Floor construction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor constructions with integrated heating, cooling, and ventilation systems face limitations in cabling options, making it difficult to route power and data cables in any direction and requiring significant effort for upgrading or retrofitting.

Innovation Solution

A floor construction design featuring a support layer with adjustable legs and a stepped configuration that creates a continuous cavity above the subfloor, allowing for flexible cabling and simplifying the installation of heating and ventilation systems, while ensuring structural stability and efficient heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If ventilation ducts are arranged underneath a screed layer with heating/cooling lines, then heating and cooling performance is improved, but cabling options are limited and upgrading requires costly tearing open

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating and cooling performanceVSAvoidcabling options

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The floor construction is segmented into distinct functional layers: a lower support layer (9) containing supply lines, a middle insulation layer (16), and an upper screed layer (6) with heating/cooling lines. This segmentation allows supply lines to be routed independently in the support layer without disrupting the heating/cooling system in the screed layer, resolving the contradiction between thermal performance and cabling flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a vertical dimension by creating a raised support layer with height (10-30 mm) above the subfloor. This additional vertical space provides a continuous cavity for routing supply lines in any direction beneath the screed layer, enabling flexible cabling options while maintaining the integrity of the underlying heating/cooling system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If supply lines are routed along underfloor ducts, then installation is simplified, but subsequent upgrading or retrofitting requires great effort and costly tearing open

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidupgrading or retrofitting

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The support layer (9) is constructed in advance with integrated supply line routing capabilities, including pre-positioned access points and continuous cavities. This preliminary preparation allows supply lines to be easily installed during initial construction and enables future upgrades without requiring destructive demolition, as lines can be accessed and modified through the prepared support layer structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support layer design incorporates adjustable support legs (19) and flexible routing paths that can be adapted during installation and future modifications. This dynamic capability allows the system to accommodate changing cabling requirements over time, enabling easy upgrading and retrofitting without fixed constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the support layer is raised above the subfloor, then cabling flexibility is improved, but the overall height of the floor construction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecabling flexibilityVSAvoidoverall height

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support layer (9) is designed with localized height (10-30 mm) only where needed for supply line routing, rather than uniformly increasing the entire floor height. The carrier plates (18) provide targeted elevation in specific areas, maintaining cabling flexibility while minimizing the overall height increase of the floor construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 design enhances cabling flexibility, simplifies upgrades, and reduces the overall height of the floor construction while maintaining structural integrity and efficient heat exchange, avoiding cold air pooling and heat accumulation.

Implementation Method 1

The air guided through the ventilation ducts can heat up, for example, due to the heat given off downwards by the underfloor heating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the second layer is a support layer underside connected to a plurality of support legs spaced across the surface and adapted to support the second layer in spaced relation to the subfloor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical support: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2210996B1Floor construction

Publication Date: 2017.01.04 ERICH MIKESKA ESTRICHBAU

AI summary

The floor construction comprises a layer (9) which is a support layer that is connected on the lower side with multiple support legs (19,19a) that are distributed over the surface. The support legs are formed to support the layer which is spaced from the under-floor (1) for receiving a correlated cavity (21) in a surface area (13) below the layer. Another surface area (15) is received above the under-floor. The layer is provided between the former surface area and the latter surface area, such that the upper surface area of the layer lies in the lower surface area. An independent claim is also included for a method for producing a floor construction.