Heat transfer and building support system
OwnerHervin J. Bergeron, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for supporting and enabling heat transfer for a home or other building structure is described. A substantially non-heat conductive aggregate mass is supported on the ground site for the structure. The mass is enveloped with plastic sheeting to keep out ground water, and the slab or floor of the structure is supported in part on the enveloped mass. Apparatus for circulating air between the interior of the structure and the enveloped mass is provided.
Claims39
A method for supporting and enabling heat transfer for a generally enclosed structure which comprises:
- a. supporting on a ground site for the structure a substantially non-heat conductive structurally supportive mass of expanded aggregate having an "R" factor substantially above that of gravel;
- b. enveloping said mass with plastic sheet means for preventing water flow into said mass from the surrounding area;
- c. supporting on the enveloped aggregate mass a substantial portion of a slab or floor for said structure;
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- d. providing means for circulating air between the interior of the structure and the enveloped aggregate mass.
A method for transferring heat to and from a generally enclosed structure have a slab/floor portion comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an expanded clay lightweight aggregate mass on the underside of an enclosed structure which mass communicates with the slab/floor portion and is relatively non-conductive to heat;
- (b) blowing air from the inside of the generally enclosed structure through an opening in the slab/floor portion thereof to the aggregate mass;
- (c) circulating at least a portion of the air through the aggregate mass and in heat exchange relationship with (i) the earth below the aggregate mass, and (ii) the underside of said slab/floor portion;
- (d) returning the circulated air through provided air return lines to the interior of the generally enclosed structure.
In the process of constructing a building essentially on grade with a heating and cooling compartment beneath the floor, the improvement according to which the site is cleared and graded as needed, footings are dug, a plastic film barrier is placed over the cleared and graded site, a layer of expanded aggregate is spread over the film, the expanded aggregate layer having air ducts positioned therein to serve as incoming and outgoing conduits for air flow through the expanded aggregate, a plastic film barrier is placed over the top of the layer of expanded aggregate, apertures are formed in the last-named barrier to receive connecting portions of the conduits, those connecting portions are fitted through those apertures, at least some of the film barrier is extended into the dug-out footings, concrete footings are then poured to lock the expanded aggregate mass in place within the plastic film barriers, the film-covered top of the expanded aggregate mass is smoothed as needed to provide a base for the building floor, and the building floor is applied directly onto the film-covered top of the expanded aggregate mass.
A method for purifying and regulating the temperature of the air in an enclosed structure which comprises:
- a. continuously collecting air at a central location within the enclosed structure by means of a blower;
- b. continuously directing the collected air by means of the blower into a central interior location of a mass of substantially non-heat conductive structurally supportive expanded aggregate and causing the air to flow radially through and in contact with said mass towards the perimeter portions thereof so that the air is filtered and purified as it passes over and through said expanded aggregate;
- c. maintaining said mass enveloped within a film sheet envelope in contact with a supportive earth therebelow and a slab or floor thereabove so that as the air passes over and through said expanded aggregate within said envelope heat exchange is encouraged as between the flowing air and said supportive earth and as between the flowing air and said slab or floor and heat exchange between the flowing air and the aggregate mass is minimized because of the relatively high "R" factor of said substantially non-heat conductive expanded aggregate;
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- d. continuously collecting the flowing air at locations within the film sheet envelope around the perimeter of said mass and continuously directing the collected air into the interior of the enclosed structure at locations around the lower interior perimeter thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.