Insulating Construction Element with Segmented Concrete Cavities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insulating construction elements face challenges in achieving horizontal stabilization and efficient load absorption, often requiring excessive concrete that compromises insulation quality and increases weight, making handling and installation difficult.

Innovation Solution

An insulating construction element design featuring a first and second skin made of insulating material, with a core of flat plates, and cavities for concrete pouring, which reduces the amount of concrete needed and improves insulation while ensuring structural stability through strategically placed cavities that form a trellis-like structure upon hardening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a large quantity of concrete is poured inside the internal volume of the insulating construction element, then the mechanical qualities of the wall are improved, but the insulation qualities are reduced and the weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical qualitiesVSAvoidinsulation qualities
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The internal volume is segmented into multiple cavities distributed throughout the element, allowing concrete to be poured only in specific locations rather than filling the entire volume. This segmentation enables the concrete to provide mechanical reinforcement where needed while leaving insulating material in place to maintain thermal performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Concrete is strategically positioned only in specific cavities rather than uniformly distributed throughout the entire element. This local placement provides mechanical strength and stabilization in critical areas while preserving the insulating properties of the material in other regions, thus achieving both mechanical and insulating requirements without excessive concrete.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If a large quantity of concrete is poured inside the internal volume of the insulating construction element, then the mechanical qualities of the wall are improved, but the weight of the element increases making handling difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical qualitiesVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The internal volume is divided into discrete cavities, allowing concrete to be placed only where structurally necessary. This segmented approach significantly reduces the total volume of concrete required compared to filling the entire internal space, thereby reducing weight while maintaining essential mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Concrete is concentrated only in specific cavities rather than uniformly distributed throughout the entire element. This localized placement provides the necessary mechanical strength and stabilization in critical areas while minimizing the overall weight, making the element easier to handle and install.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If two concrete skins are used in the insulating construction element, then structural stability is improved, but the weight increases and handling becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the concrete from forming complete outer skins and instead places it only within internal cavities. This extraction approach maintains the structural stability provided by concrete while eliminating the excessive weight and handling complications associated with concrete skins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The construction element uses a composite structure combining insulating material for the outer skins with strategic concrete placements within cavities. This composite approach provides structural stability through the combination of materials while avoiding the weight penalty of concrete skins, achieving both stability and reduced weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2899327B1Insulating construction element and method for manufacturing same
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 H & S TECHNOLOGIES
  • EP2899327B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2899327B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2899327B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an insulating building element (1) comprising: - a first skin (6) in the form of a panel (60); - a second skin (7), in the form of a panel (70), made of an insulating material, and parallel to the first skin (6); - a core (8), interposed between the two skins (6; 7), and comprising a plurality of flat plates (9), each made of an insulating material, parallel to these two skins (6; 7), and abutting them; - fastening means for securing the flat plates (9) of the core (8) to the two skins (6; 7); - at least one longitudinal cavity (11, 11') extending between a first side (3) and a second side (4) of this insulating building element (1), opposite this first side (3). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such an insulating building element (1).