fixing plate 21 and the second fixing plate 31 are provided with a plurality of through holes 25 and 36 at intervals. The large cap rivet passes through the through holes 25 and 36 and is fixed to the plate body 10 to form a riveting connection. Here, the first fixing plate 21 and the second fixing plate 31 can be pre-assembled onto the plate body 10 when the plate body 10 leaves the factory to further facilitate the assembly process. The first fixing plate 21 and the second fixing plate 31 are set close to the plate body 10 and are tightly attached to it, which can ensure the airtightness between the snap-fit ​​part 20, the mating part 30 and the plate body 10.

[0060] Furthermore, the snap-fit ​​member 23 is provided with a plurality of locking members 24 at intervals to prevent the snap-fit ​​member 23 from exiting the mating part 30 and to improve the airtightness of the connection between the snap-fit ​​part 20 and the mating part 30.

[0061] like Figure 6 As shown, the locking member 24 is a protrusion provided on the snap-fit ​​member 23, and the bending baffle 33 surrounds the limiting groove 35 with a gradually expanding opening 34. The gradually expanding opening 34 is elastic and is oriented away from the second fixing plate. Under the action of external force, the protrusion can be pushed into the limiting groove 35 along the guide of the bending baffle 33 and is limited and constrained in the limiting groove 35 by the bending baffle 33.

[0062] like Figure 6As shown, in some embodiments, the protrusions have a plurality of protrusions spaced apart along the length of the snap-fit ​​member 23, and the top of the protrusions is a tapered shape with a rounded transition. This arrangement facilitates the protrusions to follow the guide of the bending baffle 33 into the limiting groove 35. In some embodiments, the cross-section of the protrusions may also be constructed in other shapes, such as cylindrical or rectangular.

[0063] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, the snap-fit ​​component 23 is integrally formed with the first fixing plate 21, thereby ensuring the airtightness of the snap-fit ​​part 20 itself.

[0064] In the above embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the limiting groove 35 is formed by bending the bending baffle 33. The bending baffle 33 and the second fixing plate 31 are integrally formed to ensure the airtightness of the mating part 30 itself.

[0065] Specifically, in order to bend and form the limiting groove 35, the bending baffle 33 is first folded against the second fixed plate and then bent outward to form an elastic gradually expanding opening 34, which can then engage with the snap-fit ​​part 23. Preferably, the minimum opening diameter of the gradually expanding opening 34 formed by the bending baffle 33 is smaller than the height of the protrusion. When the protrusion is pushed into the limiting groove 35 under the action of external force, the bending baffle 33 deforms under the action of external force, which increases the diameter of the gradually expanding opening 34. After the protrusion smoothly enters the limiting groove 35, the gradually expanding opening 34 returns to its original shape due to the elasticity of the bending baffle 33 itself. This limits and constrains the protrusion into the limiting groove 35, forming the engagement of the snap-fit ​​part 20 and the mating part 30.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the first fixing plate 21 and the second fixing plate 31 can be made of steel plates. When the bending baffle 33 and the second fixing plate 31 are bent, the overlapping part of the two can be fixedly connected by spot welding. This spot welding step can be omitted, as long as the protrusion can overcome the elasticity of the bending baffle 33 and forcefully enter the limiting groove 35.

[0067] It should be noted that among the four panels 10 provided in this application for forming prefabricated air ducts, two opposite panels 10 form a group, and the panels 10 in the same group have the same structure. That is, in the two groups of panels 10, each panel 10 in one group is provided with a snap-fit ​​part 20 on both sides, and each panel 10 in the other group is provided with a second mating part 30 on both sides. During assembly, two workers can cooperate to pre-position the position of the panels 10 before assembly.

[0068] It should be noted that, in some embodiments, for example, the two sides of the same plate 10 can be provided with a snap-fit ​​part 20 and a mating part 30 respectively. The mating part 30 only needs to enable the adjacent plates 10 to interlock and snap together to form a duct.

