U.S. patent application number 10/484753 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-16 for panel for a suspended heating and/or cooling ceiling.
Invention is credited to Andersson, Heimer, Jonason, Anna, Kirstensson, Jan, Lovstrom, Jan, Persson, Torbjorn, Rydin, Anders.
Application Number | 20040251009 10/484753 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20284991 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040251009 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Andersson, Heimer ; et
al. |
December 16, 2004 |
Panel for a suspended heating and/or cooling ceiling
Abstract
A panel (10) for a suspended heating and/or cooling ceiling
comprises a flat metal cassette having mutually spaced upper and
lower metal sheets (11, 12) defining a sealed space (17)
therebetween. The metal sheets are perforated by registering
apertures (13, 14) which are sealed against the space along the
circumference thereof. At least one of the metal sheets around each
aperture forms an embossment (15) attached to the other metal sheet
as a spacer between the metal sheets. An inlet (19) and an outlet
(20) communicate with the space for circulating a fluid heat
carrier through the space in heat exchanging relationship with the
panel.
Inventors: |
Andersson, Heimer;
(Falkenberg, SE) ; Rydin, Anders; (Brighton,
GB) ; Kirstensson, Jan; (Angelholm, SE) ;
Persson, Torbjorn; (Helsingborg, SE) ; Lovstrom,
Jan; (Viken, SE) ; Jonason, Anna; (Landskrona,
SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Family ID: |
20284991 |
Appl. No.: |
10/484753 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
August 6, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE02/01425 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/170 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 30/24 20130101;
F24D 3/165 20130101; Y02B 30/00 20130101; E04B 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/170 |
International
Class: |
E04C 002/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 8, 2001 |
SE |
0102672-3 |
Claims
1. A panel (10) for a suspended heating and/or cooling ceiling,
defining a sealed space (17) with an inlet (19) and an outlet (20)
communicating with said space for circulating a fluid heat carrier
through the space in heat exchanging relationship with the panel
(10), wherein the panel comprises a flat metal cassette having
mutually spaced upper and lower metal sheets (11, 12) defining said
space therebetween, and that the metal sheets are perforated by
registering apertures (13, 14) which are sealed against said space
along the circumference thereof, at least one (12) of the metal
sheets around each aperture forming an embossment (15) attached to
the other metal sheet (11) as a spacer between the metal
sheets.
2. The panel of claim 1 wherein the metal sheets (11, 12) consist
of aluminium or stainless steel.
3. The panel of claim 1 wherein the metal sheets (11, 12) are
interconnected by welding or edge folding of the metal sheets.
4. The panel of claim 1 wherein the metal sheets (11, 12) are
interconnected at the periphery (18) of the panel to form a
hermetically sealed cassette.
5. The panel of claim 1 wherein each embossment (15) is shaped as a
truncated cone.
6. The panel of claim 5 wherein each embossment (15) forms a
circular flange (16) around the associated aperture (13, 14) said
flange being plane parallel with the metal sheet (12) forming the
embossment.
7. The panel of claim 6 wherein said flange (16) is attached to the
other metal sheet (11) which is planar.
8. The panel of claim 5 wherein both metal sheets (11, 12) form an
embossment 15, 15') around registering apertures (13, 14) and
wherein opposite embossments on one and the other plate,
respectively, being interconnected at said flanges (16).
9. The panel of claim 1 wherein the bottom side of the lower metal
sheet (12) including the apertures (13, 14) therein is
topographically modified.
10. The panel of claim 9 wherein the bottom side of the lower metal
sheet (12) is covered by fabric or felt attached by adhesive to the
bottom side, the bottom side of said fabric or felt being
topographically modified.
11. The panel of claim 1 wherein the apertures are filled with a
metal wool.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a panel for a suspended heating
and/or cooling ceiling.
