CONCRETE WALL HEATING AND DRYING SYSTEM

SYSTEME DE CHAUFFAGE ET DE SECHAGE DE MURS EN BETON

English Abstract

A low pressure, low air volume system for heating and drying concrete walls in
a damp environment is disclosed. A wall unit consisting of a wall panel (10)
having a plurality of vertical grooves (14) and ridges (16) formed in a back
surface, the ridges in contact with a concrete wall surface and the grooves
forming a plurality of air channels in contact with the surface of the wall,
ducts heated air across the concrete surface of the wall, evaporating moisture
migrating through the wall. An upper and lower plenum (20) connect the air
channels of the wall unit with a remote system consisting of a dehumidifier
(50) and discharge pump (60), heating element (70) and fans (40) for moving
air through the system, the dehumidifier removing the moisture from the air
before recirculating it through the system.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un système à basse pression et à faible volume d'air pour chauffer et sécher des murs en béton dans un environnement humide. Une unité formant un mur comprend une dalle (10) avec une pluralité de rainures (14) et de crêtes (16) verticales formées sur une surface arrière, les crêtes étant en contact avec une surface du mur en béton et les rainures formant une pluralité de conduits d'air en contact avec la surface du mur de façon à conduire de l'air chauffé sur la surface en béton du mur et à provoquer l'évaporation de l'humidité qui traverse le mur. Des chambres supérieure et inférieure (20) relient les conduits d'air de l'unité formant le mur à un système éloigné qui comprend un déshumidificateur (50) et une pompe de décharge (60), un élément de chauffage (70) et des ventilateurs (40) pour faire circuler de l'air à travers le système, le déshumidificateur éliminant l'humidité de l'air avant qu'il ne soit remis en circulation à travers le système.

Claims

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1. A heating and drying system for heating and drying walls in a damp
environment comprising:
a wall system, said wall system further comprising:
sheathing means for sheathing a wall surface including ridges for abutting the
wall
surface, and
air channeling means for channeling air along said wall surface, the air
channeling
means comprising grooves defined by the ridges of the sheathing means;
said wall system adapted to be attached to a wall surface; and
a remote system, said remote system further comprising:
ducting means in closed loop communication with the air channeling means of
the
wall system for ducting air between said wall system and said remote system,
blower means in communication with the ducting means for forcing air through
said
heating and drying system,
dehumidifying means in communication with the ducting means for removing
moisture
from air within said heating and drying system and expelling said moisture
from said
system, and
heating means in communication with the ducting means for heating air within
said
heating and drying system.
2. A heating and drying system for heating and drying walls in a damp
environment, as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall system further
comprises:
a wall panel, said wall panel further comprising:
a front, panel sheathing,
a plurality of panel ridges, and
a plurality of panel grooves; and

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an upper and a lower plenum, each of said upper and lower plenum further
comprising:
a front, plenum sheathing,
at least one plenum ridge, and
at least one plenum groove;
said plurality of panel grooves and said at least one plenum groove of said
upper
plenum and said lower plenum being adapted to form an air channel to conduct
air
through said wall system and across said wall surface.
3. A heating and drying system for heating and drying walls in a damp
environment, as defined in claim 2, wherein said wall panel and said upper and
lower
plenum are formed of expanded polystyrene.
4. A heating and drying system for heating and drying walls in a damp
environment, as defined In claim 3, wherein said front, panel sheathing and
said front
plenum sheathing further comprises a laminate facing layer.
5. A heating and drying system for heating and drying walls in a damp
environment, as defined in claim 4, wherein said blower means comprises at
least
one fan unit adapted to move air through said heating and drying system.
6. A heating and drying system for heating and drying walls in a damp
environment, as defined in claim 5, wherein said dehumidifying means
comprises:
a dehumidification unit having refrigeration coils therein, said
dehumidification unit
adapted to remove moisture from air within said system,

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a compressor, said compressor adapted to chill refrigerant circulating within
said
refrigeration coils, and
a pump, said pump adapted to periodically discharge moisture removed from said
air
within said system by said dehumidification unit from said system.
7. A heating and drying system for heating and drying walls in a damp
environment, as defined in claim 6, wherein said heating means comprises a
heating
unit.
8. A heating and drying system for heating and drying walls in a damp
environment, as defined in claim 7, wherein the heat of said heating unit is
provided
by a source from the group comprising: electricity, oil, gas, and solar
energy.

