DE29800716U1 - Sauna heater - Google Patents

Description

GRÜNECKER, KINKELDEY.lsifäCWÄlRI&'SCKWANHÄUSSER

LAW FIRM

LAW FIRM ETAT MAXIMILIANSTRASSE 58 D-30538 MUNICH GERMANY

German Patent Office

Zweibrückenstr. 12
80297 Munich

LAWYERS

DR. HERMANN SCHWANHÄUSSER
DR. HELMUT EICHMANN
GERHARD BARTH
DR. ULRICH 8LUMENRÖDER. LL. M.
CHRISTA NIKLAS-FALTER

PATENT ATTORNEYS

EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS

AUGUST GRÜNEECKER

DR. HERMANN KINKELDEY

DR. WILFRIED STOCKMAIR (-1996)

DR. KLAUS SCHUMANN

PETER H. JAKOB

OR. GUNTER BEZOLD

WOLFHARD MEISTER

HANS HILGERS

DR. HENNING MEYER-PLATH

ANNE EHNOLD

THOMAS SCHUSTER

DR. WALTER LANGHOFF

DR. KLARA GOLDBACH

MARTIN AUFENANGER

GOTTFRIED KLITSCH

DR. HEIKE VOGELSANG-WENKE

REINHARD KNAUER

DIETMAR KUHL

DR. FRANZ-JOSEF ZIMMER

BETTINA K. REICHELT

DR. ANTON K. PFAU

DR. UDO WEIGELT

YOUR REF.

OUR REF.

G3763-00142/bi DATE

16.01.98

Applicant: Klafs Saunabau GmbH & Co. Medical Technology Erich-Klafs-Straße 1-3

74523 Schwaebisch Hall

Sträub, Theo Sonnenmoosstrasse

83700 Rottach-Egem

Sauna heater

TEL 089 / 21 23 50 ■ FAX (GR 4) 089 / 21 86 92 93 ■ FAX (GR 3) 089 / 22 02 87 · http://www.grunecker.de e-mail: postmaster@grunecker.de ■ TELEX 529 380 MONA D MAXIMILIANSTRASSE 58 D-80538 MUNICH DEUTSCHE BANK MUNICH, NO. 17 51734, BLZ 700 700 10 SWIFT: DEUTDE MM

Sauna heater

The present invention relates to a sauna heater for heating a sauna cabin with a surface-like radiant heater made of a heat-storing material, such as stone.

In a frequently used form of sauna stove, at least the casing of the stove is made of stone or ceramic tiles, which are heated by heating rods located inside the sauna stove. The stone casing radiates the heat more evenly over a large area into the sauna cabin. The disadvantage of such a sauna stove is that the heating power required to heat the sauna cabin sufficiently is relatively high and the heat distribution within the sauna cabin leaves something to be desired. Metal can also be used as a heat-storing material.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a sauna heater of the type mentioned above which operates more cost-effectively and, moreover, creates a more pleasant sauna climate.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the radiant heater extends essentially over at least a large part of a cabin wall and/or ceiling that faces the sun and forms the cabin wall there, with the back of the radiant heater facing away from the cabin interior being covered at a distance by one or more panes of glass and exposed to solar radiation. The radiant heaters are thus heated at least to a certain extent by solar radiation, whereby, depending on the intensity of the solar radiation, the additional heating output can be drastically reduced or completely eliminated. The one or more panes of glass then ensure that no external influences, e.g. wind, cause the radiant heaters to cool down unnecessarily. In addition, they keep the heat stored by the radiant heaters better in the area of the sauna cabin, since the heat can build up behind the pane of glass. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that it is only required that glass panes are kept at a large distance from the surface of the radiant heater and that this is certainly permissible within the scope of the invention.

ft· ··

It is important that the glass panes rest or rest on the radiant heater at least in some areas for support. In addition, the radiant heater can be made up of several parts. The use of Plexiglas as a glass pane is also possible.

The design of the sauna heater according to the invention allows the energy costs for heating a sauna cabin to be at least significantly reduced, if not completely eliminated.

Furthermore, the glass pane(s) can be designed as transparent insulation. Transparent insulation is also very transparent, but suppresses heat reflection very strongly when the solar radiation decreases or has completely stopped. Transparent insulation usually consists of an upper glass pane and a lower glass pane (or plexiglass) arranged parallel to it, between which a transparent honeycomb structure is arranged, the light is transmitted transversely to the planes spanned by the glass panes.

