Search

EP-4735799-A1 - A HEATING PANEL FOR THE FLOOR OF A SHIP

EP4735799A1EP 4735799 A1EP4735799 A1EP 4735799A1EP-4735799-A1

Abstract

A heating panel (1) for the floor of a ship comprising - a metal base (3); - a metal cover (2); - a polymeric support (4), arranged between the base (3) and the cover (2); - a heating element (5), adapted to generate heat when it is electrically powered, arranged between the polymeric support (4) and the cover (2); wherein the base (3) and the cover (2) form a hermetically sealed casing (10), in particular hermetically sealed by means of sealing material; wherein said polymeric support (4) and said heating element (5) are arranged in said hermetically sealed casing (10); wherein the base (3) is provided with a peripheral side wall (31) which extends transversely from a flat portion (30) of the base (3); the heating panel (1) comprises at least one temperature probe (6a, 6b), or at least one tube adapted to accommodate a temperature probe, which crosses a respective first opening (36a, 36b) of said peripheral side wall (31); said respective first opening (36a, 36b) being completely obstructed, in particular partly by the respective temperature probe (6a, 6b) or respective tube and partly by sealing material.

Inventors

  • FRASCHETTI, Stefano
  • PIZZINAT, Giuseppe
  • POSER, IVAN
  • TAURIAN, ANDREA
  • ZOPPAS, Federico

Assignees

  • I.R.C.A. S.p.a. Industria Resistenze Corazzate e Affini

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240626

Claims (17)

  1. 1. A heating panel (1 ) for the floor of a ship comprising - a metal base (3); - a metal cover (2); - a polymeric support (4), arranged between the base (3) and the cover (2); - a heating element (5), adapted to generate heat when it is electrically powered, arranged between the polymeric support (4) and the cover (2); wherein the base (3) and the cover (2) form a hermetically sealed casing (10), in particular hermetically sealed by means of sealing material; wherein said polymeric support (4) and said heating element (5) are arranged in said hermetically sealed casing (10): wherein the base (3) is provided with a peripheral side wall (31 ) which extends transversely from a flat portion (30) of the base (3); the heating panel (1 ) comprising at least one temperature probe (6a, 6b), or at least one tube adapted to accommodate a temperature probe, which crosses a respective first opening (36a, 36b) of said peripheral side wall (31 ); said respective first opening (36a, 36b) being completely obstructed, in particular partly by the respective temperature probe (6a, 6b) or respective tube and partly by sealing material.
  2. 2. A heating panel (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said casing (10) is hermetically sealed by means of sealing material.
  3. 3. A heating panel (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said peripheral side wall (31 ) is fixed by means of sealing material, preferably glue, to the cover (2); preferably wherein the peripheral side wall (31 ) forms one piece with said flat portion (30) and/or wherein glue is present between the peripheral side wall (31 ) and the cover (2).
  4. 4. A heating panel (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said peripheral side wall (31 ) is provided with a second opening (35) crossed by the heating element (5) and/or by a power supply cable of the heating element (5); wherein said second opening (35) is completely obstructed, in particular partly by sealing material and partly by the heating element (5) and/or by said power supply cable.
  5. 5. A heating panel (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sealing material is a glue.
  6. 6. A heating panel (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating element (5) is in contact with the cover (2).
  7. 7. A heating panel (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one temperature probe (6a, 6b) or said at least one tube is in contact with the cover (2).
  8. 8. A heating panel (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one temperature probe (6a, 6b) or said at least one tube is arranged between the polymeric support (4) and the cover (2); preferably wherein said at least one temperature probe (6a, 6b) or said at least one tube is partially arranged in the insulating support (4), in particular wherein said polymeric support (4) is provided with a groove (46a, 46b) or seat and said at least one temperature probe (6a, 6b) or said at least one tube is arranged in said groove (46a, 46b) or seat.
  9. 9. A heating panel (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (3) and the cover (2) are made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.
  10. 10. A heating panel (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said polymeric support (4) is made of a polymer foam, preferably of PET foam.
  11. 11. A heating panel (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said polymeric support (4) is a preformed component.
  12. 12. A heating panel (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said polymeric support (4) is in contact, in particular directly in contact, with the base (3) and/or the cover (2).
  13. 13. A heating panel (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said heating element (5) is a heating cable.
  14. 14. A heating panel (1 ) according to claim 13, wherein said heating cable (5) is partially arranged in the polymeric support (4); in particular, wherein said polymeric support (4) is provided with a groove (41 ) or seat, and wherein the heating cable (5) is arranged in said groove (41 ) or seat.
  15. 15. A heating panel according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said heating element is a heating sheet, in particular of the etched foil type.
  16. 16. A heating panel according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one tube adapted to accommodate a respective temperature probe; wherein said at least one tube crosses a respective first opening (36a, 36b) of said peripheral side wall (31 ); said respective first opening (36a, 36b) being completely obstructed, in particular partly by the respective tube and partly by sealing material; wherein a temperature probe is arranged in said at least one tube.
  17. 17. A ship provided with a plurality of heating panels (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

