Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned with building structures
and, more particularly, with residential building structures.
Recently, with the shortage of petroleum and the sharply
increased costs of other fuels employed in heating buildings as
well as the rapid increase in the cost of electrical energy in
most areas of the country, significant attention has been
directed to developing building structures that are more effi-
client in their utilization of energy for heating and cooling. In
addition, alternative sources such as solar energy for heating
and providing hot water have seen significant development in
recent years. Greater use has been made of extensive insulation
of buildings, storm sashes, and various techniques for making the
structures more weather tight.
While all of the foregoing approaches have advantages, they
all have significant limitations either in cost or in effective-
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Utilization of solar energy adds to the original cost of
construction since supplemental heating units are generally no-
wired because of the general inability of solar energy arrange-
mints to provide sufficient heat input in high demand times to
adequately heat structures. Solar energy is also unreliable as a
primary heat source due to the weather interrupting the flow of
energy from the sun to the collectors of the system and the bulk-
ions of energy storage in solar heating systems. In addition,
solar energy does not provide a direct means of cooling Starr
lures in the summer other than as a source of energy to generate
electricity and with the present technology it is not an effi-
client means of generating electrical energy
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The widespread use of insulation has helped to inhibit heat
loss or heat input to the building structure as the case may
be. In the case of most residential structures, insulation is
put into the interior of a single structural wall having external
siding and sheet rock or plaster interior surface and placed in
open rafters above the ceiling on the topmost floor of the struck
lure. Storm sashes and various combinations of double glazing
have been utilized to inhibit the generally enormous heat loss
through window openings. The openings for electrical outlets,
plumbing, windows and the like on the interior faces of the walls
provide many sources for air leaks causing drafts as well as
variations in the humidity content of the interior of the house
because of significant "breathing" of the structure.
In the case of residential structures having basements, the
basements are often unheated and there is no insulation provided
on the walls and this is consequently a source of dampness and
heat loss Some attempts have been made to either insulate the
bottom floor or insulate the basement walls. These approaches
have all met with varying degrees of success but have presented
problems with cost and moisture control.
Up until the present time, no attempt appears to have been
made to construct a building which effectively utilizes the stay
bilized energy level of the earth mass as a source of energy to
provide heat and cooling to the structure and to stabilize the
temperature thereof.
While there are no prior art references known which teach
the energy-sufficient structure of this application or suggest
its structure, the following patents represent the most closely
related prior patents known to the Applicant which disclose
structures of background interest.
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US. 3,664,076 McCoy discloses a prefabricated structure for
walls, floor and ceiling comprised of an insulated filling having
an inner surface skin and an external skin. In effect, the ins-
lotion bulk also comprises the structural elements of the build-
in. It also includes the bottom layer or flooring cross sea-
lion. The structure, thus includes insulation on all sides, top
and bottom.
US. 3,983,670 Light foot relates to a partition system
wherein in the base of a partition comprises a hollow channel for
accommodating various services for the building such as wiring,
piping, etc. The partition structure is of the modular type and
the channel eliminates the necessity for forming custom openings
in the partition for outlets, switches, etc.
US. 3,500,596 Anderson discloses a prefabricated building
having roof, walls and bottom comprised of an outer corrugated
metal structure having inner and outer corrugated walls spaced
from each other, the outer serving as a facade or for receiving a
facade for the house and the inner surface adapted to have a
facade secured to it in the form of sheet rock, paneling or the
like. The inner and outer corrugated walls have insulation
material in between them and the spaces defined by the cargo-
lions of the inner wall to which the facing panels are attached
may serve as distribution channels for the flow of warm or cool-
in air as well as wiring channels and piping channels.
US. 4,189,878 Fitzgerald discloses a house roof insulation
vent wherein provision is made to insure the flow of air through
perforated openings in the Swift of the house up and over the
top of the insulation layer on the rafters of the dwelling.
I.
US. 4,279,112 Bertrand relates to an improved method of
insulating a building having a rigid metallic frame structure and
is of interest only for including of an inner layer of water-
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proof vinyl on the inside surfaces of the insulation material of the structure in order to diminish the possibility of water con-
sensation and to improve the thermic insulation of the building
as well. The vinyl layer serves as a means to further reduce the
drafts due to minor openings and gaps in the main insulation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a building structure which
demands very little use of fuel generated energy for either heat-
in or cooling in the temperate zones, and which includes
moisture control elements.