Very favorable heating with simultaneous shielding can be advantageously achieved by arranging the glass pane(s) at a short distance parallel to the back of the radiant heater. This also achieves even heating and thus radiation.

A relatively inexpensive variant provides for the radiant heater to be made of one or more stone slabs. Furthermore, stone slabs are generally very easy to work with and shape into the desired form, so that a wide variety of arrangement options are possible. The costs for such radiant heaters are also relatively low.

Ideally, the stone slabs can have a thickness of 5-20 cm, preferably 7 cm. This means that the stone slabs have sufficient heat storage capacity and thus release the heat stored during the day over a long period of time in the evening or overnight.

In this context, soapstone has proven to be a particularly favorable material for forming the radiator, as is used in one variant. The advantage of soapstone is that it is a stone material that is extremely easy to work with, but has a relatively high heat storage capacity.

According to a further embodiment, a support grid is provided in or on which a layer of pebbles is arranged as a heat-storing material. The arrangement of the pebbles can be in a grid cage, for example. The pebbles allow for better air circulation and, due to their larger surface area, can be easily moistened with moisture. This further improves the sauna climate.

To improve heat absorption, at least the back of the radiant heater can have a dark color. Black is particularly suitable for such purposes. Black soapstone can be used in particular. It is also possible to use special absorber colors.

The effect of the sun's rays can be further enhanced by arranging the back of the radiant heater at an angle of 30-60, preferably 45°, to a horizontal plane. The inclination is preferably chosen so that the location of the sauna heater achieves the best possible yield of the sun's rays throughout the year and especially during the day. The best average value is determined by the latitude and the desired summer/winter ratio (a sauna is preferably operated in the winter months).

For this purpose, it is also advantageous if, according to one variant, the back of the radiant heater is essentially facing the sun. This measure also ensures optimal use of solar radiation. The position of the radiant heater is therefore very dependent on the latitude of the installation location.

In one embodiment, several stone slabs are arranged next to one another in a support frame and together form the radiant heater. This modular design is particularly suitable for a large-area design of the sauna heater according to the invention, so that radiant heat is emitted over a large area into the sauna interior and creates a pleasant sauna climate. This large-area radiation from the sauna heater achieves a more even temperature distribution in the sauna cabin.

According to one variant, a support frame that is as stable as possible can be formed by providing at least two parallel I-beams as the support frame, the T-bars of which form a guide for inserting stone slabs of an appropriate thickness in the longitudinal direction of the I-beams. I-beams are standard parts that can be obtained inexpensively, which is why the design of the support frame is also simple and inexpensive and at the same time, if the I-beams are arranged accordingly, a holder for the stone slabs is formed.

However, it is also possible for the &igr; beams to run in the direction of inclination of the cabin wall and/or ceiling that is inclined towards the sun:

This is particularly advantageous if the space between the glass pane and the heat-storing material is designed as an air flow channel, with outlet openings connected to the cabin interior being arranged in the area of the heat-storing material. The air flow channels then run from bottom to top, so that the heat radiation creates a kind of chimney effect and air evenly escapes through the flat radiant heaters into the sauna interior.

An improvement in air control can also be achieved by providing an adjustable device for supplying fresh air in such a way that at least a portion of the fresh air enters the at least one flow channel. The device can be a simple flap and can be arranged at a location where the air is largely drawn into the air flow channel by the chimney effect of the air flow channel.

However, it is also possible to arrange air ducts in the radiant heaters themselves.

In a further embodiment, insulated cover elements are provided to completely or partially cover the glass surface. These cover elements are used to control the temperature and to store heat better when there is no more sunlight. For example, such cover elements keep the heat in the sauna better overnight. Insulated folding shutters or roller blinds as well as venetian blinds are used as cover elements. These can preferably be provided with a reflective layer on the inside so that the insulating effect is further increased.

In order to increase the effect of solar radiation, especially at installation sites in northern latitudes, reflectors can be provided on the edge of the glass surface in such a way that additional solar radiation is reflected onto the glass surface. These reflectors can be designed in different ways. For example, it is possible to design a folding shutter designed as a cover element with a reflective layer on its outside to provide such a reflector.

However, the reflectors can also be formed by differently designed cover elements if these are opened.

