Elastic Sleeve Insert for Pipe Alignment and Flow Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ventilation flap housing arrangements in pipe systems face challenges with alignment and thermal expansion, requiring significant assembly effort and resulting in increased flow resistance and potential misalignment, which complicates installation and affects the sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of an elastic sleeve insert with a central spherical zone and cylindrical sockets on the sleeve insert, allowing for misalignment compensation without altering the nominal diameter, combined with a stiffer outer housing for dimensional stability and a rotatable flap for sealing, enabling easy installation and maintaining airflow efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid housing is used for dimensional stability, then structural strength is improved, but assembly difficulty increases due to alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two functional segments: a rigid outer housing for structural strength and dimensional stability, and a flexible inner housing for alignment compensation during assembly. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the housing have different mechanical properties: the outer housing is rigid for overall structural support, while the inner housing is flexible locally to accommodate misalignment. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between strength and ease of assembly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid connection is used for thermal stability, then dimensional stability is improved, but flow resistance increases due to turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The inner housing features a spherical zone that creates a diffuser effect, guiding airflow smoothly through curved surfaces. This curvature eliminates turbulence and reduces flow resistance while the outer rigid housing maintains dimensional stability.
3Loss of energy
If spherical zone is added for airflow optimization, then flow resistance is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical airflow optimization feature is merged into the inner housing rather than being a separate component. This integration reduces device complexity while maintaining the flow resistance benefits of the spherical zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides alignment compensation during assembly, maintains dimensional stability in the installed state, and optimizes airflow through its spherical zone. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If expansion compensation is provided for thermal changes, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inner housing is made from a flexible material that can elastically deform to accommodate thermal expansion and misalignment. This flexibility provides adaptability without requiring high manufacturing precision, as the material itself compensates for dimensional variations.
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
Facilitates easy installation and maintains low resistance airflow while ensuring the ventilation flap closes tightly, accommodating thermal expansion without changing the cross-sectional area, thus addressing alignment and thermal expansion issues effectively.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic sleeve insert, which is suitable for compensating for distance/misalignment errors in pipe ends that are to be connected via the ventilation flap housing arrangement during assembly without changing the nominal diameter and then, in the assembled state, for length/alignment changes
Implementation Method 2
the spherical zone of the cuff insert enables almost resistance-free airflow, similar to a diffuser effect with turbulence-free air flow on the inner wall
Implementation Method 3
the connections of the ventilation flap housing arrangement can be stressed by thermally induced changes in length in the pipe system and the clear width of the connected pipes can narrow, increasing the flow resistance
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Ventilation flap housing arrangement comprises a housing (1) having a ball zone between openings (3, 4) and containing an elastic collar insert (8) having a central ball zone (9). Cylindrical supports (10, 11) are molded to the ball zone of the collar insert. An independent claim is also included for an extension compensating element for a tubular arrangement. Preferred Features: Annular recessed transition regions are formed between the central ball zone and the supports of the collar insert. The housing has a flap bearing which is flush when the insert is inserted.