GB2532085A

GB2532085A - Conduction reducing device for cavity insulation assembly and spacer device for cavity insulation assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2532085A
Application number: GB1419984.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Davies Lee; Lowe Stuart
Original assignee: CA GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: CA GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 2014-11-10
Filing date: 2014-11-10
Publication date: 2016-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-10
Also published as: GB201419984D0; GB2532085B

Abstract

A thermal isolating pad (14) for reducing thermal conduction between first and second components, preferably spacer device 10 and liner panel 6, of a cavity insulation assembly, the pad comprising a body (22, Fig. 3) having at least one protrusion, preferably tubular sections (24, Fig 3), to engage a corresponding recess in a flange 40 of the spacer device 10, which may be compressed by bolts (30, Figs 8/9) to avoid thermal contact between the first and second components. The pad may be polypropylene and the first and second component may be metal. The pad may have locating means, preferably tabs (32, Fig. 3), to engage the recesses in the spacer device, to hold the pad in position prior to fixing with bolts 30 to the liner panel 6. The cavity insulation system may have an external weather sheet 16 attached to the spacer via a support bar 12. Also claimed is the spacer device 10 having slots (42, Fig. 4) to allow twist fitting to the support bar 12 (see Fig. 7).

Description

CONDUCTION REDUCING DEVICE FOR CAVITY INSULATION ASSEMBLY AND SPACER

DEVICE FOR CAVITY INSULATION ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a conduction reducing device for reducing thermal conduction in a cavity insulation assembly and to a spacer device for a cavity insulation assembly.

Cavity insulation assemblies, for example as used in roof assemblies of large buildings, have inner and outer sheets separated by a spacer element, and thermally insulating material located between the inner and outer sheets. Such arrangements suffer from the drawback that it is difficult to securely locate the spacer element relative to the inner and outer sheets, while at the same time minimising thermal conduction between the inner and outer sheets via the spacer element.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages of the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conduction reducing device for reducing thermal conduction between first and second components of a cavity insulation assembly, the device comprising a body adapted to be located between first and second components of a cavity insulation assembly, wherein the body includes mounting means for enabling the device to be fixed relative to at least one of said first and second components such that said first and second components can be fixed relative to each other without thermal conduction between said first and second components other than via said device.

By providing mounting means for enabling the device to be fixed relative to at least one of the first and second components such that the first and second components can be fixed relative to each other without thermal conduction between the first and second components other than via the device, this provides the advantage of enabling a secure mechanical connection to be made of the first and second components relative to each other, while minimising thermal conduction between the first and second components.

The mounting means may comprise at least one first recess and/or protrusion adapted to engage at least one corresponding protrusion and/or second recess provided on the first and/or second component.

The mounting means may comprise at least one said protrusion adapted to be compressed by formation of a mechanical fixing between the first and second components.

This provides the advantage of further reducing thermal conduction between the first and second components.

At least one said protrusion may be connected to an edge of the device by means of at least one respective third recess.

This provides the advantage of enabling the product to be moulded more easily, thereby simplifying manufacture of the product.

The mounting means may comprise at least one aperture through said body.

This provides the advantage of enabling the aperture to form part of a mechanical fixing between the first and second components without direct thermal contact between the first and second components.

At least one said aperture may pass through a respective said protrusion.

The device may further comprise locating means provided in at least one said aperture for locating fixing means in position prior to fixing of said first component relative to said second component.

The locating means may comprise at least one frangible portion adapted to be punctured by said fixing means.

The mounting means may include resilient latching means for securing the device to the first and/or second component.

This provides the advantage of assisting in assembling a cavity insulation assembly including the device.

The latching means may include at least one tab.

The device may further comprise fixing means for securing said first component relative to said second component.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spacer device for a cavity insulation assembly comprising a support element, a first component supported by said support element, and a second component for accommodating conduction reducing material between said first and second components, the spacer device comprising a body having mounting means for enabling the device to be secured, adjacent an end thereof, to a support element by means of twisting in a clockwise or anticlockwise sense.

By providing a body having mounting means for enabling the device to be secured, adjacent an end thereof, to a support element by means of twisting in a clockwise or anticlockwise sense, this provides the advantage of simplifying construction of a cavity insulation assembly including the device.

The mounting means may comprise a plurality of apertures and/or recesses and/or protrusions.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly comprising at least one conduction reducing device as defined above and at least one spacer device as defined above.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a partially cut away perspective view of a cavity insulation assembly embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a support bar and spacer bracket of the assembly of Figure 1 mounted thereto; Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of a thermal isolating pad of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view from one side and below of the spacer bracket of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view from another side and above of the spacer bracket of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a detailed view of part of the spacer bracket of Figure 2 and the thermal isolating pad of Figure 3 mounted thereto; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the spacer bracket of Figure 2 during mounting thereof to the support bar; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Figure 6 prior to mounting of bracket fixings thereto; Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 8, after mounting of the bracket fixings thereto; and Figure 10 is a perspective view from below of the thermal isolating pad of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, a cavity insulation assembly 2 embodying the present invention has a purlin 4 to which a first component in the form of a liner panel 6 is attached by means of a liner panel fixing 8. A second component in the form of a spacer device or spacer bracket 10 is mounted at a first end thereof to a support element in the form of a support bar 12 and is mounted at a second end thereof to the purlin 4 via a conduction reducing device in the form of a thermal isolating pad 14 of polypropylene or similar thermally isolating material located between the second end of the spacer bracket 10 and the liner panel G. An external weather sheet 16 is mounted to the support bar 12 by means of an external sheet fixing 18, and cavity insulation material 20 fills the gap between the liner panel 6 and the external weather sheet 16.

