Ventilation duct element, ventilation duct and method for producing a ventilation duct element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation ducts are heavy and costly due to thick walls for rigidity and resonance vibration prevention, which is disadvantageous in terms of material and weight, and do not effectively manage noise conduction and radiation.
Innovation Solution
Ventilation duct elements are formed from macrostructured sheet metal, such as curved or dented sheet metal, which are then folded to create a circumferentially closed structure, reducing material and weight while incorporating non-periodic structuring and sound-absorbing coatings to minimize vibrations and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thick walls are used for ventilation ducts, then rigidity and resonance vibration prevention are improved, but material costs and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies convex structuring to the sheet metal surface, creating curved macrostructures that inherently increase rigidity. The convex shapes act as structural reinforcements, allowing thinner walls to achieve the same rigidity as thicker flat walls, thereby reducing weight while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface geometry parameter by introducing macrostructured convex patterns. This parameter change transforms the flat sheet metal into a three-dimensional structured surface, fundamentally altering the mechanical properties to achieve higher rigidity-to-weight ratio without changing the material itself.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If thick walls are used for ventilation ducts, then resonance vibration prevention is improved, but material expenditure and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The convex macrostructures create a non-flat surface that disrupts resonant vibration patterns. The curved geometries scatter and dampen vibrations, preventing resonance without requiring excessive material thickness, thus reducing material expenditure while effectively controlling harmful vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of thin-walled structures (which are prone to vibrations) into a benefit by using convex structuring. The same structuring that reduces material usage also serves as vibration damping, transforming what would be a weakness into a strength.
3Weight of moving object
If thin sheet metal is used for ventilation ducts, then material costs and weight are reduced, but rigidity and vibration control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By forming convex macrostructures on thin sheet metal, the patent creates three-dimensional shapes that inherently possess higher rigidity than flat surfaces of the same thickness. This allows the use of thin materials while achieving the rigidity of much thicker flat walls, thus reducing weight without sacrificing structural strength.
4Quantity of substance
If thin sheet metal is used for ventilation ducts, then material costs are reduced, but resonance vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The convex macrostructures on thin sheet metal serve dual purposes: they maintain structural integrity with minimal material and simultaneously act as vibration-damping elements. The three-dimensional curved surfaces disrupt resonant patterns, preventing the harmful vibrations that would otherwise occur in thin-walled structures.
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 approach reduces material and weight costs while preventing unpleasant resonance vibrations and noise conduction, enhancing the structural stability and acoustic performance of ventilation ducts.
Implementation Method 1
Macrostructuring, especially through bulging or warping, can save material and therefore weight and costs. At the same time, vibration and thus the conduction and radiation of structure-borne noise can be reduced.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A ventilation duct element (1) made of sheet metal is proposed, the sheet metal being formed into a fully enclosed, tubular body. This ventilation duct element (1) is characterized by the fact that the sheet metal is designed as a macrostructured material, in particular as a convex or bulged sheet metal panel, and has a corresponding structuring (5). Furthermore, a ventilation duct composed of such a ventilation duct element (1) and a method for manufacturing the ventilation duct element (1) are proposed.