Fiber Duct Connecting Piece With Gas-Tight Inner Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connecting pieces for ventilation ducts made from sheet metal are costly, pose fire hazards, and present assembly and sealing challenges when used with ducts made from compressed fibre materials, which are self-supporting and flexible.

Innovation Solution

A connecting piece manufactured from compressed fibre material or mineral wool with a binder, featuring a configurationally stable portion and an inner fluid-impermeable layer, allowing for low-cost production, superior insulation, and safe assembly, comprising mirror-symmetric shell bodies with varying thicknesses for joining and entry portions, and an optional gas-impermeable layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If connecting pieces are made from sheet metal material, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and fire safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameters from metal to compressed fibre material with binder, transforming the connecting piece from rigid and expensive to flexible and cost-effective while maintaining sufficient structural strength for duct applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses inexpensive compressed fibre material with binder instead of expensive sheet metal, making the connecting piece affordable and suitable for widespread use in ventilation systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Strength

If connecting pieces are made from sheet metal material, then structural strength is improved, but fire safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidfire hazard
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition from combustible metal to fire-resistant compressed fibre material with binder, eliminating fire hazards while maintaining the structural integrity needed for connecting duct sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure of compressed fibre material combined with binder, creating a material that possesses both structural strength and fire safety properties suitable for ventilation duct applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If connecting pieces are made from sheet metal material, then structural strength is improved, but assembly and sealing problems increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material from rigid sheet metal to flexible compressed fibre material, enabling the connecting piece to adapt to slight misalignments and irregularities in duct connections, thereby simplifying assembly while maintaining structural strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces flexibility through compressed fibre material with binder, allowing the connecting piece to dynamically adapt to varying connection geometries and accommodate installation tolerances, improving ease of assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If connecting pieces are made from compressed fibre material with binder, then manufacturing cost is reduced and fire safety is improved, but insulation property deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidinsulation property
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure where compressed fibre material with binder provides structural integrity and fire safety, while an added insulation layer compensates for thermal insulation properties, achieving a balance between cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2504631B1A connecting piece and a method for its manufacture
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 CLIMATE RECOVERY IND
  • EP2504631B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2504631B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2504631B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A connecting piece for a duct (5), preferably a ventilation duct, and comprising an inner flow space (6) in communication with the interior of the duct, the connecting piece having at least one joining portion (2) on which an end region of the duct is slidable and fixable, wherein the connecting piece includes a compressed fibre material and a binder, that the connecting piece displays a substantially configurationally stable portion (1) in association with the joining portion (2), and that the connecting piece displays, at least interiorly, a layer which is impervious to a fluid, in particular a gas, this layer being adjacent the inner flow space (6) of the connecting piece.