US3280530A

US3280530A - Support means with flow conduit therein for ceilings, walls and floor constructions

Info

Publication number: US3280530A
Application number: US316587A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rothenbach Ernst
Original assignee: Stramax AG
Current assignee: Stramax AG
Priority date: 1962-10-18
Filing date: 1963-10-16
Publication date: 1966-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-25
Also published as: DE1484065A1; BE638657A; GB1068295A; CH398932A; DK115875B; ES292455A1; NL299368A; AT253174B

Description

Oct. 25, 1966 E. ROTHENBACH LOW GONDUIT TH 3,280,530 s, WALLS SUPPORT MEANS WITH F EREIN FOR CEILING AND FLOOR CONSTRUCTIONS Filed Oct. 16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 5

Oct. 25, 1966 E. ROTHENBACH 3 SUPPORT MEANS WITH FLOW CONDUIT THEREIN FOR CEILINGS, WALLS AND FLOOR CONSTRUCTIONS Filed Oct. 16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 78 go a:

INVENTOR ERNST ROTHENBACH 3,280,530 LINGS,

E. ROTHENBACH CONDUIT Oct. 25, 1966 WALLS THEREIN FOR CEI TRUCTIONS SUPPORT MEANS WITH FLOW AND FLOOR CONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 16

INVENTOR ERNST ROTHENBACH Oct. 25, 1966 E. ROTHENBACH 3,280,530 SUPPORT MEANS WITH FLOW CONDUIT THEREIN FOR CEILINGS. WALLS AND FLOOR CONSTRUCTIONS Filed Oct. 16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ERNST ROTHENBACH such control medium.

United States Patent 3,280,536 SUPPORT MEANS WITH FLGW CONDUIT THERE- IN FUR CEILINGS, WALLS AND FLOOR CON- STRUCTIONS Ernst Rothenbach, Kusnacht, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Strarnax Ahtiengesellschaft, Zurich, Switzeriand, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Get. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 316,587 Claims priority, application Switzerland, (Pet. 18, 1962, 12,186/ 62 3 Claims. (Ci. 52-431) The present invention relates to improvements in support elements for ceilings, walls and floor constructions advantageously employed in conjunction with radiant heating and apparatus for influencing the climate in rooms, spaces or the like.

Apparatus in the form of heating ceilings or heating walls provided with pipes or tubes embedded in concrete, or also in the form of suspended or underslung ceilings provided with heat exchanging or distributing plates are known to the art. In installations of this type the heat exchanging or distributing plates are secured to the heating tubes or pipes in order to obtain in this manner large heating surfaces with relatively low surface temperature, whereby the heat distributing or exchanging plates are secured to the tubes by means of clamping springs for example. Since such tubes exhibit a relatively small bending resistance it is therefore only possible to freely span small Widths. Thus, when working with larger span widths the heating ceiling must be secured to an auxiliary support or carrier construction. In the known constructions it was furthermore necessary to provide an additional carrying or support system for the reception of the nonheated ceilings or wall portions, and at which such nonheated portions could be connected.

Furthermore, devices are also known to the art which provide a combination of heating with room ventilation installations and air conditioning installations, whereby ventilation takes place through the hollow spaces or compartments of the non-heated ceiling or wall portions, or such hollow spaces are employed for housing distribution channels of the ventilation system. Also, with such a combined air conditioning system it is necessary to provide special support systems for the heating and ventilating elements and which are not identical with the ceiling support elements.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved device by means of which the problems regarding the aforementioned support construction can be solved in a particularly advantageous and simple manner in that, the support construction for the ceiling simultaneously also serves as the support construction for the heating and/or cooling tube system, and in addition thereto, possibly also serves for the conduits of an air conditioning system.

