Facade Retaining Element with Loose Material Fill

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing facade systems require boundary walls within wire baskets for filling, which impede filling efficiency and necessitate additional structural support, making them costly and complex to install, especially on facades with low load-bearing capacity.

Innovation Solution

A facade system where a flat retaining element, spaced from the facade, forms the filling volume, eliminating the need for boundary walls and allowing for easy attachment using standard fastening means, with the option to use loose material and breathable/airtight films for weather resistance, and adaptable to various facade designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If boundary walls are used within wire baskets to form filling volume, then the filling volume is defined and contained, but filling efficiency is impeded and additional structural support is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the boundary walls from the wire basket structure. Instead of containing filling material within traditional wire baskets with boundary walls, the system uses a separate retaining wall system that is attached to the facade, allowing for easier and more efficient filling without the complexity of pre-assembled boundary structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining wall system is divided into multiple individual retaining elements that can be separately attached to the facade. These elements form the containment structure after filling begins, allowing for modular installation and eliminating the need for pre-assembled complex boundary walls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of substance

If traditional wire baskets with boundary walls are used, then filling volume is contained, but material usage increases and installation becomes more costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial usageVSAvoidinstallation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The boundary walls are extracted from the filling volume definition process. Instead of using material-intensive wire baskets with boundary walls, the invention uses a minimal retaining wall system attached to the facade, significantly reducing material consumption and installation costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If boundary walls are attached outside wire baskets to avoid impeding filling, then filling is easier, but additional attachment requirements increase complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling easeVSAvoidattachment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of attaching boundary walls to contain filling material, the invention inverts the approach by attaching retaining walls to the facade and allowing filling material to be contained between these walls and the facade itself. This eliminates the need for complex attachment mechanisms on wire baskets.

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

4Force

If retaining elements are attached close to facade, then load-bearing requirements are reduced, but filling volume is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing forceVSAvoidfilling volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The distance between retaining elements and the facade can be dynamically adjusted based on the specific requirements of each application. The retaining elements are attached at optimal distances that balance load-bearing requirements with the need for sufficient filling volume, allowing flexibility in design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1927706B1Wall covering for a facade
Publication Date: 2014.09.10 STONES & MORE
  • EP1927706B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1927706B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1927706B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a wall cladding (1) for cladding a facade (2) with a retaining element (1a) spaced apart from the facade (2) and forming a filling space (1b) with it, wherein the resulting filling space (1b) is filled with loose material.