Insulation Panel Assembly Aid for Adhesive Expansion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The expansion of adhesive foams during curing in insulating panel attachment to substrates often results in misalignment, requiring numerous fixing brackets and additional work steps, increasing costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a reusable assembly aid with detachable connection and contact means, allowing the second insulating board to be held by a fixed first board during adhesive expansion, eliminating the need for fixing brackets and simplifying the attachment process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If adhesive foam is used to attach insulating panels, then bonding strength is improved, but positional accuracy deteriorates due to post-expansion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidpositional accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching fixing brackets to the insulating panel before applying adhesive foam. This preliminary fixation prevents the panel from moving during the adhesive's post-expansion phase, thereby maintaining positional accuracy while still allowing the adhesive to provide bonding strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary anti-action by using fixing brackets to counteract the harmful effect of adhesive foam expansion before it can cause misalignment. The brackets are positioned to resist the outward force of expanding adhesive, preventing positional deviation of the insulating panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Manufacturing precision

If fixing brackets are used to prevent misalignment, then positional accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional accuracyVSAvoidnumber of fixing components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of the insulating panel and fixing brackets into a single pre-assembled unit. The brackets are attached directly to the panel in the factory, combining two separate components into one integrated element that is installed as a single unit on-site, thereby reducing the number of separate fixing operations required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing brackets are pre-attached to the insulating panels during manufacturing before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary action transfers part of the assembly work to the factory setting, reducing on-site complexity and the number of steps required during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If fixing brackets are used to counteract adhesive expansion, then positional stability is improved, but productivity decreases due to additional work steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional stabilityVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing brackets are pre-attached to the insulating panels during manufacturing, transferring the bracket attachment operation to the factory setting. This eliminates the need for workers to install brackets on-site, thereby maintaining positional stability while improving assembly speed and productivity during construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the insulating panel and fixing brackets into a pre-assembled unit, merging two separate installation operations into one. This integration reduces the number of discrete work steps required on-site, thereby improving productivity while ensuring positional stability through the pre-positioned brackets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If numerous fixing brackets are used to prevent misalignment, then reliability is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of fixing components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing brackets are pre-attached to the insulating panels during manufacturing with precise positioning, ensuring reliable alignment is built into the component itself. This preliminary action eliminates the need for additional brackets or adjustment operations on-site, maintaining alignment reliability while reducing the total number of components required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent integrates the fixing brackets directly onto the insulating panels, merging two separate components into one unified product. This integration ensures that the necessary number of brackets is optimally positioned and secured, maintaining alignment reliability while eliminating redundant components and reducing material quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 method ensures minimal positional change of insulating boards during adhesive expansion, reduces the need for additional tools and fixing brackets, and saves costs by allowing quick, cost-effective assembly without built-in aids, while maintaining precise alignment.

Implementation Method 1

Adhesive foams tend to expand during curing. Depending on the adhesive foam, the expansion rates can be between 1% and 30%.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive foam expansion: Foam

Data Source

PatentEP2336444B1Method for attaching insulation panels using assembly aid
Publication Date: 2016.03.02 BRILLUX GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2336444B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2336444B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP2336444B1 patent drawingFigure 8~11

AI summary

The assembling aid (M) has a connection unit for detachable fastening with an insulation board (10) and an attachment unit for another insulation board (11). The assembling aid has a longitudinal profile. The connection unit has a locating surface and two inserting blades. The locating surface is designed as a surface section. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for attaching of insulation boards on a substrate; and (2) a method for assembling of insulation boards.