Facade Spacer Plate for Adjustable Insulation Thickness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing facade systems for thermal insulation composite facades require a multitude of tie rod shapes and lengths to accommodate various installation situations, making them difficult to set up quickly and efficiently, and the tie rods are often visible.

Innovation Solution

The use of a spacer plate attached to the facade panel-side bracket, which transitions into a U-shaped receptacle on the building wall-side bracket, allowing for adjustable and concealed tie rods, and the use of OSB boards that can be cut to size for precise spacing between facade panels and the building wall, enabling quick and easy setup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional tie rods are used to attach facade panels to building walls, then the facade system can accommodate various installation situations, but a multitude of tie rod shapes and lengths are required making the system complex and difficult to assemble quickly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of various installation situationsVSAvoidnumber of tie rod shapes and lengths
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single standardized tie rod configuration that can accommodate various installation situations through the adjustable spacer plate mechanism. The spacer plate can be cut to different lengths and positioned at various locations, allowing one tie rod design to serve multiple installation scenarios that previously required multiple specialized tie rod types.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making the spacer plate adjustable and modifiable on-site. The spacer plate can be cut to different lengths depending on the specific installation requirements, transforming a static, fixed-length tie rod system into a dynamic, adaptable system that can be customized during installation without requiring multiple pre-manufactured variants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If traditional tie rods are used for facade panel attachment, then structural connection is achieved, but the tie rods remain visible from the visible side which is aesthetically undesirable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural connection between facade panels and building wallVSAvoidvisibility of tie rods from visible side
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by separating the structural function from the visible surface. The tie rod and spacer plate assembly is positioned on the reverse side of the facade panel, extracting the structural connection function away from the visible aesthetic surface. This allows the structural elements to perform their load-bearing function while remaining hidden from view.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer plate serves as an intermediary element that mediates between the tie rod and the facade panel. It provides the structural connection function while being positioned to conceal the tie rod from view, acting as a mediator that satisfies both structural and aesthetic requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If fixed-length spacers are used in facade systems, then simple manufacturing is achieved, but the system cannot accommodate varying insulation thicknesses or different facade configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of spacer productionVSAvoidaccommodation of varying insulation thicknesses
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing spacers that can be easily modified on-site through cutting. The spacers are manufactured in standard lengths for ease of production, but their design allows for simple post-manufacturing adjustment by cutting to the required length, enabling both easy manufacture and adaptability to varying insulation thicknesses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by allowing the spacer length parameter to be varied on-site through cutting. This transforms the spacer from a fixed-parameter component manufactured in specific lengths into a variable-parameter component that can be adjusted to any required length during installation, accommodating different insulation thicknesses while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If facade systems use multiple specialized components for different installation situations, then specific installation requirements are met, but assembly time and installation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeeting of specific installation requirementsVSAvoidassembly time for facade system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using standardized, modular components (brackets, spacer plates, tie rods) that can be combined in various configurations to meet different installation requirements. This universal component set eliminates the need for multiple specialized components, allowing installers to quickly assemble appropriate configurations for any situation without searching for or switching between specialized parts.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the facade system into independent, modular components that can be assembled in different configurations. The spacer plate, brackets, and tie rods are separate modular elements that can be quickly combined as needed, reducing assembly time compared to integrated or specialized components that require custom selection and installation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3546674B1Façade system for forming a thermal insulation compound façade
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 REICH HUBERT
  • EP3546674B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3546674B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c
  • EP3546674B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

A facade system for forming a thermal insulation composite facade (1) is proposed, comprising a plurality of facade panels (2) which can be attached to a building wall (4) via spacers (3), wherein the facade panels (2) have grooves (7) on at least two of their four mutually opposing end faces (6) into which a spring-like retaining projection (9) belonging to the facade panel-side spacer end of a spacer (3) engages.To create advantageous structural conditions, it is proposed that a spacer plate (12) be attached to the web (10) of a facade panel-side facade holder (11) of the spacer (8), which in the area of ​​the end face facing away from the facade panel (2) is attached to a web (13) of a building wall-side facade holder (14), wherein the facade holders (11, 14) each have a U-shaped receptacle (15) into which the spacer plate (12) is inserted, secured with at least one connecting element (17) connecting the two parallel webs (16) of the U-shaped receptacle (15) and the spacer plate (12).