U.S. patent application number 10/204364 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-13 for method for insulating against heat and/or cold and/or sound and /or fire, and device for carrying out said method.
Invention is credited to Scholz, Reinhard.
Application Number | 20030046894 10/204364 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7631081 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030046894 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Scholz, Reinhard |
March 13, 2003 |
Method for insulating against heat and/or cold and/or sound and /or
fire, and device for carrying out said method
Abstract
The walls (5, 29, 25) are covered with one or several insulating
bodies (1) according to this method for insulating against heat
and/or cold and/or sound and/or fire wherein each insulating body
(1) comprises two plates (2) disposed at the distance from each
other, wherein the intermediate space (4) of the plates (2) is
filled with insulating material, is airtight closed toward the
outside and is evacuated. The air contents or, respectively, the
vacuum in the intermediate space (4) offering the insulating body
(1) or the insulating bodies (1) and therewith the thermal or sound
conductivity of the insulating body (1) is changed depending on the
surrounding temperature, the inner temperature and/or the outside
temperature or the prevailing sound level in the region or room (7,
8, 21, 32, 34) to be insulated. (FIG. 2). The damming and
insulating effect of the insulation tender therewith to be
increased and adapted to the respective requirements, the
insulation can also be made transparent for employing the ambient
temperature as required. Upon employment as a fire protection, the
intermediate space (4) of the insulating body (1) or of the
insulating bodies (1) can be additionally flooded with a
noncombustible gas, for example halon gas, triggered by a fire
alarm.
Inventors: |
Scholz, Reinhard;
(Wiesental, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Horst M Kasper
13 Forest Drive
Warren
NJ
07059
US
|
Family ID: |
7631081 |
Appl. No.: |
10/204364 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
February 15, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE01/00598 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/741.3 ;
52/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 80/12 20130101;
Y02B 80/10 20130101; Y02A 30/242 20180101; E04B 1/803 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/741.3 ;
52/3 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/00; E04G
021/00; E04G 023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 16, 2000 |
DE |
100-06-878.2 |
Claims
Patent claims
1. Methods for insulating against heat and/or cold and/or sound
and/or fire, wherein a wall or walls are covered with one or
several insulating bodies (1), wherein each of the insulating
bodies (1) comprises two plates (2) disposed at a distance, wherein
the intermediate space (4) of the plates (2) is filled with
insulating material, sealed airtight toward the outside and
evacuated, characterized in that the air contents or, respectively,
the vacuum in the intermediate space (4) of the insulating body (1)
or of the insulating bodies (1) and there this is the heat
conductivity or sound conductivity of the intermediate space (4) is
changed depending on the surrounding temperature, the inner
temperature and/or the outside temperature or of the prevailing
sound level in the area or room (7, 8, 21, 32, 34) to be
insulated.
2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the
intermediate space (4) of the insulating body (1) or of the
insulating bodies (1) is evacuated or ventilated as required
controlled by a program depending on the surrounding temperature,
the inner temperature and/or the outside temperature or the
prevailing sound level in the region or room (7, 8, 21, 32, 34) to
be insulated.
3. Method according to claim 2 characterized in that the inner
temperature of a room (7, 8, 21) to be insulated is automatically
controlled by an automatic controller (13) to a set point value
preselected in the automatic controller (13) by evacuating and
ventilating of the intermediate space (4) of the insulating body
(1) or of the insulating bodies (1).
4. Method according to claim 3 characterized in that the air
contents or, respectively, the vacuum in the intermediate space (4)
of the insulating body (1) or of the insulating bodies (1) is
controlled by the automatic controller (13) depending on the
difference between the set point value of the inner temperature of
the room (7, 8, 21) to be insulated and the outside
temperature.
5. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the air
contents or, respectively, the vacuum in the intermediate space (4)
of the insulating body (1) or of the insulating bodies (1) are
controlled depending on a measured sound level.
6. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the air
contents or, respectively, the vacuum in the intermediate space (4)
of the insulating body (1) or of the insulating bodies (1) is
controlled depending on time.
7. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the
intermediate space (4) of the insulating body (1) or of the
insulating bodies (1) is flooded with a noncombustible gas, for
example a halon gas upon responding of a fire alarm.
8. Device for performing the method according to claim 1,
characterized in that the intermediate space (4) of one insulating
body (1) or of several insulating bodies (1) on the one hand is
connected to the suction connector of a vacuum pump (11) and on the
other hand is connected to a connector offered ventilation wealth
(12), wherein the vacuum pump (11) and the ventilation valve (12)
are connected through in each case a control connection to the
output connectors of an automatic controller (13), wherein a first
measurement sensor (14) measuring the internal temperature of the
room (7, 8, 21) to be insulated and a second measurement sensor
(15) measuring the outside temperature at the room (7, 8, 21) to be
insulated are connected to the inputs of the automatic controller
(13) and wherein the operation of the vacuum pump (11) and the
opening and closing of the ventilation wealth (12) are programmed
controlled by the automatic controller (13) depending on the
measured internal temperature and/or outside temperature of the
room (7, 8, 21) to be insulated.
