Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
~05'~571
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
_
This invention concernsan improved method of andappar-
atus for the climatizing of a building. It has particular
benefits in respect to externally located rooms and will be
so described by way of illustra.tion but not by way of lim-
itation.
In accordance with the invention external rooms of a
building are climatized with a facade comprising frame struc-
ture including hollow supports and hollow connectors, on which
hollow supports or frame thereof facade elements, for example
glass panes, railing, cover plates and the like, are applied,
in essence, free of heat bridges or cold bridges.
The previously Utilized climate systems are so-called
induction systems. These systems have a number of draw-
backs both in their use and construction. They comprise
induction devices, one of which is placed in every room
of the building in which the system is embodied, and each
is connected with a central climate system by way of a
multiplicity of pipes. The multiple pipe connecti.ons are
necessary in order to provide the required forward and
return path for the means used for heat transfer as well
as a supply line for primary air. These prior art
systems are further complicated by the fact there must be
two systems for providing the primary air, since within
the outer zones of a building the primary air must be
supplied under a very high pressure and within the inner
105Z57~
zones of the building air must be supplled under a low
pressure. Moreover, the air discharge nozzle on every
induction device must be so built that it is capable of
functioning, simultaneously, to draw used air from the
room in which it is located. A particular requirement is
that the pressure of the primary air being delivered must
be great enough to cause the air within the room being
conditioned to be circulated at least six to seven times.
By reason of the multiplicity of pipes or conduits
required in the individual rooms not only is the construc-
tion per the prior art very complex but, since these pipes or con~
duits must be under cover, the rooms to which the system
is applied must have relatively large construction heights.
As will be obvious, the operation of the induction climate
system requires the use of a very large amount of energy.
A most objectionable feature of an induction system is
that in the operation thereof any dirt existing in the
individual rooms will be continuously stirred up in space.
A most important disadvantage of an induction climate
system is that it is not capable of overcominy the problem
of so-called radiation holes. A radiation hole is a wall
region of a room the temperature of which differs sub-
stantially from the average room temperature. Typical
radiation holes occur in such areas of a room as are walled
by large glass window surfaces. To understand the import-
ance of this, it must be understood that an individual
located in a room radiates heat in all directions. In
lOSZ571 i
turn heat radiates back from the room walls onto the indi-
vidual. The walls of a room, because of their heat storage
capability will normally assume, in essence, room temper-
ature. Where the heat radiation from these walls is uni-
form, an occupant of the room can be comfortable. However,
where the walls of the room have radiation holes the heat
radiation back to the individual occupant in such areas
may be too little or too great, in which even-t the indi-
vidual occupant can become uncomfortable.
A basic object of the present invention is to provide
elements of a building with hollow support structure
utilized in a manner to substantially eliminate the prob-
lem of radiation holes and to avoid a condition wherein
the climatizing process causes dirt within a room to be
picked up and whirled in space.
In an embodiment of the conceptsof the present inven-
tion a preferred structure for mounting building facade
elements is comprised of a frame including support elements
certain of which are hollow and communicated with a del-
ivery line or conduit and a return line or conduit to pro-
vide a frame structure through which there may be a con-
tinuing flow of heat transfer fluid. In preferred embod-
iments the frame structure will include both vertical
support elements and tranversely disposed bar or beam
elements which interconnect the vertical support elemènts
with at least certain of the vertical support elements
being hollow and certain of the transversely disposed bar
lOS;~S';'l
or beam elements being hollow and preferably o steel. In
any embodiment of the present invention it will be seen that
the frame structure and the hollow elements thereof provide
means through which a heat transfer fluid may be transported
so that the structure may serve as a medium through which
heat may be supplied to or drawn from a room bounded thereby.
The heat transfer fluid which is transported through
the passages or chambers defined by the hollow support
elements or segments of the structural frame may be either
water or air or a combination thereof.
The invention apparatus has the advantage over that of
the prior art in that the relatively large surfaces of the
frame structure mounting the building facade elements, such
as provided by its hollow vertical support elements and
hollow transversely disposed beam or bar elements which
interconrect the vertical supports, serve as highly efficient
conductive mediums through which heat can be supplied to or
carried away from a room, by reason of which to simply and
effectively climatize the room. Since this climatizlng system
does not require separate induction devices and complex plumb-
ing, there is no need for the buildings in which the system is
installed to have the additional construction height such as
necessitated for the installation of climatizing systems of
the prior art. It is contemplated that inner glazing may be
provided on the inner sides of the hollow supports embodied
in the frame structure of the invention as well as on their
outer sides. This means space between the panes in the window
areas will be brought to the desired temperature easily
lOSZS'7~
and insures that in use of the invention system not only
will radiation holes be eliminated in the areas of glass
panes which are mounted thereto as facade elements but
radiation holes will also be eliminated in the spaces
between glass panes which are commonly mounted to the
same hollow supports.
Another preferred embodiment provides that in certain
of the hollow elements of the frame structure of the inven-
tion there can be placed at least one pipe having longitud-
inally extended ribs, which pipe is connected at one end toa delivery line or conduit and at the other end to a return
line or conduit. In this instance the pipe will serve as a
means for transporting one heat transfer fluid and thereby
as a medium for supplying or carrying away heat while the
hollow frame element or elements in which the pipe is
inserted forms thereabout a passage through which air is
conveyed. As the air moves over the longitudinally ribbed
pipe conveying the heat transfer fluid within the frame
structure, there is obviously a heat transfer as between
the fluid and the pipe and the conveyed air, the material
of the pipe serving as a heat transfer medium. In accord-
ance with this embodlment of the inventio~ hollow
elements of the frame structure in which the pipe is
embodied will be provided with slots or slits positioned
to open towards the room to be climatized and at least
one opening for air discharge will be provided in this
room. With this embodi~ent of the invention at least
105'~5'7~
some of the outlet openings defined by the slots or slits
will be directed toward the inner side of the facade
elements mounted to the frame structure to serve to cool
or to heat these facade elements so as to avoid the form-
ation thereon of condensation water and so as to prevent
that they form radiation holes. Purposefully the ribbed
pipes which conduct the heat transfer fluid are arranged
to be free of contact with the inner wall surfaces of the
hollow structural elements of the frame in which they are
placed. In this way there is no contact which would pro-
vide a direct heat transfer as between the pipe and the
frame structure. To simplify assembly, at least one of
the walls of the hollow elements of the structural frame
which mount the facade elements is removably applied. More-
over, such slits as are provided in the walls of the hollow
elements of the frame structure which are innermost with
reference to the facade elements are directed in a sense
essentially at right angles to the facade elements.
