Insulating Cladding with Reversible Snap Fasteners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insulating coverings for machine or engine parts require complex disassembly and significant maintenance time for replacement, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies in thermal insulation.

Innovation Solution

A reversible and non-destructive attachment method using a single metallic jacket body with snap fasteners or magnetic forces, allowing for easy installation and removal of insulation without the need for expanding rivets, enabling efficient recycling and adaptation to varying temperatures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the outer sheath body and inner sheath body are joined together by flanging, bending tabs, or riveting and welding to form a receiving space for the insulation, then the insulation is securely housed between the sheath bodies, but the insulation becomes difficult to remove and requires complex disassembly for replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure housing of insulationVSAvoidease of insulation removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating cladding is divided into separate components: an outer sheath body and an inner sheath body that can be independently assembled and disassembled. The insulation layer is sandwiched between these segmented parts, allowing the sheath bodies to be separated for insulation replacement without damaging the insulation itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between the outer and inner sheath bodies is made reversible through snap-fastener elements that allow dynamic assembly and disassembly. This replaces permanent joining methods with a system that can be repeatedly connected and disconnected, enabling easy maintenance while maintaining secure housing during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the insulation is housed between the outer sheath body and inner sheath body and often not easily removable, then the insulation is protected in place, but replacement requires complex disassembly and significant maintenance time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of insulationVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The snap-fastener elements are pre-integrated into the sheath body structure during manufacturing. This preliminary integration of fastening mechanisms eliminates the need for complex assembly operations during maintenance, allowing quick release and replacement of the insulation layer without requiring disassembly of complex joint structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inner sheath body with the insulation layer can be extracted as a complete assembly from the outer sheath body. The snap-fastener connection allows the inner assembly to be removed as a unit, enabling quick replacement of insulation without disturbing the outer sheath structure or requiring separation of multiple joined components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If expanding rivets are used to attach insulation to the sheath body, then the insulation is securely fixed, but manufacturing costs increase and the process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fixation of insulationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening function is merged into the sheath body structure itself through integrated snap-fastener elements. Instead of using separate expanding rivets that require additional manufacturing steps and materials, the fastening mechanism is combined with the sheath body, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining secure fixation of the insulation layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Weight of moving object

If a single metallic jacket body is used without an inner sheath body, then metal and weight are reduced, but the insulation cannot be easily removed and replaced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight reductionVSAvoidease of insulation replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The single jacket body is segmented into an outer sheath body and an inner sheath body that can be separated. This segmentation allows the insulation layer to be accessed and replaced by removing the inner sheath body, while the outer sheath body remains in place. The segmentation enables maintenance functionality without requiring a completely different single-piece design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution simplifies the replacement and maintenance of insulating coverings, reduces material damage, and allows for efficient thermal insulation with reduced manufacturing costs and no need for complex assembly, while maintaining effective temperature reduction.

Implementation Method 1

The insulation (5) is detachably fastened in a reversible and non-destructive manner to the casing body (2) by a snap fastener connection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 2

insulation could be reversibly attached to a metallic sheath body using snap fasteners, magnetic forces or similar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic Force: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 3

The insulation ensures that the temperature of the outer jacket body is significantly lower than the temperature of the inner jacket body, which faces a machine or motor part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3409922B1Insulating cladding
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 BDD BETEILIGUNGS
  • EP3409922B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3409922B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP3409922B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

An insulating cover (1, 1') for thermally insulating machine or engine parts, comprising a rigid and/or metallic shell body (2) with an outer surface (3) and an inner surface (4) and an insulation (5), wherein the insulation (5) is designed as a flexible mat or flexible layer, is characterized, with regard to the task of replacing an insulation of an insulating cover for thermally insulating machine or engine parts as easily and quickly as possible, in that the insulation (5) is reversibly and/or non-destructively detachable from the shell body (2).