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Sommaire du brevet 2567669 

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Disponibilité de l'Abrégé et des Revendications

L'apparition de différences dans le texte et l'image des Revendications et de l'Abrégé dépend du moment auquel le document est publié. Les textes des Revendications et de l'Abrégé sont affichés :

  • lorsque la demande peut être examinée par le public;
  • lorsque le brevet est émis (délivrance).
(12) Brevet: (11) CA 2567669
(54) Titre français: SYSTEME CVCA, DALLE PORTEUSE ET FAUX PLANCHER INTEGRES POUR BATIMENTS
(54) Titre anglais: INTEGRATED STRUCTURAL SLAB AND ACCESS FLOOR HVAC SYSTEM FOR BUILDINGS
Statut: Périmé et au-delà du délai pour l’annulation
Données bibliographiques
(51) Classification internationale des brevets (CIB):
  • F24F 03/00 (2006.01)
  • E04B 05/48 (2006.01)
  • F24F 07/10 (2006.01)
  • F24F 13/02 (2006.01)
(72) Inventeurs :
  • BASTOW, PHILIP A.J. (Canada)
(73) Titulaires :
  • PHILIP A.J. BASTOW
(71) Demandeurs :
  • PHILIP A.J. BASTOW (Canada)
(74) Agent: EUGENE J. A. GIERCZAKGIERCZAK, EUGENE J. A.
(74) Co-agent:
(45) Délivré: 2014-05-27
(22) Date de dépôt: 2006-11-09
(41) Mise à la disponibilité du public: 2008-05-09
Requête d'examen: 2011-10-25
Licence disponible: S.O.
Cédé au domaine public: S.O.
(25) Langue des documents déposés: Anglais

Traité de coopération en matière de brevets (PCT): Non

(30) Données de priorité de la demande: S.O.

Abrégés

Abrégé français

L'invention porte sur un système de ventilation et d'échange de chaleur intégré à un plancher de béton à âme creuse comportant un passage d'air avec une entrée et une sortie pour recevoir de l'air et permettre un échange de chaleur relatif entre les deux; un plancher soulevé supporté par ledit plancher en béton creux, définissant un plénum de plancher entre ledit plancher de béton à âme creuse et ledit plancher soulevé, ledit plénum de plancher communiquant avec ladite sortie de manière à recevoir de l'air dudit passage d'air à travers ledit plancher de béton à âme creuse; et un moyen de terminal ajustable porté par ledit plancher soulevé pour livrer ledit air dudit plénum de plancher dans un espace au-dessus dudit plancher. L'invention a également trait au conditionnement de l'air par le biais d'un milieu à âme creuse supportant un plancher soulevé.


Abrégé anglais

A heat exchange and ventilation system integrated with a hollow core concrete floor having an air passage therethrough with an inlet and outlet for receiving air and permitting relative heat exchange therebetween; a raised floor supported by said hollow core concrete floor, defining a floor plenum between said hollow core concrete floor and said raised floor, said floor plenum communicating with said outlet so as to receive air from said air passage through said hollow core concrete floor; and adjustable terminal means carried by said raised floor for delivering a portion of said air from said floor plenum into a space above said floor. A method of conditioning air through a hollow core medium supporting a raised floor is also disclosed.

Revendications

Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.


Claims
I Claim:
1. A
heat exchange and ventilation system for at least one room on at least one
floor in a
building, comprising:
(a) at least one hollow core concrete floor section for thermal mass
charging having an upper surface and a lower surface and an air passage
therethrough with an inlet and outlet, for receiving air and permitting
relative heat exchange between the air and the hollow core concrete floor
section for thermal storage by the at least one hollow core concrete floor
section;
(b) at least one raised floor section supported by said upper surface of at
least one hollow core concrete floor section;
(c) at least one floor plenum defined between said at least one hollow core
concrete floor section and said upper surface of at least one raised floor
section for communicating with said outlet so as to receive air from said
air passage through said hollow core concrete floor section to provide heat
transfer from the hollow core concrete floor section to the air;
(d) fan means communicating with said inlet for blowing said air through
said
(i) passage and permitting relative heat exchange between said air
and said at least one hollow core concrete floor section;
(ii) said outlet;
(iii) said floor plenum;
(e) at least one terminal means disposed in said at least said one raised
floor section for presenting a selected volume of air from said floor

-15-
plenum to a space above said raised floor segment in said room, said
terminal means responsive to pressure;
(f) the lower surface of the at least one hollow core concrete floor section
providing a radiant surface.
2. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 1 further
including another
said hollow core concrete floor section above the space.
3. A heat exchange and ventilation as claimed in claim 2 further including
a return damper
assembly means communicating with said fan means for:
(a) receiving said selected volume of air from said space above said floor
section; and receiving the remaining volume of air from said floor plenum
for re-circulating back to said hollow core concrete floor section.
4. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 3 including
at least one duct
means communicating with said fan means and said inlet of said at least one
hollow core
concrete floor section.
5. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 4 including a
plurality of
hollow core concrete floor sections and a plurality of duct means respectively
communicating
with said fan means and said plurality of hollow core concrete floor sections,
respectively .
6. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 5 wherein
each said plurality
of duct means includes a damper biased in the closed position.
7. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 6 where in
said raised floor
sections define one floor plenum.
8. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 7 wherein
return damper
assembly means communicates with said floor plenum.