In a further embodiment, in a functional field or region
thereof, the frame structure of the invention may employ a
longitudinally ribbed pipe in bottom side hollow frame elements
which extend transversely of vertical supports bounding a room
to be climatized. An air passage is defined about the pipe,
in which case, as above described, the pipe will serve as a
medium to transport fluid for producing a heat transfer as
between the fluid in the pipe and the air about the pipe. The
lOSZ571
elements through which the said pipe is extended will have an
opening or openings. These openings will be provided as slots
or slits arranged to direct air to move in a sense upwardly
of and between adjacent of the vertical support elements of
the frame, from the bottom to the top of the inner surface
of a connected facade element. With this arrangement of what
constitutes a horizontal air passage in the frame structure,
to one side of the room,whereon facade elements are provided
b~ glass panes,one may cause a positive convection flow of
air which is guided across the panes to appropriately heat
or cool the same whereby to insure the avoidance of radiation
holes and to preclude the formation of condensation water.
At least one opening is provided for air discharge from the
room being climatized. The arrangement is such to enable
that the air be furnished from a low pressure air system~
As will be seen from the various embodiments of the in-
vention herein described and illustrated the slots or slits
which are provided in the hollow elements of the frame struc-
ture of the invention may be suitably positioned, preferably
spaced and at right anyles to connected facade elements, for
optimal directed flow of any air discharged or blown from the
hollow structure so that such air may flow along the side
walls of the room and the hollow support elements in a manner
to make poss~ble a good heat transfer effect, such as required
to obviate the problems noted with respect to the use of prior
art climatizing systems.
Where the ribbed pipe is employed in horlzontal or verti-
cal air passages of the frarne structure of the invention
lOSZ571
embodiments the longitudinal ribs thereof may be so fastened
that in cross section they will have a star form and in longi-
tudinal direction have a screw or helical form around the
pipe. This arrangement of the ribs makes it possible that any
air conveyed about the pipe will have a flow pattern that it
moves in a relatively contained relation about the entire
peripheral surface of the pipe. This arrangement enables a
most effective heat transfer as between the fluid moving
through the pipe and 'he air being conveyed thereabout.
The noted object of the invention is attained in another
preferred embodiment of the invention which provides a first
quickly responding system and a second slowly responding system
for supplying heat to or extracting heat from the rooms of a
building. This embodiment includes at least one pipe provided
with longitudinal ribs arranged on the room side of the facade
elements on every level of the building, in the region of the
floors thereof. This pipe is connected to a delivery conduit
and a return conduit to provide a flow passage for water which
in transit therethrough serves to give up heat to or extract
it from its surrounding environment. The pipe extends through
a plurality of horizontally oriented hollow bar or beam elements
positioned between ~d extending in a sense transversely to
hollow vertical support elements through which the pipe also
passes and which define thereabout an air passage in communica-
tion with a device for delivering ai,r, under pressure. The
vertical supports and horizontal bars serve as a frame to the
outer side of which are secured facade elements such as glass
panes; 'The horizontal bar or beam elements are provided with
105Z57~
slots or slits on the room side of the facade elements and
in the adjacent room there is a vent for discharge of air from
within the room. The arrangement is such that the fluid in
exit from the ribbed pipe will pass to and through the hollow
vertical supports and other interconnecting hollow beam ele-
ments at essentially the vertical limits of the frame prior
to finally exiting to the return conduit. The apparatus in-
volved in the first quickly responding system is provided by
the means including the ribbed pipe, the heat transfer fluid
as it passes therethrough and the moving air which passes
over the pipe and issues from the slot or slits in the hori-
zontal bars or beams accommodating the ribbed pipe at the
proper temperature to serve to provide am immediate climatiz-
ing influence. The coupling of the ribbed pipe to the hollow
elements of the frame mounting the facade elements produces
the second system in that there is further heat transfer as
the water discharged from the ribbed pipe moves through the
hollow elements the material of which accommodates heat trans-
fer with its exterior environment, which includes the air
discharged by way of said slots or slits. The climatizing
so provided is directed against the hollow supports and the
hollow beam elements which extend therebetween to function
therewith and in respect to the water flowing therethrough in
a manner to provide a secondary phase treatment or condition-
ing of the facade elements of the building, particularly to
the room side thereof.
This last described apparatus of the invention has the
advantage that the same is worked directly into the facade
-10-
105ZS71
in a manner not only to conserve a considerable amount of
space of a building, but to insure an avoidance of radiation
holes. The consequence is an optimum climatizing attained in
a manner previously not considered possible by the average
man s~illed in the art. The improvements in a climatizing
operation achieved as described are to such a degree as to
have come as a complete surprise. It has been found that the
first system functions or responds very quickly as a conse--
quence of the nominal volume of the pipe. By way of flowing
warm or cold water in such pipe or by way of interruption in
this flow there can be obtained very quickly the desired warm
or cool air necessary for the climatizing process. Since on
the other hand, the air flow resulting simultaneously assures
positive convection on the outer side of the hollow elements
of the frame structure as well as the glass surfaces of the
panes forming facade elements which are mounted to the frame
structure, and in view of the fact very large quantities of
water are maintained in the hollow vertical supports, the
second system provides as a part thereof a sto~age means which
only very slowly permits a change of basic values involved ,
enabling thereby a controlled climatizing process. In addition
there occurs in the use of this preferred embodiment, a heat
transition by way of radiation, with high efficiency, as be--
tween the hollow frame elements, the glass panes and room air.
