Prefabricated Ceiling Pipe Feedthrough for Fast Fire-Safe Retrofit

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Solution Overview

Problem

The modernization of vertically extending pipelines in multi-story residential buildings is labor-intensive and time-consuming, requiring significant effort and posing safety challenges, especially regarding fire protection during renovations.

Innovation Solution

A factory-prefabricated ceiling duct device with integrated sound insulation, thermal insulation, and fire penetration protection features, including a contact body with a flat surface for precise alignment and a mounting rail for improved stability, which can be quickly assembled on-site, reducing labor and ensuring high-quality installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional on-site installation methods are used for pipeline modernization, then installation flexibility is maintained, but installation time and labor effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation speedVSAvoidprefabrication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ceiling penetration device is pre-assembled in a factory setting before delivery to the construction site. The pipeline sections, connection sections, and insulation materials are prepared in advance and integrated into a complete assembly unit, eliminating the need for complex on-site assembly operations and significantly reducing installation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The ceiling penetration device is divided into modular components including first and second pipeline sections with connection sections, sound insulation means, thermal insulation means, and fire penetration protection means. These segmented modules are pre-assembled in the factory and can be easily handled and installed as a complete unit on-site.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If insulation and protection materials are installed on-site, then installation flexibility is maintained, but installation quality consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation quality consistencyVSAvoidfactory production complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Sound insulation means, thermal insulation means, and fire penetration protection means are installed on the pipeline sections during factory production before the device is delivered to the construction site. This preliminary installation ensures consistent quality standards are met under controlled factory conditions with proper quality inspection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple insulation and protection functions are merged into a single integrated ceiling penetration device assembly. The sound insulation means, thermal insulation means, and fire penetration protection means are combined with the pipeline sections in a unified factory-assembled unit, ensuring all protective functions are consistently applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of time

If multiple separate installation steps are performed on-site, then installation flexibility is maintained, but total installation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetotal installation timeVSAvoidassembly structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple installation functions are merged into a single ceiling penetration device assembly that includes pipeline sections, connection sections, sound insulation, thermal insulation, and fire protection all integrated together. This unified assembly eliminates the need for multiple separate installation steps on-site and reduces total installation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

All necessary components including insulation materials and protection means are pre-integrated into the ceiling penetration device during factory production. This preliminary integration of multiple components into a single assembly unit eliminates the need for sequential on-site installation of each component and significantly reduces total installation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If factory-prefabricated devices are used, then installation time is reduced, but fire protection requirements become more stringent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation efficiencyVSAvoidfire protection risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Fire penetration protection means are pre-installed on the pipeline sections during factory production before the ceiling penetration device is delivered to the construction site. This preliminary installation of fire protection measures ensures that fire safety requirements are met and properly inspected under controlled factory conditions, reducing fire protection risks while maintaining installation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 significantly simplifies the installation and modernization of pipelines by providing consistent quality and safety features, allowing for quicker and more efficient assembly by semi-skilled workers, while ensuring effective thermal insulation, soundproofing, and fire protection, even in multi-story buildings.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal insulation means (13) that surrounds the pipeline (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) at least in sections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

a sound insulation means (14) that surrounds the pipeline (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) at least in sections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound insulation: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 3

a fire penetration protection means (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) that surrounds the pipeline (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) at least in sections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFire protection: Refractory Material

Data Source

PatentEP3715556B1Cover feedthrough device, installation arrangement and installation method
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 I C B INNOVATIONS CENT BAD
  • EP3715556B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3715556B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3715556B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a factory-prefabricated ceiling penetration device (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4) for a floor slab (2) comprising a pipeline (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) with a first connection section (4) and with a second connection section (5), comprising a sound insulation element partially surrounding the pipeline (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) and/or a thermal insulation element partially surrounding the pipeline (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) and/or a fire penetration protection element associated with the pipeline (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4), wherein the sound insulation element and/or the thermal insulation element and/or the fire penetration protection element is related to a longitudinal direction (6) of the pipeline (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) is arranged between the first connection section (4) and the second connection section (5), and comprising a pipeline (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) a system body (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) encompassing the first connection section (4) and the second connection section (5), with a flat contact surface (8) facing the first connection section (4), wherein the system body (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) is made of a refractory material, preferably a mineral refractory material. The invention further relates to an installation arrangement with a ceiling penetration device (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4) and an installation method for an installation arrangement.