Building

A building has a ventilating space between its inner and outer exterior walls which is capable of effectively saving energy. The building's body has an inner exterior wall on which an outer wall is supported by means of supporting members to form a ventilating space therebetween. The space may also be used for accommodating piping and wiring for connecting main equipment installed on the rooftop of the building with respective terminal devices installed in separate rooms of the building. An air inlet is formed in the lower portion of the new exterior wall, e.g., in the head casing for a second story window, and an air outlet is formed between the inner coping and the outer coping. The outside air enters through the air inlet into the space between the outer and inner walls and flows out therefrom through the air outlet. In summer, such ventilation prevents heat from getting into the rooms of the building via the walls. In winter, the air inlet is closed so as not to allow the flow of air into the space between the walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a building which has an outer exterior 
wall surrounding an inner exterior wall. 
It is well known that already existing buildings can be remodeled by 
repairing the exterior wall or by replacing it using different surface 
materials. In such cases there is a method for removing or peeling or 
shaving off the old exterior wall and then covering the building with new 
wall covering. This method involves such a problem that it requires time 
for removing the old wall and scatters dust and dirt around the site. 
To solve the above-mentioned problems, there has been another known method 
that builds up a new exterior wall outside an old exterior wall without 
removing the latter. This method fixes supporting members onto the old 
exterior wall and then builds a new exterior wall thereon. The method, 
however, causes such a problem that the building has an apparently 
thickened external wall with considerably deepened windows. It is desired 
that the building has a possibly saving space between the old exterior 
wall and the new exterior wall by using thinner supporting members. 
Japanese laid-open publication of unexamined application No. 4-42513 
describes an attempt to provide a bay window in the new external wall of a 
building in order to widen a utility space therein. The window space, 
however, may be used for placing jardinieres and decorations there and for 
providing a traverse rod for suspending curtains. It is preferred that the 
space between the new wall and the old wall is as small as possible. 
It is also noticed that renewing in the exterior wall of a building by the 
above-mentioned method is considerably expensive and makes no particular 
contribution to improving the function of the building itself except for a 
small effect on the thermal insulation of the new wall and the provision 
of the bay windows therein. 
Recently, in many cities there have been built so-called intelligent 
buildings wherein a variety of facilities such as electric services, 
plumbing, electric communication, gas fitting system and so on are used in 
various ways. Many old buildings generally have no space for accommodating 
pipes and cables required for introducing intelligent terminals into the 
buildings. 
In the case of designing and constructing a new building, it is possible to 
provide a duct space large enough to accommodate therein piping and wiring 
for intelligent equipment to be introduced in the future, but this duct 
space may limit the design possibilities and sacrifice the possible floor 
space of the building. 
In the case of designing a new building with no consideration to providing 
high technology facilities in the future, it is necessary to provide the 
least needed duct space which may also limit the design possibilities in 
relation to the partitioning of the floor space. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a building which has a 
ventilating space between its inner external and outer external walls, 
which is effective not only for saving energy consumption but also to 
accommodate therein piping and wiring necessary for introducing high 
technology equipment into the building. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a building which has 
the outer external wall secured by supporting members installed on the 
inner external wall to form a ventilating space between the walls and 
which has ventilating facilities at least at the upper and lower sides of 
the outer external wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
According to the present invention, it is possible to form a new outer 
exterior wall outside of an old inner exterior wall that is, the exterior 
wall of an already existing building. It is also possible to build a new 
building having a double-wall construction composing of an outer exterior 
wall and an inner exterior wall. 
The present invention is intended to form a new outer exterior wall on top 
of an exiting inner exterior wall as well as to build new buildings having 
a double wall construction consisting of an outer exterior wall and an 
inner exterior wall. The free space which is formed between the outer and 
inner exterior walls of a building, may be utilized for creating air flow 
therein by means of ventilating mechanisms provided thereat to remove heat 
from the outer exterior wall and to prevent the room temperature from 
rising during a hot period requiring air conditioning. It may also be 
utilized to transfer solar radiation energy through the double wall into 
the rooms of the building by shutting off ventilating mechanisms during 
winter. 
Furthermore, any existing building may be remodeled to have an outer 
exterior wall over its old exterior wall to produce therebetween a space 
for accommodating ducts and wiring for high technology equipment. The 
structure may be converted into an intelligent building without reducing 
the effective interior space of the rooms while still providing for piping 
and wiring related to high technology equipment. In a new double-walled 
building, a space between the outer wall and the inner wall may be 
created, wherein all necessary piping and wiring for computer terminals 
can be laid out without any alterations to the partitions on any floor of 
the building. 