Incorporated to form a continuing part of the frame struc-
ture just described is a hollow beam segment providing an air
discharye passage having a slot in the room side wall thereof
which is parallel to the associated facade elements. The beam
lOSZ571
segment is located in the frame structure adjacent the floor
area of the room being climatized and its interior is sealed
from communication with the interior of the hollow elements
which provide a path for the heat exchange fluid to flow from
the ribbed pipe to the return conduit.
This last described embodiment of the invention has the
advantage that with a triple air circulation per time unit
within a room being climatized utilizing the apparatus of the
invention,the same effect can be achieved as attained with a
circulation seven times within the same time period necessary
in the function of prior art induction syst3ms. Moreover,
whirling up of dust in the room in which the circulation is
achieved is substantially eliminated. It is noted that the
slot communicating the air discharge passage with the interior
o~ the room being climatized provides for a vent of air which
can be used in conjunction with a venting provided by a device
in the ceiling in the room.
In further embodiments of the invention hollow supports
mounting facade elements which must be conditioned to avoid
radiation holes in the area thereof can have a considerably
improved heat transfer capability with respect to such air as
is moved thereacross in a positive flow. This may be achieved
by securing parallel spaced ribs in a heat conductive relation
to the walls of such supports which are at right angles to the
facade elements which they mount. In combination with the rib-
bed supports there is applied between adjacent thereof, and in
the plane thereof, a hollow beam at a level to the bottom of
the facade elements mounted by such supports. This beam is
designed to provide a passage for the flow of air, under pres-
lOS2571
sure,and to include in a wall thereof a slot or slots at right
angles to the associated facade elements. The ribs are so
arranged to be parallel to the associated facade elements and
the slot or slots provided in the beam thereunder are so posi-
tioned as to lie under the projected ribs and within the re-
spective limits thereof. Where it is desired to enlarge the
heat exchange surface of the hollow supports the ribs may be
incorporated in a U-shaped cap-like structure which is
placed over each vertical support from the room side thereof
to position its side walls in respectively spaced parallel
relation to the side walls of the underlying support. Some
of the ribs incorporated in the cap-like wall structure pro-
ject outwardly of and perpendicular to the outer surface of
its side walls,which incorporate apertures intermediately
thereof. Selective of the incorporated ribs have inwardly
projected extensions designed to abut and form a conducting
connection between the side walls of the cap-like structure
and the side walls of the underlying hollow support. The
arrangement is such to provide an outer heat transfer surface
enlargement with reference to the hollow support enabling
an even better climatizing of the rooms.
Air passages provided on the several floors of the build-
ing are connected in an advantageous manner with vertical air
supply passages arranyed in connection therewith so that an
air speed of 4-6 m~s is made possible in every air passage.
With reference to the aforementioned embodiments of the
invention wherein a dual cli~atizing system is achieved, the
quickly responding system may be controlled by incorporating,
in the connection line between the ribbed pipe and the hollow
1052571
support to which the ribbed pipe discharges its contents for
flow to the return line, a thermostat controlled valve.
The invention apparatus is particularly suitable for use
in large contructions. In such constructions the facade of
the building involved in the climatizing system is subdivided
to provide in every floor or level thereof identical function
fields or regions, each of which includes a fixed number of
hollow support elements with surfaces of facade elements
located therebetween, means defining a common air passage
for connection with an air delivery means, and to the
bottom of the structure defining such fields or regions
a passage for discharge of air from the room being c1im-
atized. Also included in the means defining the com~lon
air passage is a pipe having longitudinally extending ribs
arranged to discharge into a hollow support element by
way of a thermostat controlled valve. Since the hollow
support elements are interconnected by transversely extend~
ing frame elements, this will provide, in essence, a con-
tinuous flow of fluid to and through said hollow elements
in passage of the fluid from the pipe to a return line.
In a special embodiment of the invention each function
field or region consists of frame structure to which are
applled facade means providing at least three adjoining facade
surfaces. What may be considered the first facade surface is
bounded at its upper end by a blind beam or connector element
and a lower hollow beam is provided to form a passage for vent-
ing air from the room at a side of which the function
field is embodied. The sides of the first facade surface are
-14-
~ O ~Z ~J~
respectively bounded by hollow support elements one of which
functions as part of a next adjoining function field or
region and the other of which commonly bounds one side of
the second facade surface forming part of the three adjoin-
ing surfaces in the described function field.
In association with each function field are means def-
ining an air supply passage extending across the field at
a level to bound the lower edges of portions of facade
elements such as provided by glass panes forming portions
of the facade surfaces. A delivery line is connected to
this air supply passage and within said air supply passage
is a pipe having longitudinally extending ribs. This pipe,
which is adapted to carry a fluid utilized to supply heat
to or to extract heat from the room bounded by the function
field, is diverted adjacent the hollow support at the edge
of the third facade surface in the function field which is
most remote from said first facade surface to connect by
way of a thermostat valve into a charnber in the lower end
of this remote ho]low support. Thl, chamber is defined
by insertion of a separating plate within the support,
adjacent and spaced from its lower end. The arrangement
is such to provide that the second and third facadc sur-
faces are bounded by hollow supports and hollow connector
elements, one of which is said remote hollow support, and
the total thereof are in free and open comrnunication
except by way of limitation provided by said separator
plate. The therrnostat cont.rolled discharge from said
pipe is thus arranged to move to the lower cnd of the
said remote support and to circulate
105zS7~
through the elements which bound said first and second facade
surfaces in passage to a return line.
To make possible a continuous lneating or cooling system
free of external disturbances such as flow failure and the like,
the invention contemplates the use of a storage tank for pre-
heated or pre-cooled water to be stored,to be used in the de-
livery thereof into a function field as and when required. A
mixing valve may be interposed between the storage tank and
the line for delivering the water into a function field and
the return line for carrying water from the function field may
be arranged to have a portion of such water delivered to the
mixing valve. ~ccordingly, by suitable adjustment of the mix-
ing valve one can supply water to a function fie]d at a regu-
lated temperature.
