EP1408292B2

EP1408292B2 - Heating device

Info

Publication number: EP1408292B2
Application number: EP03078069.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Aschwin Hendrikus Johannes Maas; Johan Gorkink; Gerdewan Gerardus Wilhelmus Jacobs; Robbert Cornelis De Bruin
Original assignee: Nefit Buderus BV
Current assignee: Nefit Buderus BV
Priority date: 2002-10-07
Filing date: 2003-10-02
Publication date: 2013-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-02
Also published as: EP1408292A1; NL1021594C2; EP1408292B1; DE60334272D1

Description

The invention relates to a heating device for a central heating system having a primary circuit, which heating device forms part of the primary circuit and comprises a primary heat exchanger, for example equipped with a burner, for heating central heating water, and also comprises a hydraulic block, which is provided with connections for a feed line and a return line of the primary heat exchanger, by means of which the hydraulic block is coupled to the primary heat exchanger, and which is provided with connections for coupling the heating device to a feed line and a return line of the central heating system.
A heating device of this type is known, for example, from EP 0 652 408 . The known heating device is suitable for use in a heating system comprising a primary circuit for central heating combined with a secondary circuit for heating tap water. The primary circuit comprises a primary heat exchanger and radiators which are coupled to one another by means of the hydraulic block. The secondary circuit comprises a secondary heat exchanger for heating the tap water with the aid of central heating water from the primary circuit. The secondary circuit is coupled to the primary circuit by means of the hydraulic block.
A heating device which is known from DE 199 12 284 likewise has a hydraulic block which is suitable for use in a heating system comprising a primary circuit for central heating combined with a secondary circuit for heating tap water. The known hydraulic block comprises at least two parts. One part in each case bears two connection lines for one side of the secondary heat exchanger, while the other part bears two connection lines for the other side of the secondary heat exchanger. The division of the hydraulic block into two parts which is proposed in this publication makes it possible to permit thermal expansion in the secondary heat exchanger.
DE 100 44 873 shows yet another heating device according to the preamble of claim 1 having a hydraulic block which is suitable for use in a heating system comprising a primary circuit for central heating combined with a secondary circuit for heating tap water. The hydraulic block has a first grouping where the return line from the central heating and the feed line for cold tap water are coupled and to which two of the four connections for the secondary heat exchanger are fitted. Furthermore, the hydraulic block has a second grouping, to which the feed line for the central heating and the line for warm tap water are coupled and to which the other two of the four connections for the secondary heat exchanger are fitted.
In practice, a manufacturer of heating devices will construct a certain number of types of heating devices, to allow him to supply various designs of devices. The known heating device described above is constructed specifically for what is known as a combination system having a primary circuit combined with a secondary circuit, but there are also, for example, other designs, for example for a central heating system having only a primary circuit or for a system having an external boiler.
When constructing different types of heating devices, the known construction of the devices leads to inefficiency and therefore increases costs. It is an object of the invention to allow more efficient production.
The invention aims to achieve this by means of a heating device in accordance with claim 1.
The first module comprising the connections which are required for a simple basic system, in which the first module is designed to couple the heating device to lines of the central heating system. The first module can function independently, even without another module being coupled to it, which is not according to the invention.
According to the invention, the heating device also comprises a secondary circuit having a secondary heat exchanger for heating tap water by means of central heating water which has been heated by the primary heat exchanger, the branch connection of the first passage being connected to the secondary heat exchanger in order to transport central heating water from or to the first passage to or from the secondary heat exchanger, wherein a valve is arranged at the valve connection of the first module, and the hydraulic block comprises a second module, which second module is provided with a third passage and a fourth passage, which are connected to the secondary heat exchanger and are provided with connections for a tap water outlet line and a tap water inlet line, respectively, for transporting tap water from a tap water inlet line to the secondary heat exchanger and from the secondary heat exchanger to a tap water outlet line, and wherein there is a fifth passage between the valve and the secondary heat exchanger for transporting central heating water from the secondary heat exchanger to the second passage.
The second module is suitable for coupling the primary circuit to a secondary circuit, in particular a heating system for tap water which makes use of a secondary heat exchanger which is present in the device and in which tap water is heated by central heating water. As a result of the second module being fitted in the heating device, it is easy for the manufacturer to add standard components to a heating device for a basic central heating system with a primary heat exchanger to form a combination system with a secondary heat exchanger present in the device.
The fifth passage may, for example, be a separate passage which is coupled to the valve and the secondary heat exchanger. However, it is preferable for the fifth passage to be fixed to the second module.
An alternative embodiment not accoding to the invention is characterized in that the heating device can be connected to an external part of a secondary circuit, which is provided with an external secondary heat exchanger for heating tap water by means of central heating water, a valve being arranged at the valve connection of the first module, the hydraulic block also comprising a third module, which third module is provided with a sixth passage, which is coupled to the branch connection of the first passage and is provided with a connection for a line for transporting central heating water from or to the secondary heat exchanger and a seventh passage, which is coupled to the valve and is provided with a connection for a line for transporting central heating water from or to the secondary heat exchanger to or from the second passage.
The third module is suitable for coupling the primary circuit to a secondary circuit, in particular a heating system for tap water which makes use of a secondary heat exchanger, such as for example an external boiler, which is positioned outside the heating device.
It will be clear from the above that different types of heating devices can be constructed in a simple way from one basic system, on account of the fact that the hydraulic block can be composed of various standard modules.
The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically depicts an embodiment of a heating device not according to the invention,
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a first module of a hydraulic block of a heating device as shown in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 diagrammatically depicts an embodiment of a heating device according to the invention,
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a second module of a hydraulic block of a heating device as shown in Fig. 3,
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the hydraulic block having the second module shown in Fig. 4 in the mounted position on the first module shown in Fig. 2,
Fig. 6 diagrammatically depicts an embodiment of a heating device not according to the invention,
Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a third module of a hydraulic block of a heating device as shown in Fig. 6,
Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the hydraulic block having the third module shown in Fig. 7 in the mounted state on the first module shown in Fig. 2,
Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a hydraulic block, having a plate-type heat exchanger, mounted in the heating device shown in Fig. 3,
Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a hydraulic block, having a boiler, mounted in the heating device shown in Fig. 3,
Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a hydraulic block mounted in the heating device shown in Fig. 6,
Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of the mounting of a coupling piece in a connection of a module,
Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of the mounting of the connection with coupling piece on a frame of the heating device, and
Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of the connection with coupling piece in the mounted state on the frame of the heating device.