In order to regulate the heating effect of the sauna stove, a window cutout can be left between or in individual stone slabs, which is covered by the glass pane(s). There is then no stone slab at this point, so that sunlight could penetrate directly into the interior of the sauna.

Furthermore, according to one variant, plate-shaped closure elements can be provided to close the window cutouts. This can be particularly advantageous when using the sauna, so that no one can see into the interior of the sauna from the outside. In addition, the closure elements can also be used to regulate the effective size of the window cutout and thus influence the heat effect.

A simple arrangement variant provides that the plate-shaped locking elements are designed as sliding doors that can be moved parallel to the stone slabs. They can therefore be easily moved from the open to the closed position or vice versa.

In order for the closure elements to also provide a corresponding heat effect, the closure elements can essentially consist of a heat-storing material, particularly stone or metal. They then also have a certain heat storage capacity and thus support the full-surface radiation of heat when the window cutouts are closed. The closure elements are usually thinner than the rest of the panel elements of the radiant heater.

If the effect of the sun's rays is not sufficient to heat the sauna cabin sufficiently, one variant is to provide the radiant heaters with an additional external heater. It goes without saying that the external heater only has to provide the difference in heat that is still required to heat the rest of the sauna cabin. This means that the sauna cabin can operate much more cost-effectively and with less heating power than is normally the case in sauna cabins. However, it is certainly possible to set up a separate, second, conventional sauna heater inside the sauna cabin. This can then also be operated with less heating power.

To ensure that the additional external heating system also emits heat over as much of the radiant heater surface as possible, this can be one or more electric heating mats and/or a hot water heater. This external heating system can be integrated into the radiant heater.

The invention further relates to a sauna cabin with a sauna heater according to one of claims 1-16. This sauna cabin is characterized in particular by the fact that the sauna heater essentially forms a large part of a cabin wall and/or ceiling of the sauna cabin. This results in a uniform and large-area radiation of heat, at least a large part of which is

Solar energy is generated. Such a sauna cabin has a very mild sauna climate at relatively low running costs.

In the following, embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail using a drawing. They show:

Fig. 1 a schematic cross-sectional view of a sauna cabin with a large sauna oven,

Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of a sauna cabin from Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 a cross section through a first variant of a radiant heater,

Fig. 4 a cross-sectional view through a second variant of a radiant heater and

Fig. 5 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a sauna cabin with a large-area sauna heater.

In the schematic representation of Fig. 1, a sauna cabin 1 can be seen in cross-section. This essentially comprises a rear wall 2, a front wall 3, a floor 4 and a ceiling designed as a sauna heater 5. The rear wall 2, front wall 3, the floor 4 and the sauna heater 5 enclose an interior 6 with side walls (not shown in detail). In the interior 6, seats and loungers 7 are set up for the sauna users. The door (not shown) is located in the rear wall 2. The front wall 3 is only a small height and forms the lower support for the sauna heater 5. At the upper end of the rear wall 2, support beams 8 are arranged, which form the upper end of the sauna heater 5.

In the embodiment shown, the sauna heater 5 takes up the entire sloping ceiling area of the sauna cabin 1. It consists of one or more glass panes 9 that completely cover the ceiling area. These glass panes 9 thus extend from the front wall 3 to the side walls and to the support beam 8. The glass

Panes 9 are also arranged at an angle α of approximately 45° to a horizontal plane. Together they also form a plane. In the interior 6, four i-beams 10 arranged at the same distance from one another run parallel to the glass panes 9, each of which is anchored in the side walls and whose T-bars 11 are arranged parallel to the glass panes 9. However, two i-beams 10 each form a guide into which stone slabs 12 are inserted as radiant heaters in the longitudinal direction of the i-beams 10. The stone slabs have a thickness of approximately 10 cm and are slightly narrower than the guide formed by the i-beams 10. The back 13 of the cuboid stone slabs 12 is at a distance from the glass panes 9, so that at least a partial layer of air is formed between them. In the present embodiment, the I-beams 10 also support the glass panes 9. The stone slabs 12 are arranged parallel to the glass panes 9 at the same distance and their inner surface 14 serves as a radiation surface to the interior 6. The stone slabs 12 are preferably dark in color so that they heat up more quickly through solar radiation. Soapstone in particular has proven to be a suitable stone slab material.

