Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SURFACE TEMPERATURE-CONTROL SYSTEM
Description
The present invention relates to a surface temperature-
control system for cooling or heating ceilings, walls or
floors of a building.
As opposed to conventional systems, surface temperature-
control systems allow for surfaces of rooms and buildings,
such as floors, walls and ceilings, to be utilized for both
heating as well as cooling. On account of such systems it is
possible for a room to be heated in winter and to be cooled
in summer, for example. The substantially identical
technology is used here. To this end, surface temperature-
control systems utilize water-bearing pipelines made from
flexible and mostly cross-linked polyethylene, for example,
for thermal transmission.
Besides this potential for dual use, surface temperature-
control systems have further advantages. Fitting surface
temperature-control systems allows efficient utilization of
rooms, because the entire system is integrated in floors,
walls or ceilings. This permits artistic freedom in planning
and designing of rooms.
While various systems which enable heating and cooling
systems to be built into new buildings are available on the
market, there is often also a desire for retrofitting in
existing buildings. In the case of new buildings, built-in
heating and cooling systems can be already planned at an
early stage. By contrast, a certain spatial geometry is
already predefined from the outset in existing buildings and
thus greatly limits the use of surface temperature-control
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systems. This in turn requires the systems to be
particularly flexible, so as to fundamentally enable them to
be built into existing buildings. One particular stipulation
lies in achieving as little added height as possible.
Moreover, it may be meaningful for a heating circuit and a
cooling circuit to be separately implemented. Moreover, it
is particularly significant in the case of retrofitting in
existing buildings that heating and cooling systems can be
built in as fast as possible, so that the affected rooms may
be re-used and re-entered as soon as possible.
It is an object of the present invention to describe a
surface temperature-control system for cooling or heating of
ceilings, walls or floors of a building that is as flexible
as possible and easy to fit.
According to the invention, the surface temperature-control
system for cooling or heating ceilings, walls or floors of a
building comprises an installation board in which first pipe
routing ducts and second pipe routing ducts are
incorporated. The first pipe routing ducts are configured
for receiving pipes having a first pipe diameter, and the
second pipe routing ducts are configured for receiving pipes
having a second pipe diameter.
Preferably, the installation board having the pipe routing
ducts is laid out on the floor in a room, for example as a
dry-installation system in an insulation layer. The routing
pattern of the pipes as used in a heating and cooling system
is predefined with the aid of the pipe routing ducts. The
installation board may have various materials or
combinations thereof. Said materials comprise, for instance,
wood, plastics, and composite materials. The installation
board preferably also has an insulation material and/or
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water-repellant layers. The first pipe routing ducts and the
second pipe routing ducts are in each case configured as
quasi semi-cylindrical depressions in the installation
board. The pipes are secured without tools in the pipe
routing ducts. For example, the pipes may be latched in the
pipe routing ducts or may be clampable therein.
In a first group of design embodiments of the invention,
which will be described hereunder, the first pipe routing
ducts have a first diameter, and the second pipe routing
ducts have a second diameter. The first and the second
diameter differ from one another.
On account of the fact that the first pipe routing ducts and
the second pipe routing ducts are differently sized,
flexible pipes having two different diameters may be used
with one and the same installation board. On account
thereof, various performance grades may be implemented, for
example. This means that more or less thermal energy may be
transmitted, depending on the choice of the pipe diameter.
This increases the flexibility of the surface temperature-
control system. By way of the selected construction, the
surface temperature-control system may be used as a dry
system and by means of dry screeds may be set up in a
correspondingly fast manner. Only one type of installation
board has to be manufactured in order for different pipe
diameters to be used. On account thereof, it is possible for
fewer components to be stocked, saving manufacturing costs
as well as storage costs.
According to one design embodiment, the first pipe routing
ducts run so as to be offset in parallel with the second
pipe routing ducts. On account thereof, it is possible for
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pipes having different diameters to be simultaneously
inserted into the installation board, for example.
According to one further design embodiment, the first pipe
routing ducts and the second pipe routing ducts at least
partially intersect, in particular at an angle of about 900.
