Extractor Hood Drive Module Layout for Flexible Manufacturing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing variety of fume collecting device designs leads to higher production costs due to the need for customized component installation and complex integration of control and operation devices, making mass production inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A fume collecting device with a separate, independent drive module that includes control devices for the damper and motor, allowing for standardized production and easy configuration, simplifying installation, adjustment, and servicing across different designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the design hood incorporates customized component installation for each variant, then the device can accommodate different design configurations, but the production costs increase and manufacturing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign configuration flexibilityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the fume collecting device into separate modular components: a chassis portion and a drive module. The drive module is a self-contained unit with standardized mounting that can be installed in different chassis configurations. This segmentation allows the same drive module to serve multiple design variants without requiring customized component installation for each configuration, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining design flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the design hood incorporates customized component installation for each variant, then the device can accommodate different design configurations, but the production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign configuration flexibilityVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive module is segmented as a separate, pre-assembled unit containing the motor, fan, and control components. This allows the drive module to be manufactured independently and installed as a single component in various chassis configurations, significantly reducing assembly time compared to installing individual components for each design variant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drive module is pre-assembled and pre-configured before installation in the chassis portion. Control devices are pre-mounted on the drive module housing, and all necessary connections are prepared in advance. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming customization during final assembly, thereby increasing production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If control devices are integrated into the chassis portion for each design variant, then the device can be customized for different configurations, but the complexity of production and installation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign configuration flexibilityVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the control devices from the chassis portion and relocates them to the drive module. The control devices are mounted on the housing of the drive module, which is a standardized component. This extraction simplifies the chassis portion to a basic structural element while consolidating all control functionality in the drive module, thereby reducing production complexity while maintaining the ability to accommodate different design configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2090835B1Extractor hood
Publication Date: 2016.04.27 FRANKE FUTURUM
  • EP2090835B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2090835B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2090835B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a fume collecting device via which fume-laden air is intended to be captured, incorporating a chassis portion which, inter alia, constitutes a substantial part of the exterior of the device, wherein the fume collecting device comprises means for procuring and controlling the intake and wherein a drive module (1a; 2a; 3a) is arranged as a separate unit and independently from the rest of the fume collecting device (1b; 2b; 3b) with the aim of providing for the said procurement and control. The invention also relates to a drive module for a fume collecting device and to a process for producing the fume collecting device.