FLOOR ELEMENT FOR MAKING A HEATED FLOOR

Abstract: A floor element for making a floor of the type comprising a plurality of thermally insulating plate elements supporting conduits for transporting a heating or cooling medium, such as water, and carrying a thermally conductive face plate covering said conduits. The floor element is constructed as a load-carrying sandwich structure including an upper heat-conducting metal plate (4) and a heat-insulating layer (5) attached to the underside of said plate and having a sufficiently high density to make the element (1) load-carrying. The metal plate (4) is provided with at least one channel consisting of an upwards open groove (7) for clamping reception of a tube section (9) in a heat-transferring connection.

Description: -Floor element for making a heated floor The present invention relates to a floor element for making a floor of the type comprising a plurali of thermally insulating plate elements supporting conduits for transporting a heating or cooling medium, such as water, and carrying a thermally conductive face plate covering said conduits. As regards floor structures capable of being heated by means of heat-delivering elements in the form of tubes transporting a heating medium, such as warm water, these have hitherto been constructed according to the principle that the heat-delivering elements are placed beneath the load-carrying floor. The floor structure then firstly has.to be heated, and this structure in turn heats the ambient air in the space above said structure. Tubes are also cast or embedded in the floor covering structure itself and thendeliver heat thereto. These systems have the weakness that the temperature of the heating medium, e. g. water, in the tubes has to be high in order to overcome the heat resistanc i n the floor structure, and in addition one gets an un¬ wanted accumulation of heat in the floor structure itself, -' something which causes inertia with respect to regulation of the room temperature. A floor element of the introductorily stated type is known from US patent No. 4 250 674. This known floor element comprises a base panel which is made of a thermally insulating material and on the upside of which there are formed a plurality of first projections and a plurality of second projections which are arranged in mutually spaced rows, and wherein the first as well as the second projections are of generally cylindrical configuration but have different diameters to thereby achieve a greater freedom with respect to the placing of conduits laid in the free spaces between the rows. Said projections serve as a support for the load-carrying face plates. Also this floor element is encumbered with the weakness that the heating medium tubes have to heat the air in the space surrounding the tubes and being con¬ fined by the base panel and the overlying face plate. The object of the present invention is to provide a floor element of the introductorily stated type which is load-carrying and simultaneously has direct heat delivery from the top of the element, so that the heat resistance and the inertia in the system is reduced to a minimum, and so that the system becomes efficient with a relative low temperature of the used heating medium. According to the invention, the above-mention object is achieved in that the floor element is constructe as a load-carrying sandwich structure including an upper heat-conducting metal plate and a heat-insulating layer attached to the underside of said plate and having a sufficiently high density for making the element load- carrying, said metal plate being provided with at least on channel consisting of an upwards open groove for clamping reception of a tube section in a heat-transferring connec¬ tion. In an advantageous embodiment of • the floor element the heat-insulating layer consists of foamed plast and a reinforcement mesh embedded in the foamed plastics layer along the underside thereof, for absorbing tensile strength. Instead of a heat-insulating layer consisting of foamed plastic, the load-carrying layer of the floor element can be constituted by e. g. a wooden panel, an additional heat-insulating layer then being arranged as part of the floor below the wooden panel. The invention will be more closely described below in connection with exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a part of a "climate floor" constructed with floor elements accor¬ ding to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a part of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale; _O PI Fig. 3 shows a top view of a floor having floor elements according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows a plan view of end plates of a type corresponding to that of Fig. 3, but on ah enlarged scale; Fig. 5 shows a section along the line V - V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a part of a floor having floor elements of another embodiment; Fig. 7 shows a part of Fig. 6 on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a part of a floor having floor elements of an embodiment correspondin to that of Figs. 1 and 2, but with a modified upper metal plate. In Fig. 1 there are shown three floor elements 1 of which two floor elements are shown assembled together and the third floor element is shown somewhat lifted in relation to the others. As shown more in detail in Fig. 2, each floor element comprises an upper heat-conducting metal plate 4, a heat-insulating layer 5 of foamed plastic attached to the underside of the plate, and a reinforcement mesh 6 which is embedded in the foamed plastics layer 5 along the underside thereof. In the illustrated embodiment the metal plate 4 is an aluminium plate having e. g. the dimensions 200 x 2200 x 0,6 mm. The foamed plastics layer 5 with which the plate 4 is covered, preferably is a polyurethan