AN INSULATION PANEL

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an insulation panel.

The present panel can be used preferably in the building sector, in particular in a delimiting wall of a habitable room of a building, and preferably in combination with an infill panel or element, possibly structurally resistant. Background Art

Insulation panels are known, utilisable in construction, in particular in a delimiting wall of a habitable room of a building, and normally internally of an infill wall, possibly structurally resistant, which are made of a material having a constant heat transfer.

With these prior-art panels, it is therefore possible to insulate the inside of dwelling units with respect to the outside environment, while maintaining said internal environment, in winter, warmer than the outside environment and, in the summer, keeping the internal environment cooler than the outside environment.

These known-type insulation panels therefore enable realising internal environments which have a certain and however not optimal degree of comfort.

These known-type insulation panels therefore enable realising internal environments which have a certain and however not optimal energy saving in energy used for keeping the internal environment of the dwelling unit hot in winter and cool in summer.

In particular, in the so-called half-seasons, i.e. spring and autumn, at least on some days, the outside temperature might be pleasantly high and, however, owing to the presence of an insulation of this type, the outside temperature does not propagate internally of the dwelling and the dwelling remains at a temperature that is unpleasantly low or which has to be appropriately heated, with a consequent energy waste.

Another situation in which a lack of comfort or an energy waste is perceived, is during the summer nights, in which the outside temperature falls to a level that in itself is pleasant and which, owing to the presence of the insulation, does not propagate in sufficiently rapid times internally of the dwelling, which remains at an unpleasantly too-high temperature or which must still be appropriately conditioned i.e. cooled, with a consequent excessive energy waste.

A further perceived need in this sector and however also in other sectors, is to improve the comfort, in particular thermal, of the internal and/or living environments.

A further need in this sector and also in other sectors, is to improve the energy efficiency of the internal and/or living environments.

A further need in this sector and also in other sectors, is to have available a panel which is easily transportable and in any case movable.

A further need in this sector and also in other sectors, is to have available a panel which is easily realisable and in particular which has a building cost that is relatively modest.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention proposes a novel solution, alternative to the solutions known up to now and which can obviate one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages and/or drawbacks and/or is such as to meet one or more of the requirements mentioned in or inferable from the above.

An insulation panel is therefore provided, preferably usable in construction, in particular of a delimiting wall of a habitable room of a building, preferably in combination with an infill panel or element possibly structurally resistant, characterised in that it exhibits a variable heat transfer coefficient. Also provided is a composite structure, in particular a composite panel, preferably usable in construction, especially for defining a delimiting wall of a corresponding habitable room of a building, characterised in that it comprises insulation means having a variable heat transfer coefficient. In this way, it is possible to vary as desired the degree of insulation that the panel provides to satisfy any requirement of comfort and/or energy for the environments it is associated to.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other innovative aspects, or specific advantageous embodiments, are set out in the appended claims and the technical features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed description which follows of embodiments thereof, to be considered purely as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a panel according to the present invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the structure of a wall in which a preferred embodiment of the composite structure is used, which utilises panels conforming with the present preferred embodiment of the panel; figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the wall structure of figure 2, said composite structure being illustrated in exploded view.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

A preferred embodiment of an insulation panel 10 is illustrated in figure 1 , preferably utilisable in construction, in particular of a delimiting wall of a habitable room of a construction, being a building.

The insulation panel 10 is preferably used in combination with an infill panel or element 12, possible of a structurally resistant type, i.e. defining a part of the bearing structure of the building.

Said insulation panel 10 advantageously has a controlled variable heat transfer coefficient.

In this way it is possible to vary the heat transfer of the panel, i.e. of the wall to which said panel is associated, with the aim of obtaining an improved comfort for the persons located internally of said housing compartment, or an energy saving resulting from a lower use of the heating or cooling means of said housing compartment.

In fact, in this way it is possible to adapt the heat transfer coefficient of the panel, i.e. of the wall in which the panel is used, to the specific conditions of the environment, in particular of the outside environment.

Said panel 0 advantageously has a heat transfer coefficient over time, in particular variable over time in use, that is, variable over time when the panel is at the building to which the panel is associated, or in which it is inserted.

Said insulation panel 10 advantageously has a controlled heat transfer coefficient that is variable on command.

In this way it is possible to vary the heat transfer of the panel as desired at an appropriate time, with the aim of obtaining an improved comfort for the persons located internally of said housing compartment, which is delimited by said panel, i.e. a maximal energy saving in the heating or cooling means of said housing compartment.

