EP4686879A1

EP4686879A1 - Heating device installation kit

Info

Publication number: EP4686879A1
Application number: EP24191648.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arnaud Bichler; Linda MARCONOT; Ludovic Dumont; Florian ANTOINE
Original assignee: BDR Thermea Group BV
Current assignee: BDR Thermea Group BV
Priority date: 2024-07-30
Filing date: 2024-07-30
Publication date: 2026-02-04

Abstract

A removable installation kit improves connection of a heating device to a heating network during a multi-stage installation of a multi-component heating system including a first fluid pipe network and a second fluid pipe network. The kit comprises a body arranged to be attachable to a structure, for example a wall, and the body comprises a first plurality of fluid connectors for connecting the heating device to the first fluid pipe network, and a second plurality of fluid connectors for connecting the heating device to the second fluid pipe network. The body is arranged to be removeable, after the heating device is connected to the heating network, from the structure, from the first plurality of fluid connectors, and from the plurality of second fluid connectors.

Description

The invention relates to an installation kit to allow connection of a thermal device to a thermal network comprising a first fluid pipe network and a second fluid pipe network, which heating network is associated with a building structure. The invention additionally relates to a positioning device for positioning a thermal device relative to a thermal network, a method of planning connection of a thermal device to a thermal network, and method of connecting a thermal device to a thermal network.
One of the main markets for thermal devices, in particular heating devices, in particular heat pumps, is installation in new homes or buildings, particularly homes and buildings under construction.
To install a thermal, heating or cooling system in a house or other building or built structure, a number of elements are required and a number of steps must be undertaken, including installation of appropriate thermal or heat emitters, for example radiators or underfloor heating, the installation of a hot water tank, the installation of a heating, cooling or air conditioning medium such as a heat pump unit, and the installation of an appropriate hydraulic circuit between the various elements to transport and guide fluid heated or cooled by the heat pump between the different elements of the system.
Each heating or thermal installation requires specific components and methods of installation and integration, which can include different forms of emitter, pipes of different gauges, valves, wiring, and connection of the thermal device itself (for example a heat pump), all of which require integration within the existing structure of the house or building, which may not, at the point of installation of the various components, be complete. A variety of different skill sets are required, and will usually be provided by different trades, including for example plumbers, heating engineers, and electricians. Typically each specific installation task will occur as the building under construction reaches different stages of completion. For example, a hydraulic floor must be installed before the mechanical floor is laid, whereas the installation of an element on the same floor, such as a storage tank or heat pump unit, requires the mechanical floor to be in-situ, i.e. to have been laid. Various professionals groups may therefore be involved at different times during the construction process and they may not always meet to communicate instructions between each other regarding the placement and/or connection of items.
As an example, correct installation of a heat pump requires correct connection to an associated heating circuit, which is usually installed before the heat pump. Since the extent and position of the heating circuit is therefore known, a rough position for the heat pump can be predicted, however the heat pump itself imposes installation constraints for its own operation as well as for compatibility with the connections. It must be correctly positioned relative to the hydraulic and/or possibly aeraulic connection pipes on the installation site and any refrigerant connection pipes (for example in the case of a split unit). It should be positioned a certain depth (for example along an X-axis) or minimum depth from for example a wall in the built structure, to allow for sufficient space at the rear of the heat pump to allow for sufficient air to pass through or circulate and to evacuate fluid or provide heat, allow correct connection of an air duct, and allow for sufficient space to fit pipes or cables and allow for subsequent maintenance. Similarly there should be a sufficient offset (for example along a Y-axis) between the pipes or connectors to which the heat pump attaches because the spacing between the heat pump's own tubes, ducts and piping is fixed, because the tubes are possibly rigid and held in place by the product housing. If the appropriate distance is not maintained there is a risk of breakage, leakage or interference. Additionally the heat pump has specific height requirements (for example along a Z-axis). The heat pump has its own height and therefore any interconnecting tubing or piping must be arranged at the correct level for connection, otherwise there is a risk of interference during installation and subsequent leaks due to poor connection.
Therefore it can be seen that correct installation of all components within the context of a multi-stage build is challenging.
It is known from FR3098570B1 to improve installation by using a pre-installed rigid steel assembly jig that accommodates a set of installed tubes. The jig includes a mounting plate which is fixed permanently to a wall of a building. The jig holds the tubes in place and simultaneously indicates the position where the heat pump is to be installed for connection to the tubes. Once this plate has been installed, the heat pump product can be inserted onto and around it. The assembly jig and subsequently installed heat pump then form effectively a single, permanent unit attached to the wall of the building.
However this jig has not found widespread use due to its material cost and the associated cost of creation, and to complications in installing the heat pump onto and around it..
FR3098570B1 also describes the additional use of a template to identify the correct positioning of the jig on the appropriate wall.
Therefore the piping at connection points between the heating network and the heating device, for example heat pump, is generally installed by calculation and with reference to wall drawings created sequentially by each skilled tradesman in the installation process. There is a high risk of misalignment and the need to rework connections during installation. Flexible connections may also be used at the time of installation to compensate for off-sets, however these are of lesser quality, may give rise to additional risks of leakage, and require the addition of extra parts compared to a well-positioned installation from the outset.
Therefore it is an object of the invention to improve installation of heating devices, in particular heat pumps, at the installation site, in particular during the new build of homes.
The object is solved by an installation kit to allow connection of a thermal device to a thermal network comprising a first fluid pipe network and a second fluid pipe network, which heating network is associated with a building structure, and wherein the installation kit comprises a body arranged to be attachable to the building structure, and further wherein the body comprises a first plurality of fluid connectors for connecting the thermal device to the first fluid pipe network, a second plurality of fluid connectors for connecting the thermal device to the second fluid pipe network, and wherein the body is arranged to be removeable from the structure, from the first plurality of fluid connectors, and from the plurality of second fluid connectors, after the thermal device is connected to the thermal network.
