Support structure for heating or cooling system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating and cooling systems for buildings, particularly underfloor systems, face challenges in ensuring even temperature distribution and mechanical integrity due to shear stress and thermal expansion issues.
Innovation Solution
A support structure with oscillating walls and undulating channels is designed to securely hold thermal elements, such as heating wires or pipes, while minimizing contact and stress, and incorporating a viscous layer to manage elastic stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If projections are spaced closely to grip thermal elements firmly, then retention of thermal elements is improved, but crush resistance of the support structure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple projections distributed across the base, with each projection independently retaining thermal elements. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain retention functionality while distributing mechanical loads across multiple points, improving overall crush resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The projections extend vertically from the base, adding a third dimension to the support structure. This vertical dimension allows thermal elements to be retained through lateral contact with projection surfaces rather than requiring close horizontal spacing, thereby maintaining both retention effectiveness and structural strength.
2Stability of the object's composition
If thermal elements are constrained to prevent movement, then positioning stability is improved, but mechanical stress on thermal elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the projections have different functional qualities: the sides of projections provide gentle lateral guidance to maintain positioning stability, while the tops provide minimal vertical constraint. This local differentiation allows stability without excessive mechanical stress on the thermal elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The projections provide partial constraint rather than complete fixation of thermal elements. This partial action is sufficient to maintain positioning stability during operation while avoiding the excessive mechanical stress that would result from tight constraints, allowing natural thermal expansion and contraction.
3Strength
If support structure is made rigid to enhance crush resistance, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability to thermal expansion and contraction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure incorporates dynamic characteristics through its projection design, allowing controlled movement and deformation in response to thermal expansion and contraction. The projections can flex and adjust their positions slightly, maintaining structural integrity and crush resistance while adapting to dimensional changes in the thermal elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties and geometric parameters of the projections are optimized to balance rigidity and flexibility. The projections have sufficient stiffness to provide crush resistance but incorporate design features such as rounded edges and appropriate height-to-base ratios that allow controlled deformation, enabling the structure to adapt to thermal movement while maintaining overall strength.
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 solution enhances crush resistance, maintains even heat distribution, and extends the service life of thermal elements by reducing mechanical stress and wear, thereby improving the overall performance and reliability of heating and cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
The base may have a viscous layer formed on one side remote from the projections. The viscous layer may serve to reduce stress on any thermal elements that are laid on the support structure.
Implementation Method 2
These may hereafter be referred to as the thermal element(s). While a plurality of thermal elements may be used, it is common for a single thermal element (e.g. a single cable or a single pipe) to be used.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
A support structure for a heating or cooling system, comprising: a base; and a plurality of projections extending from said base, said projections being capable of retaining one or more thermal elements positioned adjacent thereto; wherein each of said projections comprises a wall extending from said base, at least part of said wall having an oscillating form. Forming the wall that extends from the base such that it has an oscillating form increases the crush resistance of the support structure. During installation, there are many potential sources of pressure that can crush and/or damage the structure. For example, an installer may stand on the structure while inserting the thermal elements. Additionally, heavy equipment may be placed upon the structure with its load applied through a small area. The crush resistance of the structure comes largely from the walls of the projections. Oscillating wall provides a wall which has an effective thickness greater than its actual thickness and which increases the crush resistance of the structure without a large increase in material.