Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR SYSTEM FOR HEATING SPACE INSIDE BUILDINGS BY
TRANSFORMING ELECTRICAL ENERGY INTO DIFFUSED WARMTH
A great many processes and means exist for heating
indoor space by generating heat, based essentially on
combustion, especially of gas, and on electric heating
elements.
In both cases a thermal chain is created that conditions
the thermal efficiency of the system.
In the first case, for example, a combustible gas is
used to feed a burner and the flame so produced trans-
forms the energy of the gas into heat and heats water
in a boiler connected to radiators.
During its circulation this water heats the radiators
which in turn warm the air close to their surfaces.
~ 15 Being lighter, the heated air rises thus drawing in cold
air which on coming in contact with the radiators, in
turn becomes heated.
A convective movement of air is ~hus created to warm
the surrounding environment.
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,
In the second case electric current circulates in the
heating elements, heats them directly transforming elec-
trical energy into thermal energy.
These resistances, or elements, reach very high tempera-
tures, as high as 500~C, and on warming the air close tothem create the convective movement that transfers heat
to the surrounding space.
In both cases there are clearly considerable losses along
the whole thermal chain, especially because of the great
difference between temperature of the flame or electric
element compared with the surrounding temperature,so that
the energy used in relation to that available and consumed
is very low.
For certain purposes electric energy is transformed into
thermal energy by very thin elements which may even be
suitably cut sheets, this being done to raise the value
of their electrical resistance.
But none of the systems hitherto invented h~ve enabled
large scale and universal applications to be made since,
from the economic and energy standpoints, they have not
solved the problem raised by the thinness and therefore
fragility of the heating elements.
Solutions adopted such as glueing heating elements onto
plastic, cardboard or fibrous bases have prevented a high
~5 thermal yield on account of the thermal barrier formed
by such supports or by the glue.
A good electric insulator is also in fact a good thermal
insulator. This thermal insulator considerably reduces
the thermal yield of the apparatus or system.
~1~
In its propagation of heat substantially by radiation and
by diffusing means of practically the same temperature as
the heating elements and using electric but not thermal
AMENDED SHEET
CA 02220013 1997-10-31
Document DE-U-8816466 discloses a wall element for a tepidarium com-
prising a supporting plate, a layer of insulating material of cork or other
foam type, a heating lamina and a perforated sheet of hard fibre between
2 and 6 mm thick and with holes whose diameters go from 2 to 5 mm set
at a considerable distance one from another.
These components are placed in the above order and match together.
The perforated sheet protects the heating lamina from mechanical
stresses or undesired contact with users (obviously to avoid burns etc).
It is clear that the heating lamina does not match with any metal part that
could assist diffusion of heat in the environment; indeed diffusion is
hindered by the perforated sheet of insulating material that permits radia-
tion only through a few small holes.
The interface between heating lamina and environment is thus reduced
to a small fraction of the whole surface of said lamina.
Document GB-A-629 188 discloses a heating element obtained from one
or more continuous metal ribs of a triangular or trapezoidal section,
placed on a sheet of refractary material, especially of glass.
The base of the transversal section of the ribs is about 1.5 mm, width at
the top is about 1 mm and width of the rib is about 0.15 mm.
Purpose and effect of this patent is substantially to create an electric
stove whose electric heating element is supported by a sheet of glass.
Subject of the above two patents clearly consists of means of electric
heating with specific structural and formal novelties but, as far as con-
cerns efficiency and an interface with the environment, possessing cha-
racteristics substantially comparable with known electric heaters.
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means of insulation, subject invention warms internal
spaces with a better yield and less expensively than is
possible with present techuiques as will be explained
below.
Subject of the invention is a modular system for heating
internal spaces by conversion of electrical energy into
diffused warmth.
Electric current is made to pass through a continuous
conducting body.
The thickness of said body is of the order of microns
and exhibits a section of an extremely high ratio between
width and thickness and,by means of connection and means
of electrical insulation, is made to match with a body
of support and heat diffusion which is substantially bi-
dimensional.The ratio between the surface of the body through which
electric current passes and the body of support is about
1: 1.
