Adjustable Cladding Support Bracket for Thermal Break Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Building structures face significant thermal losses due to high thermal conductivity between cladding and substrates, and imperfections in the substrate surface complicate uniform cladding installation, leading to insulation inefficiencies and aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable support system comprising a base bracket member, clip members, and an outer bracket, which allows for slidable positioning and coupling to sandwich a spanning wall between the base bracket member and clip members, enabling compensation for substrate imperfections and thermal insulation improvements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If continuous metal connectors are used between substrate and cladding, then structural strength is improved, but thermal losses increase due to high thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous metal connector is divided into multiple discrete metal connectors spaced apart from each other. This segmentation interrupts the continuous thermal conduction path while maintaining structural support, thereby reducing thermal losses between the substrate and cladding.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary material with low thermal conductivity is introduced between the metal connectors and the cladding or substrate. This intermediary acts as a thermal break, allowing the metal connectors to provide structural strength while preventing direct thermal conduction through the connector system.
2Ease of manufacture
If cladding is installed directly on uneven substrate, then installation simplicity is improved, but cladding uniformity deteriorates due to substrate imperfections
Solution Approach 1:
The support system incorporates adjustable elements that can be dynamically positioned to accommodate variations in substrate surface. This allows the system to adapt to uneven substrates while maintaining uniform cladding installation, combining simplicity with precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The support system includes self-adjusting components that automatically compensate for substrate imperfections during installation. The system self-corrects for uneven surfaces without requiring additional adjustment steps, maintaining both installation simplicity and cladding uniformity.
3Loss of energy
If adjustable support system with multiple components is used, then thermal insulation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components are merged into integrated assemblies. The support arms, connectors, and insulation elements are combined into unified structures that provide both thermal insulation and structural support simultaneously, reducing the number of separate parts while maintaining insulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The support system components are designed to perform multiple functions. For example, the metal connectors provide both structural support and thermal breaking functions, while the support arms simultaneously provide adjustment capability and insulation. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining thermal insulation benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable support system has a base bracket member, a clip member, and an outer bracket. The base bracket member has a first end wall that overlays a substrate, a body wall extending outwardly therefrom and a second end wall opposite the first end wall. The clip member has a base bracket member coupling, and a projecting arm. The base bracket member coupling is attached to the first end wall and overlies a portion of the body wall. The projecting arm is spaceable apart from the body wall. The outer bracket has a spanning wall with inner and outer sides. An outer end wall extends from the outer side. The spanning wall is slidably positionable between the body wall of the base bracket member and the at least one clip member, to sandwich the same. Wall assemblies and methods are likewise disclosed.