Castable Insulating Bracket for Structural Separation Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermally insulating components for connecting load-bearing structural parts, such as balconies, require complex installation processes involving concrete hardening or injection mortar, which are time-consuming and difficult to adjust for varying widths, and often compromise thermal insulation and fire protection.

Innovation Solution

A thermally insulating component featuring a castable non-metallic console with integrated force-transmitting elements and connecting means, allowing for a simple and quick connection between load-bearing structural parts without protruding reinforcing bars, providing good thermal separation and fire protection, and eliminating the need for concrete hardening or injection mortar.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional connection methods using reinforcing bars and injection mortar are used, then structural connection is achieved, but installation time increases and thermal insulation performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural connectionVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The force-transmitting elements with connecting means are pre-integrated into the insulating body during manufacturing, eliminating the need for subsequent concrete hardening or injection mortar processes. This preliminary integration of connection functionality directly reduces installation time while maintaining structural reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the time-consuming concrete hardening and injection mortar processes from the traditional connection method, retaining only the essential force transmission function through pre-integrated force-transmitting elements and connecting means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If traditional connection methods with protruding reinforcing bars are used, then structural connection is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural connectionVSAvoidconnection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the force-transmitting elements, connecting means, and insulating body into a single integrated component. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate reinforcing bars protruding from the insulating body, reducing device complexity while maintaining structural connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The force-transmitting elements serve multiple functions: they provide structural force transmission, enable connection to the second load-bearing structural component through integrated connecting means, and are embedded within the insulating body. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying the overall connection structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If thicker insulation material is used to improve building insulation, then thermal insulation performance improves, but the distance between structural components increases making connection more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidconnection ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is designed as a castable, non-metallic component that can be adaptively shaped and sized to match different widths of the parting joint. This dynamic adaptability allows the connection structure to accommodate varying insulation thicknesses without compromising connection ease or thermal insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of the bracket (castable, non-metallic material with adaptable dimensions) to enable easy adjustment to different parting joint widths caused by varying insulation thicknesses, thereby maintaining connection ease regardless of insulation thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Strength

If metal brackets are used for connection, then structural strength is improved, but thermal insulation and fire protection performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidthermal insulation and fire protection
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite material construction: the insulating body is made of thermally insulating material, while the force-transmitting elements and bracket provide structural strength. This composite approach maintains thermal insulation and fire protection performance while ensuring adequate structural strength for load-bearing connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket and force-transmitting elements are made of non-metallic materials that provide sufficient local structural strength at the connection points without compromising the overall thermal insulation and fire protection performance of the insulating component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables a straightforward, adjustable, and efficient connection of load-bearing structural parts with enhanced thermal insulation and fire protection, facilitating faster construction and improved performance in building facades.

Implementation Method 1

thermally insulating component for use in a joint between a first load-bearing structural component and a second load-bearing structural component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3839162B1Thermally insulating component for use in a separation joint between two structural parts
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 LEVIAT GMBH
  • EP3839162B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3839162B1 patent drawingFigure 5~10
  • EP3839162B1 patent drawingFigure 11~18

AI summary

A thermally insulating component (10) for use in a separation joint (2) between a first load-bearing structural element (3) and a second load-bearing structural element (4) comprises an insulating body (11) having two longitudinal sides (16, 17) extending in a longitudinal direction (12). For the transmission of forces between the first structural element (3) and the second structural element (4), the thermally insulating component (10) has force-transmitting elements (18, 20). The thermally insulating component (10) has a bracket (15) which is at least partially made of castable, non-metallic material and extends along the second longitudinal side (17) of the insulating body. The at least one force-transmitting element (18, 20) has at least one connecting element (21, 22) for connecting it to the second load-bearing structural element (4).A structure (1) has a thermally insulating building element (10) in a separation joint (2) between two structure parts (3) and (4).