There is provided, in an advantageous manner, a device
for heating or cooling water returned from the function field,
through which device a portion of the return water may be
supplied to the aforementioned storage tank. The evaporator
of a refrigerator machine can in this case be advantageously
utilized to cool off the portion of the return water desired.
Such an arrangement is especially advantageous for a climatiz-
ing installation in underdeveloped countries having hot-moist
climates. If the water supply required in a building should
break down for a long time, the building in which the cooling
water is required to circulate in hollow supports thereof
would warm up very quickly. When air should be introduced
into the building, for example at 97% relative humidity, dif-
ficult condensation problems would naturally result. With the
-16-
~05Z5'7~
provision of the storage means and the associated structure as
described, one can use portions of storage cooling water to
mix with return water and thereby achieve in a simple manner a
delivery of the necessary cooling water to the function fields
in the building at a temperature of, for example,14%C. This
is not only more simple but better than if the water cooled
in the evaporator were supplied directly to the water delivery
lines connected to the function fields in the building. It is
proposed that the quantity of water stored in the storage tanks
in the system as described should amount to five to ten times
the quantity of water circulating in the water circuit portion
of the function fields of the climatizing system of the bui]d-
ing. A sufficient cooling of the building may be maintained
over a 1on~ period of tim- ~Jhen power fails when for exampl~
return water from the climatizing system has a temperature
of 18C., and the temperature of the water located in the
storage tan~ is 4C.,then water delivered has the temperature
of 14C.
With the apparatus in the foregoing system externally
located rooms of a building can be climatized in an extremely
simple and uncomplicated manner. For heating of the rooms
water is supplied to the pipesprovided in air passages at
such a temperature that the temperature of the hollow sup-
ports will be somewhat above the desired room temperature
while the air supplied to the air passages will have a
temperature which lies below the desired room temperature.
This has the advantage that if temperature disturbances
should arise, for example in a roor where suddenly a number
~OSZS71
of people enter or suddenly lamps are turned on, the desired
room temperature can thereby be maintained as the thermostat
controlled valve becomes closed and the transport of water
through the pipe or pipes provided therefor is interrupted.
Since the heat or the warmth which will be stored in the
water in the ribbed pipe is quite small as a consequence
of its small volume or mass, this warmth or heat is given
off very quickly to the room in which the function field
is embodied until the air in the room is cooled thereby
to the desired value. Even should there be a non-responding
thermostat, there occurs a dropping or lowering of the room
temperature only in an extremely slow manner, since the
air used in the climatizing process conveys heat or warmth
; from the hollow elements of the frame structure of the
function field which comprise a large heat storage means in
the example illustrated. This means that the cooling off
of an especially endangered location, as for example a
glass surface, and accordingly the formation of radiation
holes, becomes effectively precluded.
In such rooms being climatized as have no temperature
disturbances which may arise in the form of localized heat
sources, the temperature of the air supplied for heating
purposes can also be somewhat above the room temperature.
For cooling rooms,water supplied to the pipes in the
air passages of a function field will be provided at such
a temperature that the temperature in the hollow elernents
comprised in the function field will lie somewhat below
the desired room temperature. The air is supplied, h~ever,
-18-
105~571
at a temperature contemplating temperature disturbances above
the desired room temperature. By interrupting water flow in
the pipes of the system, the warmer air which is im~nediately
supplied will move with positive convection of the air along
the somewhat cooler hollow elements of the function field to
somewhat alleviate the temperature conditions in the room and
thereby make possible a constancy of the desired room temper-
ature. When no disturbances are contemplated in the rooms
to be cooled, the air can be supplied at a temperature which
in this case is also below the desired room temperature.
The foregoing statements show that the invention appar-
atus is especially suitable for both heating and cooling
purposes by way of series connectlon in a climatizing instal-
lation of a quickly effective first system having a small
heat capacity and a relatively slow effective second system
having a larger heat capacity,in the use of which a quick
compensation of localized temperature disturbances in any
room becomes attained and as a result of which the constancy
or base value of the room temperature can only be influenced
very slowly. Finally attention is directed to the fact that
as a consequence of the storage effect of the water in the
field of the hollow elements comprised in a function field
the facade elements supported thereby aremaintained at a
desired ternperature in the summer on the sunny side since
as a consequence of the large masses a good deal of heat or
warmth can be stored. Additionally, as a consequence of
the circulation of the water in the hollow elements of a
function field there occurs a heat dissipation transporting
--19--
~05~571
heat to hollow element portions not located on the sunny
side.
The invention system operates with high efficiency
since the heat transfer by way of convection and by way
of radiation are coupled to produce optimum results.
A large energy savings can be attained in use of
the invention system outside operating hours due to the
fact that while the water circulation in the function
fields is maintained, the air circulation may be interrup
ted and the room temperature will be approximately main-
tained as a result thereof.
The accompanying drawings set forth further details
of the present invention by way of example. In the draw-
ings:
Fig. 1 is a schematic showing of a first embodiment
of the concept of a clirnatizing system per the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic showing of a second embodiment;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified
hollow support which may form part of a frame portion of
a facade structure per the present invention;
Fig. 4 illustrates a section of a hollow support
mounting inner and outer facade elements, in this case
in the form of panes of glass;
Fig. 5 is a schematic showing of an invention embodi-
ment which utilizes a storage tank;
Fig. 6 is a schematic view, taken in longitudinal
section, of a transverse bar or beam forming an air passage
-20-
105;~571
in a frame structure per the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII
of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a schematic showing of a portion of a
climatizing system including two fields or regions of a
building facade arranged in side by side relation;
Fig. 9 is a section taken longitudinally of the
line II-II of Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is a section taken longitudinally of line
III-III of Fig. 8;
Fig. 11 shows in detail a use of a thermostat control
valve in an invention system;
Fig. 12 shows, in cross section, details of a hollow
- strut or support included in an embodiment of a frame struc-
ture per the invention;
~ ig. 13 shows a second e~odiment of a hollow strut
or support in a view similar to that of Fig. 12; and
F-ig. 14 shows a third embodiment of a hollow strut
or support in a view similar to that of Fig. 13.