According to the present invention the support member is manifested by a construction which forms at least one hollow compartment or space for guiding an influencing or control medium, or is constructed for receiving a conduit for guiding a control medium, e.g. water, air or an electric current. Furthermore, such is provided with means for holding heat exchanging or distributing elements. Thus, the support member can exhibit holding means for one or more conduits for the. control medium, such as water, air, electric energy or the like, or the support member itself can be constructed as the conduit for It will thus be seen that the term control medium or means as employed herein is used in its broader sense as pertaining to any medium, substance, energy form or otherwise used for influencing the climatic conditions of the areas, rooms, etc. being served.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention Will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals generally denote similar or analogous elements:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a support member provided with holding means for at least one conduit;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a support member provided with at least two conduits;

FIGURE 3 illustrates a support member which itself is constructed as a conduit member;

FIGURE 4 illustrates a further embodiment of a support member constructed as a conduit;

FIGURE 5 schematically illustrates an arrangement of support members combined with heating members;

FIGURE 6 schematically illustrates a carrying or support beam construction combined with apparatus for heating and ventilating, with a central portion thereof removed for purposes of simplifying illustration;

FIGURES 7-10 illustrate further embodiments of carrying or support members constructed for the handling of two or three control mediums.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the therein illustrated embodiment of support or carrying element comprises an essentially U-shaped carrier or support member 8 which may advantageously be formed of sheet metal. The carrier or support member 8 incorporates a web or flange portion provided with a laterally deflected, bulged or curved portion 9 accommodated to the external diameter of a pipe or tube member 2. The bulged portion 9 is provided with slots 3 extending in substantial parallelism to the axis of the pipe member 2 and in which there is de posited weld beads which connect the pipe 2 with the carrier or support member 8. In this embodiment the pipe member 2 is arranged at a location approximating substantially one-half the height of the support member 8, and therefore is disposed in the region of the so-called neutral Zone of the support construction. It will be recognized that the upper flange 10a of the support member 8 is also provided with spaced openings 8a by means of which a further conduit could be connected, or other structure suspended.

The upper as well as also the lower portion of the support or carrier member 8 increases the bending resistance of such support construction. The lower flange 10 of the support member 8 is advantageously provided with openings 11 and serves as the support for heat conducting or exchanging sheets or

plates

6 and 7. The sheets or

plates

6 and 7 are of similar construction, that is to say, the non-illustrated left marginal edge portion or section of the sheet 6 is the same as the left marginal edge portion of the sheet 7 illustrated in the drawing. Both of the edge portions 6a, 7a are arranged at right angles as shown, one, namely portion 6a, being bent outwardly and the other, namely portion 7a inwardly. The marginal edge portion 7a at the left of the plate or sheet 7, and which is bent inwardly, exhibits downwardly flexed tongues or fingers 12 arranged at uniform spacing from one another and winch are adapted to engage in the openings 11 of the support flange portion 16. In this manner the left edge of each sheet or

plate member

6, 7 is fixed whereas the right edge is freely supported. The support member 8 is thus supported at its ends in a non-illustrated manner upon a wall, a beam or girder or other desired support structure.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 2 there is illustrated a rolled carrier or support member 18 possessing an I-shaped cross sectional profile and at the lower portion 13:: of which two tubes or pipes 2 are supported by means of weld beads 4. At the lower flange 18b of the support member 18 there bears flexed or bent edge portions ob of the heat conducting sheet or plate members 6. Recesses or cavities 19 are formed at the web 18c of the support member 18 in order to render such lighter in construction. If the support member 18 is loaded only by a small ceiling weight, its own weight, the pipes 2 and the relatively light heat conducting plates 6, then such can bridge large distances without intermediate supports. For purposes of weight-reduction it is also possible to construct the support member 18 as a lattice girder or support.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 3 the heat distributing plates have not been shown, yet it will be understood that such could be arranged at the lower. flange 22a of the support member 22 in the manner of FIGURE 2, or could be suspended as shown in the embodiment of FIGURE 1. In this embodiment, the support member 22 essentially corresponds to the support member 8 of FIGURE 1, but here however, there is depicted a basic difference as regards the pipe member 2. Whereas in the embodiment of FIGURE 1 the support member 8 serves as a carrier or holding element for the pipe 2, in the embodiment of FIGURE 3 the support member 22 is provided with a semicircular flexed or curved portion 22' which together with a semi-cylindrical portion 23 forms the conduit member. Both of the portions 22. and 23 are interconnected by means of two roll weld seams 24 or by means of suitable adhesive means. Naturally, the flange 22a could be flexed in the opposite direction so as to impart to the support member 22 a Z-shaped configuration. As regards FIGURES 2 and 3 for example,- both of the support members shown therein can rest upon a concrete form and the rough plaster or pugging can be poured directly between the support elements.

