Light Shaft Body Projection for Drainage and Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light well bodies face challenges in achieving stability, material efficiency, and thermal insulation while accommodating perimeter insulation and drainage requirements, especially in areas with high groundwater levels and soil pressures, where existing solutions are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A compact light well body design with a one-piece wall featuring a drainage connection spaced from the flange, allowing for easy perimeter insulation installation without thermal bridges, and a projection that reduces material usage while maintaining structural stability through a chimney-like bulge in the rear wall for enhanced drainage and load absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the drainage connection is positioned close to the flange to minimize floor area, then the total floor area is reduced, but thermal bridges form when perimeter insulation is installed
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage connection is positioned in a projection that extends beyond the transition area of the base, utilizing the vertical/dimensional space rather than horizontal floor area. This allows the drainage connection to be spaced from the flange without increasing the overall floor area, as the projection uses the depth dimension of the base structure.
2Strength
If a large amount of material is used to ensure stability against earth and water pressures, then the light shaft body becomes sufficiently stable, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base is locally widened only in the specific area where the drainage connection is arranged, rather than uniformly increasing the entire base size. This localized reinforcement provides necessary stability and drainage functionality while minimizing overall material consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The light shaft body integrates multiple functional elements (base, rear wall, flange, projection) into a one-piece constructed component, likely using composite material properties to achieve both structural integrity and functional requirements with optimized material usage.
3Quantity of substance
If the drainage connection is positioned close to the flange for compact design, then material usage is reduced, but perimeter insulation cannot be fully installed without cuts
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage connection is positioned in a projection extending beyond the transition area, utilizing vertical/dimensional space to achieve spacing from the flange. This enables full-width perimeter insulation installation without cuts while maintaining compact horizontal footprint and minimal material usage.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a light well body for a building opening with a one-piece wall (10) comprising a base (11) with at least one drainage connection (12), a back wall (13), and a flange (14) for attachment to a building wall, wherein the base (11) and the back wall (13) are connected and form a transition area (15) of the wall (10). The invention is characterized in that the base (11) has a projection (16) that extends beyond the transition area (15), wherein the drainage connection (12) is spaced apart from the flange (14) and is formed at least partially, and in particular completely, within the projection (16).