On account thereof, either the first pipe routing ducts or
the second pipe routing ducts may be used. Typically, a
plurality of installation boards are fitted in one surface
temperature-control system. During assembly, an installation
board has only to be rotated such that either the first pipe
routing ducts or the second pipe routing ducts may be used.
A plurality of installation boards of the described type may
thus readily be combined to form a surface, wherein the
first or second pipe routing ducts lie so as to be mutually
aligned.
According to one further design embodiment, the installation
board has one or a plurality of identification markings for
differentiating the first pipe routing ducts and the second
pipe routing ducts. The term identification markings is
understood to mean any symbols or signs which are suitable
for differentiating the first pipe routing ducts and the
second pipe routing ducts. Alternatively or additionally, it
is also conceivable for different colours to be used for
highlighting the various pipe routing ducts. This enables a
technician to rapidly identify the required pipe routing
ducts during installation of the board and during subsequent
setting up of the pipes in the installation board.
According to one further design embodiment, the surface
temperature-control system has a thermally conducting
fastening board having a duct, wherein the duct has a first
internal diameter for receiving pipes having the first pipe
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diameter, or a second internal diameter for receiving pipes
having the second pipe diameter. The fastening board is
connectable to the installation board by securing a wall of
the duct in a first pipe routing duct or in a second pipe
routing duct. The fastening board is placed into a pipe
routing duct and fastened therein. For example, the
fastening board is press-fitted into a corresponding pipe
routing duct and/or latched thereto by way of the wall of
the duct. The wall of the duct in terms of an external
diameter is adapted to the first pipe routing ducts or
second pipe routing ducts such that the fastening board is
securable on the installation board in a mechanically secure
manner, so as not to fall out thereof in the case of
assembly on a wall or a ceiling. The pipes are not directly
connected in the installation board, but connected to the
installation board by way of the fastening board. The duct
of the fastening board is preferably configured such that
the former is capable of securing the corresponding pipes
having the first or second pipe diameter, respectively.
The fastening board is thus a further and modular element of
the surface temperature-control system. In this way, pipes
having the first pipe diameter or having the second pipe
diameter may be set up by way of selecting different
fastening boards in the surface temperature-control system.
To this end, only different fastening boards have to be made
and offered as modular elements.
In one design embodiment, the fastening board has thermally
conducting fins. The thermally conducting fins are in
thermally conducting contact with the pipes and thus allow
heat radiation or a cooling effect of the surface
temperature-control system across the surface, respectively.
Preferably, the fastening board has a material with high
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thermal conductivity. Suitable materials include inter alia
metals.
According to a second group of design embodiments, the first
pipe routing ducts and the second pipe routing ducts are
identical in terms of their diameters.
According to one further design embodiment, the surface
temperature-control system has a flexible receptacle element
which is disposed in a first pipe routing duct or a second
pipe routing duct and which is adapted so as to secure pipes
of two different pipe diameters to the installation board
within the corresponding pipe routing duct. Pipes of two
different diameters, for example of the first and second
pipe diameters, may be securely fixed in the installation
board by means of the receptacle element. Fixing the pipes
may be performed directly by depressing or clamping the
pipes. Alternatively, the flexible receptacle element may
also be disposed outside the first pipe routing ducts or the
second pipe routing ducts, respectively, so as to fasten the
pipes along the corresponding pipe routing duct.
According to one further design embodiment, the surface
temperature-control system has a flexible receptacle element
which is disposed in a first pipe routing duct or a second
pipe routing duct and which is adapted so as to secure the
fastening board to the duct within the corresponding pipe
routing duct. Here, one wall of the duct is configured with
a view to securing being performed within the corresponding
pipe routing duct by means of the flexible receptacle
element. This may be effected, for example, by adapting an
external diameter of the duct.
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According to one further design embodiment, the surface
temperature-control system has a flexible receptacle element
which is disposed in the duct of the fastening board and
which is adapted so as to secure pipes of two different
diameters to the fastening board within the duct. In an
analogous manner to the above, the receptacle element serves
for securely fixing the pipes in a corresponding pipe
routing duct. On account thereof, one single fastening board
may be used for setting up pipes having different pipe
diameters. On account thereof, further flexibility is
enabled when setting up the surface temperature-control
system.
