Insulating Bar for Window Frames with Movable Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insulating bars for window and door frames fail to compensate for thermal expansion in all spatial directions, leading to unwanted movements and high manufacturing and assembly costs, while also not preventing relative movements due to wind gusts, which can cause leaks and malfunction in window or door frames.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece insulating strip designed to transition from a shear-resistant state to a flexible state, featuring a third area that forms a movable joint between two connected areas, allowing displacement in all spatial directions, with circular grooves and guide elements for enhanced mobility and stability, and optional material differences for increased flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If shear-resistant insulating bars are used to mechanically connect profile chambers, then mechanical connection strength is improved, but thermal expansion compensation is worsened causing profile warping
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating bar is designed with a movable connection (sliding guide mechanism) that allows dynamic adjustment between the inside and outside profile chambers. The connection transitions from a fixed shear-resistant state to a flexible state that permits longitudinal movement, enabling the structure to adapt to thermal expansion while maintaining mechanical integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating bar incorporates a sliding guide that changes the connection parameter from rigid to flexible along the longitudinal axis. This parameter change allows the connection to accommodate differential thermal expansion between inside and outside profile chambers while maintaining shear resistance in the transverse direction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two-part insulating bars with sliding guides are used to enable longitudinal movement, then thermal expansion compensation is improved, but manufacturing and assembly costs are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating bar is divided into two functional parts: a first part that provides shear-resistant connection and a second part that provides flexible longitudinal movement through sliding guides. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity in manufacturing and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating bar combines both shear-resistant connection and flexible longitudinal movement functions into a single integrated component. By merging the rigid connection function and the flexible adjustment function into one element, the design eliminates the need for separate components, reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly steps.
3Adaptability or versatility
If two-part insulating bars are used to permit relative movement, then longitudinal flexibility is improved, but mechanical connection reliability is worsened due to tolerance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding guide mechanism provides a dynamic connection that maintains reliable mechanical coupling while allowing controlled longitudinal movement. The movable connection ensures that the insulating bar remains firmly attached to both profile chambers while accommodating thermal expansion, preventing loosening or disconnection that would compromise reliability.
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 effectively absorbs displacement movements due to thermal expansion in all directions, simplifies manufacturing and assembly, and allows for adjustable flexibility to adapt to local weather conditions, preventing leaks and malfunctions in window or door frames.
Implementation Method 1
the two profile chambers experiencing different thermal expansion, which results in a relative movement of the profile chambers
Data Source
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AI summary
The bar (100) has two regions (110, 120) shear-resistantly connected with respective inner-side and outer-side profile chambers (11, 12). The bar is integrally designed and brought into a shear-soft condition from a shear-resistant condition in a longitudinal direction (Z) of the bar. A third region (130) is formed between the two regions and designed to movably connect one of the two regions (110) with the other region (120) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bar. A guide arm guides the third region along round grooves.