WO2005064240A1

WO2005064240A1 - Floor heating system in particular electric floor heating system

Info

Publication number: WO2005064240A1
Application number: PCT/DK2003/000842
Authority: WO
Inventors: Flemming Bjørn HANSEN
Original assignee: Dansk Varmekabel Aps
Priority date: 2003-12-10
Filing date: 2003-12-10
Publication date: 2005-07-14
Also published as: EP1706674A1; AU2003304663A1; CN1878988A; CN100439626C

Abstract

There is a described a floor heating system, in particular an electric floor heating system, comprising heat distribution plates or sections (2) with mutually parallel sectional grooves (2) for receiving electric heating cables (14) or liquid-filled heating tubes, where the heat distribution plates or sections (2) are constituted by thin-walled extruded metal sections, preferably of aluminium, and which along opposite long sides are designed with mutually complementing connecting members (10, 12). In a simple way is hereby achieved an improved floor heating system with a self-supporting heat distribution plate that is readily built up by assembling relatively narrow elongated heat distribution plates or sections, and which in a simple way can meet the previously mentioned problems or drawbacks by the hitherto known floor heating systems, particularly electric heating floor systems for retrofitting.

Description

Floor heating system, in particular electric floor heating system

Field of the Invention The present invention concerns a floor heating system and of the kind indicated in the preamble of claim 1.

Background of the Invention

Floor heating systems of the type in question can be established in the following ways: - Using an electric heating film which is laid upon an insulating plate under e.g. a parquet floor. Installation height typically 4 - 6 mm.

- Using electric heating cables or liquid-filled heating tube, requiring reinforcement of the floor with boards and groutning in electric cables or water-filled heating tubes in a cement-based casting mass. Installation height typically 25 - 50 mm.

- Use of sandwich floor heating plate. The sandwich consists of an insulating basic plate covered with a heat distribution aluminium sheet. The heating cable is always of the self-regulating type (parallel resistant heating cable). Installation height typically 12 - 50 mm.

- Use of heat distributing plates fixed by bearers laid upon the floor which is only used for liquid based floor heating systems. Installation height typically at least 30 mm.

The use of electric heating film is an expensive solution, and grouting of heating cables/tubes is expensive, complicated and causes the installation height to be increased typically with at least 30 mm. Existing sandwich floor plates are very thick (12 mm) and are also increasing the installation height pretty much. The installation height is of vital importance, as the floor heating system according to the present invention particularly adresses the market for retrofitting floor heating. Throughout the recent years focus has been on developing floor heating systems that reduce the installation height as much as possible.

The installation height is entirely decisive as to whether the system may be installed in a room. If the installation height is increased with more than 8-10 mm, it may be associated with large extra expenses as it may entail that doors are to be elevated, that electric installations are to be moved, and that floor-to-ceiling windows are to be changed.

The type of electric floor heating systems concerned is used to a great extent for indoor room heating, but among alternative applications outdoor facilities for melting snow and ice, e.g. on outdoor stairs, and surface heating systems for use in industrial processing plants may be mentioned.

Purpose of the Invention

On this background, it is the purpose of the present invention to indicate an improved floor heating system of the kind mentioned in the introduction, and which in a simple way can meet the previously mentioned problems or drawbacks of floor heating systems, particularly electric floor heating systems for retrofitting.

Short Description of the Invention

The floor heating system according to the invention is characterised in that the said heat distribution plates are constituted by thin-walled metal sections which are made by extrusion, preferably of aluminium, and which along opposite long sides are designed with mutually complementing connecting members. In a simple way is hereby achieved an improved floor heating system with a self-supporting heat distribution plate that is readily built up by asssembling relatively narrow elongated heat distribution plates or heat distribution sections, and which in a simple way can meet the previously mentioned problems or drawbacks of the hitherto known floor heating systems, particularly electric heating floor systems for retrofitting. The floor heating system according to the invention may suitably be designed so that the said heat distribution plates at an upper side and between the said sectional grooves are designed with straight longitudinal support faces that run in parallel with lower longitudinal support edges at the underside of the said sectional groove.

