Suspended Ducting Installation System with Cable-Driven Guide Rail
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for installing and removing suspended ventilation ducts in industrial buildings are cumbersome and pose a risk of accidents due to the use of lifting gear, particularly in environments that require frequent cleaning and reassembly, such as agri-food facilities and cheese dairies where ducts need to be dismantled regularly.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a drive unit, return unit, and connector guide rail with a loop drive mechanism for suspending and tensioning flexible ducts under ceilings, utilizing pulleys, hooks, and wedging mechanisms to facilitate easy installation and removal, with an optional electric motor for reduced operator fatigue and automatic unhooking of connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lifting equipment is used to install and remove ducts, then the ducts can be suspended and positioned, but the risk of accidents increases and the operation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual lifting equipment with an automated cable-driven mechanical system. The cable (130) runs through guide rails (120) and is controlled by a winch mechanism, eliminating the need for operators to manually handle heavy ducts with lifting gear. This substitution reduces accident risks while maintaining positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service installation and removal through the automated cable mechanism. Operators simply control the winch to move ducts into position, and the system's own mechanical components (cable, guide rails, connectors) perform the heavy lifting and positioning tasks without requiring external lifting equipment or complex manual operations.
2Reliability
If ducts are frequently dismantled for cleaning in agri-food facilities, then hygiene requirements are met, but the time and effort required for reassembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms the static installation process into a dynamic, reversible operation. The cable-driven mechanism with controllable winch allows ducts to be quickly raised and lowered for cleaning, then rapidly reinstalled by reversing the winch operation. This dynamic capability significantly reduces reassembly time compared to conventional fixed installation methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rails (120) and cable system (130) are pre-installed in the ceiling structure before duct cleaning is needed. This preliminary preparation ensures that when cleaning time arrives, the ducts can be immediately removed and reinstalled using the existing infrastructure, eliminating the need for time-consuming re-preparation work.
3Strength
If manual attachment of connectors to cables is performed, then connectors can be secured to suspend ducts, but the operation becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual connector attachment with an automated cable-driven system. The cable (130) is mechanically tensioned through the winch mechanism to automatically secure connectors to suspension points, eliminating time-consuming manual fastening operations while maintaining strong suspension capability through controlled mechanical tensioning.
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
Enables quick and safe assembly and disassembly of flexible ducts, minimizing the risk of accidents by maintaining the lifting device in a fixed position and allowing for efficient diffusion of treated air within the building enclosure.
Implementation Method 1
a drive pulley for a first strand of said cable through the guide rail to drive the connectors in it
Implementation Method 2
a wedging means intended to laterally wedging said connector on a corresponding socket
Implementation Method 3
the return housing comprising a return pulley for the other strand of said cable (Cb) along said guide rail (Rg)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system intended to be fixed under the ceiling (Pf) of a building in order to lay flexible ducting (Gs) under the said ceiling and set the said ducting, the said flexible ducting (Gs) being of the type comprising connectors (Cn) for hanging it. According to the invention, the said system comprises: – a drive unit (Bt), – a return unit (Bv), – a guide rail (Rg), connectors connecting the drive unit (Bt) to the return unit (Bv), the drive unit (Bt) comprising a mechanism (Mt) for driving, in a loop, a suspension cable (Cb) for the connectors (Cn), the said mechanism (Mt) comprising a pulley (P1) driving a first strand (B1) of the said cable (Cb) via the guide rail (Rg) in order to drive the connectors (Cn) along same, a driver (En) designed to cause the said pulley to turn, the return unit (Bv) comprising a return pulley (P3) for returning the other strand (B2) of the said cable (Cb), the cable (Cb) being provided at regular intervals with bushings (D1), each connector (Cn) comprising a fixing means (Mf) including a catching means intended to hang the said connector off the cable and a clamping means intended to clamp the said connector laterally to a corresponding bushing (D1).