Because of heat diffusion from the body thruugh which the
electric current passes to that of support and from thence
to the environment, by means of this system heat is trans-
mitted by radiation to the environment as soon as the
temperature of the body of support, substantially equal
to that of the body through which electric current passes,
exceeds environmental temperature by only a few degrees,
practically speaking 15-20~C.
The material forming the body of support is preferably
metal, especially aluminium, alluminium alloys, copper,
brass and others, but it may also be partially conducting
or non-conducting.
The body through which electric current passes may be si-
~uated on the surface of the body of support or inside it.
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Shape of the supporting body may be flat or of any volu-
metric form such as a sphere, a cylinder or any other
thac serves the purpose.
The body through which electric current passes may be in
th~ form of a sheet or of a tape or band.
The band may be ready made as sold on the market or it
may be a metal paint spread on the supporting body.
Connection between the body through which electric current
passes and the metal supporting body may advantageously
be made with adhesives.
The means for electrical insulation between the body in
which electric current passes and the supporting body are
glues possessing electrical insulating power.
Preferably the insulation between the body through which
electric current passes and the supporting body is obtained
by chemical or electrochemical treatment of the surface
of the supporting body.
The electrochemical treatment is is an anodizing treatment.
Thickness of the anodizing layer is preferably 20-200 ~.
The body through which electric current passes may also
be obtained by associating, using an electrical insulation
glue, 2 sheet of highly conductive material, such as alu-
minium, to the two-dimensional metal body for support and
diffusion of the heat and then subjecting said sheet to a
photographic,siLkscreen or similar process to obtain a
substantially band-shaped form laid out in various ways
according to circumstances, serpentine-wise, in a spiral
or similar.
Thickness of the supporting body is preferably one mm.
The supporting bodies may advantageously be panel-shaped,
especially modular panels.
Said panels are prepared for application to walls and to
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the ceilings of indoor spaces, to furniture, to doors,
to frameworks generally as well as for inclusion in the
ordinary type of false ceiling.
Another advantageous position is that of inserting the
panels in ceiling lights, associating them to ordinary
lamps to create lighting and heating at the same time.
The supporting bodies can consist of shaped material of
various forms and sizes, especially those used as skirt-
ingboards, claddings for pillars, doors, frameworks of
a general kind, furniture.
The many experimental installations already made confirm
the very great advantages of the invention especially as
far as concerns a drastic saving in consumption.
The invention clearly offers many advantages.
The laminar-type supports, in the shape of flat or curved
panels, channel-shaped metal and the like, of the heating
elements, spread warmth throughout internal spaces main-
ly by radiation.
The temperature of the supporting bodies is practically
the same as that of the heating elements.
The flow of energy is substantially propagated by elec-
tromagnetic waves, in a straight line, becoming heat in
the absorbing bodies encountered.
There is practically no effect on the air which remains
cooler than the absorbing bodies and this produces a
drastic reduction in heat dispersion by convection.
Difrusion of heat by radiation makes possible its limi-
tation to well defined areas which constitutes a saving
in costs and makes it possible to avoid heating bodies
subject co deterioration such as goods on the shelves
of supermarkets.
The radiating supports in the forms described can be
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produced as modules and therefore included as architec-
tural elements in walls, ceilings, floors, furniture
and interior decoration generally, in doors and in frame-
works of different kinds.
Of special interest is inclusion of these elements in
false ceilings and ceiling lights and simultaneously pro-
ducing electomagnetic waves for both lighting and heating,
as well as in skirtingboards and in shaped materials used
for structures, moulding and cladding.
In industrial and storage buildings the panels can be
used instead of.squares of aluminium, plasterboard and the
like.
Using a laminar metal body, especially anodized aluminium,
as support for the heating elements, very high electrical
insulation is created between the heating element and its
support without formation of a thermal barrier.