In one design embodiment, the flexible receptacle element
has a longitudinal axis along which burls extend. With the
aid of the burls pipes having at least two different pipe
diameters may be securely fastened to the installation board
or the fastening board, respectively. Alternatively or in
addition, the fastening board may be fastened in a
corresponding pipe routing duct by means of the burls. The
burls may be connected as a separate element to the
receptacle element, or in the form of a material thickening
may be a structural feature of the receptacle element
itself.
In one design embodiment, in each case two burls lie so as
to be opposite one another along the longitudinal axis of
the flexible receptacle element.
In one design embodiment, in each case two burls lie so as
to be opposite one another along the longitudinal axis of
the flexible receptacle element in such a manner that said
burls are disposed in gaps in an alternating manner.
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In one design embodiment, in each case two burls lie so as
to be opposite one another along the longitudinal axis of
the flexible receptacle element in such a manner that said
burls are disposed along a connection axis.
In one design embodiment, the flexible receptacle element,
along the longitudinal axis thereof, has a continuous and
partial thickening which is adapted for fastening the pipe.
Preferably, this thickening in its cross section is designed
so as to be similar to a Greek omega, and has a first region
for receiving a pipe or a duct, and a second region which is
constricted in the shape of a throat. The pipe or the duct
is pressed through the constricted second region in the
receptacle element and then retained.
In one design embodiment, the burls have a flexible plastic.
The flexible plastic is selected such that the burls
slightly yield when a pipe is set up. On account of this
flexibility of the material, in particular pipes having
different pipe diameters may be set up. The usable diameters
are thus only dependent on the choice of material.
In one design embodiment, the fastening board has clearances
or holes. The clearances or holes here are designed such
that they in each case engage in one burl of the
installation board. Additional fastening of the fastening
board to the installation board is enabled by means of the
clearances or holes.
In addition, various pipe diameters may be used with the
surface temperature-control system.
In one design embodiment, the flexible receptacle element is
configured as an indentation in the fastening board or in
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the pipe routing ducts. An indentation represents an element
which is fixedly connected to the receptacle element and
which may be made by punching or pressing the receptacle
element at suitable points, for example. To this end, the
receptacle element preferably has a metallic material, such
as a sheet-metal panel, for instance, which is punched or
pressed at certain points. In a way which is similar to the
burls mentioned, the points may lie opposite one another. It
is furthermore also provided for the indentation in its
cross section to be designed so as to be similar to the
partial thickening.
In one design embodiment, the flexible receptacle element is
designed as a separate element. Designing the flexible
receptacle element as a separate element permits further
flexibility. In a certain sense, the separate element here
is a further module which may be built into the surface
temperature-control system. In particular, the flexible
receptacle element may be applied as foam in the form of a
plastic in the fastening board or in the pipe routing ducts
of the installation board.
In one design embodiment, the flexible receptacle element
comprises at least two claddings for receiving the
respective first or the second pipe diameter, said claddings
being placeable into the fastening board or the installation
board. The placeable claddings preferably have an external
diameter which allows assembly in the duct of the fastening
board or in one of the pipe routing ducts of the
installation board. Here, the internal diameter of cladding
for receiving a pipe is designed to then receive a pipe
having the first pipe diameter or having the second pipe
diameter. Alternatively, a duct of the fastening board may
again be received.
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In one design embodiment, the flexible receptacle element
has a rectangular, curved, or zigzag-shaped cross section.
The specific choice of the cross section of the receptacle
element depends on the use of the latter as a ceiling, wall
or floor element. The stipulation here is that, for example
when the surface temperature-control system is used as a
wall element, one pipe or one fastening board has to be
fastened such that the latter cannot fall out under the
influence of gravity.
It should be pointed out at this juncture that the group of
the first design embodiments may also be combined with the
group of the second design embodiments. The diameters of the
first and second pipe routing ducts here may be different.
Further advantages and functions are described in the
dependent claims and in the following and detailed
description of exemplary embodiments. The exemplary
embodiments will be described hereunder with the aid of the
appended figures.