Fig. 1 shows a heating device 1 for a central heating system comprising a primary heating circuit provided with a primary heat exchanger 2. The primary heat exchanger 2 may, for example, be equipped with a burner for heating central heating water. The heating device 1 also includes a hydraulic block 3 which is coupled to the primary heat exchanger 2 via a feed line 4 and a return line 5 of the primary heat exchanger. The hydraulic block 3 is provided with connections 6 and 7 for coupling the heating device to the central heating system.
Fig. 2 shows the hydraulic block 3 illustrated in Fig. 1, which in this simple example is formed by a first module 10. The first module 10 is provided with a first passage 11 for transporting central heating water from the primary heat exchanger 2 connected to connection 7b to a feed line for the central heating system which is connected to connection 7. The connection 7 is provided with a metal coupling piece 7a, preferably made from stainless steel or brass. The first module 10 is also provided with a second passage 12 for transporting central heating water to the primary heat exchanger 2, which is connected to connection 6b, from a return line from the central heating system, which is connected to connection 6. The connection 6 is provided with a metal coupling piece 6a, preferably made from stainless steel or brass. The first passage 11 is provided with at least one branch connection in the form of a branch passage 23 for transporting central heating water from the first passage 11 to a secondary circuit, which is not connected in this example. The first passage 11 and the second passage 12 of the first module are connected to one another by a bridge part 15 which imparts mechanical strength to the first module 10. In the example shown, this bridge part 15 is made from a single piece. Another possible option is for the bridge part 15 to be made from a number of pieces which can be connected to one another. By way of example, in terms of manufacturing technology it may be expedient for the first passage 11 to be provided with a first section of the bridge part 15 and for the second passage 12 to be provided with a second section of the bridge part 15, in which case the first and second sections of the bridge part 15 can be connected to one another by means of, for example, a quick-fit connection.
A valve connection 13 is present at the second passage 12. The valve connection 13 is provided with a sealing member (not shown), which can be removed for installation of a valve. In the case of the device design shown in Fig. 1, there is no need for a valve to be connected, so that the connection can remain closed. The sealing wall of the valve connection can be screwed securely onto the flange 13a of valve connection 13 on the first module 10 by means of a flange.
Fig. 3 shows a heating device 21 for a combination system. The heating device 21 comprises a part of a primary heating circuit which is provided with the primary heat exchanger 2 and a secondary heating circuit which is provided with a secondary heat exchanger 22 for heating tap water by means of central heating water. In the heating device 21, the same first module 10 is fitted as in the heating device 1 shown in Fig. 1. The first passage 11 of the first module 10 is provided with the branch passage 23 having a connection 23a for transporting central heating water from the first passage 11 to the secondary heat exchanger 22. The hydraulic block comprises a second module 25. The second module 25 is provided with a third passage 27 and a fourth passage 26, in which connections for a tap water outlet line and a tap water inlet line, respectively, can be arranged. The fourth passage 26 is used to transport tap water from a tap water inlet line 28 to the secondary heat exchanger 22, which is connected to connection 34b. The third passage 27 is used to transport tap water from the secondary heat exchanger 22, which is connected to the connection 33b, to a tap water outlet line 29. The third and fourth passages 27 and 26, respectively, are also provided with connections 33 and 34, respectively, (cf. Figs. 4 and 5). The connection 33 is provided with a metal coupling piece 33a, preferably made from stainless steel or brass, and the connection 34 is provided with a metal coupling piece 34a, preferably made from stainless steel or brass.
A housing part 24 of a three-way valve is fitted to the valve connection 13 of the first module 10, as can be seen from Fig. 5. The valve connection 13 in this example comprises a branch in the second passage 12. The three-way valve is fitted into the second passage 12 at this branch in such a manner when the three-way valve closes off the second passage 12, the branch is placed in open communication with the second passage 12.
The second module 25 is also provided with a fifth passage 30, which is coupled to a branch passage 24a of the three-way valve for transporting water from the secondary heat exchanger 22 via the branch passage 24a to the second passage 12 when the three-way valve closes off the second passage 12.
