Duct assembly with a flat duct and a flat duct connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flat duct systems, particularly in kitchen exhaust air systems, face challenges in maintaining a reliable seal at connection points due to susceptibility to pressure loads and concave geometry issues caused by thin sheet metal thickness, leading to material cost and weight concerns while ensuring non-combustibility.
Innovation Solution
A duct arrangement featuring thin sheet metal pipe sections and connectors with a support element extending along the longitudinal direction, reinforced by a shaped sheet metal part with support sections and a web, allowing for form-fitting engagement within the pipe section, which can be displaceable for added stability and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If thin sheet metal is used to reduce material costs and weight, then material cost and weight are reduced, but the duct loses shape and develops concavities under pressure loads
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is divided into multiple support sections (first support section, second support section) that are distributed along the longitudinal direction of the pipe section. Each support section independently supports opposite wall sections, allowing the structure to maintain shape stability through distributed support points rather than a single rigid element.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element extends in the longitudinal direction (third dimension) of the pipe section, providing support across the length of the connector rather than only at discrete points. This longitudinal extension creates a three-dimensional support structure that effectively resists pressure loads distributed along the duct.
2Quantity of substance
If thin sheet metal is used to minimize material thickness, then material cost is reduced, but sealing performance at connection points deteriorates due to concave geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is segmented into multiple support sections that are distributed along the longitudinal direction of the pipe section. Each support section independently supports opposite wall sections, allowing the structure to maintain shape stability through distributed support points rather than a single rigid element.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element extends in the longitudinal direction (third dimension) of the pipe section, providing support across the length of the connector rather than only at discrete points. This longitudinal extension creates a three-dimensional support structure that effectively resists pressure loads distributed along the duct.
3Stability of the object's composition
If support element is added to stiffen the pipe section, then shape stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is designed as a thin-walled structure with wall thickness between 0.3 mm and 0.8 mm, similar to the pipe section itself. This thin-walled design provides the necessary support function while minimizing additional material usage and maintaining compatibility with the thin sheet metal construction of the duct system.
Solution Approach 2:
The support element's wall thickness is specifically optimized to be between 0.3 mm and 0.8 mm, which is sufficient to provide structural support while remaining thin enough to match the overall thin-sheet-metal construction philosophy of the duct system. This parameter optimization balances support effectiveness with material minimization.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a flat duct connector (1) for a flat duct (100), comprising a first and a second flat duct connection (2) which are connected to each other via a pipe section (3), characterized in that both the pipe section (3) and the two flat duct connections (2) are made of thin sheet metal and a support element (4) is arranged in the cross-section of the pipe section (3) which supports opposing wall sections (5) of the pipe section (3) against each other. A corresponding duct arrangement is further described.