Flanged Ring Connector with Integrated Seal Retention for HVAC Ducting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flanged ring connectors for HVAC ducting face challenges in ensuring proper sealing and structural integrity, particularly in large-diameter ducts, where gaskets can be damaged during transport or assembly, and the connectors may not be sufficiently stiff, leading to unsatisfactory joints and increased costs due to thicker materials.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a flanged ring connector with insertion flanges and seats that can accommodate seals and reinforcing members, allowing for secure attachment to HVAC ducts and enhancing structural integrity, while also being adaptable to various cross-sectional shapes and configurations, including double-wall ducts, through methods like spin-forming, roll-forming, and stamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gasket is glued to the mating flange to ensure sealing, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the assembly complexity and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is integrated into the connector assembly by positioning it within a groove formed in the mating flange, eliminating the need for separate gluing operations. The gasket becomes part of the assembly structure itself, reducing labor while maintaining sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket is pre-positioned in the groove during manufacturing or prior to assembly, ensuring it is already in place before the actual connection operation. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for on-site gluing and reduces assembly complexity
2Strength
If the flanged ring is made from thicker gauge material to increase stiffness, then the structural integrity is improved, but the cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly thickening the entire flanged ring, the design adds localized reinforcement elements such as exterior hems and returns at specific locations where structural support is needed. This provides the necessary stiffness while minimizing overall material usage and weight
Solution Approach 2:
The flanged ring incorporates multiple material layers or composite construction with different gauge materials strategically positioned to optimize strength-to-weight ratio, providing stiffness where needed without uniformly increasing weight throughout the entire component
3Strength
If the flanged ring is made from thicker gauge material to increase stiffness, then the structural integrity is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The design uses localized hems and returns rather than uniformly thick material, which are easier to form and manipulate during manufacturing. These localized features provide the necessary structural reinforcement without the difficulties associated with forming and handling uniformly thick, heavy-gauge material
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement is divided into separate, manageable components such as exterior hems and returns that can be formed and attached independently. This segmentation makes the manufacturing process more manageable compared to forming a single, uniformly thick, heavy-gauge ring
4Strength
If exterior hems and returns are added to increase section modulus, then the structural integrity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hems and returns are integrated into the flanged ring structure as unified, continuous features rather than separate attachments. This merging approach provides the necessary structural reinforcement while maintaining a relatively simple, streamlined design without excessive complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A flanged ring connector (50) for connecting adjacent ends of HVAC ducting (52) includes an insertion flange portion to engage within the interior of the ducting. A mating flange portion (56) extends laterally or transversely to the insertion flange portion (54). A seat (58) is formed along the mating flange portion (56) to receive and retain a seal (60) and/or a reinforcing member or bead (90).