foam and has such a high density (e. g. 3 50 kg/m ) that a firm surface is achieved. The reinforce- ment mesh 6 is embedded in the foamed plastics layer in order to absorb tensile stress occuring by weight loading of the floor element. Along its opposite side edges the aluminium plate 4 is formed with a first and a second, upwards open groove 7 and 8, respectively. Each groove has a part- cylindrical shape and is dimensioned and arranged so that the first and second grooves 7 and 8, respectively, when the floor elementin question is installed in a floor coverin - ^ OMPI areplaced in, respectively receive, corresponding second and first grooves 8 and 7, respectively, in adjacent floor elements, such as appears from Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, the first groove 7 projects beyond the foamed plastics layer 5 5, whereas the second groove 8 is located in the foamed plastics layer along the opposite side edge of the floor element. In assembled or installed condition of the floor, a section of a conduit or tube 9 for transport of a 0 heating medium, usually warm water, is placed in each of the first grooves 7, the grooves being dimensioned to surro a substantial ^ part of the circumference of the tube and to receive the tube in a clamping connection. When the tube 9 has been put in place in the mutually surrounding grooves 7, 8, the grooves constitute a lock between the plates 4 and provide for a good clamping action around the tube, so that a good thermal contact is ensured. In addition the grooves form a longitudinally extending, reinforcing beam carrying the plate structure. 0 Thus, the floor'element is constructed as a sandwich structure which is load-carrying and has heat • delivery from the top without thermal inertia. In practice three plate elements having the dimensions 200 x 2200 mm are assembled and foamed in one ° piece, so that a plate with the dimensions; * 600 x 2200 mm is formed. However, according to requirement this plate can easily be divided in three by cutting through the foamed plastics- layer at the cutting line S shown in Fig. 2. In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2 a mat 10 of sound-absorbing material, e. g. mineral wool 3 having a thickness of 30 mm and a density of 100 kg/m , is attached to the underside of the -foamed plastics layer. Instead of being attached to the polyurethan plate, the mat 10 can also be supplied separately. The provision of such a mat Jo . may be advantageous in order that the floo element by itself shall also satisfy existing requirements with respect to attenuation . of sounds of different O PI frequencies when the floor in question is a partition be¬ tween storeys. As suggested in Fig. 1, a hard floor covering 11, e. g. parquet of minimum thickness (15 mm) , is placed 5 on the "climate floor" according to the invention. If linoleum, PVC covering, carpets or tiles are to be laid, such coverings are placed on a base or underlayer consisti of e. g. a steel sheet having a thickness of 0,8 - 1,2 mm. The floor elements 1 are laid end-to-end with "-0 cross joints staggered as shown in Fig. 3 and then form an entire floor without through-going transverse joints. At the extreme end of the floor elements there are install end plates 12 which may consist of polyurethan and which are provided with grooves 13 for receiving or accommodatin & curved tube sections of the tubes placed in the grooves 7, 8. In Figs. 4 and 5 there are shown enlarged views of such end plates 12 wherein the grooves 13 are formed for various tube layings. 0 In Figs. 6 and 7 there is shown another embodiment of a floor element according to the invention. This embodiment is intended for the making of a floor in the form of a finished "climate floor" without loose plates and forethought in the choice of floor covering. 5 When the floor is laid, one can only putty the joints 14 shown in Fig. 6 and place any covering thereon. In this embodiment a steel plate 17 is dis¬ posed between the upper aluminium plate 15 and the foamed plastics layer 16. As distinct from the embodiment 0 according to Figs. 1 and 2, the aluminium plate 15 is formed with a groove 18 only along one side edge thereof, and the bottom and side portions of this groove is surround by an upwards open channel profile 19 with which the steel plate 17 is formed along the side edge in question and 5 which is embedded in the foamed plastics layer. The groove 18 receives a heating-medium transporting tube 20 and together with the channel profile 19 it forms a load- carrying beam in the longitudinal direction of the tube. The opposite side edge portions of the steel plate and the aluminium plate project a distance beyond the associated side edge of the foamed plastics layer 16 of the floor element 21, in order to cover the channel profile and the groove in an adjacent floor element, and for interconnectio with this floor element. For the achievement of said interconnection the steel plate 17 is provided along the projecting, groove-covering side edge with a plurality of flaps or tongues 22 extending through corresponding apertures 23 (only suggested in Fig. . 7) in a down-turned edge portion 24 of the aluminium plate 15, and thereby locking the plate 15 and 17 together. The tongues 22 are also adapted to be passed through associated apertures 25 extending through the aluminium plate and the steel plate of an adjacent floor element in the curved transition portion between the planar surface portion of the plates 15 and 17 and the roove 18 and channel profile 19, respectively, to thereby bind the floor elements together to an entirety. In a manner corresponding to that of the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2, a reinforcement mesh 26 is embedded in the foamed plastics layer 16 along its lower edge, and to the underside of the foamed plastics: layer there is attached a mat 27 of a sound-absorbing material, e. g. mineral wool. In Fig. 8 there is shown an additional embodiment of a floor which can easily be laid in quite finished condition by means of floor elements according to the invention. The floor elements are here of an embodi ment corresponding to that of Figs. 1 and 2, except from the fact that the upper metal plate 28 of the illustrated central element, which plate also in this case is preferabl of aluminium, in the planar area between the grooves 29 and 30 is formed with a longitudinally extending, recessed channel 31. Such as appears from the Figure, the channel 31 is intended to receive a joint 32 between a pair of metal plates 33, 34, preferably of steel, which are placed on the upper aluminium plate of the elements after the elements have been put in place and the heating tubes 35 are placed in the interconnected grooves. The steel plates are jointed according to requirement, e. g. in the illustrated manner in that one plate 33 has a double bendin for the formation of a room wherein the edge portion of the adjacent plate. 34 can be inserted and kept in place. Each floor element may be provided with a channel 31 having e. g. the shown shape and location, even if it will be clea that the reinforcing steel plates normally have a substan- tially larger area than the individual floor elements, so that only some of the channels will receive existing joints Advantageously, the surface of the upper stee plates may be provided an electrostatically attached flocki so that the surface gets the character of a mat or carpet. The steel plate layer then constitutes the uppermost and finishing layer of the finished floor, so that there will b a minimal heat resistance in the upper layer which is to be heated by the heating medium flowing in the heating tubes. The floor element according to the invention can also be used as "flooring boards" on a joisting floor wherein the floor elements are then laid transversely to the supporting beams. OMP

Claims: Patent Claims 1. A floor element for making a floor of the type comprising a plurality of thermally insulating plate elements supporting conduits for transporting a heating or cooling medium, such as water, and carrying a thermally conductive face plate covering said conduits, characte¬ rized in that it is constructed as a load-carrying sandwich structure including an upper heat-conducting metal plate (4; 15) and a heat-insulating layer (5; 16) attached to the underside of said plate and having a sufficiently high density for making the element (1; 21) load-carrying, said metal plate (4; 15) being provided with at least one channel consisting of an upwards open groove (7; 18) for clamping reception of a tube section (9; 20) in a heat- transferring connection. 2. A floor element according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat-insulating layer (5; 16) consists of foamed plastic and a reinforcement mesh (6; 26) embedded in the foamed plastics layer (5; 16) along the underside thereof, for absorbing tensile strength. 3. A floor element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metal plate (4; 15) consists of aluminium. 4. A floor element according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the foamed plastics layer (5; 16) is a polyurethan foam. 5. A floor element according to any of the claim 2 - 4, characterized in that a layer (10; 27) of sound absorbing material, such as mineral wool, is attached to the underside of the foamed plastics layer* (5; 16). 6. A floor element according to any of the claims 1 - 5, characterized in that said groove consti¬ tutes a first part-cylindrical groove (7) which is formed along one side edge of the plate (4) and extends beyond the heat-insulating layer (5) , and that a corresponding second part-cylindrical groove(8)is formed in the plate (4) along an oppsite side edge, so that the first and second grooves (7 resp. 8) , when the element (1) is in- stalled in a floor, are placed in, respectively receive, corresponding second and first grooves (8 resp. 7) in adjacent floor elements in a locking connection. 7. A floor element according to any of the clai 3 - 5, characterized in that said groove (18) is formed along a side edge of the aluminium plate (15) , and that between the aluminium plate and the foamed plastics layer (16) there is placed a steel plate (17) which is formed along said side edge with an upwards open channel profile (19) surrounding the bottom and side portions of the groove (18) , opposite side edge portions of the steel plate (17) and the aluminium plate (15) projecting a distance beyond the associated side edge of the foamed plastics layer (16) , for covering of an adjacent channel profile (19) and groove (18) in an adjacent floor element, and for interconnection with this floor element. 8. A floor element according to claim 7, characterized in that the steel plate (17) along said opposite side edge portion has a number of tongues (22) extending through apertures (23) in a down-turned edge portion (24) of the aluminium plate (15) , and that said tongues (22) are adapted to be passed through associated apertures (25) extending through the aluminium plate (15) and steel plate (17) of an adjacent floor element in the transition portion of the groove (18) and channel profile (19) , respectively, to thereby interconnect . adjacent floor elements (21) . 9. A floor element according to any of the claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the upper metal plate (28) is provided with a recessed channel (31) for receiving a portion of a joint (31) between overlying, reinforcing metal plates (33, 34). OMP

Inventors: JACOBSEN ROLF, JACOBSEN, ROLF
Applicants: JACOBSEN ROLF, JACOBSEN, ROLF
Application year: 1982
Main classification: F24D19
IPC codes: F24D3