EP1700076B1

EP1700076B1 - Improved radiator for civil and domestic use

Info

Publication number: EP1700076B1
Application number: EP04806836A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Pastorino; Matteo Codecasa
Original assignee: Peltech Srl
Current assignee: Peltech Srl
Priority date: 2003-12-05
Filing date: 2004-12-02
Publication date: 2011-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-02
Also published as: WO2005054766A1; DE602004031151D1; ITMI20030574U1; ATE496269T1; EP1700076A1

Abstract

The heat pipe radiator (10) is intended to be included into a heating system of the kind comprising a heat source arranged internally or externally to the radiator itself, a conduit (11) containing a heat carrier fluid which is heated by the heat source, and one or more heat pipes (12) adapted to be removably connected to the conduit. The conduit (11) is provided with a hollow member (14) having an open end for receiving a portion (15, 26) of a heat pipe (12) and connecting means (21, 25, 27, 28) are provided which cooperate with said heat pipe (12) for fastening said portion (15, 26) of the heat pipe (12) received inside the hollow member (14).

Description

Technical field

The present invention generally relates to heating devices for space heating in homes and offices, and particularly an improved radiator operating on the principle of heat transfer by means of a continuous evaporation and condensation of a fluid.

Prior art

In the technical field of heating devices, in particular for civil and domestic uses, there are known devices which activate a transfer of heat to a surrounding space by means of a continuous evaporation and condensation of an internal fluid. These devices are known in the art under the name of "heat pipes".
Generally, a heat pipe is formed of a sealed unit containing a small quantity of a liquid in partial vacuum. In a heat pipe, heat is absorbed through evaporation of the liquid and given off through the condensation of the vapour.
The application of heat pipes in a heating system for civil and domestic use is known from document GB 2 178 156 A . This document discloses a central heating system comprising a heat source, a forward and return fluid conduit in which a heat carrier fluid, e.g. water, is circulated in closed circuit with the heat source and one or more heatable panels which are arranged in a vertical plane and are removably supported by the conduits, wherein a part of the outer surface of each panel is adapted to be placed in contact with a surface of the conduit. The heatable panels form a sealed unit enclosing a small quantity of volatile liquid, preferably in vacuum. As contact is made between the panel and the conduit there is a transfer of heat via the metal to metal surface contact. The liquid contained in the panel absorbs heat from the heat carrier fluid, is converted into a vapour, rises to the top of the panel, condenses by giving off heat to the space to be heated, and finally runs back down to the bottom of the panel to begin again the evaporation and condensation cycle. Another heat pipe radiator known from JP2003130378 .
The advantage of a heating system of this kind consists in that it is versatile and inexpensive. In fact, the heating system is adaptable to different heating requirements because the panels can be placed in the most convenient arrangement and removed when they are unnecessary or when they require maintenance. These operations can be easily and readily carried out also by an unskilled person, without requiring an operation on the closed circuit of the heating system.
However, in a heating system of the kind mentioned above, there is the problem that the panels forming the heat pipes lack stability when they are placed in position. In an effort to solve this problem, the lower part of the panels which is supported by the conduit is in the shape of an inverted frustrum in cross section. However, this solution to this problem has proved to be inadequate and, moreover, is expensive because it requires a special conformation of the conduit.
Accordingly, there is need for an improvement in the installation of the heat pipes onto a conduit in which the heat carrier fluid is circulated.

Disclosure of the invention

This is achieved by a heat pipe radiator according to the embodiments incorporating the features defined in the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partially sectional perspective view of a radiator according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a partially sectional front elevation view of the radiator of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the radiator of Figure 2, showing the detail of the connection of a heat pipe to a connecting tube of the radiator of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a partially sectional bottom view of the radiator of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a partially sectional perspective view of a first variant of a radiator according to the invention;
Figure 6 is a partially sectional front elevation view of the radiator of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the radiator of Figure 6, showing the detail of the connection of a heat pipe to a connecting tube of the radiator of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a partially sectional bottom view of the radiator of Figure 5;
Figure 9 is a partially sectional perspective view of another radiator;
Figure 10 is a partially sectional front elevation view of the radiator of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the radiator of Figure 9, showing the detail of the connection of a heat pipe to a connecting tube of the radiator of Figure 9;
Figure 12 is a partially sectional bottom view of the radiator of Figure 9;
Figure 13 is a partially sectional front elevation view of a second variant of the radiator according to the present invention; and
Figure 14 is an enlarged view of the radiator of Figure 13, showing the detail of the connection of a heat pipe to a connecting tube of the radiator of Figure 13.

