Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to build.ing constructions,
and .in particular, to an economical, esily assembled
and disassembled bl~ildiny which is substantially fireproof
and which utilizes natural energy sources for heating and
co~ling.
Many types of building constructions are known
in the prior art which have mea.ns for utilization of solar
energy and the like to heat and/or cool the building.
Further, some such prior art structures utilize fireproo~
materials and/or modular construction. However, all of
these prior art devices utilize a substantially conventional
construction, with modifications thereto to accommodate
the modular building concept or the use of solar energy
or other natural energy sources for heating and/or cooling
of the building. None of the prior art devices known to
a~p~icant teach a completely new building construction as .i
dis~losed by applicant herein, wherPin a prefabricated,
tubular frame is used through which liquid is circulated
to heat and/or cool the building, and in which a plurality
of rigid, insulated, prefabricated panels are secured to
the frame on the roof and walls thereof to form the e
building, and with solar panels supported on top of the roof :.
through which a heat exchange fluid is circulated to
absorh solar energy and then used to obtain the desired
te~perature in thP fluid circulated through the frame o~
the building.
Thus~ although modular building constructions
ar~ known in the prior art, and althouyh solar energy
powered buildings are known in the prior art, heretofore
there has not been any economical and practic~ble
ConstrUCtiOn or method of providing an essentially fireproof
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building which i.5 of modular construction and which may
be easily and economically erected or disassembled, and
which utilizes economical solar energy means to heat and/or
cool the building. More particularly, heating and cooling
of the building in accordance with applicant's invention
is accomplished by circulation of a heat exchan~e fluid
through the frame of the building.
With applicant's construction, wherein radiant
heat from the floor, walls and roof is used to heat the
building, a savings of at least 70% in the amount of energy
required to heat the building is obtained. Similar
results are obtained for cooling the building. Additionally,
factory production of standard components used to erect
the building reduce costs by about 30~, and the ease with
which the building can be erected results in a subs$antial
savings in time to erect the building, and an additional
20% redu tion in cost of the building, as compared with
conventional constructions.
Further, a building constructed in accordance
with applicant's invention has a structural strength
approxLmately five times as great as a buildiny of wood
frame construction. Moreover, because of the ease with
which the building may be erected and disassembled, it is
possible that the building could be disassem~led and moved
when the owner of the building leaves the area, thus
eliminating the necessity of purchasing a new home or
building at a new location. The existing building would
simply be disassembled and then erected at the new loc~tion.
Still further, the unique cQnstruction of applicant's
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building eliminates the necessity of providing interior
supports, so that the interior of the building is open and
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free, whereby there is great latitude in room arrangements
to meet different requirements or desires. A 5till
further advantage to applicant's invention i5 that the
unique modular constru~tion of the building enables
buildings to be stocked and sold in volume, much in the
nature of automobiles and other such o~jects, thus
providing a further reduction in cost.
The invention is described further, by way of
illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Figure 1 is a transverse, sectional view of a
building in accordance with the invention, showing the
relationship of wall columns, roo~ ~eams, wall and roof
panels, solar panels and fluid circulating means in
accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged, sectional view 1-
taken along line 2-2 in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary,
sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a schematic, perspective view of
the fluid systems in the building a~cording to he present
invention;
Figure 5 is an enlarged, perspective view with
a portion broken away of a solar panel in accordance with
the invention, shown separated from the inlet header
thereof;
Figure 6 is a somewhat schematic, top plan view
- of a building in accordance with the invention, further
~ illustrating-the fluid systems used in ~he building;
- 30 Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentaryr perspective
: :~ view, ~ith portions broken awayl of one of the wall and
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roof panels used .in the building construction;
Figure 8 is a greatly enlar~ed, fraymentary
view in elevation, with portions broken away, of the
connection and arrangement between the upper end of a
wall column and the lower end of an inclined roof beam,
and showing the relationship of wall and roof panels
thereto and a solar panel on top of the roof panels;
Figure 9 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective
view of the upper end of a wall column, and the eaves angle
used to determine the pitch of the roof and to j~in the
roof bea~s with the wall columns;
Figure 10 is a view in section tak~n along line
10-10 of Figure 8;
Figure 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view
of a plurality of panels in accordance with the invention,
showing the manner in which the panels ~re secured to the
frame of the building, and the joints between adjacent
edges of adjacent panels sealed; and
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the beam
20 connector used to interconnect adjacent upper ends of the
roof beams and appears on the same sheet of drawings as
Figures 6 and 7.