-21-
~05Z571
Fig. 1 shows a function field or region of a facade
in a building embodying the climatizing system of the
invention consisting of three hollow vertical support
elements 1, 2 and 3. These support elements are inter-
connected at the bottom by means of lower transversely
extending beams or bar elements 6 and 7 and at the top
by the upper transversely extending bar or beam elements
4 and 5. The transversely disposed elements 6 and 7 are
hollow and capable of transporting and providing flow
passage for.fluid, as are the upper bar or beam segments
4 and 5. Connected into the circulation flow path defined
by the hollow elements as described, at the juncture of the
lower end of the support 3 and the element 7 is a delivery
line or conduit 10. Similarly connected to the juncture
of the top of the support 1 and the connected transverse
beam 4 is a return line or conduit 18. It will of course
be obvious that with the illustrated arrangement that the
line 18 can serve as the delivery line and the line 10
can serve as a return line. In any case, a heated or cooled
1052571
fluid, constituting a heat transfer fluid, can be supplied
by way of the delivery line 10 to move to and through the
hollow vertical support elements 1, 2 and 3 and the trans-
versely extending bar or beam segments 4, 5, 6 and 7 to
eventually exit from this function field by way of the
return line 18. As the heated or cooled fluid moves
through the elements 1 through 7 heat is delivered to or
extracted from the room area adjacent to which this functional
field is positioned,by way of the heat conductive material of
which the hollow elements of the function field are formed,
as a result of which the inside of the room bounded by the
function field will be climatized by way of free convection.
If the fluid transported through the hollow elements i5
heated sufficiently to warm the room, then the heat will
be given off to the walls of the hollow elements and from
the outer surfaces of the elements to the inside of the
room. If cooling is to be effected the movement of the heat
is reversed as to the direction of flow. In either case as
the heat transfer fluid is moved continuously through the
- elements of the function field it will serve its purpose in
a simple fashion and in a resultingly cooled or heated con-
dition returned for further use in a manner and for such
purposes as desired.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2
a portion of a function field is shown to be comprised by
frame structure bounding and defining one side of a room
including hollow vertical strut elements 1 and 2 which are
transversely spaced. Incorporated in each of the adjacent
~05Z571
spaced hollow vertical supports, adjacent and spaced from
the lower end thereof, is a transversely disposed plate
segment 13 separating the hollow space within each vertical
support into a vertically extended upper chamber above the
plate 13 and a second chamber below the plate 13 which is
of short vertical extent. Supported to extend transversely
of and above the upper ends of the supports 1 and 2 is a
fluid delivery line 10 branch lines of which are connected
to respectively open into the top end of the upper chambers
of each of the vertical supports. A return line 18 is shown
to be located beneath the floor surface of the room area of
the building which is bounded by the supports 1 and 2. The
chambers below the plates 13 in each of the vertical sup-
ports l and 2 are connected by suitable piping to the
return line 18. Interposed between the successively
adjacent and transversely spaced vertical supports 1 and
2 is an essentially horizontally disposed warm water heater
body 50 defining a flow passage the inlet end of which is
communicated by suitable piping, in which there is inter-
posed a control valve, with the upper chamber in the vert-
ical support l intermediate the plate 13 and its upper
vertical limit. The outlet end of the flow passage in
the heater body 50 is connected by suitable piping to the
space in the hollow vertical support 2 defining the chamber
below the plate 13 therein. In using this arrangement for
heating a room area, heated water may be directed from
the delivery line or conduit lO into the top of the upper
-24-
lOSZ571
chamber in the vertical support 1 and flow from this
chamber into and through the heater body 50, in the course
of which the heat of the delivered fluid becomes dissipated
and guided away from the structure through which it passes
in a free convection flow, particularly in the area of the
facade element which extends between and bridges the outer
side surfaces of the vertical supports 1 and 2. It will
be seen that the free convection flow so provided will
impinge upon the facade element at the inner side thereof
and flow thereacross, in the process of which to heat the
facade element and at the same time to supply the necessary
heat to the room area bounded thereby. It should be read-
ily apparent from Fig. 2 of the drawings that successively
adjacent alld relatively transversely spaced hollow vertical
supports will be similarly communicated by means including
a heater body 50.
Fig. 3 shows a segment of a frame structure of the
invention demonstrating the use of a pipe 11' within hollow
supports such as that illustrated. As shown, the pipe 11'
is centrally located and free of contact with the inner wall
surface of the hollow support. The pipe 11' includes a star
shaped arrangement of longitudinally extending ribs 26' the
projected extent of which is so limited that the ribs do
not touch or engage the inner wall surface of the hollow
support. In an invention system utilizing this feature the
hollow supports 2 are connected to an air conveyor device for
-25-
105ZS7~
delivery therethrough of air under pxessure,which moves
exteriorly and longitudinally of the pipe means 11 and
the ribs 26'. There is delivered to and through the pipe
ll' a heat transfer fluid which is either heated or coole~,
as a result of which the air conveyed longitudinally of the
exterior of the pipe means ll becomes warmed or cooled in
a heat transfer process the nature of which should be
readily apparent. As seen in Fig. 3 the side walls of the
hollow support 2 which are at right angles to glass panes
1~ 27 secured to the outermost wall surface thereof include
slots 16 at least one of which is directed to provide that
the warmed or cooled air created in passage of air over
the pipe ll'will be discharged against the glass panes 27.
The panes 27 a~e secured to the hollow support means by a
device 18 which is of an insulating character. With an
arrangement so provided there will be created in space a
directed positive convection flow of heating or cooling
air, which air is directed also against the panes 27. It
should be understood, of course, that the invention con-
templates that the pipes 11' will be placed in the suitablehollow members of the structural frame of the invention in
each functional field thereof and in a manner to insure
that in all cases the heating or cooling air delivered from
the vertical support in which the pipe ll' is embodied
will have at least a portion thereof initially and directly
discharge against the facade element which is intended to
be heated or cooled in a manner thereby to avoid radiation
-26-
105ZS71
holes.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the side wall of this
hollow support 2 designated as 51 is intended to be provided
with an access to the pipe 11'.
