Light Shaft Assembly Capillary Barrier Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light shaft arrangements face challenges in ensuring quick and easy on-site assembly with improved sealing properties, particularly under difficult weather conditions, and struggle to prevent moisture ingress and thermal bridging at the connection area between the shaft wall element and the base element.
Innovation Solution
A light shaft arrangement featuring a U-shaped or arc-shaped shaft wall element with a capillary blocking element made of a water-impermeable and deformable material, which is connected to the thermal insulation element and extends along the connection area between the shaft wall element and the base element, providing both watertightness and thermal insulation, and a sealing element with projections for enhanced handling and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing and insulating material is applied on-site between the connection surfaces, then sealing and insulation are achieved, but the installation process is time-consuming and quality is difficult to ensure under challenging weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary barrier element is pre-integrated into the light well element during manufacturing, with sealing surfaces and connection features prepared in advance. This eliminates the need for on-site application of sealing materials and allows for quick assembly by simply connecting the pre-prepared components together.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the capillary barrier function, sealing function, and thermal insulation function into a single integrated capillary barrier element. This multi-functional component eliminates the need for separate sealing materials and reduces the number of installation steps, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining reliable sealing.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional sealing methods are used at the connection area, then assembly is simple, but moisture penetration and thermal bridging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary barrier element is made of a composite material that simultaneously provides capillary barrier properties (to prevent moisture penetration), thermal insulation properties (to prevent thermal bridging), and mechanical connection capabilities. This single composite component replaces traditional separate sealing materials and maintains assembly simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The capillary barrier element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a capillary barrier to prevent moisture ingress, provides thermal insulation to eliminate thermal bridges, and enables mechanical connection between components. This multi-functionality maintains ease of assembly while protecting against harmful factors.
3Reliability
If a capillary barrier element is integrated into the light well element, then moisture penetration and thermal bridging are prevented, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary barrier element is manufactured and integrated into the light well element during the initial production phase under controlled factory conditions. This preliminary action allows for precise integration and quality control, ensuring reliable watertightness while managing manufacturing complexity through standardized production processes.
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
The capillary blocking element effectively prevents moisture ingress and thermal bridging, ensuring improved watertightness and thermal insulation, while the sealing element with projections simplifies on-site assembly and enhances sealing performance, even on uneven building surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The capillary barrier element effectively prevents capillary transport in the area where the shaft wall element and base element connect to the thermal insulation element.
Data Source
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AI summary
The light well assembly (2) is designed in particular for installation in front of a basement window on the exterior wall of a building and comprises a light well (4) with a shaft wall element (6) having a U- or arc-shaped cross-section and a base element (8) that closes off the shaft wall element (6) at the bottom. A thermal insulation element (22) is applied to the end faces of the shaft wall element (6) and the base element (8), and a sealing element (24) is arranged on the side of the thermal insulation element (22) facing away from the shaft wall element (6) and the base element (8), respectively. Furthermore, a capillary barrier element (34) is provided, which has a section on the light well side that extends into the shaft wall element (6) and the base element (8). The capillary barrier element (34) is connected to the thermal insulation element (22).