9. Device for the performing of the method according to claim 1
characterized in that the intermediate space (4) of one insulating
body (1) or several insulating bodies (1) is connected on the one
hand to the suction connector of a vacuum pump (11) and on the air
and to a connector offered ventilation valve (12), wherein the
vacuum farm (11) and the ventilation wealth (12) are connected to
the output connectors of a control device through in each case a
control connector, wherein a measurement sensor (14) measuring the
sound level of a region to be monitored is connected to the inputs
of the control device and wherein the operation of the vacuum pump
(11) and the opening and closing of the ventilation valve (12) are
programmed controlled by the control device depending on the
measured sound level.
10. Device for the performing of the method according to claim 1
characterized in that the intermediate space (4) of one insulating
body (1) or of several insulating bodies (1) is connected on the
one hand to a suction connection of a vacuum pump (11) and on the
other hand to the connector of the gas pressure container (26)
through a valve (25) closed in its starting position, wherein the
gas pressure container (26) is filled with a noncombustible gas and
wherein the valve (25) is controllable by a control device upon
responding of a fire alarm for flooding of the intermediate space
(4) or of the intermediate spaces (4) with the non-combustible
gas.
11. Device according to one of the claims 8 through 10,
characterized in that the intermediate space (4) of one insulating
body (1) or of several insulating bodies (1) is connected to the
vacuum pump (11) and to the ventilation valve (12) through a
pneumatic buffer (10).
12. Device according to claim 11 characterized in that an
insulating valve (37) controllable by the temperature controller
(13) is incorporated between the intermediate space (4) or the
intermediate spaces (4) of one or several insulating bodies (1) and
the pneumatic buffer (10), wherein the insulating valve (37)
cooperates with an automatic pressure controller (38) inserted
between the intermediate space (4) or the intermediate spaces (4)
and the temperature controller (13).
13. Device according to one of the claims 8 through 12
characterized in that several insulating bodies (1) are composed
like modules for covering or jacketing of a wall (5, 29, 30) of one
room (7, 8, 21, 32) to be insulated, wherein the intermediate
spaces (4) of the module like composed insulating bodies (1) are
connected to each other and form a common intermediate space
(4).
14. Device according to one of the claims 8 through 12
characterized in that several insulating bodies (1) for covering or
jacketing of a wall (5, 29, 30) of a room (7, 8, 21, 32) to be
insulated or of a firewall are composed like modules, wherein the
intermediate spaces (4) of the insulating bodies (1) composed like
modules are sealed airtight against each other and wherein the air
contents or, respectively, the vacuum is differently controllable
in these intermediate spaces (4).
15. Device according to claim 14 characterized in that a
measurement point (23) is furnished at each of the intermediate
spaces (4) airtight sealed against each other, wherein the air
pressure in the intermediate space (4) can be measured at the
measurement point (23).
16. Device for the performing of the method according to claim 1
characterized in that one insulating body (1) or several insulating
bodies (1) are inserted into the firewall (24) of a building.
17. Device for performing the method according to claim 1
characterized in that the noise protection wall (35) is covered
with one insulating body (1) or several insulating bodies (1)
between the region (33) to be shielded against the sound and a
sound source (24) on the side disposed toward the sound source (34)
and wherein the plates (2') of the insulating body (1) or of the
insulating bodies (1) disposed toward the sound source (34) is
rounded toward the sound source (24).
18. Device according to claim 17 characterized in that the
intermediate space (4) expanding toward the top by the rounding of
the one plate (2') of the insulating body (1) is stiffened and
reinforced by way of permeable intermediate walls (36).
19. Device for performing the method according to claim 1
characterized in that the insulating body (1) comprises two plastic
plates (2) disposed at a distance, wherein he the intermediate
space (4) closed airtight toward the outside is filled with
comminuted or shredded plastic wastes.
20. Device for performing the method according to claim 1
characterized in that the plastic plates (2) are connected to each
other at the distance by support braces (3).
21. Device for performing the method according to claim 1
characterized in that the insulating body (1) is adapted in its
shape to the surface of the wall of a room (7, 8, 21, 32) to be
insulated or of an object.
Description
DESCRIPTION
[0001] The Invention relates to a method for insulating against
heat and/or cold and/or sound and/or fire, wherein a wall or walls
are jacketed with one or several insulating bodies, wherein each
insulating body comprises two plates disposed at a distance,
wherein the intermediate space between the two plates is filled
with insulating material, that is airtight sealed toward the
outside and is evacuated and to a device for performing the
method.
[0002] Conventionally only the surrounding outer walls and inner
walls of a chamber are jacketed with an insulating material for
purposes of heat insulation or of cold insulation of the chamber,
however also for the sound protection of the chamber. Sound
protection walls are established in the free environment for
example at heavily driven roads. In particular firewalls are placed
at or in buildings for fire protection, wherein the firewalls
prevent the expansion of a fire or at least are to delay the
expansion of a fire. Presently, the employed insulating materials
comprised mostly a foamed plastic; the insulating and damming
effect of the foamed plastic resides on the slight thermal
conductivity of the plastic itself and on the slight thermal
connectivity of the air bubbles enclosed in the plastic. The sound
absorbing property of the material has more importance in the
situation of noise protection. The thermal conductivity is
different from plastic to plastic, however the thermal conductivity
is always less as compared to the thermal conductivity of air.
