Prefabricated Wood Construction Element with Integrated Thermal Insulation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing construction modules require additional insulation steps post-assembly, leading to complexity, non-uniform insulation, and thermal bridge issues, necessitating further specialist interventions to meet thermal regulations.

Innovation Solution

A composite construction element with three superimposed layers, including a wood layer, a thermally insulating layer, and another wood layer, where spacers are filled with insulating material during prefabrication, ensuring uniform insulation and minimizing thermal bridges, and featuring assembly means for interlocking with other elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If insulation is performed after assembly by blowing insulation into cavities, then insulation can be added to the construction, but insulation uniformity cannot be guaranteed and thermal bridges remain at rod junctions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation uniformityVSAvoidadditional insulation steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by integrating insulation material into the construction elements during the prefabrication process, before assembly. The insulation material is placed in cavities and covered with additional insulation layers during manufacturing, ensuring uniform insulation distribution and eliminating the need for post-assembly insulation operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining structural wood components with insulation materials in a single integrated construction element. The wood elements provide structural support while the insulation material fills cavities and covers surfaces, creating a composite structure that simultaneously provides both mechanical strength and thermal insulation properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If additional insulation steps are required after assembly to meet thermal regulations, then thermal insulation can be improved, but the construction process becomes more complex and requires specialist companies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulation performanceVSAvoidconstruction process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by integrating insulation material into the construction elements during the prefabrication process, before assembly. The insulation material is placed in cavities and covered with additional insulation layers during manufacturing, ensuring uniform insulation distribution and eliminating the need for post-assembly insulation operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The construction elements are designed to be self-insulating through integrated insulation layers and cavity filling during prefabrication. The elements arrive at the construction site ready-to-assemble with complete insulation, allowing unskilled workers to assemble them without requiring specialist insulation companies or additional insulation steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If spacers are made of wood only, then structural strength is maintained, but thermal bridges are generated at junctions between plates and module core

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidthermal bridge formation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by combining structural wood components with insulation materials in a single integrated construction element. The wood elements provide structural support while the insulation material fills cavities and covers surfaces, creating a composite structure that simultaneously provides both mechanical strength and thermal insulation properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary insulation layer between wooden spacers and wooden plates at their junctions. This intermediary insulation material acts as a thermal break, preventing direct thermal conduction between the wood components while maintaining the structural connection, thereby eliminating thermal bridges at critical junction points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If reception spaces are left open for post-assembly insulation, then flexibility is maintained, but insulation material is exposed to weather and insulation uniformity cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation installation flexibilityVSAvoidinsulation protection and uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by integrating insulation material into the construction elements during the prefabrication process, before assembly. The insulation material is placed in cavities and covered with additional insulation layers during manufacturing, ensuring uniform insulation distribution and eliminating the need for post-assembly insulation operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses covering layers (such as insulation boards or protective films) to seal the reception spaces during prefabrication. These flexible covers enclose the insulation material, protecting it from weather exposure while allowing the element to be manufactured and assembled. The covers are integrated into the element design and do not compromise the insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 provides complete, uniform thermal insulation during prefabrication, eliminating the need for additional insulation steps and ensuring compliance with thermal regulations, making it suitable for implementation by private individuals or unskilled workers.

Implementation Method 1

the first longitudinal wall and/or the second longitudinal wall, and said spacers comprise three successively superimposed layers, called first, second, and third layers, the first layer comprising a material comprising wood, the second intermediate layer comprising an insulating material for thermal insulation and the third layer comprising a material comprising wood

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3255218B1Construction element and construction obtained from said construction element
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 SCHMIDT ROLAND
  • EP3255218B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3255218B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3255218B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a construction element (1) for constructing a building, comprising a first longitudinal wall (2) and a second longitudinal wall (3) held apart from each other by a plurality of spacers (8) which are perpendicular to said longitudinal walls (2 and 3) and distributed at intervals to form at least one receiving space (9) within said construction element (1). Said construction element (1) comprises a base (6) and a lid (7) for closing said at least one receiving space (9), which is filled in part or in whole with a thermal insulating filling material. The first longitudinal wall (2) and/or the second longitudinal wall (3), and said spacers (8) comprise three successively superimposed layers, the first and third layers comprising a wood-containing material, and the second intermediate layer comprising a thermal insulating material.