Sun Protection Grid Component With Staggered Louver Connection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sun protection grids with mirrored plastic lamellae suffer from non-uniform appearance and suboptimal solar energy reflection, leading to higher energy input in buildings due to their tiled structure and material composition.
Innovation Solution
A sun protection grid component featuring an elongated support with regular transverse webs and connecting elements, allowing for a continuous, staggered arrangement of slats that reflect direct sunlight and transmit diffuse radiation, resulting in a single, endless curtain with improved reflectivity and uniform appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If individual rectangular grid panels are used to create sun protection grids, then the grid can be assembled from modular components, but the appearance becomes non-uniform and tiled rather than continuous
Solution Approach 1:
The sun protection grid is divided into modular components (transverse louvers, longitudinal louvers, and connection elements) that can be assembled individually. Each component is a discrete element that can be manufactured separately and then connected to form the complete grid structure, enabling modular assembly while maintaining visual continuity through proper connection design.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection elements are designed to merge the appearance of adjacent grid panels by concealing joints and creating continuous surfaces. The longitudinal and transverse louvers are combined at intersection points using specialized connection elements that eliminate visible seams, making the individual panels indistinguishable and creating a uniform continuous appearance.
2Weight of moving object
If mirrored plastic lamellae are used in sun protection grids, then the material is lightweight and easy to manufacture, but the solar energy reflection is suboptimal leading to higher energy input
Solution Approach 1:
The sun protection grid combines plastic material for the structural components with mirrored or highly reflective coatings on the louver surfaces. This composite approach maintains the lightweight advantage of plastic while adding the solar reflection properties of metallic or coated surfaces, thereby reducing solar energy input without sacrificing the benefits of lightweight construction.
3Reliability
If louvers are arranged in a staggered pattern to improve sun protection, then shading effectiveness increases, but the structural complexity and connection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection elements are designed with multi-functionality to handle both transverse and longitudinal louver connections using the same basic component type. This universal connection design simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for different connection mechanisms for different louver orientations, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining the staggered arrangement for effective shading.
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 reduces solar energy input, provides effective shading, and maintains visibility while creating a homogeneous appearance, suitable for various applications including roofing and insulating glazing.
Implementation Method 1
Direct sunlight is reflected, while diffuse daylight is allowed into the room. The southern sun is reflected by the main louver, while the low sun in the east and west is reflected by the vertically arranged cross louvers.
Implementation Method 2
Diffuse radiation from the northern hemisphere passes through the sunshade grid.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a component (2) for holding and connecting fins (40) for sun protection grids, comprising an elongate carrier (4) having holding elements (6) for a fin (40), transverse webs (8) protruding from the carrier at regular distances, and connecting elements (10) for an adjacent fin.