Hybrid Window Frame Injection Blocks for Corner Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid window frame assemblies face challenges in sealing the cladding frame to the window frame to prevent water infiltration, particularly at corners, due to the use of different materials, and existing methods are labor-intensive and aesthetically detrimental.
Innovation Solution
The hybrid window frame assembly incorporates injection block cutouts and blocks to allow for the injection of sealant directly into the corners, creating a watertight seal between the cladding and window frames, while maintaining a hidden and aesthetically pleasing seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing methods are used at corner junctions, then the sealing process becomes labor-intensive and complex, but the aesthetic appearance is compromised due to visible seals and additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The injection blocks are integrated directly into the corner junction geometry, merging the sealing function with the structural corner element. This eliminates separate sealing components and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining effective water infiltration prevention at the corner joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from the main frame body and concentrated into discrete injection blocks positioned at corner junctions. This allows the sealing mechanism to be simplified and localized, reducing the complexity of the overall sealing system while maintaining reliability at critical corner points.
2Productivity
If conventional sealing methods are used at corner junctions, then the sealing process requires significant labor, but the aesthetic appearance is compromised due to visible seals and additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The injection blocks are designed to be seamlessly integrated into the corner junction geometry, merging the sealing function with the structural corner element. This eliminates visible separate sealing components and maintains a clean, continuous aesthetic appearance while simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If sealant is injected into corner junctions, then a watertight seal is achieved, but the injection process requires access holes and additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted from the main frame body and concentrated into discrete injection blocks positioned at corner junctions. This allows the sealing mechanism to be simplified and localized, reducing the complexity of the overall sealing system while maintaining reliability at critical corner points.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection blocks are pre-positioned within the corner junction geometry before final assembly. This preliminary placement ensures that sealant injection access is already provided through the block structure, eliminating the need for additional access holes or complex injection systems while achieving reliable watertight sealing.
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid window frame assembly includes a primary window frame formed of a first material connected to a cladding frame formed of a second material. The cladding frame includes a peripheral channel defining a recess that receives a peripheral bead of the window frame to connect the cladding frame to the window frame. The hybrid window frame further includes injection block cutouts at each corner. Each injection block cutout exposes at least a portion of respective inner sidewalls of the channel and bead. The hybrid window frame assembly further includes injection blocks inserted in each injection block cutout. Each injection block includes at least one injection hole accessible from an exterior of the hybrid window frame assembly. The hybrid window frame assembly further includes sealant injected through the at least one injection hole of each injection block to seal respective corners of the window frame and cladding frame together.