EP1655550A1

EP1655550A1 - Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates

Info

Publication number: EP1655550A1
Application number: EP05022301A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe De'longhi
Original assignee: DL RADIATORS SpA
Current assignee: DL RADIATORS SpA
Priority date: 2004-11-05
Filing date: 2005-10-13
Publication date: 2006-05-10
Also published as: ITMI20042119A1

Abstract

The distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates,has a first adaptor between the pipe of the external supply network of the heating fluid and the inlet fitting of the radiator and a second adaptor between the pipe of the external discharge network of the heating fluid and the outlet fitting of the radiator, the first adaptor comprising a first attachment to the inlet fitting, connected to a second attachment through a first tubular element suitable for positioning the second attachment at the supply pipe, the second adaptor comprising a third attachment to the outlet fitting, connected to a fourth attachment through a second tubular element suitable for positioning the fourth attachment at the discharge pipe.

Description

The present invention refers to a distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates.
Radiators with radiant plates of the open circuit, centralised or autonomous type, connected to the waterworks of the room to be heated, are known.
The external inlet and outlet pipes of the waterworks are connected, usually indirectly through a valve distributor, to the inlet and outlet fittings of the radiator.
Such radiators suffer from the drawback that in general it is not possible to position the external inlet and outlet pipes in a different position to the one at the inlet and outlet fittings of the radiator.
This can complicate the installation of the radiator and substantially limit the possible design choices for its positioning.
The technical task proposed of the present invention is, therefore, that of making a distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates that allows the aforementioned technical drawbacks of the prior art to be eliminated.
In this technical task a purpose of the invention is that of making a distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates that allows the external inlet and outlet pipes to be positioned in a different position to the one at the inlet and outlet fittings of the radiator, so as to simplify the installation of the radiator and to increase the design choices for its positioning.
Another purpose of the present invention is that of making a distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates that allows the external inlet and outlet pipes to be positioned in a different position to the one at the inlet and outlet fittings of the radiator without it being necessary to modify the structure of the radiator in any way.
The technical task, as well as these and other purposes, according to the present invention, are accomplished by making a distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates, characterised in that it has a first adaptor between the pipe of the external supply network of said heating fluid and the inlet fitting of said radiator and a second adaptor between the pipe of the external discharge network of said heating fluid and the outlet fitting of said radiator, said first adaptor comprising a first attachment to said inlet fitting, connected to a second attachment through a first tubular element suitable for positioning said second attachment at said supply pipe, said second adaptor comprising a third attachment to said outlet fitting, connected to a fourth attachment through a second tubular element suitable for positioning said fourth attachment at said discharge pipe.
The distribution device of the present invention has the advantage, amongst other things, of allowing a radiator to be replaced with another one of a different type without needing to carry out masonry works to move the connections.
This is useful, for example, when, choosing to work with a low-temperature heating fluid to optimise the yield of the condensation boilers and of the entire system, it becomes necessary to replace the pre-existing radiator with one that has a larger exchange surface.
As an example, with the distribution device of the present invention, a pre-existing horizontal radiator with integrated valve, in which the inlet and outlet fittings are usually positioned close together on the bottom side of the radiator, can be replaced with a vertical radiator with a large exchange surface in which the inlet and outlet fittings are usually at the opposite ends of the bottom side of the radiator, without having to change or alter the connections.
Other characteristics of the present invention are defined, moreover, in the other claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention shall become clearer from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the radiator with radiant plates according to the finding, illustrated for indicating and not limiting purposes in the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a front view of a vertical radiator with radiant plates equipped with a distribution device of the heating fluid according to the present invention;
figure 2 shows a front view of a horizontal radiator with radiant plates equipped with a distribution device of the heating fluid according to the present invention;
figure 3 shows a perspective view of the distribution device, exploded, of figure 1;
figure 4 shows a perspective view of the distribution device, assembled, of figure 1;
figure 5 shows an enlarged front view of a portion of the distribution device of figure 1 sectioned longitudinally and connected to a valve distributor; and
figure 6 shows a front view of the distribution device of figure 1 sectioned longitudinally and connected to a valve distributor.

