Composite Fastening Support for Insulated Façades

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for fastening objects to externally thermally insulated building façades create thermal bridges due to the use of conductive steel fastening elements, and the indirect fastening methods with offset hard material areas complicate the adaptation and cutting of insulation coats, making it difficult and costly to avoid these bridges.

Innovation Solution

A fastening system with intermediary supporting parts made of composite plastic materials, such as polyurethane loaded with expanded clay beads, is used, where these parts are first attached to the wall and then the insulation coat is applied, allowing for precise cutting to ensure the parts are flush with the coat, thereby reducing the need for additional filling materials and simplifying the fastening process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If steel fastening elements are used to fasten objects to the wall, then fastening strength is improved, but thermal bridges are generated which deteriorate insulation quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening strengthVSAvoidthermal bridge
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary supporting part made of non-conductive hard material that acts as a mediator between the wall and the fastening member. This intermediary component transfers the mechanical fastening function while preventing thermal conduction, as it is positioned between the conductive fastening elements and the insulated wall, thereby eliminating the thermal bridge pathway while maintaining fastening strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediary supporting part is made of composite hard material that combines structural strength with thermal insulation properties. This composite material enables the component to simultaneously provide mechanical support for fastening while resisting thermal conduction, thus resolving the contradiction between fastening strength and thermal insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the hard material receiving area is offset laterally with respect to the fastening area, then drilling into the insulation coat is avoided, but the insulation coat adaptation becomes difficult and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal bridge preventionVSAvoidinsulation coat adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediary supporting part is installed on the wall before the insulation coat is applied. This preliminary installation allows the insulation coat to be cut and adapted around the already-positioned supporting part, simplifying the construction process. The insulation coat can be directly cut to fit around the supporting part without requiring complex lateral offsets or additional shoulder pieces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of offsetting the hard material receiving area laterally as in prior art, the patent inverts the approach by having the hard material supporting part extend vertically through the insulation coat thickness. The receiving area is positioned in continuation with the fastening area along the vertical axis, eliminating the need for lateral offsets and simplifying insulation coat adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the hard material receiving area is offset laterally, then a shoulder is formed requiring additional cutting and plugging operations, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal bridge preventionVSAvoidfastening system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional offset approach by positioning the fastening area and receiving area in vertical continuation rather than lateral offset. This inversion eliminates the formation of shoulders that would require additional cutting and plugging operations. The intermediary supporting part serves as both the fastening support and the receiving structure, simplifying the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the fastening area and receiving area into a single continuous vertical structure of the intermediary supporting part. Instead of having separate laterally-offset areas that require complex adaptation, the fastening and receiving functions are combined in one vertically-aligned component, reducing device complexity and eliminating additional manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This approach minimizes thermal bridges by using non-conductive materials and simplifies the installation process by allowing the intermediary supporting parts to be cut flush with the insulation coat, reducing material waste and installation costs.

Implementation Method 1

the intermediary supporting part is made of a composite plastic material loaded with expanded clay beads... minimizes thermal bridges by using non-conductive materials

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2734679B1A method and a system for fastening an object to a faÇade
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 SOC DE PROSPECTION & DINVENTIONS TECHN SPIT
  • EP2734679B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2734679B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method and a system for fastening an object (40) to a facade comprising at least one supporting wall (1) made of a hard material coated externally with a thermal insulation coat (3) made of a crumbly material, the object (40) being fastened to the wall (1) by means of a fastening member (41) received in a receiving area (11) of an intermediate supporting part (9), itself made of a hard material and arranged to project out from the wall. The object (40) is fastened to the wall (1) in an indirect way by offsetting towards the outside of the facade the receiving area (11) of the part (9). The intermediate supporting part (9) is fastened to the wall by a fastening area extending between the wall and the receiving area (11). The intermediate supporting part is a straight cylinder extending through the insulation coat (3)