-16-
9. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 8 including
temperature
sensor means disposed in said floor plenum, and further including differential
pressure sensors
for controlling the return damper assembly.
10. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 9 further
including means on
said duct means for controlling the level of air flow in said hollow core
concrete floor segments
to control said heat exchange.
11. A method of conditioning air through a hollow core concrete medium
supporting a raised
floor comprising:
(a) passing said air through said hollow core concrete medium to effect
relative
heat exchange therebetween;
(b) releasing said air from said hollow core medium into a floor plenum
defined
between said hollow core medium and said raised floor where the floor plenum
communicates with an outlet so as to receive air from the air passage through
the
hollow core concrete medium and provide heat transfer to a space above the
floor
and provide a radiant heat exchange surface for a space below the raised
floor.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein a first volume of air from said
floor plenum is
directed into a space above said raised floor.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said air enters said hollow
core medium by
duct means.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said hollow core medium
comprises a hollow
core concrete slab having a passage therethrough for said air to effect said
relative heat exchange
between said air and said concrete slab.
15. A heat exchange and ventilation system between spaced hollow core slabs
defining a floor
and ceiling:

-17-
(a) each hollow core slab for thermal storage having an air passage
therethrough with an inlet and outlet for receiving air and permitting
relative heat exchange between the air and the hollow core slab;
(b) one of said hollow core slabs defining said ceiling and providing a
radiant heat exchange surface to a space below the ceiling;
(c) the other one of said hollow core slab defining said floor supporting a
raised floor defining a floor plenum between the hollow core slab and said
raised floor, said floor plenum communicating with said outlet so as to
receive air from said air passage through said other one of said hollow
core slabs and provide heat transfer to a space above the floor; and
(d) adjustable terminal means carried by said raised floor for delivering a
portion of said air from said floor plenum into the space above the floor.
16. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 15 including
fan means for
blowing air through the system.
17. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 16, including
ducts that connect
to the inlet to each said hollow core slab, and said fan means blow air
through the passage and
outlet into the floor plenum.
18. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 17 including
return damper
assembly means for directing:
(a) said portion of air in said space above said floor; and
(b) said remainder of said air in said floor plenum back to said fan means
and from said fan means back to said hollow core slab.
19. A heat exchange and ventilation system as claimed in claim 18 where said
return damper
assembly means is disposed generally vertically relative said raised floor and
includes:
(a) an upper opening for receiving said portion of air in said space;
(b) a lower opening for receiving said remaining air in said floor plenum.

-18-
20. A heat exchange and ventilation system comprising:
(a) a hollow core concrete slab having an air passage therethrough with an
inlet and outlet for receiving air and permitting relative heat exchange
therebetween for mass charging of the hollow core concrete slab, the
hollow core concrete slab defining a ceiling to a space below the slab to
provide a cool radiant heat exchange surface therebelow and a floor to a
space above the slab;
(b) a raised floor supported by said hollow core concrete floor, defining a
floor plenum between said hollow core concrete floor and said raised
floor, said floor plenum communicating with said outlet so as to receive
air from said air passage through said hollow core concrete floor and
provide a heat transfer to the space above the slab;
(c) adjustable terminal means carried by said raised floor for delivering a
portion of said air from said floor plenum into a space above said floor.

Description

Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.


CA 02567669 2006-11-09
Description
Integrated Structural Slab and Access Floor HVAC System for Buildings>>
Field Of Invention
This invention relates to a heat exchange and ventilation system with a raised
floor supported
by a hollow core concrete floor and includes the method of conditioning air
through a hollow
core medium supporting a raised floor.
Background to the Invention
Many prior art devices and methods have heretofore been designed for heating,
ventilating
and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Some of the HVAC systems have been designed for raised access floor systems.
Other
HVAC systems have been designed for hollow core slab systems.
Raised access floor systems generally comprise a series of spaced apart
pedestals which are
supported at the lower end thereof on a concrete floor while the upper end
thereof supports a
series of panels defining a raised floor. The space between the said raised
floor and concrete
floor defines a cavity or floor plenum. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,775,001
relates to the
design of air terminal devices used in raised floor air supply plenum systems
while U.S.
Patent No. 6,209,330 relates to an air handler based on chilled water as the
cooling source for
cooling computer rooms.
Under floor air distribution systems using the floor plenum of the raised
access floor as a
supply air pathway is a proven technology and growing significantly in the
North America
market place. The most current versions of raised access floors utilize
infloor air terminals
which are either manually or automatically adjustable and control the amount
of air delivered
to the occupancy above the floor from a lightly pressurized infloor plenum.
The terminals or
diffusers are generally pressure dependent and deliver predictable air flow
based on stable
infloor pressure whereby the volume of air to the occupied space is a function
of the floor
plenum air pressure and the number of infloor terminals and their open status.
This pressure
is maintained as a constant by infloor pressure sensors providing information
to the building