In figure 1 , reference letter "e" is used to denote the environment outside of the habitable room, and defined in particular by the environment outside of the building or dwelling, while reference letter "i" denotes the environment in the habitable room, which is delimited by the present insulation panel 10.

Said insulation panel 10 advantageously has a variable heat transfer coefficient, in particular commandable, as a function of a temperature of an environment "e" external of said habitable room "i".

Said insulation panel 10 can advantageously also have a heat transfer coefficient that is variable, in particular on command, as a function of an inside temperature of said habitable room "i". In particular, said insulation panel 10 is configurable in a first operating condition in which it has a first heat transfer coefficient as well as in a second operating condition in which it has a second and different heat transfer coefficient.

In particular, said insulation panel 10 is configurable in a first operating condition in which it has a minimum heat transfer coefficient, and in a second operating condition in which it has a maximum heat transfer coefficient.

Said insulation panel 10 is advantageously in the form of a body, or casing 14, which is able to contain a respective fluid, and in particular is preferably constituted by air, in such a way as to define a fluid that is entirely innocuous and non-polluting for the environment.

As illustrated, the body of the panel has a general parallelepiped conformation and comprises, in particular, a front wall 101 , in use facing towards the outside environment "e", a rear wall 102, in use facing towards the internal environment "i", an upper wall 103, a bottom or lower wall 104, and opposite lateral walls 105, 106.

Said insulation panel 10 advantageously comprises a containing body 14 of a fluid, which containing body is configurable in a plurality of corresponding filling conditions defining respective conditions having a different heat transfer coefficient of the panel.

In practice, said insulation panel 10 is advantageously configurable in a filled condition of said fluid, in which said panel 10 has a thermal or heat transfer coefficient which is maximum, and in an empty condition of said fluid, in which said panel 10 has a heat or thermal transfer coefficient that is minimum.

In practice, said container body or casing 14 delimits a respective internal chamber 15 internally of which said working fluid, i.e. ambient air, is housed, or which is placed in a vacuum condition, i.e. completely emptied of said fluid, i.e. completely emptied of said air.

In particular, it must be understood that said fluid is in any case to be preferably in the form of a gaseous material, in particular constituted by air, even though a corresponding liquid, in general terms, might be used as the working fluid.

Said container body, or casing 14, can advantageously be made of a plastic material. However other materials too, for example a metal material, might also be used for realising said casing 14 of the panel.

Said container body, or casing 14 of the insulation panel 10 advantageously comprises advantageous opening means 16, 16' for inlet and/or outlet of said working fluid.

In this matter, said opening means might be in the form of a single inlet and outlet opening for said fluid, and, in any case, preferably, as illustrated herein are in the form of a first and a second opening 16, 16', preferably as illustrated, provided at walls, in particular opposite lateral walls 105, 106 of said body or casing of the insulation panel 10.

Conduits corresponding to said reciprocal engagement means between the panels or engagement means with the corresponding conduits can be provided at said respective opening means, so as to enable supplying and/or aspirating the working fluid from said internal chamber 15 of the body of the panel 10.

While not being expressly illustrated in the appended figure, the insulation panel 10 comprises means able to modify the status of filling of said insulation panel 10 by the fluid, in particular in the form of air.

The means able to modify the status of filling of a corresponding fluid internally of the insulation panel 10 are advantageously in the form of aspirating means of said fluid internally of said panel 10, i.e. in the form of means for placing said insulation panel 10 in vacuum conditions.

Said means able to modify the status of filling of a corresponding fluid internally of the insulation panel 10 are advantageously in the form of means that are activatable and deactivatable on command.

Said means able to modify the status of filling of a corresponding fluid internally of the insulation panel 10 can further comprise means for supplying said fluid into said working chamber 15, which in particular and advantageously can be in the form of means that freely allow the air to enter in the corresponding housing chamber 15 of the insulation panel 10. Said means able to modify the status of filling of a corresponding fluid internally of the insulation panel 10 can be located on-board the respective panel, i.e. even more advantageously can be situated spaced and separated by the respective and single panel, in particular being able to serve a plurality of panels to which they are appropriately connected for exchange of said working fluid.

As illustrated in figure 1 , in use the insulation panel 10 is advantageously located internally of the corresponding infill panel, or wall 12 of the respective building to which the insulation panel 10 is associated. In practice the insulation panel 10 is located on a side of the infill panel, or wall 12 of the respective building which is facing towards the inside of the habitable room.