FIGS. 1 to 4 are views for explaining a prototype building embodied in the 
present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a part of a 
building, FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B) are views for explaining an example for 
installing furring members, FIG. 3 shows a layout of piping and FIGS. 4(A) 
and 4(B) are sectional side views of the building. In these drawings, 
there are shown an outer exterior wall 1, an inner exterior wall 2, a 
window 3, a horizontal furring member 4, a vertical furring member 5, an 
anchor bolt 6, a bracket 7 for securing the furring members, a supporting 
member 8, a bracket 9 for securing a panel, piping 10, a floor line 11, 
devices 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, a building's body foundation 13, a floor 14, an 
inner coping 15 and an outer coping 16. 
As shown in FIG. 1, this building has four stories. The left half shows the 
building with an outer exterior wall 1 and the right half shows the 
building not covered with an outer exterior wall 1. The windows 3 are 
provided in the inner exterior wall of the building. Each window 3 may be 
the same as it was in the old exterior wall of the already existing 
building or may be newly fitted in the place from which the old one was 
removed. It is also possible to provide a new window in the outer exterior 
wall of the building which matches the existing one to form a double 
window or to provide a new window in the outer exterior wall and remove 
the old window from the inner exterior wall of the building. The outer 
exterior wall 1 is secured to the inner exterior wall 2 in such a manner 
that horizontal furring members 4 are first secured to the inner exterior 
wall 2, vertical furring members 5 are secured with brackets (not shown) 
to the wall and the outer exterior wall 1 is then secured to the vertical 
furring members 5. In the shown embodiment, the horizontal furring members 
4 are fitted all over the wall but it may be cut off partly. The vertical 
furring members 5 are also installed between the windows. 
Referring to FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B), the manner of securing the furring 
members to the walls will be explained as follows: 
FIG. 2(A) is a top view and FIG. 2(B) is a side view of the exterior walls. 
The inner exterior wall 2 is shown partly as hatched to be viewed more 
easily. A bracket 7 for fixing the horizontal furring member is secured 
with an anchor bolt 6 driven into the building's surface through the inner 
exterior wall 2. The horizontal furring member 4 and the supporting member 
8 are secured by means of welding or with a bolt to the bracket 7. The 
vertical furring member 5 is secured by means of welding or with a bolt to 
the supporting member 8 and the outer exterior wall 1 is then fixed to the 
supporting member 8 by means of a panel fixing bracket 9. 
The length of the supporting member 8 is selected in such a way that a 
space may be created between the outer exterior wall 1 and the inner 
exterior wall 2 to allow effective ventilation therethrough. Air vents are 
provided in the lower portion and the upper portion of the outer exterior 
wall. The air vents, described in detail later, are preferred to be 
closable when the need be. In FIG. 3, there is shown a fixed or movable 
louver in the portion A of the outer exterior wall of the first floor of 
the building near the ground, an air vent 42 in a head casing for the head 
frame of a window 3 in the first-story portion B of the outer exterior 
wall, and an air vent 44 in the head casing for the head frame of a window 
3 in the second-story portion C of the outer exterior wall of the 
building. The upper air vents (outlets) may, as described later in detail, 
consist of spaces formed between the inner coping and the outer coping. 
In summer, the atmospheric temperature is high and the sun is hot. The 
wall, irradiated by the sun's rays, may have an increase in temperature 
and transfer the heat into the rooms of the building thereby decreasing 
the cooling effects of the air conditioning system therein. The creation 
of ventilation in the space between the outer exterior wall and the inner 
exterior wall can be effective to remove the heat from the outer exterior 
wall thereby preventing the heat from entering the rooms through the inner 
exterior wall. Thus the amount of energy consumed for cooling the air in 
the rooms of the building can be reduced. If the ground near the building 
has a lower temperature, because there is much greenery, air vents 40 are 
preferably provided in the portion A shown in FIG. 3. If the ground near 
the building is paved and produces a large amount of radiant heat, the 
atmospheric temperature will be lower at higher levels. Under such 
conditions, the air vents are preferably provided in the first story 
portion B or the second story portion C shown in FIG. 3. The outside air 
enters through the air vents (inlets) into the space between the two 
walls, flows upward as shown by the arrows and flows out of the building 
through the upper vents thus removing the heat from the inside surface of 
the outer exterior wall. Consequently, the raising of the room's 
temperature inside the building due to the outside temperature can be 
minimized and the energy consumption for cooling the building can be saved 
considerably. 
