According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a radiant ceiling panel for air conditioning of a room.
Such radiant ceiling panels, which are characterized by the fact that they are usually much longer than they are wide and are suspended from the ceiling, for example of a hall, by means of a rope-like fastening system, are known in principle from unverifiable printed prior art documents.
Typically, these radiant ceiling panels have corrugated radiating surfaces as part of holding cassettes, wherein straight tubular bodies are inserted into the corrugations.
Both the holding cassette with the radiating surface and the tubular bodies usually consist of carbon steel and are therefore relatively heavy, which in particular increases the installation costs, transportation costs, etc.
Also, because of this great weight, but in particular also because of the relatively large length of the whole radiant ceiling panel, the straight tube systems held by the cassette are typically formed from several pieces, each of which must be connected individually during assembly.
The individual, straight tube strands of the tube system are connected here in parallel in terms of flow and are typically guided together at the end and at the beginning of the entire radiant ceiling panel.
Proceeding from the aforementioned prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide a radiant ceiling panel which is fundamentally easier to install and, if necessary, has a more elegant appearance.
The invention achieves the stated object in accordance with a first aspect by the features of claim 1, therefore in particular by the fact that the at least two portions of the tube system, which are fluidically connected in parallel, are guided together and back apart again in an assembly region of the radiating surface.
In other words, the concept of the invention lies in reducing the number of coupling points for simplified assembly of the tube system.
Specifically, this concept makes it possible to fit together a radiant ceiling panel from a plurality of pieces, wherein each of these pieces comprises a part of the tube system, without the need to connect each one of multiple straight tubes to a successor tube.
Rather, at least two of these tubes are combined beforehand so that only a single connection needs to be made for two or more portions of the tube system arranged in parallel and/or connected in parallel (rather than each tube portion needing to be coupled/connected individually).
Said assembly region of the radiating surface is a region around the radiating surface, in particular a region in which a plurality of pieces of the radiating surface are fitted together.
Typically, the radiating surface is not delivered to the installation site as a one-piece radiating surface, that is to say the radiant ceiling panel is not delivered in one piece. Rather, a plurality of pieces of the radiant ceiling panel are usually provided, each comprising one piece of the radiating surface and one piece of the tube system arranged thereon.
For assembly, the pieces of the tube system can then be assembled as the different radiant ceiling panel pieces are brought towards each other, and a part of the assembly region or the entire assembly region can then preferably be provided with a screen panel which likewise provides a part of the radiating surface.
In particular, the assembly region does not refer exclusively to the region of said screen panel. Rather, the assembly region can be somewhat broader or larger. Consequently, the at least two portions of the tube system do not have to be guided together and/or apart in the region of the screen panel. This can also be done at a distance, in the region of another radiating surface piece or radiant ceiling plate piece, which is thus included by the general assembly region.
Crucially, guiding the at least two portions together and back apart again simplifies the assembly of the entire radiant ceiling panel by minimizing the number of coupling points of the tube system.
In particular, of course, more than two portions, for example three or four or even more portions, can be guided together and back apart again.
It is, however, consequently also possible to provide several tuples (that is to say, for example, pairs) of at least two portions on the radiating surface, which are in each case guided together and apart again in the assembly region.
Even though the latter case provides for more than one coupling point for the tube system for the assembly of a radiant ceiling panel in the assembly region, the total number of coupling points can be minimized in this way.
A radiant ceiling panel typically comprises, on the whole, a radiating surface and a tube system arranged thereon. In accordance with the invention, the tube system has at least two portions here fluidically connected in parallel. This means that the medium or fluid (in particular water) does not pass through these two portions one after the other (as in the case of a tube meander, for example), but substantially alternatively or simultaneously. Consequently, part of the fluid flows or is directed along a bifurcation along the first portion and another part of the fluid along the other portion.
According to a preferred embodiment, the tube system is secured here directly to (or on the upper side of) the radiating surface. For this purpose, for example, heat conducting elements such as heat conducting plates can be provided. These can overlap parts of the tube system, for example.
Alternatively, the tube system can be welded or similar directly to the radiating surface.
“Directly” in the sense of the invention means that the tube system is not first assembled on an intermediate plate, which is then assembled on or adhesively bonded to the radiating surface, but that preferably no further intermediate elements are actually provided here.
