FR2970723A1 - Hollow prefabricated structural foundation block for forming Canadian well integrated in foundations of e.g. flats, has self-bearing structure satisfying functions of Canadian well, hidden in ground, and directly supporting walls - Google Patents

Abstract

The block (1) has a self-bearing structure satisfying functions of a Canadian well, where the block is parallelepiped in shape and made of concrete. The structure is hidden in a ground, and supports walls of a building directly. A foundation element has a hollow interior section (2) allowing circulation of air between an air inlet and an air outlet of the building, where two surfaces of the block are opened. Bottom of the block is provided with precuts (3).

Description

2970723 -1-

Prefabricated Hollow Concrete Foundation Structural Block for Canadian Well Use

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a structural block of prefabricated concrete foundation, and its particular use making it possible to: quickly build foundations of construction works by simply assembling these blocks together, and - build large-sized Canadian wells using different assemblies to heat or cool new air introduced into residential and tertiary buildings.

State of the art The use of Canadian wells has been known for a long time in the field of renewable energies whose definition can be worded as follows: "Can be qualified as renewable energy energy that is reconstituted at the same rate as that at which we consume it.

This is the case of the Canadian well that uses the lag of the seasons to: accumulate solar heat in summer in the land, which allows it to be returned in winter, to preheat the fresh air introduced into the buildings, accumulate the freshness in winter, which allows to restore it in summer, to refresh fresh air introduced into buildings.

The heat transfer between the earth and the fluid circulating in the Canadian well being carried out by any suitable means of exchange, such as a flow of air, but also pure or glycol water, phase change materials or refrigerants ...

In the current state of the art, Canadian wells consist of an assembly of one or more pipes buried in the ground, at a depth commonly between one and two meters, with a current gap between the pipes equal to one meter. , so as to concern a surface area substantially equal to half the surface of the building to be served. A preliminary study determines the location and orientation of the Canadian well, the land being ideally located on a southeastern hillside. But this choice is often imposed by the places, without latitude to modify it. 2970723 -2-

However, the achievements of Canadian wells by buried pipes in the soil near buildings also have many disadvantages: - the surface occupied by the Canadian well alienates the area, more than 5 possibility of building, or planting trees (roots), - the eventual repair plan will disappear at a more or less long term (the Canadian well is planned to last 100 years), and the equipment is rarely mentioned in the notarial act; with the consequent risk of destruction of the structure during a future earthworks or extension of construction. In the estimated productivity equation of a Canadian well, several variables can be classified into two categories: - fixed variables imposed by the place: this is the case of the nature of the terrain, sandy or rocky which has a soil thermal conductivity coefficient: 1 of between 0.5 and 2.5 W / m.sup.-2 K, depending mainly on the saturation of the soil in water, and free parameters which can be vary: this is the case of the air flow rate in the pipes, which must be at least 1.5 m / s to maintain a turbulent flow, but must remain below 3.5 m / s in order to avoid excessive pressure drops, which lead to over-consumption of the fan; this parameter being adjusted by the appropriate choice of the section of the pipe and if necessary, the paralleling of several pipes of identical sections. In general, the natural heat exchanges with the ground are characterized by their low specific heat flux density, which limits the power delivered by the Canadian wells, which is currently estimated at 30 watts per linear meter of pipe. Under these conditions, a person skilled in the art easily demonstrates that it is useless to seek to improve the efficiency of these heat exchanges in the absence of a exploitable dense resource, such as a geothermal field, this variable thus remaining secondary. Similarly, a person skilled in the art easily demonstrates, by calculation, the heat transfers effected in the system: earth -> tube -> air, that the nature of the material constituting the wall of the Canadian well pipeline is of no real importance on the heat exchanges, whether it consists of an insulating plastic such as polyethylene, a concrete wall, or a good conductor metal such as cast iron, because it is the internal exchange in contact air that is limiting. 10 3 20 30 30 35 40 2970723 -3-

