Masonry Block With Polygonal Insulating Cavity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current brick manufacturing methods fail to efficiently combine high thermal and sound insulation with stability and cost-effectiveness, particularly in masonry applications, where existing solutions often require labor-intensive pre-cutting of insulating materials and may not adequately address resonance issues.

Innovation Solution

A brick design featuring a polygonal insulating material body with vertically arranged cavities, filled with pourable foam-like or granular materials, which harden in place, and lateral receptacles for additional insulation, allowing for efficient production and improved sound and thermal insulation while maintaining stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If pre-cut insulating material is pushed into cavities with friction fit, then thermal insulation is improved, but manufacturing complexity and labor intensity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating material is changed from pre-cut solid form to pourable liquid/semi-liquid form that hardens in place. This parameter change eliminates the need for pre-cutting operations and friction fit insertion, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining thermal insulation performance through complete cavity filling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pourable insulating material that can be injected or poured into cavities through nozzle arrangements, enabling automated filling operations. This hydraulic/pneumatic approach replaces manual friction fit insertion, reducing labor intensity and manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional brick design is used, then production is simple, but sound insulation and heat insulation are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidsound insulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The brick is segmented to include multiple vertically arranged cavities with polygonal cross-sections instead of a solid structure. This segmentation creates air gaps that reduce sound transmission while the pourable insulation material fills these segments to provide additional thermal and acoustic insulation, maintaining production simplicity through standardized cavity formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The brick combines traditional brick material with pourable insulating material (such as mineral foam or granular materials with binders) to create a composite structure. This composite approach enhances sound and heat insulation properties while the vertical cavity design maintains ease of manufacture through automated filling processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional brick design is used, then production is simple, but heat insulation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidheat insulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating material is changed from pre-cut solid form to pourable liquid/semi-liquid form that hardens in place. This parameter change eliminates the need for pre-cutting operations and friction fit insertion, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining thermal insulation performance through complete cavity filling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If polygonal insulating material body is used, then sound insulation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of inserting pre-formed polygonal insulating blocks into cavities (complex approach), the patent inverts the process by forming polygonal cavities in the brick and then pouring liquid/semi-liquid insulating material into them. The material takes the polygonal shape itself, eliminating the need for complex pre-cutting and insertion operations while maintaining the sound insulation benefits of the polygonal structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 design enhances soundproofing and heat-insulating properties, reduces production costs, and allows for automated filling processes, ensuring consistent material flow and reduced resonance, while maintaining structural integrity.

Implementation Method 1

The insulating material body preferably comprises a foam-like insulating material which can be filled into a cavity of the brick in a pourable, in particular liquid or semi-liquid, state. This fills the corners well and allows the insulating material to dry or harden, while remaining elastic.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

The polygonal structure of the body of insulating material improves the acoustic properties of the brick and thus of the wall built from these bricks, since the longitudinal sound conduction is reduced.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 3

The polygonal design of the cavity or of the brick walls forming it further improves the effect of reduced longitudinal sound conduction, since the structure has a stiffening effect and the wall is therefore less prone to resonance effects.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance reduction: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP3828357A1Brick with insulating material body with multiple corners and method for producing a brick
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 KLB KLIMALEICHTBLOCK VERTRIEBS GMBH
  • EP3828357A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3828357A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3828357A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A masonry block (1) with a masonry block interior (4) enclosed by outer masonry walls (2), wherein at least one of the outer masonry walls (2) is designed as a joining surface (7) for lateral connection with further masonry blocks (1). The masonry block (1) further comprises at least one insulating material body (9) arranged vertically within the masonry block interior (4), wherein the insulating material body (9) has a polygonal cross-section, in particular with three, five or more cross-sectional corners (12).