Prefabricated Element Recess for HVAC Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of heating and cooling devices in prefabricated building elements is time-consuming and costly due to the need for manual creation of recesses in walls and ceilings, which are often inaccurate and inefficient, especially in conventional methods that rely on caulking and milling after the element is installed.

Innovation Solution

A flat prefabricated building element with a pre-designed recess on its surface to accommodate heating and/or cooling devices, featuring a heat-conducting profile with an omega-shaped receptacle for air conditioning pipes, and latching elements or adhesive layers for secure fixation, allowing for precise and efficient integration of heating and cooling systems during production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If heating and cooling devices are installed after prefabricated building elements are assembled, then the building elements can be manufactured and delivered efficiently, but the installation process becomes time-consuming and costly due to manual creation of recesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-fabricating recesses in the building elements during manufacturing, before delivery to the construction site. This allows heating and cooling devices to be integrated more efficiently, as the recesses are already prepared and do not require manual creation during installation, thereby reducing on-site installation time while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the building element into distinct functional zones, including dedicated recess areas for heating and cooling devices. This segmentation allows for standardized production of modular elements with pre-defined installation zones, improving both manufacturing efficiency and on-site assembly speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If manual chiseling and milling are used to create recesses for heating devices, then the prefabricated elements can be installed first, but the process generates noise, dust, and results in inaccurate dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidrecess dimension accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The recesses are pre-fabricated with precise dimensions during the manufacturing process using controlled industrial equipment, eliminating the need for inaccurate manual chiseling and milling on-site. This ensures high manufacturing precision while maintaining installation flexibility, as the precise recesses are ready for direct device placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If recesses are pre-formed in prefabricated building elements, then heating and cooling systems can be integrated more efficiently, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveon-site assembly speedVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process is segmented into standardized steps for creating recesses, allowing for modular production. This segmentation reduces overall process complexity by breaking down the pre-fabrication into repeatable, controlled operations that can be efficiently integrated into existing manufacturing workflows, thereby improving on-site assembly speed without excessive complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-formed recesses are designed with universal dimensions and configurations that can accommodate various heating and cooling devices. This universality simplifies the manufacturing process by using standardized templates and tools for recess creation, reducing the need for custom fabrication while enabling efficient on-site assembly across different project requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This approach significantly reduces assembly time and costs by enabling precise and efficient integration of heating and cooling systems during production, optimizing space use and improving thermal performance through pre-fabrication, while allowing for flexible design and implementation in building data modeling.

Implementation Method 1

heat-conducting profile with an omega-shaped receptacle for air conditioning pipes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4239139A1Flat prefabricated element
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 BM NEWTEC GMBH
  • EP4239139A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4239139A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4239139A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4b

AI summary

The present invention relates to a flat prefabricated building element intended for use or assembly as an exterior, interior, or partition wall, or as a ceiling element, for the construction or expansion of prefabricated houses, halls, etc. To provide a prefabricated building element (7) with further improved properties, regardless of whether it is made of wood, residential concrete, brick, or a composite material, it is proposed that a surface (10) of the flat prefabricated building element (7) oriented towards an interior space in its final installation position has at least one flat recess (3) designed to accommodate a heating and/or cooling device (6).