Limits are placed with these insulating materials and the
insulating and damming effect achievable with these materials based
on the thermal conductivity of the air and of the employed plastic
as well as the microporosity of the plastic. The thickness of the
plastic jacketing cannot be increased to a certain degree for
improving the damming effect. The spacial content of the chamber to
be insulated and its wall thicknesses have to be standing in a
justifiable relationship already based on purely economic reasons;
this is most obvious in connection with transport containers,
mobile cooling containers, liquid gas tanks and the like.
[0003] In order to increase the damming or insulating effects of a
closed cell plastic insulating material, it is known from the
German printed Patent document DE-OS 44241042 to evacuate the
production space initially for the closed cell plastic such that an
under pressure prevails in the closed cell plastic while the
production of the plastic material is started; consequently also
the individual cells of the finished plastic surround a certain
vacuum--each cell forms an under pressure cell--whereby the thermal
conductivity relative to cells filled with air is again clearly
reduced. The ball shaped form of the cells can later resist
standard atmospheric pressure well.
[0004] The production of plastic under vacuum or, respectively, in
an under pressure chamber, is very expensive and cost intensive and
is only sensible in connection with closed cell plastics. The reuse
of plastic waste materials is only possible to a limited extent
during the production of said plastics and is charging the
environment, since plastics of the various kinds are collected in
connection with the collection of plastic wastes.
[0005] A vacuum insulation system is known where the insulation
lining panels are employed, which comprise stainless-steel sheet
metal, wherein the stainless steel sheet metal is welded onto
profile frames according to the information flyer
"Informationsblatt des Bundesministeriums fur Wirtschaft und
Technologie in Germany `Information Aktuell` of Nov. 9, 1999". The
hollow space between the stainless steel sheet metal is filled with
a special micro-porous insulating material and a micro-vacuum is
generated in the following within the lining panel. The thermal
damming is therewith improved again, since the thermal conductivity
in vacuum is 0 for practical purposes. The thickness of these
lining panels can be clearly reduced relative to the otherwise used
foamed plastic plates in order to achieve the same damming and
insulating effect.
[0006] All known thermal insulations or cold insulations to be
applied at the outer walls of a container or of a building have a
certain value maintaining, unchangeable thermal conductivity or
damming effect, at best the thermal connectivity or damming effect
can deteriorate in the course of time by penetrating air in the
case of a vacuumed plastic. The thermal insulations or the cold
insulations prevent or dam both a heating from the outside the case
of high or relatively high environmental temperatures, for example
upon sun irradiation during the day, as well as a cooling off, that
is a heat elimination from a room to the outside in case of low
environmental temperatures, that is during the night or during cool
weather. In order to maintain a uniform temperature, for example in
the rooms of a building, that presently required still expensive
and cost intensive air conditioning plants, which are frequently
detrimental and harmful to the well-being and the health of persons
present in the rooms. The continuous insulation having a uniform
effect leads in addition frequently to the formation of condensate
water and to the mold formation in the rooms, where such formation
can in most cases only be insufficiently counteracted with a
ventilation by an opening of a window.
[0007] It is an object of the present Invention to furnish a method
and a device for insulating against heat and/or cold and/or sound
and/or fire, which method or device are clearly more effective
relative to conventional methods or devices without having to rely
on a certain kind of plastic such as the closed cell plastic or a
special micro-porous insulating material and on an expensive method
for its production. The reuse of plastic wastes is to be possible
to a large extent without that an additional environmental damaging
is to be accepted in connection with the processing. Furthermore
the thermal conductivity of the employed insulation is to be
variable corresponding to the respective requirements. Both the
method as well as the production and the operation of the device
are to be cost favorable, gentle on the environment and
energy-saving. The possibility of employment is to be as varied as
possible.
[0008] This is accomplished according to the Invention by having
the air content or, respectively, the vacuum in the intermediate
space of the insulating body or insulating bodies and thereby its
or their thermal conductivity or sound conductivity changed
depending on the surrounding temperature, the internal temperature
and/or the outer temperature or of the prevailing noise level in
the region to be insulated or in the room. Thus the quality of
vacuum or, respectively, the contents part in air in the
intermediate space changes the thermal conductivity and also the
transferability of sound waves and is adaptable to the
requirements. In order to be able to employ sun energy in
connection with the temperature conditioning of for example a
living room to a temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade, the
insulation can be made transparent in case the outer temperature
reaches 20 degrees centigrade, such that a heat exchange can take
place. Vice versa a lower outer temperature can be employed when a
cooling of a room is required.
[0009] The intermediate space of the insulating body or of the
insulating bodies is preferably evacuated and ventilated as
required by program control, depending on the environmental
temperature or, respectively, the inner temperature and/or the
outer temperature or of the prevailing sound level in the region or
the room to be insulated.
[0010] The inner temperature of a room to be insulated can be
automatically controlled by an automatic controller to a set point
value preselected in this automatic controller based on evacuation
and ventilation of the intermediate space of the insulating body or
of the insulating bodies as required.