With reference to the quoted figures, a radiator with radiant plates is shown, wholly indicated with reference numeral 1.
The radiator 1 comprises one or more shells defining a circuit for a heating fluid, possibly one or more convective elements (not shown) made from bent metal plate each connected to a corresponding shell, and at least one inlet fitting 2 of the heating fluid into the circuit and an outlet fitting 3 of the heating fluid from the circuit.
A distribution device 4 of the heating fluid, having a first adaptor 5 between the pipe 6 of the external supply network of the heating fluid and the inlet fitting 2 of the radiator 1 and a second adaptor 7 between the pipe 8 of the external discharge network of the heating fluid and the outlet fitting 3 of the radiator 1, can be connected to the radiator 1.
Of course, from the point of view of the radiator inlet and outlet are perfectly invertible.
The first adaptor 5 comprises a first attachment 9 to the inlet fitting 2, connected to a second attachment 10 through a first tubular element 11 suitable for positioning the second attachment 10 at the supply pipe 6.
The second adaptor 7 comprises a third attachment 12 to the outlet fitting 3, connected to a fourth attachment 13 through a second tubular element 14 suitable for positioning the fourth attachment 13 at the discharge pipe 8.
The second attachment 10 and the fourth attachment 13, respectively, preferably connect through a valve distributor 15 to the supply pipe 6 and to the discharge pipe 8, respectively.
Alternatively, the second attachment 10 and the fourth attachment, respectively, can connect directly to the supply pipe 6 and to the discharge pipe 8, respectively.
The valve device 15 can integrate a thermostatic head that nevertheless may not be foreseen.
The thermostatic head, through the valve device, allows the flow rate of the heating fluid to be adjusted in order to keep the set temperature constant.
The distribution device 4 has removable interconnection means 16 between the first adaptor 5 and the second adaptor 7 suitable for interconnecting the second attachment 10 and the fourth attachment 13 at a variable distance.
The first adaptor 5 and the second adaptor 7, and preferably also the interconnection means 16, are advantageously contained in the projection of the front and rear sides of the radiator 1 so as to be not very visible and so as not to substantially increase the bulk of the radiator 1 itself.
In particular, the first tubular element 11 and the second tubular element 14 extend longitudinally along one (figure 1) or more (figure 2) lateral sides of the radiator 1.
Of course, the first tubular element 11 and the second tubular element 14 are shaped in such a way as to adapt to the perimeter of the radiator 1 and in particular in the example of figure 2 they describe a curve of 90°.
Of course, the paths of the pipes can be of whatever type with the sole purpose of reaching the end positions that allow the connection with the fittings.
The first tubular element 11 and the second tubular element 14 can be the same length, as shown, to position the external inlet and outlet pipes 6 and 8 at the centre of one of said lateral sides of the radiator 1 (the bottom lateral side in the illustrated embodiments).
However, it is also possible for the first tubular element 11 and the second tubular element 14 to have a different length to position the supply and discharge pipes 6 and 8 outside of the centre of one of the lateral sides of the radiator 1.
Preferably, therefore, the first adaptor 5 is made with various lengths of the first tubular element 11, just as the second adaptor 7 is made with various lengths equal or different to those of the first tubular element 11.
The interconnection means 16 comprise a small plate 17 having a respective first and second open slot 18 and 19 in which the second attachment 10 and the fourth attachment 13 are respectively housed.
The slots 18 and 19 are elongated along the direction of relative sliding between the second attachment 10 and the fourth attachment 13.
The second attachment 10 and the fourth attachment 13 respectively have guide grooves 20 and 21 that slidably engage with the first and second slot 18 and 19, respectively.
The small plate 17 also has, at the open end of the slots 18 and 19, pairs of tightening keys 22 and 23 that can be actuated to rigidly lock the first adaptor 5 with respect to the second adaptor 7.
Possibly, the small plate 17 can be fixed to the radiator.
The tightening keys 22 and 23, when pressed, deform the first and second slot 18 and 19, respectively, so that they are clamped against the outer side surface of the second attachment 10 and of the fourth attachment 13, respectively.
The first attachment 9 and the third attachment 12, respectively, each comprise a radially perforated and axially hollow screw 24, 25 inserted in a ring 26, 27 fixed to an end of the first and second tubular element 11 and 14, respectively.
The annular fluid chamber that is created between the outer side surface of the screws 24 and 25 and the inner side surface of the rings 26 and 27 is sealed by O- rings 28 and 29.
Preferably, the parts that make up each of the adaptors 5 and 7 are made from steel, brass (possibly nickeled), copper or bronze, and they can be welded together through soldering or electric welding.
The second attachment 10 and the fourth attachment 13, respectively, each comprise a flat abutment 30 and 31 cooperating with a gasket 32 and 33 to make an indirect elastic union with the supply pipe 6 and with the discharge pipe 8, respectively, through the valve distributor 15, as illustrated in figure 5.
The valve distributor 15 has, in particular, a delivery manifold 34 in communication with the pipe 6 and a return manifold 35 in communication with the pipe 8.
