Segmented Insulating Leg for Skylight Thermal Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roof windows with insulating blocks face challenges in achieving optimal thermal insulation while minimizing packaging size and assembly complexity, often requiring larger dimensions that increase costs and risk damage during transport and assembly.
Innovation Solution
A roof window with an insulating leg and a removable insulating leg enlargement leg connected via a form-fitting, detachable connection, allowing the leg to be adapted to different insulation scenarios without protruding beyond the window frame, ensuring secure sealing and easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the insulating leg is dimensioned to protrude beyond the outer circumference of the skylight to ensure thermal insulation in over-rafter insulation scenarios, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but packaging volume and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating leg is divided into two separate components: a basic insulating leg and a removable insulating leg enlargement. The basic leg fits within the skylight's outer circumference for compact packaging, while the enlargement can be attached only when needed for over-rafter insulation scenarios, thus resolving the contradiction between insulation performance and packaging volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating leg configuration is made dynamic and adaptable through the removable enlargement component. This allows the insulation length to be adjusted based on installation conditions (between-rafter vs. over-rafter insulation), enabling the system to optimize thermal performance only when necessary without permanently increasing packaging requirements.
2Reliability
If the insulating leg protrudes beyond the outer circumference to bridge roof battens and counter battens, then thermal insulation is improved, but the risk of mechanical damage during transport increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the insulating leg into a protected basic leg and a removable enlargement, the fragile protruding portion is eliminated during transport. The enlargement is attached only at the installation site, protecting the porous insulating material from mechanical damage while still enabling it to bridge roof battens and counter battens when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The basic insulating leg is pre-installed within the protected space of the skylight frame during manufacturing and transport. The enlargement is prepared separately and attached only when required during installation, ensuring the vulnerable insulating material is protected during handling and transport phases.
3Reliability
If the insulating leg is made larger to ensure contact with rafters and battens, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but assembly complexity and adjustment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design allows the basic insulating leg to be a simple, fixed component that requires no adjustment. The removable enlargement provides the additional length needed for different insulation scenarios but can be easily attached or removed without complex assembly procedures, thus maintaining simplicity while enabling adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating leg's effective length parameter can be changed by attaching or removing the enlargement component. This allows the system to adapt to different installation conditions (between-rafter vs. over-rafter insulation) by simply adding or removing a component rather than requiring complex adjustments to a fixed-size leg.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the insulating leg protrudes beyond the skylight circumference, then adaptability to different insulation scenarios is improved, but packaging and storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented insulating leg system allows the basic leg to be compact for standard packaging, while the removable enlargement provides additional adaptability only when needed. This segmentation enables the product to be packaged in a standardized, space-efficient format while still offering versatility for different insulation scenarios through the optional enlargement component.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable enlargement component serves multiple functions: it extends the insulating leg length for over-rafter insulation, provides additional insulation material for varied rafter spacings, and can be used in different configurations. This single component provides universal adaptability across multiple installation scenarios without permanently increasing packaging volume.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The skylight (1) i.e. residential skylight (2), has an insulation block (6) attached to a blind frame (3) for thermal insulation of the frame. The insulation block has an insulation side piece (7) that is arranged at an outer side of the blind frame, where the side piece is provided with a removable insulation side piece enlarging side piece. The side pieces are fastened to one another by a detachable connection i.e. form-fitting connection (9), and are made from an elastomer material. The insulation side piece has a recess (19) at a lower end and runs in a plane parallel to a window plane.