In the drawings, wherein like reference :~
numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views,
a building in accordan~e with the invent.ion is indlcated
generally at B and comprises a rame F having substantially
vertically extending wall columns 10 and inclined roof
beams 11 connected to and supported on the upper ends of
. the columns 10. A plurality of substantially identical
30 wall panels W are secured to the columns 10 to form the
walls of the bùildinyr and a plurality of substantially
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identical roof panels R are supported on the roof beaTns
ll to form the roof of the building. Further, a plurality
of solar panels P are supported on the roof panels for
absorbing solar energy to heat a fluid heat exchange
medium for use as desired.
A first fluid circulating system 12 is connected
with the frame F of the building for circulating a heat
exchange fluid therethrough to either heat or cool the
building as desired, and a second fluid circulating system
13 is connected with the solar panels P to collect and
circulate a heated fluid medium to a means for conversion
of the heat energv into a desired form, as for example,
to heat or cool the fluid circulated through the frame F.
In order ~o simplify construction of the building,
and in order to reduce the cost thereof, the wall columns
lO and roof beams 11 are substantially identical in
construction, with the columns and beams being made in
standard, predetermi.ned lengths, as desired, for con-
struction of buildings or portions of buildings o~
2n different size.
The columns and beams both comprise an elongate
substantially U-shaped channel 14 of aluminum or other
suitable material, and which may be formed on a roll mill.
The elongate, open side edge of the ~hannels 14 are closed
- by an elongat , flat plate 15 suitably secured to the
channel, as by means of welding or the li.ke. For example,
~: ~ if the.channe:L comprises aluminum, the plate is heliarc
or plasma welded thereto. Similarly, opposite open ends
of the channels 14 of the roof be~ms ll are closed by flat,
~substantially rectangularly shaped plates 16 having a
pluralit~ of bolt receptive openings or holes 17 along
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opposite edges thereof, and a ~lurality of fluid passages
or ports 18 therethrough in communication with the open
chamber or cavity defined by the U-shaped channel member
14. The upper ends of the columns 10 are similarly closed
by plates 16 welded to the ends of the channels 14 thereof,
having bolt receptive openings or holes 17 along the
edges thereof and fluid flow passages 18 in communication
with the cavity or chamber defined by the channel 14.
The bottom open ends of the colwmns lO, however, are
closed by substantially flat, rectangular plates 19, which
have a plurality of bolt receptive openings through the
peripheral portions thereof, whereby the plates l9 and thus
the columns 10 may be securely bolked or otherwise secured
to a concrete foundation, such as footer or floor or the
like 20 by means of bolts or other suitable fasteners 21.
Ad~acent, upper ends of the roo~ beams 11 are
interconnected by a hollow beam connector 22 7 having
opposite, sloping end walls or plates 23 and 24, with fluid
flow passages 25 therethrough and bolt receptive openings
2Ç at opposite edges thereof, whereby the upper ends of
the roof beams may be bolted to the beam connector 22 to
establish fluid flow communication between the hollow
beams and béam connector. Fluid flow passages or openings
: 27 and 28 are also formed through the opposite wall~ of
the beam connectors 22 for connection to the first fluid
flow system 12, to be later described. Similarly, the
lower ends o~ the roof beams ll and the upper ends of the
wall columns lO are interconnected by eaves angle members
.
~ 29 compsising hollow elbows 30 having a sub~tantially flat,
rectangular plate 16~ welded to the bottom end thereof
of substantially identlcal construction to the plates 16
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on the upper ends ~f the colwnns 10, arld also having plates
16' on ~he upper ends ~hereof substantially identical to
the plates 16 on the lower ends of the beams 11.
The eaves angles 29 may be manufactured in three
sta~dard roof angle ratios of 1 to 10, 2 to 10 and 3 to 10,
or other ratios as desired. Similarly, the beam connectors
22 may be manufactured with corresponding ratios on the
oppositely sloping ends thereof, such that merely by
substitution of different angles or connectors, roofs
having different pitches may be construc~ed. The beam
connectors and eaves connectors are connected with
respective adjacent ends of the columns and beams by
means of bolts or other suitable ~asteners 31 extended
through the openings in the end plates thereof.
Short lengths of pipe 32 are connected to and
extend between the openinys 27 and 28 of adjacent beam
connectors 22, as seen best in Figure 6, for Pxample.
The primary fluid flow system 12 includes the
tubular columns 10 and roof beams 11 and the-eaves
~0 connectors 29 and beam connectors 22 and pipes 32.