Best mode of carrying out the invention

Figures 1 to 4 show a radiator according to the present invention, generally designated by 10. The radiator 10 comprises a connecting pipe 11 and a plurality of heat pipes 12 arranged preferably side by side one another and detachably connected to the connecting pipe 11, as will be described and illustrated in the following.
A heat carrier fluid is circulated by natural or forcing means through the connecting pipe 11. The heat carrier fluid is heated by a heating source (not shown) which is associated with the radiator 10 and arranged internally or externally thereof.
In the case the heat source is provided externally to the radiator 10, the connecting pipe 11 is provided with suitable inlets and outlets 13 for the heat carrier fluid arranged at its opposite ends.
Internally, the connecting pipe 11 is provided with hollow members 14, e.g. in the form of sleeves, which are arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the connecting pipe 11 and are intended each for receiving a mating end part 15 of a heat pipe 12. Each hollow member 14 is open-ended and is provided inside with a stop ring 16 arranged at one end thereof and a gasket 17 arranged at another end.
Preferably, the space existing between the internal surface of the hollow member 14 and the external surface of the heat pipes 12 is filled with a thermally conductive paste, or other similar material, in order to eliminate air and permit an effective transference of heat to occur between the hollow member 14 and the heat pipe 12.
The hollow members 14 may have a conical shape adapted to receive a mating end part of the heat pipes 12. In this case, the contact existing between the outer surface of the heat pipes 12 and inner surface of the hollow members 14 makes the use of a thermally conductive paste unnecessary.
The connecting pipe 11 is provided internally with fixed surfaces 18 for directing the heat carrier fluid therethrough along a longitudinal axis thereof and around the outer surface of the hollow members 14. These fixed internal surfaces 18 are shaped so as to provide diverging and converging portions arranged upstream and downstream of the hollow membes 14 with respect to the direction of flow of the heat carrier fluid. Thus, a turbulent flow of the heat carrier fluid is caused, whereby the heat exchange with the hollow members 14 touched by the flow is enhanced.
The heat pipes 12 are sealed at their opposite ends 15 preferably by means of a closure element 19. A threaded blind hole 20 is provided externally and centrally in the closure member 19.
In order to fasten a heat pipe 12 inside a hollow member 14, a screw plug 21 is provided which co-operates with the threaded blind hole 20 in the closure element 19 of the heat pipe 12. In the screwed condition, a tapered edge of the screw plug 21 is pressed against the stop ring 16 which in turn is pressed against the wall of the hollow member 14. This external surface of the plug 21 preferably exhibits a recess 23 for the screwing/unscrewing operation with a suitable tool.
Connection means substantially similar to those described above using a threaded connection may be provided in the case of a conical shape for the hollow member 14.
With the connection means described above, the heat pipes 12 can be installed and removed from the connecting pipe 11 very easily and readily, in order to adapt the radiator to a desired thermal power or to a desired shape, without requiring operation by a skilled person.
As seen in Figures 1 and 2, heat pipes 12 extend from a side only of the connecting pipe 11, substantially perpendicular thereto. Second end part 15 of heat pipes 12, opposite to first end part 15 inserted into the hollow member 14, is closed by a closure member 19 which preferably is the same to that closing the first end part 15 of heat pipes, i.e. it is externally and centrally provided with a threaded blind hole 20. Since second end part 15 of heat pipes 12 is not fitted into a hollow member 14, a cover 24 is conveniently attached to hole 20 in the closure element 19 for covering this second end part 15 of heat pipes 12. The cover 24 may be removed to permit a functional accessory to be attached to second end part 15 of heat pipe 12 by screwing a threaded part of the accessory into the threaded hole 20. Thus, it is possible to adapt radiator 10 to specific tasks, e.g. as linen dryer or drying rack.
Within the inventive idea underlying the present invention there are variants of which two are illustrated herein for exemplicative purpose. Figures 5 to 8 relate to a first variant, Figures 9 to 12 to another Radiator and Figures 13 and 14 to a second variant. In the Figures, parts being similar in shape and/or function are designated by the same reference numeral.
In the first variant, illustrated in Figures 5 to 8, the connecting pipe 11 is provided with a plurality of heat pipes 12 extending from both its sides. In each hollow member 14, a first end part 15 of a pair of heat pipes 12 is arranged. A stop ring 16 is placed in an intermediate position inside the hollow member 14. The heat pipes 12 forming each pair are connected one another at the first end part 15 by means of a threaded connecting member 25 which co-operates with the threaded blind holes 20 in the closure member 19.
Also in the Radiator, illustrated in Figure 9 to 12, the connecting pipe 11 exhibits a plurality of heat pipes 12 extending from both sides. In this Radiator, however, an intermediate part 26 of a heat pipe 12 is arranged inside each hollow member, thus the heat pipe extends with a first end part 15 from a side of the connecting pipe 11 and with a second end part 15 from another side of the connecting pipe 11. For fastening the heat pipes 12 in position inside hollow members 14 there are provided anti-disengagement flanges 27 made of elastomeric material arranged around the heat pipes 12 on both ends of the connecting pipe 11. These anti-disengagement flanges 27 have a circular cylindrical part which is arranged between and engages the external surface of the heat pipe 12 and the internal surface of the hollow 14.
In the second variant, the hollow members 14 are open only on one side thus having a socket-like form. The closed end of the hollow members 14 is provided with a threaded pin 28 which co-operates with the threaded blind hole 20 in the closure element 19 for fastening the heat pipe 12 in the hollow member.
From the foregoing it can be understood that the heat pipe radiator according to the present invention obviates the drawback of conventional heat pipe radiators known in the art. In particular, the heat pipes can be fastened to a conduit in a very stable manner.

