Facade Connection Node Sealing for Free-Form Glass Roofs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building envelopes with multiple surface elements face challenges in ensuring a reliable seal at joints and effectively draining rainwater, particularly in complex configurations like free-form glass roofs, where steps between sealing planes create sealing issues and potential leaks.
Innovation Solution
A trough-like sealing node element with varying edge bases and identical sealing contours is used to compensate for varying distances between glass surfaces and connection nodes, forming a continuous sealing system with channel-like profile seals, manufactured via additive manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex miter cuts and sealing processes are used to seal joints between profile elements, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into two independent components: profile seals integrated into the profile elements and separate sealing node elements at the connecting nodes. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and sealed independently, simplifying the overall sealing process while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Sealing node elements act as intermediary components between the profile elements at the connecting nodes. These elements provide a standardized sealing interface that mediates the connection between different profile elements, eliminating the need for complex miter cuts and standardized sealing procedures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If steps are created between sealing planes at connection nodes, then structural accommodation of varying distances is achieved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to potential leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing node elements feature raised edge areas with sealing contours that provide localized sealing action at specific positions around the connecting node. This local quality approach ensures sealing at critical locations while accommodating varying distances through the standardized node element design.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing node elements are designed with varying geometrical parameters including raised edge areas, sealing contours, and different heights at different positions. These parameter changes allow the single standardized component to accommodate varying distances between glass surfaces and connection nodes while maintaining consistent sealing performance.
3Reliability
If standardized sealing node elements with raised edge areas are used, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing node elements are designed with specific geometrical parameters including raised edge areas with sealing contours that extend substantially parallel to the glass surface. These parameter specifications provide clear manufacturing guidelines that balance sealing reliability with achievable manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing node elements are pre-formed with integrated sealing contours and raised edge areas during the molding process. This preliminary action of incorporating sealing features directly into the molded component eliminates subsequent assembly steps and reduces the cumulative precision requirements that would arise from assembling separate sealing components.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a building shell (1) having multiple surface elements (2) that are supported by profile elements (3) of the building shell, said profile elements being interconnected via one or more connection nodes (4). For sealing between the connection nodes (4) and the surface elements (2), seal node elements (5) are provided, which each form a trough-like seal body. Said seal body has a planar seal base (6) by which said seal body lies on the particular connection node (4) and from the peripheral boundaries of which edge regions (7) project upward from the seal base (6), said edge regions each having an edge pedestal (8) and a seal contour (9) supported by said edge pedestal, which seal contour (9) sealingly adjoins one of the surface elements (2). Here, the upwardly projecting edge regions (7) each extend in a region that extends between the connections of two directly adjacent profile elements (3) to the connection node (4). No upwardly projecting edge regions with seal contours are provided in the regions of the seal node element (5) which are arranged in the region of the connections of the profile elements (3) to the connection node (4).