Double Hinge Seal for Mullion Transom Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mullion-transom drainage systems face challenges in ensuring appropriate transitions and mobility of sealing webs at connection areas, leading to inefficiencies in drainage system performance.

Innovation Solution

A seal with a double joint connection system allows the sealing web to perform compensating movements, enabling overlapping and adjustable drainage levels by using U-shaped vertical sections and separable sealing bodies for mullions and transoms, facilitating easier assembly and cost savings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the sealing web is made immobile in the joint area, then the structure is simplified, but the drainage system cannot perform compensating movements and transitions are problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoiddrainage system adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing web is designed with double joint connections that enable it to perform compensating movements dynamically. The double joint at each end of the sealing web allows angular adjustment and movement compensation, transforming the sealing web from a static to a dynamic component that can adapt to structural movements while maintaining sealing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If separate seal designs are used for mullions and transoms, then each can be optimized, but production and storage costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal optimizationVSAvoidproduction and storage costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A universal seal design is created that can be used for both mullions and transoms. The seal incorporates a double joint system with separable sealing bodies that can be configured differently depending on the application. By removing or retaining specific sealing bodies, the same basic seal design adapts to different structural requirements, eliminating the need for separate optimized designs for mullions and transoms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the sealing web is made adjustable, then drainage level transitions are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage level adjustabilityVSAvoiddouble joint connection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing web is segmented into multiple functional parts with double joint connections at each end. Each double joint consists of two hinge joints with an intermediate piece, allowing independent adjustment. This segmentation enables the sealing web to be divided into adjustable segments that can move relative to each other, providing drainage level adjustability while keeping each individual joint mechanism relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3176340B1Seal and mullion and transom construction
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 HUECK
  • EP3176340B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3176340B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3a
  • EP3176340B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Seal (3, 4) for a post-and-beam assembly (1, 2), wherein the seal (3, 4) has a T-shaped cross-section comprising a vertical region (5) and two horizontal regions (6) extending from the vertical region, wherein the horizontal regions (6) each comprise a sealing web (9), and a sealing element assembly with at least one first sealing element (11) and a second sealing element (12), wherein the sealing web (9) is connected to the vertical region (5) via a first double hinge (8) and to the sealing element assembly via a second double hinge (10), and post-and-beam assembly comprising a post (1) and a beam (2), wherein the post (1) is equipped with a first seal (3), and wherein the beam (2) is equipped with a second seal (4), wherein the seal (3) of the post (1) is a seal according to at least one of claims 1 to 4.wherein in the seal (3) of the post a section of the first sealing body (11) is removed and the seal (4) of the latch (2) is a seal according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the seal of the latch a section of the second sealing body (12) is removed, wherein the sealing webs (9, 9') of the seals (3, 4) overlap at least partially.