Vacuum Insulating Element With Cold-Elastic Border
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum insulation elements face issues with thermal bridges between adjacent elements due to instability and mechanical sensitivity, leading to heat losses through convection and the need for complex welding and metal coverings.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum insulation element with a mechanically stable cover and a cold-elastic border made of plastic foam that swells between the edges of the cover, preventing thermal bridges by nesting elastically against adjacent elements, and allowing for stable, room-high designs with protection against mechanical damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sheet metal casing is used to ensure vacuum maintenance and mechanical protection, then reliability and stability are improved, but device complexity and thermal bridge formation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the metal casing from the design and replaces it with a plastic film covering. This eliminates the need for complex welding processes while maintaining vacuum integrity. The plastic film is sealed using simpler methods such as adhesive tapes or friction seals, avoiding the thermal bridges and complexity associated with metal welding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable plastic film covering instead of a durable metal casing. The plastic film is inexpensive and can be easily replaced if needed, while providing sufficient protection during the intended service life. This approach reduces overall system complexity and eliminates the need for complex assembly procedures.
2Reliability
If a sheet metal casing is used for mechanical protection and stability, then reliability is improved, but thermal bridge formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal casing that causes thermal bridges is completely removed from the design. The plastic film covering provides mechanical protection without conducting heat, thereby eliminating the thermal bridge effect. The plastic material inherently resists thermal conduction, preventing heat transfer between adjacent insulation elements.
3Loss of energy
If foil elements are used for vacuum insulation, then insulating effect is improved, but stability and resistance to mechanical damage worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure combining a plastic foam core with a plastic film covering. The plastic foam provides structural stability and mechanical strength, while the plastic film maintains vacuum integrity and provides thermal insulation. This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of both materials to achieve both stability and insulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the insulation element. The plastic foam core provides mechanical stability and structural support, while the plastic film covering provides vacuum sealing and thermal insulation. Each material is used in its optimal form for its specific function, creating a harmonious composite structure.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If gaps are left between covers to allow border swelling, then thermal bridge prevention is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the swelling parameter of the plastic foam border material. The border is designed to swell to a specific extent when exposed to vacuum conditions, automatically creating the necessary gap between covers. This parameter change approach allows for thermal bridge prevention without requiring high manufacturing precision, as the swelling process self-adjusts the spacing.
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 solution effectively eliminates thermal bridges, allows for stable and high insulation element construction, and provides protection against mechanical damage, achieving a convection-free transition and enabling fire classification A60 without additional metallic coverings.
Implementation Method 1
a gap remains between the free edges of the covers and a circumferential, cold-elastic border, for example made of a plastic foam, swells between the free edges of the cover, so that the border nestles elastically against, for example neighboring elements
Implementation Method 2
Due to the high insulating effect of vacuum insulating elements, i.e. their low thermal conductivity
Data Source
AI summary
The insulation element (10) has a core (11) made of porous material such as plastic foam, and a cladding (12) made of plastic foil, where the cladding surrounds the core in a vacuum-tight manner. The cladding has a mechanically stable cover (13) on sides, where the cover surrounds edges of the insulating element and is made of sheet metal or plastic. A circular edge (14) is made of the plastic foam and is flexible at low temperatures.