Construction element having a controllable heat-transfer coefficient u

Abstract

A structural element with a controllable heat transfer coefficient comprises a frame. A first sheet and a second sheet opposite one another are arranged in the frame. The sheets and the frame have the effect of defining a closed-off volume which is filled with at least one gas. At least one two-dimensional element is arranged between the sheets. An upper intermediate space is formed between the two-dimensional element and the frame vertically upwardly and a lower intermediate space is formed between the two-dimensional element in the frame vertically downwardly. A first cavity is between the first sheet and the two-dimensional element. A second cavity is between the two-dimensional element and the second sheet. The cavities are connected via the upper intermediate space and the lower intermediate space such that a convection flows between the cavities via the intermediate spaces. At least one means arranged in the intermediate spaces controls the convection flow.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A structural element ( 1 ) with a controllable heat transfer coefficient U, comprising
 a frame ( 7 ),   a first sheet ( 3 ) and a second sheet ( 5 ), which are opposite one another and which are arranged at a distance A from one another in the frame ( 7 ),   the first sheet ( 3 ), the second sheet ( 5 ) and the frame ( 7 ) having the effect of defining a closed-off volume V, which is filled with at least one gas,   at least one two-dimensional element ( 9 ), the width of which corresponds to the vertical clear width W of the frame ( 7 ) and the height of which is less than the clear height H of the frame ( 7 ),   the two-dimensional element ( 9 ) being arranged between the first sheet ( 3 ) and the second sheet ( 5 ) such that it finishes laterally with the inner sides of the frame ( 7 ), and   an upper intermediate space ( 11 ) being formed between the two-dimensional element ( 9 ) and the frame ( 7 ) in the vertically upward direction and a lower intermediate space ( 13 ) being formed between the two-dimensional element ( 9 ) and the frame ( 7 ) in the vertically downward direction,   a first cavity ( 15 ), which is formed between the first sheet ( 3 ) and the two-dimensional element ( 9 ) with a spacing X,   a second cavity ( 17 ), which is formed between the two-dimensional element ( 9 ) and the second sheet ( 5 ) with a spacing Y,   the first cavity ( 15 ) and the second cavity ( 17 ) being in connection via the upper intermediate space ( 11 ) and the lower intermediate space ( 13 ) such that a convection flow can flow between the first cavity ( 15 ) and the second cavity ( 17 ) via the upper intermediate space ( 11 ) and the lower intermediate space ( 13 ),   at least one means for controlling the convection flow, which is arranged for the upper intermediate space ( 11 ) or for the lower intermediate space ( 13 ),   the at least one means consisting in the vertical displacement or tilting about a horizontal axis of the at least one two-dimensional element ( 9 ), so that the upper intermediate space ( 11 ) or the lower intermediate space ( 13 ) is closed by the two-dimensional element ( 9 ) and the convection flow is thereby completely or partially prevented, or   the at least one means comprising the changing of the vertical extent of the at least one two-dimensional element ( 9 ), so that the upper intermediate space ( 11 ) or the lower intermediate space ( 13 ) is closed by the two-dimensional element ( 9 ) and the convection flow is thereby completely or partially prevented, or   the at least one means comprising a closure device for the upper intermediate space ( 11 ) or for the lower intermediate space ( 13 ), which is preferably chosen from flaps, inflatable tubes or bellows, closures in the form of cylinder cocks or displaceable or rotatable wedges.   
     
     
         17 . The structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , the first sheet ( 3 ) or the second sheet ( 5 ) being at least partially transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         18 . The structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , the at least one means also comprising a device ( 19 ) for displacing the at least one two-dimensional element ( 9 ), preferably chosen from servomotors, pneumatic, magnetic or piezoelectric systems, mechanical levers, cables or bimetallic structures. 
     
     
         19 . The structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , the first sheet ( 3 ) or the second sheet ( 5 ) being transparent and the material of the first sheet ( 3 ) or of the second sheet ( 5 ) comprising glasses or polymers. 
     
     
         20 . The structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 19 , the glasses being chosen from silicate glasses, borosilicate glasses, lead-silicate glasses or the polymers being chosen from PET, PVB, EVA, polyolefins, styrenic polymers, polycarbonates, PMMA, polyurethanes, PVC or mixtures or multilayer systems thereof, the polymers being formed as sheets or extruded, blown or cast films. 
     