The installation kit forms a temporary marker for the connection points between the thermal device and the thermal networks, a connection point being a position in space at which the two connect up to each other. As such it allows for an improved connection between the thermal device and the piping networks to which it is intended for connection because it can be arranged in-situ to position, in space, the appropriate connectors between the thermal device and thermal networks. As such it acts as a placeholder, or temporary marker, for the thermal device by providing a secure placement and arrangement for the connectors at the correct relative spacing to each other, and by being attached to the body of the installation kit these can then be placed at the appropriate position relative to the building or structure and at the correct height.
The term 'kit' can be understood broadly to include an accessory or optional sub-assembly which can be a generic solution compatible with many products, or it can be a sub-assembly of a heating system.
In a typical embodiment the installation kit will be created at the factory with connectors positioned on the body at the correct relative spacing to each other for the thermal device for which it is intended. It will then be installed at the building site and the connectors on the body of the kit will be connected to the ends of the appropriate thermal networks already created at the site. In the event the thermal networks are not yet laid, or are otherwise not yet ready, the installation kit may still be installed if it is known where the ends of the thermal networks will be. In some cases this may mean that elements of the kit are connected to the building circuit allowing the plumber to prepare for the installation and fitting of all the pipes in the building circuit later. In typical embodiments the thermal device or unit itself is installed later.
Later when the thermal device is ready to be installed it is brought to the site, brought to the place where the installation kit is installed and is connected up to the respective connectors on the installation kit. At this point the device is connected to the thermal network using the appropriately positioned connectors that were supplied on the kit, and the body of the kit can be removed leaving the thermal device and thermal networks suitably connected to each other.
The installation kit therefore mediates connection of a thermal device to the appropriate thermal networks by forming a temporary structure which positions the connectors correctly in space ready for connection to both the thermal device and to the thermal networks.
The installation kit comprises a removeable body onto which the appropriate connectors for the intended thermal networks and thermal devices are positioned or held,
The installation kit offers a dependable means to ensure the connectors are held at the appropriate position in space, in other words at the correct combinations of <x, y, z> for each connector relative to, for example, the wall against which for example the heating device will be placed. Once in place the connectors can be connected up to the heating or cooling network, and later, once the thermal device is delivered and correctly positioned the connectors can be connected to the device by the device installer.
The network may be any network intended to provide thermal effect to the building structure or to its surroundings, and may be a heating network, for example a network of piping to provide underfloor heating, a network of piping leading to and from a hot water tank, a network of piping leading to and from a domestic hot water system, a network of piping leading to and from radiators or other installations for providing domestic heating, a network of piping leading to and from the heat source, but may also be a network intended for cooling, for example to provide air conditioning.
In another advantage of the invention, once the network piping is installed on the site and the installation kit is installed (in other words the valves of the connectors are connected to one end to the building's pipe network), the connection-up protects the ends of the network pipework (the other ends of the connectors and valves remaining free until connection to the heat pump when it is ultimately installed). Therefore it is possible to install all the pipes appropriate for the heating network in the structure and protect them with the kit's valves (the valves are closed during installation, preventing the penetration of particles (dust, oxygen, etc.) and also preventing leaks if part of the pipework is already loaded).
The kit also prepares the heat pump for installation. Once the kit is installed all that remains is to position and connect the heat pump. In general, the staff who install the heat pump are more expensive than the staff who install the pipework. It is therefore in the customer's interest for the person installing the pipework to do as much preparatory work as possible. This avoids the need for a refrigeration engineer to do a lot of plumbing work (connection work), which is more expensive.
Meanwhile, the thermal device may be any device intended for thermal effect and which comprises connections to networks external to the device itself. The thermal device may be a heating device, but may also be intended for cooling. For example it may be a heat pump The building structure may be any built structure, for example a wall, or side of a house, but may also be a pipe, or any other structure installed in, on or around the building and onto which the kit may be attached or affixed.
The body of the installation kit is removeable, which means it can be removed from both the place where it has been attached, that is from the building structure it has been attached to, and also from each connector in the kit. Once the connectors in the installation kit are connected up, which can be either to the thermal device or to the thermal networks or both, the body can be removed leaving the connectors in place. In the usual case where the connectors of the installation kit are connected to the ends of the pipes of the thermal networks, they form a visual placeholder for the thermal device, for example the heat pump, to come. When the thermal device subsequently arrives on site it can be connected up appropriately and the act of positioning it to the connectors now in-situ will serve to position the thermal device correctly in the space made available for it. In a case there the thermal device is delivered first but, for whatever reason, the thermal networks are not yet laid, the connectors on the installation kit can be connected up to the thermal device and the body of the installation kit removed from the connectors, leaving the thermal device and connectors ready for the thermal network piping to be laid and built up to the connectors now correctly installed on the thermal device.
The removeable feature of the body means it can be pulled away from, unfolded away from, cut away from, torn away from, dissolved away, or otherwise removed from the connectors and from whatever building structure it may have been connected to, if connected to a structure of some sort. In an advantageous example the body comprises or is substantially constructed from cardboard, which allows it to be easily torn away, or unfolded away from the connectors and any structure to which it is attached. If cardboard then it may also be wetted with fluid, for example water, to soften it into a pulpy or semipulpy mass and thereby pulled away. If the body is essentially a folded cardboard form then it may be unfolded and thereby removed away from the connectors.
The installation kit, once positioned, also indicates visually by its physical presence the space which should be left reserved for the subsequent thermal device. This offers a secondary, but not unimportant, fail-safe to prevent the unintentional permanent placement of other devices and structures onto or into the volume of space required for the thermal device or heat pump.
The installation kit is particularly advantageous when used to position indoor units, in particular the indoor units of a heat pump system, and it is further particularly advantageous when the heat pump is a ground source heat pump unit.
