Abstract:
Various aspects provide for ventilating a circular building, including an external wall of the building in the shape of a circular polygon, a plurality of vertical wall sections each forming a side of the polygon, each vertical wall section secured to an adjacent vertical wall section at a vertex of the polygon and a metallic frame for supporting the vertical wall section. A glass skin may be secured to the metallic frame of the vertical wall section, the glass skin including an exterior opening and a vent chamber configured for receiving air from the exterior of the building through the exterior opening in the glass skin. The vent chamber may include an interior opening for communicating air from the chamber into the interior of the building and a movable flap for controlling a flow of air through the vent chamber.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/331,161, filed on May 4, 2010 and titled “Roundhouse Technology (RHT), Building design and construction technology;” the present application is also a continuation-in-part and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/404,263 filed on Mar. 13, 2009 and titled, “Engineered Architecture,” the disclosures of the aforementioned applications being incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present application relates generally to circular building design and more particularly to ventilation of circular buildings. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A circular building may use glass as a siding material for exterior covering and structural support. Unfortunately, ventilation of the building is difficult because structural glass is difficult to move for opening and closing while maintaining strength of the structure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Ventilation of a circular glass building can be addressed using a ventilation chamber attached to the glass siding. Rectangular sheets of the glass siding may be used to form a panel or section of the exterior wall of the circular glass building. Each segment may provide a face of a circular polygon forming a perimeter wall providing structural support for the circular building. A metal frame may connect adjacent segments and provide support for the glass siding. An exterior opening in the glass siding may admit fresh air into the ventilation chamber. An interior opening in the chamber may provide the fresh air to the building. A flap may close the exterior opening and/or the interior opening. The flap may be adjusted to control the flow of air through the ventilation chamber. A screen may cover the exterior opening and/or the interior opening to prevent insects and debris from entering the building. The ventilation chamber may be supported using a frame or the glass siding. A ventilation tower disposed over a central portion of the building may draw air through the ventilation chamber. 
         [0007]    Various embodiments of the present invention include a ventilation system for a circular building. Such systems may include an external wall of the building in the shape of a circular polygon comprising a plurality of vertical wall sections each forming a side of the polygon. Each vertical wall section may be secured to an adjacent vertical wall section at a vertex of the polygon. The vertical wall section may include a metallic frame. A glass skin including an exterior opening may be secured to the metallic frame of the vertical wall section. A vent chamber configured for receiving air from the exterior of the building through the exterior opening in the glass skin, may include an interior opening for communicating the received air from the vent chamber into the interior of the building. A movable flap may control a flow of air through the vent chamber. The system may further include a screen disposed at the interior or exterior opening. In some embodiments, the movable flap is configured to close the exterior or interior opening. A flat plate steel spandrel may be configured to support the vent chamber. The interior opening may be configured to direct a flow of air from the chamber upward into the interior of the building. 
         [0008]    Various embodiments of the present invention include a circular building. Such circular building may include a substantially circular exterior wall in the form of a polygon. An exterior panel forms a face of the polygon, the panel including a glass skin and a metal frame and a ventilation chamber is disposed between the top and the bottom of the panel. An exterior opening in the glass skin is configured to admit exterior air into the chamber, and an interior opening in the chamber is configured to communicate the admitted air from the chamber into the interior of the building. A channel is configured to secure the chamber to the glass skin. A ventilation tower disposed above a center of the building is configured to draw air through the ventilation chamber. A fan may move air through the ventilation chamber. 
         [0009]    Various embodiments of the present invention include a method for ventilating a circular building. Such method includes admitting exterior air through an exterior opening in a glass skin into a ventilation chamber supported on the glass skin, the glass skin supported on a metal frame and comprising a face of an exterior wall of the circular building, the exterior wall in the shape of a circular polygon. The method further includes communicating the admitted air from the chamber through an interior opening in the chamber into the circular building. The method further includes screening the communicated air and urging the air through the chamber and into the building using a ventilation tower. The method further includes adjusting a flap in the chamber to control a flow of the air through the chamber. Air may be directed from the chamber upwards through the interior opening into the building. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a round house, in accordance with aspects of the technology. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a frame for the round house of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of the round house of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  illustrates detail of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  illustrates detail of a portion of an exterior wall of  FIG. 3B . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  illustrates detail of a panel of the exterior wall of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  is a side cross section view taken along line a-a of  FIG. 4B , illustrating a vent of  FIG. 4B , in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5B  is an enlarged side cross section view of  FIG. 5A . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6A  is a cross section view of the ventilation tower of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6B  is a cross section view illustrating additional details of the ventilation tower of  FIG. 6A . 