The figures also show that in the upper area of the glass panes 9 there is no covering on the inside by stone slabs 12, so that a certain amount of light is allowed into the sauna.

From Fig. 2 it can be seen that in each guide formed by two I-beams 10 three stone slabs 12 are arranged, each of which is spaced apart from one another, so that window cutouts 15 remain between them, which are only covered by the • glass panes 9.

Parallel to the stone slabs 12, plate-shaped sliding doors 16 with handles 17 are arranged, which can be pushed laterally into the area of the window cutouts 15. This allows the window cutouts 15 to be partially or completely closed. In the illustrated embodiment, guide rails 18 are arranged on the I-beams 10, in which the sliding doors 16 are guided. The sliding doors 16 can advantageously also be made of a stone material, i.e. thin stone slabs.

In Fig. 2 it can also be seen that the front wall 3 is covered with a wooden panel 19. Likewise, all other walls can also have wooden paneling both inside and outside. Only the sauna stove 5 should point with its bare stone inner surface into the interior 6 for a suitable radiation effect.

The effect and functionality of the above example is explained in more detail below.

The sauna cabin 1 is preferably arranged so that the glass panes 9 of the sauna heater 5 face south in order to achieve the greatest possible solar yield. In any case, the angle α is selected such that the solar radiation hits the sauna heater 5 as favorably as possible.

During the day, the sun shines on the glass panes 9, causing the dark stone slabs 12 behind them to heat up considerably. The layer of air between the glass panes 9 and the stone slabs 12 then ensures that little heat is transferred from the stone slabs 12 to the glass panes 9. In addition, the glass pane 9 ensures that the heat radiation from the stone slabs 12 to the interior 6 of the sauna cabin 1 is greater.

The stone plates 12 have a relatively high heat storage capacity, so that they continue to emit a relatively large amount of heat radiation into the interior 6 of the sauna cabin 1 long after sunset. The sliding doors 16 can be closed as required, especially when using the sauna.

This type of sauna heater 5 ensures a mild sauna climate thanks to its relatively even, large-area heat radiation, whereby no costs have to be incurred for heating the stone slabs. However, in regions where the solar yield is not sufficiently high, additional external heating can also be provided to keep the temperature in the interior 6 of the sauna cabin 1 at a certain level. It goes without saying, however, that such additional external heating only has to provide the necessary additional heat requirement.

since a large part of the heat is already generated by the sunlight on the stone slabs 12. The heat output of this external heating can therefore be lower than is usual for sauna cabins 1.

Although a standard sauna stove can be used, according to the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4, it is provided that the external heating is mounted in the stone plates 12 or integrated into them.

Fig. 3 shows a variant in which heating pipes 20 are arranged in the stone slabs 12, which can be operated as hot water heating. This allows the relatively thick stone slabs 12 to be additionally heated, while their large-area radiation is retained.

It is also conceivable, according to the variant in Fig. 4, to apply heating mats 21 to the stone slabs 12, which are electrically operated and serve the same purpose. In this context, a wide variety of heating systems can be used to keep the stone slabs 12 heated accordingly.

The new sauna heater 5 is particularly suitable for commercial use, since the sauna cabins 1 are generally in operation from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. 365 days a year. By using solar energy, in addition to improving the sauna climate, the heating load can be significantly reduced and energy saved. Operating the sauna cabin 1 is therefore more cost-effective.

In the following, another embodiment of the sauna heater 5 is explained in more detail. To avoid repetition, only the essential differences are discussed. The same reference numbers therefore refer to the same and similar components to the previous embodiment, so that the above description can be adopted analogously.

A main difference is that the I-beams 10 extend in the direction of the inclination of the sauna stove 5, so that an air flow channel 22 is formed between the backs 13 of the stone slabs 12. The air flow channel 22 has an inlet opening 23 at the lower end of the sauna stove 5, which is open to the interior 6 of the sauna. In the front wall 3 there is a ventilation opening 24 with an adjustable ventilation flap 25, through which fresh air can flow into the sauna interior 6 in a regulated manner and flows into the inlet opening 23 due to a chimney effect.

Outlet openings 26 are arranged between the individual stone plates 12, through which air, partially already heated within the air flow channel 22 between the glass pane and the stone plate 12, can flow into the sauna interior 6.