In particular for a ground source heat pump to heat a home or other building it requires two networks of fluid pipes external to the heat pump itself, a first network to bring the ground source fluid, typically ground water, up to the heat pump heat exchanger where heat is extracted and transferred into a refrigerant circuit, and a second network to which the heat pump transfers heat from the refrigerant circuit and which then carries the heat away from the heat pump and into the building to provide heating. In the case where the heat pump is provided as a split unit, that is in two parts for example as an indoor and outdoor unit, then the refrigerant must be transferred from the first unit to the second unit in a closed loop and the fluid circuit to be heated or cooled is also connected to the heating unit. Therefore there are at least two sets of two pipes connecting to the unit. The fluid circuit to be heated can be a liquid circuit, for example primary water, domestic hot water, brine, etc., or an air circuit, for example in an air conditioner. In the embodiment when the thermal unit is a boiler, paired inlets and outlets for gas are required and additionally paired inlets and outlets for the circuit to be heated. Each closed loop circuit associated with the thermal unit requires at least two pipes connected to the thermal device, one for the respective fluid entering the thermal device and the other for the fluid leaving the device. So for example in a monobloc ground source heat pump there will always be at least four pipes are connected to the unit in addition to the internal closed loop refrigerant.
The connectors are carried by the body of the installation kit and in a particular embodiment the body comprises a plurality of first receptacles to hold the first plurality of fluid connectors, and a plurality of second receptacles to hold the second plurality of fluid connectors. The receptacles hold the connectors in place and stop them from moving, twisting, rotating or falling out. This ensures that the connectors remain in the correct special position until the heating device, for example heat pump, can be provided for installation.
The receptacles may be comprised of the same material as the body of the installation kit.
Because the body of the installation kit is removeable, the receptacles are not fixed in a permanent manner to the connectors and therefore must be capable of holding the connectors in position until such time as the connector can be connected up to the appropriate heating device and the body removed. The receptacles may, for example, be substantially casts, or partial casts, or counter-forms of the connectors, thereby allowing the connectors to fit snugly into them and be held in the correct orientation while awaiting correct connection up to either the first or second fluid pipe network. In a particularly advantageous embodiment the receptacles are arranged as counter-forms to parts of the respective connectors, in other words, the receptacles are shaped to accommodate, in other words to accept and hold, appropriate parts of the connectors. A counter-form may be understood broadly to mean a substantially accurate counter-form of the shape, one which would allow the shape to be inserted into the counter-form and thereby held. Alternatively it may be understood to mean a housing that can accommodate and prevent the part from moving in unwanted directions, or from rotating in an unwanted manner. For example the receptacles may be shaped to accommodate a particular sizing of pipe part of a connector, or the particularly sized diameters either side of a nut. In particular the counter-form may be a half-moon form, in particular a recessed half-moon form into which the respective connector may be pushed and by which it is held. In particular the connectors may have different sizes and therefore the counter-forms may be differently sized so that the first receptables may be arranged each to be a defined counter-form for a first fluid connector, and the second receptables may be arranged each to be a defined counter-form for a second fluid connector.
In a particular advantage of the invention, by shaping the receptacles as counter-forms, in the event that the connectors are differently sized or differently shaped, the counter-forms prevent inadvertent incorrect placement of the wrong connector in respective receptacles. In other words, where the first fluid connectors are different from the second fluid connectors, the first receptacles, or receptacles of the first form, prevent the incorrect insertion of the second fluid connectors in the receptacles for the first fluid connectors.
Including receptacles for the connectors ensures that the correct fixed distances between the connectors for the respective thermal device may be arranged, and also ensures that the connectors can be situated in the correct positions at the installation site. This is because the body of the installation kit forms a volume which can be arranged to hold the connectors at the correct distance away from, say, a wall, when the installation kit is attached to a wall, and at the correct height from the floor, when the installation kit is attached to the wall at the correct height. Therefore the kit ensures the correct placement of the connectors in space, when the installation kit is appropriately installed at the installation site.
In an advantageous embodiment the first and second receptacles may be positioned at the same, or substantially the same, heights as each other on the body of the installation kit, when for example the kit is viewed in the position it will be in when in use. However they do not have to be at the same height and in fact if the first and second fluid connectors are substantially different from each other there may be variations in how they are placed on the body.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment there are at least 2 counter-forms per connector situated at a distance from each other along a nominal line. In practice the nominal line will normally be positioned to be vertical when the installation kit is correctly installed at the building site. This provides at least two points of contact per connector, arranged on the body so that each connector, when installed on the body, is positioned vertically when the kit is oriented correctly for installation. This provides the minimum support to prevent the connectors twisting or moving while being held in position on the installed installation kit, while simultaneously saving on material.
In a further advantageous embodiment the body also comprises a space, situated between each set of two counter-forms for a respective connector, for receiving a valve of the connector. In this embodiment the valve handles should be oriented facing the wall, or substantially oriented facing the wall. A deviation of up to 5 deg either side may be allowed. The space is arranged to preclude turning of the valve handle. The space may be a counter-form to the entire valve handle, for example it may for example be substantially a cast of the valve handle, or a part-cast, however in a particularly advantageous embodiment it may simply be a rectangular space, large enough to receive the valve handle yet sized to stop the valve handle from accidentally turning. This prevents the valve from accidentally becoming turned on while awaiting connection, thereby circumventing leakage or escape of liquid or entrance of not-desired particles in the circuit (air, dust, etc.) if and when connection is eventually made, and additionally acts as a fail-safe to ensure that the valve is turned into the off position during construction and installation of the installation kit, as it will not be possible to insert the connector with valve into the receptacle if the tap or valve handle is so turned that it will not enter the space provided for it. These embodiments have the advantage that any valve of any connector may only be turned on after the installation kit has been removed from the connectors.
In an embodiment the space may be arranged to prevent access to the valve, for example it may be arranged in a position behind the connector when the connector is placed in or onto the body and viewed full-on. In this embodiment the connector is in front of the space and thereby blocks access to the space, which has the further advantage of preventing unwarranted turning of the valve before connection.
