Parallel-walled ventilation duct assembly with integrated low-profile subducts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventilation systems face challenges in the on-site installation of subducts into rectangular main shafts, which is labor intensive, costly, and often non-compliant with building codes, especially for hot exhaust ventilation systems.
Innovation Solution
A parallel-walled ventilation duct assembly with integrated low-profile subducts is proposed, where the subducts are integrated into the walls of the main shaft body, optimizing space usage and eliminating the need for additional strapping or guides, thus simplifying installation and ensuring compliance with fire-safety codes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If subducts are installed on-site into rectangular main shafts using traditional methods, then the ventilation system can be assembled, but the installation becomes labor intensive, costly, and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The subducts are pre-integrated into the main shaft body during manufacturing, eliminating the need for on-site installation of subducts into the main shaft. This preliminary integration resolves the technical contradiction by making the ventilation system easier to manufacture and install while reducing installation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The subducts and main shaft body are merged into a single integrated structure, where the subducts become an inherent part of the main shaft body. This merging eliminates the need for separate installation steps and reduces overall system complexity
2Ease of operation
If round subducts are installed into rectangular main shafts, then exhaust can be routed, but strapping and guides are required making installation difficult and labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The subducts are designed with a rectangular cross-section that matches the rectangular geometry of the main shaft body, creating a local geometric compatibility that eliminates the need for strapping and guides. This local quality match resolves the contradiction by making installation easier and faster
3Reliability
If on-site construction techniques are used with strapping and guides, then subducts can be secured, but building code compliance is compromised due to obstructions in hot exhaust systems
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of subducts into the main shaft body is performed preliminarily during manufacturing under controlled conditions, ensuring that no obstructions like strapping or guides are introduced into the hot exhaust system. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining code compliance while preserving ease of installation
Solution Approach 2:
The problematic elements (strapping, guides, screws) are extracted from the final assembled structure by integrating the subducts monolithically into the main shaft body during manufacturing. This extraction eliminates code violations while maintaining installation simplicity
4Ease of manufacture
If a round main shaft is used, then integrated subducts can be provided, but more space is consumed within the installation area
Solution Approach 1:
The main shaft body uses a rectangular cross-section instead of a round one, creating an asymmetric geometry that efficiently utilizes the available installation space. This asymmetric design resolves the contradiction by maintaining integrated subducts while reducing the space consumed within the wall cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A parallel-walled ventilation duct assembly with integrated low-profile subducts, and/or methods of manufacturing the assembly are provided. The assembly of embodiments includes a main shaft body defined by at least one wall surrounding an interior cavity and at least one low-profile subduct disposed within the interior cavity. The cross-sectional area of the main shaft body has a rectangular or an obround shape. The low-profile subduct includes an interior channel defined by a plurality of walls. The low-profile subduct is integrated into at least one wall of the main shaft body such that at least one wall of the plurality of walls of the low-profile subduct includes at least a portion of an interior surface of the at least one wall of the main shaft body, and the portion of the interior surface of the at least one wall includes a flat portion of the interior surface.