Alternatively, the tube system can also rest on a heat conducting element, at least in portions, and thus indirectly on the radiating surface.
In contrast to the prior art mentioned at the outset, a very large reduction in weight can be made possible in accordance with the invention, since the tube system is made in particular of copper, aluminum or stainless steel.
The radiating surface can be provided in particular by a cassette.
In this sense, the radiating surface or the cassette can consist of aluminum in particular.
According to the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube system is arranged on a flat radiating surface or on a planar radiating surface. In contrast to the prior art, in which the radiating surface provides corrugations into which the tube system is inserted, the preferred arrangement on a planar radiating surface has the advantage of much better heat transfer and a more variable arrangement.
The efficiency of the entire radiant ceiling panel can be further increased by the tube system (or at least some regions or portions) having a D-shaped configuration in cross-section, wherein the flat side can then rest on the planar radiating surface to further improve the heat conduction.
The radiant ceiling panel is intended for air conditioning of a room. In particular, the room can be heated. Alternatively, however, a radiant ceiling panel can also be used in cases where the room is to be cooled (in the manner of an air conditioner). Depending on the design, either cooled or heated fluid is then conducted in the tube system.
Radiant ceiling panels are typically suspended from the ceiling of a room (for example, a hall). In contrast to other types of surface heat exchangers, they are not installed in the ceiling or plastered over or clad there. Therefore, there are typically no other elements arranged (such as plasterboard or the like) on their underside.
Rather, the underside of a radiant ceiling panel is typically directly visible to an observer located in the room (in this context, it should be noted that a corrugation-free radiating surface has appearance-related advantages here).
Such a room is typically delimited by the ceiling, a floor region, and at least one wall. However, some or all of these walls may also be omitted as appropriate. The room is thus defined in particular by the ceiling region and the floor region of the room.
For fastening to this ceiling there is provided a fastening system in the manner of a freely suspended fastening.
In this context, “freely suspended” is understood to mean a system that allows the radiant ceiling panel to be fastened to the ceiling without being placed on supports or rails or the like. Rather, the term “freely suspended” is intended to make it clear that the radiant ceiling panel is secured to the ceiling at the top by means arranged above the panel, for example by ropes/cables, rods, threaded rods or the like (in particular rod-shaped bodies).
The fastening system can optionally have mounting rails, in particular on the ceiling side. One or more radiant ceiling panels can then simply be hung from the mounting rails and are thus already oriented in particular.
The radiant ceiling panel can either comprise such a fastening system (for example, the radiant ceiling panel can be distributed together with ropes or the like). Alternatively, the radiant ceiling panel may merely include means for interacting with such a system. In this case, for example, receptacles, grooves, holes, eyelets, (transverse) webs, holes or the like may be provided on the radiant ceiling panel and may interact with means of a corresponding fastening system (for example, may be engaged from behind or engaged through by the latter).
Here, it should also be noted that the at least two portions of the tube system fluidically connected in parallel can in particular also be arranged in parallel, which allows a particularly space-saving arrangement on the radiating surface.
In accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least two portions are guided together and apart again on or above the radiating surface. That is to say in particular that the region in which the two portions are guided together is typically also located on/above the radiating surface (and not, for example, in a gap). This also includes the case where the region in which the two portions are guided together is covered by a screen panel which provides part of the radiating surface.
Alternatively, however, it could also be provided that the region in which the two portions are guided together remains uncovered by a screen panel or the like.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tube system has a planar underside. As already indicated above, this allows a preferred, clearer appearance and is provided in particular for the case where the radiating surface is corrugation-free.
According to the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the radiating surface is provided by a cassette.
This means that the radiant ceiling panel as a whole comprises a cassette consisting of a radiating surface and (lateral) delimiting elements, which can in particular protrude at right angles from the radiating surface.
Typically, the radiating surface and the lateral delimiting elements are formed as one piece in an integrally-bonded manner.
Preferably, the cassette can consist of aluminum.
In the case of a cassette, the lateral delimiting elements initially allow the radiant ceiling panel to have a shell-like configuration, so that, for example, condensation or dust or the like located above the radiating surface cannot simply fall or flow down sideways from the radiant ceiling panel.
Such a configuration also allows, for example, the mounting of insulating materials in the radiant ceiling panel (above the tube system), which can serve to improve the acoustics and/or the thermal conductivity of the radiant ceiling panel.