The installation kit is attachable to a structure associated with the heating network. This may be the building itself, for example to a wall, or may to be a pipe in the vicinity of the installation position, or may be to a structure created there. The body comprises some attachment means, for example a hole for a screw (screws may be with or without dowel), holes for multiple screws, one or more adhesive strips, one or more stick on/peel off pads, one or more clips, or one or more protrusions for example pins. In the latter two cases holes may be created in a wall in the building or structure and pins or protrusion on the installation kit may be pressed into the holes to attach the installation kit. The adhesive strips and stick on/peel off pads are particularly suitable for temporarily sticking the installation kit to a wall. Clips are particularly suitable for attaching the installation kit to, for example, another pipe.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment the body of the installation kit is made from cardboard. This allow the installation kit to be easily removed from both the structure where it has been placed, but also from the connectors, as it can be easily torn or cut from position, or simply pulled away, unfolded or disassembled. It can also be moistened, for example by a water spray, to facilitate collapse and removal. In the embodiment where screws are used it can be easily unscrewed from the structure and then pulled away from the connectors.
Further, cardboard allows for sufficient structure in the counter-forms supporting the connectors, and even allows for them to be partially enclosed. In this embodiment the counter-forms are not half-moon forms but rather, are arranged to connect around more than 50% of the circumference of the part of the connector being held. In this case the use of cardboard allows the connector to be pushed in, at construction of the installation kit, yet held in place to eventually have the respective part of the connector, the receptacle, pulled away from it after connection up. This is particularly advantageous because the body of the installation kit should be arranged in such a way that it ensures the holding of the connectors with only one remaining translation allowable, that of the movement required to insert it into the receptacle in the body. However this may allow the connector to fall out again when the installation kit is installed and therefore a preferable embodiment is to ensure no degrees of freedom at all. Providing at least two cardboard receptacles per connector, which are partially enclosed and thus requiring the respective connector to be pushed in, allows for this.
In a simple embodiment in which the body of the installation kit is made from folded cardboard, and is for example a housing with very simple, parallelepiped shapes, the counter forms are also formed as simple, parallelepiped shapes which at least partially constrain and limit movement of the inserted connectors.
Typically the body may be made from thin, foldable cardboard, but may also be made from honeycomb cardboard, and alternatively from mushroom packaging, corn starch packaging, material stiffened with starch, seaweed packaging or any other recyclable packaging material which is either castable, constructable or foldable into shape.
In alternative embodiments the body made comprise corrugated cardboard and/or honeycomb cardboard and/or molded pulp.
The installation kit is particularly suitable for heat pumps, which require for their correct operation different fluid networks which must be kept separate from each other. The correct connection of internal to external pipe is therefore critical while potentially complicated, due to the number and similarity of pipe ends, and the installation kit of the invention reduces the risk of incorrect installation by providing the heat pump installer with the correct connectors situated, via the kit, at the correct position. The body of the installation kit may also be provided with instructions, which may be directly printed onto the body, attached or stuck on via a label, providing information regarding correct connection.
The installation kit is installed at the site by attaching it to some structure, usually a wall but other structures may be available, for example other built structures, which may be temporary, or for example structures such as piping which may be available and able to take the weight of the installation kit. Then the connectors on the kit are connected up to the fluid piping at the site. This latter step may require extension of the piping already in-situ up to the point where the installation kit is positioned, The heat pump installer then later, when the heat pump is provided on site, simply connects up the connectors on the installation kit in-situ to the appropriate piping in the heat pump, safe in the knowledge that the connectors are already correctly connected to the first and second fluid pipe networks. Typically The fluid pipes of the heat pump are connected to the connectors in the installation kit, either by adjusting the pipes of the installation site to the respective connector, or by installing the kit before installing the pipes of the installation and directly mounting the heat pump pipes onto it. The thermal device is thereafter connected to the installation kit, which acts as an interface between the thermal device and thermal networks. In many cases, this connection will be done much later and typically by a worker who was not involved in the laying of the piping of the thermal networks.
In an alternative embodiment the installation kit may be positioned appropriately for later attachment to both the fluid pipe networks and the heat pump, which may be appropriate if neither are available for attachment at the respective point in the building process. This particularly embodiment allows the installation kit to act as a marker for correct positioning of piping and heat pump.
In particular the first fluid pipe network may be a source pipe network, for example a groundwater network for a ground source heat pump, and the second fluid pipe network may be a load pipe network, for example an underfloor heating and/or radiator network or a water network thermally connected to a domestic hot water tank exchanger or to supply domestic hot water directly.
In a particular embodiment the body comprises four connectors with pipes of 22mm diameter coupled to 1" ball valves. This arrangement may, for example, be suitable for connection of a 5 kW heat pump.
In an alternative embodiment the body comprises two connectors with pipes of 22mm diameter coupled to 1" ball valves and two connectors with pipes of 28mm diameter coupled to 1"1/4 ball valves. This arrangement may, for example, be suitable for connection of a 10 kW heat pump.
In an embodiment a space may be provided in the body to allow for passage of a duct, for example an air duct from the thermal device. Such a duct may be attached to a heat pump, for example an air/water or water/air or air/air heat pump, normally a higher power heat pump, for example a 10 kW heat pump, but it could also be attached to a lower power heat pump, for example a 5 kW heat pump. The duct may also be a duct attached to another form of thermal device such as a boiler. During installation of the thermal device the air duct may be positioned through the respective space in the body of the installation kit before, say, connection up to the connectors is completed and body subsequently removed. In a further embodiment the space for the air duct may be covered by a further portion of the body, a flap or cardboard piece for example, which is removeable. Provision for an air duct may be particularly suitable for a kit for a heat pump hosting a significant amount of dangerous refrigerant, for example more than 152g of propane and for which the air duct can be used as a safety means in case of leakage. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one air duct can be used for entry or exist air in case air is used as source or destination medium of a heat pump, for example air/water heat pump or air source heat pump water heater. Additionally or alternatively, the air duct can be used to duct gas such as propane or butane as a source energy of a boiler.
