Skylight Window Frame with Separate Insulation for Lower Thermal Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Skylight windows often suffer from poor insulating properties, limited light entry, and compatibility with different roof angles, with existing solutions like polyurethane and expanded polystyrene being costly and difficult to install effectively.
Innovation Solution
A skylight window design featuring a separate insulation member made of low thermal conductivity material, such as expanded polystyrene, which is easily replaceable and provides improved thermal insulation without compromising functionality or safety, and includes a load-carrying structure to support the IGU.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If polyurethane (PUR) insulation is used in skylight windows, then weather resistance and insulation are improved, but achieving low thermal loss values to meet strict building regulations becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation material with high density (≥30 kg/m³) combined with a specifically designed frame structure. The EPS provides superior thermal insulation properties compared to PUR, achieving lower thermal loss values while meeting building regulations. The composite approach of high-density EPS plus structural design resolves the contradiction between energy loss and insulation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies minimum density parameters for the EPS insulation material (≥30 kg/m³) to ensure sufficient insulation performance. By changing the density parameter of the insulation material and optimizing frame dimensions, the design achieves the required low thermal loss values while maintaining reliability under various environmental conditions.
2Loss of energy
If expanded polystyrene (EPS) with high density is used to provide stiffness and strength, then insulation properties are improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies high-density EPS (≥30 kg/m³) specifically in the insulation member where maximum insulation performance is needed, rather than uniformly throughout the entire structure. This localized application of high-quality material optimizes thermal loss reduction while controlling manufacturing costs by not over-engineering other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies a minimum density parameter for EPS (≥30 kg/m³) to achieve the optimal balance between insulation performance and cost. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient thermal insulation without unnecessarily increasing material costs, resolving the contradiction between energy loss reduction and manufacturing cost.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a weather shield is attached to the top of the skylight with multiple layers of glazing, then protection is improved, but the travel path for light entering into the building increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the weather protection function from the glazing layers and assigns it to a dedicated weather shield component positioned at the top of the skylight. This separation allows the main glazing layers to be optimized for light transmission while the weather shield handles protection, reducing the effective light travel path through multiple glazing layers and improving illumination intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The weather shield acts as an intermediary element that provides environmental protection without requiring multiple thick glazing layers. By positioning the weather shield at the top and using it as the primary protective barrier, the design reduces the number and thickness of glazing layers needed, thereby shortening the light travel path and improving light entry while maintaining adequate protection.
4Ease of repair
If the insulation member is provided separately from the frame side member, then ease of replacement is improved, but structural integration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the skylight window into distinct functional modules: the frame side member, the insulation member, and the glazing unit. The insulation member is provided separately and can be attached to or integrated with the frame, allowing easy replacement of individual components without replacing the entire structure. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between ease of replacement and structural integration by maintaining modular design with proper connection mechanisms.
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 design achieves lower thermal losses and improved heat transfer coefficient, allowing for customization and ease of installation, while offering burglar-proof protection through the use of fragile insulation.
Implementation Method 1
a first insulation member (81) comprising an insulation material and extending in the longitudinal direction along the first of the frame side members
Data Source
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AI summary
A skylight window with frame side members supporting an IGU wherein said first frame side member comprises a load-carrying structure for carrying at least part of the IGU, wherein the skylight window further comprises a first insulation member comprising an insulation material and extending in the longitudinal direction along the first frame side member, and wherein said first insulation member is provided separately from said first frame side member and between said external surface of said load-carrying structure and the side surface of the interior pane.