Claims

Heat pipe radiator (10) intended to be included into a beating system of the kind comprising a heat source arranged internally or externally to the radiator itself, the heat pipe Radiator (10) comprising a conduit (11) containing a heat carrier fluid which is heated by the heat source, and one or more heat pipes (12) adapted to be removably connected to the conduit, said conduit (11) being internally provided with a hollow member (14) having an open end for receiving a portion (15) of a heat pipe (12) and connecting means (21) being provided which cooperate with said heat pipe (12) for fastening said portion (15) of the heat pipe (12) received inside said hollow member (14), characterised in that said heat pipe (12) is sealed at its opposite ends by means of a closure element (19), said closure element (19) being provided externally and centrally with a threaded blind hole (20), and said connecting means is formed of a screw plug (21) adapted to be screwed into the threaded blind hole (20) in the closure element (19) of the heat pipe (12).
Heat pipe radiator (10) intended to be included into a heating system of the kind comprising a heat source arranged internally or externally to the radiator itself, the heat pipe Radiator (10) comprising a conduit (11) containing a heat carrier fluid which is heated by the heat source, and one or more heat pipes (12) adapted to be removably connected to the conduit, said conduit (11) being internally provided with a hollow member (14) having an open end for receiving a portion (15) of a heat pipe (12) and connecting means (25) being provided which cooperate with said heat pipe (12) for fastening said portion (15) of the heat pipe (12) received inside said hollow member (14), characterised in that said heat pipe (12) is sealed at its opposite ends by means of a closure element (19), said closure element (19) being provided externally and centrally with a threaded blind hole (20), and said conduit (11) is provided with a pair of said heat pipes (12) extending from both sides thereof, and a first end part of said heat pipes (12) is arranged in said hollow member (14), said heat pipes (12) being connected one another at said first end part thereof by means of a threaded connecting member (25) which engages said threaded hole (20) in the closure element (19) of each of said heat pipes (12).
Heat pipe radiator (10) intended to be included into a heating system of the kind comprising a heat source arranged internally or externally to the radiator itself, the heat pipe Radiator (10) comprising a conduit (11) containing a heat carrier fluid which is heated by the heat source, and one or more heat pipes (12) adapted to be removably connected to the conduit, said conduit (11) being internally provided with a hollow member (14) having an open end for receiving a portion (15) of a heat pipe (12) and connecting means (28) being provided which cooperate with said heat pipe (12) for fastening said portion (15) of the heat pipe (12) received inside said hollow member (14), characterised in that said heat pipe (12) is sealed at its opposite ends by means of a closure element (19), said closure element (19) being provided externally and centrally with a threaded blind hole (20), and said hollow member (14) is closed at an end opposite to the open end thereof, and said connecting means is formed of a threaded pin (28) projecting inside the hollow member (14) from said closed end thereof and adapted to be screwed into the threaded blind hole (20) in the closure element (19) of the heat pipe (12).