The delivery manifold 34 and return manifold 35 each carry an internally threaded ring nut 36 and 37 that can be screwed onto the outer threading of the second and fourth attachment 10 and 13.
The ring nuts 36 and 37 are supported with the possibility of radial clearance with respect to the axis of the corresponding delivery manifold 34 and return manifold 35. This is carried out by providing the outer diameter or the various outer diameters of the delivery manifold 34 and return manifold 35 less than a certain value with respect to the inner diameter or inner diameters of the ring nuts 36 and 37.
The gaskets 32 and 33 are carried in plane by the extreme base of the delivery and return manifolds 34, 35 so as to sealably engage against the corresponding flat abutments 30 and 31 at the end of the screwing stroke of the ring nuts 36 and 37.
In practice, the two adaptors 5 and 7 are firstly slidably fastened together through the small plate 17 that allows the distance between the second and fourth attachment 10 and 13 to vary to compensate for the position tolerances of the inlet and outlet fittings 2 and 3.
Such a variation is compensated by the indirect elastic union between the second and fourth attachment 10 and 13 and the supply and discharge pipes 6 and 8.
At the end of the connection with the radiator 1, the keys 22 and 23 can be tightened to rigidly lock the relative position between the two adaptors 5 and 7.
Of course, the individual parts of each adaptor 5 and 7, in other words the attachments 9, 10 and the first pipe 11 on one side and the attachments 12, 13 and the second pipe 14 on the other are in fluid communication so as to allow the circulation of the heating fluid from the supply pipe 6 to the first adaptor 5 (through the valve distributor 15, if provided), from the first adaptor 5 to the radiator 1, from the radiator 1 to the second adaptor 7 and from the second adaptor 7 to the discharge pipe 8 (through the valve distributor 15, if provided).
The distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variations, all of which are covered by the inventive concept; moreover, all of the details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements.
For example, the distribution device can also be used for the connection of the external inlet and outlet pipes from above instead of, as shown, from below.
Moreover, the valve distributor, if present, can indifferently have the delivery and return manifolds in axis, as shown, or also perpendicular to the external inlet and outlet pipes.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates, characterised in that it has a first adaptor between the pipe of the external supply network of said heating fluid and the inlet fitting of said radiator and a second adaptor between the pipe of the external discharge network of said heating fluid and the outlet fitting of said radiator, said first adaptor comprising a first attachment to said inlet fitting, connected to a second attachment through a first tubular element suitable for positioning said second attachment at said supply pipe, said second adaptor comprising a third attachment to said outlet fitting, connected to a fourth attachment through a second tubular element suitable for positioning said fourth attachment at said discharge pipe.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to claim 1, characterised in that said second attachment is indirectly connected to said supply pipe and said fourth attachment is indirectly connected to said discharge pipe through a valve distributor.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it has removable interconnection means between said first and second adaptor suitable for interconnecting said second attachment and said fourth attachment at a variable distance.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said first and second tubular element extend longitudinally along one or more lateral sides of said radiator.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said first and second adaptor are contained in the projection of the front and rear sides of said radiator.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said first and second tubular element have the same length to position said supply and discharge pipes at the centre of one of said lateral sides of said radiator.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said first and second tubular element are different lengths to position said supply and discharge pipes outside the centre of one of said lateral sides of said radiator.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said interconnection means comprise a small plate having a respective first and second open slot in which said second attachment and said fourth attachment are respectively slidably housed.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said second attachment and said fourth attachment, respectively, have guide grooves that slidably engage with said first and second slot, respectively.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said small plate has, at the open end of said first and second slot, tightening keys that can be actuated to rigidly lock said first and second adaptor.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said first attachment and said third attachment, respectively, each comprise a radially perforated and axially hollow screw inserted in a ring fixed to one end of said first and second tubular element, respectively.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said second attachment and said fourth attachment, respectively, each comprise a flat abutment cooperating with a gasket to make a direct or indirect elastic union with said supply and discharge pipe, respectively.
Radiator with radiant plates comprising a distribution device of the heating fluid according to one or more of the previous claims.
Distribution device of the heating fluid to a radiator with radiant plates as described and claimed.