In an arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings,
there shown is a hollow vertical support element 2 wherein
the facade elements in the form of glass panes 27 which are
in adjacent side by side relation are commonly mounted in
secured relation to the outer face of support 2 by an
insulator-type connector device 18. On the opposite or inner
face of the support 2 is mounted a further glass means
27', an insulating element 18' being interposed between the
innermost surface of the element 2 and the outermost sur-
face of the glass 27',which is arranged in parallel spaced
relation to the glass panes 27. In effect, since the glass
panes 27 will bridge the hollow elements defining a function
field in the system of the invention at the outer side
thereof and the inner faces of the hollow elements defining
a function field will be bridged by an inner glass pane or
panes 27', there will be created,between the inner and
outer panes, and bounded by a rectangular frame of hollow
elements in the function field,a space. Thus, when heated
or cooled heat transfer fluid is transported through the
hollow elements defining a function field, such as the
element 2 illustrated in Fig. 4, the side walls of the
hollow elements will serve to provide for heat transfer
as between the air in the hollow elements and that in the
-27-
lO5Z57~
sealed spaces bounded thereby. It should be obvious that in
a case such as this the structure avoids not only the form-
ation of a radiation hole in the area of the glass panes but
it avoids condensation being formed on the panes.
The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings is
especially suitable for climatizing rooms by way of cooling.
As shown in Fig. 5, a delivery conduit 10 is positioned to
extend transversely to hollow vertical support elements of
the frame structure of the invention, only elements 1 and
2 of which are shown. The delivery line 10 is connected by
way of branch lines,in which there are imposed suitable
valve means,to communicate the interior of the delivery
line with the interior of the hollow chamber defined in
each case by the vertical supports, adjacent the lower end
thereof. The chambers defined by these vertical supports
such as 1 and 2 are each suitably connected by piping so
as to provide for discharge of fluid therefrom at the top
thereof to a common return line 18. The return line 18,
as illustrated, branches into a first conduit 62 and a
second conduit 72. The discharge end of the conduit 72
is connected by way of a mixing valve 67 to the inlet end
of the delivery line 10. In association with the structure
illustrated, in an underground room or chamber 71, are two
storage tanks 65 which aré connected by suitable piping to
be series related. The branch conduit 62 is extended to an
evaporator 63 and from the evaporator 63 to open into the
first storage tank of the series related tanks 65. The
-28-
1052571
second of the storage tanks 65 is communicated by way of
a line incorporating a pump 66 with the inlet end of the
delivery line 10 by way of a connection thereto through
the mixing valve 67. The evaporator 63 forms part of a
refrigerating system including a compressor 61 connected
by way of a pressure line 68 with an air cooled condenser
64, located outside the building being climatized, which
is connected in turn to the evaporator 63. The latter is
connected by way of a conduit with a suction llne of the
compressor 61. With the arrangement provided there can be
suitable mixing at the valve 67 of chilled or cold water,
which is delivered to and stored in the tank 65,with so
much of the return water delivered by way of the branch
72 as desired,to fit the part.cular needs of the climat-
izing operation. For example, in use of the refrigerating
system as illustrated, return water flowing at 18C. in
conduit 62 can be cooled off in the evaporator 63 and
delivered to storage tanks 65 at a temperature of 4C.
When water is pumped from the second of the storage tanks
65 in series to the valve 67 it can there he mixed with
so much return water as to raise the temperature thereof
to 15C. and at that temperature the mixture so provided
is delivered by way of the line 10 to move to and through
the vertical supports such as 1 and 2 illustrated,in the
process of which the walls of the supports provide for
extraction by the flowing cold water of heat from the
interior of the room bounded by the vertical supports.
-29-
105Z571
In this particular embodiment of the invention the tanks
65 provide a large cold storage means facilitating the
maintenance of cooling water at a reasonable temperature
for a considerable amount of time during current failure.
These stora~e tanks are particularly utilized when the
rooms of a building being climatized suddenly have very
great warm masses of air brought therein which must be
cooled off and which must be kept at a comfortab]e temper-
ature when the building outer temperature is relatively
high.
Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and
7 in the drawings, there illustrated is a part of a
function field in a system in accordance with the inven~ on
which includes hollow vertical support elements 1 and 2
interconnected,at a location which would be adjacent to
the lower limit of a facade element facing a room being
climatized, by a hollow beam or bar element defining an
air passage 15. In this case, the hollow vertical support
2 serves as a vehicle for transporting a fluid for heat
transfer purposes which communicates with a pipe or tube
lla positioned in and at one end of the element defining
the air passage 15. Within this air passage the pipe lla
branches into two pipe segments 11 which commonly empty
into a return line 18 by way of a common adapter and a
common discharge pipe llb. The air passage 15 is commun--
icated with a blower 60 arranged below the floor level of
the room being climatized. As may be seen with reference
-30-
105257~
to Figs. 6 and 7, insulator connectors secured to the out-
ermost surface portions of the vertical supports 1 and 2
serve as mediums for mounting facade elements 27, which
are glass panes, to extend between and in bridging relation
to the vertical supports and between pertinent transversely
extending elements which together with the vertical supports
frame the inner face of the glass panes. In the case illus-
trated ribs 26 are connected to extend from the outer per-
iphery of the pipes 11 in a closely spaced parallel relation,
oriented generally at right angles to the inner surface of
the panes 27.
