WO2008136571A1

WO2008136571A1 - Assembly unit for electric heating apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2008136571A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/000950
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ki-Tae Park
Original assignee: Ki-Tae Park
Priority date: 2007-05-03
Filing date: 2008-02-18
Publication date: 2008-11-13
Also published as: KR100759949B1

Abstract

The present invention aims at providing an electric heating system, and more particularly to an electric heating system which consists of units of good humidity and moisture resistance, a plurality of which units can be assembled to match to an area for installation, and can be installed without using any secondary finishing material. For the purpose of implementing the object of the invention, the invention is technically characterized by a built-up electric heating system assembled with a plurality of units for generating heat by means of supplied power on a unit by unit basis, the unit comprising: a finishing material; a sheet heating element placed under the finishing material; an insulating material placed under the sheet heat-generating element; a re¬ inforcing material of which the upper side is open, placed under the finishing material to reinforce the finishing material, the insulating material being inserted through the open upper side of the reinforcing material; and a power cable connected to the sheet heating element and extending to the outside through the reinforcing material, wherein at least one groove is formed along the upper edge of the reinforcing material, and the finishing material is adhered by means of glue filling the groove; and wherein the power cables in adjoining units arranged in a plane are connected together for the sheet heating element to generate heat by means of the power supplied across the power cables.

Description

ASSEMBLY UNIT FOR ELECTRIC HEATING APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an electric heating system, and more particularly to an electric heating system which consists of units of good humidity and moisture resistance, a plurality of which units can be assembled to match to an area for installation, and can be installed without using any secondary finishing material. Background Art

[2] In installing a conventional marble floor heating system, marble is fixed on the existing floor through mortaring after laying a structure for heating the floor with hot water or electricity on the existing floor. Marble is laid after evening the mortared floor.

[3] Installation of such a conventional marble floor heating system is disadvantageous in terms of personal cost, required time and workability, etc.

[4] A conventional floor heating system developed in a more improved way is to arrange panel-type units for an electric floor heating system in a plane to form a bottom layer on the floor.

[5] In particular, in the conventional electric floor heating system, galvanized steel plates which are 0.4mm in thickness are placed on top, under which a heater is placed. Under the heater, an insulating material is placed and humidity -resistant paper is attached under both of the galvanized steel plate and the insulating material in order to avoid water penetration.

[6] However, since galvanized steel plates are placed on top in the conventional electric heating system, panel-type electric heating devices are placed on the existing floor in a plane, on which a secondary finishing material, e.g., marble or vinyl floor material, is then applied. As such, conventional electric floor heating systems require an additional secondary finishing material, and a lot of personal cost is accordingly needed for applying the secondary finishing material after placing the heating devices and it dis advantageously in turn takes long time for installation of the heating system.

[7] Also, since the conventional electric heating system consists of galvanized steel plates on top, they are deformed when impact is given before/after installation of the system, thus to produce gaps between the insulating material and the galvanized steel plates. The gaps produced as such cause water to easily penetrate thereinto to cause electric leakages by the water.

[8] Although the humidity-resistant paper is attached in order to avoid water penetration, it is hard to expect anti-humidity performance by the humidity-resistant paper after water penetrates through the gaps as described in the above, because the humidity -resistant paper is used to block water penetration.

[9] Also, the galvanized steel plates are steel plates plated with zinc in order to prevent corrosion of steel plates, and even the galvanized steel plates are corroded and sink when the plated zinc comes off or the effect of sacrifice corrosion by zinc after a long period of time is deteriorated.

[10]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[11] The invention was devised to address the aforementioned problems of prior art as described.

[12] It is an object of the present invention to provide a built-up electric heating system that does not require secondary finishing work because the system comprises various finishing materials of marble, artificial stone, tiles, wood, etc., which system is good in humidity and moisture resistance in that the finishing material is completely integrated with and contacts the insulating material.

