Ventilation member and wall material construction structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ventilation systems in exterior wall structures face challenges in maintaining sufficient ventilation and preventing water ingress due to pressure differences and inadequate water tightness, especially as the distance between wall materials increases.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation member with a specific configuration including a fixed plate, top plate, partition plate, bottom plate, and baffle plates is attached to the wall material, ensuring communication between the ventilation layer and the outdoors through strategically placed openings and holes, which helps in maintaining balanced pressure and preventing water entry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If vents are provided only at upper and lower end portions of the wall structure, then ventilation at the ends is improved, but ventilation in the central region of the ventilation layer becomes insufficient and pressure differences occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation effectivenessVSAvoidpressure balance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation member divides the ventilation layer into multiple segmented regions using partition plates. Multiple ventilation holes are distributed across different segments (upper, middle, lower regions), ensuring uniform air distribution and pressure balance throughout the entire ventilation layer, not just at the ends.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a one-dimensional ventilation approach (only at upper and lower ends) to a two-dimensional distribution system. Ventilation holes are arranged in multiple rows and columns across the ventilation member surface, creating a grid-like pattern that provides ventilation across the entire width and height of the ventilation layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If thin wall materials with shiplap portions are used, then ease of joining adjacent wall materials is improved, but water tightness at joining portions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoining easeVSAvoidwater tightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation member acts as an intermediary component between adjacent wall materials. It provides a robust joining structure with thick plates and multiple fastening points,弥补ing the weakness of thin shiplap portions while maintaining the ease of installation benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation member is installed beforehand to provide structural support and water tightness before the thin wall materials are joined. The robust ventilation member structure compensates for the potential water tightness issues of thin shiplap portions in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Length of moving object

If the distance between upper and lower ends of the wall structure increases, then the building height is increased, but ventilation throughout the ventilation layer becomes less effective and pressure differences occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuilding heightVSAvoidventilation uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation member is divided into multiple segments with partition plates creating separate zones. Each segment has its own ventilation holes, allowing independent air flow control and pressure equalization across different height regions, preventing pressure differences in tall structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds a horizontal dimension to ventilation by distributing holes across the width of the ventilation member, not just vertically. This creates multiple air flow paths in both horizontal and vertical directions, ensuring uniform ventilation even in tall buildings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11939764B2Ventilation member and wall material construction structure
Publication Date: 2024.03.26 NICHIHA CORP
  • US11939764B2 patent drawing
  • US11939764B2 patent drawing
  • US11939764B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a ventilation member suitable for ensuring the ventilation of a ventilation layer provided on the back side of a wall material. A ventilation member X according to the present invention is a ventilation member that can be attached to a wall material, and includes a fixed plate portion 10, a top plate portion 20, a partition plate portion 30, a bottom plate portion 40, a front plate portion 50, and a first baffle plate portion 61. The fixed plate portion 10 has a first surface that abuts against a building framework, and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface, and includes a first end portion 13 located on one side in a state in which the ventilation member X is attached to the wall material, and a second end portion 14 located on another side. The top plate portion 20 extends from the first end portion 13 of the fixed plate portion 10 on the second surface side. The partition plate portion 30 extends from the top plate portion 20 in a direction from the first end portion toward the second end portion of the fixed plate portion 10. The bottom plate portion 40 extends from the partition plate portion 30 in a direction away from the fixed plate portion 10. The front plate portion 50 extends from the bottom plate portion 40 in a direction from the second end portion toward the first end portion of the fixed plate portion 10. The first baffle plate portion 61 extends from the front plate portion 50 to the partition plate portion 30 side. The bottom plate portion 40 has a first hole 42. A wall material construction structure Y1 according to the present invention includes such a ventilation member X.