US2512854A

US2512854A - Heated floor construction

Info

Publication number: US2512854A
Application number: US647873A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fay H Edgerly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-02-15
Filing date: 1946-02-15
Publication date: 1950-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1967-06-27

Description

June 27, 1950 F. H. EDGERLY HEATED'FLOOR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15. 1946 F. H. EDGERLY HEATED FLOOR CONSTRUCTION June 27, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 194e Z8 26 24 38 Patented `lune 27, 1950 2,512,854 l HEATED FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Fay H. Edgerly, Flint, Mich.

Application February 15, 1946, Serial No.- '647,873

s claims. (ci. 72-67) u This invention relates to floor construction and in particular to floor construction for houses, 'for structures heated byradiant heat, and for structures employing an underefloor air space cr plenum chamber.

Most recent trends in house construction are to ranch house style houses which are preferably one story in height and with a utility room replacing the basement. Coupled with the trend toward onestory ranch type houses is modern radiant heating normally accomplished by embedding heating pipes into the walls and floor and circulating hot water therethrough. As an alternate, the attic of a house is sometimes insulated at the underside of the roof and employed 'as a plenum chamber for heated air, the outside walls of the house are hollow and heated by warm air dra-wn downwardly therethrough from the attic plenum chamber into a plenum chamber below the floor from which the warm air is drawn into Aa lheat transfer unit in which the circulated air vis re-heated to a higher temperature and again discharged into the attic plenum chamber for recirculation as above indicated.

Because of the eXtreme rectangular shape of some one story structures such as ranch houses,

uniformity of warm air circulation has been a diicult problem. Also, in all types of houses or other structures Without basements particularly when used for living quarters, oiiices, or assembly purposes, the diilicult .problem of profviding a satisfactory dry, Warm, vermin-proof and reproof permanent flooring is presented.

With the foregoing in view, the prim-ary ob- 'ject of the invention is to provide an economical, dry, warm, vermin-proof and reproof permanent flooring for `houses and other structures without basements.

Another object of the invention is vto provide an economical easily erected precast oor construction for houses and other structures without basements which is not only dry, warm,

vermin-proof, reproof and permanent but .iis provided integral with the floor construction for directing the flow of airfrom the corners of 4re.ctangular structures to a central duct whereybyte assure an even movement of air in the under-floor plenum chamber from all parts' of Ithe structure to saidduct.

Otherk objects of the invention will become apparent by reference Vto the following detailed Vdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. v1 is a plan view of the oor of a ranch house illustrating the invention showing'a typical duct and under-licor plenum chamber arrangement for -a radiant heating system.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the floor construction disclosed in Fig. 1 showing in detail one cf many possible arrangements of precast oor panels embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a precast floor kpanel of the type employed in Figs. l and 2 to illus"- trate the invention.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View yof the oor panel shownin Fig-3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of1Fig. 2 showing a typical joint between precast iloorwpanels Aembodying the invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken on the line 6-6 ofFig. 1 showing in considerable detail the general .construction of a ranch house embodying the invention.

Fig. 'I is a plan view taken on the line 'I--l of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like Ynumerals referto like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the ranch house selected to illustrate the invention is much longer than itis wide and is shaped as indicated in Fig. 1 which shows the outer foundation wall l0, a plurality of iioor panels II including return airl directing baliles l2 arranged to assure adequate flow of return air drawn from the extremities of the ranch house through the under-floor .plenum chamber I3, see Fig. 6, and return air ducts I4 and I5 to the hot air furnace I6 from which re-heated air leaves through' the hot air duct I'I to the attic space of the ranch house.

Floor panelsy ll embodying the invention Aare shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4 and comprisea slab I8 which may/'be reinforced if the floor panels are cast in suincient size to warrant reinforcement, rcomrllementary tongues lll and grooves 20 on opposite sides and ends of the said slab I8, a bearing block '2| preferably along the tongued end ofthe slab I8, and a diagonally disposed air directing balile depending from said slab yI8 but of less depth than the said bearing block 2 I. It will be noted that the apex of each tongue AI8 lis nattened to provide space for cement or mastic material 22 between the apex of the tongue i9 and base of the groove 2| as indicated in Fig. 5. The sides I9 of the tongues I9 and the sides 283 cf the grooves 20 are complementary so that they become in substantial engagement with each other when oor panels I I are juxtaposed, only a very thin lm of mastic cement or other cementitious material 22 remaining therebetween. Thus, the floor panels II are self-leveling to the extent of providing a smooth top surface when laid over a substantially level sub-floor 23. The said oor panels II may be cast of concrete, cement mortar or other suitable cementitious material and may have admixed thereto expanded vermiculite or other material which will make the floor panels I I lighter and easier to handle and more readily cut to iit special details which are usually encountered in erecting precast panels.