In a further embodiment, not illustrated in the appended figures, it would also be feasible for the insulation panel 10 to be situated externally of the infill panel or wall 12 of the respective construction to which the present insulation panel 10 might be associated. In practice the insulation panel 10 would be located on a side of the infill panel, or wall 12 of the respective building which is facing towards the environment outside of the building. The panel can be advantageously arranged to comprise, or the respective command means can be in connection with respective sensor means, not illustrated in the accompanying figures, which would be advantageously able to detect the temperature inside "i" or outside "e" the wall delimited by the insulation panel.

The insulation panel 10 is advantageously associated to a corresponding infill panel or wall 12 which is realised in one or more of the following materials: concrete, bricks, stone, polystyrene, glass, plaster board, lightening conglomerates, such as expanded clay, perlite or others, or a decorative material of any type. The insulation panel 10 advantageously has a respective wall 101 , in particular a respective front wall that defines a supporting surface for a corresponding material 131 defining the infill panel or wall 12.

As illustrated in figure 1 , the insulation panel 10 has a relative body, or casing 14, which advantageously defines a respective compartment 13, flanked to said chamber 15 for the working fluid, and which is able to contain a respective insulation material, preferably in the form of a lightening material such as expanded clay or perlite.

Also, the body 14 of the insulation panel 10 advantageously has a respective end front wall 121 , which end front wall 121 defines a respective compartment 13 which is able to contain a respective insulation material 131 and which end front wall 121 leaves said insulation material 131 in view and is preferably made of a corresponding metal mesh or a transparent slab, preferably made of glass.

The insulation panel 10 advantageously has a heat transfer coefficient which is variable over time during a course of a day and in particular which is varied at predetermined times of a same day.

Also, the insulation panel 10 advantageously has a heat transfer coefficient which is variable over time during a course of a day and in particular which is varied at predetermined times of the solar year.

The insulation panel 10 is advantageously placed in a condition of minimum heat transfer coefficient, when the temperature of the outside environment is lower than the temperature of the internal environment, and the internal environment is to be maintained in a temperature condition that is higher than that of the outside environment. This circumstance occurs in particular during the winter and a high degree of insulation is desired to be maintained for the heated internal environment so as to minimise the passage of heat towards the outside of the habitable room. In practice, the insulation panel 10 is placed in a condition of minimum heat transfer coefficient during winter, when the temperature of the outside environment is lower than the temperature of the internal environment. In another operating situation, the insulation panel 10 is placed in a condition of minimum heat transfer coefficient, when the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature, and the internal environment is to be maintained in a temperature condition that is lower than that of the outside environment.

In particular, the insulation panel 10 is placed in a condition of minimum heat transfer coefficient during the daytime hours of summer, and in particular when the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature.

In a further preferred operating condition, the insulation panel 10 is placed in a condition of maximum heat transfer coefficient during winter, when the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature, and it is desired to lower, or to contribute to lowering, the inside temperature in a natural way.

In practice, the insulation panel 10 is placed in a condition of maximum heat transfer coefficient during the night-time hours of summer, when the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature.

In practice, the insulation panel 10 is placed in a condition of minimum heat transfer coefficient during the daytime hours of summer, in particular when the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature, or in the cold months, in particular in winter, when the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature.

In a further preferred operating condition, the insulation panel 10 is placed in a condition of maximum heat transfer coefficient, when the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature, and it is desired to raise, or to contribute to raising, the inside temperature in a natural way.

In practice, the insulation panel 10 is placed in a condition of maximum heat transfer coefficient during the spring or autumn, when the outside temperature is higher than the inside temperature.

In following figures 2 and 3, a delimiting wall of a corresponding room, preferably a habitable room, is illustrated, which utilises a composite structure 100 in particular comprising or defining a corresponding composite panel.

The present composite structure 100 advantageously comprises insulation means 10, which have a variable heat transfer coefficient.

In particular, and advantageously, said insulation means comprise first and second insulation means 10, 10 respectively having a corresponding variable heat transfer coefficient, and preferably variable independently of one another.

In practice, in use, said first and second insulation means are prolonged prevalently according to a respective plane perpendicular to the main direction of propagation of the heat energy between the internal room "i" and the outside environment "e" relative thereto.

In particular, according to the present preferred embodiment, the first insulation means 10 are positioned on the side facing towards the inside of the room and said second insulation means 10 are positioned on the side facing towards the outside environment.

