Timber Ceiling Element with Segmented Cavities for Insulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wooden ceiling and wall elements are complex and costly to produce, and they either lack effective insulation or impose static disadvantages, failing to meet modern soundproofing and thermal insulation standards without compromising structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

A wooden ceiling or wall element design where the upper transverse part is wider than the lower transverse part, forming a cavity with an insulating body, allowing for simple manufacturing and high sound and thermal insulation, with the option of using solid wood boards joined by dowels, glue, or screws for enhanced stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If cross-laminated timber products with layers glued crosswise are used, then sound insulation and thermal insulation are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ceiling element is divided into multiple longitudinal elements (beams) that are spaced apart, creating cavities between them. This segmentation allows insulation material to be placed in the gaps without requiring complex cross-laminated gluing of all layers, thus simplifying manufacturing while maintaining insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Insulation material is introduced as an intermediary substance in the cavities between longitudinal elements. This mediator provides both sound and thermal insulation without requiring the structural layers themselves to be complexly constructed, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while improving insulation properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cross-laminated timber products with visible joints between layers are used, then insulation cavities can be formed, but production cost increases due to required crosswise gluing of all layers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The structure uses spaced-apart longitudinal elements creating natural cavities, eliminating the need for expensive crosswise gluing of all layers. Only necessary joining elements are used, reducing production cost while maintaining thermal insulation through the cavity spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design discards the need for complex cross-laminated gluing structures and recovers to simpler longitudinal element assembly. This simplification reduces manufacturing cost while the cavity spaces recovered provide sufficient thermal insulation without requiring expensive multi-layer gluing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Weight of moving object

If lightweight boards with lateral indentations and cavities are used, then weight is reduced and flexural strength is increased, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweightVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ceiling element uses simple longitudinal elements spaced apart rather than complex lightweight boards with lateral indentations. This segmentation approach achieves weight reduction through the spaced arrangement creating air cavities, while avoiding the structural complexity of indented board designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design achieves simplicity in production, meets stringent insulation and static requirements, and is visually appealing, suitable for large spans in public buildings, while maintaining structural and functional quality.

Implementation Method 1

the element has sound insulation or thermal insulation or both at the same time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound insulation: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

the element has sound insulation or thermal insulation or both at the same time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2196592B1Wooden ceiling or wall element made from wooden boards joined to each other.
Publication Date: 2015.02.18 INHOLZ
  • EP2196592B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2196592B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The timber ceiling element (1) or timber wall element has wooden boards (2) or wooden lamellas combined together. Each individual wooden board of the element has sides of recesses (6,6') running longitudinal to the wooden board. The recesses are symmetrical to each other. The wooden board is designed in the cross section double-T-shape with an upper transversal element (4), a lower transversal element (5) forming the visible side and a rod (13) placed between the two transversal elements. USE : Timber ceiling element or timber wall element. ADVANTAGE : The timber ceiling element or timber wall element has wooden boards or wooden lamellas combined together, where each individual wooden board of the element has sides of recesses running longitudinal to the wooden board, and thus ensures a simple manufacturing of a timber ceiling element or timber wall element that has sound absorption and thermal insulation properties for the noise control and thermal protection. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS : The drawing shows a cross-sectional view of five wooden boards, which form a timber ceiling element or timber wall element, where an insulator is arranged between the wooden boards or wooden lamellas. 1 : Timber ceiling element 2 : Wooden boards 4 : Upper transversal element 5 : Lower transversal element 6,6' : Recesses 13 : Rod.