Foamed Insulating Strip for Facade Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insulating strips for support profiles in facades, windows, and skylights face challenges in achieving both effective thermal insulation and sufficient structural strength, as the harder materials used for fixation often act as heat conductors, leading to heat losses.

Innovation Solution

An insulating strip with a base body made of hard foam, featuring a web for plug-in connection and hollow chambers to guide screws, which provides both thermal insulation and structural integrity, eliminating the need for non-foamed plastic materials and simplifying assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If harder material is used for fixing the insulating strip, then fixation strength is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates due to heat conduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation strengthVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating strip is divided into multiple functional segments: a base body made of thermally insulating material and a separate fixation element made of harder material. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function - the base body provides thermal insulation while the fixation element provides mechanical strength for secure attachment to the support profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating strip employs a composite structure combining materials with different properties - a thermally insulating base body material and a harder fixation material. This composite approach enables the strip to simultaneously achieve both thermal insulation performance and sufficient mechanical strength for fixation, eliminating the need to choose between the two opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Force

If harder material is used for fixation, then holding force is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding forceVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating strip is divided into multiple functional segments: a base body made of thermally insulating material and a separate fixation element made of harder material. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function - the base body provides thermal insulation while the fixation element provides mechanical strength for secure attachment to the support profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating strip employs a composite structure combining materials with different properties - a thermally insulating base body material and a harder fixation material. This composite approach enables the strip to simultaneously achieve both thermal insulation performance and sufficient mechanical strength for fixation, eliminating the need to choose between the two opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If non-foamed plastic material is used, then fixation strength is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation strengthVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The base body material is changed from non-foamed plastic to foamed material, fundamentally altering its physical parameters. This parameter change enables the material to provide both sufficient mechanical strength for fixation and excellent thermal insulation properties, as the foamed structure creates thermal barriers while maintaining adequate structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating strip employs a composite structure combining materials with different properties - a thermally insulating base body material and a harder fixation material. This composite approach enables the strip to simultaneously achieve both thermal insulation performance and sufficient mechanical strength for fixation, eliminating the need to choose between the two opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 insulating strip achieves improved thermal insulation and secure fixation without heat losses, ensuring effective thermal performance and structural stability while allowing for easier assembly and adaptation to various constructions.

Implementation Method 1

the material of the base body provides good thermal insulation, since foamed materials contain air pockets that ensure good thermal insulation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

The hollow chamber can be designed in such a way that two opposite side walls serve as guide means, which are essentially aligned with the walls of the screw groove in order to be able to guide the screw accordingly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical guidance:

Implementation Method 3

a base body which is provided on one side with at least one web for a plug-in connection in order to fix the insulating strip on or in a screw groove of the support profile

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical fixation: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3029211B1Isolating rail for a supporting profile
Publication Date: 2017.06.28 SCHUECO INTERNATIONAL KG
  • EP3029211B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3029211B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3029211B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An insulating strip (10) for a support profile (2, 3), in particular for a facade or skylight, comprises a base body (11) made of a first material, on which at least one web (13) for a plug connection is formed on one side in order to fix the insulating strip (10) to or in a screw groove (20, 30) of the support profile (2, 3), wherein the base body (11) is made of a rigid foam. This allows the insulating strip to provide good thermal insulation, with sufficient holding forces of the rigid foam base body (11).