Further, the first fluid flow system includes an elongate
header pipe 33 embedded in the floor of the building, as
for example, in the concrete slab 20 Gr the like, and
- running the length of the building. A plurality of
substantially equally spaced apart pipes 34 are connected
with the header pipe 33 and extend outwardly to the bottom
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ends of the columns 10, and are connected with the columns
through pipe fittings or elbows 35, which project upwardly
from the ~loor 20 and into the sides of the channels 14
30 ~ of the column~ 10. A substantially vertically extending
fluid return pipe 36 is connected with the pipes 32 and
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extends downwardly from the peak or riclge of the
building to adjacent the Eloor thereof, and is connected
at its lower end with a pair of out,wardly extending
branch return pipPs 37 and 38, which are in turn joined
through elbows with a pair of longitudinally extending
return pipes 39 and 40 at opposite sides of the building,
which extend to a fluid reservoir 41. Fluid is supplied
to the first fluid circulating system through an inlet
pipe 42 connected with the fluid reservoir 41 near the
upper end thereof, and connected with the inlet of a
circulating pump 43. The header pipe 33 is connected with
the outlet of pump 43, whereby upon opexation of the pump,
fluid from the reservoir 41 is caused to circulate through
header pipe 33 and outwardly through khe supply pipes 34
to the columns 10, and thence upw~rdly through the colu~ms
and roof beams 11 to the beam connectors 22 and pipes 32
and then downwardly th'rough return pipes 36, 37, 38, 39
and 40 back to the reservoir 41.
The ~luid circulated through the first fluid
~0 circulating system may be heated or cooled as desired to
~aintain a desired temperature,in the building by means
, ' utilizing the energy developed through use of the solar
: panels P. This means includes a heat pump 44 having a
h~at eXchange coil 45 associated therewith, wi~h the
heat exchange coil disposed in the fluid in fluid reservoir
: 41 to effect the desired temperature change thereof. The
heat pump and coil are part of the second fluid circulating
system, including the solar panels P, and the heat pump is
: : ~con~ected with an outlet riser or supply pipe 46 extending
upwardly to a supply he~der pipe 47 extending along the
peak or ri'dge of the building ahove the beam connectors 22,
and having a plurality of outlet bosses 48 thereon :
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corresponding with the approxi~late center location oE
respective adjacent solar panels P. Short lengths of
Teflon hose or other suitable flexihle fluid conduit
means 49 are secured at one of their ends to the bosses 48
by means oE hose clamps or the like 50, and are simi.larly
secured at their other ends to bosses 51 on 5upply
manifold pipes 52 connected wit:h the upper ends o~ the
panels P.
As seen best in Figure 5, the manifold pipes
52 have elongate slots 53 extending along the side
thereof opposi.te the bossed 51, and the panels P are welded
to the slot. The opposite ends of the pipes 52 may be
closed with caps 52a and 52b, if deslred.
As seen in Figures 2 and 5, the panels P each
comprise an upper sheet 54 of aluminum or other suitable
material, and a lower sheet 55 of al~minum or other suitable
material. The top sheet or panel 54 has a plurality of
elongate, substantially parallel ribs or protrusions 56
formed thereinl and the bottom sheet or panel 55 has a
plurality of similar ribs or protrusions 57 formed therein,
such that when the sheets or panels are assembled, the
ribs of the respective sheets engage the opposite sheet to
hold the sheets or panels in spaced apart relationship
to defin~ a fluid flow passage or plurality o parallel
fluid flow passages between the top and ~ottom sheets or
panels.
II1 a typical embodiment of the invention, the
ribs have a clepth of approxLmately 3/16 of an inch. The
sheets or panels 54 and 55 may be formed at hiyh speed on
~ 30 a roll mill or the like, if desired. Furt~er, the upper
: . ~ panel 54 is coated with a special black finish, recently
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developed by Olin Company, which absorbs almost 97~ of
the solar energy striking the panel.
The upper and lower sheets of the panels P
are secured together by means of upstanding, generally
hook-shaped locking flanges along opposite edges thereof~
and the locking flange 58 alo~g one edge of each panel is
larger than the locking flange 59 along the other edge
~hereof. Accordingly, when a pluralit~ of panels P are
~laced in operative position, the smaller locking flange
59 along the edge of one panel is snugly engaged and
received beneath the larger locking flange 58 along the
adj~cent edge of an adjacent panel P. This is illustrated
best in Figure 2, and the seam between th~ locking flanges
58 and 59 of adjacent panels is suitably sealed, as with
a rubber mastic or the like 60.