Canadian well designers are therefore forced to extend the siting of Canadian wells over a large area of land. These parameters of the floor area occupied by the Canadian well being the only effective variable, with secondarily the depth of burial, which make it possible to reach the expected performances. But in this case, the importance of earthworks and civil engineering generated by the burial of pipelines is directly proportional to the area covered by the Canadian well, and penalizes the financial balance of the realization whose return time reaches currently 25 years old. For example, to serve a building of 200 square meters, the realization of 100 meters of trenches, or stripping of 100 cubic meters of earth in the case of the preparation of a slope form buried at 1 meter depth, and set at 20/0, will be the first installation expense item for the Canadian well.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Our prefabricated concrete foundation blocks for use in Canadian wells overcome all these drawbacks: The present invention makes it possible to lift the barrier of the cost of civil engineering by avoiding the earth moving expenses advantageously for this purpose. the installation of the Canadian well uses the excavation carried out for the foundations of the building, or the networks of VRD, to bury the Canadian well. This arrangement is made possible thanks to the large size and the structural strength of the prefabricated concrete blocks that make up our Canadian well, which constitute the foundation that makes it possible to sit directly on the walls of the building. concerns the drainage of natural condensation that appears inside the pipes of Canadian wells. For this purpose, the inner wall of the prefabricated structural foundation blocks made of concrete, brought into contact with the air, retains moisture on its surface and prevents the water drops from beading and collecting in the form of a liquid condensate, which avoids establishing a slope of at least 2 ° / U; and allows to build the work horizontally on its foundations. - The third difficulty to be raised concerns the rules of good practice which require laying foundations at a sufficient depth to keep them outside the surface layer of earth that freezes in winter. However, the presence of an air circulation incorporated in the foundation may freeze the surrounding soil and lift the foundation. 5 15 20 25 30 35 40 2970723 - 4-

Currently, the solution implemented is to bi-pass the Canadian well in freezing weather, by opening an air register allowing a direct passage to mechanical ventilation. To this end, we have found several solutions that can be used alone or in combination: o Extend the air intake duct of the Canadian well outside the foundations, to a sufficient length so that it is only concerned by the gel; o Place thermal accumulator modules in the Canadian well inlet duct: pebbles, water pockets or phase-change material to increase the inertia of this section, which alone will be affected by freezing.

Description of the Invention A self-supporting structure consisting of hollow foundation blocks on which cast concrete slabs are cast, which make it possible to support and distribute the load of the walls of the buildings which are built up above; the characteristics of prefabricated concrete foundation blocks are typically the following: o the cross section of the blocks is 60 cm x 60 cm, where their length is 2.40 m, with a subdivision in lengths of: 0.60 m, 1.20m and 1.80m; o the blocks are simply superimposed to cross-joint without positioning bacons, which makes them removable and reusable, where the weight of each block gives the wall thus built a very important inertia and ensures great strength; o the length of the base of the block as for it ensures a great stability; o in the case of dry construction, the blocks have all the final characteristics of resistance as soon as they are laid, which makes it possible to build retaining walls with immediate backfill and flooded trench structures, with a saving of time and resources, The so-called hollow structural blocks are recessed in their center and abutted between them, to allow to establish a continuous air flow, so as to constitute the air duct of the Canadian well. 5 10 20 25 30 35 2970723 -5-