Fig. 2 shows in an enlarged plan View a typical portion of the iioor of the structure described in Fig. 1 wherein iioor panels. II are erected in the proper relationship with respect to each other. Fig. shows in a 4further enlarged sectional view a typical joint between floor panels i i wherein the exposed top of the bearing block 2l on one of the said floor panels I I has been spread with cement or mastic 22, the groove of another floor panel II has been buttered with cement or mastic `22 and both oor panels II have been urged together in self-leveled relationship with the sides i90 of the tongues 'I 9" in substantial .engagement with the sides 2011 of the complementary grooves 20. Obviously any suitable (sementil -tious material may be employed instead'of the cement or mastic 22. The horizontal dot and dash line in Fig. 5 represents the sub-floor upon which licor panels II are erected, and the space 'indicated by the numeral I3 between the said sub-Hoor and the bottom ofthe slab I8 of the floor panel II comprises'th'e under-door plenum chamber I3.

`When air is withdrawn from the plenum chamber I3 into the hot airV furnace' II` throughthe return air ducts I4A and I5, its normal travel is directly transverse of the floor'panels I I through 'the' space below the slab I8 of the oor panels l I and between the bearing blocks 2I thereof. However, the air directing baies I2 restrict the said transverse flow of air and'only permit a portion of the air to flow under the said bafes I2'directly -from the outer walls of the structure to the main return air duct I4. The air directing bailles I2 cause a large portion of the air being withdrawn from the outer walls of the structure through Athe under-floor plenum chamber I3 created by 'the floor panels I I to be drawn from the extreme l'corners of the structure than otherwise would be possible, .thus causing a more even heating of the structure by a hot air radiant heating system which is preferably employedwhen floor construction embodying the invention is used.

structed of nailable material. otherwise-the s aid wood flooring may be set in a mastic or tar composition 34. The studs 24 are set on blocks 35 rather than the usual continuous sill whereby to provide a plurality of communicating passages 36 between the studs 24 connecting the air spaces 31 in the brick veneer wall construction 38 with the under-licor plenum chamber I3.

The said foundation wall I0 has a ledge 39 Iformed therein onto which the under-floor 23 is seated preferably on crushed stone or cinders 230. The iioor panels II are positioned on the under- Voor 23 as hereinbefore described. The slab portion I8 of the iioor panels II is held back laterally from the back of the foundation wall IB as indicated in Fig. 6 to avoid blocking the communicating passages 36 between the air spaces 31 in the brick veneer wall construction 38 and the under-floor plenum chamber I3. A plurality of ports 4i) connect the under-floor plenum chamber I3 with the main returnair duct I4. Floor panels 4I having no air directing baies I2 are preferably employed over the main return air duct I4.

When an under-floor plenum chamber Without air directing baiiies is desired, floor panels 4I composed only of a tongue and groove slab portion I8 and a bearing block 2| may be employed. The use of floor panels having integral bearing blocks are extremely economical to lay inasmuch as the particular arrangement of the bearing block and disposition of a tongue lthereover as best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 provide substantially automatic leveling while the floor panels are being layed in peripheral interlocked juxtaposition to each other as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. If the said automatic leveling of floor panels II embodying the invention lifts or tilts an integral bearing block 2I oii'the sub-floor 23, the workman laying the floor iills the space between the bottom of the bearing block 2I and the sub-floor 23 with cement, mortar or any other suitable material. However, if the bearing blocks 2| are cemented with a stiff mastic, mortar or the like to the sub-floor 23, pressure on a high spot in the slab i8 of joined oorpanels II prior to the initial setof the cementitious material employed under the bearing blocks 2I will lower the high spot or high end of any bearingblock 2i and provide a level floor; that is, a floor in which the tops of juxtaposed panels are in transverse alignment as distinguished from having upright oisets therebetween.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and details of the various elements' thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In precast panel floor construction, a plurality of precast floor panels erected and cemented together in longitudinal and lateral juxtaposed position over a sub-iioor with the joints therebetween in staggered relationship, each panel including a diagonally disposed depending baiiie cast integral therewith extending short of the sides and ends thereof and a narrow bearing block cast integral therewith located along one end thereof extending laterally from the said end and from one side adjacent said end supporting one end of said panel and the end of a panel adjacent the bearing block end of said panel and the center of the side of a panel adjacent the side of the said panel from which the said bearing block extends whereby to provide acomplete'd precast panel floor construction supported by a minimum of bearing points wherein each iloor panel is supported on all four sides and a plenum chamber is established thereunder, the said baille being of less dept than the depth of the said bearing block but deeper than one-half the. depth thereof whereby to cause the larger portion of air within the said plenum chamber to follow a diagonal course under said iioor construction when air is circulated therethrough.

