Thermally Insulating Spacer Profile with Zigzag Side Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spacer profiles for façade and glass roof constructions lack effective thermal insulation due to their geometry and material limitations, which restricts the use of materials and increases heat conduction.
Innovation Solution
A spacer profile with a single side wall element that maintains transverse walls at a predetermined distance, optimizing thermal insulation by reducing the cross-sectional area for heat conduction and allowing a longer path for heat transfer, while enabling the use of a wider range of plastic materials with additives and fillers for enhanced mechanical and thermal properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional hollow chamber profiles are used, then structural stability is maintained, but thermal insulation is insufficient due to large cross-sectional area for heat conduction
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall element is divided into multiple sections (first, second, third sections) arranged at different angles to the transverse walls. This segmentation creates a zigzag path for heat conduction that is significantly longer than the straight-line distance between transverse walls, thereby improving thermal insulation while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wall element extends beyond the simple planar connection between transverse walls by incorporating sections that protrude laterally. This dimensional extension creates a three-dimensional zigzag configuration that lengthens the heat conduction path without increasing the overall distance between transverse walls, thus improving thermal insulation.
2Strength
If more plastic material is used to maintain mechanical properties, then strength is improved, but material cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall element features variable wall thickness with different sections having different thicknesses. The first section has a first wall thickness, the second section has a second wall thickness, and the third section has a third wall thickness. This local variation optimizes material distribution to provide sufficient mechanical strength where needed while reducing material usage in less critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer profile is made from plastic materials that can be optimized with additives and fillers to achieve the required mechanical properties with reduced material quantity. This allows for lighter, more cost-effective construction while maintaining necessary strength and stiffness.
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 improved thermal insulation, reduced material usage, and broader material selection, resulting in economic, ecological, and technical benefits while maintaining mechanical properties comparable to conventional profiles.
Implementation Method 1
the side wall element defines a path for heat conduction from the first transverse wall to the second transverse wall, the length of which corresponds to approximately 1.2 times the distance h between the transverse walls or more
Implementation Method 2
the wall cross-section available for heat conduction in the direction from the first to the second transverse wall can be significantly reduced. This allows for improved thermal insulation
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A thermally insulating spacer profile (10) with improved thermal insulation is proposed. The spacer profile is produced from a plastics material and is particularly suitable for facade or glass roof constructions and window and door elements and comprises: a basic body which extends in a longitudinal direction of the spacer profile and has an outer contour which is substantially rectangular or trapezoidal in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; wherein the basic body has a first and a second transverse wall (12, 14) which are connected to one another via a single side wall element (16) and held at a predetermined spacing h; wherein the side wall element terminates by a first end at a first edge region (22) of the first transverse wall and by a second end at a first edge region (24) of the second transverse wall; wherein the side wall element forms a path for thermal conduction from the first transverse wall to the second transverse wall, the length of which path corresponds approximately to 1.1 times the spacing h or more; and a strip-like anchoring projection (18) which is held on the first transverse wall and extends from the basic body in an opposite direction to the second transverse wall.