Advantageously, several layers of blocks can be stacked one on the other, so as to constitute several air passages in parallel (FIG. 5), the upper layer of the blocks being closed by a solid block row or a cover consisting of slabs of reinforced cement on which will be poured the footing of the reinforced concrete foundation; Advantageously, the mass of the concrete structural blocks has a great thermal inertia favorable to the thermal equilibrium of the building. According to the invention, the prefabricated hollow foundation block made of concrete for use in Canadian wells has the following characteristics: according to a first feature, several solid and hollow structural foundation blocks, prefabricated in concrete, and assembled together, constitute both the foundation carrying a construction and the air line of a Canadian well, according to a second feature, the prefabricated concrete foundation structural blocks are hollowed out at their center, and connected end-to-end so as to constitute a vein of air to allow the passage of the internal purge air to the Canadian well, according to a third characteristic, the first row of prefabricated concrete foundation structural blocks may consist of solid concrete blocks or closure plates on which the foundation foot has been cast, so that the lower row consists of structural blocks of he Canadian hollow well foundation is a closed air line; according to a fourth characteristic, the foundations of the structures are maintained frost-free by extending the air intake duct of the Canadian well upstream of the foundations, for a length sufficient for it to be solely concerned with the frost and placing in this inlet duct of the Canadian roller well, water pockets or thermal accumulator modules with phase change in order to increase the thermal inertia of this section subjected to freezing; According to a fifth characteristic, the inner wall of the concrete structural blocks, brought into contact with the saturated air, retains the moisture on its surface and prevents the water drops from beading and to collect in the form of a liquid condensate, according to a sixth characteristic, this moisture retention can be further improved by the application of a coating of whitewash, which further has a fungicidal effect, in a manner In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of block layers can be stacked on each other and communicate with each other via knock-out passages made in the bottom of the blocks, so as to constitute several air passages in parallel, which leads to reduce the overall pressure losses supported by mechanical ventilation; according to another particular embodiment of the invention, the assembly of several prefabricated hollow foundation structural blocks made of concrete makes it possible to form a retaining wall of land for use in a Canadian well, improving the tempering of a semi-structured basement such as a winery; according to another particular embodiment of the invention, the assembly of several prefabricated hollow concrete foundation structural blocks makes it possible to form the lining of a trench VRD, according to another particular embodiment of the invention. In the invention, the waterproof assembly of several prefabricated hollow concrete foundation structural blocks makes it possible to constitute a water retention pit for use at a Canadian well, placed under a washing area, according to a particular embodiment of the invention. the first row of prefabricated concrete foundation structural blocks may be made of solid concrete blocks, so that the upper row consisting of hollow foundation structural blocks for Canadian well use rises above the level of the water table, so that the air duct is not flooded by the rise of the water. 2970723 - 7-

- According to a particular embodiment, it is possible to stick on the assembled blocks a bituminous waterproofing hot or cold, this to the advancement; according to a general method of manufacture, the molding of the hollow blocks can be obtained from molds used for other fabrications having decorative moldings on demand on one, two or three outer faces, and abouts; according to a particular embodiment, it is planned to incorporate photovoltaic electrical production cells sufficient to supply the fan with autonomy, according to a general mode of use, it is possible to circulate strong or weak current lines 15 in the Canadian well, according to a general mode of realization of various networks, it is possible to circulate water pipes put on a Canadian well to use the trench common to the two structures (except at the beginning of the route, near the 20 air exposed to freezing); - according to a general mode of realization, the materials used for the manufacture of the Canadian well give to the wall built with the structural blocks a degree cut fire 6 hours - according to a particular disposition the Canadian well wall can be isolated by the outside or by inside; according to a general arrangement, the wall built with solid blocks has a better thermal inertia, - according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the prefabricated structural foundation blocks of concrete can be filled with pebbles, pockets of water or a phase change material to increase the thermal mass swept by the air flow therethrough; according to a general embodiment, the backfill is made to the progress thanks to the self-stable blocks; according to a general mode of construction, the wall of the structural blocks is self-stable, so it does not require shoring in temporary phase with a mobile bridge system called "assembly crew", likewise any scaffolding is useless. 2970723 - 8-

