Foldable Fiber Ventilation Duct for Adjustable Installation Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ducts with quadrangular cross sections are inflexible in terms of construction height adjustment, prone to turbulence during flow control, and difficult to manufacture and install cost-effectively, especially when trying to reduce height for space optimization or fireproofing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating longitudinal folding lines in opposite side walls to adjust the cross section from quadrangular to hexagonal, allowing for adjustable height, reduced installation dimensions, and turbulence-free flow control, while maintaining self-supporting and flexible properties using fiber material with a small binder content and a sealing layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the duct is made with a fixed quadrangular cross section to maintain structural stability, then the duct is self-supporting and shape-stable, but the construction height cannot be adjusted to fit available space
Solution Approach 1:
The duct incorporates longitudinal folding lines that enable the cross-section to dynamically change from quadrangular to hexagonal shape. This dynamic structure allows the duct to adjust its construction height while maintaining structural integrity through controlled deformation along the folding lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct wall is segmented into different functional zones: hinge parts with folding lines for shape transformation, stiffening parts for structural support, and relatively soft parts for flexibility. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of shape stability and adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If internal dampers or pressure-reducing flaps are added to control flow, then flow control is achieved, but turbulence and noise are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical flow control devices (dampers, flaps) with a geometric flow control mechanism. By changing the duct's cross-sectional shape from quadrangular to hexagonal, the flow area is controlled geometrically without moving parts, eliminating turbulence and noise associated with mechanical flow control devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the duct is compressed to reduce construction height, then space optimization is achieved, but the duct crumples and is destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The duct is designed with controlled dynamic compression capability through longitudinal folding lines. When compressed, the duct transforms its cross-section from quadrangular to hexagonal in a controlled manner along the folding lines, preventing random crumpling and maintaining structural integrity during height reduction.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the duct is made from sheet metal to allow compression, then construction height can be reduced, but the duct loses self-supporting properties and flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The duct uses a composite structure combining fiber material (for flexibility and self-supporting properties) with strategically placed stiffening parts (for structural integrity during compression). This composite approach enables both height adjustment and maintenance of self-supporting characteristics, unlike sheet metal which lacks flexibility.
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 adjustable construction height, reduced installation dimensions, and turbulence-free flow control, while maintaining self-supporting and flexible properties, making the duct suitable for various applications including fireproofing and easy installation.
Implementation Method 1
The duct is produced from a compressed fiber material with a smaller admixture of binder... the shape of the longitudinal bending lines of the duct... are such that the duct has a substantially square cross section in the unloaded state
Implementation Method 2
The duct is also flexible to a limited degree owing to the presence of the relatively soft parts in the walls
Implementation Method 3
The duct has a substantially square cross section in the unloaded state and is self-supporting over great lengths up to 2-3 m
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A ventilation duct is produced from a fiber material and has a quadrangular, open and self-supporting cross section that can be compressed to a flat state by the presence of bending lines (5, 6) in the corner areas of the duct. The walls (1-4) of the duct have transverse relatively soft parts (7), stiffening parts (8) and likewise transverse hinge parts (9), all made from the fiber material of the duct. In order to be able to change the construction height of the duct, the cross-sectional shape can be converted from quadrangular to hexagonal owing to the fact that the two opposite walls (3, 4) have longitudinal folding lines (10). To keep the duct in its hexagonal shape it has a number of external or internal shape-holding elements (11) that can also be fastening or suspension means to the duct.