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
2
control system to control the speed of the fan delivering air to the floor
plenum all in a
manner well known to persons skilled in the art. The fan volume generally
varies to keep the
pressure maintained.
Hollow core/slab integrated ventilation air conditioning and heating
technology and
applications are also well known and widely used in Scandinavian countries.
For example
U.S. Patent No. 4,124,062 relates to a system of passing air from outside a
building through
channels in a concrete floor so as to cool the concrete thereby storing the
coolness which is
then transferred to the room in the following day. Furthermore U.S. Patent No.
4,830,275
relates to temperature control of buildings having prefabricated hollow
concrete slabs or
concrete floor structures with cast in ducts where cooled supply air flows
through the floor
structure before it is supplied by way of supply air device to the room unit
on the floor.
Generally speaking these hollow core slab structures are thermally charged by
running warm
or cold air through the hollow cores to set their thermal mass at a
temperature capable of
radiating or absorbing heat to and from the occupied space. In addition, the
air running
through the slab is released into the space to further support heating or more
often a cooling
mode of operation. The majority of these systems are applied with the active
hollow core
located above the occupancy at the ceiling. At the ceiling and in the cooling
mode the slab
provides a cold radiant effect to the space below as well as absorbing heat
build up from the
space through convection between room air and the hollow core slabs. Such
systems have
good thermal inertial and mass thermal storage/absorption capabilities.
Furthermore it is known that the under floor and hollow core technologies have
been
combined. However, such combination did not allow the hollow core slab
supporting the
raised floor to release the air carried through its core into the raised floor
supply air plenum.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved heat exchange and
ventilating system.
Disclosure of Invention
It is an aspect of this invention to provide a heat exchange and ventilation
system comprising
a hollow core concrete floor having an air passage therethrough with an inlet
and outlet for
receiving air and permitting relative heat exchange therebetween; a raised
floor supported by
said hollow core concrete floor, defining a floor plenum between said hollow
core concrete
floor and said raised floor, said floor plenum communicating with said outlet
so as to receive

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
3
air from said air passage through said hollow core concrete floor; and
adjustable terminal
means carried by said raised floor for delivering a portion of said air from
said floor plenum
into a space above said floor.
Another aspect of this invention relates to a thermally charged slab in an
occupied space
above the raised floor; either as a repeat of said slab plenum system from a
floor above, or a
thermally charged hollow core roof slab, or another form of thermally charged
roof structure.
It is a further aspect of this invention to provide an air conditioning system
for at least one
room on at least one floor in a building, comprising : at least one hollow
core concrete floor
section having an air passage therethrough with an inlet and outlet; at least
one raised floor
section supported by said at least one hollow core concrete floor section; at
least one floor
plenum defined between said at least one hollow core concrete floor section
and said at least
one raised floor section for communicating with said outlet; fan means
communicating with
said inlet for blowing said conditioned air through said passage , outlet ,
and floor plenum
and permitting relative heat exchange between said air and said at least one
hollow core
concrete floor section; at least one terminal means disposed in said at least
one raised floor
section for presenting a selected volume of air from said floor plenum to a
space above said
raised floor segment in said room, said terminal means responsive to pressure.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a method of conditioning
air through a
hollow core medium supporting a raised floor comprising passing said air
through said
hollow core medium to effect relative heat exchange therebetween; releasing
said air from
said hollow core medium into a floor plenum defined between said hollow core
medium and
said raised floor.
Brief Description of Drawings
Fig. 1 is a representation of a hollow core internal air circuit.
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a floor in a building utilizing the invention
described herein.
Fig. 3 is a schematic representative side elevational view of the invention
described herein.
Fig. 4 is a representative view of a typical compartment unit ducting
configuration.
Fig. 5 is a representative view partial cut side elevational view illustrating
the invention
between three floors in a building.

