Draft Moderator Counterweight Adjustment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing draft moderators for smoke evacuation ducts and heating appliances are complex to produce, aesthetically unsuitable for residential installations, and lack precise adjustment capabilities, particularly in climatic conditions that affect depression in the duct.

Innovation Solution

A draft moderator with a counterweight mounted on the interior side of the shutter, allowing for precise adjustment of the return torque without visible external components, featuring a pivoting mechanism and an adjustable latch for easy access and incremental depression control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the counterweight is placed on the front side of the shutter for visibility and access, then the adjustment is accessible, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of adjustmentVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight is inverted from its conventional external position to an internal position on the shutter. This inversion places the adjustment mechanism inside the moderator housing, making it invisible from the front while maintaining accessibility through the front face, thus resolving the contradiction between aesthetics and ease of operation

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

2Measurement precision

If the shutter rotation axis orientation is modified relative to the horizontal to adjust return force, then the draft regulation precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedraft regulation precisionVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The function of adjusting the return force is extracted from the shutter rotation axis orientation and transferred to the counterweight position. By moving the counterweight to different locations on the shutter, the return torque can be adjusted without modifying the shutter axis orientation, thereby achieving precise draft regulation while maintaining simple construction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple parts are used for counterweight articulation to achieve precise adjustment, then the adjustment precision improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight and its articulation mechanism are merged into a single integrated component. The counterweight is directly pivoted relative to the shutter without additional intermediate parts, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the ability to adjust the return force by repositioning the counterweight on the shutter

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution simplifies manufacturing, enhances aesthetics, and allows for precise adjustment of the draft moderator, ensuring robust performance and adaptability to varying operating conditions without additional parts, while maintaining compactness and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

a counterweight (30) for returning the shutter (20) to the closed position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

movable relative to the shutter so as to allow adjustment of the return torque of the latter to the closed position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Data Source

PatentEP3604924B1Draft moderator
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 REGULATEURS GEORGIN
  • EP3604924B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3604924B1 patent drawingFigure 5~11
  • EP3604924B1 patent drawingFigure 9~13

AI summary

The present invention relates to a draft regulator (1), comprising: - a hood (10), - a flap (20) movable relative to the hood (10), capable of taking a closed position and an open air intake position, - a counterweight (30) for returning the flap (20) to the closed position, disposed on the inner side of the flap, movable relative to the flap so as to allow adjustment of the return torque of the latter in the closed position.