In winter, all the vents are closed in order not to create air flow in the 
space between the two walls. The air enclosed in the space between the 
walls may be heated by solar heat transferred through the outer exterior 
and may keep the wall from being cooled by the outside air. It may also 
serve as a heat-and-noise insulation layer that realizes a considerable 
saving of energy and provides improved insulation of the building from 
outside noises. 
The space between the walls may accommodate piping and writing therein. 
As shown in FIG. 3, piping and wiring are arranged between the vertical and 
horizontal rows of the windows 3. The piping 10 shown in FIG. 3 is used 
for air-conditioning but it is not limited to such an application and may 
be for gas pipes, water and sewer pipes, conduits for power lines and 
communications cables. The communications wiring may include telephone 
wires, coaxial cables, fiber optic cables or for control cables for 
interconnecting rooms of the building or connecting to outside lines. 
The pipes and cables are connected to respective devices installed in the 
respective rooms of the building. FIG. 3 minimally illustrates the case 
for leading the pipes into a floor and a ceiling. The dotted line portion 
of the piping is not connected to the piping shown by a solid line since 
they are different pipe lines. Accordingly, pipes and cables may be 
separately connected to respective devices or branches of the main piping 
and wiring may be connected thereto. These pipes and cables are usually 
connected to central equipment installed in a control room and a 
mechanical room wherefrom corresponding terminals in separate rooms of the 
building are controlled or driven. The main equipment may be installed on 
any desired floor or on the roof of the building. 
FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B) show examples of an arrangement of air-conditioning 
installed and its piping. 
FIG. 4(A) is a section taken on a line passing windows and FIG. 4(B) is a 
section taken on a line passing between windows. As shown in the FIG. 
4(A), outside air enters into the space between the outer exterior wall 
and inner exterior wall through an air vent formed in the upper casing of 
a frame of a window 3 in the outer exterior wall on the second floor of 
the building and then flows out of the space through an air vent formed 
between the inner coping 15 and the outer coping 16. Ventilators may be 
installed at suitable places to create forced ventilation through the 
space between the walls of the building. 
Piping is made to supply air from the main equipment 12 to the terminal 
devices 12a, 12b and 12c and 12d which are installed respectively, on the 
interior wall (near the ceiling), and on the ceiling and floor 
respectively. Control cables (not shown) and piping 46 also laid from the 
main equipment to the terminal devices 12a, 12b and 12c and 12d. As shown 
in FIG. 4(B), the piping 10 is accommodated in the space between the inner 
exterior wall and the outer exterior wall 1 of the building. In the shown 
case, the piping and wiring extend through the opening formed between the 
inner coping 15 and the outer coping 16 and then connected to the main 
equipment 12 installed on the rooftop of the building. According to the 
present invention, it is possible to introduce new facilities in the 
building without providing piping and wiring inside the building. 
FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an example of a supporting system for 
piping and wiring. Parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are 
designated by the same numerals without additional descriptions. There is 
still shown a frame member 17, a swinging panel 18, a butterfly hinge 19, 
heat-insulated pipes 20 and cables 21. In FIG. 5, the vertical piping and 
wiring are viewed from the top of the building. For their easy 
maintenance, a part of the outer exterior wall is made in the form of a 
swinging panel 18 that is supported by the butterfly hinge 19 fixed onto 
the frame member 17 and secured to the vertical furring member so it can 
swing in the direction shown by the arrow. However, panels of the outer 
exterior wall at the piping and wiring portions are not necessarily 
swingable. The piping 20 is treated for heat-insulation and secured to a 
supporting member 8 by means of pipe clamps. The supporting member 8 can 
be a channel that can easily support the piping at its groove. Each cable 
21 is secured with clamps to a horizontal furring member 4. The piping may 
be similarly fixed thereto. The pipes and cables thus secured on the 
supporting members and furring members are effectively protected from 
being damaged due to displacement in the space between the walls of the 
building. The space for ventilation is still assured between the walls 
wherein the pipes and cables are accommodated. If all the space is needed 
for ventilation, it is not necessary to accommodate pipes and cables 
therein. 