The third and fourth passages 27, 26 of the second module 25 are connected to one another by a bridge part 31 as shown in Fig. 4. This bridge part 31 provides mechanical strength to the second module 25. This bridge part can also be designed in a number of pieces, in accordance with what has already been described above in connection with the bridge part 15 of the first module 10.
As shown in the example presented in Fig. 5, the second module 25 is fitted to the first module 10. The bridge part 31 of the second module 25, in the mounted state, rests on the bridge part 15 of the first module 10, as can be seen in Fig. 5. The space available in heating devices is limited. Consequently, it is desirable for the components which are incorporated in the device to be of compact design. For this reason, it is expedient for the hydraulic block to be of compact design. This is achieved by virtue of the second module 25 being fitted directly to the first module 10, with the hydraulic block assembled from the modules 10 and 25 having a sufficient mechanical stability.
The first module 10 and the second module 25 are connected to one another, for example, by means of a click-fit connection, since this allows rapid and simple mounting.
Figs. 9 and 10 show the hydraulic block from Fig. 5 to which a valve having a valve housing 100 has been connected. Furthermore, a circulation pump 101 has been fitted. The pump connection 14 is provided, for example, with holes 102 (cf. Fig. 5), into or through which bolts can be fitted in order to secure the pump 101 to the first module 10. A bypass line 44 is arranged between the first passage 11 and the second passage 12.
As can be seen from Fig. 9, a plate-type heat exchanger 103 can be fitted as internal secondary heat exchanger 22. As can be seen from Fig. 10, a boiler 104 can be fitted as internal secondary heat exchanger 22. In the examples shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the secondary heat exchanger 22 is supported by the hydraulic block.
Fig. 6 diagrammatically depicts a heating device 41 which can be connected to an external secondary heating circuit. In the example shown, this external secondary heating circuit is designed as a boiler 42 which is provided with an external secondary heat exchanger in the form of a heating coil 43 for heating tap water by means of central heating water.
The hydraulic block 3 comprises a first module 10 and a third module 45, which is fitted to the first module 10, as can also be seen from Fig. 8. The third module 45 comprises a first part 45a (cf. Fig. 7), which is provided with a sixth passage 46 which is coupled, by means of a connection 46a, to a branch 11a in the first passage 11 and is provided with a connection 48 having a metal coupling piece 48a, preferably made from stainless steel or brass, for connecting a line 50 for transporting water to the secondary heat exchanger 43 (cf. also Fig. 11). The third module 45 also comprises a second part 45b (cf. Fig. 7) , which is fitted to the first module 10 separately from the first part 45a. The second part 45b comprises a seventh passage 47, which is coupled, by means of connection 47a, to the branch passage 24a of the housing part 24 of the three-way valve and is provided with a connection 49 for a line 51 for transporting central heating water from the secondary heat exchanger 43 to the second passage 12 (cf. also Fig. 11). The connection 49 has a metal coupling piece 49a, preferably made from stainless steel or brass. The parts 45a and 45b of the third module 45 can be connected to the first module 10 by means of a quick-fit connection.
The hydraulic block, in particular the first module 10, can preferably be connected to a frame of the heating device 1, 21, 41, so that the hydraulic block is provided with further mechanical stability and the hydraulic block together with the components which have been fitted to it is supported by the frame. A click-fit connection or a clamping connection, as shown in Figs. 12-14, is preferably used to connect the first module 10 to the frame, since this allows fast and simple mounting of the hydraulic block in the heating device 1, 21, 41.
Fig. 12 shows how a stainless steel or brass coupling piece 70 is fitted into a connection 80 of a line. The coupling piece 70 has a first part 71 which is fitted into the connection 80, as indicated by arrow 90. Furthermore, the coupling piece 70 has a second part 72 which is provided with a union nut 73 and is designed to be coupled to lines of the central heating system or of the tap water system. A clamping plate 74, the function of which will become clear below, is present between the first part 71 and the second part 72. At the outermost end, the connection 80 has a flange 81 and a circumferential rib 82 at an axial distance therefrom. When the first part 71 of the coupling piece 70 has been fitted into the connection 80, the clamping plate 74 bears against the flange 81, as can be seen from Fig. 13.