The upper wall section of the bea~ OL ~ar seg~en~
defining the air passage 15 is p'ovi~ed wj~ ~ sQrles of
slots 16 which are in ~ine~ paf~ o ~c~ other and
to the ribs 26, space~ the le~gth thereof. As will be
seen, al r ~el~ver~d in~o the b~dm or bar segment about
the ribbed plpes 11 will in passage to and through the
return line 18 shown in Fig. 6 move out of the
passage 15 by way of the slots 16 and vertica]ly o. t~,e
innermcst surface of the panes 27 and across the space
between the vertical supports 1 and 2, the lateral extent
thereof. Thus, the air discharged which has been suit-
ably brought to a desired temperature in passage over the
pipes lla, 11 and llb will flow both longitudinally o~
the walls of the hollow supports 1 and 2 and longitudinally
lOS257~.
of the inner side of the facade created by the structure
illustrated. Note that the air flow longitudinally of the
glass panes 27 is represented by an arrow A. It will of
course be obvious that the structure in each functional
area of the climatizing system will be similarly arranged
so as to provide for an even and uniform treatment of the
facade bounding the external rooms of the building.
In Fig. 8 a function field or region of a facade is
shown to consist of elements comprised of hollow vertical
supports 1, 2 and 3 arranged in a side by side laterally
spaced relation as well as th.e hollow vertical support
1' of the next adjoining functional field which would
include, similarly, hollow vertical support elements 1',
2' and 3'. In the first functional field illustrated, the
upper ends of the vertical supports 1 and 2 are bridged by
a transversely extending hollow structural element in the
form of a beam or a bar 4 communicated with a similar
element S which extends between and bridges the upper ends
of the vertical supports 2 and 3. Also, the lower ends of
the elements 1 and 2 are transversely bridged by hollow
beam or bar segment 6 communicating at one end with the
lower end of the space defined by the vertical support 1.
The opposite end of the e].ement 6 is in open and direct
communication with the directly aligned similar element
7 which bridges the lower ends of the support elements 2
and 3. It should be noted that there is provided interiorly
of the hollow vertical support 1 adjacent and spaced from
-32-
lOS2571
the lower end thereof, as in Fig. 2, a plate 13 which divides
the space in the vertical support l into an upper vertically
extended chamber and a lower chamber of short vertical extent. n~l,e
lattercommunicates with the space in the elements 6 and 7
and thereby with the space in the lower ends of the vertical
elements 2 and 3 with which the elements 6 and 7 are in free
and open co~lunication. The upper ends of the elements 2
and 3 are similarly in free and open communication with
the space defined in the hollow elements 4 and 5. With
the arrangement provided, for purposes of this description
it may be considered that a facade element or elements will be
applied to the outermost surface of the frame structure
portion defined by the elements 1, 2, 4 and 6 and the facade
elemen~ will provide an in~er s~r~ce idQnt;fied as 23.
second facade surface 22 is similarly created in the area
bounded by t~e lloll~w elements 2, 3, 5 and 7. A third
facade surface 21 is formed in the area bounded by the
hollow vertical support element 3 and the hollow vertical
support element 1' forming part of the next adjoining
function field. The upper limit of this third faca~e
surface 21 is defined by a blind tie bar or beam element
8 and its lower limit by a hollow bar or beam element 9
the function of which is different from that of the
elements 6 and 7. This will be further described.
As apparent from Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, two
glass panes 27 are held to form each facade surface
and secured by means of insulating connectors 28 onto
-33-
105Z571
the outer or facade side surfaces of the vertical supports,
between vertically spaced bounding wall segments which may
be of pre-cast concrete or other suitable materials resis-
tant to ready heat transfer. As seen in cross section in
Fig. 9, the facade structure including the frame structure
of the invention forms an outer wall surface of a room the
vertical limits of which correspond to the vertical limits
of the function field. Intermediate the vertical limits
of and disposed transverse to the vertical support elements
is a hollow beam-like structure, there being one segment
thereof between each adjacent pair of vertical suyyorts.
In their composite, these segments, by means of elld rel-
ated connector pipe means 25 extending through lntervening
ve~tical supports Tor~ a l~orizontally extending aLr pas-
sage 15. As ~ill be seen in Flg. 10, every segment of
the structule defining the air passage 15 has a removable
wall portion 24 on the room side thereof. In the upper-
most surface of each segment, between each adjacent pair
of vertical supports, there is formed a nozzle-~ike
longitudinally extending air exit 16. Centered wlthin
and to extend longitudinally of the passage 15, spaced
from the walls thereof, is a pipe 11. In spaces between
adjacent vertical supports the pipe 11 is provided with
-34-
~OSZ571
longitudinally extending ribs which are arranged about the
pipe in a star form, the ribs radiating outward of the
outer periphery of the pipe. At the end of the pipe 11
which is adjacent to the vertical support 1 it is diverted
and extended to have its discharge extremity connected into
the lower end of the vertical support, into the lower
chamber thereof defined below the separating plate or
wall 13. Inserted in the pipe line 11 immediately prior
to its connection into the lower chamber of the vertical
support 1 is a valve 12. The opposite or inlet end of
the pipe 11 is connected to a delivery conduit 10. Noting
Fig. B, there is a delivery line 14 for air to be intro-
duced into the structure 15 which defines an air flow pas-
sage about the pipe 11 which extends across the so-called
function field illustrated. A return line 18 is connected
to have its inlet end communicate with the interior of the
hollow elements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 at the juncture of
the elements 1 and 4. It is here noted that the valve 12
is a thermostat type valve.
It will be seen from the showing in Figs. 8-10 that
water which may be heated or cooled for heat transfer
purposes will be delivered by way of the line 10 to pass
through the pipe 11 and by way of the valve 12 into the
chamber in the lower end of the hollow support 1 and,from
there,through the entire area of the building facade
defined by support elements 1, 2 and 3 and the connect-
ing elements 6, 7, 5 and 4,to eventually be drawn or
-35-
lOSZ571
directed to and through the return line 18. The water so
routed from the delivery line 10, having been previously
heated or cooled, will through the medium of the ribbed
pipe 11 provlde for heat transfer as between the water and
the air channelled through the air delivery passage formed
by the structure 15. In the process portions of the heated
or cooled air will escape through the nozzle-like slots 16
to move upwardly of the facade surfaces 21, 22 and 23 and
in contacting relation to the hollow support elements 1,
2, 3 and 1'. When this air servesits conditioning
function to heat or cool the facade surfaces which it
contacts, it will be carried away, as shown in Fig. 9,
by way of a vent 31 in the ceiling structure of the room
being climatized. ~otln~ Fig. 9, the element 9 w~i~h is
sealed from co~n i catlon wi t.~ the interior of the vert-
ical suppo~ e~ents 3 an~ 1' includes a slot 30 in theside thereof facing inward-ly of the room being climatized.