In practice, the heat transfer coefficient of the first insulation means 10 can be and, preferably, is varied independently of the heat transfer coefficient of the second insulation means 10, and vice versa.

In particular, and advantageously, the respective insulation means, in particular both the first and second insulation means 0, 10 therefore have a heat transfer coefficient that is variable on command.

By coordinating, by means of commands, the variation of the heat transfer coefficients of the first and second insulation means, it is possible to obtained thermal effects that are appropriate and desired for the room to the wall of which the present composite structure is associated.

In practice, the respective insulation means 10, 10, in particular both the first insulation means and the second insulation means, have a variable heat transfer coefficient, in particular variable on command, as a function of the temperature of the outside environment "e" and/or as a function of the temperature of the internal environment of the room, in particular the habitable room "i".

The respective insulation means 10, 10 are advantageously configurable in a first operating condition, in which they have a first heat transfer coefficient, and in a second operating condition, in which they have a second heat transfer coefficient.

In particular, the respective insulation means 10, 10 are advantageously configurable in conformity with a first operating condition, in which they have a minimum heat transfer coefficient and define a barrier to the transmission of the heat energy, and with a second operating condition, in which they have a maximum heat transfer coefficient and define means for easy passage of the heat energy.

In particular, both the first insulation means 10 and the second insulation means 10 can be made like the insulation panel illustrated in relation to the realisation of the above-described figure 1 , which panel 10 is therefore not described once more in detail, in order not to excessively over-detail the present description.

The present composite structure advantageously further comprises means 17 able to accumulate heat energy, i.e. which are able to define what is termed a thermal mass.

Said storage means 17 of heat energy are advantageously provided at said insulation means 10,10, in particular aligned to the insulation means according to the main propagation direction of the heat energy between the outside environment and the internal room.

As can be observed in the figures, said storage means 17 of heat energy are advantageously arranged in contact with said first and/or said second heat insulation means 10, 10.

Said storage means 17 of heat energy are advantageously arranged between said first and said second heat insulation means 10, 10.

In particular, said heat energy storage means are advantageously in the form of a respective body, or panel 17, made of a corresponding material able to store heat energy from the environment surrounding the body or panel 17, in particular which is able to absorb, by modifying the internal or intrinsic structure thereof, the heat peaks of the environment in which they are inserted and to subsequently progressively release said stored heat, with the internal or intrinsic structure returning into the original condition. In particular, for the panel 17 for heat energy storage a panel known as Energain ^® , produced by the company DuPont™ could advantageously be used, which contains a composite formed by copolymer and paraffin resin. The composite structure of the invention further comprises corresponding infill means, or a panel 12, in particular having a decorative purpose.

In particular said infill means, or panel 12, comprise one or more of the following materials: concrete, bricks, stone, polystyrene, glass, plaster board, lightening conglomerates, such as expanded clay, perlite or others, or a decorative material.

As illustrated, said infill means, or panel 12, preferably have a respective end front wall 121 , which preferably delimits a respective space 13 which is able to contain a respective material which is left in-view.

Said end front wall 121 e preferably realised by a corresponding metal mesh or by a respective transparent slab, for example made of glass.

However, as illustrated, said infill panel 12 is preferably completed by a box body 131 open at the front side to which said wall is applied, which leave it in view, in particular in the form of a respective mesh, and is reinforced by a fine galvanised mesh which delimits the space 13, in which a dry material in the form of pieces or granules and preferably constituted by grains of expanded clay is preferably contained.

Said infill panel 12 is advantageously provided on the internal side "i" of the composite structure.

Said infill panel 12 is advantageously arranged at the respective heat insulation means 10, in particular in contact with the respective heat insulation means 10, i.e. at and/or in contact with the first heat insulation means or panel 10. With the second insulation means 10 set so as to prevent passage of the heat energy, or heat, towards the outside environment, i.e. with the second insulation means 10 set at a minimum heat transfer value, it is advantageously arranged that the first insulation means 10 are set such as to enable passage of the heat energy, or heat, internally of the room towards said storage means of the heat energy 17 i.e. said first insulation means 10 are brought to a maximum heat transfer coefficient.

Thereafter said first insulation means 10 are set so as to prevent passage of the heat energy, or heat, from the storage means of the energy 17 towards said room, being set at a minimum heat transfer coefficient, and therefore the second insulation means 10 are set such as to enable passage of the heat energy, or heat, towards the outside environment, i.e. being set at a maximum heat transfer coefficient.