This ensures maximum protection of heating elements,even
if very thin, without any obstacle to the diffusion of
heat and producing a very high thermal yield.
Supports for the bodies through which electric current is
passed can be constructed in practically any size and
suitable form, offering innumerable possibilities of
installation that fit in with any architectural project.
Using widely sold material such as thin metal tapes, ad-
hesive or non-adhesive, a radiating surface that gives
off heat in a uniform manner can be quickly produced.
The heating elements are completely static and the materials
used require no maintenance.
Consumption of electricity is so low as to render running
costs highly competitive even compared with traditionally
cheaper fuels such as gas.
Installations are found to be economic both as regards
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mounting and operating them, they are similar to the
conventional electrical installation and can be run
by centralized systems as they become fully efficient
almost instantaneously.
CDntrary to the traditional hot water systems, where
the choice of surface temperature is very important
as, If the 80~C are exceeded, an ordinary boiler must
be replaced by one for superheated water or steam in-
volving extra expense, the heating bodies provided by
this present invention offer a range of temperatures
that go from 10~C to 150~C with practically no change
in costs.
The system here invented, by a simple effect of differ-
ence of potential, transforms electric energy into heat
diffused with minimum bulk, low thermal inertia, low
consumption of energy, a high level of safety.
Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be
made still clearer by the following examples of its
execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures.
Fig.l Modular radiating panel for wall and ceiling in-
stallation made from copper sheeting, perspective.
Fig.2 Cross section of the panel in Fig.l.
Fig.3 Wall and ceiling installation of panels illustra-
ted in Figs. I and 2, perspective.
Fig.4 Diagram of approved hori~ontal installation of
panels, high up.
Fig.5 As Fig. 4 but inclined installation.
Fig.6 Portable radiator made from radiating panels, per-
~ spective.
Fig.7 Radiator made from a metal band available on themarket, mounted serpentinewise on a sheet of glass
or on a mirror, perspective.
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Fig. 8 Radiator made from a metal band available on the
market wound on a cylindrical tubular support,
perspective.
Fig. 9 Radiator made from a metal band available on the
market wound in parallels round a sphere,perspective.
Fig.10 Ceiling light with lamps and radiating panel moun-
ted in the ceiling of a bathroom, perspective.
Fig.ll Inside of a supermarket with ceiling mounted ra-
diating panels.
Fig.l2 Radiating C-shaped channel with metal band wound
serpentinewise, pe}spective.
Fig.l3 Walls with skirtboard made of the channel in Fig.
12, perspective.
Fig.l4 Radiating angular bar with metal band wound serpen-
IS tinewise, perspective.
Fig.l5 Iietal band serpentine under the surface of a floor,
perspective.
Fig.l6 Cupboard with doors formed of a radiating panel,
as proposed in the invention, perspective.
The panel 10 exhibits a laminar supporting body 11 of
aluminium with an anodized layer 12 onto which the copper
sheets 13 are glued.
At the back there is an insulating sheet 14.
The panel is reinforced and decorated by the U-shaped
frame 15 applied round its edges.
Thickness of the supporting body is I mm while that of
the copper sheet is measured in microns.
Closure of the electric circuit transforms electricity
into heat which unifor~.ly heats the supporting body 1I w~ose
temperature is kept substantially the same as that of the
serpentine.
As sonn as its temperature exceeds room temperature of
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_g_
15-20~C, said body diffuses heat into the surrounding
space by radiation.
Fig.3 shows an office room 20 heated by radiating panels
2I mounted on the wall 30 and by radiating panels 22
5 mounted on the ceiling 31.
On that ceiling the radiating panels occupy the positions
of aluminium or plasterboard squares 25.
Figs. 4 and 5 show an example of correct installation of
the panels in an industrial building so as to give com-
10 plete coverage of the area to be heated in accordancewith the height of the panels.
In the building 40 the horizontal panels 4 1 and 42 are
set 6 m apart at a height of 4.5 m. In this way the bands
of radiation, indicated by 43 and 44, cross each other at
15 point 45 at a height of about 2 m.
