Insulation Spacer Device with Membrane Clamping Jaw

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for thermally and acoustically insulating walls using fibrous materials face issues with membrane piercing during spacer installation, which compromises sealing integrity, and lack sufficient space for cables and pipes, making maintenance difficult.

Innovation Solution

A spacer device with a longitudinal rod and a support head featuring a radial stop ring and harpoons to pin the air barrier membrane at a distance, allowing for adjustable fixing and maintaining membrane integrity while providing space for accessories.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If spacers are used to fix the metal frame to the wall, then the insulation and protective membrane are maintained, but the membrane is pierced during installation, compromising its sealing integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemembrane sealing integrityVSAvoidmembrane piercing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer is divided into two functional parts: a rod for structural support and a separate head for membrane clamping. This segmentation allows the rod to pass through the insulation without piercing the membrane, while the head provides the clamping function separately, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining membrane integrity and achieving secure fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The head acts as an intermediary element between the rod and the membrane. Instead of the rod directly contacting and piercing the membrane, the head serves as a mediator that clamps the membrane around the rod, eliminating direct piercing while maintaining the membrane's sealing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the membrane is positioned in front of the metal framework, then membrane integrity is maintained, but no space is left for cables and pipes between the membrane and lining partition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemembrane integrityVSAvoidspace for accessories
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a new spatial dimension by positioning the membrane in front of the spacer rod but behind the lining partition, utilizing the space between the rod and the partition. This dimensional arrangement allows both membrane integrity and accessory installation to coexist, as cables and pipes can be routed through the axial space created by the spacer configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If multiple regularly spaced spacers are used to cover the entire surface, then complete insulation coverage is achieved, but the complexity of installation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation coverage areaVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spacer design integrates multiple functions into a single component: the rod provides structural support for the insulation, the head clamps the membrane, and the overall assembly positions the lining partition. This multi-functionality reduces installation complexity compared to using separate components for each function, while still achieving complete surface coverage through regular spacing.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3009582B1Bracing device for attaching a profile member for supporting a lining partition of a wall to be insulated
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 KNAUF INSULATION SPRL
  • EP3009582B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3009582B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3009582B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a bracing device (10) for the adjustable fixing of a support profile for a partition wall at a distance from a wall to be lined with fibrous insulation, said device comprising: - a rod (30) having a rear end (11) provided with a fixing plate (20) for fixing to said wall to be lined and a front end (12) terminating in a point (32) and provided with means (50, 60) for, in the active operating position, pinching a membrane in order to hold it at a desired distance from said wall, - a support head (60) for the profile adapted to be positioned at the front end (12) of the rod (30), characterized in that the pinching means (50, 60) comprise a retaining ring (50), formed as a single piece with the longitudinal rod (30), and said support head (60) which, in the operating position, is fixed around the rod (30) to form, with the ring (50), an axial locking jaw for the membrane.