For example, the floor heating system according to the invention may thus be designed that the mutual spacing between the said sectional grooves is > 10 mm and < 15 mm, that the width of the heat distribution plates is > 80 mm and < 100 mm, and that the total height of the heat distribution plates is > 4 mm and < 5 mm.

Preferably, the floor heating system according to the invention is furthermore designed so that each of the heat distribution plates is designed with six of the longitudinal sectional grooves that each has a cross-section with a longitudinal cylindric cavity with a diameter > 3.4 mm and < 3.7 mm.

With the intention of facilitating integration of the floor heating system directly in a floor structure as a continuous stable plate member, according to the invention this may advantageously be designed so that the complementing connecting members along opposite long sides of the heat distribution plates at one side are constituted by a female part in the shape of a longitudinal slot with projecting support flange, the female part preferably integrated with the outer side of one of the sectional grooves. And it is suitable that the complementing connecting members along opposite long sides of the heat distribution plates at the other long side are constituted by a male part in the shape of a longitudinal downwards sloping lip part which at a rear side is designed with a longitudinal projection adapted for interacting with the support flange at the transition between the latter and the slot.

With regard to further facilitate adaptation of the floor heating system according to the invention to specific floor surfaces, it may be advantageous that the heat distribution plates or sections are designed with a length of e.g. 500 mm, and that the heat distribution plates or sections are divided by means of transverse dividing means into a number of sections, e.g. ten sections, each with a length of 50 mm. Of course, there will be nothing to hinder that the total length and the individual sections of the heat distribution plates or sections can have any other suitable length and consist of another suitable number of sections.

Suitably, the floor heating system according to the invention may furthermore be designed with advantage so that the transverse dividing means are constituted by a number of elongated holes that are punched out opposite the sectional grooves, tranversely to the longitudinal direction of the heating distribution plates, and of double-sided tranverse stampings between the sectional grooves. Hereby it becomes extra easy to break off the heat distribution plates or the heat distribution sections along the indicated transverse dividing means in desired length with the purpose of adaptation to a specific floor surface in a room.

Short Description of the Drawing

The invention is explained in more detail in connection with the drawing on which:

Fig. 1 shows a view of an embodiment of a floor heating system according to the invention, shown laid out upon a floor surface consisting of a chipboard;

Fig. 2 shows a view of a corresponding embodiment of a floor heating system according to the invention, shown with small mutual spacing between electric heating cables, i.e. corresponding to a high power floor heating system;

Fig. 3 shows a view of a corresponding embodiment of a floor heating system according to the invention, shown with large mutual spacing between electric heating cables, i.e. corresponding to a low power floor heating system;

Fig. 4 shows a close-up view of a floor heating system according to the invention and corresponding to the floor heating system shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a heat distribution plate or section for a floor heating system according to the invention; Fig. 6 shows a combined end and sectional view of two assembled heat distribution plates or sections for a floor heating system according to the invention;

Fig. 7 shows a enlarged partial sectional view of a male part of a connecting member of a heat distribution plate or section for a floor heating system according to the invention;

Fig. 8 shows a enlarged partially sectional view of a female part of a connecting member of a heat distribution plate or section for a floor heating system according to the invention;

Fig. 9 shows a plane view of a second embodiment of a heat distribution plate for a floor heating system according to the invention; and

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged detail of the heat distribution plate shown in Fig. 9.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In Fig. 1 is shown a floor heating system under construction and consisting of a number of heat distribution plates or sections 2 made of aluminium, and which are supported on a chipboard 4, as between the heat distribution plates or sections 2 and the chipboard 4 there is disposed a step attenuating layer 6 of paper or felt. Each of the heat distribution plates or sections 2 is designed with six mutually parallel sectional grooves 8, most clearly appearing from Fig. 5, and the heat distribution plates or sections 2 are designed with mutually complementing connecting members along opposite long sides in the shape of a male part 10 (Fig. 7) and a female part 12 (Fig. 8), respectively, so that the heat distribution plates or sections 2 may easily be assembled without using tools into one continuous heat distribution surface.

