Range Hood Volute Casing With Switchable Low-Loss Air Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Range hoods with multiple air vents suffer from significant air volume and pressure loss, reduced fan wheel efficiency, and increased noise due to the orthogonal discharge of air streams, which necessitate a more efficient airflow management system.
Innovation Solution
A range hood design featuring a volute casing with a movable outer switching cover plate that adjusts the discharge direction of air vents, reducing the angle of air stream deflection and incorporating a drainage slope to minimize airflow loss and noise, while maintaining high fan efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If air vents are arranged with orthogonal opening directions to connect with air vent flues in different positions, then the range hood becomes more versatile in discharge positions, but air volume and air pressure are significantly lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable switching cover plate that can dynamically change position to switch between different air vent discharge modes. This dynamic component allows the system to adapt to different installation requirements while maintaining optimal airflow characteristics for each mode, thereby preserving air volume and pressure despite the versatility provided by multiple discharge positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the airflow parameters by adjusting the discharge angle through the movable switching cover plate. By optimizing the discharge angle to be less than 90 degrees relative to the air outlet, the system maintains better airflow momentum and reduces energy loss while still providing adaptability to different discharge positions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If air is discharged through the upper air vent with 90-degree deflection, then the range hood can discharge air vertically, but the air stream loses volume and pressure due to the sharp turn
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the discharge angle parameter by designing the switching cover plate to create an angle less than 90 degrees between the air outlet and the upper air vent. This parameter change reduces the sharpness of the airflow turn, thereby maintaining air volume and pressure while still enabling vertical discharge capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If orthogonal air vents are used to discharge air in different directions, then the range hood can serve multiple discharge configurations, but fan wheel efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The movable switching cover plate acts as a dynamic flow guide that optimizes the airflow path for each discharge mode. By dynamically adjusting the cover plate position, the system maintains better alignment between the fan wheel output and the air vent direction, reducing turbulence and improving fan wheel efficiency while preserving configuration flexibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If 90-degree air stream deflection is implemented for orthogonal vent discharge, then multiple discharge positions are accessible, but aerodynamic noise increases due to vortex formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the airflow deflection angle parameter from 90 degrees to an angle less than 90 degrees by positioning the switching cover plate at an optimized angle. This parameter change reduces the intensity of vortex formation and associated aerodynamic noise while still providing access to multiple discharge positions through the movable cover plate mechanism.
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 solution results in reduced air volume and pressure loss, improved fan wheel efficiency, and decreased aerodynamic noise by preventing 90-degree air stream deflection and forming a drainage slope to guide airflow effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a volute casing disposed within the housing, and including a volute casing body having a bottom plate, a top plate and a side encasing plate disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate, the volute casing body defining an outer air outlet
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a drainage slope to minimize airflow loss and noise, while maintaining high fan efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A range hood includes a housing defining a first outer air vent and a second outer air vent; a volute casing disposed within the housing, including a volute casing body having a bottom plate, a top plate and a side encasing plate disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate, the volute casing body defining an outer air outlet communicated with the first outer air vent and the second outer air vent, an opening direction of the outer air outlet being orthogonal to that of the second outer air vent; a fan wheel disposed within the volute casing body; and an outer switching cover plate movable between a first position, in which the first outer air vent is opened and the second outer air vent is closed, and a second position, in which the first outer air vent is closed and the second outer air vent is opened.