Dual-Flap Pressure Relief Valve for Durable Vehicle Vent Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing return air blocking devices in vehicles suffer from flap warping and damage due to dust and moisture, leading to poor sealing performance over time.
Innovation Solution
A return air blocking device with flap assemblies featuring a rigid frame and flexible valve flaps, secured by fastening projections, which alternate between idle and open positions to mitigate warping and damage, utilizing a multi-layer flap design with sacrificial layers and stop surfaces to maintain a seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If single-layer flexible flaps are used in return air blocking devices, then the device can effectively block and release air flow based on pressure differential, but the flaps become warped or damaged over time due to dust and moisture cycling, resulting in poor seal
Solution Approach 1:
The flap assembly is divided into multiple separate flap layers (first flap layer, second flap layer, third flap layer) instead of using a single-layer flap. Each layer can independently perform the sealing function, and if one layer becomes damaged or warped, the other layers can compensate to maintain the seal. This segmentation increases the reliability and service life of the return air blocking device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameter of the flap from a single layer to multiple layers. This parameter change enhances the flap assembly's resistance to warping and damage from dust and moisture cycling, thereby improving both the sealing performance reliability and the duration of effective action.
2Strength
If multiple flap layers are stacked to resist warping and damage, then the resistance to warping and damage increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flap assembly is segmented into multiple independent flap layers that are stacked together. Each layer is a separate component that can be individually manufactured and replaced. This segmentation approach increases strength and resistance to warping while keeping each individual flap layer relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple flap layers are merged or combined in a stacked configuration to form a single flap assembly. The combination of multiple simple flap layers creates a more robust assembly that resists warping and damage better than a single complex flap would, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Productivity
If flap assemblies are designed to automatically open under positive pressure, then air flow is effectively released to reduce positive pressure, but the flaps may fail to return to sealed position properly due to warping or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented multi-layer flap structure ensures that if one layer becomes warped or damaged and fails to return to the sealed position, the other layers can still provide sealing functionality. This segmentation maintains reliability of the return-to-sealed-position function while preserving pressure relief productivity through the automatic opening mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Each flap layer can independently respond to pressure differential and return to its sealed position. The local quality of each layer ensures that pressure relief efficiency is maintained when pressure increases, while the collective behavior of multiple layers ensures reliable return to sealed position even if one layer is compromised.
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 provides enhanced resistance to warping and damage, ensuring effective sealing performance by allowing air flow when pressure increases and returning to a sealed position automatically, thus maintaining interior ventilation integrity.
Implementation Method 1
When a pressure increases in the interior of a vehicle, the valve flap assembly assumes an open position where the valve flap assembly is lifted from the sealing surface to allow the flow of air through the vent opening
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure vent valve for ventilation of the interior of a motor vehicle, with a frame with at least one sealing surface and with at least one flexible valve flap mounted on the frame. In an idle position, the valve flap assembly abuts the sealing surface to prevent a flow of air through the pressure vent valve. When a sufficient pressure occurs, the valve flap assembly assumes an open position lifted from the sealing surface to allow a flow of air through the pressure vent valve. The valve flap assembly comprises a first flap sheet stacked upon a second flap sheet.