Telescopic Chimney Pipe Connector for Variable Fireplace Heights

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Solution Overview

Problem

The diverse designs and dimensions of fireplaces result in non-standardized positions for air supply and exhaust gas connections, necessitating exact dimension knowledge or adapter devices for chimney pipe installation, particularly complicating the adjustment of supply air connections located near the floor.

Innovation Solution

A connection base with a height-adjustable air inlet connector, featuring a telescopic connecting pipe element and a spiral guide device, allowing the air inlet connector to be raised or lowered relative to the base element, and a cover sleeve for gas-tight closure, enabling flexible positioning of the air supply socket from a few centimeters above the floor to several decimeters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed-position air inlet connector is used in conventional chimney systems, then the installation structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate diverse fireplace connection positions particularly when supply air connections are located near the floor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to diverse fireplace connection positionsVSAvoidcomplexity of connection base structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air inlet connector is made dynamically adjustable through a telescopic connection mechanism with a connecting pipe element that can slide axially within the base element. This allows the connector position to be dynamically changed to match diverse fireplace connection positions, particularly for supply air connections near the floor, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection base is segmented into multiple functional elements: a base element, a telescopic connecting pipe element, and an air inlet connector. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the connector position while keeping each component structurally simple, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If exact dimensions of fireplace connections are known in advance, then adapter devices are not needed, but precise measurement and planning are required before installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installation without adaptersVSAvoidtime for measurement and planning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The connection base is designed with preliminary adjustable features including the telescopic connecting pipe element and height-adjustable air inlet connector. These preliminary design features allow installation personnel to adjust the connection position during installation without needing to perform precise measurements and calculations in advance, reducing planning time while eliminating the need for adapter devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the air inlet connector position is fixed during manufacturing, then production is simple and cost-effective, but field adjustment is impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of field adjustmentVSAvoidease of manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The air inlet connector incorporates a telescopic connecting pipe element with sliding capability and axial play, enabling field adjustment of the connector position. The mechanism includes a spiral guide device for height adjustment and a locking mechanism to secure the adjusted position. This dynamic design allows easy field adjustment while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes for each component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2851617B1Connecting foot for a chimney pipe and adjusting method
Publication Date: 2017.04.19 SCHIEDEL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2851617B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2851617B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c
  • EP2851617B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Connection base for a chimney pipe, comprising an air supply pipe (12) for supplying air and an air supply nozzle (44) opening laterally into the air supply pipe (12) for connecting an air supply line (82) of a fireplace (80), characterized in that the air supply pipe (12) has a tubular base element (20) with a base area (28) for supporting it on a floor surface and a connecting pipe element (40) that is telescopic relative to the base element (20), on which the air supply nozzle (44) is formed.