Fire protection flap with a housing and a pivotable shut-off valve which can be pivoted around a pivoting axle, in particular a central pivoting axle

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire dampers face challenges in production complexity due to circumferential inner beads, which increase production difficulties and introduce undesirable flow resistance.

Innovation Solution

A fire damper design with interconnected housing segments, where the width of the holding segment is adjustable to match the free flow cross-section of the connecting segment, reducing flow resistance and simplifying production by eliminating the need for a circumferential inner bead, and allowing for adjustable heights and lengths to optimize flow properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a circumferential inner bead is introduced in the holding segment, then clearance for the shut-off flap is achieved, but production becomes more difficult and flow resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclearance for shut-off flapVSAvoidproduction difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple segments (first holding segment, first connecting segment, second connecting segment) that can be produced separately and assembled. This allows the holding segment to be manufactured without the complex circumferential inner bead, while still achieving the required clearance through the segmented structure and relative positioning of components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The problematic circumferential inner bead is removed from the design. Instead of incorporating the bead into the holding segment, the clearance function is achieved through the segmented housing structure and the relative positioning of the holding segment with respect to the connecting segments, eliminating the manufacturing complexity and flow resistance issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a circumferential inner bead is introduced in the holding segment, then clearance for the shut-off flap is achieved, but flow resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclearance for shut-off flapVSAvoidflow resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented housing structure allows clearance to be achieved through the arrangement and positioning of segments rather than through protruding beads. The smooth transitions between segments maintain better airflow characteristics compared to the disruptive circumferential bead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The circumferential inner bead that causes flow resistance is completely removed from the design. The clearance function is replaced by the segmented structure's geometric arrangement, eliminating the source of harmful flow resistance while maintaining the necessary operational clearance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the housing is designed as multiple interconnected segments, then production is simplified and flow properties are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into functional segments (holding segment with bearing, connecting segments for duct connection) that can be manufactured independently using standard fabrication processes and then assembled. This segmentation simplifies production while the modular nature allows for straightforward assembly, balancing complexity management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting segments serve multiple functions: they connect the holding segment to the ventilation duct, provide structural support, and facilitate assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, offsetting the complexity introduced by segmentation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2592359B9Fire protection flap with a housing and a pivotable shut-off valve which can be pivoted around a pivoting axle, in particular a central pivoting axle
Publication Date: 2017.12.27 TROX GMBH
  • EP2592359B9 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2592359B9 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2592359B9 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The flap housing has two interconnected housing segments. A segment is formed as holding segment (2) for receiving a bearing support and other segment is formed as connecting segment (1) for connecting flap to ventilation system. An end of connecting segment is connected to an end of holding segment and the other end is set for mounting the flap to ventilation system. The width of free-flow cross-section between the sub-regions (15) of holding segment along entire length as seen in flow direction (4), is smaller than orientation width of cross-section in connecting segment region. An independent claim is included for a production method of fire protection flap.