Flashing Hood Seal Structure for Angled Utility Wall Penetrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for sealing utility lines, such as air conditioning lines, passing through building walls are inadequate in maintaining a vapour barrier, as they fail to effectively seal against various line types and sizes, and do not accommodate varying lengths or angles of utility passages.
Innovation Solution
A flashing hood system comprising a plate body with a plate opening, an enclosed hood body, a removable seal, and a cover that secures the seal, allowing for adjustable length and angle utility passages, and an impermeable flexible layer for enhanced sealing, which can be combined with building wrap for additional protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed sealing structure is used around utility lines, then the vapour barrier sealing is simplified, but it cannot accommodate varying lengths or angles of utility passages
Solution Approach 1:
The flashing hood incorporates an extendable sleeve that can be adjusted to different lengths and angles, transforming a static sealing structure into a dynamic one that adapts to varying utility line configurations while maintaining the vapour barrier seal
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure is divided into separate components including the hood body, extendable sleeve, and removable seal, allowing each segment to be independently adjusted or replaced to accommodate different utility passage requirements
2Reliability
If a universal sealing design is used for different utility line sizes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sealing effectiveness against various line types and sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The removable seal is designed with specific sealing profiles that can be selected or configured to match different utility line types and sizes, providing locally optimized sealing contact surfaces for each application while using a standardized hood body structure
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system allows for parameter changes by enabling the removal and replacement of seals with different dimensions and profiles, and by adjusting the extendable sleeve to different lengths and angles, thereby adapting to various utility line configurations without changing the entire device
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sealing components are made removable and adjustable, then the adaptability to different utility lines is improved, but the ease of operation and installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into modular components (hood body, extendable sleeve, removable seal) that can be independently handled, installed, and adjusted, simplifying the overall installation process by allowing sequential assembly rather than requiring complete disassembly for adjustments
Data Source
AI summary
A flashing hood for utility lines passing through a wall of a building has a plate body with a plate opening surrounded by an enclosed hood body. The bottom of the enclosed hood body has a sidewall with a seal-receiving profile and a cover-receiving profile spaced from the plate body and above the seal-receiving profile. The enclosed hood body has a removable seal that engages the seal-receiving profile, the removable seal having a sealing profile that seals against one or more utility lines when installed. The hood body also has a removable cover that engages the cover-receiving profile and secures the removable seal in engagement with the seal-receiving profile. The sidewall, the removable seal, and the removable cover define an enclosure. When the removable cover and seal are removed, the sidewall defines an access opening that surrounds the plate opening.