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
4
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the
specification and the
drawings with the same respective reference numerals. The drawings are not
necessarily to
scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order to
more clearly
depict certain features of the invention.
Fig. 1 generally illustrates a hollow core medium 2 which is generally used in
constructing a
floor 3 in a building 5, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 2.
The most commonly used hollow core medium 2 comprises a hollow core concrete
floor slab
4 as shown in Fig. 1. The hollow core concrete floor slab 4 is comprised of
concrete having a
plurality of generally parallel hollow cores 6. The hollow cores 6 can be
linked as shown to
produce air bridges 10 so as to thereby define a passage 8 which is adapted to
receive air
therethrough. The passage of the hollow core concrete floor slab 4 includes an
air inlet 12
and an air outlet 14. The air bridges 10 link the cores 6.
A plurality of hollow core concrete floor slabs 4 can be joined together in a
manner well
known to those persons skilled in the art so as to fabricate the floor 3 of a
building 5 as shown
in Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 best illustrates the raised floor 20 which is supported by the hollow
floor concrete floor
slabs 4. The raised floor 20 includes a plurality of spaced apart pedestals 22
which contact
the hollow floor concrete floor 23 at the lower ends 24 thereof. In some cases
there may be a
concrete layer 7 or topping on top of the hollow core 4 to keep them fixed and
more
structurally sound as a floor structure so that the raised floor would
actually sit on the
topping. By way of example only the topping may be approximately 2 inches
thick.
The upper ends 26 of the pedestals 22 generally speaking support a plurality
of panels 28 so
as to define a floor surface 30. An air or floor plenum 40 is defined between
the hollow core
concrete floor slab 4 and the raised floor 30. The floor plenum 40
communicates with the
outlet 14 of the concrete slab 4 so as to receive air from the air passage 8
passing through the
hollow core concrete floor slab 4.
As the air passes through the passage 8 in the hollow core concrete floor slab
4 relative heat
exchange occurs there between. For example, the hollow core concrete floor
slab 4 could act
as a heat sink absorbing heat during the day generated in the occupied space
62 and thereby

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
5 heating the cooler air as it passes through the passage 8 therethrough.
Alternatively, the
hollow core concrete floor slab 4 can act as a heat source giving off heat to
a cooler occupied
space 62 and thereby absorbing heat from warmer air as it passes through the
passage 8.
The raised floor 30 can include a plurality of terminal means 50 for
delivering a portion 60 of
air from said floor plenum 40 into a space 62 above the floor surface 30 as
shown in Figs. 3
and 5. The terminal means 50 can comprise of any device which permits a
selected amount of
air to pass therethrough. For example terminal means 50 can comprise of a
diffuser or
terminal which is manually or automatically adjustable. The terminal or
diffuser is located in
a hole created in the raised floor designed to receive the diffuser or
terminal.
Accordingly the heat exchange and ventilating system 70 comprises a hollow
core concrete
floor slab 4 having an air passage 8 therethrough with an inlet 12 and an
outlet 14 for
receiving air and permitting relative heat exchange there between; a raised
floor 20 supported
by the hollow core concrete floor slabs 4 defining a floor plenum 40 between
the hollow core
concrete floor slabs 4 and the raised floor 20, whereby the floor plenum 40
communicates
with the outlet 14 so as to receive air from the air passage 8 through the
hollow core concrete
floor slab 4; and the adjustable terminal means 50 which are carried by the
raised floor 30 for
delivering a portion 60 of the air from the floor plenum 40 into a space 62
above the floor
surface 30. Any portion 60 of air from 0% to 100% can be delivered to the
space 62.
Generally speaking however, 50% to 90% is delivered to the occupied space 62.
The heat exchange and ventilating system 70 also includes an air handler 80.
The air handler
80 can include a fan, cooling coils or other devices known to people skilled
in the art. The air
handler 80 can be located anywhere and connected by means of supply and return
ductwork.
One example of an air handler 80 is shown in Fig. 5 for blowing air through
the system 70 in
a manner to be more fully described herein. The air handler 80 in the example
shown in Fig.
5 is located in a mechanical service room 82 or in another example in a
convenient location
on a floor as shown in Fig. 3.
The heat exchange and ventilating system 70 includes a return damper assembly
90. The
return damper assembly 90 is generally disposed vertically relative to the
floor surface 30 and
includes an upper opening 92 for receiving the portion of air from 60 in the
space 62 above
the floor surface 30. The return damper assembly 90 also includes a lower
opening 94 for
receiving the remaining air 64 in the floor plenum 40. The upper and lower
opening can
include a damper or moveable baffle that is displaceable so as to selectively
open or close the

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
6
opening any selected degree in a manner well known to persons skilled in the
art The
remaining air 64 is the air that remains in the plenum 40 (excess air) after
the portion of air
60 has been vented to the space 62 above the floor surface 30.
The return damper assembly means 90 communicates with the air handler 80 so as
to
recirculate the portion of air 60 and the remaining air 64 back to the air
handler 80 that will
supply it back to the hollow core concrete floor slab 4.
The return damper assembly means 90 may be a stand alone unit located in a
mechanical
room 82 which communicates with a standard HVAC compartment unit 120 as shown
in Fig.
5. A compartment unit 120 is one form of an Air Handling Unit (AHU) 80 often
used in
repeated floor office design. Alternatively, the return damper assembly means
can be a part
of a compartment unit air handling equipment such as 120 which can be located
in a
mechanical room 82 which is shown in hidden lines in Fig. 4. The compartment
unit air
handling equipment 120 can include cooling coils 122 for cooling air passing
therethrough as
well as a silencer 124 for silencing the unwanted levels of noise that can
invade the occupied
space 62. In other words the air damper assembly means 90 can comprise an
independent
device that controls the return air path to release its air into the
mechanical service room 82
under negative pressure from a fan in a compartment unit 120 or being directly
integrated, or
an integrated part of a compartment unit 120 or air handling unit 80 as
previously described.
The return damper assembly 90 includes the upper opening 92 as previously
described for
receiving the portion 60 of air in the space 62 above the floor surface 30.
The return damper assembly 90 also includes lower openings 94 as shown in Fig.
4 connected
to the plenum 40 for receiving the remaining air 64 as previously described.
The lower
opening 94 can also include a smoke detector for detecting any smoke in the
plenum 40.
The compartment unit air handling equipment 120 can also include a fan 88
(also shown in
diagrammatic fashion and labelled SF [supply fan]) configured for under floor
air design as
typically known by those persons skilled in the art and with a discharge
opening 126 for
blowing air (combination of the portion of air 60 plus the remaining air 64)
to the hollow core
slabs 4 by means of a supply air plenum box 125 below the compartment units
which is
connected to conduits or ducts 140. The conduits or ducts 140 communicate with
the fan
means 88 and the inlet 12 of the slabs 4 for delivering of air through the
passage 8 as
previously described.

