Flexible Fire Protection Mat with Mechanical Positioning Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire protection assemblies for cable bushings are inflexible, requiring pre-assembled components that limit adaptability during construction, leading to potential delays and increased costs due to the need for manual cutting and the inability to accommodate changes in pipe and cable systems.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a flexible fire protection mat with a continuous intumescent band and mechanical positioning elements that can be cut to length and attached to a wall or formwork, allowing for on-site customization of the assembly's size and shape, ensuring it maintains rigidity during casting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If pre-assembled fire protection components are used, then manufacturing precision and structural integrity are improved, but adaptability and flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly precisionVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The fire protection assembly is divided into separate components: a positioning element and a fire protection module. The positioning element can be separately manufactured with high precision and attached to the fire protection mat, allowing the mat itself to remain flexible and adaptable for cutting to different lengths on-site.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fire protection mat is designed to be dynamically adaptable - it can be cut to different lengths on-site to match varying construction requirements. The mechanical positioning element provides static precision positioning, while the mat portion maintains dynamic flexibility for customization during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If pre-assembled fire protection components are used, then structural integrity is improved, but construction time and productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidconstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical positioning element is prepared in advance and attached to the fire protection mat during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures structural integrity is established beforehand, while the mat portion remains ready for quick cutting and installation on-site, reducing overall construction time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning function is extracted as a separate mechanical positioning element that can be pre-manufactured and attached, while the fire protection mat portion is kept separate for on-site customization. This separation allows the positioning component to maintain structural integrity while the mat can be quickly adapted to fit specific installation requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If fire protection mat is cut to length on-site, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidcutting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly is segmented into a precision-manufactured positioning element and a flexible fire protection mat. The positioning element provides precise mechanical positioning and structural support, while the mat portion can be cut to length on-site to match varying installation requirements without compromising overall assembly precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the assembly have different quality characteristics: the mechanical positioning element has high manufacturing precision for positioning accuracy, while the fire protection mat has local flexibility to be cut and adapted on-site. Each portion is optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between precision and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If standard size assemblies are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly is divided into a standardizable mechanical positioning element that can be manufactured uniformly, and a fire protection mat that can be cut to different lengths. This segmentation allows the positioning component to be easily manufactured in standard quantities while the mat provides the necessary adaptability for different installation sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical positioning element serves as a universal component that can be attached to fire protection mats of various lengths. This universal positioning element maintains ease of manufacture through standardization, while the system as a whole achieves adaptability through the configurable mat portion.

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

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

This approach enables flexible and efficient production of cable bushings, reducing the need for pre-planning and minimizing construction delays by allowing site-specific adjustments, thus enhancing project efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a, in particular continuous, fire protection band 26 made of an intumescent material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIntumescent materials: Intumescent Materials

Data Source

PatentEP3443250B1Method for producing an assembly for a cable duct, assembly and method for manufacturing a cable duct
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 HILTI AG
  • EP3443250B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3443250B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3443250B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for producing an assembly (10) for a pipe/cable bushing, wherein a fire protection mat (12) that forms a fire protection module (38) is cut to fit the dimensions of the pipe/cable bushing. The fire protection mat (12) has a flexible support element (24), on one end region (28) of which a fire protection strip (26) consisting of an intumescent material is secured. The fire protection mat (12) is rolled and the opposing edges (32, 34) of the fire protection mat (12) are interconnected by a connection means, such that the fire protection strip (26) is in a region of one axial end (40) of the rolled fire protection mat (12). At least one mechanical positioning element (14) that is separate from the fire protection mat (12) is secured to the fire protection mat, (12), the element being configured to secure the assembly (10) to a wall or shuttering by means of the mechanical positioning element (14). Also disclosed are an assembly (10) and a method for producing a pipe/cable bushing.