Thermal Bar Façade Mounting Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening devices for facade elements, such as glass panels, fail to effectively reduce heat transfer between the front and rear of building facades, and often compromise stability or increase production costs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a heat conduction-reducing element, or thermal bar, made of stable plastic material between the front and rear of the facade element, with fasteners concealed from the front and extending in the direction of suspension, and using sealing elements to minimize heat transfer and enhance stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal frame is used to fasten facade elements, then structural stability is achieved, but heat transfer between the front and rear of the facade increases
Solution Approach 1:
A thermal bar made of thermally insulating material is introduced as an intermediary element between the metal frame and the facade element. This thermal bar serves as a mediator that maintains the mechanical fastening function while blocking heat transfer paths, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural stability and thermal insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system combines metal frame elements with a thermal bar made of thermally insulating material (such as plastic or composite material). This composite construction allows the metal frame to provide structural strength while the thermal bar provides thermal insulation, simultaneously achieving both structural stability and reduced heat transfer.
2Ease of manufacture
If fasteners are exposed on the front of the thermal bar, then structural connection is simplified, but aesthetic appearance and thermal performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening screws are nested within recesses or cavities in the thermal bar structure, with their heads positioned in sunken areas that are not visible from the front facade. This nesting approach allows the fasteners to remain structurally functional while being concealed from view and positioned away from the thermal bridge at the front surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal bar is designed with differentiated local qualities: the front surface maintains smooth thermal insulation properties, while recesses or cavities are created locally to accommodate fastener heads. This local modification allows fasteners to be concealed without compromising the overall thermal performance or requiring complex fastening mechanisms.
3Loss of energy
If a complex fastening system is used to reduce heat transfer, then thermal insulation improves, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal bar integrates multiple functions into a single element: it provides thermal insulation, serves as a mechanical attachment point for the facade element, and conceals fasteners within its structure. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate insulation components and complex fastening mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining thermal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal bar is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides thermal insulation, structural support for fastening, and aesthetic concealment of fasteners. This universal design approach allows a single element to fulfill multiple requirements, simplifying the overall fastening system and reducing production costs compared to using separate specialized components.
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
Significantly reduces heat transfer between the facade elements and the building facade while maintaining structural stability and low production costs, with a simple and efficient construction method.
Implementation Method 1
a heat conduction-reducing element (hereafter thermal bar) is provided between the front and rear of the facade element in or on the frame surrounding the facade element. This reduces the heat transfer from the front to the area of the fastening device for the facade elements lying behind it.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a mounting device for board-like façade elements (1), comprising a metal frame (2) disposed on the rear face of the façade element (1), wherein mounting anchors (3) can be mounted on the back side thereof, and an element (5) having an L-shaped cross section made of a material reducing heat conduction, the leg (5.1) thereof running perpendicular to the plane of the façade element being mounted to the front face of the metal frame (2), and the protruding leg (5.2) thereof holding the façade element (1) in contact with the metal frame (2).