Building Ventilation Valve Using a Flexible Sleeve for Compact Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation devices for buildings with movable partitions for opening and closing apertures have a large footprint due to the need for a significant free space for the opening and closing stroke, which is inefficient in terms of space utilization.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation device with a valve system comprising a fixed crown gear, a rotatable crown gear connected via a threaded coupling, and a flexible sleeve made of elastic material, operated by an electric motor through a worm screw and helical gear transmission, allowing for compact closure of airflow apertures by rotating the rotatable crown gear to change the shape of the flexible sleeve from annular to diaphragm, thereby controlling airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If movable partitions are used for opening and closing apertures, then the aperture can be effectively sealed, but the device footprint increases due to the required free space for the opening and closing stroke
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving a partition linearly to open/close the aperture, the invention inverts the approach by using a rotatable crown gear that changes the shape of a flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve transitions from an annular shape (open) to a diaphragm shape (closed) through rotation, eliminating the need for linear movement space and reducing footprint while maintaining sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a dynamic flexible sleeve that can change its shape continuously between annular and diaphragm configurations. This dynamic transformation allows the valve to adapt its geometry during operation, achieving both open and closed states without requiring additional space for movement, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and compact footprint
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 solution enables a smaller footprint for ventilation devices by allowing for the hermetic closure of external openings, optimizing space usage while maintaining effective airflow management through precise control of the valve mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible sleeve (22) made of an elastic material, which has two opposite ends attached, respectively, to the fixed crown gear (21) and to the rotatable crown gear (20)
Data Source
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AI summary
Air exchange device for buildings, comprising: - a casing (2, 3) having an internal inlet opening (4), an internal outlet opening (5), an external inlet opening (6) and an external outlet opening (7), - a heat exchanger (11) housed within said casing (2, 3) and having a first inlet (12) in communication with the internal inlet opening (4), a first outlet (15) in communication with the external outlet opening (7), a second inlet (14) in communication with the external inlet opening (6) and a second outlet (13) in communication with the internal outlet opening (5), - a first fan unit (16) arranged for generating a first airflow (F1) directed from the internal inlet opening (4) towards the external outlet opening (7) and a second fan unit (17) arranged for generating a second airflow (F2) directed from the external inlet opening (6) towards the internal outlet opening (5), wherein the first and second airflows (F1, F2) are in a relationship of mutual heat exchange in said heat exchanger (11), and - a valve device (8) including respective valve elements (19) for opening and closing the external inlet opening (6) and the external outlet opening (7), wherein each of said valve elements (19) comprises: - a fixed crown gear (21), - a rotatable crown gear (20), - a flexible sleeve (22) having a first end (32) fastened to the fixed crown gear (21) and a second end (34) fastened to the rotatable crown gear (20), and - an actuator (40) for controlling the rotation of the rotatable crown gear (20) with respect to the fixed crown gear (21) between an open position wherein the flexible sleeve (22) has essentially an annular shape and a closed position wherein the flexible sleeve (22) has essentially a diaphragm shape.