The structure in general is comprised of side walls, roof,
and foundation or basement walls, and a lowermost floor of con-
Crete slab. The side walls are made of an inner and outer
wall. The outer wall is the main structural wall of frame con-
struction with exterior siding on its outer surface.
Framing in which the studs do not extend directly from the
inner to outer surfaces is preferred in order to decrease conduct
lion of heat or cold. Staggered offset studding or its equiva-
lent is employed to assure that maximum insulation effect is
obtained. The outer wall is thicker than usual, about 8" - 12"
in order to provide sufficient space for substantial amounts of
insulation preferably to obtain the equivalent of at least R-40
insulation.
The inner side of the outer wall is covered with a material
such l/8" Masonite or the like in order to retain the insulation
within the outer wall frame.
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A similar inner surface covering is provided on the inner
surface of the ceiling joists over which belts or loose insular
lion of R-80 rating are placed.
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While the structure of the present invention may employ
lower rated insulation, the values given are preferred for best
results. In addition to the heavy insulation in the framework of
the side walls, insulation on the sides is extended to the base
of the foundation walls. The insulation on the foundation walls
is preferably a foam insulation. In most cases, a rigid closed
cell foam slab such as Styrofoam slab 4" thick insulation layered
to 8" - 12" thick is preferred. Generally, it is placed in mull
triple 4" lamination on the exterior of the foundation structural
wall of concrete block or poured concrete and, in turn, is
covered by a face coating of cement stucco. The insulation on
the foundation basement walls should extend at least three, and
preferably four feet, below the average frost line depth in the
geographical area where the building structure is erected. In
addition, treated lumber basements are included in the above
design as an option.
The inner surface of the outer wall, the ceiling, found-
tion-basement wall, as well as the top of the gravel or like base
for the lowermost floor under the concrete slab are covered with
a vapor vernier of moisture impermeable plastic sheeting such as
1-6 mill thick vinyl. The interior surface of the outer wall
structure thus is provided with a continuous vapor barrier to
facilitate control of the moisture content of the building struck
lure.
Inside of the moisture barrier in the structure there is
provided an inner finish ceiling and wall surface of plaster
sheet rock, paneling or the like mounted on framing studs, with
the spacing between the vapor barrier and the inner wall finish
surface defining posses to circulate fresh heating and cooling
air, and to place utility distribution systems and outlets, with-
out penetrating the moisture seal and insulation ox the outer
structure. The building structure is thus not allowed to
breathe" in an uncontrolled manner.
The circulatory air passages in the inner wall structure are
in open communication with air passageways built into the base-
mint or ground level floor slab. The air passages also ma be
connected to ancillary heating or cooling air sources if such are
employed. Circulation jumps preferably are provided to maintain
positive circulation. The conductive and radiation flow of then-
met energy goes to or comes from the earth mass to the lowermost
floor slab with its air passages therein which are in circulating
communication with the inner walls and ceiling of the structure
from about 68F to about 78F, without the employment of axle-
lazy heating or cooling units in most temperate zones.
It is preferable that absolute filters be used, but elect
ironic air cleaners can also be utilized, also, a fresh air
damper controls access to outside air; and moisture control units
will be employed. Stale inside air is eventually vented to the
outdoors. Ideally, to further increase the efficiency, automatic
thermal shutters for windows may be employed Jo provide add-
tonal insulation over windows at night and/or shade them from
sun in the summer.
The low energy demand house of this invention is temperature
controlled almost exclusively through the flow of thermal energy
to and from the vast mass of the underlying earth. The design of
double wall and ceiling structure, the outer structure with extra
thick insulation, and the inner frame ceiling and wall structures
separated by a moisture impermeable barrier from the outer struck
lure, which barrier extends under the basement floor, moisture
seals the structure to prevent "breathing" of the interior of the
structure, and allows dependence upon the earth mass as the at-
most exclusive source for stabilizing temperature control for the
structure. Jo
In another embodiment of the instant invention, miniature
heat pump units may be located within the outer wall structure
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coupled to the air passageways and vented outdoors for auxiliary
heating purposes.
The utility services, plumbing and others are all located
within the interior walls and ceiling interior of the moisture
barrier.