The invention therefore improves connection by the provision of a kit which assists an installer in connection of a group of ball valves, or other types of valves, with the heating network of the house before the installation of the heat pump, and then later assists an installer, typically a second installer, with connection of the heat pump itself. Additionally the attached connectors may include other functions, for example pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flowmeters, or include connections for vessel tanks. The invention guarantees correct installation of the tubes at the installation site, and thereby facilitates the installation of the heat pump that will be connected to it, while minimizing the additional financial cost and environmental cost of providing the kit. The installation kit brings together a set of functions required during the extended installation of a heating device, particularly during new build housing or developments.
In addition the installation kit may also provide protection of the components during marketing/selling and transport, from the manufacturer to the end customer site. In a particular embodiment the body may be provided with a flat rear surface (being the surface on the opposite side of the body from the receptacles for the connectors), and a 5-walled box sleeve may be fitted over the installation kit, for protection of the body and the connectors, and arranged so that the rear wall of the kit forms the sixth wall of the transport box. This is a particularly advantageous embodiment because the material construction of the body is used to provide a protective packaging for the connectors and therefore allows for a safer transportation of the connectors to the installation site.
Additionally the kit may be used to accommodate additional elements such as instructions, which may be provided in physical form, for example as a booklet or folded paper, however the kit may also comprise directly integrated assembly information, for example marking in written and/or symbol form printed directing onto the body. Such instructions may provide information for the assembler or installer, for example regarding instructions for placement, instructions for connection up, for example the nature of each tube to be connected, indications of primary fluid inlet, primary fluid outlet, refrigerant, domestic water inlet, and domestic water outlet, indications of correct torque to be applied, instructions for removal of the body after connection, and/or ultimate disposal. In an advantageous embodiment the body comprises or is constructed from a recyclable material.
The installation kit has the further advantage that it can be arranged to ensure access for connecting the various parts or operating the elements carried by the kit. For example if the kit has been correctly used then once the body of the kit is removed there will be enough space behind the heat pump to operate the valves to allow fluid to pass through and thereby allow correct working of the heat pump. Equally there will be sufficient space to allow closure of the valve, if needed.
By sizing the receptacles correctly to the appropriate connectors the kit ensures that only the correct control fluid elements can be inserted into the right holding shape and in the correct orientation. It thereby assists in ensuring that connectors, for example, are not placed at an incorrect angle, or even accidentally placed upside down. It ensures that only the relevant control fluid elements are used, for example with a differentiation depending on the diameter or dimension of the control elements. It can also ensure that the valve is in a position such that the lever to open or close is easily accessible.
Importantly, when correctly installed at installation site, it ensures correct vertical placement of connectors at correct height for the heat pump, as compared to floor level. This is critically important if the expected level floor is not yet fully installed. It thereby allows for fail-safe communication between installers and tradesmen during the various stages of full installation of a multi-component heating system.
Additionally, because the body is removeable after installation, the kit allows for better eventual access to different elements of the heat pump, for example taps, pipes, wiring, electronics. It therefore also frees up volume and potentially avoids the accumulation of dust which would otherwise occur if it were left in place, and reduces the potential for a build-up of humidity, which might result in corrosion and an increase in electrical risk. It therefore also allows for greater visibility at the rear of the heat pump which allows for easier identification of leaks and defects.
The use of folded carboard offers flexibility for the modification of the part, compared to for example tooled parts such as injected plastic parts or stamped metal parts. The kit is therefore easy to update in line with modification of the product, customer requirements, development of local regulations or laws, or simply to accommodate the provision of additional features, for example a flow meter, a pump, etc.
Further the use of folded cardboard allows for the inclusion of pre-cut or weakened areas with primer areas to allow easy cutting. The body can be transported flat from the manufacturer of carboard to the kit manufacturer and can additionally be transported flat from the final user to the recycling bin so overall it reduces transports cost and associated environmental footprint.
The kit may also include support means for tools, coils of wire and other items, which may be useful for the installer during either installation of the kit or during eventual installation of the heating device.
In addition the kit can be used for a boiler-type heating unit based on the use of gas, oil, or hydrogen, etc.
In another aspect of the invention, a positioning device is provided for positioning a thermal device relative to a thermal network comprising a first fluid pipe network and a second fluid pipe network, which thermal network is associated with a building structure, and wherein the positioning device comprises a body arranged to be attachable to the building structure, and further wherein the body comprises a plurality of first receptacles to receive a first plurality of fluid connectors for connecting the thermal device to the first fluid pipe network, a plurality of second receptacles to receive a second plurality of fluid connectors for connecting the thermal device to the second fluid pipe network, and wherein the body is arranged to be removeable from the first plurality of fluid connectors, the second plurality of fluid connectors, and the building structure, after connection of the thermal device to the thermal network.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment the body is formed from a single folded piece of carboard, for example from a template. This allows the single piece to be stamped, or cut, out, then folded into the appropriate 3-dimensional form of the positioning device.
In a particular embodiment the body may be made from plastic. This allows for easy folding of the but has a higher environmental footprint.
In another aspect of the invention a method is provided of planning connection of a thermal device to a thermal network comprising a first fluid pipe network and a second fluid pipe network, which thermal network is associated with a building structure, wherein the method comprises calculating a correct position for the thermal device relative to the first and second fluid pipe networks, attaching an installation kit of the invention to the building structure in order to indicate the correct position of the thermal device relative to the thermal network.
In another aspect of the invention a method is provided of connecting a thermal device to a thermal network comprising a first fluid pipe network and a second fluid pipe network, which thermal network is associated with a building structure, and wherein an installation kit of the invention is attached to the building structure, wherein the method comprises, placing the thermal device in a position relative to the installation kit, connecting the thermal device to the first connectors and second connectors on the installation kit, and removing the body of the installation kit from the first and second connectors and from the structure.
The positioning device connects to the wall and holds the pipes firmly in place until installment of the heating device to the heating network.
In the figures, the subject-matter of the invention is schematically shown, wherein identical or similarly acting elements are usually provided with the same reference signs.

