Method of producing a duct system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing duct systems lack efficient methods for locating individual duct lines, especially when obscured, and often suffer from errors due to tracer wire disturbances or damage, lacking redundancy and accurate information about duct sections and their conditions.
Innovation Solution
A duct system with electronic information modules attached via an oversheath, emitting positional and duct properties signals, allowing for network redundancy and continued signal routing even if one module fails, enabling accurate location and mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tracer wire is placed alongside the duct to enable location, then the duct can be located, but the system lacks redundancy and the tracer wire may become disassociated or damaged during construction
Solution Approach 1:
The duct system is divided into multiple segments, each equipped with its own independent locator device. This segmentation ensures that if one locator fails or becomes disassociated, other locators remain functional, providing redundancy without requiring a complex centralized system.
Solution Approach 2:
Locator devices are integrated into the duct structure during the manufacturing process, before the duct is installed. This preliminary action ensures the locators are securely positioned and cannot become disassociated during construction, while also allowing multiple locators to be pre-distributed along the duct for redundancy.
2Ease of operation
If traditional tracer wire methods are used to locate ducts, then location is possible, but errors occur due to tracer wire disturbance or false positives from other metal objects
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical tracer wire system is replaced with electronic locator devices that use electromagnetic fields or other non-mechanical signaling methods. This substitution eliminates the problems of physical wire disturbance and false positives from other metal objects, as the electronic locators can be distinguished from other metallic elements in the environment.
3Device complexity
If no information modules are attached to the duct, then the system is simpler, but there is no way to identify individual duct sections or obtain specific information about duct location and state
Solution Approach 1:
The duct system performs self-identification through integrated information modules that automatically provide data about their location, status, and characteristics. Each module serves itself by containing and transmitting the information needed to identify its associated duct section, eliminating the need for external documentation or manual tracking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The information modules serve multiple functions: they provide location data, status monitoring, and identification information all through a single integrated device. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to using separate systems for each function, while comprehensively addressing information needs.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present inventive concept includes a duct system and method for using same to map and locate ducts. A preferred embodiment of the duct system includes a duct, a plurality of electronic information modules and an oversheath at least partially covering the plurality of information modules and fixing the information modules to the duct. The plurality of information modules are configured to emit a positional signal to enable location of the information modules and associated duct(s) and/or mapping of the duct system.