[13] The built-up electric heating system of the invention does not require curing time for mortar thus to lead to reduced installation time and easy installation.

[14]

Technical Solution

[15] The electric heating system of the invention addresses the problems resulting from equipping conventional electric heating devices and units, with the finishing material being selected one from natural stone, artificial stone, tiles and wood, and can achieve heating effect, easy installation and good appearance with an electric and electronic system so that the system of the invention can be installed in a day and then advantageously used on the day of installation.

[16]

Advantageous Effects

[17] The built-up electric heating system of the invention is an integrated built-up electric heating system provided with natural stone, artificial stone, tiles, wood and the like. The system of the invention is applicable to any place in which an existing floor heating, hot water floor heating system is already installed. It is also applicable to local floor heating or a very humid place, heating in a place temporary used, non-floor heating in offices, and non-floor heating, that is, heating for beds. Since there is no constraint for finishing material, the built-up electric heating system of the invention is even more efficient for heating in a place requiring good appearance.

[18] Also, since the built-up electric heating system of the invention is installed in a jigsaw puzzle assembling way to reduce a installation time period, it is advantageous that the system can be installed in a day and used on the day of installation and does not need to install any secondary finishing material.

[19] Also, in the built-up electric heating system of the invention, the finishing material and the insulating material are integrated to result in close contact thereof, leading to very good water resistance and blocking of power leakage in electric and electronic appliances to improve durability thereof.

[20] Also, since the built-up electric heating system of the invention does not need mortar curing time as for installation of a conventional heating system, it is advantageous that the installation time period of the inventive system can be reduced and its installation is very easy.

[21]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[22] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent through the following description, illustrated in the appended drawings, in which like components are denoted by like reference numerals. In the drawings:

[23] Fig. 1 schematically shows a process of installing a built-up electric heating system on a floor according to one embodiment of the invention;

[24] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heating system shown in Fig.1 ;

[25] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the units of the heating system shown in Fig.2; and

[26] Fig.4 is a cross section of the heating system shown in Fig.1.

[27]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[28] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the built-up electric heating system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[29] In the drawings, Fig. 1 schematically shows a process of installing the built-up electric heating system on a floor according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heating system shown in Fig.1 ; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the units of the heating system shown in Fig.2; and Fig.4 is a cross section of the heating system shown in Fig.1.

[30] As shown in Figs.l to 3, as the components of the electric heating system, the finishing material 120 is of marble, natural stone, artificial stone, tiles, or wood, the insulating material 140 is of urethane foam, sponge foam, styrofoam, or soil, and the reinforcing material 150 is of plastics, aluminum, stone, wood, etc.

[31] Also, the sheet heating element 130 is of one selected from a heating wire or a carbon film. The amount of heat generating electricity is 3OW to 200W (optimum amount of electricity is 6OW to 100W). The finishing material 120 is rectangular and dimensioned to be 300mmx600mm, 600mmx600mm or 400mmx600mm, 500mmx500mm.

[32] The power cable 131 is of 3 lines of a polyvinyl chloride wire for electric apparatuses (KIV)2.0 or 3.0. Two lines of a polyvinyl chloride wire for electric apparatuses (KIV)2.0 or 3.0 are used as a lead line for connecting the power cable 131 and the sheet heating element 130. The reason of using 3 lines for the power cable 131 is for the case of heating two areas with the whole unit 110. One line 13 Ia is for a common line, another line (131b) for connecting the unit in one area and the rest line 131c is for connecting the unit in another area to control two areas at different temperature. If there are a plurality of areas for controlling temperature, the number of lines for the power cable may increase.

[33] Also the case 143 for housing the temperature sensor 145 is made of aluminum of high heat conductivity, which is preferably dimensioned to be 6mm in the internal diameter and 150mm in length. The temperature range of the bimetal 133 which is an overload relay is preferably 30 to 8O⁰C.