Figure 1: shows a diagram of a heat pump suitable for installation using the installation kit of the invention
Figure 2A: shows a perspective view of an installation kit according to the invention
Figure 2B: shows a perspective view of an installation kit according to the invention
Figure 2C: shows a side view of an installation kit according to the invention
Figure 3: shows the body of an installation kit according to the invention
Figure 4A: shows a side view of an installation kit according to the invention in-situ
Figure 4B: shows a perspective view of an installation kit according to the invention in-situ
Figure 5A: shows the layout of connectors for a 5 kW heat pump suitable to be carried on an installation kit according to the invention
Figure 5B: shows the layout of connectors for a 10 kW heat pump suitable to be carried on an installation kit according to the invention
Figure 6A: shows a plan view of an installation kit according to the invention and suitable for a 5 kW heat pump
Figure 6B: shows a plan view of an installation kit according to the invention and suitable for a 10 kW heat pump having a significant amount of flammable refrigerant and associated exhaust air duct
Figure 6C: shows a plan view of an installation kit according to the invention, suitable for a 10 kW heat pump having a significant amount of flammable refrigerant and associated exhaust air duct and showing the position of an air duct.

Fig. 1 shows an arrangement for using a heat pump 1 to provide heating for a domestic arrangement, for example to heat a hot water tank (not shown) or to provide hot water for a radiative heating system 23 such as upright radiators or underfloor heating. The arrangement of Fig. 1 shows in particular a ground source heat pump but the invention may be used for any heat pump that may be situated in a building 1a, in particular where there may be different building stages.
A ground source heat pump 1 provides heating to a building 1a, for example a domestic property, by extracting heat from the ground 2 via a ground source circuit 3 which pumps a first fluid 3a, typically water, from the ground to a first heat exchanger 4 (evaporator) in the heat pump 1. There the heat from the first fluid 3a is exchanged with a working fluid 5a, typically a refrigerant, which may be for example propane, and which is contained within a closed refrigerant circuit 5. The working fluid 5a in the refrigerant circuit 5 transfers heat from the first heat exchanger 4 to a second heat exchanger 6 (condenser), where the heat in the working fluid is transferred to a second fluid 7a, which may be water, in a domestic fluid circuit 7. Thus heated the fluid in the domestic circuit is transported onwards to provide heating within the building 1a. After heat exchange in the first heat exchanger 4, the first fluid 3a is returned to the ground 2.
The second fluid 7a, after exchanging its heat in the domestic fluid circuit 7, returns to the heat pump, forming a closed and continuous circuit. The domestic fluid circuit 7 provides hot water to the radiative heating system 23.
Building 1a includes a structure 8, in this case a wall, but it could be any built or constructed structure which is stable enough to support the installation kit during the building and heating installation phase.
In this case the ground source circuit 3 may be a first fluid pipe network, and the domestic fluid circuit 7 may be a second fluid pipe network, both networks making up a heating network which is typically associated with the structure 8, which may be a building, a wall of a building, a pipe within a building, or any other structure associated with the building.
Fig. 2A shows a perspective view (from above) of an installation kit 9 according to the invention, which comprises a body 10 comprising first fluid connectors 11, which may be used to connect up the first fluid pipe network, for example the ground source circuit 3, as shown in Fig 1, to the heat pump 1, and also comprising second fluid connectors 12 which may be used to connect up the second fluid pipe network, for example the domestic fluid circuit 3, to the heat pump 1.
The body 10 may be constructed from cardboard and in particular a single folded piece of cardboard and may further comprise a flat wall 13 on one side of the body and which may be used to attach the body to a wall via for example screws. In this case screw holes 14 may be provided to allow the body to be removably attached to a wall of a building 1a as shown in Fig 1.
Further the body my comprise two side wings 15 and connector support structure 16. The connector support structure 16 supports the first and second fluid connectors 11, 12.
Fig. 2B shows a perspective view (from below) of the installation kit 9 according to the invention, showing the body 10, first fluid connectors 11, second fluid connectors 12, flat wall 13, screw holes 14, side wing 15 and connector support structure 16.
Fig. 2C shows a side view of the installation kit 9 according to the invention, showing the body 10, one of the second fluid connectors 12, the flat wall 13, side wing 15 and connector support structure 16 as viewed from the side.
Fig. 3 shows perspective view of a body of an installation kit before insertion of the first and second sets of fluid connectors, and shows the body 10, flat wall 13, screw holes 14, side wing 15, connector support structure 16, and in this case first receptacles 17 for receiving the first fluid connectors, and second receptacles 18 for receiving the second fluid connectors. In this case first and second receptacles 17 and 18 have the same sizing and will therefore be suitable for insertion of fluid connectors of the same size. In the event that first and second fluid connectors have different sizes then first and second receptacles will have different sizing from each other.
Fig. 4A shows the installation kit 9 with body 10 in-situ and visible from the side, attached to a structure 8, in this case a wall. Visible are the side wing 15 and one of the second fluid connectors 12. The visible fluid pipe connector is shown already connected to a network pipe 20.
Fig. 4B shows the same installation kit 10 in perspective view. Now the first fluid connectors 11 and the second fluid connectors 12 are visible. First fluid connectors 11 are shown connected up to first fluid pipe network 19, and second fluid connectors 12 are shown connected to second fluid pipe network 20.
