Building Joint Sealing Element with Controlled Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing methods for building joints, particularly using open-cell foam sealing elements, face challenges in consistent expansion due to environmental temperature variations, leading to unpredictable tightness and installation difficulties.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a heating element, either as a separate strip or integrated with the sealing element, to apply heat and control the expansion of the sealing element, which can be impregnated with agents having specific glass transition temperatures to manage expansion timing and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sealing element is impregnated with an agent that delays expansion, then installation is facilitated, but the expansion timing becomes dependent on environmental temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the impregnating agent by selecting substances with specific glass transition temperatures (Tg) above ambient temperature. This parameter change allows the agent to remain in a glassy, non-expansive state during installation and handling, then transition to a rubbery, expansive state when heated during the sealing process, thereby controlling expansion timing independently of environmental temperature
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the temperature-dependent chemical delay mechanism with a controlled thermal activation mechanism. Instead of relying on ambient temperature to gradually trigger expansion, the system uses a heating element to actively control when and how the sealing element expands, substituting passive environmental dependency with active thermal control
2Productivity
If the sealing element expands quickly at high temperatures, then sealing is achieved faster, but installation becomes difficult due to premature expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-compressing the sealing element to a compact form factor for easy installation, then maintaining it in this compressed state during handling and installation through the use of impregnating agents with high glass transition temperatures. The actual expansion action is delayed until the controlled heating step, ensuring installation ease is not compromised by premature expansion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the impregnating agent's glass transition temperature to control the timing of expansion. Below Tg, the agent maintains the sealing element in a stable, compressed state during installation. Above Tg, triggered by controlled heating, the agent allows rapid expansion to achieve sealing, thus resolving the contradiction between installation ease and sealing speed
3Ease of operation
If the sealing element expands slowly at low temperatures, then installation is easier, but sealing reliability is compromised due to incomplete expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive, temperature-dependent expansion mechanism with an active, controlled thermal stimulation system. A heating element is integrated to provide controlled thermal energy that ensures complete and reliable expansion of the sealing element regardless of ambient temperature, thereby guaranteeing sealing tightness while maintaining installation ease through pre-compression
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary compression to reduce the sealing element to a small, easy-to-install form factor. The impregnating agent with high glass transition temperature maintains this compressed state during installation. Subsequent controlled heating then triggers complete expansion to ensure reliable sealing, thus resolving the contradiction between installation ease and sealing reliability at low temperatures
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
Ensures reliable and consistent sealing performance by allowing controlled expansion of the sealing element, independent of ambient temperature, facilitating easier installation and maintaining tightness across varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The previous or subsequent introduction of the heating medium into the structural joint makes it possible to apply so much heat to the sealing element that the expansion is released or at least supported
Implementation Method 2
the sealing element changing from a compressed state to a partially compressed state due to the elastic recovery of the foam or fully relaxed state
Implementation Method 3
which can be impregnated with agents having specific glass transition temperatures to manage expansion timing and speed
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for sealing a building joint by introducing a sealing element (1) consisting of an at least partially open-celled, elastically recoverable foam material into the building joint, wherein the sealing element can expand from a compressed state into a partially or fully relaxed state because of the elastic recovery of the foam material and is provided with means influencing the expansion. In order to allow or promote the expansion of the sealing element (1), according to the invention a heating element is introduced separately from the sealing element into the building joint. The heating element is preferably applied to a foam material layer that is separate from the foam material of the sealing element. Independently therefrom, in order to allow or promote the expansion, the heating element can have a tubular or hose-shaped design, wherein the heating element is preferably designed to conduct hot air.