In the figures:
Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an
exemplary embodiment of an installation
board;
Fig. 2 shows a schematic
illustration of an
exemplary embodiment of a fastening board for
the installation board;
Fig. 3 shows a perspective illustration of a surface
temperature-control system;
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Figs. 4A to 4C show schematic illustrations of further
exemplary embodiments of installation boards
having various flexible receptacle elements;
Figs. 5Pland 5B show schematic illustrations of further
exemplary embodiments of fastening boards
having various flexible receptacle elements;
and
Fig. 6 shows a schematic illustration of
an
exemplary embodiment of a fastening board
having a placeable and flexible receptacle
element.
Fig. 1 schematically shows an installation board 1 in a plan
view from above. The installation board 1 is manufactured
from foamed plastic, for example PS (polystyrene) or EPS
(expanded polystyrene). Alternatively, other materials such
as foamed polyethylene and mineral-fibre or wool-fibre
boards may be considered. First pipe routing ducts 10A and
second pipe routing ducts 103 are incorporated in the
installation board 1. The pipe routing ducts 10A and 103
define a routing for pipes which for heating or cooling are
perfused by a medium, in particular water. The pipe routing
ducts 10A and 103 are semi-cylindrical clearances. The first
pipe routing ducts 10A extend so as to be parallel with a
first direction of extent 15 which coincides with a
longitudinal direction of the installation board 1.
The second pipe routing ducts 103 run so as to be parallel
with a second direction of extent 16 which coincides with a
transverse direction of the installation board 1. The two
directions of extent 15 and 16 are mutually oriented at an
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angle of about 900, such that the pipe routing ducts 10A and
10B are mutually intersecting. The first pipe routing ducts
10A have a first diameter 17, while the second pipe routing
ducts 10B have a second diameter 18. The first diameter 17
is smaller than the second diameter 18.
Either pipes having a first pipe diameter which corresponds
to the first diameter 17, or pipes having a second pipe
diameter which corresponds to the second diameter 18, may
thus be received by means of the installation board 1. In
this exemplary embodiment, the pipes are not fastened
directly to the installation board 1 but by means of
fastening boards 4, one of which is schematically
illustrated in Fig. 2.
The fastening board 4 is made from a sheet-metal panel and
has thermally conducting fins. The fastening board 4 has
high thermal conductivity. A duct 40 is formed in the
fastening board 4. The duct 40 is adapted in terms of an
external diameter such that the former in terms of the wall
thereof may be fastened in a first pipe routing duct 10A.
The duct 40 furthermore has a first internal diameter which
is suitable for receiving pipes having a first pipe
diameter. Alternatively, the duct 40 is adapted in terms of
the external diameter thereof for fastening in a second pipe
routing duct 10B, and has a second internal diameter which
is suitable for receiving pipes having a first pipe
diameter. The duct 40 is in each case configured such that a
corresponding pipe may be fastened therein in a clamping or
latching manner.
By way of the installation board 1 it is now possible for
fastening boards 4 having the first or the second internal
diameter of the duct 40 to be used, so as to use pipes
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having the first pipe diameter or pipes having the second
pipe diameter. Pipes having different pipe diameters, for
example 14 mm and 16 mm, may thus be readily secured by
means of an installation board 1.
Fig. 3 shows in a perspective manner a surface temperature-
control system 20 having a plurality of installation boards
1 and fastening boards 4 of the type described above. The
installation boards 1 are disposed so as to be mutually
aligned, the fastening boards 4 being securely placed in
first pipe routing ducts 10A. In regions without fastening
boards 4, connections 11 which interconnect two or a
plurality of pipe routing ducts 10A or 103 are provided in
the installation boards 1. Heating or cooling circuits may
thus be formed. Pipes 3 having the first pipe diameter are
securely placed in the ducts 40. There is the possibility
for routings of the pipe routing ducts 10A and 10B to be
adapted by means of cutting tools, so as to establish
further or other connections 11. Once the pipes 3 have been
installed, the assembled surface temperature-control system
20 is sealed by way of a screed. A dry screed is preferably
used here.
In one alternative exemplary embodiment (not illustrated),
the pipes 3 are installed directly in the installation
boards 1 without fastening boards 4, according to the
exemplary embodiment which is shown in Fig. 1. Said pipes 3
are latched or clamped in the corresponding pipe routing
ducts 10A or 103 of the installation board 1, such that the
former are captively fastened. Again, a plurality of
installation boards 1 may be combined and be sealed with
screed after assembly.