[0011] The air contents or, respectively, the vacuum in the
intermediate space of the insulating body or of the insulating
bodies can be controlled by an automatic controller depending on
the difference between the set point of the internal temperature of
the room to be insulated and of the outer temperature. Similarly
the air contents or vacuum in the intermediate space of the
insulating body or of the insulating bodies can be controlled
depending on a measured sound or noise level. The control of the
air contents or of the vacuum can also be performed depending on
time. The vacuum does not have to be (fully) maintained during low
sound times or while the temperature does not have to be maintained
temporarily at the certain value, whereby energy can be saved.
[0012] The intermediate space of the insulating body or insulating
bodies can be flooded additionally with a non-inflammable gas for
example Halon (halogenated hydrocarbon) gas upon responding of a
fire alarm in case of employment as a fire protection.
[0013] The immediate space of one or several insulating bodies is
connected on the one hand to the suction connection of a vacuum
pump and on the other hand to a connection of a ventilating valve
in connection with a device for performing the method, wherein the
suction connection and the connection of the ventilating valve each
is connected by in each case a control connection to the output
connections of an automatic controller; a first measurement sensor
measuring the inner temperature of the room to be insulated and a
second measurement sensor measuring the outer temperature of the
room to be insulated are connected to the inputs of this automatic
controller and the operation of the vacuum pump and the opening and
closing of the ventilation valve are program controlled by the
automatic controller depending on the measured inner temperature
and/or outer temperature of the room to be insulated.
[0014] Similarly the vacuum pump and the ventilation valve can be
connected to the output connectors of a control device by in each
case a control connection, wherein a measurement sensor measuring
the noise level of a region to be monitored is connected to the
inputs of the control device; the operation of the vacuum pump and
the opening and closing of the ventilation valve is then performed
by the control device depending on the measured noise level and
preferably controlled by a program.
[0015] Upon use in a fire protection plant, the intermediate space
of one or more insulating bodies can be connected on the one hand
to the suction connection of a vacuum pump and on the other hand to
the connector of a gas pressure container through a valve closed in
its starting position, wherein the gas pressure container is filled
with a non-combustible gas, for example halon (halogenated
hydrocarbon) gas; the valve is controlled and opened upon
responding of a fire alarm for flooding of the intermediate space
of the intermediate spaces with the non-combustible gas.
[0016] The intermediate space of one or several insulating bodies
can be connected to the vacuum pump and to the ventilation valve
through a pneumatic buffer.
[0017] In case any insulating valve controllable by the temperature
automatic controller is intermediately connected between the
intermediate space for the intermediate spaces of one or several
insulating bodies and the pneumatic buffer, wherein the insulating
valve cooperates with a pressure automatic controller disposed
between the intermediate space or the intermediate spaces and the
automatic temperature controller, then the overall operating time
of the vacuum pump can be reduced, whereby the energy use is
lowered. The operating safety of the system can be increased with a
monitoring of the insulating valve.
[0018] Several insulating bodies can be composed like a module
advantageously for jacketing or covering of a wall of a room to be
insulated or for establishing a noise protection wall or a
firewall; the intermediate spaces of these insulating bodies
composed like modules can be connected amongst each other and can
form a common intermediate space.
[0019] The intermediate spaces of insulating bodies composed like
modules however can also be airtight closed relative to each other
such that the contents in air or, respectively, the vacuum is
differently controllable in these intermediate spaces. This is
particularly advantageous in a situation wherein for example
different rooms of a building or several chambers of a transport
aircraft are to be automatically controlled or, respectively, set
to different inner temperatures. The excellent damming effect
allows thereby the simultaneous transport for example of frozen
goods, fresh goods and dry goods in multiple chamber motor
vehicles.
[0020] Preferably a measurement point is furnished at each of the
intermediate spaces sealed airtight relative to each other, wherein
the air pressure in the intermediate space can be measured and
controlled at the measurement point. This very much alleviates and
accelerates the searching for errors and the removal of
interferences based on possibly occurring leakages. Otherwise
necessary expensive thermal analyses can be dispensed with.
[0021] One or several insulating bodies can be inserted into a
firewall of a building as a fire protection.
[0022] The noise protection wall between one region and to be
shielded against noise and a source of noise or sound can be
covered on the side disposed toward the noise or sound source with
one or several insulating bodies, wherein then the plate of the
insulating body or of the insulating bodies disposed toward the
source of noise or sound is rounded advantageously toward the
source of noise or sound. Sound waves reflected at the plate are
thereby reflected again in the direction toward the source of noise
or sound and to a lesser extent into the environment.
[0023] The intermediate space expanding upwardly by the rounding of
a plate of the insulating body can be stiffened with permeable
intermediate walls or braced reinforcements.
[0024] The insulating bodies employable according to the present
invention comprise advantageously two plastic plates disposed at a
distance from each other, wherein the intermediate space sealed
airtight against the outside is filled with comminuted plastic
waste. Advantageously all kinds of plastic waste in any occurring
mixture can be employed here without that these plastic wastes
would have to be subjected to a particular intermediate treatment.
Therefore the waste recovery economy is relieved and the
environment is cared for. The problem of the non-decayable plastics
can be resolved at least in part.
[0025] The plastic plates can be connected to each other at the
distance by support braces; the plastic plates are thereby safely
maintained at a distance and the stability of the insulating body
is increased.
[0026] Advantageously, the insulating body can be adapted in its
shape to the surface of the wall of a room or of an object to be
insulated.