This slot provides an exit for air discharging from the
room being climatized. Such air, upon moving into the
member 9, will exit therefrom by way of a discharge line
19. The discharge lines 19 of the various function
fields comprised in a climatizing system in accordance
with the invention are commonly routed to a collecting
conduit leading to a device in which heat exchange takes
place between this used air being discharged and fresh
air being supplied to the system from outside the build-
ing. After being subjected to this heat exchange the
-36-
105Z571
fresh air will be supplied to the respective delivery
lines 14 for the respective function fields involved.
In a similar manner the delivery lines 10 for the res-
pective function fields and the return lines 18 are also
connected to the collecting conduits to serve similar
purposes.
Figs. 12 to 14 show specially desirable construction
for the hollow vertical supports as represented by a
support 2 there illustrated. In Fig. 12, which is a
view in cross section of the support 2 from above a
hollow beam structure 15 for conveying air about a pipe
11 therein, for example as shown in Fig. 8, the hollow
support 2 is encased in a U-shaped sieeve which provi-les
on the walls o~ ~he ~ ort, a~ rlsht angles to the
facade, a series of parallel perpendicularly projected
ribs. I~lediately under the ribs and intermediate the
vertical extremities thereof are slots 17 in the struc-
ture 15, which slots are at right angles to the glass
panes 27. The arrangement is such that any air blown
out of the slots 17 will flow longitudinally of the
ribs 40 which enhance the heat transfer from the hollow
support represented by the element 2 into the environment
or surrounding locations.
An enlargement of the external rib-like sleeve
structure for the element 2 is shown in Fig. 13. In this
case also, the ribs are embodied in a sleeve-like struc-
ture enclosing the three sides of the vertical support 2
to the inner side of the facade elements defined by the
-37-
lOSZ571
window panes 27. As may be seen, the lateral sides of this
sleeve-like structure encasing the element 2 are wall
elements 41 which extend in parallel spaced relation to
the adjacent sides of the element 2 and connected therewith
in a heat conductive manner by spacing or support ribs 43.
The spaces between the element 2 and the respective wall
elements 41 each define chambers exits from which are
provided by openings 42 in the wall elements 41. Projected
from the outermost surfaces of the wall elements 41 in a
sense perpendicular thereto and to the sides of the element
2 are ribs 40. With the arrangement here provided the slots
17 opening from the interior of an air conveying conduit 15
enable that air under pressure be forced from the conduit
and between the side walls 41 and the adjacent side surfac~5
of the element 2 to enhance l tS ability to produce a heat
transfer effect with respect to the contents of the element
2 and this air will escape thereafter by way of openings 42
to pass along and between the ribs 40.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 14, in contrast to
the arrangement in Fig. 13, the ribs are directly only
inwardly from the wall elements 41. The wall elemen~ 41
have apertures intermediately of such ribs for escape of
air to the exterior of the structure so provided.
The invention, for example. is set forth in further
detail by the following examples pertaining to an embodi-
ment of the structure of the invention having a facade
field or region according to Fig. 8.
-38-
lOSZ571
Example 1: Heating
Thermoplane plates are used as facade elements having
a heat passage resistance of 0.172 m2h grd C/kcal. The
heat transfer surface provided by the hollow vertical.
support elements and the transversely connected hollow
bar or beam elements has an exposed area of 2.64 m2. The
heat transfer surface of the ribbed pipe amounts to 3.8 m2-
Air is supplied to the air passage defined by the structure
15 in a quantity flow of 630 m3/h. The temperature outside
of the room being climatized is -6.8C. The heating water
supplied under these conditions by way of the delivery
conduit to the ribbed pipe has a temperature of 54C
(150 l/h) and leaves the ribbed pipe with a temperature
of 40C. The heating water with this temperature enters
into the space defined by the hollow vertical support
elements and the transversely connected hollow bar
elements and on discharge from the space to the return
line has a temperature of 28C. The temperature of the
hollow vertical elements drops in the flow direction from
38C. to 35C. The air is supplied to the air passage
with a temperature of 7.9C. and is discharged out of
the slots with a temperature between 29.2 and 23.1C.
In space there is a resulting temperature of 19.SC. The
temperature of the glass surface at the room side is 17C.
and the temperature at the outer surface of the thermopane
plates is 5.7C. From this data there can be calculated
that the heat supplied by way of the ribbed pipe to the
-39
1052S71
chamber or room is only nominally greater than the heat
quantity given off from the frame structure comprised of
the hollow vertical supports and their interconnecting
transversely disposed hollow bars or beams.
Example 2: Cooling
Thermoplane plates are used in this case as in the
Example 1 having the same heat passage resistance. The
cooling surface provided by the frame structure comprised
of the hollow vertical supports and the interconnecting
transversely disposed beam or bar elements has an area
of 2.64 m2. The air quantity supplied to the room amounts
to 300 m3/h and the outer temperatlre ls 44 r 3C. When
cooling water used is delivered at a flow of 164 l/h with
a delivery temperature of 14.4C., it discharges from the
ribbed pipeS at a temperatur~ of 15.3C. and at that
temperature enters the frame structure comprised of the
hollow vertical supports and the hollow interconnectiny
bar or beam elements. The water leaving the frame 5truc-
ture has a return temperature of 18.2C. and the exposed
surface temperature of the frame changes in the direction
of the return from 16.6C. to 17.5C. There results a
room temperature of 25.5C. producing a temperature on
the room side of the glass which is 29.7C. There is
brought about a cold delivery to the outside amounting
to 68 kcal/h as well as a room side cooling output of 407
kcal/h. The heat passage number or figure from supports
and structure surrounding the thermopane can be calculated
at 17.4 kcal/m2 grd C.
-40-