2. In a precast panel fioor construction which forms a plenum chamber, a duct system comprising spaced inlet and outlet ducts, a plurality of precast floor panels each including integral means supporting the same in spaced relationship over a sub-floor, said iioor panel being erected and cemented together in longitudinal and lateral juxtaposed position with the joints therebetween in staggered relationship, diagonally disposed air directing baiiles depending from said i'loor panels less in depth but greater than onehalf the height or the said supporting means and spaced laterally therefrom directing to the desired'distribution the greater portion of air passing through the said plenum chamber, said panels having complementary angular tongues and grooves formed in opposite sides and ends thereof less in width than the thickness of the said panels and of such proportions that only the sides oi the grooves engage the complementary sides of the tongues when the panels are juxtaposed whereby a loor panel being laid becomes self-leveled with respect to panels adjacent thereto.

3. In precast panel floor construction, a plurality of precast floor panels each including integral bearing blocks supporting the same in spaced relationship over a sub-floor at one end thereof and supporting the floor panels adjacent one end and one side thereof said floor panels being erected and cemented together in longitudinal and lateral juxtaposed position with the joints therebetween in staggered relationship, diagonally disposed air directing baliles depending from said iloor panels less in depth but greater than one-half the height of the said bearir: blocks and spaced laterally therefrom, said pan`l els having complementary angular tongues and grooves formed in opposite sides and ends thereof less in width than the thickness of the said panels and of such proportions that only the sides of the grooves engage the complementary sides of the tongues when the panels are juxtaposed whereby a ioor panel being laid becomes selfleveled with respect to panels adjacent thereto.

4. In precast panel iioor construction, a plurality of precast iioor panels erected and cemented together in longitudinal and lateral juxtaposed position over a sub-floor with the joints therebetween in staggered relationship, each panel having a narrow bearing block cast integral therewith located along one end thereof extend' ing laterally from the said end and from one side adjacent said end supporting one end of said panel and the end of a panel adjacent the bearing block end of said panel and the center of the side of a panel adjacent the side of the said panel from which the said bearing block extends whereby to provide 'a completed precast panel floor construction supported by a minimum of bearing points wherein each floor panel is supported on all four sides and a plenum chamber is established thereunder, and diagonally disposed air directing baiiies depending from said oor panels less in depth but greater than one- Ill 6 half the height of the said bearing blocks and spaced laterally therefrom.

5. In precast panel floor construction, a plurality of precast oor panels erected and cemented together in longitudinal and lateral juxtaposed position over a sub-floor with the joints therebetween in staggered relationship, each panel having a narrow bearing block cast integral therewith located along one end thereof extending laterally from said end and from one side adjacent said end supporting one end of said panel and the end of a panel adjacent the bearing block end of said panel and the center of the side of a panel adjacent the side f of the said panel from which the said bearing block -extends whereby to provide a completed precast panel floor construction supported by a minimum of bearing points wherein each floor panel is supported on all four sides 'and a plenum chamber is established thereunder, and diagonally disposed air directing baiiies depending from said iioor panels less in depth but greater than one-half the height of the said bearing blocks and spaced laterally therefrom, said panels having complementary angular tongues and grooves form-ed in opposite sides and ends thereof less in width than the thickness of the said panels and of such proportions that only the sides of the grooves engage the complementary sides of the tongues when the panels are juxtaposed whereby a oor panel being laid becomes selfleveled with respect to panels adjacent thereto.

6. A precast iioor construction comprising a plurality of rectangular panels of cementitious material each including integral means supporting the same in spaced relationship over a subfloor at one end thereof, the said supporting means extending from one end and a portion of one side of each of the said panels and supporting floor panels erected adjacent one end and one side thereof, diagonally disposed air directing baiiles less in depth but greater than onehalf the height of the said supporting means depending from the said floor panels, said panels having complementary angular tongues and grooves formed in opposite sides and ends thereof less in width than the thickness of the said panels and of such proportions that only the sides of the grooves engage the complementary sides of the tongues when panels are juxtaposed whereby a iioor panel being laid becomes selfleveled with respect to panels adjacent thereto, the aggregate of the said floor panels forming a plenum chamber between the precast floor construction and the said sub-floor wherein the greater portion of air therein is moved as directed by said baiiies when said air is circulated therethrough.

FAY H. EDGERLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 869,615 Birnstock Oct. 29, 1907 1,371,856 Cade Mar. 15, 1921 1,406,852 Haden et al. Feb. 14, 1922 1,460,084 Wallis June 26, 1923 2,422,685 Keck June 24, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 410,431 Great Britain May 17, 1934