           [0020]      FIG. 6C  is a top plan view of a dish of the ventilation tower of  FIG. 6A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a round house  100 , in accordance with aspects of the technology.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a frame  200  for the round house  100  of  FIG. 1 . The round house  100  is in general a circular polygonal building that integrates circular &amp; rectangular geometries, that can be configured for use as residential structures, commercial buildings, community service buildings, private buildings, utility structures, office buildings, etc. As residential structures, round houses  100  can be used for single family homes, and multi family homes such as apartment complexes, townhouses, and condominiums. Internal rooms may be arranged in substantially rectangular and triangular shapes.  FIG. 1  illustrates a single circular structure, however, the round house  100  may be used as a basis of multiple cells combined to form complex structures. 
         [0022]    The round house  100  is based on an internal frame  200  and a circular peripheral wall  102 . The frame supports a roof slab  104 . The roof slab  104  may be fabricated from materials such as concrete and metal, such as steel and aluminum. An optional ventilation tower  106  is disposed on the roof slab  104 . The ventilation tower  106  may be disposed over a center of the round house  100 . An optional parapet or railing  108  is disposed around an edge of the roof slab  104 . The peripheral wall  102  of  FIG. 1  follows a shape that is substantially a circle. A circle can be approximated using a circular polygon of flat faces. As the number of faces increases, the polygon more closely approaches a circle. The circular polygon of the peripheral wall  102  of  FIG. 1  is formed from multiple flat wall panels  110 , each forming a chord of the circle. Each panel  110  is secured to and provides support for an adjacent panel  110 . The circular shape formed by the multiple panels  110  enhances shear support and stability against earthquakes and wind. One of the panels  110  of  FIG. 1  is illustrated as including a vent  120 . While multiple panels  110  may include vents  120 , for simplicity only one panel  110  is shown having the vent  120 . In various embodiments, the peripheral wall  102  may follow other curved shapes that can be approximated using a polygon, for example, ellipse, super ellipse, oval, complex curves, etc. 
         [0023]    The round house  100  includes the frame  200  for supporting the roof slab  104  and the panels  110  of the exterior wall  102 . The frame  200  of  FIG. 2  includes core columns  202 , core beams  204 , and peripheral beams  206  for supporting interior structures and the roof slab  104 , and includes diagonals  208  for lateral bracing of the core columns  202 . The frame  200  further includes perimeter columns  210 , perimeter beams  212 , and sill beams  214  for supporting the wall panels  110 . The sill beams  214  may support the perimeter columns  210 , which in turn support the perimeter beams  212 . The sill beams  214  may provide support for the roof slab  104 . In some embodiments, the sill beams  214  include vents. In various embodiments, the columns and/or beams are fabricated using metal, wood, concrete, glue-lam, plastics, and/or the like. Metals include steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, etc. The foundation (not illustrated) may support the sill beams  214  and/or core beams  204 . A floor slab  220  may support the core beams  204  and/or the sill beams  214 . In some embodiments, the floor  220  is constructed using standard joist and sheathing. A concrete slab may then be poured over the sheathing. Alternatively, the floor  220  includes a concrete slab may be poured on grade. The foundation may include concrete piers, walls, and footings (not illustrated). Four core columns  202  and sixteen perimeter columns  210  are illustrated in  FIG. 2 , however more or fewer core columns  202  and perimeter columns  210  along with an appropriate number of beams may be used in the frame  200 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of the round house  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3B  illustrates “Detail A” of  FIG. 3A . A dotted line in  FIG. 3A  indicates “Detail A.” The views of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a horizontal section through the round house  100  at about mid height along the exterior wall  102 . The exterior wall  102  illustrated in  FIG. 3A  includes  64  wall panels  110  arranged in a circular polygon. Each wall panel  110  forms a side or face of the polygon approximating a circle described by the exterior wall  102 . The each of the wall panels  110  may be secured to an adjacent wall panel  110  at a vertex of the polygon. While the wall panels  110  of  FIG. 3B  are illustrated as flat, the wall panels  110  may be curved or fluted. For example, the wall panels  110  may be convex and have a radius about the same as the radius of the round house  100 , thus, forming a substantially perfect circle. Alternatively, the wall panels  110  are concave. A perimeter column  210  supports the wall panels  110  at intervals, for example, every four wall panels  110 . The perimeter column  210  may be disposed at an intersection or vertex of two wall panels  110 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . While round house  100  of  FIG. 3A  is constructed in the shape of a circular polygon having 64 faces, the round house  100  may be constructed using more or fewer faces. A dotted line in  FIG. 3B  indicating “Detail B,” which is further illustrated in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0025]      FIG. 4A  illustrates “Detail B” of a