Furthermore, it appears form Figs. 1 - 4 that in the sectional grooves 8 there is placed a heating cable 14, and that the actual power of the floor heating system is determined by how close the individual turns or sub-distances of the heating cable 14 are disposed in relation to each other, as Fig. 2 illustrates a floor heating system with large power where the mutual spacing between the turns of the heating cable is small, while Fig. 3 illustrates a floor heating system with small power where the mutual spacing between turns of the heat is large.

At opposite ends of the heat distribution plates or sections 2, edge strips 16 are disposed, also consisting of aluminium and having the purpose of acting as cooling surface or heat distribution surface for the heating cable 14 when this is to be led from one sectional groove 8 to another sectional groove 8, so that these lengths of the heating cable 14 are not overloaded also.

The male part 10 (Fig. 7) consists of a longitudinal downwards sloping flange 18 which at a pointed end is designed with a longitudinal nose part 19, and which at a back side is designed with a longitudinal projection 20 intended for bearing against an inner edge part 17 of a longitudinal support flange 22 of the female part 12 (Fig. 8), when the male part flange 18 has been inserted into the longitudinal slot 21 of the male part 12 so that the nose part 19 is disposed under a lower longitudinal edge 23 at the bottom of slot 21.

At the underside of the heat distribution plate or section 2, the female part 12 is designed with a longitudinal support edge 24 running in parallel with the corresponding lower support edges 26 opposite the sectional grooves 8, the cross- sections of which most clearly appear from Fig. 8. The sectional grooves 8 are adapted for receiving and fixing a heating cable 14 with outer diameter of about 3.5 mm, as the width of an opening into the sectional grooves 8 is < 3.5 mm.

The heat distribution plates or sections 2 are designed with straight longitudinal support faces 28 between the sectional grooves 8, the faces 28 together forming a support surface running in parallel with the lower support edges 24 and 26, respectively. The heat distribution plates or heat distribution sections 2 have a total thickness (height) of 4.5 mm. The mutual spacing between the sectional grooves is 13.8 mm, and the total width of the heat distribution plates or sections 2 is 88 mm, including the male part 10 and the female part 12. The length of the heat distribution plates or sections 2 is preferably 500 mm, as the heat distribution plates or sections 2 are divided into e.g. five sections 30 by means of transverse weakening grooves 32.

A preferred embodiment of the heat distribution plates or sections 2 is shown in Fig. 9, where transverse weakening grooves 34 are constituted by elongated holes 36 that are punched transversely across the sectional grooves 8, and by double-sided stampings 38 made between the elongated holes 36. The double-sided stampings 38 are most clearly shown on Fig. 10 that furthermore shows that the stampings 38 each has a depth of 0.3 mm of the total material thickness of 1 mm, i.e. the weakening grooves 34 only have a material thickness of 0.4 mm.

At opposite sides of the heat distribution plates or sections 2, these are furthermore designed with punched side cutouts opposite the male part 10 and the female part 12, with the purpose of completing the dividing means so that the heat distribution; plates or the heat distribution sections 2 are easy to break for adapting their length.

In other words, the floor heating system according to the invention is adapted for establishing floor heating systems upon wooden floors without any additional floor reinforcement. Hereby, a very simple installation and a very low installation height < 5mm is achieved compared with existing floor heating plates with installation height >

12 mm. Besides, the total costs for establishing floor heating systems are are lesser.

The heat distribution plates or sections 2 may be used in connection with common serial resistance heating cables, as the heating cable 14 has heat dissipation over its entire length/extension. Serial resistance heating cables with insufficient heat dissipation will burn off. Serial resistance cables may be produced with substantially less dimensions and at lower price compared with parallel resistance heating cables (self-regulating).

The heat distribution plates or sections 2 are designed with rows of relatively closely- spaced parallel sectional grooves 8 that e.g. have inverted Ω-profile, and which can fix electric heating cables with small diameter of e.g. 3 - 3.5 mm with the purpose of minimising the installation height.

