Roof vent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roof vents are ineffective in preventing the infiltration of snow, water droplets, and other undesirable elements into the attic space during snowstorms and similar conditions.
Innovation Solution
A roof vent design featuring a flange portion, a frame portion, and a corrugated filter plate that allows air passage while blocking larger particles, such as snow and water droplets, by positioning the corrugated filter plate transversely between the cap and the flange portion, with a pore size optimized for air flow and particle exclusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a roof vent uses open vanes, grates and louvers to permit air channeling, then air ventilation is facilitated, but rain and snow particles can infiltrate into the attic space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous filter material with specific pore size (e.g., 120 microns) that allows air molecules to pass through while blocking larger snow particles and water droplets. This porous structure enables the vent to maintain high air ventilation efficiency while preventing harmful infiltration during snowstorms
Solution Approach 2:
The filter material acts as an intermediary element positioned between the open vanes/grates and the attic space. It mediates the airflow by allowing air to pass while intercepting and blocking snow particles and water droplets, thus resolving the contradiction between ventilation and protection
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the filter pore size is reduced to block smaller particles, then particle blocking capability is improved, but air passage is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pore size parameter of the filter material to approximately 120 microns, which is large enough to allow efficient air passage but small enough to block snow particles and water droplets. This precise parameter selection resolves the contradiction between particle blocking and air flow efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a corrugated or pleated filter structure that increases the surface area of the filter material. This curved/pleated configuration provides more filtering surface area within the same space, enhancing particle blocking capability while maintaining air passage efficiency
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 design ensures adequate attic ventilation while effectively inhibiting the entry of snow and other undesirable elements, maintaining a dry and insulated attic space.
Implementation Method 1
a corrugated filter plate providing for a passage of air between the atmosphere and the opening, the corrugated filter plate having a pore size sufficient for facilitating the air passage of air through the corrugated filter plate while blocking passage of atmospheric particles through the corrugated filter plate
Data Source
AI summary
A roof vent for ventilating the roof of a building to the atmosphere. The roof vent includes a flange portion to lay against the roof, the flange portion having an opening to let air vent from the interior of the building (e.g. an attic). The roof vent can optionally include a collar portion extending from the flange portion and enclosing, at least in part, about a periphery of the opening and a cap dimensioned and configured to cover over the opening (including the hole in the roof) and optionally over the collar portion. The cap is configured to provide a passage (between the flange portion and the cap) through which air can pass between the atmosphere and the opening. The roof vent also includes a corrugated filter plate, e.g. partially enclosed by the cap, and interposed between the central opening and the passage, the corrugated filter plate having a pore size sufficient to permit air to pass through but inhibit the passage of snow particles, cinder particles and/or water droplets there-through.