Wall Element Thermal Bridge Interruption via Insulating Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall elements with vacuum insulation panels and wood layers suffer from thermal bridging due to connecting elements, which compromise the insulating effect.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an insulating layer around the connecting elements, such as battens or counter battens, and using a sleeve or cover plates to surround the connecting elements, along with a compriband or pre-compressed joint sealing tape for additional thermal insulation and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If connecting elements (metal bolts, screws) are used to join the vacuum insulation panel and wood layers, then mechanical strength and structural stability are improved, but thermal bridging increases and insulating performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an insulating sleeve as an intermediary element that surrounds the metal connecting element. This sleeve acts as a thermal barrier between the metal bolt and the wood layers, preventing direct thermal contact while allowing the metal bolt to maintain its mechanical fastening function. The insulating sleeve material (foam, plastic, or air gap) mediates between the mechanical strength requirement of the metal bolt and the thermal insulation requirement of the wall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element assembly becomes a composite structure combining metal (for mechanical strength) with insulating material (for thermal protection). The metal bolt provides tensile and shear strength, while the surrounding insulating sleeve provides thermal resistance. This composite approach allows both functions to coexist without compromising either mechanical strength or thermal insulation performance.
2Loss of energy
If the connecting element is surrounded by insulating materials (sleeve, battens, compriband), then thermal bridging is reduced and insulating performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation system is segmented into distinct functional components: the insulating sleeve surrounding the connecting element, the compriband sealing tape at joint locations, and the batten system for additional thermal break. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the assembly process, as each element can be pre-fabricated and installed in a modular fashion rather than requiring complex integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating sleeve serves as a simple intermediary component that can be easily manufactured from standard foam or plastic materials. Rather than designing a complex integrated thermal break system, the patent uses this simple sleeve intermediary that can be slipped over the metal bolt, providing thermal insulation without adding significant structural complexity. The compriband sealing tape similarly provides a simple sealing function at joint locations.
3Ease of manufacture
If metal connecting elements are used without insulation, then ease of manufacture and installation are improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates due to thermal bridges
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating sleeve is pre-installed on the metal connecting element before final assembly of the wall structure. This preliminary action ensures that the thermal barrier is already in place before the metal bolt is inserted through the wood layers and vacuum insulation panel, simplifying the overall assembly process. The insulating material is prepared in advance rather than requiring complex on-site installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating sleeve acts as a simple intermediary that can be easily manufactured from standard materials like foam tubing or plastic sleeves. These are commercially available off-the-shelf components that can be slipped over metal bolts without special tooling or complex manufacturing processes. This maintains ease of manufacture while effectively blocking thermal bridges.
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
Effectively interrupts thermal bridges and enhances the insulating performance of the wall elements by reducing heat transfer through the connecting elements, while ensuring a secure and sealed facade.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum insulation panel (38), which comprises a vacuum insulation panel (94) surrounded on both sides by a panel (95) made of polyurethane foam or solid polyurethane
Implementation Method 2
An insulating layer 196 surrounding the connecting element 49 is also used for thermal insulation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A wall element comprises a vacuum insulation panel (38), an outer wood layer (71) and/or an inner wood layer (25), and a connecting element (49) penetrating these parts. To improve such a wall element, the connecting element (49) is covered on the outside by an insulation element (34, 37) (Fig. 2).