FIG. 6 is a view for explaining another example of a supporting structure 
for pipes and cables. In FIG. 6, numeral 22 designates a concrete nail and 
other parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are indicated by the 
same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the vertical space between 
the walls does not accommodate horizontal furring members 4 to assure 
wider accommodation space. Each clamp for a cable 21 is secured with a 
concrete nail 22 to an inner exterior wall 2 that is used as a supporting 
member for the pipe and cables in the case shown. 
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an example of an air vent (inlet) provided in 
the lower portion of an outer exterior wall. In FIG. 7, numeral 23 
designates a louver and other parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 
are indicated by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the air 
vent is formed in a head casing for the window frame and is provided with 
the louver 23 that can be opened or closed as the need arises. As 
described above, the air vent may be used open in summer and closed in 
winter. It is possible to remotely control the louver 23 by electrically 
moving it from a control room or to automatically control the louver's 
operation according to the atmospheric temperature and sunshine by using a 
sensor. It is also possible to use a louver 23, whose driving portion or 
vanes are partly made of a shape memory alloy and whose opening can 
automatically be regulated according to the atmospheric temperature. 
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another example of an air vent provided in 
the lower portion of an outer exterior wall. In FIG. 8, numerals 24 and 25 
designate, respectively, a hinged cover and a hinge. Other parts similar 
to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are indicated by the same reference 
numerals. In this embodiment, an air vent is provided with a hinged cover 
24 that is swingable about the axis of the hinge 25. Similarly with the 
embodiment of FIG. 7, it is possible to use an electric drive or other 
suitable driving mechanism for the swinging cover. The air vent is 
preferably provided in the upper casing of a window in view of possible 
weathering but it may also placed be in the outer exterior wall. 
FIGS. 9 to 13 are diagrammatic construction views of examples of air vents 
(inlets) provided in the upper portion of an outer exterior wall. 
FIG. 9 shows an air vent provided with a louver 27 and a supporting member 
26. Other parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are indicated by 
the same reference numerals. The supporting member 26 is secured to an 
inner coping 15 and then an outer coping 16 is secured to the supporting 
member 26. This supporting member 26 forms an inter-wall ventilation space 
through which piping 10 can be led onto the roof top of the building. In 
this embodiment, the louver 27 is installed in a portion of the air vent, 
where no piping is led through. As described, with reference to FIG. 3, 
vertical piping is accommodated in the space between the walls in such a 
way that it may be laid between the vertical row of windows i.e., in side 
the air passage. Since the air passage preferably goes straight upward, 
the louver is preferably installed directly at the end of the air passage. 
The piping may change its route and be led out through a region above a 
window. The cables not shown are laid out in the same way as the piping. 
The louver may be driven either manually or automatically as described in 
the embodiment of FIG. 7. 
FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic construction view of an outlet portion for 
leading out piping and wiring, where no louver is provided. A cover plate 
is shown 28. Other parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are 
indicated by the same reference numerals. The cover plate 28 has an 
opening made therein for leading the top end of the piping and cables out. 
It may be divided into two halves, each having a semi-circular shape. The 
piping 10 is enclosed in the portions of the split cover plate 28. In this 
case the portions of the plate are preferably overlapping on each other in 
the case of weathering. 
FIG. 11 shows an embodiment wherein an inner coping is placed backward and 
covered with an outer coping. In FIG. 11, numeral 29 designates a piping 
portion leading out. Other parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 
are indicated by the same reference numerals. Since the outer coping 16 
extends to cover the inner coping 15 from the back side, there is no fear 
of rain falling into the opening therebetween. 
FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a hinged cover 30 with a hinge 31. Other 
parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are indicated by the same 
reference numerals. Similarly with the embodiments of FIGS. 9 and 10, the 
hinged cover 30 is placed in the portion where no piping and wiring is 
led. The cover 30 can be moved either manually or automatically. It is 
also possible to use a sliding cover instead of a hinged cover. 
FIG. 13 shows an embodiment wherein a fixed cover 32 is removable. Other 
parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are indicated by the same 
reference numerals. Similarly with the embodiments of FIGS. 9 and 10, the 
removable fitted cover 32 is placed in the portion where no piping and 
wiring are led out. The cover 32 may be placed on in certain seasons or 
removed in other seasons. 
As is apparent from the foregoing, the present invention provides a 
building having a ventilating space between the outer exterior wall and 
the inner exterior wall. This is effective for saving energy and to 
accommodate piping therein and/or wiring necessary for introducing 
computer or other high technology terminals into the building.