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Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C show in each case schematic details of
further exemplary embodiments of installation boards 1
having pipe routing ducts 10. The pipe routing duct 10 shown
corresponds to a first pipe routing duct 10A, or
alternatively to a second pipe routing duct 10B, according
to Fig. 1. The pipe routing ducts 10 here have in each case
one flexible receptacle element 2. On account of the
flexibility of the receptacle element 2, it is possible for
a pipe to be fastened in the pipe routing duct by being
pressed thereinto. Alternatively, the receptacle element 2
enables a pipe having two different pipe diameters, for
example having the first or second pipe diameter, to be
secured in one and the same pipe routing duct 10.
The flexible receptacle element 2 in the form of mutually
opposite burls 21 is implemented in Fig. 4A. These burls 21
are disposed along a pipe routing duct 10 and lie so as to
be opposite one another along the longitudinal axis of the
pipe routing duct 10. Alternatively, the flexible receptacle
element 2 may also be provided on the base of the pipe
routing duct 10, for example by applying a foamed plastic.
The burls 21 are preferably made from a flexible material
such as a plastic.
Fig. 4B shows a detail of a further installation board 1
having a pipe routing duct 10, wherein however, departing
from the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 4A, burls 21
of the flexible receptacle element 2 are disposed along the
longitudinal axis of the pipe routing duct 10 such that said
burls 21 are disposed in a mutually offset manner to be
opposite respective gaps.
Fig. 4C shows a detail of a further installation board 1
having a flexible receptacle element 2 which has a partial
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thickening 22 along the longitudinal axis of the pipe
routing duct 10. The partial thickening 22 is implemented
such that it increases towards the base of the pipe routing
duct 10, while tapering off in the shape of a horse shoe
towards the open ends on the surface of the installation
board 1. However, the pipe routing duct 10 may also be
substantially U-shaped and have the partial thickening on
the legs of the U-shape. The partial thickening is
preferably achieved by applying a suitable foamed material,
for example a foam material or a polymer. It is thus
possible for a pipe to be fastened by a clamping effect. The
partial thickening 22 likewise preferably comprises a
flexible plastic, such that pipes of different diameters may
also be fastened.
Installation boards 1 having a flexible receptacle element 2
as described above do not only have to serve for receiving
pipes but may also serve for receiving fastening boards 4,
as has already been described by means of Figs. 1 to 3. For
example, a fastening board 4 according to Fig. 2, or one of
the fastening boards 4 according to Figs. 5A, 53 or 6, which
will be described hereunder, may be secured.
Figs. 5A and 53 schematically show further exemplary
embodiments of fastening boards 4 having a duct 40.
The fastening board 4 as per Fig. 5 has a structure which is
similar to the partial thickening 22 shown in Fig. 4C. The
partial thickening 22 in this case is implemented by a shape
which is similar to the Greek letter Q, for example.
By contrast, the duct 40 of the fastening board 4 in Fig. 53
has the receptacle element 2, this having burls 21 in a
manner similar to the exemplary embodiments according to
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Figs. 4A and 4B. Again, the burls 21 are shown so as to be
mutually offset in opposite respective gaps. Alternatively,
however, said burls 21 may also lie directly opposite one
another.
Fig. 6 shows a further embodiment of a fastening board 4
having a duct 40. An external pipe diameter is predefined by
the U-shaped duct 40. Various separate claddings 23 may be
placed and fastened in this external pipe diameter. These
claddings 23, as a separate element or module, have various
internal diameters and are thus suitable for receiving pipes
of different pipe diameters. The external diameter of a
cladding 23 here is preferably selected such that the latter
fits into the diameter of the duct 40 and can be secured
therein.
By means of the modules, or of the various claddings 23,
respectively, different pipes having at least the first and
second pipe diameters are also usable in one fastening board
4.
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List of reference signs
1 Installation board
2 Receptacle element
3 Pipe
4 Fastening board
10, 10A, 103 Pipe routing duct
11 Connection
12 First diameter
13 Second diameter
First direction of extent
16 Second direction of extent
17 First diameter
15 18 Second diameter
Surface temperature-control system
21 Burl
22 Partial thickening
23 Cladding
20 40 Duct
