Building structure and building panel and method of controlling appearance and lighting of a building

Patent · Tue May 07 00:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6224208

McGlew, J J

A construction device comprises a panel which may be used for a structural member in either an interior or exterior wall and which has a side with a transparent wall. The transparent wall forms an exposed exterior surface. A chamber is defined behind the exterior surface either directly adjacent it or spaced therefrom. A fluid is positioned in the space and is selected for the characteristic that is to be imparted to the space, for example it may be of a particular color, insulation characteristic, heat transfer characteristic, reflection characteristic, light absorption characteristic, strength characteristic, shielding characteristic either in respect to magnetic, electronic or heat conditions, etc. The arrangement is such that when the fluid is behind the transparent wall it permits the wall to be used for example as a solar panel or as a transparent window panel if desired. In addition the fluid may contain a color which may change the appearance of the wall as visible through the transparent face and in fact many desirable characteristics may be imparted to the surface and these characteristics may be readily changed. By constructing the panel so that it is connected to a pump for circulating the fluid through it the constructional device may be used either as a sun shield or sun heat absorber or it may be used as a decorative interior wall or as an exterior building surface which may have its color characteristic changed regularly.

• Assignee: EDB-86-008420
• Patent Number(s): US 4515150
• OSTI ID: 6224208
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 8 Jun 1983; Other Information: PAT-APPL-502182
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
BUILDINGS
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
OPACITY
PUMPS
SOLAR ARCHITECTURE
WALLS
ARCHITECTURE
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
HEATING SYSTEMS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
140901* - Solar Thermal Utilization- Space Heating & Cooling
320100 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Buildings