Bubble Insulation Film with Polygonal Geometries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bubble films for swimming pools suffer from suboptimal thermal insulation due to the spherical shape of bubbles, which leads to poor lift and increased thermal bridges, and also face challenges in storage and transport due to increased volume and material distribution issues.
Innovation Solution
A bubble film with a network of alternating distinct and complementary bubble geometries, including circular and polygonal bubbles, arranged to optimize surface area and lift, and featuring a flat upper portion to create a constant air gap and reduce thermal bridges, while using an embossing cylinder with complementary imprints to ensure uniform material distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spherical bubbles are used in bubble film, then the film can be manufactured with simple geometry, but the bubbles sink into water surface and create thermal bridges reducing insulation performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using non-spherical bubble geometries (such as polyhedral or flattened spherical shapes) that create stable points of contact with the water surface. This asymmetric shape prevents the bubbles from sinking and rotating, thereby eliminating thermal bridges and improving insulation performance while maintaining manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the spherical curvature of conventional bubbles by introducing flattened or polyhedral geometries. This alteration in curvature creates stable waterline contact points that prevent sinking, while the modified spherical-like shape still allows for efficient manufacturing using standard embossing techniques.
2Reliability
If bubble surface area is increased to improve thermal capacity, then insulation performance improves, but the volume of rolled-up tarpaulin increases making storage and transport difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the bubble geometry parameters (shape, size, and arrangement) to achieve a higher surface area to volume ratio. This allows the bubble film to provide enhanced thermal capacity while maintaining a compact rolled-up volume for efficient storage and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves multi-functionality by designing a bubble geometry that simultaneously optimizes for thermal capacity (large surface area) and storage efficiency (compact rolled volume). The specific geometric configuration allows the same bubble structure to fulfill both requirements without compromise.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional bubble patterns are used, then manufacturing is simple, but the ratio of bubble surface area to total film surface area is limited to less than 0.67
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the film surface into optimized bubble patterns with specific geometries and arrangements. This segmented approach allows for a higher density of bubbles (surface area ratio exceeding 0.67) while maintaining regular patterns that are still manufacturable using standard embossing techniques.
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
Improves thermal insulation by increasing the bubbled surface area, enhancing lift, and reducing storage and transport constraints through a more compact roll size and improved chemical resistance.
Implementation Method 1
This type of cover reduces heat loss from the water by creating an insulating layer against the outside environment
Implementation Method 2
the bubbles tend to sink... reduced buoyancy
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 6~7
AI summary
A bubble film (1) delimited by peripheral edges (10), the film having a first flat face (11) and a second alveolar face (12) comprising a network of airtight bubbles (2) containing trapped air and comprising at least two types of bubbles (2, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) of distinct geometries, the bubbles (2) being separated from each other by a gap (3), the network of bubbles (2) being composed of a succession of parallel and adjacent lines (A) of bubbles (2), each line (A) extending, within the network of bubbles (2), from a first peripheral edge (10) to a second peripheral edge (10). Advantageously, the geometries of the two types of bubbles (2, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) are complementary.