Frameless Flush Sash Window Assembly for Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing frameless sashes with aluminum fixed frames have poor thermal insulation due to high thermal conductivity, and cover plates on weather-sensitive materials like wood and polymers create cleaning difficulties and reduce the frame opening area.
Innovation Solution
A frameless sash design with a fixed frame made of weather-sensitive materials, such as wood or polymer, combined with a cover plate and sealing elements, ensures flush surfaces for easy cleaning and enhanced thermal insulation, maintaining a high opening ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aluminum fixed frames are used, then weathering resistance is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates due to high thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed frame is constructed as a composite structure combining aluminum profile with a thermal barrier layer (polymer bloc, typically polyamide) sandwiched between two aluminum elements. This composite design maintains the weathering resistance of aluminum while reducing thermal conductivity through the insulating polymer layer, achieving both durability and thermal performance.
2Reliability
If cover plates are added to protect weather-sensitive frame materials, then durability is improved, but cleaning ease deteriorates and frame opening area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the cover plate element from the design, exposing the weather-sensitive frame material (wood or polymer) directly to the environment. This extraction eliminates the cleaning difficulties and frame opening area reduction caused by cover plates, while the frame materials themselves maintain adequate durability through proper material selection and treatment.
3Reliability
If frame profiles with cover plates are used, then protection against weathering is improved, but frame opening ratio is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate is removed from the fixed frame design, eliminating the obstruction it created to the frame opening area. This allows the frameless sash to extend closer to the wall opening perimeter, maximizing the usable window area and improving the frame opening ratio while relying on the inherent weather resistance of the selected frame materials.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 2(c)~2(d)
AI summary
The present invention concerns a window comprising a frameless sash (10) defined by an inner surface and an outer surface, the frameless sash having a thickness, W10, and a fixed frame (20) having an inner face and an outer face comprising, °a fixed frame profile (21) defining a frame opening, having an outer side bounded by an outer frame perimeter mating the outer glazing perimeter and an inner side bounded by an inner frame perimeter mating the inner glazing perimeter, ° receiving elements for coupling the frameless sash to the fixed frame in a closed position, ° a cover plate (22) coupled to and covering at least 10% of a surface area of the outer side over substantially a whole of an outer perimeter of the fixed frame profile, wherein the fixed frame (20) has a thickness, W20, which is equal to the sum of thicknesses, W21 and W22, of the fixed frame profile and of the cover plate (i.e., W20 = W21 + W22), characterized in that, ° the thickness, W20, of the fixed frame is equal to the thickness, W10, of the frameless sash, within a tolerance of ± 5% (i.e., W20 = W10 (1 ± 5%)), in that ° when the frameless sash is in the closed position, the inner and outer faces of the fixed frame are flush with the inner and outer surfaces of the inner glazing (10n), respectively, and in that ° the thickness ratio, W21 / W20, of the fixed frame profile (21) to the fixed frame (20) is at least 80%.