Stone-slab cladding for fireplaces comprising a thermal-protection corner profile, and fireplace with such a cladding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The adhesive bonds between stone slabs in fireplace casings are sensitive to heat, leading to potential failure due to temperature differences and heat transfer, which can cause aging and damage.

Innovation Solution

A corner thermal protection profile made of sheet metal with cavities and openings for convection airflow is integrated to cool the adhesive points and corners, providing thermal shielding and stabilizing the stone slabs, potentially replacing or relieving the glue points if they fail.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If stone slabs are glued together to improve appearance, then visual appeal is enhanced, but adhesive bonds become sensitive to heat causing aging and failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual appealVSAvoidadhesive bond stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A corner profile made of heat-resistant material is introduced as an intermediary element between the stone slabs and the heat source. This profile includes a cavity that redirects heat flow away from the adhesive bonds, protecting them from thermal damage while allowing the slabs to remain glued together for aesthetic purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The corner profile is segmented into distinct functional zones: a cavity for heat redirection, attachment surfaces for securing stone slabs, and protective elements for the adhesive bonds. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If stone slabs are positioned close to the heating insert for heat efficiency, then heating performance improves, but corners experience excessive heat causing bond failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidexcessive heat exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The corner profile converts harmful direct heat exposure into beneficial indirect heating. The cavity captures excessive heat that would otherwise damage the bonds and redirects it to warm the room air, transforming a harmful thermal effect into a useful heating function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The corner profile acts as a thermal intermediary between the heating insert and the stone slabs. It allows the slabs to remain close to the heat source for efficiency while mediating the thermal interaction to protect the adhesive bonds from excessive heat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If adhesive bonds are used to join stone slabs, then installation is simplified, but heat causes tension on panels leading to bond aging and failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidbond durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The corner profile is installed beforehand to create a protective barrier and heat-redirection system before the stone slabs are glued together. This pre-installation cushioning prevents heat from directly affecting the adhesive bonds, extending their service life while maintaining installation simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Power

If heat is allowed to directly affect the corners for efficient heat transfer, then thermal efficiency improves, but adhesive bonds age and fail due to high temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidbond integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The corner profile serves as a thermal mediator that manages heat flow in the corner regions. It allows sufficient heat transfer to maintain thermal efficiency while directing excess heat away from the adhesive bonds through its cavity structure, preserving bond integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively reduces heat exposure to the corners, preventing damage and aging of the stone slabs by using convection to cool the adhesive areas and providing a stable connection between the slabs, while also allowing for rear ventilation to prevent heat loss.

Implementation Method 1

an area separated from the interior is created in a particularly effective manner, which automatically cools down the immediate area of the adhesive points and the corners through the convection that occurs from bottom to top through the cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

the corner temperature protection profile also forms here another stabilizing element that connects the stone slabs and relieves the glue points

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal shielding: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3371514B1Stone-slab cladding for fireplaces comprising a thermal-protection corner profile, and fireplace with such a cladding
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 CB TEC
  • EP3371514B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3371514B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3371514B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a thermal-protection corner profile (1) for stone-slab claddings (2) of fireplaces, in particular wood-burning stoves or basic stoves, wherein the stone slabs (21) can be spaced apart from said profile by a heating insert, as a result of which the stone slabs (21) of the stone-slab claddings form vertically running corners, wherein the thermal-protection corner profile (1) can be arranged to run along a corner of the interior (22) formed by the stone-slab cladding (2) and, in the immediate surroundings of the corner, forms a closed-off cavity (3) between said corner and the interior (22), wherein the cavity (3), at each of its upper and lower ends of the thermal-protection corner profile (1), has an opening (31, 32) for convection air, which can flow through the cavity (3) from bottom to top. The invention also relates to a stone-slab cladding (2) with such thermal-protection corner profiles (1), and to a fireplace with a cladding (2).