RAISED FLOOR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM FOR BUILDINGS

SYSTEME DE CHAUFFAGE ET DE REFROIDISSEMENT DE FAUX PLANCHER POUR BATIMENTS

English Abstract

The invention is a system of heat distribution in buildings. It uses in-floor
ducting above
a concrete slab and below a raised floor to circulate air and regulate room
temperature.
In the upper walls or ceilings of the rooms, air is drawn into at least one
duct by a
blower. The blower forces the air through a central channel that is located on
the top
surface of a concrete slab, either recessed into the top of a concrete slab or
utilizing the
top of the concrete slab as its lower surface. The air follows the channel and
then flows
into air tunnels (plenums) that are substantially perpendicular to the
concrete channel,
and run above the concrete slab and below the raised floor. As the air passes
through
the plenums, the concrete thermal mass is either cooled or warmed, depending
on the
relative temperature of the air and of the concrete slab. Near the outer walls
of the
building, registers in the raised floor circulate the air back into the
room(s).

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A system of in-floor ducting, located above a concrete slab, between
sleepers
and below a raised floor, to circulate air and regulate room temperature,
where at
least some of the air is moved through a channel that is recessed into the top
of
the concrete slab, said air then moves up out of said channel into plenums
formed between the concrete slab, at least two sleepers and a raised floor,
said
air then moves through plenums above the concrete slab and under the raised
floor, said air then allowed to escape through holes in raised floor and
return to
room.
2. The combination defined in Claim 1 where the sleepers are oriented
substantially
perpendicular to the channel in the concrete slab.
3. The combination defined in Claim 1 where the air is supplied to the channel
in
the concrete slab by an intersecting vertical air duct.
4. The combination defined in Claim 1 where the concrete slab is part of a
Frost
Protected Shallow Foundation system, where the concrete slab is properly
designed and insulated and the building does not require piles and grade beams

for support in areas where the ground freezes in the winter.
5. The combination defined in Claim 1 where the concrete slab is part of an
upper
floor of a building.
6. A system of in-floor ducting, located above a concrete slab, between
sleepers
and below a raised floor, to circulate air and regulate room temperature,
where
substantially all of the air is moved through a channel that is recessed into
the
top of the concrete slab, said air then moves up out of said channel into
plenums
formed between the concrete slab, at least two sleepers and a raised floor,
said
air then moves through plenums above the concrete slab and under the raised
floor, said air then is gathered into another air duct for delivery to desired
room or
rooms in the building.
7. The combination defined in Claim 6 where the sleepers are oriented
substantially
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perpendicular to the channel in the concrete slab.
8. The combination defined in Claim 6 where the air is supplied to the channel
in
the concrete slab by an intersecting vertical air duct.
9. The combination defined in Claim 6 where the concrete slab is part of a
Frost
Protected Shallow Foundation system, where the concrete slab is properly
designed and insulated and the building does not require piles and grade beams

for support in areas where the ground freezes in the winter.
10. The combination defined in Claim 6 where the concrete slab is part of an
upper
floor of a building.
11. A system of in-floor ducting, located above a concrete slab, between
sleepers
and below a raised floor, to circulate air and regulate room temperature,
where
substantially all of the air is moved through a furnace, heat-exchanger, air-
conditioner, etc. commonly used in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air
Conditioning
(HVAC) industry, said air is then moved through a channel that is recessed
into
the top of the concrete slab, said air then moves up out of said channel into
plenums formed between the concrete slab, at least two sleepers and a raised
floor, said air then moves through plenums above the concrete slab and under
the raised floor, said air then is gathered into another air duct for delivery
to
desired room or rooms in the building.
12. The combination defined in Claim 11 where the sleepers are oriented
substantially perpendicular to the channel in the concrete slab.
13. The combination defined in Claim 11 where the air is supplied to the
channel in
the concrete slab by an intersecting vertical air duct.
14. The combination defined in Claim 11 where the concrete slab is part of a
Frost
Protected Shallow Foundation system, where the concrete slab is properly
designed and insulated and the building does not require piles and grade beams

for support in areas where the ground freezes in the winter. The combination
defined in Claim 1 where the concrete slab is part of an upper floor of a
building.
15. The combination defined in Claim 11 where the concrete slab is part of an
upper
floor of a building.
16. A system of in-floor ducting, located above a concrete slab, between
sleepers