[0027] The method and the device for the performance of the method
are universally employable always there where insulation is to be
provided against heat or cold or fire. Also the noise protection is
improved. By way of example of this several application regions for
the Invention are recited here without claiming any completeness or
without being limited to such examples:
[0028] Construction technology, insulating technology, aircraft and
space technology, motor vehicle technology, ship navigation
technology, underwater technology, water supply technology,
wastewater discharge technology, medical technology, chemical
technology, biotechnology, research technology, and laboratory
technology, clothing technology in particular for sports clothing.
Sound protection walls and sound protection covers, fire protection
walls, floor coverings, sound recording rooms, protection rooms,
rooms safe against interception and others are possible as fields
of application in buildings. Furthermore, consideration is to be
given to sound protection cabins for machines of all kinds, for
motor vehicles, for rail vehicles, for rail construction, for boat
turbines, for aircraft, for space vehicles etc. in the industrial
region and in the motor vehicle region. The noise protection at
vehicular roads, rail tracks, building parts, swing out roller
shutter systems, door systems etc. can be improved.
[0029] The layer at the walls to be vacuum according to the present
Invention does have to amount in most cases to only a few
millimeters, whereby a tremendous gain of useful space results for
example in connection with transport vehicles. Also the outer walls
themselves can be formed less strong. If for example today still
outer wall thicknesses of 36.5 cm are masoned and insulated at
buildings with conventional insulation for reaching of a low energy
house, then only a wall thickness of 10 cm is required to
application of the insulation according to the present invention.
The house or the room to be insulated in general becomes a heat
storage or cold storage just as required. Energy is saved which can
be used for other purposes.
[0030] The insulation could be completely dispensed with in
construction of prefabricated houses, since the hollow spaces can
be evacuated upon corresponding construction, which further
simplifies the application of the present Invention and furnishes
advantages to the pre-fabricated house construction.
[0031] The invention is described in more detail by way of example
in the following based on the attached drawing:
[0032] FIG. 1 shows the construction of a plate shaped insulating
body by way of example such as the insulating body can be employed
according to the present invention,
[0033] FIG. 2 shows schematically a device according to the present
invention by way of example in connection with a wall of a
building,
[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates the method according to the present
invention by way of example of a residential home to be insulated
against excess heat and against cold,
[0035] FIG. 4 shows another example of an embodiment for the method
according to the present invention,
[0036] FIG. 5 shows by way of example the invention in connection
with the wall construction of a building,
[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates the application as a sound protection for
a machine,
[0038] FIG. 7 shows an application as a fire protection and as
sound protection, and
[0039] FIG. 8 shows a sound protective for wall at a traffic
road.
[0040] The insulating body 1 in FIG. 1 comprises two plates 2,
wherein the two plates 2 are connected to each other at a distance
relative to each other by for example grid shaped disposed support
braces 3 having passage openings (not illustrated), wherein the
support braces 3 on the one hand maintain the distance between the
plates 2 and on the other hand assure the stability of the
insulating body 1. The plates 2 can be supported in a frame not
illustrated. The intermediate space 4 between the plates 2 is
sealed airtight against the outside which can be accomplished for
example with the aid of a weldable foil surrounding the insulating
body 1. Here initially however the intermediate space 4 is
maintained open toward one side, preferably toward the top, such
that the intermediate space 4 can be filled with plastic granulate
or preferably comminuted plastic wastes. For this purpose the most
different plastic wastes in an arbitrary mixture can be employed,
wherein the most different plastic wastes do not require any
further treatment. The intermediate space 4 is finally closed
airtight toward the outside after the filling, and the air enclosed
therein is pumped off with the aid of a vacuum pump through a
connector furnished for this purpose. If the connector for the
vacuum pump is thereafter also closed airtight, one obtains an
insulating body 1, wherein the insulating body 1 exhibits with
respect to thermal conductivity similar properties as the closed
cell foam plastic produced under vacuum and wherein the insulating
body 1 obtains a good stability by the plates 2, by the support
braces 3 and by a frame capturing the plates 2. Here the plates 2,
the frames supporting the plates 2, and the support braces 3 can
comprise all also plastic, whereby not only the weight is reduced
relative to the known lining panels out of stainless-steel plates
welded into profile frames, but also the production costs are
substantially reduced. The possibilities of application are
multiplied by the lower weight and transport and mounting are
rendered easier. Since no sound transmission occurs in vacuum, such
insulating bodies are also excellently suitable for sound
shielding, whether sound shielding is required or desired.
[0041] The insulating body 1 itself can have a flat plate form as
shown in FIG. 1, however the insulating body 1 can also without
problem have an arbitrary different form, for example a curved form
especially by employing of plastic as a material, wherein the
arbitrary different form adapts to the surface to be jacketed, for
example the surface of the wall of a boiler, of a tube or also of a
building.
[0042] Several insulating bodies 1 can be connected to each other
like modules for jacketing and covering of a wall of a room to be
insulated against heat or cold or sound and the insulating body can
this way be adapted to the pre-given dimensions and shapes. The
intermediate spaces for of the insulating bodies 1 connected to
each other like a module can be connected amongst each other such
that finally a common intermediate space 4 is generated. However it
can be also of advantage when the intermediate spaces 4 of
individual insulating bodies 1 remain airtight sealed against each
other. This way in fact the search for errors and the treatment of
interferences, for example based on leakages possibly occurring in
the course of time, is simplified and alleviated.