In the building 50 the panels 56 and 57, inclined at 45~,
are placed in the corners between the wall 51 and ceiling
55.
Fig. 6 illustrates a portable radiator 60 made from a
20 lamina of aluminium 6I having an anodized layer 62 onto
which a sheet of copper 63,a few microns thick, is glued.
On said sheet the parallel cuts 64, 65, extending alter-
nately from one edge of the panel to the opposite one,
create a serpentine 66 at whose ends 67 and 68 contacts
25 6g anc 70 are fixed for connection to the main supply by
the wire 71 and plug 72.
Fig. , shows a radiating panel 80 made with a sheet of
glass 8I to which is applied, serpentinewise, an ordinary
adhesive strip of metal 82, sold on the market. The ends
30 83 and 84 are connected to the main electricity supply.
In Fig. 8 there is a cylindrical metal support 90 round
which a spiral or metal band 9I has been wound.
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The ends 92 and 93 are connected to the main supply.
Fig. 9 shows a spherical support 100 of plastic material
wound with a continuous band 101 whose ends 102 and 103
are connected to the electricity mains.
5 Fig 10 shows a ceiling light 110 fitted onto the ceiling
111 of a bathroom 105.
This ceiling light comprises a box 112 inside which the
fluorescent lamps 113 are fixed, one at each side.
Between the strip lights is a radiating panel 114 com-
prising a laminar alluminium body 115 to whose anodized
surface 116 a sheet of copper 117 is glued, connected
to the main wiring by wires 118.
By means of switches 119 and 120 the bathroom can be lit
up and warmed by radiated energy as desired.
As soon as it is switched on the panel reaches a tempera-
ture such as to radiate everything underneath it, with
low thermal inertia, minimum bulk, low consumption and a
high degree of safety.
In Fig.11 the inside 123 of a supermarket here has a
passageway 131 between two sets of shelves 132 and 133.
On the ceiling 134 a radiating panel 135, substantially
similar to panel 114 in Fig.10, has been fixed and the
rays 136 from this panel warm the passage way without any
effect on the goods 137 and 138 on the shelves, as shown
in the igure.
In this way only the persons Chere receive a pleasant
amount of warmth without damaging the goods.
The aluminium C-shaped channel 140 in Fig.12 is anodized
on the inside 14 1 and to this surface the serpencinewise
prepared copper sheet 142 is glued.
Thickness of the channei is 1 mm while chat of the copper
sneec is measured in microns.
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Fig.13 illustrates the walls 151, 152 of a room 150
fitted with a skirtingboard 153 made from a channel
shaped piece 140 like that described in Fig.12.
At the ends 154 and 155 of the skirtingboard, the ser-
-pentine 142 is connected to terminals 156 and 157 of
an electric circuit to warm the room by radiation.
In Fig.14 an angular bar 160 has a band of aluminium
162 glued onto its inner anodized surface 161.
The ends of said band are connected to terminals 163
and 164 and so to the main supply of electricity.
This angular bar can be included in any architectural
design in the form of cladding for pillars, doors, or
on furniture providing an excellent form of heating
for a room.
Fig. 15 shows how a metal band is laid out in the form
of a serpentine 172 in the foundations 171 of the floor
170 of a room 175, the ends 173 and 174 of the band
being connected to the electricity mains.
Fig.16 shows an ordinary kind of cupboard 180 with its
doors 181. The doors 182 exhibit radiating panels 183,
as described in the invention and made possible by the
low operating temperatures.
Environmental heating is provided by safe and simple means.
As the above invention has been explained as one example
of its use in no way limitative and to show its essential
features, numerous variations may be made to it according
to industrial,commercial and other needs and other systems
and means be added without any departure from its sphere.
The application to patent therefore includes any equiva-
lent use of the concepts and any equivalent product executedand/or operating according to any one or more of the cha-
racteristics given in the following claims.