Figs. 4A and 4B show a typical embodiment of installation, in which the installation kit has been delivered to an installation site, positioned and then attached onto some structure 8, in this case a wall,
Fig. 4C shows a perspective view of the installation kit 9 connected up to a heat pump 1. In this view the side wall 15, first fluid connectors 11 and second fluid connectors 12 are visible.
Also shown is a typical set of piping, or tubing, emerging from the respective heat pump. There are 6 tubes at the back of the unit, being 3 couples for entry and outlet of 3 different circuits. Typically the circuits might be, a circuit for the heat source (in the example of a ground source heat pump this would be the circuit bringing fluid from the ground source), the heating circuit for the building itself (for example from underfloor heating), and a second heating circuit of the building (typically a water tank, with fluid flowing in this circuit at higher temperature than the previous heating circuit).
The configuration shown is typical for a situation wherein connectors are provided on the kit for the pipe network of the heat source and for the first heating circuit installed, but wherein the last 2 connectors are intended to be connected to a tank which is not installed yet. The connection with the tank can be done with flexible tubes so a connector is not required in the installation kit. However an installation kit provided with three sets of connectors for three respective networks is also possible.
Fig. 4D shows the installation of Fig. 4C in side view.
Fig. 5A shows the layout of connectors for a 5 kW heat pump suitable to be carried on an installation kit. A set of first fluid connectors 11 are shown, with suitable sizings and spacings, and a set of second fluid connectors 12 are shown, also with suitable sizings and spacings. The distances indicated are examples of sizings and distances suitable to be used in a respective unit, however other distances and sizings may also be possible.
Fig. 5B shows the layout of connectors for a 10 kW heat pump suitable to be carried on an installation kit. A set of first fluid connectors 11 are shown, with suitable sizings and spacings, and a set of second fluid connectors 12 are shown, also with suitable sizings and spacings. The distances indicated are examples of sizings and distances suitable to be used in a respective unit, however other distances and sizings may also be possible.
As can be seen it is possible to provide an installation kit in which, for example, the connectors vary, in other words are not all identical. In practice connectors may vary in any of inlet diameter, outlet diameter, valve position, inlet position, outlet position. While in general the two connectors used for any one pipe network, for example the first fluid pipe network, or alternatively the second fluid pipe network, are identical or at least similar to each other, this is not necessary for the invention. It is only necessary that the particular connector on the body fits the particular pipe endings to which it is intended to be connected. For example, in case of a so-called split unit, one of the pipes in the network will be a circuit filled with refrigerant with a gas / liquid phase transition profile. A split unit is part of a split heat pump system which comprises an indoor unit and an outdoor unit wherein the outdoor unit, in heating mode, collects heat from an outdoor source, and the heated refrigerant in gaseous form is sent to the indoor unit, where the refrigerant transfers the heat to the destination source. The indoor unit of a split heat pump typically houses a hot water cylinder. One pipe of the connection between the split outdoor unit and the indoor unit can have a bigger diameter compared to the other pipe because of the volume requirements of the gas phase compared to the liquid phase of the respective refrigerant in the respective pipe.
Fig. 6A shows a plan view of an installation kit according to the invention with sizings and connector arrangement suitable for a 5 kW heat pump. The distances indicated are examples of sizings and distances suitable to be used in a respective unit, however other distances and sizings may also be possible. It comprises a body 10, side wings 15, a connector support structure 16, a flat wall 13 suitable for pressing against a wall and for being affixed thereto, and first fluid connectors 11 and second fluid connectors 12. When the installation kit is affixed to a wall the first fluid connectors 11 and second fluid connectors 12 are arranged at the front of the body 10, as it is being viewed. The total weight of pipes for a 5 kW heat pump is around 4 kg.
Fig. 6B shows a plan view of an installation kit according to the invention with sizings and connector arrangement suitable for a 10 kW heat pump. The distances indicated are examples of sizings and distances suitable to be used in a respective unit, however other distances and sizings may also be possible. It comprises a body 10, side wings 15, a connector support structure 16, a flat wall 13 suitable for pressing against a wall and for being affixed thereto, and first fluid connectors 11 and second fluid connectors 12. When the installation kit is affixed to a wall the first fluid connectors 11 and second fluid connectors 12 are arranged at the front of the body 10, as it is being viewed. The total weight of pipes for a 10 kW heat pump is around 5 kg.
In addition this embodiment of the installation kit comprises a portion 21 for an air duct. In the case when the body of the installation kit comprises, or is made from, cardboard this portion may be arranged as an easily removeable shaped piece held in place by, say, perforations in the cardboard.
In an alternative embodiment it can be included as a dedicated opening. It does not need to be possible to close it. In cases where no air duct is present or connected to the heat pump the space in the installation kit will simply not be used.
Fig. 6C shows a plan view of an installation kit according to the invention, suitable for a 10 kW heat pump and showing the position of an air duct in-situ. The distances indicated are examples of sizings and distances suitable to be used in a respective unit, however other distances and sizings may also be possible. Fig. 6C shows the same features as are shown in Fig. 6B, with now the addition that the installation kit has been installed, the heat pump is in the process of being installed, air duct portion 21 has been removed and an air duct 22 has been installed in the space left behind through or in the body 10 by the removal of air duct portion 21.