The connection 80 and the inserted coupling piece 70 can then be pushed into a cutout 94 in a frame part 95 of the heating device 1, 21, 41, as indicated by arrow 91. The frame part 95 is in this example designed as a flat plate. The clamping plate 74 then bears against the edge regions of the cutout 94 on the frame part 95 (cf. Fig. 14). Next to the cutout 94, hook members 96 are positioned on either side, substantially perpendicular to the frame part 95. In the mounted state, these hook members 96 engage on the space between the flange 81 and the rib 82, as can be seen clearly from Fig. 14. The coupling piece 70 and the module connected to it is in this way fixed in the direction perpendicular to the frame part 95 by the edge regions of the cutout 94 and the hook members 96. Furthermore, the hook members 96 ensure that the clamping plate 74 of the coupling piece 70 and the flange 81 of the connection 80 remain fixed to one another and therefore the coupling piece 70 cannot be removed from the connection 80 when the entire assembly is fitted to the frame part 95. This is advantageous since no additional locking clips are required for providing the locking action between the connection 80 and the coupling piece, meaning that fewer components and therefore also fewer assembly operations are required. Also, the hook members 96 ensure a locking action against displacement in the direction perpendicular to the direction of introduction indicated by arrow 91.
The clamping plate 74 also comprises a projection 74a on the side 74b which faces the frame part 95 during mounting. Two obliquely raised lips 97 are arranged on the frame part 95 at a distance from the front edge 94a of the cutout 94. In the mounted state, the projection 74a is clamped between the frame part 95 and the lips 97, as shown in Fig. 14. As a result, the coupling piece 70 is securely clamped to the frame part 95, and the module connected to it is locked against rotation.
The connection shown between the coupling piece/module and the frame results in a robust connection, with the result that the hydraulic block with the components fitted to it can be supported by the frame.
In a further embodiment, it is also possible for the second module 25 or the third module 45 to be connected to the frame in the manner described above, so that additional strength and stability are obtained. In this context, it should be noted that the connections 33 and 34 of the second module 25 are preferably located at the same position as the connections 48 and 49 of the third module 45, so that the same pattern of cutouts 94 can be used in the frame for each design of device.
The modules 10, 25, 45 of the hydraulic block are preferably made from plastic. They can be produced in particular by injection moulding. In one expedient embodiment, at least the connections on the first module which are not required for a specific version of the heating device are provided with sealing walls produced during the injection moulding, which sealing walls can be broken out or cut out as desired during the mounting of components. This results in a first module which, for example, can be used for a simple central heating system.
If, by way of example, a more extensive system is desired, this can be obtained by opening up a number of connections which were initially closed, for example by cutting open these connections, and then connecting the desired components. For example, the valve connection 13 may be closed off in the manner described here. If a valve is to fitted, the connection can, for example, be opened by cutting away the sealing wall. Other examples of components which can be connected to the first module include: an expansion vessel, a filling and drain tap, an overflow valve, a bypass valve, sensors and thermostats, a flow switch, a bleed device and a quick-fill device. By way of example, it is also possible for a connection for an expansion vessel, a connection for a filling and drain tap, means for fitting sensors and thermostats, means for fitting a flow switch, means for fitting a quick-fill device, to be fitted to the second module. The list of components mentioned here is intended to be purely indicative and should not be considered limiting in any way.
Perhaps superfluously, it should also be noted that the modules are not provided with unnecessary functionalities. What this means is that, for example, there are no means on the first module for the connection of components which are only required in a heating device in which the second or third module is also fitted. For example, therefore, there is no connection on the first module for a temperature sensor which is only required in a combination system, but this connection is present on the second module.
It will be clear that if it is desired to fit a second module, by way of example the branch 23 of the first passage 11, like the components mentioned above, can also be connected to a connection which was originally closed and has to be broken or cut open for use.
Since plastic is used instead of brass to produce the hydraulic block, weight is saved, i.e. if is expedient for the devices to be of lightweight design, in particular when dealing with types of devices which can be mounted on a wall.

