Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Console for Façade Thermal Insulation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing console designs for connecting facades to building walls lack economical production, reliable installation, and optimal mechanical and thermal properties, leading to inefficient heat transfer and mechanical instability.

Innovation Solution

A console with a bridge part made of injection-molded fiber-reinforced plastic that overmolds the wall and facade parts, forming a thermal barrier and providing a strong mechanical bond, which absorbs forces and temperature changes effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a bridge part is provided to form a thermal barrier, then heat transfer is reduced, but mechanical bond strength and installation reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transferVSAvoidinstallation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge part is made from a composite material consisting of a plastic matrix and fibrous reinforcement (e.g., glass fibers, carbon fibers, or basalt fibers). This composite structure provides both thermal insulation properties and enhanced mechanical strength, allowing the bridge part to simultaneously reduce heat transfer and maintain reliable mechanical bonding between the wall part and facade part.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameters of the bridge part by using fiber-reinforced plastic with specific fiber content (10-60% by weight), fiber length (5-50 mm), and fiber orientation (0-90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis). These parameter adjustments optimize both thermal insulation performance and mechanical bond strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If a bridge part is provided to form a thermal barrier, then heat transfer is reduced, but mechanical strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transferVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge part utilizes fiber-reinforced composite materials where the fibrous reinforcement (glass, carbon, or basalt fibers) provides tensile and flexural strength while the plastic matrix provides thermal insulation. This composite approach enables the bridge part to simultaneously achieve thermal barrier functionality and sufficient mechanical strength to withstand facade loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements local quality by orienting fibers in specific directions within the bridge part. Fibers can be oriented at 0-90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis, with higher fiber concentration and different orientation patterns in regions experiencing different stress levels, thereby optimizing mechanical strength where needed while maintaining thermal insulation throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional materials are used for the bridge part, then production is simpler, but mechanical and thermal properties are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidmechanical and thermal properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs fiber-reinforced plastic composite materials that can be processed using conventional injection molding techniques. The composite pellets are fed into standard injection molding machines, and the bridge part is formed in a single-shot process, maintaining production simplicity while achieving superior mechanical and thermal properties compared to conventional homogeneous plastics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes manufacturing parameters including fiber content (10-60% by weight), fiber length (5-50 mm), injection temperature, and mold design to ensure proper fiber distribution and orientation during injection molding. These parameter adjustments enable the production of fiber-reinforced bridge parts with consistent quality using conventional manufacturing equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution achieves enhanced mechanical reliability and thermal insulation by creating a strong bond between the facade and wall parts, minimizing heat transfer and mechanical stress, while being economical to produce and install.

Implementation Method 1

the bridge part forming a thermal barrier between the wall part and the facade part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

the wall part and the facade part are overmoulded by the bridge part at least in regions, preferably only in regions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOvermolding:

Data Source

PatentEP2943624B1Thermally insulating console for joining a façade to a building wall
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 HILTI AG
  • EP2943624B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2943624B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2943624B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a bracket for connecting a façade to a building wall (100), comprising a metal wall part (1) for installing on the building wall, a metal façade part (2) for connecting to the façade, and a bridge part (3), which connects the façade part to the wall part, wherein the bridge part is composed of a plastic material and forms a heat barrier between the wall part and the façade part. According to the invention, the bridge part (3) is an injection-moulded part made of fibre-reinforced plastic and the bridge part is moulded over the wall part (1) and the façade part (2) in some areas of the wall part and of the façade part.