The upper open ends or edges of the panels P
are placed in registry with the slots 53 in khe sides of
manifold pipes 52 and welded thereat to form a leaktight
connection between the panels ana manifolds 52. SLmilarly, ~:
outlet manifold pipes 61 are welded along the bottom edges
of the panels P, and as seen best in Figure 8, the outlet
manifold pipes 61 are welded such that they are essentially
below the plane of the upper sheet 54 ~f the panels P, to
thereby enable rainfall and snow and the like to flow or
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- ~ sl}de readily off of the i~clinded solar panels. The
outlet manifold pipes 61 e~ch has an outlet ~oss 6Z at :
substantially the midpoint thereof, and a short length of - ~-
hose, such as Teflon or ~he like 63, is secured to the
; ~each of the ~osses 62 by means of a hose clamp or othe~
suitable fastening means 64. The 1exible hose or conduit
63 is connécted at its other end with a boss 65 on a fluid
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return pipe 66, which extends along the eaves of the build-
ing at each side thereof, and which are joined to down-
wardly extending return pipes 67 and 68 at opposite sides
of the building and thence through horizontally extending
return pipes 69 and 70 to the heat pump 44. Thus, a suit-
able fluid heat exchange medium is confined in the closed
fluid circulating system 13, including the heat pump 44,
and is pumped by the heat pump through supply pipe 46 to
the header pipe 47 and thence through bosses 48 to the panels
P, where solar heat is absorbed by the fluid and the heated
fluid is then returned through outlet manifolds 61 and
return pipes 66, 67 and 68 to the p.ipes 69 and 70 and back
to the heat pump 44, where the heated fluid is used ~n a
conventional and well-known manner to either heat fluid
circulated through the first fluid circulating system to
thereby heat the building or is used to cool the fluid to
cool the building.
The 1uid.heated in the solar panels could also
be used to drive small steam drive turbines or other
electrical energy producing devices to produce electrical
energy in addition to heat or coo]ing, as desired.
The wall and xoo panels, as noted previously,
are substantially identically constructed, and these
panels are approximately 8 ~eet wide and may come in one
ox more standard'.lengths. The wall and roof panels each
~:~ comprise an outer face or skin 71 and an inner ~ace or
s~in ~2, each formed of a high density material, such as
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pressed wood or the like, as for example, masonite~ A
honeycomb core 73 o~ fireproofed paper or the like is
.30 sandwiched between the s~ins 71 and 72 and is glued or
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~ : otherwise suitably secured thereto, and the spaces defined
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in the honeycomb core are filled with a ~f~04~ insulation,
such as zono]ite or the like 74. The finished panels,
including the skins 71 and 72 and the core and insulation
material, are prPferably approximately 4 inches thick, and
these panels are not only extremely strong and are
essen~ially fireproof, but have a very high thermal
insulating quality.
In order to secure the wall and roof panels to
the frame of the building, a plurality of bolt receptive,
internally threaded sockets 75 are welded or otherwise
suitably secured at spaced locations along the plates 15
closing the elongate open sides of channels 14 of the
columns 10 and roof beams 11. A t~pical spacing of
these bolt socket~ or lugs 75, for example, would be
approximately one foot apart along the lengths of the
columns and beams. The col~nns and beams are spaced
apart a distance corresponding substantially to the width
of the wall and roof panels, and accordingly, as seen in
Figure 10, a pair of adjacent panels are positioned in
edge-to-edge relationship, with the seam therebetween
extending substantially along the center line of the
plate 15 of the columns and beams. A sealing strip or
gasket 76 is interposed betwPen the edges of the adjacent
panels and the outer ace of the plate 15 to effect a
weather-tight seal thereat, and a sealing strip or gasket
77 is also placed along the seam at the outer skin of
the panels, and a panel securing strip 78 is then
positioned over the outer gasket 77 and bolts or the llke
7~ are then extended through holes provided in the strips
78 and into thxeaded engagement with the socket 75 in the
col~nns and b~ns.
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Thus, in order to construct a buildi.ng in
accordance with the invention, a suitable foundation or
footing is provided, such as concrete slab 20 or the like,
with the pipes 34 and 33 embedded therein, and the frame
is then erected with the columns 10 and roof beams being
connected by means of the eaves connectors 29 and beam
connectors 22, and the wall and roof panels are then bolted
in position on the frame, and the solar panels P are then
simply glued to the outer surface of the roof panels.
lU The various pipes and conduits comprising the first and
second fluid circulatiny systems are then connected.
Modifications are possible within the scope of
the invention.
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