Another special feature is the structure of the glass pane 9. This is constructed as a transparent insulation and consists of an outer glass cover layer 27, an inner glass cover layer 28 and a transparent light-guiding structure 29 arranged in between. The light-guiding structure 29 can be, for example, a transparent honeycomb profile, with the axes of the honeycombs being perpendicular to the glass cover layers 27 and 28. Such transparent insulation guarantees, on the one hand, a good light output and, on the other hand, a very good insulating effect when there is little or no solar radiation.

It is also possible to provide a storage device that stores energy during sunny periods and releases it again during periods of little sun, particularly to the radiant heaters.

Surplus solar energy could also be fed into a hot water system. This would allow targeted temperature control in the sauna.

Claims (25)

Expectations 1. Sauna heater (5) for heating a sauna cabin (1) with a planar radiant heater (12) made of a heat-storing material, such as stone, characterized in that the radiant heater (12) extends essentially over at least a large part of a cabin wall and/or ceiling inclined towards the sun and forms the cabin interior wall there, wherein the rear side (13) of the radiant heater (12) facing away from the cabin interior (6) is covered at a distance by one or more glass panes (9) and is exposed to solar radiation. 2. Sauna heater (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the one or more glass panes (9) are designed as transparent insulation. 3. Sauna heater (5) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the glass pane(s) (9) is or are arranged at a short distance parallel to the rear side (13) of the radiant heater (12). 4. Sauna stove (5) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the radiant heater (12) is formed from one or more stone plates (12). 5. Sauna stove (5) according to claim 4, characterized in that the stone plates (12) have a thickness of 5 to 20 cm, preferably 7 cm. 6. Sauna stove (5) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the radiant heater (12) consists essentially of soapstone. 7. Sauna stove (5) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a support grid is provided, in or on which a layer of pebbles is arranged as a heat-storing material. •j : 8. Sauna heater (5) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least the rear side (13) of the radiant heater (12) has a dark color. 9. ■ Sauna oven (5) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the rear side (13) of the radiant heater (12) is arranged inclined at an angle (α) of 30 to 60, preferably 45°, to a horizontal plane. 10. Sauna heater (5) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the rear side (13) of the radiant heater (12) is essentially facing the sun. 11. Sauna stove (5) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized _in that several stone plates (12) are arranged next to one another in a supporting frame and together form the radiant heater. 12. Sauna oven (5) according to claim 11, characterized in that at least two parallel I-beams (10) are provided as the supporting frame, the T-webs (11) of which form a guide for inserting stone slabs (12) of adapted thickness in the longitudinal direction of the I-beams (10). 13. Sauna heater (5) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the I-beams (10) run in the direction of inclination of the cabin wall and/or ceiling inclined towards the sun. 14. Sauna heater (5) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the space between the glass pane (9) and the heat-storing material (12) is designed as an air flow channel (22) and that outlet openings (26) communicating with the cabin interior (6) are arranged in the region of the heat-storing material (12). 15. Sauna heater (5) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that an adjustable device (25) for a fresh air supply is provided such that at least a portion of the fresh air enters the at least one flow channel (22). 16. Sauna heater (5) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that insulated cover elements are provided for completely or partially covering the glass surface. 17. Sauna heater (5) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that reflectors are provided at the edge of the glass surface such that solar radiation can additionally be reflected onto the glass surface. 18. Sauna heater (5) according to claim 17, characterized in that the reflectors are formed by the cover elements when these are opened. 19. Sauna stove (5) according to one of claims 11 or 18, characterized in that a window cutout (15) remains between or in individual stone slabs (12), which is covered by the glass pane(s) (9). 20. Sauna oven (5) according to claim 19, characterized in that plate-shaped closure elements (16) are provided for closing the window cutouts (15). 21. Sauna oven (5) according to claim 20, characterized in that the plate-shaped closure elements (16) are designed as sliding doors (16) which can be moved parallel to the stone plates (12). 22. Sauna oven (5) according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the closure elements (16) consist essentially of a heat-storing material, in particular stone or metal. 23. Sauna oven (5) according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the radiant heating elements (12) are provided with an additional external heating system. 24. - Sauna oven (5) according to claim 23, characterized in that the external heating is or are one or more electric heating mats (21) and/or a hot water heater (20). 25. Sauna cabin (1) with a sauna heater (5) according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the sauna heater (5) essentially forms a large part of a cabin wall and/or ceiling of the sauna cabin (1).