Heat exchange ventilation device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heat exchange ventilation devices with rectangular ducts at interior-side inlet ports face challenges in maintaining a compact size and simple structure due to the complexity of existing air passage switching devices.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a dual air passage switching mechanism with rotational shafts, featuring a first air-passage switching unit with a plate that opens and closes the first discharge air passage and a second air-passage switching unit with a plate that controls the second discharge air passage, allowing for efficient switching between discharge and bypass air passages without increasing size or complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single air-passage switching plate is used to switch between air passages, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot be applied to heat exchange ventilation devices with rectangular ducts at inlet ports without increasing size and structural complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to rectangular duct configurationVSAvoidair passage switching device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air passage switching device is divided into multiple independent switching plates (first switching plate for first discharge air passage, second switching plate for second discharge air passage, third switching plate for second bypass air passage). Each switching plate independently controls a specific air passage, allowing the device to adapt to rectangular duct configurations while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single air-passage switching plate is used to switch between air passages, then the device structure is simple, but the size of the device increases when applied to rectangular duct configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to rectangular duct configurationVSAvoidair passage switching device size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the switching mechanism into multiple smaller switching plates that independently control different air passages, the overall device size is reduced compared to a single large switching plate. The segmented approach allows for more compact arrangement of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The switching plates are arranged in different spatial dimensions and orientations (first switching plate with rotational shaft extending in first direction, second switching plate with rotational shaft extending in second direction perpendicular to first direction). This multi-dimensional arrangement allows efficient space utilization and reduces the overall device footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This configuration enables the heat exchange ventilation device to operate with a rectangular duct inlet port while preventing size and structural complexity issues, allowing for effective air passage management during both heat exchange and normal ventilation modes.

Implementation Method 1

a first air passage switching plate that opens and closes the first discharge air passage and a second air passage switching plate that opens and closes the first bypass air passage as first air-passage switching members, each of which has a rotational shaft extending in a direction parallel to a bottom surface of the heat exchange ventilation device and the first air passage switching plate and the second air passage switching plate rotationally move in conjunction with each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Implementation Method 2

a second air-passage switching unit including a third air passage switching plate that opens and closes the second discharge air passage as a second air-passage switching member having a rotational shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the heat exchange ventilation device and the third air passage switching plate rotates independently from the first and second air-passage switching plates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Implementation Method 3

a heat exchange element through which outside air drawn into the supply airflow passage, and indoor air drawn into the discharge airflow passage flow, heat exchange between the outside air and the indoor air is performed through the heat exchange element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3370003B1Heat exchange ventilation device
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3370003B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3370003B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3370003B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An air passage switching device (18) provided in a heat exchange ventilation device (50) including a discharge air passage (7), and a bypass air passage (19) branching off from the discharge air passage (7), to switch between the discharge air passage (7) and the bypass air passage (19) in the heat exchange ventilation device (50) through which airflow passes, the air passage switching device (18) including a first air-passage switching unit including first air-passage switching members, each of which has a rotational shaft extending in a direction parallel to a bottom surface (1b) of the heat exchange ventilation device (50), and a second air-passage switching unit including a second air-passage switching member having a rotational shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface (1b) of the heat exchange ventilation device (50), wherein the air passage switching device (18) switches between the discharge air passage (7) and the bypass air passage (19) to which air drawn into a casing (1) from a room is directed, in accordance with a rotational position of the first and second air-passage switching members.