Claims

Heating device for a central heating system having a primary circuit, which heating device forms part of the primary circuit and comprises a primary heat exchanger (2), for example equipped with a burner, for heating central heating water, which heating device (21) also comprises a secondary circuit having a secondary heat exchanger (22) for heating tap water by means of central heating water which has been heated by the primary heat exchanger (2) and also comprises a hydraulic block (3), which is provided with connections (6b, 7b) for a feed line (4) and a return line (5) of the primary heat exchanger (2), by means of which the hydraulic block (3) is coupled to the primary heat exchanger (2), and which is provided with connections (6, 7) for coupling the heating device (1) to a feed line and a return line of the central heating system, and provided with connections (33, 34) for a tap water outlet line (29) and a tap water inlet line (28), respectively, for transporting tap water from a tap water inlet line (28) to the secondary heat exchanger (22) and from the secondary heat exchanger (22) to a tap water outlet line (29), characterized in that the hydraulic block (3) comprises a first module (10), which is provided with a first passage (11) and with a second passage (12) for transporting central heating water from or to the primary heat exchanger (2) to the feed line or from the return line of the central heating system, which can be connected to the first and second passages (11, 12) by means of connections in that the first passage (11) and the second passage (12) of the first module (10) are mechanically connected by a bridge part (15), and in that the first module (10) at the second passage (12) has a valve connection (13) at which a valve is arranged by which the second passage (12) can be closed off, and in that the first passage (11) is provided with at least one branch connection (23a) for transporting central heating water, which is connected to the secondary heat exchanger (22) in order to transport central heating water from or to the first passage (11) to or from the secondary heat exchanger (22), in that the hydraulic block comprises a second module (25), which second module (25) is provided with a third passage (27) and a fourth passage (26), which are connected to the secondary heat exchanger (22) and are provided with the connections (33, 34) for a tap water outlet line (29) and a tap water inlet line (28), respectively, for transporting tap water from the tap water inlet line (28) to the secondary heat exchanger (22) and from the secondary heat exchanger (22) to the tap water outlet line (29) in that the third and fourth passages (27, 26) of the second module (25) are mechanically connected by a bridge part (31), and in that there is a fifth passage (30) between the valve and the secondary heat exchanger (22) for transporting central heating water from the secondary heat exchanger (22) to the second passage (12), wherein the bridge part (31) of the second module (25), in the fitted position, bears against the bridge part (15) of the first module (10).
Heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fifth passage (30) is arranged fixed to the second module (25).
Heating device according to one or more of claims 1-2, characterized in that the second module (25) is fitted to the first module (10).
Heating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hydraulic block, in particular the first module (10), is connected to a frame of the heating device (1, 21, 41), preferably by a clamping or click-fit connection.
Heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic block supports the secondary heat exchanger (22).
Heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first module (10) is also provided with a pump connection (14) for a circulation pump.
Heating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve connection (13) comprises a branch in the second passage (12), at which branch a valve can be arranged in the second passage (12) in such a manner that when the valve closes off the second passage (12), it brings the branch into open communication with the second passage (12).
Heating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first module (10) is also provided with:
- a connection for an expansion vessel, and/or

- a connection for a filling and drain tap, and/or

- means for fitting an overflow valve, and/or

- means for fitting a bypass valve, and/or

- means for fitting sensors and thermostats, and/or

- means for fitting a flow switch, and/or

- means for fitting a bleed device, and/or

- means for fitting a quick-fill device.
Heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second module (25) is also provided with:
- a connection for an expansion vessel, and/or

- a connection for a filling and drain tap, and/or

- means for fitting sensors and thermostats, and/or

- means for fitting a flow switch, and/or

- means for fitting a quick-fill device.
Heating device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the modules (10, 25, 45) are made from plastic, preferably by injection moulding.
Heating device according to claim 10, characterized in that one or more connections (6, 7, 6b, 7b, 13, 14, 33, 34, 33b, 34b, 46a, 47a, 48, 49) of a module (10, 25, 45) are provided with a sealing wall which is formed during the injection moulding, which sealing wall can be removed if desired.