Facade Profile System for Weather-Independent Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for attaching and detaching facade elements on multi-story buildings are complex, prone to damage during handling, and often require the use of building cranes, making the process weather-dependent and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A profile system comprising two types of profiles, one for mounting against the building frame and another for supporting the facade elements, which allows for simplified and weather-independent attachment and detachment of facade elements, reducing the need for cranes by using a rack-based hoisting system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional methods are used to attach and detach facade elements, then secure fixation is achieved, but the process becomes complex and weather-dependent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of attachment and detachmentVSAvoidcomplexity of attachment process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The profile system is divided into two distinct types: profiles of the first kind mounted against the building frame, and profiles of the second kind supporting the facade elements. This segmentation allows independent installation and removal of facade elements without requiring complex integrated systems, thereby simplifying the attachment and detachment processes while maintaining secure fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Profiles of the second kind serve as intermediary components between the building frame and facade elements. These profiles are detachably mounted on profiles of the first kind, enabling facade elements to be easily attached and detached through the intermediary profile system without direct complex connections to the building frame, reducing weather dependency and operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Weight of moving object

If building cranes are used to lift facade elements, then heavy elements can be hoisted, but the process becomes weather-dependent and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of facade elementVSAvoidefficiency of installation process
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The profile system creates a distributed support structure where profiles of the first kind are mounted at multiple locations on the building frame, and profiles of the second kind connect these to facade elements. This distributes the weight-bearing function across multiple points rather than requiring single-point crane lifting, enabling easier handling of heavy facade elements and improving installation efficiency by reducing weather dependency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Shape

If facade elements are handled during mounting, then proper positioning is achieved, but damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidrisk of damage during handling
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Profiles of the second kind are designed with self-aligning features including grooves that guide facade elements into proper positions and waists that provide mechanical interlocking. The system performs its own positioning function through the interaction between the profile geometries, eliminating the need for manual handling and positioning operations that could cause damage to fragile facade elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2231945B1Profile for the facade of a multi-storey building and a multi-storey building with such a facade
Publication Date: 2014.07.02 BRUNKEBERG SYST AB
  • EP2231945B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2231945B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2231945B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A profile system for fastening of facade elements (19) on a building frame (1), a building frame (1) with such a profile system and a multi-storey building (72) is described. The profile system comprises a profile of a first kind (7) and a profile of a second kind (35). The facade elements (19) are arranged in the profile of the first kind (7) and are squeezed in place with the profile of the second kind (35). The profile of the second kind (35) has a groove which is wider than the thickness of the facade element (19), so that the facade element (19) can be moved in the groove in the profile of the second kind (35).