Description

A HEATING PANEL FOR THE FLOOR OF A SHIP Field of the invention The present invention relates to the field of heating systems for ships, in particular to the field of underfloor heating systems. Background art Ships, such as cruise ships, are often provided with underfloor heating systems. To date, the creation of an underfloor heating system involves pouring the material onto the sheet metal of the ship. Once the layer of material has solidified, heating cables are placed thereon. Another layer of material is then created onto which tiles or other elements are fixed, adapted to define the walkable surface of the floor of a ship. Disadvantageously, this implementation process takes a long time. Disadvantageously, heating cables are exposed to risks of breakage. In fact, workers may step onto the heating cables onto which work tools may also accidentally fall. Therefore, the heating cables may break or operate unreliably. Disadvantageously, in case of faults, the heating cables are difficult to access. In particular, to repair or replace a heating cable it is necessary to break the floor, for example with a jackhammer. Disadvantageously, a heating system created as described above may provide heat in an uneven manner, and therefore with a thermal performance which is not optimal, since the construction process is particularly subject to human error and therefore requires highly specialized workers. Disadvantageously, to date, the floor with a heating system of a ship is particularly heavy, and it therefore significantly affects the consumption of a ship. The need is therefore felt to improve the underfloor heating systems of ships, overcoming the limits of the prior art. Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention to make a heating panel for the floor of a ship which allows the floor to be heated efficiently and reliably, which may be assembled in a quick manner and without the risk of damage. It is a particular object of the present invention to make the aforesaid panel so that it is particularly light. It is a particular object of the present invention to allow maintenance operations on the heating system to be carried out easily. The present invention achieves at least one of such objects and other objects which will be apparent in the light of the present description, by means of a heating panel for the floor of a ship according to claim 1 , comprising - a metal base; - a metal cover; - a polymeric support, placed between the base and the cover; - a heating element, adapted to generate heat when it is electrically powered, arranged between the polymeric support and the cover; wherein the base and the cover form a hermetically sealed casing, in particular hermetically sealed by means of sealing material; wherein said polymeric support and said heating element are arranged in said hermetically sealed casing; wherein the base is provided with a peripheral side wall which extends transversely from a flat portion of the base; the heating panel comprising at least one temperature probe, or at least one tube adapted to accommodate a temperature probe, which crosses a respective opening of said peripheral side wall; said respective opening being completely obstructed, in particular partly by the respective temperature probe or the respective tube and partly by sealing material, preferably a glue. The invention also relates to a ship according to claim 17. Advantageously, a heating panel according to the invention allows the temperature of the heating panel to be monitored by means of said at least one temperature probe, or it is designed to accommodate a temperature probe (so that heating may take place efficiently and reliably), and it also meets the safety requirements related to ships, in particular, the smoke safety requirement. Furthermore, the temperature probe can be easily replaced, in particular in the case where it is arranged in said tube. In order to provide an optimal temperature detection, it is particularly preferable that said at least one temperature probe or said at least one tube are in contact with the cover, which in particular is adapted to define an upper surface of the heating panel. It is particularly preferable that said casing is hermetically sealed by means of sealing material, preferably by means of a glue. One of the advantages associated with this feature is the possibility to use a preformed polymeric support, so that the sealing can be done after having arranged the polymeric support between the base and the cover. Sealing by welding, on the other hand, would not allow sealing after having placed the polymeric support between the base and the cover, because of the temperatures reached during welding. Furthermore, sealing by means of glue may be achieved in a particularly quick, reliable and easy manner, and allows for maintenance work to be performed. The use of a polymeric support is particularly advantageous, since it allows to obtain a light panel capa