[0043] The intermediate space 4 of one or several insulating bodies
1 remains connected to a vacuum pump and the operation of the
vacuum pump is controlled according to a program and this way the
under pressure in the intermediate space 4 and thereby the thermal
conductivity and/or the sound damming of the insulating body 1 are
changed in order to render the thermal connectivity and the sound
damming of an insulating body 1 changeable and thereby adaptable to
outer situations such as for example the outer temperature or the
traffic volume, or to different set point values of the internal
temperature, for example during the day and during night.
[0044] This is schematically and by way of example illustrated in
FIG. 2 in connection with the automatic temperature control of a
building. The outer wall of an arbitrary building is designated
with reference numeral 5, wherein the arbitrary building is
subdivided in its interior by intermediate ceilings 6 and by
intermediate walls not illustrated into different rooms 7, 8. The
outer wall 5 is covered at its outer face with plate shaped
insulating bodies 1, such as they are described above. The face of
the insulating body 1 directed toward the outside can be furnished
with the usual exterior rendering or plastering. The insulating
bodies 1 are part of the automatic control distance of an automatic
control circuit by way of which the inner temperature in the rooms
7, 8 of the building is automatically controlled and maintained at
assert value, for example 20 degrees centigrade. Here during the
day depending on the time of the year and the weather there is to
be exploited the heat irradiation of the sun for the heating of the
rooms 7, 8 or there is to be avoided a too strong warming of the
rooms 7, 8, wherein the thermal conductivity of the insulating
bodies 1 is to be made changeable for this purpose.
[0045] The intermediate space 4 of the insulating bodies 1 is
filled with plastic granulate or with comminuted plastic and is for
this purpose connected both with a vacuum pump 11 as well as with a
ventilation valve 12, preferably through a pneumatic buffer 10,
wherein under pressure in the intermediate spaces is influenced by
a controller 13 through the vacuum pump 11 and the ventilation
valve 12, that is changed and also can be completely lifted by
ventilation. For this purpose the value of the inner temperature of
the building or, respectively, of the rooms 7, 8 of the building
from a first measurement sensor 14 and the value of the outer
temperature through a second measurement sensor 15 are fed to the
automatic controller 13. The actual value of the inner temperature
representing the instantaneous value of the temperature to be
automatically controlled is compared with its adjusted set point
value in the automatic controller 13 and the vacuum pump 11 or at
the ventilation valve 12 is correspondingly controlled in case of a
deviation by an output signal and thereby the vacuum or,
respectively, the air content in the insulating bodies 1 and
thereby the thermal conductivity of the insulating bodies 1 is
correspondingly changed. In addition also a control of the thermal
conductivity of the insulating bodies 1 is possible depending on
the actual outer temperature determined by the second measurement
sensor 15. In addition the possibility is indicated in FIG. 2 at
reference numeral 16 to control the thermal permeability of the
respective insulating bodies 1 for a room 7 or 8 depending on
whether a window 17 is opened or closed, in order to avoid an
unnecessary cooling of the room while the window 17 is opened. A
contact 18 is connected to the window wing, wherein the contact 18
sends a message to the automatic controller 13 in case the window
17 is open and in order to activate then the insulation of the room
such that the stored heat in the room cannot be discharged or can
only be in a possibly reduced measure discharged through the outer
wall.
[0046] A check valve 37 can be inserted between the insulating
bodies 1 or, respectively, the intermediate spaces 4 of the
insulating bodies 1 and the pneumatic buffer 10, wherein the check
valve 37 cooperates with a pressure automatic controller 38
furnished for the monitoring of the under pressure. The operation
time of the vacuum pump 11 is shortened thereby upon corresponding
layout of the pneumatic buffer 10 and the energy use is reduced. In
addition to the operational safety of the system can be increased
by the monitoring of the check valve 37.
[0047] The mode of operation of the methods and of the apparatus
for the performance of the method becomes clear from a view of FIG.
2 and FIG. 3 together.
