Thermally Insulating Structural Component for Balcony Connections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for connecting balcony slabs to building structural bodies face challenges in providing effective thermal insulation, sound dampening, and efficient handling and storage due to protruding reinforcement elements, which increase costs and risk of damage or injury.
Innovation Solution
A thermally insulating structural component comprising a tension element, compression element, shear force element, and insulating body with internal connection zones allows for modular assembly and separate storage of elongate building elements, reducing heat transfer and sound transmission while facilitating safe handling and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the reinforcement bar or elongate building element is inserted into the insulating body during storage and transport, then the structural component can be pre-assembled, but the combined unit becomes difficult to handle due to protruding ends requiring large storage space and increasing weight
Solution Approach 1:
The structural component is divided into separate modules: the insulating body with integrated connection elements can be stored compactly, while the elongate building elements are kept separate until assembly time. This segmentation allows the insulating body to be handled easily without protruding elements, while still enabling pre-assembly of the connection structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection elements (tension element, compression element, shear force element) are pre-installed into the insulating body during manufacturing, creating ready-to-assemble connection zones. This preliminary action prepares the insulating body for quick assembly with building elements at the construction site without requiring storage of the combined unit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reinforcement bar protrudes from the structural element, then connection to building components is enabled, but the protruding ends cause injuries to persons and damage to nearby objects
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating body serves as an intermediary structure that houses the connection elements internally. The connection elements are contained within the insulating body until assembly, preventing direct exposure of protruding metal ends that could cause injury or damage, while still enabling connection functionality through the integrated connection zones.
3Productivity
If the structural element with inserted reinforcement bar is stored and transported, then the component is ready for installation, but the protruding ends require protective caps introducing extra manufacturing steps and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection elements are merged with the insulating body through integration during manufacturing. The tension element, compression element, and shear force element are combined with the insulating body to form a unified structure with internal connection zones, eliminating the need for separate protective caps and reducing manufacturing steps.
4Ease of operation
If the tension element forms a sleeve through which the reinforcement bar passes, then the reinforcement bar can extend between building and exterior part, but heat can be transferred via the reinforcement bar despite the insulating body
Solution Approach 1:
The connection elements are nested within the insulating body structure. The tension element, compression element, and shear force element are positioned within cavities or channels of the insulating body, allowing the insulating material to surround and thermally isolate the connection elements, thereby reducing heat transfer through the assembly while maintaining assembly flexibility.
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 provides a flexible, cost-effective, and safe method for connecting building components with improved thermal insulation and sound dampening, enabling efficient storage and handling by keeping elongate building elements separate during transport and assembly.
Implementation Method 1
provide an insulation between the building element and the structural body, which reduces heat transfer from the building component to the structural body or vice versa
Implementation Method 2
provide an insulation between the building element and the structural body, which reduces heat transfer from the building component to the structural body or vice versa and/or which dampens sounds
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a thermally insulating structural component (100) for connecting a building component to a structural body. The structural component comprises a tension element (108), a compression element (110), a shear force element (112) and an insulating body (114). The insulating body has a first external side (124) and a second external side (126). The tension element and the compression element extend through the insulating body from the first external side to the second external side in parallel to each other. The tension element and the compression element have a respective first end portion at the first external side and a respective second end portion at the second external side. The shear force element extends through the insulating body from the first end portion of the tension element to the second end portion of the compression element, or from the second end portion of the tension element to the first end portion of the compression element. At least one of the first and the second end portions of the tension element comprises an internal connection zone, such as an internal thread. The present invention further relates to an assembly comprising the structural component described herein and at least one elongate building element, to a set comprising at least two assemblies as described herein and to a method of assembling the assembly described herein.