Ventilation Valve Membrane Attachment for Odor Prevention and Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation valves fail to effectively prevent odors and smoke from passing through vents due to design flaws, such as gaps and complex construction, which complicates installation and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation valve with a support frame and a flexible membrane, featuring a unilaterally hinged slot, fixing pins, and a magnetic mechanism, ensuring a robust and lightweight structure that fully opens in airflow and closes under gravity, with a seal to prevent odors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a silicone membrane with adhesive bonding is used to attach the membrane to the frame, then the membrane can be secured to the frame, but the bonding area must be significant to prevent the membrane from falling off, which partially covers the vent opening and reduces fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane attachment is divided into multiple discrete fixing points (screws or rivets at corners and edges) rather than requiring a large continuous bonding area. This segmentation allows the membrane to be securely attached while leaving most of the vent opening exposed for fluid flow.
2Reliability
If adhesive is applied to bond the membrane to the frame, then the membrane can be attached, but the adhesive alters the material quality of the membrane, requiring a hard polymer cover to be placed over the attachment area
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive material is extracted/removed from the system entirely. Instead of using adhesive that would alter membrane properties and require additional protective covers, the patent uses mechanical fastening methods (screws or rivets) that attach the membrane without chemical alteration or additional protective layers.
3Weight of moving object
If the silicone membrane is made lightweight for low-fluid-flow applications, then it can respond to low flows, but it does not provide a sufficiently stable surface, requiring a circumferential frame to stabilize it
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane is secured at multiple discrete points (corners and edges) rather than requiring a continuous circumferential frame. This segmented attachment provides sufficient stability for the lightweight membrane to function in low-fluid-flow applications without the need for additional stabilizing structures.
4Reliability
If an external magnet and screw are used to fix the valve in the closed position, then the valve can be held closed, but the screw must be adjusted to provide optimal magnetic pull, which is difficult for ordinary users to judge
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic mechanism is designed to be self-adjusting or pre-calibrated, eliminating the need for user adjustment. The magnet and screw work together in a fixed configuration that automatically provides the necessary holding force, allowing ordinary users to install the valve without needing to judge or adjust magnetic pull optimization.
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 valve provides efficient odor prevention with minimal installation effort, reduced weight, and lower production costs, allowing 99% ventilation flow without the need for airflow adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic mechanism having a magnetic attraction force of 0.10 to 0.30 newtons, which consist of at least one pair of a neodymium magnet and a ferrite element arranged opposite each other in the closed position of the membrane
Implementation Method 2
the membrane is configured to pivot between an open and a closed position relative to the opening of the support frame
Implementation Method 3
a seal channel formed around its outer circumference into which a seal is inserted
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
A ventilation valve for preventing the passage of odors according to the invention has a lightweight, simple and robust construction that allows optimal air flow. The valve consists of a frame (1) to which a membrane (3) is fixed, with a magnetic mechanism ensuring the optimum opening and closing of the valve.