Insulating element
An insulating element for insulating a structural element in a motor vehicle, including a carrier and an expandable material arranged on the carrier. The carrier has at least one dome and is designed in such a manner that, when stacking a plurality of identical insulating elements, respective domes of adjacent insulating elements engage in one another.
1 . An insulating element for sealing off a structural element in a motor vehicle, the insulating element comprising:
a carrier; and
an expandable material that is arranged on the carrier;
wherein the carrier has at least one cap that comprises a hollow interior and an open side and is formed such that, when a plurality of identical insulating elements are stacked, respective caps of adjacent insulating elements engage in one another concentrically such that the insulating elements are mechanically secured against lateral displacement.
2 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the insulating element has a top side and a bottom side which, in a state of use, are aligned substantially in a plane of a cross section of the structural element that is to be sealed off, and wherein an open side of the cap and/or a roof of the cap is aligned substantially parallel to the top side and the bottom side, respectively, of the insulating element.
3 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a side wall of the cap projects beyond only the bottom side in a stacking direction, or wherein a side wall of the cap projects beyond only the top side in a stacking direction, or wherein a side wall of the cap projects beyond both the bottom side and the top side in a stacking direction.
4 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a step of the carrier and at least one cap are formed in such a way that the cap together with the step form a support surface which is parallel to a plane of the top side and bottom side of the carrier.
5 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cap has a substantially circular, elliptical or oval base surface.
6 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carrier has at least two caps.
7 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the two caps have a different outline.
8 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a stack height is at most 50% of a height of an insulating element, and/or wherein the stack height is at most 80% of a cap height.
9 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cap is formed in such a way that, when a plurality of identical insulating elements are stacked, respective caps of adjacent insulating elements lie on one another.
10 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the cap has a stopper which defines a support location when a stack is being formed.
11 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the insulating element has at least three contact points, via which adjacent insulating elements lie on one another when a stack is being formed, wherein the cap forms at least one of these contact points.
12 . A system having a plurality of insulating elements as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the insulating elements are stacked on top of one another with the respective caps of adjacent insulating elements engaging in one another.
13 . The system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the system comprises at least 10 stacked insulating elements with the respective caps of adjacent insulating elements engaging in one another, and/or wherein a lowermost insulating element of the system lies on a base element, and/or wherein a stack height is at most 80% of a cap height.
14 . A method for attaching insulating elements to structural elements in motor vehicles, the method comprising:
providing a system having stacked insulating elements as claimed in claim 12 ; and
manipulating the insulating elements by an application robot, wherein at least one cap serves as a positioning aid for the application robot.
15 . The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein, during the manipulation, a gripper of the application robot grips the insulating elements at the cap, and/or wherein the insulating elements have at least two caps, and wherein the two caps serve as positioning aids during a manipulation.
16 . An insulating element for sealing off a structural element in a motor vehicle, the insulating element comprising:
a carrier; and
an expandable material that is arranged on the carrier; wherein
the carrier has at least one cap and is formed in such a way that, when a plurality of identical insulating elements are stacked, respective caps of adjacent insulating elements engage in one another,
the cap is formed in such a way that, when a plurality of identical insulating elements are stacked, respective caps of adjacent insulating elements lie on one another, and
the cap has a stopper which defines a support location when a stack is being formed.
17 . A method for attaching insulating elements to structural elements in motor vehicles, the method comprising:
providing a system having stacked insulating elements comprising:
a carrier; and
an expandable material that is arranged on the carrier; wherein
the carrier has at least one cap and is formed in such a way that, when a plurality of identical insulating elements are stacked, respective caps of adjacent insulating elements engage in one another, and
the insulating elements are stacked on top of one another with the respective caps of adjacent insulating elements engaging in one another
manipulating the insulating elements by an application robot, wherein at least one cap serves as a positioning aid for the application robot.
18 . The insulating element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cap has a cross-section with a portion that corresponds to a cube, a cylinder or a trapezoid.