portion of the exterior wall  102  of  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 4B  illustrates detail of a panel  110  of the exterior wall of  FIG. 4A . The exterior wall  102  includes a metal frame  402  that supports a skin  404  of glass plate for sheathing covering the panel. While plates of glass are illustrated for the skin  404 , other materials may also be used, such as plywood, sheet metal, shingles, etc. A bead of metal or adhesive may be used for glass bearing  406  to secure the glass skin  404  to the metal frame  402 . Two glass bearings  406  are illustrated in  FIG. 4B , however, more or fewer glass bearings  406  may be used. A pair of vents  120  configured to admit exterior air into the round house  100  are disposed in the frame  402  of the panel  110 . The vent  120  includes an interior opening  408 . While two vents  120  are illustrated in  FIG. 4B , more or fewer vents  120  may be disposed in the panel  110 . Two panels  110  may be joined at a vertex  412 . A spandrel  410  may be used for joining the panels  110  at the vertices  412 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5A  is a side cross section view taken along line a-a of  FIG. 4B , illustrating a vent  120  of  FIG. 4B , in accordance with aspects of the invention.  FIG. 5B  is an enlarged side cross section view of  FIG. 5A . A dotted line in  FIG. 5A  indicates “Detail C” of  FIG. 5B . The vent  120  includes a chamber  502  and an exterior opening  504  configured to admit exterior air into the chamber  502 . The vent  120  further includes a flap  508  configured to control a flow of air through the vent  120 . Optional curtains  506  provide shade for the panel  110 . The curtains  506  have been omitted from  FIG. 5B  for clarity. While flap  508  of  FIG. 4B  is illustrated as positioned to close the interior opening  408 , the flap  508  may be used for closing the exterior opening  504 . In some embodiments, the flap is controlled using a motor under computer control. The computer may be configured to sense various parameters, including air flow, exterior temperature, interior temperatures, etc., and to adjust a position of the flap  508  to optimize air flow through the round house  100 . 
         [0027]    The interior opening  408  is illustrated in  FIG. 5A  as being disposed on an upper surface of the vent  120 . However, in various embodiments, an interior opening  408  is disposed on a lower surface, a side surface and/or a rear surface (opposite the exterior opening  504 ) of the vent  120 . A channel  510  attached to the vent  120  may secure the glass  404  skin to the vent  120 . The glass skin  404  illustrated in  FIG. 5B  is double pane glass for providing insulation. However, single pane, triple pane, or more panes of glass may be used for the glass skin  404 . The spandrel  410  may be fabricated from a flat plate of steel and extend between adjacent perimeter columns  210 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 6A  is a cross section view of the ventilation tower  106  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6B  is a cross section view illustrating additional details of the ventilation tower  106  of  FIG. 6A . The ventilation tower  106  enhances a flow of exterior air into the round house  100  via the vents  120 . The ventilation tower  106  includes a wind barrier  602 . The wind barrier  602  may be covered using materials such as stucco, aluminum sheet, galvanized steel, fiberglass. A rigid polyester or foam core may provide insulation. The ventilation tower  106  may be secured to the slab roof  104 . An optional chase  608  may support the wind barrier  602 . An optional fan  610  is used for urging air from the interior of the round house  100  up through the ventilation tower  106 . In some embodiments, a height of the tower  106  is about the height of the parapet or rail  108 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6C  is a top plan view of an optional dish  604  for the ventilation tower  106  of  FIG. 6A . The dish  604  is disposed above the tower. The dish  604  may provide a venturi effect at the top of the tower  106  for drawing air from the interior of the round house  100 . An optional mechanism  612  is used for raising and lowering the dish. The dish  604  may be raised to a height for controlling a flow of air from the round house  100 , or lowered to seal the tower  106 . In various embodiments the dish  604  is fabricated using fiberglass, polyester, rigid foam, aluminum, translucent materials, sheet metal, galvanized steel sheets. Structural ribs (not illustrated) may be used for reinforcing the shape of the dish. In some embodiments, the dish  604  includes a central opening  614 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6C . Alternatively, the central opening  614  is omitted from the dish  604 , which comprises a continuous unbroken surface. 
         [0030]    The embodiments discussed herein are illustrative and not restrictive. As these embodiments are described with reference to illustrations, various modifications or adaptations of the methods and/or specific structures described may become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art. All such modifications, adaptations, or variations that rely upon the teachings of the embodiments, and through which these teachings have advanced the art, are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the present application. Hence, these descriptions and drawings should not be considered in a limiting sense, as it is understood that the present application is in no way limited to only the embodiments illustrated. It will be further understood that the methods of the invention are not necessarily limited to the discrete steps or the order of the steps described.