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
7
Alternatively just as the compartment unit 120 in Fig. 4 blows its supply air
directly into a
below floor plenum which feeds the below floor duct distribution system,
supply duct from a
remote AHU/fan system could connect to the same below floor supply air plenum.
Furthermore, return air ducts from the same remote located fan system would
only need to
collect air from the building occupied floor plate space 62 by being open
ended into a space
such as a mechanical service room containing a return air damper assembly 90
or by directly
connecting to the return air damper assembly 90. Accordingly, the invention
described herein
can be utilized with a plurality of locations and a plurality of air handlers
and fans.
Furthermore, the fan could even be located on a roof top in keeping with this
invention; as is
illustrated as an option in Fig. 3 as a dotted outline of a remote mechanical
room, mechanical
penthouse or roof location 85.
Fig. 2 shows one example of a typical floor plan for a floor 3 in a building
5. For example
the floor 3 includes a number of elevators 9 as well as a mechanical or
service room 82
having a compartment unit air handling equipment 120 which includes the return
damper
assembly 90 as previously described. The compartment unit includes the fan 88
which
communicates with at least one duct 160. As shown in Fig. 4 the at least one
duct 140
communicates with a number of concrete floor slabs 4 so as to define at least
one hollow core
concrete floor slab section 182. The at least one duct 140 communicates with
the fan 88 at
one end thereof. The other end of the at least one duct 140 communicates with
the inlets 12
of each of the slabs 4 defining the at least one hollow concrete floor slab
section 182 so as to
deliver air to be circulated through the passage of the slabs. The air in the
slabs 4 will then
exit through the outlet 14 of each of the slabs 4 defining the at least one
hollow core concrete
floor slab section 182 as shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 shows however that a plurality of ducts 140 are actually utilized as
represented by
numerals 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, and 240. Each of these
plurality of ducts
can communicate with a plurality of hollow core concrete floor sections 165,
175, 185, 195,
205, 215, 225, 235 and 245.
The floor plan shown in Fig. 2 can include a plurality of rooms above each of
the sections
described above. Also, the under floor plenum 40 can be sectioned off to
produce a
corresponding number of floor plenums equal to the number of sections serviced
by the
plurality of ducts 140 as previously described. Typically however the rooms
above the
sections described above are done with partitions that rest on the raised
floor surface 30.

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
8
While one can subdivide the building floor plate one does not need to take the
partitions
down to the surface of the hollow core to establish separate room control.
Temperature control of existing prior art systems include the management of
the cooling
capacity against the heat gains generated in the building. Typically these
management
systems consist of varying the amount of overhead supply air maintained at an
appropriate
temperature for cooling through use of a VAV box. In current generation
underfloor air
buildings, the adjustable but relatively constant cool temperature lightly
pressurized plenum
provides a reservoir for controlled groupings of automatic infloor terminals
to open in an
incremental or modulating fashion to deliver the quantity of cool air as
necessary to balance
the heat gains and maintain a set point temperature.
The invention described herein incorporates such features in the infloor
terminals but in
addition there is a combined radiant cooling effect and convective heat
transfer absorptive
capability of the hollow core slab above the space. Accordingly, temperature
control can be
done by adjustments to either or both the temperature and volume of the air
from the floor
plenum and/or the temperature of the slab above the room.
In one embodiment the surface temperature of the slab above the space could be
kept
relatively constant at for example 20 C while the more quickly responding
airstream aspect
of the invention as described herein can be used for temperature control.
Accordingly, the individual room control can in one embodiment be accomplished
from
automatic infloor terminals that do not require partitioning down to the
structural floor to
separate the airstream of a given duct such as duct 160. In another embodiment
however, a
duct 160 could be utilized to serve a section such as section 165. The
invention described
herein allows for modulating damper 163 in the open position (normally
closed). The air that
would normally go through slabs in section 165 serves to take the path of
least resistance and
not go through the slab thereby reducing the airflow and charge of the slab
but maintaining
the airflow rate in the plenum.
Alternatively each floor may be conditioned as one unit whereby the air 60
being delivered to
the space 62 on the floor 3 from all of the ducts 160, 170, 180, 190, 200,
210, 220, 230 and
240, is delivered to the entire floor ( without sectioning ) as one unit and
recirculated back to
the fan 88 as previously described. However, if the floor 3 is partitioned
into a plurality of
rooms as previously described, each of the hollow core concrete floor sections
will support at

