Exhauster Baffle Flap for Pressure Equalization

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for mitigating vibrations and noise in lightweight structures, such as vehicle frames, require both baffles and exhausters, which increase weight and cost by preventing fluid flow entirely, whereas a solution that allows fluid flow in specific circumstances to equalize pressure is needed.

Innovation Solution

An exhauster baffle with a body portion extending across a cavity, a thermally expansible sealer, and flaps over openings that regulate fluid flow by allowing passage when internal pressure exceeds external pressure, effectively acting as a one-way pressure and air exhauster.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a baffle is disposed across the cavity with sealing to prevent fluid flow, then vibration and noise are mitigated, but weight and cost increase due to the need for additional exhausters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration and noiseVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle is designed to perform multiple functions: it seals the cavity to reduce noise and vibration, yet simultaneously allows pressure equalization through its opening and flap mechanism. This eliminates the need for separate exhauster components, reducing overall vehicle weight while maintaining both noise mitigation and pressure equalization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines the functions of the baffle and exhauster into a single integrated component. The baffle structure incorporates an opening with a flap that can selectively allow fluid flow for pressure equalization, merging what were traditionally separate components (baffle for noise reduction and exhauster for pressure equalization) into one unified device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a baffle is disposed across the cavity with sealing to prevent fluid flow, then vibration and noise are mitigated, but cost increases due to the need for additional exhausters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration and noiseVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle is designed to perform multiple functions: it seals the cavity to reduce noise and vibration, yet simultaneously allows pressure equalization through its opening and flap mechanism. This eliminates the need for separate exhauster components, reducing overall vehicle weight while maintaining both noise mitigation and pressure equalization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines the functions of the baffle and exhauster into a single integrated component. The baffle structure incorporates an opening with a flap that can selectively allow fluid flow for pressure equalization, merging what were traditionally separate components (baffle for noise reduction and exhauster for pressure equalization) into one unified device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the cavity is sealed to prevent fluid flow, then vibration and noise are mitigated, but pressure equalization is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration and noiseVSAvoidpressure equalization

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flap is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically respond to pressure differentials. When pressure inside the vehicle exceeds external pressure, the flap opens to allow fluid flow and pressure equalization. When pressures are equal or when noise mitigation is the priority, the flap remains closed, maintaining the seal. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between sealing for noise reduction and allowing pressure equalization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flap mechanism is passive and self-actuating, responding automatically to pressure differentials without requiring external control systems. When pressure builds inside the vehicle, the flap automatically opens to relieve the pressure, and automatically closes when pressure equalizes or when sealing is needed for noise reduction, providing self-regulating pressure equalization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution reduces weight and cost by allowing fluid flow only when necessary, equalizing pressure within the vehicle while maintaining vibration and noise mitigation.

Implementation Method 1

A sealer is disposed on the body portion and expands to adhere the exhauster baffle to an inner surface of the cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS8998688B2Exhauster baffle

Publication Date: 2015.04.07 SIKA TECH AG

AI summary

An exhauster baffle is provided that may be used to prohibit fluid flow through a cavity except when a pressure on one side of the exhauster baffle is greater than a pressure on another side of the exhauster baffle. The exhauster baffle includes a body portion defining an opening, a sealer disposed on the body portion, and a flap disposed over the opening for regulating fluid flow through the opening. In one embodiment, the flap exposes the opening of the body portion to allow fluid to flow through the cavity when the pressure on one side of the exhauster baffle greater than the pressure on another side of the baffle to equalize pressure.