according to particular modes of implementation, prefabricated structural blocks for Canadian well use are applicable to all types of construction, civil engineering, housing .., and can be incorporated in: 5 o an above ground or semi-fence wall buried (the fence wall is subject to the same rule of foundation as a building construction - 70 cm frost-free - 150 cm on clay soil) o an internal and external basement wall (solid ground, 10 basement) o a traditional retaining wall up to 6 m00 height o a reinforced earth retaining wall and technical embankment (some are 50m high o isolated massive distributed under a building founded by 15 wells (max depth 5m00) - according to particular modes o BLOCKS buried for civil engineering and foundation works will be made of concrete 20 o Air BLOCKS intended for the walls of houses may be made of earth, earth and straw concrete, earth and wood.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a prefabricated Canadian hollow concrete hollow foundation structural block (1) having at its center a free section (2) for the passage of air. This structural block (1) is placed horizontally on a clean concrete (6) previously sunk at the bottom of the excavation. The bottom of the structural block (1) has at one end of a precut (3), which allows after cutting to achieve an air communication with the lower row. The "U" shaped structural block (1) is closed by a slab (4) of reinforced cement sealed to the cement-glue and forming a tight cover. The concrete footing (7) armed with reinforcing bars, relies on the structural block (1) and the slab (4) and supports the wall (12) of the building. The "Int. "Is the interior side of the building, which consists of a layer of insulation (8) of high density placed on the ground previously stripped and compacted, insulating on which was cast a concrete compression slab (9) covered with a cement screed (10), in which are drowned heating pipes which transmit heat to the floor (11) of the room, according to the principle of the heating slab. The reference "Ext. "Is the outside of the building. The entire Canadian well protected by an oil siding (13) is buried in a trench (14) drained at the bottom of the trench by a drain (5), and backfilled with sand and compacted earth. 25 30 35 40 5 2970723 - 9-

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of an assembly of prefabricated concrete foundation blocks (1) for Canadian well use, having in their center free sections (2) for the passage of air. These structural blocks (1) are placed in alternating rows over a height of 6 meters, so as to constitute a retaining wall which retains the layers of earth armed with geotextiles,

Figure 3 shows a top view of a structural block (1), armed with two tie rods;

4 shows in sectional view four alternating rows 10 of superimposed blocks (1), held by three layers of tie rods which are pinched between the layers of reinforced earth,

5 represents in elevation a retaining wall consisting of 6 rows of blocks (1) in alternating pose, whose funds are provided with a pre-cut (3) which allows after routing, to communicate the rows of air passages which goes to rank 1 and comes out at rank 6, and whose entry is marked "E" and the exit "S";

Figure 6 shows a top view of the right and left ends of the section of the same retaining wall of the thrust of the earth "T", made using structural blocks (1) prefabricated concrete foundation for use of Canadian well having at its center a free section (2) for the passage of air

7 represents a sectional view of a foundation structure of a retaining post, consisting of a square made with 6 rows marked R1 to R6, of structural blocks (1) buried and connected to each other so as to constitute a continuous stream of air, whose central exit is marked with the arrow "S";

8 represents an elevational view of this foundation structure of a retaining post, made with 6 floors of buried structural blocks, marked R1 to R6, connected to each other so as to constitute a continuous stream of air, of which the remote entry zone subjected to freezing is marked: "freezing", the air inlet being marked by the arrow "E" and the central air outlet being marked with the arrow "S";

Figures 9 to 12 show sectional views of a foundation structure of a retaining post, made with 6 floors of buried structural blocks connected together to form a continuous stream of air from a well. Canadian, whose deported entry is 10 - 30-

marked with the letter "E" is subject to frost "G" and the central exit is marked with the letter "S"; Figure 13 shows a top view, cut to 1 meter height, a vehicle wash area consisting of structural blocks (1) prefabricated hollow foundation concrete Canadian well use, built on its periphery with two belts of blocks having a continuous free section (2) for the passage of air; whose aerial entrance is indicated by the arrow "E" and the underground exit is marked with the arrow "S"; this area receiving at its center a water retention pit marked "WATER"; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view BB of said vehicle washing area consisting of prefabricated hollow concrete structural blocks (1) for Canadian well use, built on its periphery with two block belts (1) having a free cross section; (2) continuous for the passage of air; whose aerial entrance is indicated by the arrow "E" and the underground exit is marked with the arrow "S";

FIG. 15 represents a view in section AA, said vehicle washing area consisting of prefabricated hollow concrete structural blocks (1) for Canadian well use, having in its center a free section (2) for the passage of the air. These two structural block air belts (1) are placed under the filling level of the wash water holding tank, and connected to an "E" air intake pipe opening at a distance of one meter ten above the exterior ground level, and a buried "S" air outlet pipe running inward of the building. The air vein is filled with pebbles permeable to air. These structural blocks (1) are placed above a row of solid blocks, so as to rise above the water table level.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Other characteristic advantages will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which: several prefabricated concrete foundation structural blocks are used to build a retaining wall for Canadian well land, improving tempering of a semi-underground winery (Figs 5 &6); 5 10 15 20 2970723 -11-

the assembly of several prefabricated concrete foundation blocks makes it possible to form the foundation of a retaining post (Figures 7 to 12);

the assembly of several prefabricated concrete foundation structural blocks makes it possible to build a water retention pit for use at a Canadian well located under a washing area (Figures 13 to 15).