[0003] In a room with a heating/cooling ceiling heat is transmitted
by radiation from the ceiling to persons or objects in the room
when the ceiling functions as a heater, and from the persons or
objects to the ceiling when the panel functions as a cooler, the
air in the room being heated or cooled, respectively, by
convection. This gives a comfortable climate in the room, and in
comparison with conventional air condition presents the following
advantages:
[0004] the supply of external ventilation air to the room can be
substantially reduced;
[0005] a fluid heat carrier, usually water, can be circulated
through the panels in a low pressure system;
[0006] the heating/cooling system operates without generating
noise;
[0007] the air humidity will not be influenced, dry air in the room
being avoided;
[0008] no draft will be produced;
[0009] the system provides esthetical advantages;
[0010] the system is completely integrated in the ceiling, and the
heating/cooling ceiling panels cannot be distinguished from
ordinary ceiling panels when observed from below.
[0011] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0012] According to EP-B1-0,662,547 a panel for a heating or
cooling ceiling comprises a conduit for a heat carrier on the upper
side of a plate. The conduit consists of a hose of flexible
material, which is maintained on the plate by means of guides on
the upper side of the plate. Since the hoses are not in contact
with the plate over the total area thereof the panels of this prior
art heating or cooling ceiling are not effectively heated or
cooled, respectively, over the total area thereof, which reduces
the efficiency.
[0013] GB-A-1,497,261 describes a cooling panel comprising
corrugated plastic panels each containing a plurality of parallel
channels through which a coolant such as water is circulated. The
lower surface of the panel has a hydrophilic covering of a
cellulose fibrous material which is wetted by water condensed from
the atmosphere, but without the formation of droplets thereon.
[0014] Similar panels are described in GB-A-778,317 relating to a
ceiling, floor or wall heating system comprising hollow panels of
synthetic resin which may be used in a suspended ceiling and form
passages for a circulating heat carrier such as water.
[0015] A cooling ceiling is described also in WO-A-9811390 which
comprises a cooling tubular mat of plastics material located
between building panels such as gypsum boards. The tubular mat can
comprise tubes which are embedded into a material such as foamed
plastics material or gypsum.
[0016] EP-B1-0,633,994 describes a hollow panel for suspended
ceilings. This prior art panel is made of plastics material or
plastics covered sheet metal and has such mechanical strength that
the panel can support its own weight and a fluid heat carrier
without distortion. The heat carrier is circulated through the
hollow panel in contact with substantially all of the bottom wall
of the panel for heat transfer between the room wherein the ceiling
is mounted, and the heat carrier. The bottom surface of the hollow
panel is provided with a textured paint finish to increase the
surface area and avoid zones wherein condensation can occur.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The primary object of the invention is to provide a panel
for a suspended heating/cooling ceiling of the kind referred to
above which is of a simple self-supporting construction and can be
manufactured at low costs and which secures an effective heat
transfer between the fluid heat carrier and the bottom wall of the
panel at high efficiency in combination with excellent sound
absorbing properties.
[0018] Said object is achieved by providing a panel for a suspended
heating/cooling ceiling, defining a sealed space with an inlet and
an outlet communicating with said space for circulating a fluid
heat carrier through the space in heat exchanging relationship with
the panel, which according to claim 1 is characterised in that the
panel comprises a flat metal cassette having mutually spaced upper
and lower metal sheets defining said space therebetween, and that
the metal sheets are perforated by registering apertures which each
are sealed against said space along the circumference thereof, at
least one of the metal sheets around each aperture forming an
embossment attached to the other metal sheet as a spacer between
the metal sheets.
[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the
dependent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The invention will be described in more detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings showing illustrative
embodiments of the invention, wherein
[0021] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a ceiling heating/cooling cassette
according to one embodiment of the invention as seen from the
bottom side of the cassette,
[0022] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the cassette
in FIG. 1,
[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A in
FIG. 2,
[0024] FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragment of the cross sectional view
in FIG. 3,
[0025] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to that
in FIG. 4 of a second embodiment of the panel of the invention,
and
[0026] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to that
in FIG. 4 of a third embodiment of the panel of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 the panel according to the
invention comprises a rectangular (square) cassette 10 made of two
metal sheets, preferably of aluminium or stainless steel, an upper
one 11 and a lower one 12. The upper metal sheet 11 is perforated
by identical circular apertures 13 uniformly distributed over the
surface of the metal sheet. The lower metal sheet 12 has apertures
14 identical with apertures 13 and uniformly distributed over the
surface of metal sheet 12 and having the same spacing as the
apertures in metal sheet 11. As an example, in a square panel
600.times.600 mm with apertures having a diameter of 22 mm and a
spacing between the centres of the apertures of 40,5 mm 199
apertures are provided making 21% of the surface area of the panel.
