DEVICE FOR USE IN PLANTS FOR HEATING OR COOLING OF ROOM-LIMITING SURFACES

Abstract: A device for use in plants for heating or cooling of room-limiting surfaces, particularly floor heating plants comprising a plurality of tubes (3) for transport of heating medium and a plurality of heat-conducting sheet elements (1) provided with channels (2) for receiving the tubes (3) in heat-conducting connection therewith. The device consists of a sheet element (1) of resilient material which, prior to assembly, is upwards convexly curved in a plane at right angles to the channels (2), so that the element in straightened condition, after assembly on supports along the sides of the element (1), exerts a pressure against an overlying floor, and the channels are upwards open grooves (2) which are so dimensioned that the sheet element (1), after assembly, clamps tubes (3) in the grooves (2). On its underside the sheet element (1) is preferably provided with a foam-plastic layer (4) preventing heat emission in the direction away from the overlying floor, and giving additional rigidity to the sheet element.

Description: Device for use in plants for heating or cooling of room-limiting surfaces The invention relates to a device for use in plants for heating or cooling of room-limiting surfaces, particularly floor heating plants comprising a plurality of tubes for transport of heating medium, such as hot water, and a plurality of heat-conducting sheet elements provided with a number of substantially parallel channels for receiving the tubes in heat-conducting connection therewith, for transferring heat to an overlying floor surface. In a previously known plant for floor heating by means of hot water tubes installed in the floor the tubes, in the case of wooden joisting, are mounted on clamps between the joists and provided with heat-conduc¬ ting sheets in the form of aluminium convectors to in¬ crease the heating surface. The tube-holding clamps are mounted on suspension means in the form of supporting irons extending between the wooden joists, and the con- vector sheets - which are formed with a tube-receiving groove - are attached to the tubes' by means of clamps. In the known plant the space between the traditional floor insulation and the overlying floor material is heated and the hot air imparts the desired temperature to the floor surface which thereby gives off heat to the room. The water temperature which is necessary in the tubes, appears to be 50 - 70 C in order to achieve a temperature of 25 C on the floor surface, which is a minimum to supply sufficient heat to the room. When one wishes to utilize so-called alternative energy sources as a heating source for the plant, such as solar heat, heat pump, cooling water for machines and the like, it is necessary to have a system giving off suffi¬ cient heat for heating by use of heating media with such a low temperature as 32 C, which is the economical working temperature for a heat pump. In order to achieve the necessary floor surface temperature when using said low heating medium temperature, one could e. g. use tube materials having a better heat conductivity than the presently used plastic tubes, e. g. cupper tubes, and install these tubes so closely that the necessary heating effect is achieved. However, this would result in expensive plants and is therefore less acceptable. The object of the invention is to provide a device giving a very good transfer of heat between heating tubes and floor surface, so that heating media with a low temperature can be used, at the same time as the device is structurally simple and rational and economical to manufacture and to assemble. The above mentioned object is achieved with a device of the introductorily stated type which, according to the invention, is characterized in that it consists of a sheet element of resilient material which, prior to assembly, is upwards convexly curved in a plane at right angles to said channels, so that the ele¬ ment- in straightened condition, after assembly on supports extending along the side, edges of the element, exerts a pressure against the overlying floor, and that the channels are upwards open grooves which are so dimensioned that the sheet element, after assembly, clamp tubes disposed in the grooves. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention the sheet element is covered on its underside with a layer of foam-plastic insulation. The sheet element according to the invention combines several functions resulting in the desired good heat transfer. As a result of the fact that the sheet elements are upwards convexly curved in the stated manner, i. e. prior to assembly have a rise between its points of support, one achieves that the elements are pressing against the overlying floor material when this has been installed on the elements, and thereby one achieves a good contact between sheets and floor and therewith a good heat emission , A good heat transfer between tubes and sheet elements is also a result of the firm clamp connection between tubes and sheets which is achieved with the upwards open, suitably dimensioned grooves wherein the tubes are clamped when the overlying floor material press the sheets downwards to a planar condition. When the sheet element on one side thereof is covered with a layer insulating foam plastic one achieves, apart from the insulation effect, also a sheet having additional rigidity in deflection, so that the desired clamping action around the tubes and the desired pressure against the floor is still achieved when using relatively thin aluminium sheets. The insulation layer provides that the heat from the sheet does not propagate downwards, and replaces the traditional insu¬ lation layer which is placed between the joists in wooden floors and is placed under the heating tubes in concrete floors. It will be appreciated that plants comprising the device according to the invention can also replace present floor heating plants for cast floors with tubes embedded in the floor. The thickness of the insulating foam plastic layer can be varied according to the re- quirements. One can also in a simple manner install floor heating plants on already existing cast floors without structural modifications. By using an aluminium sheet having grooves for heating medium transporting tubes and an insulation mass which is cast on one side of the sheet, and by giving the whole unit a rise, one has achieved a factory- made high-quality insulation which prevents loss of heat and provides a pressure between tubes and sheet and sheet and floor which is necessary for a good heat transfer. Simultaneously one has eliminated the clamps and sus¬ pension means which are necessary in the asser±>ly of the known system described above. The invention will be described more closely below in connection with exemplary embodiments with refe¬ rence to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 shows a sectioned, partial perspec¬ tive view of a device according to the invention, wherein a sheet element is shown prior to assembly; Fig. 2 shows a side view of the device in Fig. 1 in assembled condition with a floor covering in¬ stalled on the sheet element; and Fig. 3 shows a sectional side view wherein the device in Figs. 1 - 2 is shown installed on a cast floor. In Fig. 1 there is shown a perspective cut of a device according to the invention forming part of a floor heating plant, wherein the device is shown in its natural position prior to assembly, i. e. it is curved as shown so that it has a rise h. The device comprises a sheet element 1 consisting of heat-conducting resilient material, preferably aluminium having a thickness of e. g. 0,-35 mm, and which is provided with a number of mutually parallel channels or grooves 2 re¬ ceiving respective lengths of tubes 3, e. g. of plastic material, for transport of heating medium, e. c. hot water with a suitable temperature / e. g. ca. 32 C. On its underside or rear side the sheet element 1 is covered with an insulating foam plastic layer 4. Advan¬ tageously, the insulation layer can consist of sprayed polyurethane foam which is applied in a pressure/expan¬ sion process and can have a thickness of e. g. ca. 20 mm. In Fig. 1 the sheet element 1 is shown to be supported along its side edges by joists 5 forming part of a joisting in a wooden floor, As mentioned, the sheet element in its initial position has a rise h between its points of support 5, the sheet beir.g upwards convexly curved in a olane at right angles to -the grooves ~ JΪΪ 2. The sheet element is intended for direct contact with an overlying floor, and in Fig. 2 the sheet element is shown in assembled condition wherein it is pressed down to a straightened, planar position by an overlying floor 6, so that the sheet element exerts a pressure against the floor. The upwards open grooves or flutes 2 formed in the sheet element 1 are so dimensioned that the ele¬ ment, in assembled position, clamps the tubes 3 disposed in the grooves 2. The grooves are preferably formed as part-cylindrical channels which, in the curved initial position of the sheet element 1, have a width which is essentially equal to the external diameter of the tubes 3 and which, in the straightened position of the sheet element, with clamping action enclose essentially the whole tube circumference, so that the tubes, in the assembled position of the sheet element, do not project above the top of the element. In Fig. 3 the device in Figs. 1 - 2 is shown in connection with a cast concrete floor. The arrangement corresponds to the arrangement of Figs. 1 - 2 except that the unit 1, 4 is here disposed on supporting strips or joists 7 which are placed directely on the rough-cast floor subgrade 8, It will be appreciated tha ' t a complete floor heating plant with associated distributors and heating tubes will normally include a larger number of the described sheet element, these being placed side by side on the supporting joists so that they cover essentially the whole or a chosen part of the floor surface which is to be heated. The shown tubes will normally form a continuous tube length and they may be disposed in serpentine form in the floor surface in question. It will also be appreciated that, even if the device has been described in connection with floor heating, it may also be installed for heating of other room-limiting surfaces, e. g. walls or ceilings. Further, the device can be used for cooling instead of heating if a cooling medium is transported in the tubes instead of a heating medium. _ OMPI

