Cavity Floor Panel with Guide Element for Cleaning Hose Deflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing temperature-controlled cavity floors face difficulties in cleaning the air flow cavity, leading to potential hygienic impairments of the supplied fresh air.

Innovation Solution

A floor panel design featuring a base body with an air flow cavity, an inlet shaft, an outlet shaft, and a guide element that deflects cleaning hoses into separate partial areas, allowing for easy cleaning and reinforcement while ensuring easy installation of a surface temperature control system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a cavity is provided in the floor panel for air flow, then temperature control and ventilation are enabled, but the cavity becomes difficult or impossible to clean leading to hygiene problems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control and ventilation functionVSAvoidcleaning accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity is divided into multiple sub-sections by guide elements with deflection elements, allowing separate cleaning access to each section through the inlet and outlet shafts. This segmentation enables thorough cleaning of the entire cavity volume without requiring disassembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of providing cleaning access from the top or sides of the cavity, the invention enables cleaning access from the bottom through the inlet and outlet shafts by using deflection elements that redirect cleaning hoses into the cavity sub-sections. This inverted cleaning approach solves the hygiene problem while maintaining the cavity's ventilation function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the cavity is sealed to maintain hygiene, then fresh air quality is preserved, but cleaning access is completely blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefresh air hygieneVSAvoidcavity cleaning access
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The guide element with deflection elements acts as an intermediary mechanism that allows cleaning hoses to be directed into the cavity sub-sections through the inlet and outlet shafts. This intermediary structure enables cleaning access while maintaining the sealed nature of the cavity for hygiene purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a guide element is added to deflect cleaning hoses, then cleaning accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessibilityVSAvoidguide element structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide element serves multiple functions: it divides the cavity into sub-sections for systematic cleaning, deflects cleaning hoses into the cavity through deflection elements, and potentially guides air flow. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If inlet and outlet shafts are positioned on opposite sides, then air flow path is optimized, but cleaning hose access becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning hose insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring direct access to the cavity from the sides or top, the invention enables cleaning access through the inlet and outlet shafts located on opposite sides by using deflection elements that redirect the cleaning hoses into the cavity sub-sections. This inverted cleaning approach maintains the optimized air flow path while enabling effective cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design facilitates easy cleaning of the air flow cavity, enhances heat transfer through turbulence, and provides effective footfall sound insulation, improving indoor climate and reducing operational costs by eliminating the need for additional heating registers.

Implementation Method 1

the guide element deflects a cleaning hose inserted into the inlet shaft into the first part of the cavity and deflects a cleaning hose inserted into the outlet shaft into the second part of the cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical deflection:

Implementation Method 2

a base body for transferring a load from a top floor arranged above the floor panel to a bottom floor arranged below the floor panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force transmission:

Implementation Method 3

a thermal insulation layer arranged on the subfloor, a number of fluid-flowing heating/cooling pipes arranged thereon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 4

at least one heat exchanger made of thermally conductive material is applied to the thermal insulation layer in at least partial zones, which carries partial sections of the heating/cooling pipes on its upper side, is in thermally conductive contact with the screed layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3361164B1Floor panel, in particular for producing a temperature controllable cavity floor
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 UPONOR INNOVATION AB
  • EP3361164B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3361164B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3361164B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to the floor panel (1), in particular for constructing a temperature-controlled cavity floor, comprising: - a base body (2) for transferring a load from an upper floor arranged above the floor panel (1) to a lower floor (21 ); - A first cavity (7) arranged in the floor panel (1); - An inlet shaft (8) via which an air flow can be introduced into the first cavity (7); - An outlet shaft (9) via which the air flow can be discharged from the first cavity (7); and - a guide element (10) arranged in the first cavity (7) and dividing the cavity (7) into a first partial area (15) and a second partial area (16), the guide element (10) being designed such that it deflects a cleaning hose (17) inserted into the inlet shaft (8) into the first section (15) of the cavity (7) and deflects a cleaning hose (18) inserted into the outlet shaft (9) into the second section (16) of the cavity (7) distracts.