Description

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CONCRETE WALL HEATING AND DRYING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to heating dehumidifying
units. More particularly, the invention comprises a
dehumidifying system adapted to concrete walled,
subterranean rooms, such as basements.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In order to be suitable for human habitation, a room
must be maintained in a relatively warm and dry state.
Moisture infiltration through concrete creates discomfort
for the inhabitants of a room, and may also cause damage
within the room.
United States Patent Number 5,893,216, issued to Terry
L. Smith, et al., on April 13, 1999, presents a WALL-DRYING
SYSTEM, a portable system wherein air is introduced into a
wall cavity through a series of small nozzles attached to a
blower and manifold and extracted from the wall cavity
through a series of nozzles attached to a second manifold
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

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and vacuum. Moisture is extracted from the wall cavity by
the airflow therethrough. Unlike the present invention, the
drying system of Smith, et al., does not utilize
recirculated, heated air to evap~rate moisture from the wall
cavity.
A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING AIR FLOW IN A WALL
OR CEILING FOR DRYING PURPOSES THROUGH AN ELECTRICAL BOX is
disclosed in United States Patent number 5,555,643, issued
to James A. Guasch on September 17, 1996. Guasch discloses
a portable blower having an air supply outlet, a vacuum
inlet and a blower outlet to discharge air into the room. A
conduit from the air supply outlet is adapted for attachment
to a typical wall switch box while the vacuum conduit is
adapted for attachment to a typical receptacle box, thereby
drawing air through the wall cavity to extract moisture
therefrom. Again, unlike the present invention, Guasch
provides no recirculated, heated air to aid in withdrawing
moisture from the wall cavity.
In United States Patent number 5,408,759, which was
issued to Lenny Bass on April 25, 1995, a WALL DRYING DEVICE
is disclosed. A manifold having a plurality of nozzles is

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attached to a blower, with the nozzles penetrating a wall
into the cavity therein. Unlike the present invention, Bass
does not provide for re-circulation of heated air to aid in
evaporation of moisture from the room.
United States Patent number 5,155,924, issued to Terry
C. Smith on October 20, 1992, discloses a portable,
RECONFIGURABLE DRYER SYSTEM FOR WATER-DAMAGED FLOORS AND
WALLS. A high volume air blower is connected to a wall
and/or floor cavity such that air passes from the blower,
through a conduit, into the cavity, and is extracted from
the cavity by a second conduit attached to the vacuum side
of the blower. The moisture laden air may be discharged by
the blower or ducted through a dehumidifier for
recirculation through the wall and/or floor cavities.
A HOUSEHOLD DEHUMIDIFIER is disclosed in United States
Patent number 5,092,520, issued to Marc R. Lestage on March
3, 1992. A conduit having an inlet at a lower end, near the
floor of a room connects to an outlet in communication with
the exterior of the building. A fan within the conduit
extracts damp air from the room at the entrance of the
conduit, expelling it from the building at the outlet.

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Unlike the present invention, Lestage does not provide for
recirculation of heated air to aid in evaporation of
moisture.
Douglas S. V~lalkinshaw, et al., disclose an ENCLOSURE
CONDITIONED HOUSING SYSTEM in United States Patent number
4,843,786, issued on July 4, 1989. A cavity is formed
within the basement wall and floor, into which outside air
is drawn and circulated, thereby reducing the accumulation
of gasses, such as radon, and moisture in the basement.
Again, recirculation and heat are not an element of
Walkinshaw's system.
United States Patent number 4,114,334, issued on
September 19, 1978, to Torgay A. Thoren, discloses a
BUILDING COMPONENT in which a hollow wall element is
constructed with one face being semi-porous and the second
face being non-porous. The BUILDING COMPONENT is installed
such that the semi-porous face is in contact with a porous
lay of a wall, such as a basement will. The cavity of the
BUILDING COMPONENT may be attached to a fan to maintain a
reduced pressure in the cavity, thereby encouraging airflow
from the porous wall into the cavity. Unlike the present

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invention, heating and recirculation are absent from
Thoren's system.
Johseph H. Thompson discloses a VENTILATING WALL
CONSTRUCTION WITH STUD LOCATION INDICATORS, a system for
preventing condensation between sheathing and siding in a
frame building, in United States Patent number 3,318,056,
issued on May 9, 1967. A sheathing attached to the exterior
of the studs of a building has vertical grooves on the outer
surface thereof. The ridges between the grooves space the
exterior siding from the sheathing, thereby allowing
moisture to escape from between the sheathing and siding.
Unlike the present invention, Thompson provides no positive
airflow or heating of air to aid in evaporation.
In each instance cited hereinabove, the system
described is designed to dehumidify wall or floor cavities.
By contrast, the present invention is specifically adapted
to dehumidify wall surfaces, especially those of concrete
walls.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant
invention as claimed.

