Under Deck Drainage Slope and Ventilation Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deck drainage systems face issues with airflow restriction due to trim covering, leading to moisture accumulation and structural degradation of deck stringers, and lack an effective ventilation system for drying.
Innovation Solution
An under deck drainage system with rail members increasing in thickness for proper slope and a ventilation panel mounted around the perimeter to facilitate airflow and conceal the system, allowing for efficient water drainage and drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If trim covering is used to conceal the drainage system, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but airflow is restricted causing moisture accumulation and structural degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation panel is designed with differentiated regions: a ventilation portion with openings in the upper region to allow airflow, and a hem portion extending downward to provide concealment. This local differentiation allows different parts of the same component to serve different functions - airflow passage and aesthetic coverage - simultaneously resolving the contradiction between concealment and ventilation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the drainage system is fully concealed to improve aesthetics, then visual appeal is enhanced, but ventilation access is blocked preventing effective drying
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation panel extends vertically with the hem portion dropping below the level of adjacent decking members. This vertical dimensionality allows the panel to provide full aesthetic concealment from the front view while the upper ventilation portion remains accessible for airflow. The solution moves the concealment function to a lower vertical dimension, preserving the upper dimension for ventilation.
3Productivity
If rail members are increased in thickness to provide proper slope for drainage, then water drainage efficiency is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rail members are designed with varying thicknesses - thicker at the proximal end and progressively thinner toward the distal end. This parameter change in cross-sectional dimension creates the necessary slope for water drainage while optimizing material usage. The gradual parameter change provides the drainage slope function without requiring additional complex components or systems.
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 system effectively drains water away from the deck structure while providing adequate ventilation to prevent structural degradation and maintaining a visually appealing aesthetic.
Implementation Method 1
provide an adequate supply of air to the system for drying water therefrom
Implementation Method 2
The slope of the water collection members is established by the shape of the formed water collection members which has a deeper profile at the distal end of the deck structure than at the proximal end next to the building structure
Data Source
AI summary
An under deck drainage system is mounted on rail members connected to the bottom of deck stringers in a transverse orientation thereto. The rail members increase incrementally in thickness from the proximal end of the deck to the distal end of the deck where the water is discharged from the under deck drainage system so as to provide proper slope for the drainage of water by the under deck drainage system. A ventilation panel is mounted to the periphery of the deck to enclose the under deck drainage system yet provide an adequate supply of air to the system for drying water therefrom. The ventilation panel is formed with a ventilation portion that is located below the level of the deck stringers, and with a hem portion that has sufficient length to cover the under deck drainage system from view even at the distal end of the deck.