[0048] The outer walls 5 of a building 19 in FIG. 3 are covered
with plate shaped insulating bodies 1 according to FIG. 2 and the
intermediate spaces 4 of the insulating bodies 1 are connected with
an automatic control device as described above. In the inner room 7
or the inner rooms 7 of the building 19, for example of a
residential building, are to be maintained with heating technology
at a uniform remaining temperature of 20 degrees centigrade. For
this purpose not only the air in the room but also the surrounding
walls have to be warmed. As long as the outer temperature is
disposed below 20 degrees centigrade, a discharge of heat from the
building has to be avoided through the outer walls 5. This means
that the intermediate spaces 4 of the insulating bodies 1, wherein
the outer walls 5 are covered within the insulating body 1, are
evacuated with the connected vacuum pump 11 to such an extent and
thereby the heat conductivity is reduced, that nearly no heat can
be discharged from the building 19. If the outside temperature
reaches 20 degrees centigrade and more, then the insulation is
rendered transparent by separating the vacuum pump 11 and by
ventilating the insulating bodies 1 or, respectively, the
intermediate spaces 4 of the insulating bodies 1 by opening of the
ventilation valve 12, this means that the thermal connectivity is
increased such that heat from the outside can be funneled into the
building 19. This way solar energy is used for heating the rooms 7
of the building 19 and of the walls 5 surrounding the rooms 7. The
ventilation valve 12 is closed again through the automatic
controller 13, wherein the value of the inner temperature is
signalized by the first measurement sensor 14 to the automatic
controller 13, and if necessary the intermediate space 4 of the
insulating bodies 1 is again evacuated (in part) by the vacuum pump
11 before the inner temperature in the building 19 can increase too
much based on the solar irradiation. This way the inner temperature
is automatically controlled to a desired value through the
automatic controller 13, by setting and resetting the under
pressure or, respectively, the air content in the intermediate
spaces 4 of the insulating bodies 1 by opening and closing of the
ventilation valve 12 and separating and connecting the vacuum pump
11 to a value, wherein the value gives a thermal conductivity of
the insulating body 1, which thermal conductivity maintains the
inner temperature at a constant value. This value in turn is
depending on the outer temperature, which outer temperature is
signalized to the automatic controller 13 through the measurement
sensor 15 such that this value can be reset in the same way by the
automatic controller 13.
[0049] With this temperature setting of the inner room or of the
inner rooms of a building there is generated no air circulation in
the rooms and no vortex formation of dust particles and bacteria
with their unpleasant or even damaging consequences in contrast to
conventional heating and air conditioning plants, such that the
well-being of persons is increased substantially. Since the walls
of the building equally breathe based on the changeability of their
thermal conductivity and since the continuous temperature balancing
occurs, also no condensate water can form in the rooms and mold
formation is avoided.
[0050] As mentioned above, the insulating bodies 1 are composed
like modules in order to be able to cover a larger area such as the
outside wall of a building, wherein the intermediate spaces 4 of
the individual modules are in connection amongst each other or can
be closed off airtight against each other as desired or required.
Thus it becomes possible to maintain different rooms 7, 8 of a
building at temperatures deviating from each other. For this
purpose, the intermediate spaces 4 of the insulating bodies 1,
which cover the outer wall of a room 7, are connected to each
other, but are airtight sealed against the intermediate spaces 4 of
another, neighboring room 8. The automatic controller 13 can
control the air contents or the vacuum in the respective
intermediate spaces 4 in such a different way according to a
corresponding program that the internal temperature of the rooms 7,
8 is automatically controlled to different values.
[0051] The method and the device can be equally employed in cases
where care has been taken for cooling off for example to a constant
value of six degrees centigrade, as is the case for example with
cool transport of food materials. In these cases the insulating is
made transparent in the described way as soon as the outside
temperature falls to six degrees centigrade and below such that
then the low outside temperature takes care of the cooling by heat
flow from the inner space into the environment and thereby energy
can be saved.
[0052] A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. The conducting
pipes 20 can be surrounded with insulating bodies 1 of the
described kind adapted on the surface of the conducting pipes 20
and the temperature in the interior 21 of the conducting pipe 20
can be automatically controlled by controlling the air content or
the under pressure in the intermediate space 4 of the insulating
bodies 20 to for example constant six degrees centigrade, such that
an undesired warming of the water and losses by evaporation can be
avoided in for example very hot areas, where the water supply
represents a problem and where drinking water has to be transported
over long distances through pipe conduits. Also in this case the
insulating bodies 20 are composed like modules in sections 22. The
intermediate spaces 4 of the individual insulating bodies 1 for the
sections 22 preferably remain airtight sealed from each other and a
measurement point 22 can be furnished in each section 22, wherein
the pressure in the respective intermediate space 4 can be
controlled at the measurement point 22. Occurring disturbances
based on leakages can thereby be quickly and simply located and
corrected. The expensive thermal analysis required for this purpose
in connection with conventional insulations can be dispensed
with.
[0053] FIG. 5 shows the application of the Invention at the
firewall 24 of a building for improving the fire protection. The
insulating body 1 or the insulating bodies 1 are inserted into the
firewall 24 between two buildings or building parts, for example
between rowhouses or townhouses. For this purpose, the firewall 24
is to be built in two layers. While pulling up the wall, initially
the one layer 24' can be produced, whereupon the insulating bodies
1 are placed and attached at this layer 24'; in the following the
second layer 24" of the firewall 24 is finished. The evacuated
insulating bodies 1 based on their reduced thermal conductivity
offer in principle an improved fire protection. The gripping over
of flames is prevented or at least substantially more difficult
based on the lack of oxygen in the intermediate spaces 4 of the
insulating bodies 1. The fire protection however can be further
optimized by flooding the intermediate space 4 of the insulating
bodies 1 in case of a fire additionally with a noncombustible gas,
for example halon (halogenated hydrocarbon). For this purpose, the
intermediate space is connected to the gas pressure container 26
through a standardwise closed valve 25, wherein the gas pressure
container 26 is filled for example with halon gas. As already
described by way of FIG. 2, there exists the connection through a
valve 27 and the pneumatic buffer 10 to the vacuum pump 11.
