Integrated Wall Structure for Ships with Interlocking Fire-Resistant Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall structures for ships and similar watercrafts are not suitable for all applications due to their complexity, weight, and requirement of separate joint strips for fire resistance, which limits their use in cabins and corridors, and they lack efficient fire-resisting properties.
Innovation Solution
A wall structure comprising rectangular panel-like elements with integrated surface, support, and insulation elements, where the support element is placed between the surface plate and recess/protrusion, eliminating the need for separate stiffeners and fixing members, and featuring overlapping bends for enhanced fire safety and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate stiffeners and joint strips are used to ensure fire resistance and structural stability, then fire-resisting properties and stability are improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the surface plate element, support element, and insulation element into a single integrated wall element. The support element is positioned between the surface plate and the recess/protrusion joint structure, eliminating the need for separate stiffeners and joint strips. This merging of functions achieves fire resistance and structural stability while reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated wall element performs multiple functions simultaneously: the surface plate provides the outer surface and fire resistance, the support element provides structural stiffening, and the insulation element provides thermal insulation. The recess and protrusion joints serve both as connection mechanisms and as structural reinforcement, eliminating the need for separate joint strips.
2Stability of the object's composition
If separate stiffeners and fixing members are used to ensure structural stability, then stability is improved, but weight and ease of manufacture deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is integrated into the wall structure by positioning it between the surface plate and the recess/protrusion joint. This eliminates the need for separate stiffeners and fixing members, reducing weight while maintaining structural stability through the combined action of the integrated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess and protrusion joint structure itself provides the necessary structural reinforcement and connection functionality. The support element works in conjunction with the joint structure to provide stability without requiring additional separate fixing members, making the structure self-sufficient.
3Strength
If wall elements are joined together by screws at the backside to ensure connection strength, then connection strength is improved, but ease of operation and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional screw-joining mechanism with an interlocking recess and protrusion joint system. The support element is positioned between the surface plate and the joint structure, creating a mechanical interlock that provides connection strength without requiring screws or other fastening hardware, thereby simplifying installation.
4Weight of moving object
If the insulation element covers only a part of the wall structure to reduce weight, then weight is reduced, but fire-resisting properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation element is integrated into the wall structure by positioning it between the support element and the recess/protrusion joint. This integration ensures that the insulation element covers the entire wall structure thickness, providing continuous fire resistance while minimizing weight through the efficient use of the integrated configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wall structure made of fire-resistant material comprising at least two mainly rectangular panel-like wall elements, which are adapted to be joined together by means of there longer sides and which comprise a surface plate element (1, 1') as well as a support element (2, 2') and an insulation element (3, 3'), which are to be attached thereto. The longer sides of the wall elements are provided with bends (Ia, Ib, Ib') formed of the edges of the surface plate element, which are shaped and dimensioned so that the wall elements can be joined together parallel with their shorter sides and, when installed, are partially overlapping each other and locked transversely with respect to the plane of the wall elements without any separate fastening members.