Foam-Layer Ventilation Hose With Helix Reinforcement

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ventilation hoses struggle to balance flexibility, insulation, and mechanical stability, often compromising one property for the sake of another, failing to meet the diverse requirements of being sufficiently flexible, thermally and acoustically insulating, and resistant to mechanical stress.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation hose with a foam layer based on polymeric plastic foam, where the foam layer constitutes at least 60% of the hose wall thickness, combined with a reinforcing coil embedded over its entire cross-sectional circumference, providing a compromise between flexibility, insulation, and mechanical stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the insulating effect of the hose assemblies is improved, then thermal and acoustic insulation performance increases, but flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulating effectVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hose wall is constructed as a composite structure with at least two different materials: a flexible base material providing bendability and a foam material providing insulation. This composite approach allows both flexibility and insulating effect to coexist without compromising either property.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the hose wall have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The foam material is distributed in specific proportions (at least 10% by cross-sectional area and at least 20% by radial thickness) to provide insulation where needed, while the flexible base material maintains overall hose flexibility. This localized material distribution resolves the contradiction between insulation and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the flexibility of the hose assemblies is increased, then ease of installation improves, but insulating effect and mechanical stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidinsulating effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hose wall is constructed as a composite structure with at least two different materials: a flexible base material providing bendability and a foam material providing insulation. This composite approach allows both flexibility and insulating effect to coexist without compromising either property.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the foam material distribution: at least 10% by cross-sectional area and at least 20% by radial thickness. By controlling these parameters, the hose achieves optimal balance between flexibility and insulation, preventing deterioration of either property.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the insulating effect of the hose assemblies is improved, then thermal and acoustic insulation performance increases, but mechanical stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulating effectVSAvoidmechanical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The hose wall is constructed as a composite structure with at least two different materials: a flexible base material providing mechanical stability and a foam material providing insulation. This composite approach allows both insulation and mechanical stability to coexist without compromising either property.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the hose wall have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The foam material is distributed in specific proportions (at least 10% by cross-sectional area and at least 20% by radial thickness) to provide insulation where needed, while the flexible base material maintains overall mechanical stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution achieves a high level of thermal and acoustic insulation while maintaining sufficient flexibility and mechanical resistance, optimizing individual properties without compromising others, thus meeting the stringent requirements of ventilation hoses.

Implementation Method 1

the hose assemblies or ventilation hoses have an insulating effect, particularly a thermal and/or acoustic insulation effect

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

the hose assemblies or ventilation hoses have an insulating effect, particularly a thermal and/or acoustic insulation effect

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic insulation: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentEP3640004B1Flexible hose and method for manufacturing same

Publication Date: 2023.11.15 OCONO RUHRKUNSTSTOFF GMBH DE

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AI summary

Hose (1) - in particular a ventilation hose - for guiding a fluid medium, with a hose wall (2) and a fluid channel (3) surrounded by the hose wall (2), wherein the hose wall (2) has at least one foam layer (4) based on at least one polymeric plastic foam, wherein the proportion of the radial thickness (ds) of the foam layer (4) to the radial wall thickness (d) of the hose wall (2) is at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, and wherein the hose (1) has at least one reinforcing helix (5) which is embedded at least partially in the hose wall (2) with respect to its cross-sectional circumference, preferably in the at least one foam layer (4) of the hose wall (2).