The present invention thus provides a low energy demand
structure particularly suitable for residential or office use
which utilizes the conductive and radiation flow of thermal
energy to and from the underlying earth mass as the primary means
of heating and cooling, with or without auxiliary miniature heat
pump units located within the outer walls of the building struck
lure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the specie
cation
Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of the structure
according to the invention showing the arrangement roof and ceil-
in walls, floor, basement wall and floor, and relationship to
the underlying earth;
Figure 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 3~3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows two miniature heat pump units residing in the
outer wall structure of the instant low energy demand housing
invention. Jo
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DESCRIPTION OF Illustrative EMBODIMENT
In the accompanying drawing, a building structure according
to the present invention is shown generally at 2. It has an
outer wall structure 4 and an inner wall structure 6 and a ceil-
in structure 8 with a conventional type of roof lo The outer
wall structure 4 is comprised of vertical centrally located stud
members 12, 4" by 4" in cross section with longitudinal stringers
14 and headers 16 constructed to provide a wall one foot thick.
The exterior 18 of the outer wall 4 is provided with exterior
plywood sheathing 20 or other standard sheathing and finish sun-
facing 22 which in the embodiment shown is cedar shakes 24.
Within the outer wall 4 is heavy insulation of R-40 indicated by
26. The inner surface of the outer wall 4 is a l/4" thick
Masonite sheet 28. The inner surface of the Masonite sheet is
covered with a 2-6 mill thick moisture impermeable vinyl plastic
sheet 30.
The inner wall 6 is comprised of vertical studding 32 of 2"
x us which provides not only framing for the inner wall struck
lure but forms passages 34 for circulating air and space for
building utilities such as electrical wiring and plumbing. The
interior surfaces 36 of the inner wall structure are comprised of
sheet rock.
The ceiling 8 is constructed in a similar manner with the
framing 38 supporting sheet rock 40 and defining circulating air
passages 42 in communication with the vertical air passages 34 of
the interior wall.
The vinyl sheeting 45 forms an impermeable moisture barrier
or seal below the thick R-80 roof insulation 47.
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The Swift 46 of the roof 10 is provided with circulating
opening 48 to permit outside air to circulate over the top of the
roof insulation 42 in the usual manner.
The upper portion 50 of the structure 2 rests on foundation
52 comprising concrete hocks or treated wood frame 54 with top
plate 56 forming the outer basement or foundation wall 580 The
wall 58 rests on footings 60. The outside of the wall 58 is
faced with two layers of Styrofoam closed cell rigid foam insular
lion 61 and 62, each of which is 4" thick and 2' x I A face
coating 64 of 1/2 to 1" cement stucco is placed on the exterior
side of the insulation 62.
The wall 58 extends well below the frost line indicated at
aye, and the foam insulation 62 on the wall 58 should extend at
least three and preferably at least four feet below the frost
line.
The interior of the wall 58 is faced or covered with the
vinyl sheeting 66 and the interior frame wall 70 of the vertical
studs 72 and sheet rock facing 74. The frame wall 70 also defines
air passageway 76 in communication with the passageways 34 of the
inner wall 6 and at the lower end 78 with air passageways 80
forms in the concrete floor slab 82 which is the lowermost floor
of the structure 2.
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Vinyl sheeting 84 is placed between the slab 82 and the
underlying earth mass 86 and the gravel base 88. The earth mass
86 is thus in conductive thermal contact with the slab 82 and
will maintain the temperature of the structure between 68 F and
78 by the flow of the thermal energy to or from the slab 82
which transfers the energy throughout the structure 2 by Syria-
feting air through passages 76-34-42. Blowers may be used to
assure more positive continuous circulation. The structure 2 can
be maintained at livable temperature simply through the exchange
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of thermal energy with the earth mass through contact with the
lowermost slab within the perimeter of the foundation wall which
wall is insulated to a depth of three or four feet below the
frost line, indicated at aye, in the earth.
Referring specifically now to Figure 4, miniature heat pump
units 92 and 94 may be located within the outer wall structure
4. Such units are vented to the outdoors via vents 96 and 98 and
have an air exchange port 93, 95 extending into the air passage
way 34 and 76. A variable number of these miniature heat pumps
may be used, while one such unit per floor in an ordinary build-
in structure of the type generally disclosed may be suffix
client. These units remain hidden within the outer wall structure
and thus are space efficient. They promote the effectiveness of
the conductive thermal effects of the circulating air in the
enveloping passageways 80-76 and 34-42. For further controlling
the extent of moisture build-up in the building structure, Dow-
modifier units may be incorporated either as stand alone units or
part of said heat pump units.
While the invention has been explained by a detailed
description of certain specific embodiments, it is understood
that various modifications and substitutions can be mad in any
of them within the scope of the appended claims which are in-
tended also to include equivalents of such embodiments.
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