Air Vent Blade Segmentation for Rain Drainage and Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air vents are noisy, inefficient in rain protection, and experience significant pressure drops due to angled blades, allowing rain to enter and causing uneven airflow, while lacking effective drainage mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The design features blades with a first substantially flat portion followed by a ridge or valley portion, angled to direct air flow and facilitate rain drainage onto the inner perimeter, combined with a slanted mounting configuration to enhance rain protection and reduce noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional angled blades are used in air vents, then rain protection is provided, but noise increases and pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is segmented into multiple portions: a first substantially flat portion forming an initial part of the cross-section, followed by a ridge or valley portion, and optionally a second substantially flat portion forming a final part. This segmentation allows the blade to perform multiple functions - the flat portions minimize noise and pressure drop by allowing smooth airflow, while the ridge/valley portions provide rain protection by directing water along the blade surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the blade have different geometries optimized for different functions. The first flat portion is optimized for minimizing noise and pressure drop in the incoming airflow, while the ridge or valley portion is optimized for rain protection. This local differentiation of blade properties resolves the contradiction between noise reduction and rain protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional angled blades are used in air vents, then rain protection is provided, but pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade cross-section is segmented into distinct portions with different geometries. The substantially flat portions allow airflow to pass through with minimal resistance and pressure drop, while the ridge or valley portions provide the necessary rain protection. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between energy efficiency and rain protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade has locally optimized geometry where flat portions minimize pressure drop by allowing smooth airflow, while ridge/valley portions locally provide rain protection. This local quality differentiation allows the blade to protect against rain without significantly increasing pressure drop across the entire vent.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If flat blades are used in air vents, then noise is reduced and pressure drop is reduced, but rain protection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a completely flat blade, the invention segments the blade cross-section into flat portions (for noise and pressure drop reduction) and ridge/valley portions (for rain protection). This segmentation allows the blade to simultaneously achieve low noise, low pressure drop, and effective rain protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade combines locally flat portions (optimized for noise and pressure drop) with locally ridged or valleted portions (optimized for rain protection). This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between minimizing noise/pressure drop and maximizing rain protection.
4Productivity
If blades are separated far apart, then airflow is improved, but rain ingress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade design segments the protection function from the airflow function. The flat portions of adjacent blades can be spaced farther apart to improve airflow, while the ridge or valley portions provide rain protection even when blades are separated. This segmentation allows independent optimization of airflow and rain protection.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the blade structure serve different purposes: the flat portions allow for greater blade separation to improve airflow, while the ridge or valley portions maintain rain protection capability. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between airflow and rain protection.
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
This configuration significantly reduces noise, pressure drop, and rain ingress, while allowing for efficient water drainage, providing better rain protection and airflow compared to traditional vents.
Implementation Method 1
the first substantially flat portion is at least partly separated from the inner perimeter by an opening allowing water to drain from the first substantially flat portion onto the inner perimeter
Implementation Method 2
blades that are not flat, but have a flat portion followed by a ridge or valley portion
Implementation Method 3
The vent is slanted away from the surface normal by an angle of at least 10 degrees
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention provides a rain-resistant vent. The vent comprises a support frame having an inner perimeter; a set of blades arranged in an array, a first end of each blade being attached to a corresponding first part of the frame, a second end of each blade being attached to a corresponding second part of the frame, a first substantially flat portion forming an initial part of a cross-section of each blade, and the first substantially flat portion is followed by a ridge or valley portion, and at the first end of each blade the first substantially flat portion is at least partly separated from the inner perimeter by an opening allowing water to drain from the first substantially flat portion onto the inner perimeter. A vent kit is also provided.