6



and below a raised floor, to circulate air and regulate room temperature,
where at
least some of the air is moved through a channel that is located on top of the

concrete slab, said air then moves through the channel and into plenums formed

between the concrete slab, at least two sleepers and a raised floor, said air
then
moves through plenums above the concrete slab and under the raised floor, said

air then allowed to escape through holes in raised floor and return to room.
17. The combination defined in Claim 16 where the sleepers are oriented
substantially perpendicular to the channel in the concrete slab.
18. The combination defined in Claim 16 where the air is supplied to the
channel in
the concrete slab by an intersecting vertical air duct.
19. The combination defined in Claim 16 where the concrete slab is part of a
Frost
Protected Shallow Foundation system, where the concrete slab is properly
designed and insulated and the building does not require piles and grade beams

for support in areas where the ground freezes in the winter.
20. The combination defined in Claim 16 where the concrete slab is part of an
upper
floor of a building.
21. A system of in-floor ducting, located above a concrete slab, between
sleepers
and below a raised floor, to circulate air and regulate room temperature,
where
substantially all of the air is moved through a channel that is located on top
of the
concrete slab, said air then moves out of said channel into plenums formed
between the concrete slab, at least two sleepers and a raised floor, said air
then
moves through plenums above the concrete slab and under the raised floor, said

air then is gathered into another air duct for delivery to desired room or
rooms in
the building.
22. The combination defined in Claim 17 where the sleepers are oriented
substantially perpendicular to the channel in the concrete slab.
23. The combination defined in Claim 17 where the air is supplied to the
channel in
the concrete slab by an intersecting vertical air duct.
24. The combination defined in Claim 17 where the concrete slab is part of a
Frost
Protected Shallow Foundation system, where the concrete slab is properly
designed and insulated and the building does not require piles and grade beams


7



for support in areas where the ground freezes in the winter.
25. A system of in-floor ducting, located above a concrete slab, between
sleepers
and below a raised floor, to circulate air and regulate room temperature,
where
substantially all of the air is moved through a furnace, heat-exchanger, air-
conditioner, etc. commonly used in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air
Conditioning
(HVAC) industry, said air is then moved through a channel that is recessed
into
the top of the concrete slab, said air then moves up out of said channel into
plenums formed between the concrete slab, at least two sleepers and a raised
floor, said air then moves through plenums above the concrete slab and under
the raised floor, said air then is gathered into another air duct for delivery
to
desired room or rooms in the building.
26. The combination defined in Claim 25 where the sleepers are oriented
substantially perpendicular to the channel in the concrete slab.
27. The combination defined in Claim 25 where the air is supplied to the
channel in
the concrete slab by an intersecting vertical air duct.
28. The combination defined in Claim 25 where the concrete slab is part of a
Frost
Protected Shallow Foundation system, where the concrete slab is properly
designed and insulated and the building does not require piles and grade beams

for support in areas where the ground freezes in the winter.
29. The combination defined in Claim 25 where the concrete slab is part of an
upper
floor of a building.
30. A system of in-floor ducting, located above a concrete slab, between
sleepers
and below a raised floor, to circulate air and regulate room temperature,
where
substantially all of the air is moved through a furnace, heat-exchanger, air-
conditioner, etc. commonly used in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air
Conditioning
(HVAC) industry, said air is then moved through a channel that is located on
the
top of the concrete slab, said air then moves out of said channel into plenums

formed between the concrete slab, at least two sleepers and a raised floor,
said
air then moves through plenums above the concrete slab and under the raised
floor, said air then is gathered into another air duct for delivery to desired
room or
rooms in the building.


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31. The combination defined in Claim 30 where the sleepers are oriented
substantially perpendicular to the channel in the concrete slab.
32. The combination defined in Claim 30 where the air is supplied to the
channel in
the concrete slab by an intersecting vertical air duct.
33. The combination defined in Claim 30 where the concrete slab is part of a
Frost
Protected Shallow Foundation system, where the concrete slab is properly
designed and insulated and the building does not require piles and grade beams

for support in areas where the ground freezes in the winter.
34. The combination defined in Claim 30 where the concrete slab is part of an
upper
floor of a building.


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Description

CA 02647230 2008-12-17
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Concrete is an excellent thermal mass and can store or release significant
heat energy.
As part of this invention, a large concrete slab is used as a thermal mass, to
moderate.
the air temperature inside a building. This can be especially beneficial
during fall, winter
and spring months, where some heating may be required in the building to
maintain
comfort, but where there is significant solar radiation. On cold, sunny winter
days, solar-
exposed windows can trap solar energy and increase the air temperature in the
building. The warm air rises and is drawn by a blower into ducts located in
the upper
walls or ceiling of the building. The blower moves the air to a channel
located on the top
surface of the concrete slab, below the raised floor, and then the air is
moved through
the space above the concrete slab and below the raised floor. During the sunny
portion
of the day, when the temperature of the air is hotter than the temperature of
the
concrete below, the surplus heat in the air heats the concrete slab. In the
evening, the
air temperature in the room becomes lower than the temperature in the
concrete. During

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CA 02647230 2008-12-17

this time, the blower moves the cooler air through the ducting, and the heat
that was
stored in the concrete is released back into the air and circulated back up
into the
building. This process can moderate the inside temperature of the building by
minimizing wild temperature fluctuations throughout the day and night.

