Tubular Skylight Accessory with Resilient Friction Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tubular skylights allow heat transfer between inside and outside a building, causing discomfort and requiring additional heating or cooling, and existing solutions require many complex parts for installation.
Innovation Solution
A tubular skylight accessory with a rigid disc or ring-shaped element and a resilient holding means that adapts to varying diameters, allowing easy installation by applying a normal force via friction or a shelf, minimizing impact on the skylight's performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If discrete holding pieces are attached to the interior of the tube element by adhesive tape, then the accessory can be retained in the tubular skylight, but the installation requires many parts that have to be installed correctly into the interior of the tube
Solution Approach 1:
The holding means integrates multiple functions into a single component: the resilient element provides both the retention force through friction and the adaptation to varying bore sizes, eliminating the need for separate adhesive tapes and multiple discrete holding pieces. The accessory assembly becomes a unified structure where the holding means is connected to the periphery of the first element, simplifying installation to a single insertion action.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient element changes its physical state from a compressed condition during insertion to an expanded relaxed state after passing the restriction, allowing the circumscribed diameter of the accessory to vary between a minimum value equal to the first inscribed diameter and a maximum value exceeding it. This parameter change enables the holding means to adapt to the size and shape of the bore and automatically apply the necessary normal force for retention.
2Ease of operation
If the accessory is inserted into the ceiling mounted element and tube, then the accessory can be easily installed, but the holding means must apply sufficient normal force to prevent the accessory from falling out
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient element automatically generates the required normal force through its own elastic recovery. As the accessory is inserted, the resilient element is compressed; upon passing the restriction, it expands to its relaxed size, self-generating the normal force needed to press against the inner surface of the bore and create friction-based retention without requiring external fastening mechanisms or additional force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient element is configured as an annular structure that can uniformly expand and contract in all radial directions, allowing it to adapt to circular or near-circular bores. The annular shape distributes the normal force evenly around the circumference of the bore, ensuring stable retention of the accessory while maintaining ease of insertion.
3Illumination intensity
If the holding means is attached to the periphery of the accessory, then the installation has little or no impact on the light path through the tubular skylight, but the holding means must still effectively retain the accessory
Solution Approach 1:
The holding means is strategically positioned at the periphery of the accessory, concentrating the retention function in a localized region that does not obstruct the central light path. The annular resilient element is configured to contact only the inner peripheral surface of the bore, leaving the central optical axis clear for light transmission while still providing effective retention through friction at the peripheral contact points.
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 accessory is easily installed with minimal disruption to the skylight's performance, providing a simple and effective solution for mounting without compromising the light path or heat management.
Implementation Method 1
said holding means comprises a resilient element, wherein said resilient element is configured for allowing the circumscribed diameter of the accessory to vary at least between a minimum value equal to the first inscribed diameter and a maximum value exceeding the first inscribed diameter such that the holding means will adapt to the size and shape of the first inscribed diameter as they are inserted in the ceiling mounted element and/or the tube and then apply a normal force to the inner surface of the bore or tube by means of the resilient element
Implementation Method 2
the holding means applies a normal force on the inner surface of the bore of the ceiling mounted element or the tube and thereby retains the accessory in the ceiling mounted element or the tube via friction when installed in the tubular skylight
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A tubular skylight (100) comprising a roof mounted element (200), a ceiling mounted element (300), a tube (400) connecting the roof mounted element (200) and the ceiling mounted element (300), wherein the ceiling mounted element (300) and the tube (400) has a bore, and wherein the smaller bore of the two bores defines a first inscribed diameter (302), and a diffuser element (340) mounted in the ceiling mounted element (300), wherein the tubular skylight (100) further comprises an accessory (500) comprising a first element (520) configured for being mounted in the ceiling mounted element (300) and/or the tube (400), wherein the first element (520) is a rigid disc or ring shaped element, wherein the accessory (500) comprises a holding means (540) configured for retaining the position of the accessory (500) within the ceiling mounted element (300) and/or tube (400), wherein the holding means (540) is connected to the periphery of said first element (520) , and that said holding means (540) comprises a resilient element (542), wherein said resilient element (542) is configured for allowing the circumscribed diameter (502) of the accessory (500) to vary, and wherein the holding means (540) are formed such that the circumscribed diameter (502) of the accessory (500) is larger than the first inscribed diameter (302), an accessory and a method of mounting, in a tubular skylight, an accessory.