[34] In addition, as shown in Fig.1, the built-up electric heating system 100 of the invention is installed by electrically connecting a plurality of units 110. This is a heating system for emitting heat from the sheet heating element 130 provided in the unit 110, by supplying power to the power cable 131 after connecting the power cable 131 extending to one side of the unit 110 to the power cable 131 of another unit 110.

[35] In the following, the units of the built-up electric heating system installed as such according to the invention will be described in more detail.

[36] As shown in Fig.2, a rectangular unit 110 comprises a finishing material 120 located on top, a sheet heating element 130 under the finishing material 120, an insulating material 140 under the sheet heating element 130, and a reinforcing material 150 encompassing the insulating material 140 and supporting the finishing material 120.

[37] The power cable 131 passes through both sides of the reinforcing material 150 and the sheet heating element 130 placed on top of the insulating material 140 is connected to the power cable in series or in parallel.

[38] The power cable 131 connected to the sheet heating element 130 extends through and to both sides of the reinforcing material 150. The power cable 131 extending to both sides of the reinforcing material 150 is connected to the power cable 131 of another adjoining unit 110. Here, the reinforcing material 150 has a structure in which the upper side thereof is open in order to house the insulating material 140. There is provided a space 151 recessed towards the inside on both corners of the reinforcing material 150 to facilitate the power cable 131 through the reinforcing material 150 to be connected to the power cable 131 of another unit 110.

[39] As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, at least one groove 153 is formed along the upper edge of the reinforcing material 150 in order to improve humidity and moisture resistance. Filling the groove 153 with glue and then placing the finishing material 120 thereon to fix it avoids a gap that might otherwise be produced between the reinforcing material 150 and the finishing material 120, in order to lead to good humidity and moisture resistance. The insulating material 140 under the finishing material 120 is closely adhered.

[40] As such, the reason of forming the groove 153 to improve humidity and moisture resistance will be described in the following. If the glue 155 is applied to attach the finishing material 120 on a flat surface without forming the groove 153, bubbles in the glue 155 are likely to be pressed and thus spread not to result in close adhering and thereby to make a gap by means of the bubbles. However, if the groove 153 is formed to be filled with the glue 155 and the finishing material 120 is then adhered, the bubbles included in the glue don't spread by means of the finishing material 120, but moves toward the inside of the groove 153, so that gaps are not produced by means of the bubbles thus to lead to good humidity and moisture resistance.

[41] On the inner bottom of the reinforcing material 150, a plurality of supports 157 are fixed perpendicularly. The supports 157 pass through the holes formed in the insulating material 140 to support the center of the finishing material 120 placed on top thereby to reinforce the finishing material 120.

[42] In addition, on the outer side of the reinforcing material 150, coupling members

159 are fixed, the members 159 being formed with holes. The coupling members 159 are inserted in injection-molding the reinforcing material 150 to be fixed and integrated in the reinforcing material 150. Inserting coupling means in the holes of the coupling members 159 and then coupling the coupling means tothe existing floor or wall results in fixing the units 110 on the floor or wall.

[43] Also, the sheet heating element 130 is provided with a bimetal 133 which is an overload relay. Accordingly, if the sheet heating element 130 connected to the power cable 131 generates heat over a given temperature value, the bimetal 133 cuts off current across the sheet heating element 130 thereby for temperature not to rise.

[44] Furthermore, the plurality of units 110 are provided with a temperature sensor 145, respectively. The temperature sensor 145 is housed in a cylindrical case 143 which passes through one side of the reinforcing material 150 to be placed in the insulating material 140. The temperature sensor 145 converts the heat generated in the sheet heating element 130 to electric signals to be input to the temperature control 160. The temperature control 160 recognizes the temperature input from each unit 110 on a unit by unit 110 location basis. A user can operate the temperature control 160 to control each unit 110 at each location. As such, the temperature control 160 is already commercially available in the market as a temperature control device for controlling temperature in a stone bed or in a heating apparatus for partial temperature control. Therefore, detailed description for the temperature control as already known in the art will not be further provided herein.

