Fresh Air Valve Cover Plate with Integrated Stringer and Snap-Fit Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fresh air valves face issues with fragile and complex locking mechanisms, difficult assembly, dirt jamming, expensive construction, and poor insulating abilities leading to condensation problems.
Innovation Solution
A robust and strong cover plate with an integrated aluminum stringer and co-injected seal, combined with a simple and independent locking mechanism that physically locks the cover plate to the housing, ensuring a tight seal and easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is used to secure the cover plate, then the cover plate can be held in position, but the locking mechanism becomes complicated and fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex locking mechanism entirely and replaces it with a simple snap-fit arrangement where the cover plate's peripheral flange engages directly with the housing's peripheral groove. This extraction of the locking mechanism eliminates complexity and fragility while maintaining the cover plate's secured position through the elastic deformation and recovery of the flange material.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover plate's peripheral flange serves its own locking function through elastic deformation. When the cover plate is inserted, the flange elastically deforms to engage with the housing groove, and then elastically recovers to maintain the locked position. This self-service elastic locking eliminates the need for separate locking components, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable securing.
2Reliability
If a complex locking mechanism is used, then the cover plate can be secured, but assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the complex locking mechanism and replacing it with a simple snap-fit arrangement, the assembly process becomes straightforward. The cover plate is simply inserted into the housing, and the peripheral flange automatically engages with the peripheral groove through elastic deformation, eliminating the need for complex assembly steps involving separate locking components.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic peripheral flange automatically performs the locking function during assembly through its own elastic deformation and recovery. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate locking components and complex assembly procedures, making the assembly process simple and straightforward while ensuring reliable cover plate securing.
3Reliability
If traditional seal arrangements are used, then sealing can be achieved, but the construction becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function with the structural peripheral flange and groove arrangement. The seal element is integrated into the snap-fit connection system, where the flange's engagement with the groove simultaneously provides both mechanical locking and sealing. This merging of sealing with the structural connection eliminates the need for separate complex seal arrangements, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining reliable sealing.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
A fresh air valve (1) which comprises an elongated housing (2) with an elongated slot shaped through flow opening (21) for building into elongated slot shaped openings in walls or frames, for example window frames and an elongated cover plate (3) which is displaceably arranged in the elongated housing to be displaceable between two positions, a closed position in which the through flow opening is closed and an open position in which the through flow opening is at least partially open. Wherein the elongated cover plate comprises an elongated stringer element (32) made from a first material and extending along the longitudinal axis of the elongated cover plate, and an outer shell (33) comprising a material different from the first material, said outer shell being arranged to envelope the stringer element within the outer shell such that the material of the outer shell physically locks the stringer to the outer shell, and said first material having a higher modulus of elasticity than the material of the outer shell. In this way, a cover element is provided which is robust and easy to manufacture.