The invention is not limited to the various embodiments described above. Particularly, according to non-illustrated embodiments, the solution described is also valid for: - cylindrical or parallelepiped foundation blocks, as soon as they are hollow and allow passage of air; an assembly of the foundation blocks in all configurations: horizontal, vertical, arcuate or inclined slope; buried, semi-buried, or above-ground laying of the blocks; and that these blocks perform a function of foundation, trench cladding for miscellaneous branching or retaining, as long as it is associated with a Canadian well function. 5 10 15 20 25

Claims (12)

REVENDICATIONS1. Foundation block characterized in that it constitutes at the same time a carrying structure of the construction while fulfilling the functions of a Canadian well. 2. Structural block according to claim 1, intended to form the foundations of a construction, made by juxtaposition or assembly of prefabricated blocks, the structure being intended to be buried in the ground and being able to support the walls of said construction, directly or by a running shoe, characterized in that said foundation member has a hollow interior volume for the circulation of gaseous fluid, such as air, between a fluid inlet connected to the outside, and a fluid outlet connected within said construction. 3. hollow foundation structural block according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each block is generally parallelepipedal shape and is open on two opposite faces to define said hollow interior volume of gaseous fluid circulation. 4. hollow foundation structural block according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each block has an opening on a substantially transverse face to the two gaseous fluid circulation openings, said opening being intended to be turned towards the construction, each block having a cross section generally U-shaped, the structure further comprising a slab or equivalent to close said opening. 5. hollow foundation structural block according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a portion of the inner surface of each block has characteristics of condensation water retention. 2970723 -13- 6. hollow foundation structural block according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by its ability to form self-supporting structures of prefabricated blocks made of concrete without hooking reliefs. 7. hollow foundation structural blocks according to one of claims 1 to 6, assembled in the form of a structure characterized in that the self-supporting structure produced during its assembly comprises at least two rows of prefabricated blocks, arranged one on the other, each longitudinal row of blocks defining a Canadian well air circulation duct; a conduit being connected to the other conduit through an opening provided in at least the bottom of one of the blocks. 8. hollow foundation structural blocks assembled in the form of a structure according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the structure comprises at least one prefabricated block whose bottom has a pre-cut, delimiting a partial volume of said bottom may be removed to define an opening at the bottom of said block. 9. hollow foundation structural blocks according to one of claims 1 to 6, assembled in the form of a structure for producing a wall retaining wall, earth or equivalent, vertical and consisting of a plurality of prefabricated blocks, characterized in that it consists of a plurality of horizontal rows, made of several blocks assembled or juxtaposed, each block having an inner recess so as to define with the following blocks of the same row a conduit adapted to allow the circulation of a gaseous fluid such as air, each row being in communication with the row above and / or through an opening provided in the bottom of at least one block of each row. 10. hollow foundation structural blocks according to one of claims 1 to 6, assembled in the form of a Canadian well air duct structure, characterized in that this duct is extended by a section of the air duct disposed in series, upstream of the foundations, and which has a length sufficient for it to be solely concerned with the gel. 2970723 -14- 11. hollow foundation structural blocks assembled in the form of a Canadian well air duct structure, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the thermal inertia of this upstream section of the pipe subjected to freezing is increased by placing in this air intake duct of the Canadian well of the thermal storage modules; 12. hollow foundation structural blocks assembled in the form of a Canadian well air duct structure, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the thermal storage modules can be pebbles, pockets filled with water, or bags filled with a phase change material.