Thermal Insulation Claw for Load Distribution Without Thermal Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for attaching facade elements to thermally insulated building walls often create unwanted thermal bridges during force transfer, making it difficult for unskilled workers to install brackets effectively without damaging the insulation.
Innovation Solution
A claw design that can be driven into the thermal insulation with a form-fitting connection, allowing orthogonal force distribution over a large area without direct contact with the building wall, featuring a U-shaped or parallelogram cross-section with angled load introduction sections and a mounting section that ensures force transmission without thermal bridging, and includes features like odd-numbered tips for easy insertion and a keyhole-like opening for tool-free attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If brackets are mounted directly to the building wall through thermal insulation, then secure force transfer is achieved, but thermal bridges are created
Solution Approach 1:
The claw acts as an intermediary element that transfers forces from the bracket to the thermal insulation without creating a direct thermal bridge to the building wall. The load introduction sections penetrate the thermal insulation and transfer forces into it, while the mounting section remains on the outer surface, preventing thermal bridging to the wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the force transfer interface from the building wall (inner dimension) to the thermal insulation layer (intermediate dimension). By distributing forces into the volumetric thermal insulation material rather than anchoring to the wall, the system achieves secure mounting while maintaining thermal separation.
2Reliability
If conventional mounting methods are used, then reliable force transfer is achieved, but installation becomes difficult for unskilled workers
Solution Approach 1:
The claw is designed to be self-installing by unskilled workers using simple tools like a plastic hammer. The insertion process is simplified with the leading edge geometry that facilitates easy penetration into the thermal insulation, and the mounting section automatically positions itself flush against the outer surface during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The爪 is pre-formed with the optimal geometry including the leading edge with points for insertion, the bent load introduction sections, and the flat mounting section. This preliminary shaping allows workers to simply drive it into the insulation without requiring complex assembly or adjustment during installation.
3Ease of operation
If forces are concentrated at a single point, then easy mounting is achieved, but the thermal insulation is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The force transfer is segmented across multiple load introduction sections that penetrate the thermal insulation at different locations. These sections distribute the mounting forces over a larger volume of the thermal insulation, preventing damage while maintaining simple installation through the driving action.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from point-contact mounting to distributed volumetric force transfer. The load introduction sections extend into the thermal insulation in three dimensions, distributing forces throughout the insulation layer rather than concentrating them at a single surface point.
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
Facilitates easy and reliable installation of facade elements by unskilled workers, preventing damage to the thermal insulation and ensuring effective force transmission while avoiding thermal bridges, with the ability to handle both horizontal and vertical loads and accommodate various attachment methods.
Implementation Method 1
a leading edge of the load introduction section(s) has an odd number of three or more points. One of these points serves as a 'wedge' or 'knife' that cuts through the thermal insulation when the claw according to the invention is driven into it
Implementation Method 2
Forces can then be introduced into the thermal insulation perpendicular to the generally flat load introduction section over a large area, as large as the at least one load introduction section, without the爪 according to the invention coming into contact with the actual building
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to claw (11), which makes it possible to apply loads of, for example, a curtain-type exterior façade to thermal insulation in an areally distributed manner without a thermal bridge. The claw has a mounting segment (13) and at least one load application segment (15), wherein the mounting segment and the load application segment include an angle (α) and wherein a front edge (17) of the load application segment has at least one tip (19).