[0069] In some embodiments, the joint gap between any plate 10 and the adjacent plate 10 is filled with fire-resistant sealing material to improve the fire resistance of the duct. The fire-resistant sealing material can be an existing mature fire-resistant foam filler product, which will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0070] The assembly process of the prefabricated air duct in this embodiment is as follows:

[0071] First, two different sets of plates 10 are selected and prepared. The staff cooperates to position the plates 10. Each set of plates 10 is set opposite to each other, and each plate 10 is in a different set from its adjacent plates 10. Next, the plate 10 with the snap-fit ​​part 20 is pushed into the gradually widening opening 34 of the two adjacent sets of plates 10. After the protrusion is fully inserted into the limiting groove 35, the connection between the plate 10 and the two adjacent plates 10 is completed. Then, the opposite plate 10 is installed in the same way to complete the connection between the two sets of plates 10.

[0072] It should be understood that although quantifiers such as "first," "second," etc., may be used herein to describe various units, these units should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one unit from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments, a first unit may be referred to as a second unit, and similarly, a second unit may be referred to as a first unit.

[0073] The directional terms such as "outer," "middle," and "inner" mentioned or potentially used in this specification are defined relative to the structures shown in the accompanying drawings. They are relative concepts and may therefore vary depending on their location and usage. Therefore, these or other directional terms should not be interpreted as restrictive.

[0074] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application in any form or substance. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and additions without departing from the method of this application, and these improvements and additions should also be considered within the scope of protection of this invention. Any modifications, alterations, and equivalent variations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this application, based on the disclosed technical content, are equivalent embodiments of this application. Furthermore, any modifications, alterations, and variations made to the above embodiments based on the essential technology of this application still fall within the scope of the technical solution of this application.

Claims

1. A fabricated air duct, characterized by, The prefabricated air duct includes: Multiple plates (10) are used to combine and form a duct, and the plates (10) are provided with snap-fit ​​parts (20) and / or mating parts (30), and the snap-fit ​​parts (20) and the mating parts (30) are respectively sealed and fixed on the plates (10); Under the action of external force, the snap-fit ​​part (20) on any of the plates (10) can be directly pushed into the mating part (30) on the adjacent plate (10) to form a snap-fit ​​connection, thereby forming a sealed connection between the two adjacent plates (10) to form a duct. The snap-fit ​​part (20) includes a first fixing plate (21) laid on the plate body (10), and the first fixing plate (21) is sealed and fixedly connected to the plate body (10) by a first fixing member (22); The snap-fit ​​portion (20) further includes a snap-fit ​​member (23) that extends along the first fixing plate (21) and bends out to one side of the first fixing plate (21). The mating part (30) includes a second fixing plate (31) laid on the plate body (10), and the second fixing plate (31) is sealed and fixedly connected to the plate body (10) by a second fixing member (32); The mating part (30) further includes a limiting groove (35) that extends horizontally along the second fixing plate (31) and opens outward from the second fixing plate (31). The snap-fit ​​member (23) is inserted into and constrained in the limiting groove (35) to achieve a snap-fit ​​engagement. The limiting groove is formed by a bent baffle (33). One end of the bent baffle (33) is connected to the second fixed plate (31), and the other end is folded towards the second fixed plate (31) and then bent outward to form the limiting groove (35) with a gradually expanding opening (34). The gradually expanding opening (34) is set in a direction away from the second fixed plate (31). Under the action of external force, the snap-fit ​​(23) can be pushed into the limiting groove (35) along the guide of the bending baffle (33) and be limited and constrained in the limiting groove (35) by the bending baffle (33); The snap-fit ​​member (23) is provided with a plurality of locking members (24) spaced apart. The height of the locking members (24) is greater than the minimum opening diameter of the limiting groove (35) to prevent the snap-fit ​​member (23) from exiting the mating part (30).

2. The fabricated air duct of claim 1, wherein, The snap-fit ​​component (23) is integrally formed with the first fixing plate (21), and the limiting groove (35) is integrally formed with the second fixing plate (31).

3. The fabricated air duct of claim 1, wherein, The locking element (24) is a protrusion provided on the snap-fit ​​element (23).

4. The fabricated air duct of claim 3, wherein, The top of the protrusion has a tapered shape with a rounded transition.

5. The fabricated duct of claim 1, wherein, The joint gap between adjacent plates (10) is filled with fire-resistant sealing material.

6. The assembly method of the assembled air pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Precast slabs (10); Transport the panel (10) to the duct installation site; At the duct installation site, the plate (10) is assembled into a duct by the snap-fit ​​of the snap-fit ​​part (20) and the mating part (30).

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