# US 5,609,200 A · Integral roof cooling container

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- Number: US 5,609,200 A
- Document ID: US5609200A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/277,925
- Filed: 1994-07-20
- Granted: 1997-03-11
- Earliest claimed: 1994-07-20
- Assignees: Zomeworks Corporation
- Inventors: David C. Harrison
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5609200A

## CPC

- F25D 9/00: Devices not associated with refrigerating machinery and not covered by groups F25D1/00 - F25D7/00; Combinations of devices covered by two or more of the groups F25D1/00 - F25D7/00
- A01K 1/0082: {Water misting or cooling systems}
- B29C 33/0016: {Lost moulds, e.g. staying on the moulded object (flexible bags without particular shape filled with expandable material B29C44/182; single use mandrels for winding and forming B29C53/822)}
- B29C 70/742: {Forming a hollow body around the preformed part}
- E04D 13/16: Insulating devices or arrangements in so far as the roof covering is concerned, {e.g. characterised by the material or composition of the roof insulating material or its integration in the roof structure}
- F24D 11/00: Central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses (self-contained storage heating units F24D15/02)
- F24F 5/0017: {using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice}
- B29C 41/04: Rotational or centrifugal casting, i.e. coating the inside of a mould by rotating the mould
- F25D 2331/804: Boxes
- Y02A 40/76: using renewable energy
- Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage
- Y02P 60/12: using renewable energies, e.g. solar water pumping
- Y10S 165/904: Radiation
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00)
- F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02)
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A passive temperature regulating system for cooling a structure exposed to extreme heat and a method for manufacturing the temperature regulator system. The system comprises at least one temperature regulator integrally formed to the roof of the structure. The temperature regulator is manufactured from a mold having a lower mold portion removably attached to an upper wall. The upper wall has an uneven lower surface and is adapted to be part of the roof. A resinous material is molded within the mold to form a container. After cooling, the lower portion is removed and the container remains an integral part of the upper wall because the melted plastic has conformed to the uneven lower surface of the upper wall. Thus, the container will remain in intimate contact with the roof, thereby supporting it own weight and eliminating the need for an expensive support system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A temperature regulator for use with a roof of a structure comprising:
a thermally conductive planar element having an uneven lower surface;
a molded container defining an inner chamber and having an upper surface integrally molded to the planar element such that the upper surface substantially conforms to the uneven lower surface thereby rigidly securing the container to the planar element;
a supply of water within the chamber, the water being in contact with a portion of a heat transfer area of the upper surface; and
insulation disposed in the chamber and located adjacent the upper surface, the insulation defining passages that allow the water to flow vertically through or around the insulation,
wherein the planar element contains a plurality of channels extending from the lower surface, the upper surface of the container conforming to the channels,
whereby heat is radiated from the water through the roof into the night sky, and heat transfer to an interior of the structure is minimized during the day by the insulation and the water.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The regulator of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the container is an integral part of the lower surface of the planar element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The regulator of claim 1 wherein the uneven lower surface has a plurality of protrusions, the upper surface of the container conforming to the protrusions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The regulator of claim 1 wherein the planar element is constructed of metal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The regulator of claim 1 wherein the container is constructed of plastic, the plastic being rotationally molded onto the lower surface of the planar element.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The regulator of claim 1 wherein the channels increase the surface area of the lower surface thereby increasing the effective heat transfer area between the lower surface and the upper surface of the container.

### Claim 7

A passively cooled structure comprising:
an enclosure including a roof having an interior surface that defines the upper boundary of an interior space, the roof having channels extending from the interior surface into the interior space to increase the effective heat transfer area of the interior surface; and
at least one temperature regulator positioned in the enclosure, each temperature regulator comprising:
a molded container defining an inner chamber and having an upper wall integrally molded to the roof such that the upper wall is an integral part of the interior surface and the channels thereby rigidly securing the container to the roof;
a supply of water filling the chamber, the water being in contact with essentially the entire effective heat transfer area of the upper planar element; and
insulation disposed in the chamber and located adjacent the upper wall, the insulation defining passages that allow the water to flow vertically through the insulation,
whereby heat is radiated from the water through the roof into the night sky, and heat transfer to an interior of the enclosure is minimized during the day by the insulation and the water.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The regulator of claim 7 wherein the roof is constructed of metal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The regulator of claim 7 wherein the container is constructed of plastic, the plastic being rotationally molded onto the interior surface and the channels of the roof.