In a well designed house, summer sun is prevented from entering the house with
the
proper roof overhangs and other shading means. However, the air can still be
conditioned when it is passed between the concrete slab and the raised floor.
During
the daytime, heat can be removed from the air in the building and stored in a
concrete
slab. During the night, heat can be removed from the concrete slab into the
air, as the
warmed air is circulated into the room and out the windows of the house.

Continuous air movement created and sustained by the blower provides constant
air
movement under the floor to inhibit growth of mold and or bacteria.

An added benefit is that occupants of the building are able to walk on a
comfortable,
cushioned raised floor rather than directly on a concrete floor.

In the drawings which form a part of this specification,
FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a building showing most of the patent
elements as well
as the air flow in the raised floor heating and cooling system. This
illustrates a channel
that is located on the top surface of a concrete slab and recessed into the
top of a
concrete slab.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the sleepers and air duct systems used as part of the
raised floor
system. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention described in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a building showing most of the patent
elements as well
as the air flow in the raised floor heating and cooling system. This
illustrates a channel
that is located on the top surface of a concrete slab but not recessed into
the top of a
concrete slab.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the sleepers and air duct systems used as part of the
raised floor
system. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the invention described in FIG. 3.

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CA 02647230 2008-12-17

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Air circulation in the rooms of the house is partially achieved by natural
convection
where warm air rises and cold air falls. During the sunny part of the day, as
solar energy
heats the room(s) through sun-facing windows, the air temperature in the
room(s)
increases. This hot air naturally rises. Air is drawn through registers (12)
located in the
upper walls or ceiling of the building by a blower (10). The blower (10)
delivers air
through at least one duct (13) to an air channel (3), typically running the
length of the
building, on top of, or inset into the top of the concrete slab (2). This air
channel (3) is
the main air supply duct for the invention. In colder climates, rigid
insulation (1) is
typically placed under the concrete slab (2) to prevent heat loss from the
lower side of
the concrete slab (2). In most cases the blower (10) runs continuously to move
the air
across the concrete thermal mass (2) and during the sunny part of the day, the
warm air
from the room heats the concrete slab (2).

Spacers or "sleepers" (4) are placed in parallel on the concrete slab (2),
substantially
perpendicular to the air channel (3). These sleepers are spaced close enough
together
to provide adequate support for the raised floor (7), yet far enough apart,
and with
enough height, to provide good airflow inside the air plenums (5). The air
plenums (5)
are the voids formed by the sleepers (4), concrete slab (2) and raised floor
(7). The
sleepers terminate a short distance away from the outer walls of the building
to allow
airflow (6) to the registers (8) in the raised floor (7). "Rim" sleepers (9)
are located inside
the outside walls to provide support for the outer perimeter of the raised
floor (7). The
raised floor (7) is secured to the tops of the sleepers (4) and rim sleepers
(9).

Air movement between the sleepers (9) is controlled by the adjusting the
registers (8).
By properly adjusting the registers, uniform air flow can be achieved across
the entire
concrete slab (2). This will maximize the use of the concrete slab (2) as a
thermal mass
to regulate the inside air temperature in the building, and store or release
the heat from
the air.

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CA 02647230 2008-12-17

During the night time, the air temperature in the room decreases. This cooler
air is
drawn through registers (12) located in the upper walls or ceiling of the
building by a
blower (10). The blower (10) delivers air through a duct (13) to an air
channel (3),
typically running the length of the building, on top of, or inset into the top
of the concrete
slab (2). In most cases the blower (10) runs continuously to move the air
across the
concrete thermal mass (2), and during the night time, the cool air from the
room is
heated by the concrete slab (2). Air movement between the sleepers (9) is
controlled
by adjusting the registers (8). By properly adjusting the registers, uniform
air flow can be
achieved across the entire concrete slab (2) and the registers (8) allow this
warmed air
to be returned to the room(s). This will maximize the use of the concrete slab
as a
thermal mass to regulate the inside air temperature in the building.

If it is desired to further condition the air, the air temperature can be
sensed and the
blower started and stopped as desired. In addition, a fumace, heat-exchanger,
air-
conditioner, etc. commonly used in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air
Conditioning
(HVAC) industry can be added to the blower.

Typically, the sleepers (4) and raised floor (7) are constructed with wood. If
local
building codes do not permit the use of combustible materials (such as wood)
to
construct air ducts, the same effect could be created by substituting metal
sleepers for
wood sleepers, and adding a layer of sheet metal under the raised floor, above
metal
sleepers. Another option would be use corrugated metal decking instead of
sleepers.
The concrete slab (2) may be part of a Frost Protected Shallow Foundation (11)
system,
where the concrete slab is properly designed and insulated and the building
does not
require piles and grade beams for support in areas where the ground freezes in
the
winter.

The figures show the raised floor heating and cooling system utilized on the
main floor
of a building, where an added benefit is that it provides easy wheelchair
access to the

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CA 02647230 2008-12-17

main floor. However, the system could also be used on upper concrete floors as
well.

Representative Drawing