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
9
least one raised one floor section, and at least one floor plenum will be
defined between the at
least one hollow core concrete floor sections and the at least one raised
floor sections for
communicating with the outlets 14 of each of the slabs 4 in the sections as
previously
described. In this way each of the at least one raised floor sections will
include the terminal
means 50 as previously described.
The terminal means 50 may include a manually adjustable type of terminal or
diffuser 51 or
automatic type of adjustable terminals 53. Adjustable terminals 53 are
automatic control
terminals being adjusted by a control system. The adjustable terminals 53 may
be adjusted by
motorized damper 55 on them which can open or close the diffuser or terminal
in a manner
well known to those persons skilled in the art so as to meet temperature set
points by the
Building Automation System (BAS). The motor operator 55 associated with the
terminal 53
modulates in response via the control system to temperature in the space 62,
opening or
closing when above or below a temperature set point respectively. The
motorized damper 55
of the automatic terminal 53 may receive an electric current signal from its
controller to
affect its open/closed portion. This is integrated into a typical monitoring
and control
Building Automation System (BAS) all known and familiar to persons skilled in
the art.
Generally speaking the plenum pressure is operated at a relatively constant
condition. Even
with the plenum 40 pressure stable, opening adjustable terminal 53 will
provide more air. If
the plenum pressure is increased, the same degree of opening will give more
air. An analog
output from the Building Automation System (BAS) in volts or amps to the
terminal 53 or
motor operator 55 adjusts the degree of opening in a manner well known to
people skilled in
the art.
Fig. 5 shows that the system 70 can be used in a multi-storey building having
a number of
floors. Fig. 5 shows a first, second, third and fourth floor 112, 114, 116 and
118. The hollow
core slabs 4 in the second floor 114 can gain heat from the air 60 in the
space 62 which is
below the slab. In other words the floor of one level in the building is the
ceiling of the level
below it.
Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, each of the ducts 140 include a normally
closed motorized
damper 163.
Upon start of the system, the following sequence of operations can occur by
way of an
example:

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
5 1. Upon the start up signal the fan will be started at a preset low-speed as
controlled by
the variable speed drive (VSD) and the motorized dampers can start to move to
a fully
opened position to receive air only from the high level return air 92 and the
constant
volume terminal (CVT) can be opened to a preset volume as set on the control
device
(not shown). The CVT is a device to control fresh air requirement of a floor
plate in a
10 manner known to persons skilled in the art;
2. The volume of air flow can be increased by speeding up the fan using the
VSD until
the differential pressure (DP) set point detected from the control device 67
is
achieved. For example, the DP set point can be selected at 12.5 Pa to 24 Pa
This DP
set point is shown by way of an example only and can be selected at any level.
3. The motorized dampers 163 allow bypass of air in the slab, and effects the
thermal
charge in the slab. If the air bypasses the slab then some air ends up in the
plenum so
the pressure is largely unchanged in the plenum but it is cooler.
4. The speed of the fan 88 can have an adjustable volume to ensure necessary
pressure in
the plenum 40 and a minimum flow through the hollow core passage 8 at all
times.
The minimum speed on the fan will be defined by the limitations on the
variable
speed driver fan motor control system.
5. The cooling valve can be modulated to maintain the supply air temperature
set point
of a selected value such as for example 16 C.
6. The supply air temperature can be reset based on the return air temperature
by
sampling multiple return air sensors per compartment unit or space temperature
sensors through the space all as typically done by those persons skilled in
the art.
7. Upon sensing a high limit temperature, the supply fan 88 can be shut down
and an
alarm (BAS) can be activated and close down D1.
8. An under floor plenum temperature sensor can be provided for each area
served by
the compartment unit 120.
The system 70 can be charged at any time but preferably during non-office
operating hours.
If the system 70 is to be used to load cooling into the hollow core slabs 4,
the following
sequence can occur by way of example:

