Tapered Metal Gusset for Thermal Bridge Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing facade cladding connecting parts, made of low thermal conductivity materials like plastics or composites, fail to replicate the non-combustible, cost-effective, and easily workable characteristics of metals while effectively limiting thermal bridges.
Innovation Solution
A metal sheet part with a folded design, featuring an anchor plate, a gusset with an insulating zone of constant cross-sectional surface area that tapers from the anchor to the fixing point, and recesses to minimize thermal conductivity, made from stainless steel to connect facades to building walls without creating thermal bridges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal connecting pieces are used to fix the facing to the wall, then the connecting pieces are non-combustible, inexpensive and easy to work with, but they create thermal bridge effects that compromise thermal insulation
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece is divided into multiple zones with different cross-sectional areas: a first zone near the anchor plate with larger cross-section, and a second zone near the extension with smaller cross-section. This segmentation allows the metal piece to maintain structural integrity while reducing thermal conductivity in the critical path between wall and facing.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting piece has non-uniform cross-sectional area along its length, creating local variations in thermal conductivity. The region with smaller cross-sectional area (second zone) specifically addresses the thermal bridge problem, while the first zone maintains adequate mechanical strength for anchoring.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic or composite materials are used for connecting pieces, then thermal bridge effects are limited, but the materials lack the advantages of metals such as non-combustibility, low cost, and ease of working
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece combines metal material with a geometric design that incorporates air gaps or reduced cross-sectional areas. This creates a composite thermal path where the metal provides mechanical strength and non-combustibility, while the air gaps or reduced sections provide thermal insulation, achieving properties of both metal and insulating materials.
3Ease of manufacture
If the gusset has constant width, then manufacturing is simple, but thermal bridging is maximized; if the gusset width varies, then thermal bridging is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-sectional area parameter of the gusset is varied along its length, transitioning from a larger area near the anchor plate to a smaller area near the extension. This parameter change optimizes the balance between mechanical strength (requiring larger area) and thermal insulation (requiring smaller area), reducing thermal bridging while remaining manufacturable.
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 limits thermal bridging while leveraging the advantages of metal materials, such as non-combustibility and ease of use, while maintaining low thermal conductivity, thus enhancing thermal insulation of building facades.
Implementation Method 1
the gusset means comprising an insulating zone whose cross-section has a substantially constant surface area
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a connecting bracket (1) for connecting between a facing and a load-bearing wall, comprising: - a plate (2) for anchoring it to the wall; - an extension (4) for fastening the facing to the bracket; and, - a gusset (3) disposed between the plate (2) and the fastening means (43); the gusset comprising a zone (33), the cross-section (S) of which has a substantially constant area, while a width L of the gusset reduces gradually as it moves away from the anchoring plate (2) and approaches the extension.