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SUN~IARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention sets forth a unique heating and
drying system for walls in areas, such as residential
basements, where high humidity or water seepage may be a
problem. By applying polystyrene panels having vertical
grooves formed into the back surface, directly to a wall
surface, air channels are formed through which dehumidified
and heated air may pass, under low pressure to remove
moisture from the wall surface. After passing across the
wall surface, air is ducted to a remote system consisting of
fans, dehumidification and heating elements which process
the air for recirculation through the system. By
circulating a relatively low volume of air through a closed
system, a comfortable environment may be maintained with
minimal expenditure of energy.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention
is to provide a,system for heating and drying concrete walls
in a damp or humid environment.
It is another object of the invention to provide a
system for heating and drying concrete walls in a damp or

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humid environment which makes efficient use of energy in
accomplishing its intended purpose.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a
system for heating and drying concrete walls in a damp or
5, humid environment which is economical to operate.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a
system for heating and drying concrete walls in a damp or
humid environment which will remove most sources of mold and
mildew.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a
system for heating and drying concrete walls in a damp or
humid environment which will stop moisture from migrating to
exterior air and surfaces, such as furniture and carpeting.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the
purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and
fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various' other objects, features, and attendant
advantages of the present invention will become more fully
appreciated as the same becomes better understood when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference characters designate the same or
similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Fig. 1 is a partial cross sectional view of the wall
panel of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the upper and lower
plenum of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a bank view of the wall panel and upper and
lower plenum of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the wall panel and upper and
lower plenum of the present invention mounted on a basement
wall.
Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the air flow
within the wall panel and plenums of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the full system of the
present invention.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 3, the wall panel 10 of
the present invention is formed of a material such as, but
not necessarily limited to an expanded polystyrene,
typically in a standard dimension of 4' X 8' or 4' X 9',
although it would be evident that other dimensions could be
used with equal effectiveness. Approximately one half of
the thickness of panel 10 is formed as a continuous panel
sheathing 12 across the front of panel 10, while a plurality
of vertical panel grooves 14, spaced apart by a plurality of
vertical panel ridges 16, form the rear portion of panel 10.
Each vertical panel grooves 14 is opened at each of the two
ends of panel 10. If desired, for aesthetic reasons, wall
panel 10 could be faced with variety of different laminate
surfaces 18.
Fig. 2 depicts the upper and lower plenums 20, also
typically formed of a material such as an expanded
polystrene. Like panel 10, a plenum sheathing 22 forms
approximately one half of the thickness of plenum 20, while
a plurality of plenum ridges 24 and plenum channels 26, 28
form the rear portion of plenum 20. Typically, a first

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plenum ridge 24 is adjacent a first length edge of plenum
sheathing 22, while a second plenum ridge 24 divides the
remainder of plenum 20 into two substantially equal plenum
grooves 26, 28, plenum groove 26 being bounded by two plenum
ridges 24, and plenum groove 28 being bounded on a first
side by the center plenum ridge 24 and open to the second
length edge of plenum 20 on a second side, thereby forming a
plenum shaped substantially like an upper case letter "F".
Like wall panel 10, upper and lower plenums 20 could be
faced with a variety of different laminate surfaces 30.
At Fig. 4, wall panel 10 is applied to a wall 100 such
that panel ridges 16 abut wall 100, with vertical grooves 14
forming vertical air channels, open at both the top and
bottom of wall panel 10. An upper plenum 20 and lower
plenum 20 are applied to wall 100 such that plenum groove 28
forms a substantially horizontal air channel along the top
and bottom of wall panel 10, with the air channels formed by
panel grooves 14 opening into an air channel formed by the
abutment of plenum groove 28 and the top or bottom of wall
panel 10. Thus installed, a continuous air passage is
formed, as illustrated at Fig. 5, from an entrance point of

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lower plenum 20 at plenum groove 26, along the length of
plenum groove 26, returning along plenum groove 24, passing
to the plurality of panel grooves 14, then upwardly to
plenum groove 28 of upper plenum 20, finally exiting from
one end of plenum groove 28.
Now turning to Fig. 6, the inventive heating/drying
system further consists of remote elements consisting of at
least one fan unit 40, a dehumidifying unit 50 with
condensate pump 60, and a heating unit 70. As each of these
elements is readily known in the art, they will not be
discussed in detail, but rather, only in function. In a
closed loop, a first fan unit 40 pulls air from upper plenum
20, through a duct 80, conveying it through the coils of
dehumidifying unit 50 where moisture is extracted and passed
through a condensate pump 60 for discharge from the system.
A compressor unit, an integral element of the dehumidifying
unit 40 chills the refrigerant passing through the coils of
dehumidifying unit 50. After passing through dehumidifying
unit 50, the air passes through a second fan unit 40 which
forces it through a heating unit 70 where it is warmed
before passing through duct 80 to lower plenum 20 and back

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through wall system 1, the warm air passing through wall
system 1 absorbing moisture from wall. 100. A humidistat 65
may, optionally, be installed in the remote system to
selectively control fans 40, dehumidifying unit 50 arid
heating unit 70.
Zt would be evident to one skilled in the art that the
heat of heating unit 70 could be derived from any heating
source as are Commonly known in the art, including, but not
limited to, electricity, oil, gas, and solar energy.
It is to be understood that the present invention is
not limited to the embodiments described above, but
encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the
following claims.

Representative Drawing