In FIGURE 4 there is illustrated a support or carrier member 46 formed of two similar elements 51, one of which is turned 180 about its longitudinal axis with respect to the other and each provided with flange means 52, :at least the lower flange-means of which exhibits uniformly spaced openings 53. Each element 51 incorporates a vertical portion 52a arranged adjacent the associated flange 52 and which. merges with an inclined portion 52b, the latter of which adjoins with a further vertical port-ion 52c. The portion 520 in turn connects with an oppositely inclined portion 525 which joins with a further vertical leg portion 52e lying above the flange 52 of the other element 51.

The openings 53 disposed in the lower flange 52 serve to hold heat distributing or conducting

plates

6 and 7, similar to those described in conjunction with FIGURE 1. In this figure both the right and left marginal edges of the plate 6 are shown, whereas only the right marginal edge of plate 7 is illustrated. At the right marginal edge portion of the plate member 7 there are provided bent or exed integral tongues or fingers 54 arranged at uniform spacing from one another, and which in the assembled condition of the

plates

6 and 7 engage in the openings 53 of the lower flange 52 of the support member 46. If the hollow compartment or space 52 enclosed by the members 51 serves for the infeed of air, then the

heat distributing plates

6 and 7 can be provided with a device 55 which guarantees for the receipt and connection with a heating or radiator pipe 56 for example.

The ceiling illustrated in FIGURE is provided with heated support members 58a in the form of profiledpipes or tubes 58. The profile or section of the support members 58a corresponds to an inverted T, so that there projects below two oppositely directed flanges 58]). At these flanges 58b there bears the flexed marginal edges 6C of the heat distributing plates 6. Upon these marginal edges do there in turn bears the edges 5% of plates 59,

formed of heat insulating material, such that there remains between the

plates

6 and 59 an air cushion or compartment 69. The hollow, inverted T-shaped support members 58a are closed at both of their ends by means of welded plates 61, and are connected with one another by means of connecting pipes or conduits 62. In this manner there is formed a closed system through which flows the control medium in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGURE 5.

In FIGURE 6 there is shown a further embodiment of a heated ceiling in which the support members 77a are heated electrically. The support members 7711 embody an upper portion '77 of T-shaped cross-section which can be supported at its ends at any convenient location, and further incorporates a lower, laterally displaced, likewise T-shaped portion 78, the web 78a of which however, is provided with a hollow space or compartment 78:) in which there is disposed an electrically insulated heat conductor 79. The lower flanges 780 of the heated T shaped portion 78 serve as supports for heat distributing or conducting plates 6. The edges of the plates 6 are advantageously bent such that they cover the associated flanges 7 8c, yet permit removal of the individual plates 6 from the finished ceiling. Both of the T-shaped

portions

77 and 78 of the support members 7711 are joined together by means of rivets 86 with the introduction of a suitable intermediate heat insulating band or layer 74.

A plate 59 formed of heat insulating material bears against the flexed or curved portion 73d containing the heat conductor 79, so that there remains a hollow space or compartment 66 between this plate 59 and the heat distributing plate 6. In this hollow space or compartment so there is located an electric connecting line or conductor 81 which provides the necessary connection between the heat conductors 79. According to the necessary heating requirements or load it is possible to connect the individual heat conductors 79 in series, in a well known manner.

