Plastic Door Frame Reinforcement via Induction Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current processes for manufacturing plastic door and window frames with reinforcing elements result in poor thermal insulation, energy inefficiency, high manufacturing costs, noise disturbance, and aesthetic imperfections due to drilling and screwing methods.

Innovation Solution

A process using electromagnetic induction to heat metal reinforcing elements, which then conduct heat to soften and deform the plastic frame, allowing for screwless fixation and reducing thermal conductivity, machining time, and energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If fixing screws are used to attach reinforcing elements to plastic profiled elements, then structural stability is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates due to heat transmission through the screws

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidthermal insulation performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the fixing screws from the assembly process. Instead of using screws to attach reinforcing elements to plastic profiled elements, the patent uses a compression molding process where the reinforcing elements are directly embedded into the plastic material during molding, removing the thermal bridge created by screws while maintaining structural stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the reinforcing elements and plastic profiled elements into a single integrated structure through compression molding. The reinforcing elements are embedded directly into the plastic material during the molding process, creating a unified structure that eliminates the need for separate fixing components and their associated thermal conduction paths

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Stability of the object's composition

If drilling operations are performed to insert fixing screws, then reinforcing elements can be attached, but chip formation and material waste occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment of reinforcing elementsVSAvoidchip formation and material waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs the attachment action during the preliminary molding stage. The reinforcing elements are positioned and embedded into the plastic profiled elements during the compression molding process itself, before the final product is completed, eliminating the need for subsequent drilling and screw insertion operations that would generate chips and waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If drilling and screwing operations are used to fix reinforcing elements, then structural reinforcement is achieved, but processing time and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural reinforcementVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines the reinforcement attachment operation with the primary molding process. By embedding reinforcing elements during compression molding, the patent eliminates separate drilling and screwing operations, significantly reducing processing time while achieving the same structural reinforcement effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention maintains continuous useful action by performing the reinforcement attachment during the molding process itself. The compression molding operation simultaneously forms the plastic profiled element and embeds the reinforcing elements in one continuous process, eliminating idle time between molding and reinforcement attachment that would occur with sequential drilling and screwing operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Stability of the object's composition

If compressed air screwing systems are used to attach reinforcing elements, then fixation is achieved, but energy consumption and noise disturbance increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation of reinforcing elementsVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the compressed air screwing system from the process. By using compression molding to embed reinforcing elements directly into the plastic material, the patent removes the need for high-energy compressed air systems and noisy screwing operations, achieving fixation through the molding process itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical screwing system with a thermal-mechanical molding process. Instead of using compressed air and mechanical screws to attach reinforcing elements, the patent uses heat and pressure during compression molding to embed the elements, substituting a lower-energy, quieter process for the high-energy mechanical system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enhances thermal insulation, eliminates chip formation and noise, decreases manufacturing and maintenance costs, and reduces energy consumption by eliminating drilling and improving the thermal efficiency of plastic frames.

Implementation Method 1

a heating step of a portion of the reinforcing element by means of electromagnetic induction means for obtaining a heated portion of the reinforcing element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the heated portion of the reinforcing element is arranged in contact with a portion of the profiled element so that the heated portion of the reinforcing element conducts heat to the portion of the profiled element obtaining a softened portion of the profiled element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3423657B1Process for the realization of door and window frames made of plastic material
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 GRAF SYNERGY
  • EP3423657B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3423657B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3423657B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The process for the realization of door and window frames made of plastic material comprises: - a step of providing a profiled element (1) made of plastic material for the realization of door and window frames; - a step of providing a reinforcing element (8) made of metal material, the profiled element (1) having a containment seat (6) of the reinforcing element (8); - a step of inserting the reinforcing element (8) inside the containment seat (6); - a step of fixing the reinforcing element (8) to the profiled element (1) by means of fixing means (9) between at least a portion of the profiled element (10) and at least a portion of the reinforcing element (11); wherein the fixing step comprises a heating step of the portion of the reinforcing element (11) by means of electromagnetic induction means (12), the fixing means (9) being adapted to cooperate with at least one of the portion of the profiled element (10) and the heated portion of the reinforcing element (11) for the fixing of the portion of the reinforcing element (11) to the portion of the profiled element (10).