Foam Intake Housing with Configurable Air Guide Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heaters with fixed intake manifolds are limited in their effectiveness across a range of operating parameters, requiring multiple intake pipes for adaptation, increasing complexity and cost, and necessitating additional components.
Innovation Solution
A modular intake system with a divided outer housing containing a cavity that can be configured with air guiding elements of varying lengths, allowing for easy adjustment without replacing the intake pipe, using foam material for the housing and elements, and integrating insulating means for form-fitting assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed-dimension intake pipe is used, then the acoustic performance is optimized within a limited range of operating parameters, but the adaptability to different operating conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intake system incorporates adjustable flow channel configurations within the foam material housing, allowing the acoustic characteristics to be dynamically adapted to different operating parameters while maintaining optimal performance across varying conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple intake pipes are provided for different operating conditions, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single foam material housing structure serves multiple functions by incorporating adjustable flow channels that can be configured for different operating conditions, eliminating the need for multiple separate intake pipes while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The flow channel adjustments are nested within the foam material housing structure, allowing multiple configuration options to be integrated into a single unified component rather than requiring separate intake pipes for each configuration
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are added to the heating unit for intake system adaptation, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intake system adaptation capabilities are merged directly into the foam material housing structure of the heating unit, combining the functions of acoustic optimization and adaptability adjustment within the existing housing rather than adding separate components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables preconfiguration for specific purposes and in-situ adjustments, reducing noise emissions and complexity by allowing flexible configuration of flow channels without additional components, improving acoustic performance and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
intake pipes are generally known for acoustically detuning the combustion system and thus reducing noise emissions
Implementation Method 2
the waste heat from the pump is used to preheat the combustion air by passing the heat transfer medium past the pump and thus absorbing the waste heat
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6
AI summary
The invention relates to a heating appliance 1 with a blower 3 for supplying combustion air to a burner 5, and with an intake system 6 which is arranged upstream of the blower for guiding the combustion air. The intake system 6 comprises an intake system outer housing 7 with a flow channel 8 arranged therein. According to the invention, the intake system outer housing 7 is divided and has a cavity in which the flow channel 8 can be shaped in different ways by means of air guide elements, through which the combustion air can be guided to the blower 3.