EP1418396A1

EP1418396A1 - Block manifold for large-sized thermal heat exchange batteries

Info

Publication number: EP1418396A1
Application number: EP03425707A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ermiro Palmiri
Original assignee: Tiemme Raccorderie SpA
Current assignee: GNUTTI CIRILLO SPA
Priority date: 2002-11-08
Filing date: 2003-10-31
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Also published as: ITBS20020101A1; ITBS20020101A0

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a block manifold for large-sized thermal exchange batteries, comprising a one piece body having a union portion (12) with a fluid piping to be connected to a thermal exchange battery, a plurality of branches (14, 15) to be connected to the pipes of the thermal exchange battery, and an intermediate distribution volume (13) to place said union chamber in communication with said branches, wherein said intermediate distribution volume is coaxial to the union portion (12). The branches are divided into a first group (14) that extends in the circle of said intermediate volume, on axes parallel to the axis of the union portion, and in a second group of branches (15) that extends from one side of said intermediate volume, perpendicularly to the union portion. The second group of branches allows increasing the circulation of the thermal exchange battery fed by the manifold.

Description

The present finding relates to a block manifold to be applied to large-sized thermal exchange batteries, especially for convectors.
In a former application by the same Applicant, a block manifold was already proposed, comprising a single piece body having on the one side, a union portion with a fluid piping to be connected to a thermal exchange battery, on the opposed side, two, three or more branches to be connected to the pipes of the thermal exchange battery, and an intermediate distribution chamber to place said union chamber in communication with said branches, wherein said intermediate chamber is circular, all peripherally closed and coaxial with said union portion.
Object of the present finding is that of realising and providing a manifold for thermal exchange batteries having a much higher number of branches, to be applied to large-sized batteries, without considerably increasing the dimensions and above all, keeping the construction, economic and functional advantages of the block manifold mentioned above unchanged, which can be summarised in the reduction of the use of raw materials, elimination of welding operations, with the consequent drastic reduction of scrap and of production costs, and a reduction of the turbulences of the fluid and of the load losses of the powered system.
Such object is achieved by a block manifold according to the following claims.
An example of embodiment of the finding is described hereinafter with reference to the attached indicative and non-limiting drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a front view of the manifold;
Fig. 2 shows a partial longitudinal section view of the manifold;
Fig. 3 shows a top view of the manifold with watertight conical screws;
Fig. 4 shows a top view of the manifold without the screws;
Fig. 5 shows a cross section view of the manifold;
Fig. 6 shows an axial section of an enlarged detail of the manifold at a conical screw;
Fig. 7 shows a top view of two manifolds applied to a thermal exchange battery; and
Fig. 8 shows a top view of the two manifolds and battery of Fig. 7.
The manifold under discussion consists of a one piece body 11 usually made of brass. The body is obtained by known moulding methods, them it is mechanically machined for the finishes according to the needs. When finished, said body 11 exhibits a union portion 12 with an inside threading, an intermediate distribution volume 13, a first group with four branches 14 that extend from said intermediate volume 13 at the opposite side of the union portion 12, and a second group of four more branches 15 that extend from a side of the intermediate volume 13.
In the practice, the union portion 12 is on a geometrical axis X, the branches 14 of the first group are on axes Y parallel to axis X, whereas branches 15 of the second group are on axes Z perpendicular to said axes X and Y. Moreover, the branches of the second group 15 are parallel and coplanar to one another.
The intermediate volume 13 consists of a central cylindrical chamber 13' and of two side chambers 13", cylindrical as well but with a smaller diameter, diametrically opposed to the central chamber 13' and internally communicating with it.
In particular, the two central branches 14' of the first group 14 extend at the bottom of the central chamber 13', whereas the two outside branches 14" partly intersect the side chambers 13".
As regards the second group of branches 15, the two central branches 15' extend from the rim of the central chamber 13', whereas the two outside branches 15" extend from the rims of the respective side chambers 13".
In the practice, the two side chambers 13" serve as bypass to feed the two outermost branches 14" of the first group of branches 14 and, in the case of use of the second group of branches 15, they act as feeding tanks.
It should be noted that the particular structure of the intermediate volume 13 has become necessary to allow feeding eight branches still remaining within the overall dimensions permitted to install the headers.
Fig. 6 shows one of the screws 16 that allow the watertight seal of the header. The peculiarity of these screws compared to those currently used is that they work in traction rather than in compression, so as to stand very high tightening torques and thereby realise under-pressure circuits of over 30 bar.
To this purpose, under the tightening nut 16', each screw 16 exhibits a truncated cone portion 17 intended to rest on the top edge of the side chambers 13" and a threaded stem 18 extending from the bottom of said truncated cone portion 17 to screw into a corresponding threaded seat 19 obtained in said side chambers 13" of volume 13. Once the truncated cone portion 17 engages on the edge of the corresponding side chamber 13, a further screwing of the screw exerts a traction between the two elements that allows obtaining a high watertight seal of the manifold.
Figs. 7 and 8 show two manifolds 11 applied in known manner to a thermal exchange battery 20. As it can be seen, the first group of branches 14 feeds a first portion of the battery, whereas the second group 15 feeds a second portion of the battery. The capacity of the latter is actually doubled.
Finally, it should be noted that even though the manifold distribution has been doubled, welding operations for connecting the branches have been avoided, and the addition of raw materials has been restricted. After being moulded, the one piece body of the manifold only requires to be drilled at the union chamber 12, and at the eight branches 14 and 15, and finally to be mechanically machined for finishing.

Claims

Block manifold for large-sided thermal exchange batteries, comprising a one piece body, having a union portion (12) with a fluid piping to be connected to a thermal exchange battery, a plurality of branches (14,15) to be connected to the pipes of the thermal exchange battery, and an intermediate distribution volume (13) to place said union chamber in communication with said branches, wherein said intermediate distribution volume is coaxial to the union portion (12), characterised in that said branches are divided into a first group (14) of branches extending from said intermediate volume at the opposed side of the union portion and on axes parallel to the axis of the latter, and in a second group of branches (15) extending from a side of said intermediate volume, perpendicularly to the union portion and to the first group of branches, said second group allowing increasing the circulation of the thermal exchange battery fed by the manifold.
Block manifold according to claim 1, wherein the branches of the second group (15) are parallel and coplanar to one another.
Block manifold according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate volume (13) consists of a central cylindrical chamber (13') and of two side chambers (13"), cylindrical as well but with a smaller diameter, diametrically opposed to the central chamber (13') and internally communicating with it.
Block manifold according to claim 2, wherein the central branches (14') of the first group (14) extend from the bottom of the central chamber (13'), whereas the two outside branches (14')' partly intersect the side chambers (13").
Block manifold according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the central branches (15') of the second group (15) extend from the rim of the central chamber (13'), whereas the two outside branches (15") extend from the rims of the respective side chambers (13"), said side chambers (13") acting as feeding tanks for said outside branches (15").
Block manifold according to any one of claims 3-5, comprising two screws for watertight seal, wherein each screw exhibits, under the tightening screw, a truncated cone portion (17) intended to engage on the top edge of a corresponding side chamber (13") and a threaded stem (18) extending from the bottom of said truncated cone portion (17) to screw into a corresponding threaded seat (19) obtained into said side chambers (13"), the tightening of the screw causing a traction between the latter and the manifold body.