At each aperture 14 metal sheet 12 forms an embossment 15
protruding against metal sheet 11 and shaped as a truncated cone
terminating at the small end in a circular flange 16 surrounding
the associated aperture 14. The flange is plane parallel with metal
sheet 12 and is attached to metal sheet 11 around a registering
aperture therein. The attachment is effected by welding, preferably
laser welding, flange 16 to metal sheet 11 along the periphery of
the registering apertures 13 and 14 or by edge folding of the metal
sheets along the periphery of the apertures, O-rings then being
provided to seal between the metal sheets around the apertures. The
embossments form spacers between the metal sheets 11 and 12 to
define therebetween a space 17 which is sealed against the
apertures in the metal sheets by the connection between the sheets
along the periphery of the apertures. The embossments also
strengthen and stiffen the panel.
[0028] The metal sheets are interconnected as by welding at the
edges of the panel or by edge folding of the sheets with sealing
strips located between the sheets, so that the panel forms a
hermetically sealed cassette. The edge portions 18 can be
configured in different manners known per se for mounting panels of
the kind described in a number of rows in a metal grid system of
conventional design suspended from a building structure.
[0029] The panel is provided with an inlet 19 and an outlet 20 for
circulating a fluid heat carrier such as cooling or heating water
through the space defined by the panel, in heat exchanging
relationship with metal sheets 11 and 12. The inlet and the outlet,
respectively, each comprise a spout 21 designed for attaching a
tubing such as a flexible hose to the spout, which connects the
panel with a heat carrier circulation system. This system can
operate at standard pressures adopted for such systems and can be
designed according to conventional design standards. Inlet 19 can
be provided with a deflector in space 17 preferably welded to the
panel, for distributing the incoming heat carrier over the top
surface of the lower metal sheet. The embossments forming spacers
between the upper and lower metal sheets disperse the heat carrier
in space 17 defined by the panel.
[0030] When the panel is cooled by the circulating heat carrier the
tendency for water condensed from a humid ambient atmosphere on the
cold bottom surface of the panel, to form droplets on said surface
can by reduced as is known in the art, by providing on the bottom
surface of the panel an acoustically transparent covering that is
wetted by the condensed water. A suitable covering can comprise a
painted or non-painted glass fibre fabric or felt attached by an
adhesive to the bottom surface of the panel, covering the entire
area thereof, and provided with a textured finish which changes the
topography of the surface. This change also increases the area of
the heat radiating surface of the panel, which further improves the
efficiency thereof. Additionally the covering imparts to the bottom
surface of the panel a desired esthetical effect and also a certain
sound absorbing quality. The covering also breaks the heat
transmission between the metal of the panel and the metal of the
suspending grid system where the panel is supported on the grid
system at the edge portions 18 of the panel.
[0031] The through apertures in the panel allow sound to be
transmitted to the top side of the panel and impart to the panel
excellent sound absorbing properties. These properties can be
further improved by attaching to the top surface of the panel by an
adhesive a sound absorbing glass fibre quilt of sufficient
thickness, preferably about 50 mm, and by filling the apertures
with metal wool which also increases the heat transfer. The top
surface of the panel can be treated with a texture paint to
increase the surface area in order to prevent to some extent
condensation on the top surface.
[0032] It is possible to provide also the upper metal sheet 11 with
embossments 15' as disclosed in FIG. 5, the metal sheets being
interconnected at flanges 16 on the upper and lower metal sheets,
respectively.
[0033] The preferred shape of the embossments is the shape of a
truncated cone because this provides a larger exposed area of the
bottom surface of the panel than cylindrical embossments as shown
in FIG. 6 although such embossments are within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *