CEILING STRUCTURE FOR HEATING OR COOLING A ROOM

Abstract: The invention relates to a building consisting of at least one room (1) comprising a floor (2), a ceiling (3), side walls (4) and at least one outside wall (5), as well as heating means (11 - 14). The heating means are incorporated in a ceiling plate (7), which is supported some distance below the ceiling of said room. Air flow means (9) are provided in one of the walls, through which air flows over said ceiling plate into the room. In this manner it is possible to control the temperature in the room.

Description: CEILING STRUCTURE FOR HEATING OR COOLING A ROOM The present invention relates to a building consisting of at least one room comprising a floor, a ceiling, side walls and at least one outside wall, as well as heating means. The invention furthermore relates to a system for providing facilities in rooms of said building and to a ceiling structure for use therein. Heating systems in buildings, both office buildings and houses and the like, generally employ radiators, which are inevitably placed against the outside wall of the room to be heated. A drawback of this is that the heating system takes up space and that furniture cannot be placed close to the wall in question, as a result of which the floor area of the room and the light from outside cannot be utilized optimally. Furthermore, the efficiency of such heating means is not optimal. The object of the present invention is to provide a building wherein the above drawbacks are eliminated in an effective manner. In order to accomplish that objective, the building according to the invention is characterized in that the heating means are incorporated in a ceiling plate, which is supported some distance below the ceiling of said room, whilst furthermore air flow means are provided in one of the walls, through which air flows over said ceiling plate into the room. Due to the above aspects of the invention, the heating means are positioned at a high position in a room, and the air to be heated first flows over the ceiling plate comprising the heating means and subsequently into the room. Not only can a gain in space be achieved in the room in this manner, due to the absence of radiators, but it is also possible to utilize the daylight better and for a longer time, since furniture, for example a desk, can be placed closer to the window, which makes it possible to achieve a saving on electricity for lighting purposes. Furthermore it is possible to increase the efficiency of the heating system considerably, in that it is possible to effect a heating circulation in the building which is capable of heating the entire room in a satisfactory manner. The air flow rates can be kept so low as to provide thermal comfort. If the air flow means, for example in the form of a silencer, draw in air from outside the building, ventilation of the room is provided as well. A very advantageous embodiment is an embodiment wherein the ceiling plate only extends over part of the ceiling area, for example about half thereof, from the wall comprising the air flow means. As a result of this structure, there is no need to provide special air outlet means from the space between the ceiling plate and the fixed ceiling, and the air will flow into the room at the end of the ceiling without any difficulty. The advantage of this structure is the fact that only part of the room has a lowered ceiling, preferably the part adjoining the outside wall in those cases where air from outside the building is guided over the ceiling plate. This makes it possible to design the building with storeys of a reduced height, since it is no longer necessary to provide extra space for lowered ceilings which extend over the entire room area. After all, the room can extend from the floor to the storey which is present thereabove over a substantial part thereof. This means that great cost benefits can be obtained in the construction of the building. This embodiment can be realised especially well if the ceiling plate according to the invention is provided not only with heating means, but also with cooling means, if desired, with means for enhancing the acoustic and/or with lighting means. In that case, there is hardly any need, if at all, for a lowered ceiling extending over the entire room area for fitting lighting means and for leading through and covering electrical conduits and elements of the ventilating, cooling and/or heating system. In one advantageous embodiment, the heating means comprise at least one water tube extending over said ceiling plate, which water tube is connected, preferably by means of flexible supply and discharge hoses, to a hot-water supply of the building, whilst the ceiling plate is suspended from the ceiling by suspension means, for example cables, chains or the like, and wherein said suspension means are preferably adjustable for the purpose of lowering the ceiling plate. In this manner it is possible to connect the heating means to a usual hot-water supply, such as a heating boiler or the like, in a simple manner, whilst it is also readily possible in this manner to lower the ceiling plate for cleaning purposes or for carrying out repairs on the upper side of the ceiling plate. In this water-cooled embodiment, the heating means can also be used as cooling means in the summer, in that unheated, cool water is led through the ceiling plate, thus providing a cooling effect. In particular in the case that the underside of the ceiling plate is heat conducting, just like the upper side, the underside of the ceiling plate will emit radiant heat. Due to the large surface area of the ceiling plate, relatively much radiant heat is emitted. Since human beings perceive temperature as a combination of air temperature and radiation temperature, the present invention makes it possible to use a relatively low air temperature, due to said large amount of radiant heat, and still effect an agreeable climate. As a result of this, relatively low water temperatures (in the order of 45 - 50°C) will suffice when a water heating system is used, which results in considerable energy savings in comparison with traditional systems, of course. When the water tube is used as a cooling element, it is possible, for the same reasons, to use relatively high cooling water temperatures (18 - 20°C) . In those cases where the underside of the ceiling plate is light reflecting, the light from outside is reflected to deep within the room, as a result of which less artificial light is required for lighting the room. This leads to another energy saving. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, which schematically show an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a highly schematic, vertical longitudinal section of a building according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows a horizontal longitudinal section of the room of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a larger-scale plan view of a ceiling plate according to the invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line III-III in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a larger-scale view of details from Fig. 4. The drawings, and in the first instance Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, show a room of a building, which may for example be a commercial or industrial building, but also a house or a similar building. Room 1 comprises a floor 2, a ceiling 3, one or more inside walls 4 and at least one outside wall 5. A casing comprising a window 6 may be provided in said outside wall 5. The heating, and possibly also the cooling, of room 1 is arranged by means of a ceiling plate 7 which is suspended in room 1, in which ceiling plate heating and/or cooling means - yet to be described in more detail - are present, which heating and/or cooling means may also be called climate means. Ceiling plate 7 extends from an outside wall 5 over part of the area of ceiling 3 of room 1, preferably leaving clear a gap 8 to the outside wall 5 and/or to the adjacent side walls 4. Since the ceiling plate 7 is clear of the walls of the room, it may also be called a ceiling island. Said gap may for example be 200 - 300 mm. Silencers 9, two in the present case, are built into the outside wall 5 of room 1, above window 6, which silencers are capable of admitting ventilating air from around the building whilst shutting out noise, preferably by making use of the natural pressure difference, so that a powered fan is not required. The admitted air is led into the room, and that in such a manner that the fresh ventilating air is led over the ceiling plate. The outlet openings of the silencers 9 are positioned at the highest possible location in the silencers, and they are relatively narrow, so that an outflow rate of nominally about 1 m/s can be achieved. The room may furthermore be provided with a mechanical exhaust system for maintaining or promoting the natural ventilation. The exhaust point may be present near the ceiling in that case, centrally in the side wall 4 opposite outside wall 5, at the place which is indicated at 10. By leaving clear the gap 8 to the adjoining walls of the room, circulation of hot or cold air can take place via said gaps as well, so that an agreeable climate is obtained throughout the room. Figs. 3, 4 show a possible structure of ceiling 7 in more detail. Said ceiling plate 7 may be formed into a ceiling island by itself or in combination with one or more other ceiling plates. Ceiling plate 7 comprises a tubular frame, which on the one hand determines the structure of the plate and which on the other hand functions to pass through water for the purpose of cooling or heating the room. The tubular frame is made up of two parallel main tubes 11 extending along the longitudinal sides of ceiling plate 7, and a number of register tubes 12, thirteen in the present embodiment, which extend therebetween. Main tubes 11 are thereby arranged in such a manner that the water is forced to flow forward and backward over ceiling plate 7 through register tubes 12 and main tubes 11. The supply and discharge of water takes place via a flexible supply hose 13 and a flexible discharge hose 14. Supply hose 13 connects at 15 to a supply pipe 16 extending above ceiling plate 7, which supply pipe opens into one of the main tubes 11. Discharge hose 14 connects at 18 to a discharge pipe 16, which likewise extends above ceiling plate 7, in spaced- apart relationship therewith, and which is in communication with the other main tube 11 at 20, at the opposite end of ceiling plate 7. Ceiling plate 7 can be suspended from the ceiling of the room by means of steel cables 21 and 22, whereby it is possible to pay out steel cable 22, so that the ceiling plate 7 will pivot downwards about the suspension point of steel cable 11, as a result of which the upper side of ceiling plate 7 will become accessible for cleaning purposes or repairs. The flexible supply hoses 13 and 14 allow such a pivoting movement of ceiling plate 7. The tubular frame consisting of main tubes 11 and register tubes 12 is covered on the upper side by means of a metal, for example steel or aluminium, plate 23, which may be fixed to tubes 12 by means of pop rivets or spot welds on U-sections 24. Plate 23 is preferably a non-perforated plate. Important is that plate 23 or another type of cover exhibit good heat conducting properties, so that heat from the water flowing through the tubes can readily be delivered to the air flowing above the ceiling. The underside of the tubular frame may be covered by a metal, preferably aluminium or steel, plate, which is likewise fixed to the U-sections and which is preferably perforated and fitted with an acoustical membrane (not showi ), which functions to enhance the acoustic in room 1. The aluminium or steel plate conducts heat and reflects light, so that radiant heat is delivered to the room and natural light is reflected to deep within the room. The spaces between plates 23, 25 and tubes 11, 12 may be filled with an insulating material 20, such as glass wool. The ceiling plate according to the invention is furthermore provided with lighting fittings, in this embodiment in the form of an fitting 26 delivering light in downward direction, which is present at the location of the top of the upward curve of ceiling plate 7, and an fitting 27 delivering light obliquely upwards, in a direction away from ceiling plate 7, which is present near the side of ceiling plate 7 that will face away from the outside wall 5 of room 1. Fittings 26 and 27 are capable of lighting the entire room, so that no other light connections are required in the room, which makes it much easier to arrange the room. Not shown in the drawing are electrical conduits, which extend through the ceiling plate and, at the location of hoses 13 and 14, to a terminal connecting point in the room. In the present embodiment, fittings 26 and 27 extend above the upper plate 23 of the ceiling plate, which might influence the flow of air over the ceiling plate and the heat transmission. This may be prevented or lessened by using other fittings or a lower position of the fittings, or by making the ceiling plate 7 thicker. On the air exhaust side of ceiling plate 7, that is, the side that will face away from outside wall 5 in use, an acoustic damping element in the form of a roll 28 may be provided, if desired, which is fixed at some distance from the end of ceiling plate 7 by means of sections 29. Said roll 28 will provide an additional enhancement of the acoustic in room 1, if necessary. Experiments have shown that satisfactory results in the form of great 'thermal comfort can be obtained with the ceiling plate according to the invention, both in the winter, when ceiling plate 7 functions as a heating element, and in the summer, when a cooling effect is achieved by means of ceiling plate 7. A satisfactory heating and cooling efficiency is achieved, whilst the ceiling plate enables a better use of the space in a building and of the natural outside light. Thus, no radiators are needed in the room, as a result of which a larger usable area is obtained, whilst the ceiling plate 7, which only extends over part of each room, obviates the need to use complete lowered ceilings. Indeed, all facilities for the room are incorporated in the ceiling plate, which is only present near the outside wall of the ceiling. This makes it possible to design the building with lower storeys, which considerably decreases the construction cost of buildings, of course. The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as shown in the drawing and described above, which can be varied in several ways within the scope of the invention. Thus, the structure, the suspension and the dimensions of the ceiling plate can be varied as desired. For example, the ceiling plate may be simply flat instead of curved. Furthermore, the ceiling plate may consist of a number of plate parts, which may or may not be formed into one unit. Also the heating means may be of different construction. Besides being used for ventilation, heating, cooling, lighting and acoustic enhancement, the system could also be used for other purposes. Of course it is possible to leave out one of the aforesaid facilities. If the ventilating air is not obtained directly from outside, the ceiling plate may also be positioned to adjoin a wall of a ceiling other than the outside wall.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A building consisting of at least one room comprising a floor, a ceiling, side walls and at least one outside wall, as well as heating means, characterized in that the heating means are incorporated in a ceiling plate, which is supported some distance below the ceiling of said room, whilst furthermore air flow means are provided in one of the walls, through which air flows over said ceiling plate into the room. 2. A building according to claim 1, wherein said ceiling plate only extends over part of the ceiling area, for example about half thereof, from the wall comprising the air flow means. 3. A building according to claim 2, wherein said ceiling plate adjoins at least the wall comprising said air flow means, leaving clear a gap. 4. A building according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ceiling plate is furthermore provided with lighting means and/or with means for enhancing the acoustic, whilst said heating means may also be used as cooling means. 5. A building according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said air flow means are provided in the outside wall of the room and draw in air from outside the building. 6. A building according to claim 5, wherein said air flow means comprise at least one silencer, which preferably comprises an air outlet at a high position therein. 7. A building according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the room is provided with mechanical exhaust means . 8. A building according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said heating means comprise at least one water tube extending over said ceiling plate, which water tube is connected to a hot-water supply of the building, preferably by means of flexible supply and discharge hoses. 9. A building according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ceiling plate is suspended from the ceiling by suspension means, for example cables, chains or the like, and wherein said suspension means are preferably adjustable for the purpose of lowering the ceiling plate. 10. A system for providing facilities in a room of a building, characterized by a ceiling plate to be suspended in said room, which comprises at least climate means in the form of heating and/or cooling means, as well as by air flow means to be built into a wall of the room, which function to have air flow over the ceiling plate to within the room. 11. A system according to claim 10, comprising lighting means and/or means for enhancing the acoustic. 12. A ceiling plate, preferably for use in the system according to claim 10 or 11, comprising climate means, lighting means and/or means for enhancing the acoustic. 13. A ceiling plate according to claim 12, wherein said climate means comprise at least one water tube, which extends over said ceiling plate and which can be connected to a hot water supply. 14. A ceiling plate according to claim 13, wherein said water tube forms a tubular frame which determines the structure of the ceiling plate. 15. A ceiling plate according to claim 14, wherein said tubular plate is covered on its upper side and its underside by thin plates, preferably metal plates, wherein the upper plate and the lower plate are heat conducting, and wherein said lower plate is provided with means for enhancing the acoustic, such as perforations and/or a membrane, and wherein said lower plate is furthermore light reflecting. 16. A ceiling plate according to any one of the claims 12 - 15, which is formed with wavy corrugations. 17. A silencer for use in a building according to any one of the claims 1 - 9, comprising a narrow air outlet provided near the upper side of said silencer. 18. A method for controlling the climate in rooms of a building, wherein the climate is controlled individually by means of water in said rooms, via radiant heat/cold and air heating/cooling, wherein the water temperature is relatively low when used for heating, for example 45 - 50°C, and relatively high when used for cooling, for example 18 - 20°C.

Inventors: RAU THOMAS MARTIN, RAU, THOMAS, MARTIN
Applicants: FRENGER SYSTEMEN B V, RAU & PARTNERS B V, FRENGER SYSTEMEN B.V., RAU & PARTNERS B.V.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: F24D3
IPC codes: F24D3, F24F5