Construction Panel Spacer Assembly for Thermal Bridge Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing construction panel assemblies face challenges in ensuring thermal insulation continuity and mechanical strength at junctions, leading to thermal bridges and inadequate airtightness, particularly when connecting panels or attaching them to building elements like slabs or beams.
Innovation Solution
The assembly features panels with spacers and connecting elements that allow for easy positioning and high mechanical strength, ensuring structural loads are absorbed and thermal insulation is continuous, using flat contacts on large surfaces to minimize stress concentrations and eliminate thermal bridges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If panels are connected using conventional joining methods, then mechanical strength is improved, but thermal insulation continuity deteriorates due to thermal bridges at junctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connecting element that acts as an intermediary component between panels. This connecting element includes an insulation portion that extends between the inner webs of adjacent panels, serving as a thermal bridge breaker while the connection portion provides mechanical joining. The intermediary structure allows both mechanical strength and thermal insulation continuity to be achieved simultaneously.
2Reliability
If panels are joined with tight fitting to ensure airtightness, then airtightness is improved, but assembly complexity increases due to precision requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is segmented into distinct functional portions: a connection portion for mechanical joining and an insulation portion for thermal and airtight sealing. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently - the connection portion provides structural integrity while the insulation portion with its extended shape automatically fills gaps and ensures airtightness without requiring high precision assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation portion of the connecting element is designed to automatically fill the space between inner webs of adjacent panels through its extended shape. This self-service mechanism ensures airtightness and thermal insulation continuity without requiring additional sealing operations or high precision positioning, thereby reducing assembly complexity.
3Ease of operation
If spacer protrudes from panel to enable connection, then ease of assembly is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates due to potential buckling under load
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is constructed as a composite structure combining a connection portion (for mechanical joining) and an insulation portion (for thermal insulation and structural support). The insulation portion extends between inner webs to provide load-bearing capacity and prevent buckling, while the connection portion facilitates easy assembly. This composite design allows the spacer to protrude for ease of assembly without compromising structural integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an assembly comprising at least one construction panel with at least one spacer inserted in the interior thereof, and a method for mounting the assembly. This assembly (100) is characterized in that the projecting portions (3a, 23a, 33a) of the spacers of the panels (10, 20, 30) are in contact with one another or the projecting portion (3a) of the spacer (3) of the panel (10) is in contact with the outer part (15), spaces remaining between at least the outer webs (1, 21, 31) or the inner webs (2, 22, 32) of the panels (10, 20, 30) or between at least the outer web (1) or the inner web (2) of the panel (10) and a portion of the part (15) opposite said web (1 or 2) after assembly (100), at least one connecting element (6, 7, 37, 151, 152) being inserted into at least one space.