[45] In the following, installation of a built-up electric heating system with units configured according to the invention as described above will be described in detail.

[46] As seen in Fig.l, the units 110 are fixed with glue on the existing floor or wall for installation of the system or by inserting the coupling means in the hole of coupling members 159 and then coupling the coupling means to the existing floor or wall to fix the units 100. While fixing the units 110 on the floor or wall as such, the power cables 131 of the adjacent units 110 are connected. The cable extending from the temperature sensor 145 provided in the units 110 is connected to the temperature control 160. While the power cables 131 of the adjoining units are connected, one end of each power cable 131 is closed to form a closed circuit, and the other end thereof connected to another power cable is extended to the temperature control 160. Therefore, the temperature control 160 controls voltage applied to each unit 110 according to the temperature information input by the temperature sensor 145 to control the temperature in each unit 110.

[47] The temperature control 160 is connected to a power supply. The current across the power cables 131 is applied to each sheet heating element 130 of each unit 110 connected in series or in parallel so that the sheet heating element 130 generates heat. The temperature in each unit 110 then rises by means of the heat generated by the sheet heating element 130, and the temperature sensor 145 measures the temperature to input the measures to the temperature control 160 as electric signals. The temperature control 160 then controls voltage applied to the plurality of units 110 connected to the power cables 131 depending on predetermined heating conditions to control temperature in each area of the built-up electric heating system 100, that is in each unit 110 location, according to the invention.

[48] Since the built-up electric heating system 100 according to the invention is produced on a unit by unit basis to be installed, the height of the units 110 is uniform, so that the upper height of the finishing material is thereby uniform when the built-up electric heating system 100 is installed by arranging the units 110 on the existing floor 1 or wall.

[49] For a plurality of units 110 arranged in a plane, as shown in Fig.4, only the coupling members 159 exposed outside among the coupling members in the units 110 located on the edge are provided with the coupling means to be fixed on the existing floor 1 or wall. A medium is filled between the units 110 located inside to be fixed.

[50] The upper side of the finishing material 120 may be embossed or provided with magnets to aid smooth blood circulation of user's body.

[51] In the above, the technical spirit of the built-up electric heating system of the invention was described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it should be noted that the description illustrates the most preferred embodiment of the invention but the scope of the invention is not limited thereby.

[52] The present invention has been described in detail. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[53] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. Use of the verb "comprise"and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in the claims. The article "a"or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

Claims

[1] An built-up electric heating system assembled with a plurality of units generating heat by means of supplied power for generating heat on a unit by unit basis, characterized in that the unit comprises: a finishing material; a sheet heating element placed under the finishing material; an insulating material placed under the sheet heat-generating element; a reinforcing material of which the upper side is open, placed under the finishing material to reinforce the finishing material, the insulating material being inserted through the open upper side of the reinforcing material; and a power cable connected to the sheet heating element and extending to the outside through the reinforcing material, in that at least one groove is formed along the upper edge of the reinforcing material, and the finishing material is adhered by means of glue filling the groove; and in that the power cables in adjoining units arranged in a plane are connected together for the sheet heating element to generate heat by means of the power supplied by means of the power cables.

[2] The built-up electric heating system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the finishing material is of natural stone, artificial stone, tiles or wood.

[3] The built-up electric heating system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the upper side of the finishing material is embossed.

[4] The built-up electric heating system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that magnets are fixed on the upper side of the finishing material.

[5] The built-up electric heating system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the built-up electric heating system is applicable to floor heating, wall heating, and heating for avoiding toilet freezing.

[6] The built-up electric heating system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in the units are provided with a temperature sensor passing through the reinforcing material and placed in the insulating material.

[7] The built-up electric heating system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that coupling members having a hole are formed on the outer side of the reinforcing material.

[8] The built-up electric heating system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the inner bottom of the reinforcing material is formed with supports passing through the insulating material for supporting the lower part of the finishing material.