In this way, it is possible to guarantee easily maintaining the inside temperature of the room at a desired acceptable level, avoiding the accumulation of an excessive temperature internally of the room.

With the first insulation means 10 set so as to prevent passage of the heat energy, or heat, towards the internal room, i.e. with the first insulation means 10 set at a minimum heat transfer value, it is advantageously arranged that the second insulation means 10 are set such as to enable passage of the heat energy, or heat, from the outside environment towards the storage means of the heat energy 17 i.e. said second insulation means 10 are brought to a maximum heat transfer coefficient. Thereafter said second insulation means 10 are set so as to prevent passage of the heat energy, or heat, from the storage means of the energy 17 towards the outside environment, being set at a minimum heat transfer coefficient, and therefore the first insulation means 10 are set such as to enable passage of the heat energy, or heat, towards the internal room, i.e. being set at a maximum heat transfer coefficient.

In this way, it is possible to guarantee easily maintaining the inside temperature of the room at a desired acceptable level, avoiding excessive use of the heating plant of said room and whenever possible gathering heat from the outside environment.

In practice, the present composite structure 100 defines means able to transmit, in sequence or in successive steps, the heat energy according to a respective direction of propagation, respectively from inside the room towards the outside, or vice versa.

In practice, the present composite structure 100 is advantageously able to define, on command, forced directional transmission means of the heat energy, or heat, from inside the room towards the outside environment. In practice, the present composite structure 100 is advantageously able to define, on command, forced directional transmission means of the heat energy, or heat, from the outside environment towards the inside of the room.

In a further advantageous aspect, a wall 200 is provided, preferably utilisable in construction, especially for defining a delimiting wall of a corresponding habitable room of a building, which wall comprises a bearing framework 201 defining supporting means for an insulation panel 10 as illustrated in the foregoing, i.e. as illustrated for the embodiment of figures 2 and 3, for said composite structure 100 illustrated in the foregoing.

In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in said figures 2 and 3, the wall 200 has a bearing framework 201 , which supports housing means 202 for said composite structure 100 and which might in any case be further utilised for housing a corresponding simple insulation panel 10.

In particular, the respective bearing framework 201 is in the form of a corresponding frame, made of metal or wood, which has respective uprights 203, in particular a plurality of transversally-distanced uprights, preferably comprising a pair of opposite lateral uprights and an upright intermediate between them and a plurality of cross-members 204, in particular as illustrated, a pair of respectively superior and inferior cross- members and a cross-member that is intermediate between them. Said housing means 202 for said panel 10 or for said composite structure 100 advantageously comprise one or more obliquely-positioned members, or boards 205, which are in particular orientated at 45° with respect to the horizontal.

Supporting means are provided for said oblique supporting means 205, or boards, which are preferably defined by corresponding support cables, preferably to which the supporting members 205 are secured.

A respective pair of cables 206, 206, is able to support a plurality of oblique members or boards perpendicularly spaced from one another and supporting them at the respective front and rear end.

In practice, a plurality of oblique boards or members 205 are provided projecting from a side, preferably internal, of the respective frame 201 and perpendicularly spaced from one another so as to house a corresponding composite panel or composite structure 100.

As illustrated, a respective oblique stay is suitable for bearing a plurality of panels or composite panels flanked to one another, and, preferably, in contact with one another and in particular suitably connected to one another in a condition of fluid or air transmission for filling the corresponding insulation panel 10.

As illustrated, a plurality of supporting members, or pairs of cables 206, 206 are provided, which are transversely spaced from one another and which are vertically prolonged, i.e. in height, over a whole height of the corresponding wall.

Reference numeral 300 denotes a delimiting reinforcement of a corresponding opening for a window or the like, to which the corresponding closing lock of the opening can be advantageously connected.

In practice, a system has been predisposed for regulating an inside temperature of a corresponding room which comprises a respective panel as illustrated in the foregoing or a composite structure, or composite panel, as illustrated in the foregoing, and which comprises control means of the supply or discharge of a fluid, in particular air, from corresponding insulation means 10, preferably inserted at a respective delimiting wall of a corresponding room of a building.

The invention described has evident industrial applications. An technical expert in the sector might conceive of numerous variations and/or modification to the illustrated invention of the preferred embodiment, while remaining within the scope of the inventive concept, as exhaustively described herein. In particular, the technical expert in the sector might easily imagine further preferred embodiments of the invention comprising one or more of the characteristics described herein. It will also be understood that all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.