Heat insulation element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal insulation elements in refrigeration appliances experience deflection due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between plastic and metal facings, leading to stress and increased manufacturing complexity, especially with vacuum insulation bodies.
Innovation Solution
A thermal insulation element with a partially connected cover layer featuring a relief structure that compensates for thermal expansion or contraction by allowing the cover layer to move independently from the vacuum insulation body, reducing deflection without affecting the insulation body's stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the cover layer is fully connected to the vacuum insulation body, then the structural stability is improved, but the deflection caused by thermal expansion difference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover layer is divided into connected regions and unconnected regions. The connected regions provide structural stability by being bonded to the vacuum insulation body, while the unconnected regions form relief structures that can move independently to accommodate thermal expansion, thus reducing deflection.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection state of the cover layer is changed from fully connected to partially connected. This parameter change allows different regions of the cover layer to have different degrees of freedom, enabling the relief structures to compensate for thermal expansion while maintaining overall structural stability.
2Shape
If sheet metal strips are applied to the plastic side to reduce shrinkage, then the deflection is reduced, but the manufacturing effort and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The additional sheet metal strips are removed from the design. Instead, the cover layer itself is used to form relief structures through selective bonding, achieving the same deflection reduction function without additional materials or manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover layer is given multiple functions: it serves as both the structural facing layer and the thermal expansion compensation mechanism. By forming relief structures through partial bonding, the same component performs both structural and compensatory functions, eliminating the need for separate sheet metal strips.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the panel thickness is increased to reduce deflection, then the structural stability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The panel stiffness is maintained through selective bonding in connected regions rather than increasing the overall thickness. The relief structures in unconnected regions provide the necessary flexibility to accommodate thermal expansion without requiring additional material.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonding configuration is changed from full surface bonding to partial bonding with relief structures. This parameter change allows the panel to maintain stiffness where needed while providing flexibility for thermal compensation, avoiding the need to increase panel thickness and material usage.
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 effectively mitigates deflection by converting thermal stress into movement of the relief structure, maintaining insulation integrity and reducing manufacturing complexity and material usage.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum insulation body (3) arranged between the first flat side and the second flat side
Implementation Method 2
the relief structure is designed to compensate for thermal expansion or thermal contraction
Implementation Method 3
the relief structure is designed to compensate for thermal expansion or thermal contraction
Data Source
Figure 1~3b
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat insulating element (1) comprising: a plate-type main part (2) with a first flat face and a second flat face and comprising a vacuum insulating body (3), in particular a foil-encased vacuum insulating body which is arranged between the first flat face and the second flat face, wherein the first flat face and the second flat face are made of a respective cover layer (4, 5), and on at least one of the two flat faces, the corresponding cover layer (4) is only partially connected to the vacuum insulating body (3), in particular in an adhered or melted manner. The invention is characterized in that the cover layer (4) which is only partially connected has a relief structure (6) in all of, a plurality of, or the majority of the regions which are not connected to the vacuum insulating body (3), said relief structure being designed to compensate for a thermal expansion or a thermal contraction.