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
11
1. all automatic in floor air terminals 53 will be closed; generally speaking,
good results
will be achieved when the majority of infloor terminals are automatic.
2. by way of example the control device (not shown) can be adjusted to provide
an
operation such that high level return air louver or opening of return air
grill 92 will
receive 100% of the return air by opening damper 95 100% open and damper 96
100% closed. Alternatively, 100% of return can be returned through floor
plenum 94
by closing motorized damper 95 100% and opening damper 96 100%. During the
change cycle, the later position is used to return air through the floor
plenum.
3. the supply fan 88 can be set to run at 100% for example;
4. the constant volume terminal (CVT) can be closed;
5. the chilled water valve can be opened through the cooling coil as shown in
Fig. 3;
6. the system 70 can run until all embedded temperature sensors 166 meet the
set point;
7. a plurality of static pressure sensors 67 are located in the floor plenum
40 which will
be monitored. Accordingly all differential static pressure sensors 67 will be
monitored within the floor plenum 40 and used to control the speed of the fan
88 to
affect the associated compartment unit 120 supply air flow.
The invention described herein provides equipment to allow a continuous volume
of supply
air through the hollow core slab 4 to optimize its thermal charge and
convective and radiant
cooling effect while at the same time allow the pressure control variable
volume for the
plenum 40 supply delivery as to be required of a current under floor air
design. The
invention described herein also allows maximum continuous mass thermal storage
in the
hollow core slab 4 while providing a variable air flow capability for proper
control of the in
floor supply plenum air released into the space to address varying cooling
loads. The
invention described herein is an advance over previous designs since:
1. previous designs required greater duct infrastructure in using both
overhead duct work
and vertical duct drops to get air into the supply air plenum;
2. using both overhead duct work and raised floor causes higher floor to floor
heights
and greater building planning and finishing costs;

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
12
3. the volume of air flow in the previous designs was varied in the hollow
core slab
passages 8 in response to air flow needed for the cooling load under
temperature
control.
The system 70 described herein can be used in combination in either:
1. central station air handling systems with supply and return ducts with
branch duct
take offs serving each floor and making supply air connections to the below
floor
plenum(s) 142 which connects to the plurality of below raised floor ducts 140,
160,
170 and return air connections to the return damper system device 90;
2. on floor compartment unit air handling systems typical of repetitive floor
plate multi-
storey buildings.
The invention described herein teaches a design where:
3. the air flow through the hollow core slab 4 is released to the raised floor
cavity supply
air plenum 40;
4. the duct work and control damper assembly and control sequence which
enables the
excess plenum supply air 64 (causing an overpressure condition as read by the
pressure sensors in the floor plenum 40) is bypassed back to the fan 88
servicing the
floor;
5. the motorized damper 163 control system on the infloor duct work is used to
control
the level of air flow (and thus thermal charge) in the hollow core slab system
supporting the raised floor and effecting heat absorption from the occupied
space
below.
Moreover the invention described herein exhibits
I. Thermal storage and the radiant heat transfer and convective heat transfer
absorptive
capabilities of the thermal mass that apply to the slabs above the occupied
space.
2. Ability to apply a continuous and adjustable air flow to the occupied
space.
By utilizing the invention described herein one is able to reduce the size of
the HVAC
equipment and achieve improved energy efficiency.

CA 02567669 2006-11-09
13
The duct work and damper assembly is sized for the volumes of air applicable
in a manner
known to persons skilled in the art. The form of control systems that can be
used typically
comprise of Direct Digital Control (DDC) providing controlled manipulation of
the dampers.
The motorized dampers 95 and 96 in return air damper assembly 90 (allows for
bypass of the
air delivered to the space 62, as previously discussed) can also be set to
modulate to maintain
the pressure set point in the floor plenum. The combined quantity of air
returned from the
floor plenum (unused by the occupied volume) and the return air plenum, as
controlled by the
respective dampers 95 and 96 represents the total volume delivered by the fan.
The equipment described herein can be applied to the combined application of
integrated air
flow hollow core structural slab type designs when applied in conjunction with
integrated
access floor (HVAC) system mounted above the slab 4 and the air flow in the
hollow core
slab 4 is released to the raised floor supply air plenum 40 above the hollow
core structure.
Accordingly the design described herein illustrates a method of conditioning
air through a
hollow core medium supporting a raised floor comprising:
l. passing the air through the hollow core medium to effect relative heat
exchange
therebetween;
2. releasing the air from the hollow core medium into a floor plenum defined
between
the hollow core medium and the raised floor.
Also the apparatus, system and method can not only control or condition the
temperature of
the space 62 but can also be used to control and monitor other parameters or
characteristics
such as humidity and pressure.
Various embodiments of the invention have now been described in detail. Since
changes in
andlor additions to the above-described best mode may be made without
departing from the
nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited
to said details.

Dessin représentatif
Une figure unique qui représente un dessin illustrant l'invention.
États administratifs

2024-08-01 : Dans le cadre de la transition vers les Brevets de nouvelle génération (BNG), la base de données sur les brevets canadiens (BDBC) contient désormais un Historique d'événement plus détaillé, qui reproduit le Journal des événements de notre nouvelle solution interne.

Veuillez noter que les événements débutant par « Inactive : » se réfèrent à des événements qui ne sont plus utilisés dans notre nouvelle solution interne.

Pour une meilleure compréhension de l'état de la demande ou brevet qui figure sur cette page, la rubrique Mise en garde , et les descriptions de Brevet , Historique d'événement , Taxes périodiques et Historique des paiements devraient être consultées.