The heat distribution plates or sections 2 have mutual electric connection and thereby functions as one assembled metal plate covering the entire floor surface. Hereby is achieved capacitive coupling between the possible shielding wires of the heating cables and the metal sheet. The effect of this is that the floor heating system reduces electrostatic charging on the whole floor surface inasmuch the heating cable shielding is electrically earthed.

The heat distribution plates or sections 2 are unique in that they are capable of carrying an superjacent flooring alone. It is thus not necessary to use a foam material, e.g. polystyrene foam, for ensuring the required carrying capacity or support.

A further advantage of the floor heating system according to the invention is that the floor heating power (W/m²) is variable with the same system plate. The floor heating system may have a power yield from e.g. about 10 W/m² to 300 W/m², depending on how many of the sectional grooves 8 are provided with heating cables. On floors with wooden covering, like parquet floors, typically 60-70 W/m² are applied. This corresponds to 10 W/m heating cable disposed at a mutual spacing corresponding to ten sectional grooves. If slightly greater power of e.g. 100 W/m² is wanted, the spacing is reduced to six sectional grooves.

With one and the same type of heat distribution plates or sections 2 and one and the same heating cable (W/m²) in the floor heating system, by varying the distance between heating cable lengths varying floor heating power in the floor is achieved. At edge zones, where a higher floor heating power is desired compared with the remaining part of the floor, this may be attained in a simple way by reducing the distance between the cables. By the combination of heat distribution plates or sections 2 and edge sections of metal sheets, which are also joined so that the entire floor can be covered 100%, a considerable fire-retarding effect is achieved.

Claims

PATENTKRAV

1. Floor heating system, in particular electric floor heating system, including heat distribution plates or sections (2) with mutually parallel sectional grooves (8) for accommodating electric heating cables (14) or liquid-filled heating tubes, characterised in that the heat distribution plates or sections (2) are constituted by thin-walled metal sections which are made by extrusion, preferably of aluminium, and which along opposite long sides are designed with mutually complementing connecting members (10, 12).

2. Floor heating system according to claim 1, characterised in that the heat distribution plates or sections (2) at an upper side and between the said sectional grooves are designed with straight longitudinal support faces (28) that run in parallel with lower longitudinal support edges (26) at the underside of the said sectional groove (8).

3. Floor heating system according to claim 1, characterised in that the mutual spacing between the said sectional grooves (8) is > 10 mm and < 15 mm, that the width of the heat distribution plates (2) is > 80 mm and < 100 mm, and that the total height of the heat distribution plates (2) is > 4 mm and < 5 mm.

4. Floor heating system according to claims 1 and 3, characterised in that each of the heat distribution plates or sections (2) are designed with six of the longitudinal sectional grooves (8), and that each of these has a cross-section with a longitudinal cylindric cavity with a diameter > 3.4 mm and < 3.7 mm.

5. Floor heating system according to claim 1, characterised in that the complementing connecting members along opposite long sides of the heat distribution plates or sections (2) at one side are constituted by a female part (12) in the shape of a longitudinal slot (21) with projecting support flange (22), the female part (12) preferably integrated with the outer side of one of the sectional grooves (8).

6. Floor heating system according to claim 1 and 5, characterised in that the complementing connecting members along opposite long sides of the heat distribution plates or sections (2) at the other long side are constituted by a male part (10) in the shape of a longitudinal downwards sloping lip part (18) which at a rear side is designed with a longitudinal projection (20) adapted for interacting with the support flange (22) at the transition between the latter and the slot (21) of the female part (12).

7. Floor heating system according to claim 1, characterised in that the heat distribution plates or sections (2) are designed with a length of e.g. 500 mm, and that the heat distribution plates or sections (2) by means of transverse dividing means are divided into a number of sections, e.g. ten sections, each with a length of 50 mm.

8. Floor heating system according to claim 7, characterised in that the dividing means are constituted by a number of elongated holes (36) that are punched out for the sectional grooves (8) tranversely of the longitudinal direction of the heating distribution plates or sections, and of double-sided tranverse stampings (38) between the sectional grooves (8).