     
         21 . The structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , the at least one two-dimensional element ( 9 ) being formed from a translucent material, chosen from organic, inorganic or hybrid closed-cell or open-cell foams or coated or uncoated textiles. 
     
     
         22 . The structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , the at least one two-dimensional element ( 9 ) being formed from a mineral, metallic, polymeric or bio-organic material. 
     
     
         23 . The structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , the material of the frame ( 7 ) being chosen from concrete, gypsum, clays, glasses, natural stones, ceramics, polyamide, polyesters, wood, metals, PVC, polycarbonate, PMMA, styrenic polymers, polyurethanes and fiber composite materials and composite materials of two or more of these materials and also from open-cell or closed-cell foams and fiber boards of synthetic or renewable raw materials. 
     
     
         24 . The structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , the first sheet ( 3 ) or the second sheet ( 5 ) or the at least one two-dimensional element ( 9 ) being three-dimensionally structured on the surface. 
     
     
         25 . The structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , comprising
 a first two-dimensional element ( 9   a ) and a second two-dimensional element ( 9   b ), the width of which respectively corresponds to the vertical clear width W of the frame ( 7 ) and the height of which is respectively less than the clear height H of the frame ( 7 ),   the first two-dimensional element ( 9   a ) and the second two-dimensional element ( 9   b ) being arranged between the first sheet ( 3 ) and the second sheet ( 5 ) such that they each finish laterally with the inner sides of the frame ( 7 ), and   a first upper intermediate space ( 11   a ) and a second upper intermediate space ( 11   b ) being respectively formed between the first two-dimensional element ( 9   a ) and the second two-dimensional element ( 9   b ) and the frame ( 7 ) in the vertically upward direction and a first lower intermediate space ( 13   a ) and a second lower intermediate space ( 13   b ) being respectively formed between the first two-dimensional element ( 9   a ) and the second two-dimensional element ( 9   b ) and the frame ( 7 ) in the vertically downward direction,   a first cavity ( 15 ), which is formed between the first sheet ( 3 ) and the first two-dimensional element ( 9   a ) with a spacing X,   a second cavity ( 17 ), which is formed between the second two-dimensional element ( 9   b ) and the second sheet ( 5 ) with a spacing Y,   a third cavity ( 23 ), which is formed between the first two-dimensional element ( 9   a ) and the second two-dimensional element with a spacing Z,   at least the first cavity ( 15 ) and the second cavity ( 17 ) being in connection via the first upper intermediate space ( 11   a ) and the second upper intermediate space ( 11   b ) and the first lower intermediate space ( 13   a ) and the second lower intermediate space ( 13   b ) such that a convection flow can flow at least between the first cavity ( 15 ) and the second cavity ( 17 ) via the first upper intermediate space ( 11   a ) and the second upper intermediate space ( 11   b ) and the first lower intermediate space ( 13   a ) and the second lower intermediate space ( 13   b ).   
     
     
         26 . The use of the structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 16  as a wall or roof element in buildings or vehicles. 
     
     
         27 . A method for controlling the heat transfer coefficient U in a structural element ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , comprising the steps of
 providing a structural element ( 1 ),   absorbing thermal energy by a first sheet ( 3 ) or a second sheet ( 5 ) on a first side of the structural element ( 1 ), whereby the gas filling the volume V is heated in a first cavity ( 15 ) or in a second cavity ( 17 ) and rises vertically upward,   opening a vertically upper intermediate space ( 11 ) or a vertically lower intermediate space ( 13 ), whereby a convection flow from one of the cavities ( 15 ,  17 ) through the intermediate space ( 11 ) into the other of the cavities ( 15 ,  17 ) is made possible,   giving off thermal energy by the gas filling the volume V to the first sheet ( 3 ) or the second sheet ( 5 ) on a second side of the structural element ( 1 ), whereby the gas filling the volume V in the other of the cavities ( 15 ,  17 ) cools down and falls vertically downward, so that the convection flow flows from this cavity ( 15 ,  17 ) through the lower intermediate space ( 13 ) into one of the cavities ( 15 ,  17 ),   the intensity of the convection flow being set by the opening or closing of the lower intermediate space ( 11 ) or of the upper intermediate space ( 13 ).