Lastly, the delimiting elements also ensure a certain stability of the radiant ceiling panel as a whole or of the one radiant ceiling panel piece or cassette piece. In particular, they counteract any twisting of the radiant ceiling panel.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the radiating surface preferably consists of a plurality of pieces, specifically in particular in the longitudinal direction of the radiant ceiling panel.
Thus, the longitudinal direction is the direction of greatest extent of the radiant ceiling panel.
Typically, the cassette also consists of a plurality of parts, which are (must be) fitted together to assemble the radiant ceiling panel.
If the radiant ceiling panel consists of a plurality of pieces, it may thus be particularly advantageous provided that the radiating surface in the assembly region has a shorter piece, which is arranged between two longer pieces.
This piece may be referred to in particular as a screen panel. This can preferably form a piece of a cassette, given the case that the radiating surface is provided fundamentally by a cassette.
The shorter piece is typically attached here to the radiant ceiling panel during the installation process, after the corresponding tube system coupling points/tube system pieces have been connected in the assembly region.
In particular, special assembly means can be assigned to the shorter piece of the radiating surface and allow this piece to be assembled on the longer pieces with some clearance. Variable assembly means can thus be provided.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the radiant ceiling panel has, in addition to the aforementioned at least two portions of the tube system, at least two further portions (in particular likewise arranged in parallel) which are likewise fluidically connected in parallel with one another and which are likewise guided together and back apart again in the assembly region, wherein these two portions are then connected in parallel as a whole to the first-mentioned at least two portions.
In particular, this means that at least two coupling points of the tube system are formed in the assembly region: one for each of said at least two portions.
Here, it should be noted that the tube system, in respect of its portions, can be completely guided together at the beginning or at the end of the radiant ceiling panel (in particular as considered in the longitudinal direction), so that, at each end of the radiant ceiling panel, there is typically a connection for the fluid to be conducted.
In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tube system is fixed, at least in portions, to the radiating surface with the aid of heat conducting elements. Preferably, so-called heat-conducting plates can be used for this purpose, which in particular overlap straight portions of the tube system and are fixed with their wings to the radiating surface (for example are glued there or welded or similar). Alternatively, however, the tube system can also be fastened, for example directly welded, to the radiating surface without heat conducting elements.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, it achieves the object with a method for producing a radiant ceiling panel according to claim 10. In particular, this method comprises first securing at least two portions, fluidically connected in parallel, on a first piece of a radiating surface. These portions converge. The convergence may, but does not have to, occur on the first piece of the radiating surface.
The same applies to a second piece of the radiating surface, on which two portions (again) converge.
In accordance with the method, to complete or develop the radiant ceiling panel, the two pieces are guided towards one another in one direction, and then the coupling point of the tube system is connected first.
Preferably, the assembly region can then be covered or screened with a third, in particular shorter, piece of the radiating surface, for example a screen panel.
In this respect, it should be noted that all features and advantages which have been described above or will be described below with respect to the radiant ceiling panel according to the invention are of course also transferable to the method according to the invention and vice versa. These features and advantages are not explicitly repeated here, merely for reasons of clarity of the application.
Further advantages of the present invention will become clear from any dependent claims not cited and from the following description of the figures, in which:
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described by way of example in the following figure description, also with reference to the drawings. For the sake of clarity—also insofar as different exemplary embodiments are concerned—identical or comparable parts or elements or regions are designated here with the same reference characters, sometimes with the addition of small letters, numbers and/or apostrophes. The same applies to the claims following the figure description.
Features described only in relation to one exemplary embodiment can also be provided in any other exemplary embodiment of the invention within the scope of the invention. Such modified exemplary embodiments—even if not shown in the drawings—are included by the invention.
All disclosed features are essential to the invention in themselves. The disclosure of the application hereby also includes the content of the disclosure of any associated priority documents (copy of the prior application) as well as of any cited printed documentation and the described prior art devices in their entirety, also for the purpose of including individual or several features of these documents in one or several claims of the present application.
Both radiant ceiling panels have a length L and a width B, wherein the length L of the radiant ceiling panels exceeds their respective width B by a multiple. In other words, the radiant ceiling panels are configured elongate.
The radiant ceiling panels 10 and 10′ are provided for air conditioning of the room 11, wherein the room 11 is formed by way of example by a floor 12, at least one wall 14, and a merely indicated ceiling 13.
