Thermal Break Screw Connection for Building Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for fixing structures in building openings struggle to ensure effective thermal separation with minimal effort, particularly in high-insulation applications like passive houses, often requiring additional production steps and rework to avoid heat or cold bridges.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a screw connection with a threaded rod and two nuts on either side of the support element, combined with thermal separation means like washers or disks, allows for simple adjustment and attachment while improving thermal insulation by preventing direct contact between the structure and the building edge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If support elements are completely encased in plastic or rubber material to ensure thermal separation, then thermal insulation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to additional production steps and rework at fastening points
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely encasing the support element in thermal insulation material, the patent applies thermal break agents (plastic or rubber coatings) only at specific critical locations where thermal bridging occurs, such as at the fastening points and contact surfaces. This localized approach maintains thermal insulation effectiveness while avoiding the need for complete encasement and associated manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal break agents as intermediary materials between the metal support element and the building structures it connects to. These agents (plastic or rubber coatings, washers, or disks) are applied at critical contact points to interrupt heat flow paths without requiring the entire support element to be insulated
2Ease of manufacture
If thermal break agents are applied locally on support elements to improve thermal separation, then thermal insulation is improved with minimal effort, but the complexity of ensuring proper thermal separation at all contact points increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates thermal break agents (washers or disks) into the support element assembly during manufacturing, positioning them at predetermined critical locations before installation. This preliminary placement ensures that thermal separation is guaranteed at all contact points without requiring complex quality control procedures during installation
Solution Approach 2:
The support element design includes integrated features such as elongated holes that guide the fixing element and built-in mounting surfaces for thermal break agents. These self-configuring features ensure proper thermal separation without requiring additional adjustment or complex installation procedures by the installer
3Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed support element is used to attach the building element to the wall, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to adjust the building element position is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed rigid connections with adjustable connections using threaded rods and nuts that allow position adjustment during installation. The fixing element can be rotated along the threaded rod to achieve the desired position, and then locked in place with nuts, providing both adjustability and final structural stability
Solution Approach 2:
The support element is divided into separate functional components: an adjustable fixing element with threaded rod and nuts for position adjustment and locking, and a stable wall-mounted support structure. This segmentation allows the fixing portion to be adjustable while the mounting portion remains stable
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
This solution enables easy readjustment and enhances thermal separation, improving insulating properties significantly with minimal additional cost and effort, using conventional support elements and fixing elements.
Implementation Method 1
the thermal break provided by the screw connection or the elongated/round hole improves the thermal separation between the building element and the edge of the building opening
Implementation Method 2
The screw connection includes a first nut located on one side of a wall of the support element. Furthermore, the screw connection includes a second nut located on the other side of the same wall of the support element. By actuating the first and second nuts, the building component can be easily adjusted in height and subsequently fixed in place.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The device has a fixing element (24) for connecting a component with a support element (23) that is attached at an edge of the building opening. The fixing element is formed as a threaded bolt which is fixed in an oblong hole or in round hole of support element by a screw connection (25). The screw connection, the oblong hole or the round hole is assigned to thermal separating units (29,30). The thermal separating agent is made of a plastic material or a rubber material.