Thermal Break Bracket for Façade Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exterior cladding support systems face issues with thermal performance, labor intensity, and sealing challenges when attached to thermally conductive substrates, particularly in carrying high vertical loads and ensuring air, water, and vapor tightness.
Innovation Solution
A support system featuring a self-penetrating, self-tapping frame fixing element with a cylindrical spacer section and integral bracket elements, which minimizes thermal losses and enhances sealing capabilities, while allowing for versatile mounting on various substrates and cavity sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional angle brackets are used to support façade elements, then structural load carrying capacity is improved, but thermal performance deteriorates due to heat conduction through the bracket
Solution Approach 1:
A thermal break element is introduced as an intermediary component between the metal bracket and the insulation layer. This thermal break serves as a mediator that physically connects the two components while thermally isolating them, allowing the bracket to carry structural loads while preventing heat conduction paths from forming through the bracket-insulation interface
Solution Approach 2:
The support system employs composite construction by combining metal bracket material with thermal break material (such as plastic or rubber). This composite approach creates a multi-material assembly where each material performs its optimal function - the metal provides structural strength while the thermal break material provides thermal insulation, resolving the contradiction between load carrying capacity and thermal performance
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional brackets require cutting and sealing of insulation layers, then mounting flexibility is improved, but installation complexity and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket system is designed with pre-formed mounting features and pre-attached thermal break elements that are prepared during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for on-site cutting and sealing operations, as the bracket can be directly mounted to the substrate through pre-drilled holes without requiring subsequent insulation repair work
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing and insulation repair functions are extracted from the installation process. Instead of requiring installers to cut, seal, and make-good insulation layers during installation, the system design separates these functions - the bracket mounts through pre-formed openings while the insulation integrity is maintained by the thermal break design, eliminating the need for mastic sealing operations
3Strength
If angle brackets with fins are used for mounting, then attachment capability is improved, but sealing performance deteriorates due to difficulty in sealing to membrane barriers
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal break element incorporates a flexible sealing lip or membrane interface that can conform to and seal against the weather-resistant barrier membrane. This flexible film approach allows the rigid bracket assembly to create a reliable seal with the flexible membrane barrier, preventing air and water infiltration while maintaining the thermal break function
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
A support system for mounting building facade elements 1 to a framework 2 comprises a plurality of spacer elements or fixings 6. An insulation body is attached to the framework 2 and a plurality of brackets 5 are used to interconnect the framework 2 and the facade elements 1. The fixings 6 are used to mount the brackets 5 to the support framework 2. In-line brackets 5 are interconnected by a linear support element 7. Loading L is applied downwardly on the brackets 5 due to gravity. The load is transmitted to a screw 1 1 which acts in a shear direction S. Rotational moments M1, M2 are resisted by the bracket connection element 7.