The rig-ht side of FIGURE 6, on the one hand, depicts the use of the support member 77a as a reinforcement support for the concrete form. Reference numeral 32 denotes the form board for the concrete form and

numerals

83 and 84% and 85 depict the frame portions for sup-.

porting the concrete form carrier. On the other hand, the left side of FIGURE 6 depicts the support beam as the support for a hollow body ceiling, but it is also possible to embed the support beam directly in the concrete as a support rib, without use of hollow bodies.

FIGURES 7-10 illustrate support members and arrangements provided with a plurality of hollow spacesor compartments for the feeding of a number of control mediums, as for example air, fluids, electric energy and the like, wherein the support members also always under take static functions. It is thus possible that the support member also guides or conducts a number of mediums at different temperatures.

FIGURE 7 illustrates an embodiment of a heating, cooling, ventilating and air conditioning installation in which the support members 86a consist of two symmetrical forms or casings 86 which exhibit at their lower crosssectional portions 87a a recess or flexed portion 87 for the receipt of a tube, cable of a Peltier-column 88 for guiding or transmitting the control medium. The flanges 89 serve to support or receive the heat distributing or conducting

plates

6 and 7. The hollow space or compartment 60 is provided for transporting the climatic air which escapes through the openings $1 into the hollow ceiling compartment, which air then flows into the space or room to be treated via the perfractions or openings 92 provided at the

heat distributing plates

6 and 7, as shown. A collecting duct or channel 93 guides the climatic air via conical sockets or means 94 into the hollow compartments 6% of the support members 86a and numeral 95 represents a concrete form bearing upon the aforesaid support memher. The portions of the perforated

heat conducting plates

6 and 7 which are not necessary for the passage of the prepared air can be used for sound deadening or absorption by employing appropriate materials, in a manner well known to those versed in the art.

In FIGURE 8 there are illustrated the same support members 86a as in FIGURE 7, and for such reason similar reference numerals have been employed, with the difference that here Hourdis-bricks 96 arranged between the individual support members 86a directly form the ceiling proper. Above the Hourdis-ceiling there is then applied an overlying concrete layer 97 reinforced with a structural steel web or reinforcing rod means 98. Reference numeral 99 represents an insulating layer applied between the Hourdis-bricks 96 and the support members 86:: and serving to permit heat expansion as Well as simultaneously also for sound absorption. The insulating material here employed or, in fact, with any of the disclosed embodiments of support members may be of the type used for sound absorption, heat insulation and against the forma tion of condensate.

In FIGURE 9 there is illustrated a support member 110 formed of

individual portions

65, 66 and 67 providing three hollow compartments or spaces 60, wherein each portion of the aforesaid support member 110 is connected with the other through the agency of a heat absorbing and

sound absorbing layer

34 and 37, respectively. The support member can be provided with openings, as at .45, for the passage of air or otherwise. It will be recognized that the

portions

65 and 66 are here shown to be of substantially box-shape configuration.

In FIGURE 10 there is illustrated a possibility of use of the support member 120 with a plurality of transmission means for an installation for climate control, especially for controlling the temperature in two rooms or spaces lying above one another. This embodiment shows a combination of a support member 120 provided with conduits or compartments 60 for air and a heating medium for the lower space or room and a special device for influencing or controlling the temperature in the upper room. This arrangement embodies a support member 120 including at least two box-shaped members 110, 111 andwhich is secured to a support element 100a via the introduction of an intermediate insulating connecting layer 34, said support element 100a exhibiting receiving grooves Cl ridges 100 for the insertion of pipes, heating cables or Peltier-columns, shown in phantom lines and generally designated at 101, and which function as floor heating means. At the support member 120 there are provided openings 45 through which flows air which can arrive at the lower room or space through perforation means 103 provide-d at a building material plate means 102. The heating or cooling of the room occurs by means of the heat conducting plate 104.

