Embrasure Clamp for Window Anchoring in Insulated Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for anchoring heavy window and door frames in highly thermally insulated wall structures, particularly those with perforated bricks, struggle to transfer tensile loads effectively due to the brittle nature of the materials used, and fail to ensure safe and secure fastening, especially with increasing frame sizes and safety regulations.
Innovation Solution
A clamp with integrally moulded first and second legs and a connecting element, designed to distribute load across two different wall sections, allowing for adjustable angles and use of spacer elements to accommodate varying wall geometries, which can be attached using conventional fastening methods, providing a flexible and thermally efficient mounting solution compatible with existing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional anchoring systems are used in perforated brick walls, then installation is simple, but load transfer capability is insufficient due to brittle material
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp divides the load transfer path into multiple segments: first leg anchors to one wall section, connecting element spans across the opening, and second leg anchors to another wall section. This segmentation allows load to be distributed across multiple points rather than concentrated at a single anchor point, resolving the contradiction between simple installation and adequate load transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp transitions from conventional single-plane anchoring to three-dimensional load distribution by extending legs to different wall sections at different depths and positions. The connecting element creates a spatial structure that engages the wall volume rather than just surface points, enabling heavy load transfer while maintaining compatibility with existing wall geometries.
2Strength
If clamp spans entire wall thickness are used, then load distribution is improved, but thermal bridge formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp uses different leg lengths (L1 ≠ L2) to create asymmetric engagement with the wall structure. The shorter leg minimizes penetration depth and thermal bridge formation, while the longer leg provides adequate anchoring. This local optimization of engagement depth at different positions resolves the contradiction between load distribution and thermal efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed angle clamp design is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different wall geometries is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates adjustable angles α and β between the legs and connecting element, allowing the structure to adapt to different wall geometries and opening configurations. This dynamic adjustability enables the same clamp design to accommodate varying wall thicknesses, reveal angles, and installation positions without requiring multiple specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp design with adjustable geometric parameters serves multiple functions: anchoring to different wall types (perforated brick, aerated concrete), accommodating various opening sizes, and providing load transfer in different directions. This multi-functionality achieves high adaptability while maintaining a unified basic structure that avoids excessive complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
A clamp 100 is used as a mounting base for a window or door element in a wall opening 80. The clamp has a first leg 10, a second leg 20, and a connecting element 30 between them. The connecting element is designed to essentially correspond to the thickness D of a wall in the area of the reveal, sill, or lintel. The angles between the legs and the connecting element are essentially 90°. The clamp is mounted with its legs on the front and back of a wall opening so that the connecting element rests against the reveal and can thus serve as a mounting base for fasteners.