Reference Signs

1: heat pump
1a: building
2: ground
3: ground source circuit
3a: first fluid
4: first heat exchanger
5: refrigerant circuit
5a: working fluid
6: second heat exchanger
7: domestic fluid circuit
7a: second fluid
8: structure
9: installation kit
10: body
11: first fluid connectors
12: second fluid connectors
13: flat wall
14: screw holes
15: side wing
16: connector support structure
17: first receptacles
18: second receptacles
19: first fluid pipe network
20: second fluid pipe network
21: air duct portion
22: air duct
23: radiative heating system

Claims

An installation kit to allow connection of a thermal device to a thermal network comprising a first fluid pipe network and a second fluid pipe network, which thermal network is associated with a building structure, and wherein the installation kit comprises:
- a body arranged to be attachable to the structure, and further wherein the body comprises:

- a first plurality of fluid connectors for connecting the thermal device to the first fluid pipe network;

- a second plurality of fluid connectors for connecting the thermal device to the second fluid pipe network; and characterized in that the

- the body is arranged to be removeable:
∘ from the building structure, and

∘ from the first plurality of fluid connectors, and

∘ from the plurality of second fluid connectors

- after the thermal device is connected to the thermal network.
An installation kit according to claim 1, wherein the body further comprises:
- a plurality of first receptacles to hold the first plurality of fluid connectors;

- a plurality of second receptacles to hold the second plurality of fluid connectors
An installation kit according to claim 2, wherein:
- the first receptables are arranged each to be a defined counter-form for a first fluid connector;

- the second receptables are arranged each to be a defined counter-form for a second fluid connector.
An installation kit according to claim 3, wherein there are 2 counter-forms per connector situated at a distance from each other.
An installation kit according to claim 4, wherein the body further comprises a space, situated between the two counter-forms for a connector, the space arranged for receiving a valve of the connector and wherein the space is arranged to preclude turning of the valve.
An installation kit according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises an attachment means for attachment to the structure, wherein the attachment means is at least one of:
a. at least one hole for a screw and/or

b. an adhesive strip and/or

c. a stick on/peel off pad and/or

d. a clip and/or

e. a pin.
An installation kit according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises cardboard.
An installation kit according to claim 1, wherein the heating device is a heat pump or a gas boiler or a fuel boiler.
An installation kit according to claim 1, where the first network of pipes is a source pipe network and the second network of pipes is a load pipe network.
An installation kit according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises:
- 4 connectors with pipes with diameter in a range from 14 to 32 mm, and preferably in a range from 22 to 28mm diameter, and coupled to 1" ball valves.
An installation kit according to claim 11, wherein the body comprises:
- 2 connectors with pipes of 22mm diameter coupled to 1" ball valves, and,

- 2 connectors with pipes of 28mm diameter coupled to 1"1/4 ball valves.
An installation kit according to claim 11, wherein the body further comprises a space or removeable portion to create a space, the space being arranged to allow for passage of an air duct associated with the thermal device.
An installation kit according to claim 1, wherein a side of the body is substantially flat and arranged to interact with a suitable packaging container for transporting the installation kit, in such a way that the substantially flat side forms a wall of the packaging container, and further in such a way that the connectors are arranged to be protected by the body and the packaging container.
A positioning device for positioning a thermal device relative to a thermal network comprising a first fluid pipe network and a second fluid pipe network, which thermal network is associated with a building structure, characterized in that the positioning device comprises:
- a body arranged to be attachable to the building structure, and further wherein the body comprises:

- a plurality of first receptacles to receive a first plurality of fluid connectors for connecting the thermal device to the first fluid pipe network;

- a plurality of second receptacles to receive a second plurality of fluid connectors for connecting the thermal device to the second fluid pipe network; and wherein

- the body is arranged to be removeable from the first plurality of fluid connectors, the second plurality of fluid connectors, and the building structure, after connection of the thermal device to the thermal network.
A positioning device according to claim 13, wherein the body is formed from a single folded piece of carboard.
Method of planning connection of a heating device to a thermal network comprising a first fluid pipe network and a second fluid pipe network, which heating network is associated with a building structure, wherein the method comprises:
- calculating a correct position for the thermal device relative to the first and second fluid pipe networks;

- attaching an installation kit according to claim 1 to the building structure in order to indicate the correct position of the thermal device relative to the thermal network.
Method of connecting a thermal device to a thermal network comprising a first fluid pipe network and a second fluid pipe network, which thermal network is associated with a building structure, and wherein an installation kit according to claim 1 is attached to the building structure, wherein the method comprises:
- placing the thermal device in a position relative to the installation kit;

- connecting the thermal device to the first connectors and second connectors on the installation kit;

- removing the body of the installation kit from the first and second connectors and from the building structure.