Claims: Patent Claims 1, A device for use in plants for heating or cooling of room-limiting surfaces, particularly floor 5 heating plants comprising a plurality of tubes for trans¬ port of heating medium, such as hot water, and a plurality of heat-conducting sheet elements provided with a number of substantially parallel channels for receiving the tubes in heat-conducting connection therewith, for trans¬ it ) ferring heat to an overlying floor surface, characte¬ rized in that it consists of a sheet element (1) of re¬ silient material which, prior to assembly, is upwards convexly curved in a plane at right angles to said channels (2), so that the elementin straightened condi¬ 5 tion, after assembly on supports (5) extending along the side edges of the element (1) , exerts a pressure against the overlying floor (6), and that the channels are up¬ wards open grooves (2) which are so dimensioned that the sheet elements, after assembly, clamp tubes (3) disposed 0 in the grooves (2) . 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet element (1) on its underside is covered with a layer of foam-plastic insulation (4) . 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, charac¬ 5 terized in that the sheet element (1) is an aluminium sheet and after assembly is adapted to lie in direct contact with the overlying floor (6) . 4. A device according to any one of the claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the grooves (2) of the 0 sheet element (1) are formed as part-cylindrical channels which, in the curved initial position of the element (1) , have a width which is essentially equal to the external diameter of the tubes (3) to be received therein, and which, in the straightened position of the element, 5 essentially enclose the disposed tubes with a clamping action. Q...?l YflrO

Inventors: JACOBSEN R
Applicants: JACOBSEN R
Application year: 1981
Main classification: F24D5
IPC codes: F24D3