Referring in detail to Figures 3 and 10, the thermal isolating pad 14 has a body 22 for location between the spacer bracket 10 and the liner panel 6, and has mounting means in the form of short tubular sections 24 for mounting the thermal isolating pad 14 to the second end of the spacer bracket 10, and an interface region 26 for engaging the spacer bracket 10. Each of the tubular sections 24 is provided with an aperture 28 therethrough which incorporates locating means in the form of a thin frangible skin of material (not shown) for temporarily holding fixing means in the form of spacer fixings 30 (Figure 8) and latching means in the form of tabs 32 for retaining the pad 14 in place on the second end of the spacer bracket 10.The tubular sections 24 are connected to the corresponding edges 34 of the body 22 of the pad 14 by respective recesses 36. This enables the pad 14 to be more easily injection moulded.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6, the spacer bracket 10 is formed from a generally C-shaped piece of metal having a part 38 having a generally rectangular cross-section and having flanges 40 located at its second end. The flanges 40 are provided with apertures therethrough for receiving the tubular sections 24 of the thermal isolating pad 14 such that the flanges 40 are located behind the tabs 32 on the tubular sections 24, thereby retaining the thermal isolating pad 14 in position on the second end of the spacer bracket 10 with the part 38 having rectangular cross-section located around the interface region 26 of the thermal isolating pad 14.

Referring to Figures 2, 4, 5 and 7, the first end of the spacer bracket 10 is provided with recesses 42 for enabling location of the spacer bracket in a channel 44 formed in the support bar 12 by means of rotation of the spacer bracket 10 in a clockwise or anti-clockwise sense, as shown in Figures 2 and 7, thereby enabling easy location of the spacer bracket 10 in the channel 44 and securing thereto.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, the spacer bracket 10 is secured relative to the purlin 4 through the liner panel 6 by means of spacer fixings 30 which self-drill and self-tap into the purlin 4 and crush the tubular sections 24 as shown in Figure 9, so that there is no direct thermal contact between the flanges 40 of the spacer bracket 10 and the purlin 4 or liner panel 6. This reduces the heat loss through the assembly 2, thereby ensuring better thermal performance for a given thickness of insulation material 20.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alternation and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A conduction reducing device for reducing thermal conduction between first and second components of a cavity insulation assembly, the device comprising a body adapted to be located between first and second components of a cavity insulation assembly, wherein the body includes mounting means for enabling the device to be fixed relative to at least one of said first and second components such that said first and second components can be fixed relative to each other without thermal conduction between said first and second components other than via said device.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means comprises at least one first recess and/or protrusion adapted to engage at least one corresponding protrusion and/or second recess provided on the first and/or second component.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the mounting means comprises at least one said protrusion adapted to be compressed by formation of a mechanical fixing between the first and second components.
4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein at least one said protrusion is connected to an edge of the device by means of at least one respective third recess.
5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means comprises at least one aperture through said body.
6. A device according to claim 5, wherein at least one said aperture passes through a respective said protrusion.
7. A device according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising locating means provided in at least one said aperture for locating fixing means in position prior to fixing of said first component relative to said second component.
8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the locating means comprises at least one frangible portion adapted to be punctured by said fixing means.
9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means includes resilient latching means for securing the device to the first and/or second component.
10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the latching means includes at least one tab.
11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising fixing means for securing said first component relative to said second component.
12. A spacer device for a cavity insulation assembly comprising a support element, a first component supported by said support element, and a second component for accommodating conduction reducing material between said first and second components, the spacer device comprising a body having mounting means for enabling the device to be secured, adjacent an end thereof, to a support element by means of twisting in a clockwise or anticlockwise sense.
13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the mounting means comprises a plurality of apertures and/or recesses and/or protrusions.
14. An assembly comprising at least one conduction reducing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and at least one spacer device according to claim 12 or 13.Amendments to the claims have been made as follows: CLAIMS 1. A conduction reducing device for reducing thermal conduction between first and second components of a cavity insulation assembly, the device comprising a body adapted to be located between first and second components of a cavity insulation assembly, wherein the body includes mounting means for enabling the device to be fixed relative to at least one of said first and second components such that said first and second components can be fixed relative to each other without thermal conduction between said first and second components other than via said device, wherein the mounting means comprises at least one protrusion adapted to engage at least one corresponding first recess provided on the first and/or second component and to be compressed by formation of a mechanical fixing between the first and second components.r-... 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means 0 comprises at least one second recess adapted to engage at least CY) one corresponding protrusion provided on the first and/or second 0 component.3. A device according to claim 2, wherein at least one said protrusion is connected to an edge of the device by means of at least one respective third recess.4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means comprises at least one aperture through said body.5. A device according to claim 4, wherein at least one said aperture passes through a respective said protrusion.6. A device according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising locating means provided in at least one said aperture for locating fixing means in position prior to fixing of said first component relative to said second component.7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the locating means comprises at least one frangible portion adapted to be punctured by said fixing means.8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means includes resilient latching means for securing the device to the first and/or second component.9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the latching means includes at least one tab.10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising fixing means for securing said first component relative to said second component.OCO O