Historique d'événement

Description Date
Le délai pour l'annulation est expiré 2024-05-09
Lettre envoyée 2023-11-09
Lettre envoyée 2023-05-09
Lettre envoyée 2022-11-09
Requête visant le maintien en état reçue 2020-11-06
Requête visant le maintien en état reçue 2019-11-07
Représentant commun nommé 2019-10-30
Représentant commun nommé 2019-10-30
Requête visant le maintien en état reçue 2018-11-08
Requête visant le maintien en état reçue 2017-10-31
Requête visant le maintien en état reçue 2016-11-07
Requête visant le maintien en état reçue 2015-10-27
Requête visant le maintien en état reçue 2014-10-28
Accordé par délivrance 2014-05-27
Inactive : Page couverture publiée 2014-05-26
Préoctroi 2014-03-10
Inactive : Taxe finale reçue 2014-03-10
Un avis d'acceptation est envoyé 2013-11-08
Un avis d'acceptation est envoyé 2013-11-08
Lettre envoyée 2013-11-08
Inactive : Approuvée aux fins d'acceptation (AFA) 2013-11-05
Inactive : Q2 réussi 2013-11-05
Requête visant le maintien en état reçue 2013-10-09
Modification reçue - modification volontaire 2013-10-07
Inactive : Dem. de l'examinateur par.30(2) Règles 2013-04-08
Requête visant le maintien en état reçue 2012-10-17
Modification reçue - modification volontaire 2012-02-21
Lettre envoyée 2011-11-09
Toutes les exigences pour l'examen - jugée conforme 2011-10-25
Exigences pour une requête d'examen - jugée conforme 2011-10-25
Requête d'examen reçue 2011-10-25
Demande publiée (accessible au public) 2008-05-09
Inactive : Page couverture publiée 2008-05-08
Inactive : CIB attribuée 2008-04-28
Inactive : CIB attribuée 2008-04-28
Inactive : CIB attribuée 2008-04-28
Inactive : CIB attribuée 2008-04-28
Inactive : CIB en 1re position 2008-04-28
Inactive : Certificat de dépôt - Sans RE (Anglais) 2006-12-14
Demande reçue - nationale ordinaire 2006-12-14

Historique d'abandonnement

Il n'y a pas d'historique d'abandonnement

Taxes périodiques

Le dernier paiement a été reçu le 2013-10-09

Avis : Si le paiement en totalité n'a pas été reçu au plus tard à la date indiquée, une taxe supplémentaire peut être imposée, soit une des taxes suivantes :

  • taxe de rétablissement ;
  • taxe pour paiement en souffrance ; ou
  • taxe additionnelle pour le renversement d'une péremption réputée.

Les taxes sur les brevets sont ajustées au 1er janvier de chaque année. Les montants ci-dessus sont les montants actuels s'ils sont reçus au plus tard le 31 décembre de l'année en cours.
Veuillez vous référer à la page web des taxes sur les brevets de l'OPIC pour voir tous les montants actuels des taxes.

Titulaires au dossier

Les titulaires actuels et antérieures au dossier sont affichés en ordre alphabétique.

Titulaires actuels au dossier
PHILIP A.J. BASTOW
Titulaires antérieures au dossier
S.O.
Les propriétaires antérieurs qui ne figurent pas dans la liste des « Propriétaires au dossier » apparaîtront dans d'autres documents au dossier.
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Description du
Document 
Date
(aaaa-mm-jj) 
Nombre de pages   Taille de l'image (Ko) 
Abrégé 2006-11-08 1 19
Description 2006-11-08 13 675
Revendications 2006-11-08 4 128
Dessins 2006-11-08 5 189
Dessin représentatif 2008-04-21 1 29
Revendications 2013-10-06 5 168
Certificat de dépôt (anglais) 2006-12-13 1 158
Rappel de taxe de maintien due 2008-07-09 1 114
Rappel - requête d'examen 2011-07-11 1 119
Accusé de réception de la requête d'examen 2011-11-08 1 177
Avis du commissaire - Demande jugée acceptable 2013-11-07 1 162
Avis du commissaire - Non-paiement de la taxe pour le maintien en état des droits conférés par un brevet 2022-12-20 1 541
Courtoisie - Brevet réputé périmé 2023-06-19 1 537
Avis du commissaire - Non-paiement de la taxe pour le maintien en état des droits conférés par un brevet 2023-12-20 1 542
Paiement de taxe périodique 2018-11-07 1 28
Taxes 2008-11-09 1 27
Taxes 2009-11-05 1 30
Taxes 2010-11-08 1 30
Taxes 2011-10-24 1 30
Taxes 2012-10-16 1 29
Taxes 2013-10-08 1 31
Correspondance 2014-03-09 1 30
Taxes 2014-10-27 1 30
Paiement de taxe périodique 2015-10-26 2 51
Paiement de taxe périodique 2016-11-06 1 28
Paiement de taxe périodique 2017-10-30 1 29
Paiement de taxe périodique 2019-11-06 1 29
Paiement de taxe périodique 2020-11-05 4 97
Paiement de taxe périodique 2021-11-01 1 25