The room 11 may typically contain objects 15 of any type (for example machinery, planter boxes, storage racks, office desks, or the like), particularly in the region of the floor 12.
These are merely indicated in
The radiant ceiling panels 10 or 10′ serve to heat the room 11 by way of example (but can serve to cool it in alternative configurations).
The radiant ceiling panels 10 according to
Such a cassette 16 consists here of a radiating surface 17 and lateral delimitations or edges 18.
The cassettes 16 can each support a tube system, not yet shown in
According to
It can already be seen from
This is not the case in the prior art: As
This is achieved in a different manner by the radiant ceiling panel according to the invention, as shown in
It can be taken from
The two portions 21 and 22 of the tube system 20 visible in
In particular, as shown in
The tube system 20 or the tube portions 21 and 22 are secured to the radiating surface 17 with the aid of heat conducting elements 23. The heat conducting elements 23 are formed by way of example as strip-like heat conducting plates.
In this case, the heat conducting plates 23 overlap the upper side of the tube system 20 or the portions 21, 22 and are fastened, for example adhesively bonded, with their wings to the upper side 26 of the radiating surface 17 (wherein a corresponding adhesive layer is not visible in
Lastly, it should be noted that
In
In the two end regions 29 and 30 of the piece 27, these three portions 21, 22 and 28 are guided together and in each case converge in a collector piece 31, 31′.
For this purpose, the convergence can take place close to or in the corresponding end region 29, 30 or also at some distance from the actual edge.
Finally, cross struts 32 of the cassette 16 can also be seen in
Also in
It can be seen particularly clearly from
An example of such an assembly region is circled by way of example in
Consequently, the portions 21, 22, 28 are fluidically connected in parallel, as already explained, but the individual pieces 33, 27 and 34 of the radiant ceiling panel 10 are fluidically connected in series.
Therefore, the radiant ceiling panel 10 in each case has a connection 37 with an inlet tube 38 and an outlet tube 39, respectively, both in its start region 35 and in its end region 36.
Of course, the radiant ceiling panel 10 can be connected to a fluid distribution system and, if necessary, can be connected in parallel to other radiant ceiling panels or similar.
The assembly region 40, which is shown circled in
As indicated in
For installation purposes, the connecting piece 41 can, for example, be placed on one of the collecting pieces 31′ or 31″ and then the two radiant ceiling panel pieces 27, 34 can be moved towards each other and the corresponding other collecting piece 31′ or 31″ can then also be inserted into the port 41.
With such an installation, the end region 29 of the radiant ceiling panel piece 27 and the end region 42 of the radiant ceiling panel piece 34 are actually located spaced apart from one another. This is also discernible in
A further special feature of the assembling of the radiant ceiling panel 10 according to the invention is that a screen panel 43 can be provided in the assembly region 40. The screen panel 43 is thus a piece of the cassette 16, which is configured to be shorter in the longitudinal direction I, in particular, than the pieces 27 and 34. For example, the screen panel 43 can simply be clipped to the pieces 27, 34 or to their cassette portions, pushed in or the like.
For a user located in the room 11, however, there is still a homogeneous appearance of the radiant ceiling panel 10 according to the invention. In particular, the screen panel 43 also provides part of the radiating surface 17.
Typically, the screen panel 43 consists of the same material as the cassette pieces or radiating surface pieces, specifically preferably of aluminum.
The tube system 20 according to all exemplary embodiments may consist of copper or of stainless steel.
Lastly, reference is made to a last exemplary embodiment according to
In this exemplary embodiment, a radiating surface 17′ is not associated with three portions of the tube system, but with four of them, specifically portions 21, 22, and 44 and 45.
In this exemplary embodiment, in each case two of the portions, specifically portions 21 and 22 on the one hand and portions 44 and 45 on the other hand, form a pair of portions. In each of these pairs, the two portions are guided together and back apart again in an assembly region 40. This results in two coupling points. In particular, therefore, in this exemplary embodiment, two connecting pieces 41, 41′ are provided.
As in the above exemplary embodiments, this embodiment reduces the number of coupling points of the tube system 20′, even if not all portions converge in exactly one connection, but two (separate) connections are provided. Nevertheless, this reduces the number of connections or coupling points.
This exemplary embodiment according to
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2021 117 536.4 | Jul 2021 | DE | national |