Pressure-Responsive Door Seal for Ventilation and Noise Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door seals face a challenge in balancing air permeability for ventilation with soundproofing, as they often allow air to pass through in both directions, which is not suitable for central ventilation systems where directional airflow is required.

Innovation Solution

A seal with a flexible sealant that automatically opens an air passage only when there is a pressure drop from the supply air room to the exhaust air room, using an elastomeric sealing lip or blade, and a mechanism that adjusts the air passage opening based on pressure differences, ensuring adequate ventilation while minimizing noise and soundproofing when ventilation is not needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If the seal housing is inserted into the outer rail with a gap to allow bidirectional air flow for ventilation, then air permeability is improved, but soundproofing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair permeabilityVSAvoidsoundproofing
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant is designed to dynamically change its position based on pressure differential. When positive pressure differential occurs (supply air room to exhaust air room), the sealant moves to release the air passage opening for ventilation. When negative pressure differential or equal pressure occurs, the sealant returns to block the opening for soundproofing. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between air permeability and soundproofing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The seal system changes the parameter of air passage opening state (open/closed) based on pressure differential conditions. The sealant's position and the air passage opening's cross-sectional area are adjusted according to the pressure drop magnitude, allowing the system to optimize between ventilation efficiency and sound isolation depending on operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the seal allows bidirectional air flow through the housing gap, then ventilation functionality is improved, but noise protection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation efficiencyVSAvoidnoise protection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant acts as an intermediary element between the air passage opening and the external environment. It selectively mediates air flow based on pressure conditions, allowing air to pass when pressure differential favors ventilation while blocking air and sound when pressure conditions indicate no ventilation need or reverse flow risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the sealant is made flexible and movably attached to allow automatic opening, then air passage control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure-responsive controlVSAvoidseal mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal system is designed to be self-regulating through the pressure differential itself. The pressure difference between supply air room and exhaust air room directly acts on the sealant to open or close the air passage, eliminating the need for external sensors, actuators, or control systems. The flexible sealant's natural movement in response to pressure changes provides automatic control while maintaining simple construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 seal allows sufficient airflow from supply air rooms to exhaust air rooms for central ventilation systems while preventing noise and air passage in the opposite direction, thus achieving effective noise protection and efficient ventilation.

Implementation Method 1

releases the air passage opening when there is a pressure drop from the first side of the seal to the second side of the seal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure drop: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

an elastomeric sealing lip or blade

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2921634B1Seal for doors for sealing an air gap between a door wing on the one hand and a door frame, a floor, a ceiling, a lintel or the like on the other hand
Publication Date: 2018.05.16 ATHMER
  • EP2921634B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2921634B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7
  • EP2921634B1 patent drawingFigure 8~13

AI summary

Seal for doors for sealing an air gap between a door leaf (T) on the one hand and a door frame, a door threshold (S), a floor (B), a ceiling, a lintel or the like on the other, wherein the seal comprises a sealing agent (7), wherein the sealing agent is movably guided in a guide or movably mounted in a bearing and/or is flexible, so that, in the event of a pressure gradient from a first side of the seal to a second side of the seal, the sealing agent opens an air passage opening (L) formed wholly or partially by the seal between the first side and the second side of the seal, while, in the event of a reverse pressure gradient, the sealing agent (7) blocks the air passage opening (L).