When the carrying or support members of any embodiment are installed in an available wall between two rooms, compartments or the like, then the arrangement can serve as a wall heating or air conditioning unit with corresponding purposeful arrangement of the heat conducting elements. The supporting beam or carrier means according to FIGURES 1-10 which, when such fulfill a carrying or support function in the ceiling, that is, are embedded in the concrete, conduct the heat in the ceiling construction which is then utilized as a heat storage means.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the present invention, what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. Support means for mounting ceiling, wall and floor constructions and for permitting fluent flow of a control medium behind such constructions, said support means comprising:

at least one support member formed of a pair of sub:

stantially identical elements; each of said elements including at least two spaced apart coplanar face portions and an integral offset portion therebetween directed out of the plane of said coplanar face portions to define a flow conduit portion; said elements being disposed in opposed relationship with said coplanar face portions on one element being in abutting contact with said coplanar face portions on said other element and with flow conduit portions being directly oppositely from each other to define a flow conduit; means interconnecting said elements in said opposed relaitonship to thereby form said support member;

first flange means projecting substantially perpendicularly from at least one of said coplanar face portions at one end of said support member for mounting a ceiling, wall or floor construction; 7

second flange means projecting substantially perpendicularly from at least one of said coplanar face portions at the opposite end of said support member for secur ing said support member to a fixed surface;

said flow conduit being spaced away from said first and second flange means and thus being disposed between said fixed surface and said mounted construction to permit fluent flow of a control medium therebetween; said flow conduit being open-ended and being coextensive with the length of said support member to assure that fluent flow of a control medium through said flow conduit will traverse said entire support member.

2. Support means as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means further includes means for supporting heat distributing means.

3. Support means as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow conduit means has spaced openings therein to permit escape of the control medium which flows therethrough.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,108,134 8/1914 Cassity 33-211 1,190,824 7/1916 Vebelunas 52-738 3,001,001 9/ 1961 Bibb 5228 3,080,022 3/1963 Mote 52-407 FOREIGN PATENTS 571,490 10/ 1958 Belgium. 349,057 9/ 1960 Switzerland.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOUNTING CEILING, WALL AND FLOOR CONSTRUCTIONS AND FOR PERMITTING FLUENT FLOW OF A CONTROL MEDIUM BEHIND SUCH CONSTRUCTIONS, SAID SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING: AT LEAST ONE SUPPORT MEMBER FORMED OF A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL ELEMENTS; EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO SPACED APART COPLANAR FACE PORTIONS AND AN INTEGRAL OFFSET PORTION THEREBETWEEN DIRECTED OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID COPLANAR FACE PORTIONS TO DEFINE A FLOW CONDUIT PORTION; SAID ELEMENTS BEING DISPOSED IN OPPOSED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID COPLANAR FACE PORTIONS ON ONE ELEMENT BEING IN ABUTTING CONTACT WITH SAID COPLANAR FACE PORTIONS ON SAID OTHER ELEMENT AND WITH FLOW CONDUIT PORTIONS BEING DIRECTLY OPPOSITE FROM EACH OTHER TO DEFINE A FLOW CONDUIT; MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID ELEMENTS IN SAID OPPOSED RELATIONSHIP TO THEREBY FORM SAID SUPPORT MEMBER; FIRST FLANGE MEANS PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM AT LEAST ONE OF SAID COPLANAR FACE PORTIONS AT ONE END OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR MOUNTING A CEILING, WALL OR FLOOR CONSTRUCTION; SECOND FLANGE MEANS PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM AT LEAST ONE OF SAID COPLANAR FACE PORTIONS AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SECURING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TO A FIXED SURFACE; SAID FLOW CONDUIT BEING SPACED AWAY FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND FLANGE MEANS AND THUS BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FIXED SURFACE AND SAID MOUNTED CONSTRUCTION TO PERMIT FLUENT FLOW OF A CONTROL MEDIUM THEREBETWEEN; SAID FLOW CONDUIT BEING OPEN-ENDED AND BEING COEXTENSIVE WITH THE LENGTH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TO ASSURE THAT FLUENT FLOW OF A CONTROL MEDIUM THROUGH SAID FLOW CONDUIT WILL TRAVERSE SAID ENTIRE SUPPORT MEMBER.