Triggered by a fire alarm in case of a fire, the valve 25 is opened
and the intermediate space 4 is charged with halon gas. If the
firewall 24 is damaged from one side by the fire and if the flames
penetrate up to the insulating body 1 such that the insulating body
1 becomes unsealed, then the halon gas can flow out of the
intermediate space 4 of the respective insulating body 1 and
further flow from the pressure container 26 into the room, where
the fire occurred. The flames cannot further expand based on the
withdrawal of oxygen and the fire is finally extinguished.
[0054] In a standard situation, that is no fire has been signaled,
the insulating body 1 operates in the firewall 24 in the above
described fashion as a standard sound insulation and thermal
insulation and cold insulation.
[0055] The gas pressure container 26 can be incorporated into the
buildings as a storage; the halonization of the insulating bodies 1
can be performed centrally controlled through a computer system.
The application is offered in particular for buildings which are
very high and which are already equipped with a conducting system
of the building for air conditioning plants. A retrofitting is here
possible without larger problems during reconstruction in the
individual floors. The costs are here also in an acceptable frame,
since the striking plastics can be employed and also known larger
static problems are generated. The fire regulations are met based
on the employment of noncombustible recycling plastics. The control
can be adapted in the same way as is the case in the thermal
insulation and cold insulation to the requirement of the respective
application, the insulation can be made more or less transparent
such that a gas exchange can take place corresponding to the heat
exchange.
[0056] The wall construction of a noise protection cabin for a
machine 28 with large noise generation, for example a press machine
or a shredding machine is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 5.
The machine 28 is surrounded by a sound protection cabin, wherein
the walls 29 and the ceiling 30 of the sound protection cabin are
covered from the inside with insulating bodies 1 abutting. The
intermediate spaces 4 of the individual insulating bodies 1 can
preferably be connected to each other at the connection points 31.
The intermediate spaces 4 over all are connected to the vacuum pump
11 in the way already described through the valve 27 and the
pneumatic buffer 10. Here the insulating bodies 1 operate also
primarily as a noise protection toward the outside, since the sound
waves cannot be transferred in the air free space. The noise
protection does have to be fully effective only during the
operation of the machine 28. Therefore the evacuation of the
intermediate spaces of the insulating bodies 1 can be controlled
depending on the sound level through a control not illustrated.
Similarly a safety device can be furnished which effects that the
machine 28 can only be operated in case of an effective noise
insulation, that is vacuum in the intermediate spaces 4.
[0057] FIG. 7 shows the wall construction of an interior room 32,
wherein the walls 29 and the ceiling 30 of the inner room 32 are
covered from the inside with insulating bodies 1 abutting in
analogy to the sound protection shown in FIG. 6. The intermediate
spaces for the insulating bodies 1 are again connected to vacuum
pump 11 through a valve 17 and a pneumatic buffer 10 such that
initially a standard sound insulation and thermal insulation and
cold insulation as described above can be performed. In addition,
the intermediate spaces 4 are connected to a gas pressure container
26 through a further valve 25 closed under standard conditions,
wherein a noncombustible gas, for example halon gas, is stored in
the gas pressure container 26. If a fire should breakout in the
room 32, then the insulating bodies 1 operate immediately as fire
protection based on the vacuum prevailing in the intermediate
spaces 4 and prevent that the fire catches over to neighboring
rooms in a short time period. Furthermore, the valve 25 is opened
controlled through a fire alarm and the intermediate spaces 4 are
flooded with halon gas and thereby the effectivity of the fire
protection is substantially increased. If the intermediate spaces 4
are damaged or, respectively, made unsealed by the fire, then the
halon gas flows also into the inner room 32; the flames are
extinguished in a short time based on the withdrawal of oxygen,
there takes place then also a direct fight with the fire. In case
the insulating bodies 1 remained undamaged, the intermediate spaces
4 remained sealed, then the halon gas can be sucked off again after
the fire and can be reused.
[0058] FIG. 8 shows the construction of a sound protection wall at
for example a heavily driven motor vehicle road. At the reference
numeral 33 the region to be protected against noise is assumed, for
example a residential area, at reference numeral 34 there is to be
present a sound source, for example a motor vehicle road or also a
railroad. A noise protection wall 35 is constructed between the
area 33 to be protected and the motor vehicle road 34, wherein the
area of the sound protection wall 35 disposed toward the noise
source is covered with insulating bodies 1. Preferably the plate 2'
of the insulating body 1 disposed toward the motor vehicle road as
a noise source 34 is curved such that sound waves reflected at the
plate 2' are back deflected in the direction of the sound source 34
or of the motor vehicle road. The intermediate space 4 expanding
upwardly and generated between the curved plate 2' and the plane a
plate 2" of the insulating body 1 resting at the sound protection
wall 35 can be stabilized by several permeable separating walls 36.
The intermediate space 4 is vacuumed also in this case or,
respectively, connected to a vacuum pump 11 through a valve 25 and
a pneumatic buffer 10. The vacuum enclosed in the intermediate
space 4 acts in addition sound damming and can be adapted to the
noise level controlled through the vacuum pump.
[0059] The Invention has been described by way of several
application examples, the field of application of the Invention
however is unlimited for practical purposes; the Invention can
always be applied to where insulation is sought against heat and/or
cold, against sound or fire.
* * * * *