FR2957411A1 - Towel warmer hot fluid circulation radiator for toilet, has pipe arranged in longitudinal tube, so that end of pipe is open and emerges in longitudinal tube at non-zero distance of transversal tube that is closest to inlet tube - Google Patents

Abstract

The radiator has a pipe (30) located in a longitudinal tube (11), and sealing connection units for sealing and connecting an end of the pipe to an inlet pipe (16). The pipe is arranged in the longitudinal tube, so that another end of the pipe is open and emerges in the longitudinal tube at a non-zero distance of a transversal tube (21) that is closest to the inlet tube. The pipe is situated in a manner to be coaxial with the longitudinal tube.

Description

LIQUID CIRCULATION RADIATOR OF THE TOWEL TYPE OR THE LIKE

The present invention relates to towel-type fluid circulation radiators or the like comprising at least two first and second longitudinal tubes and a plurality of regularly distributed transverse tubes connecting the two longitudinal tubes. Already known are radiators with fluid circulation of the towel-drying type or the like which are for example mounted in bathrooms or the like, and whose main function is to form a towel rack for drying towels or the like, but also the function of forming, when the circulating fluid is hot, a heating element of the bathroom and faster drying towels or the like.

Knowing that a bathroom is often a relatively small room, such a radiator takes a relatively important place. It is therefore advantageous that it is the least bulky possible, and also the most aesthetic possible. Figure 1 attached to this description schematically illustrates the current achievements of radiators circulating hot hot towel type or similar on the market. Such a radiator with hot fluid circulation of the towel-drying type or the like, as mentioned above and illustrated in this FIG. 1, comprises at least two first and second longitudinal tubes TI1, TI2 of substantially parallel axes, these two tubes being closed at their ends by bottom walls, a plurality of transverse tubes Tri, Tr2, Tr3 regularly distributed connecting the two longitudinal tubes substantially between their respective two ends, a fluid inlet pipe Te located substantially at a first end of the first longitudinal tube T11, and generally a control valve Var connected in series in the inlet manifold Te. This achievement gives complete satisfaction. However, according to the objectives mentioned above, the object of the present invention is to provide a radiator with hot fluid circulation of the towel-drying type or the like, which is less cumbersome than the radiators of the same type according to the prior art, more aesthetically pleasing. and which in addition allows a more homogeneous heating.

More specifically, the subject of the present invention is a radiator with hot fluid circulation of the towel-drying type or the like capable of being positioned in an ambient medium, said radiator comprising at least two first and second longitudinal tubes of substantially parallel axes, these two tubes being closed at their ends by bottom walls, a plurality of regularly distributed transverse tubes fluidly connecting the two longitudinal tubes substantially between their respective two ends, an inlet tube of said fluid located substantially at a first end of the first tube; longitudinal and an outlet of said fluid located substantially at a first end of the second longitudinal tube, characterized in that it further comprises a pipe located in said first longitudinal tube, means for sealingly connecting a first end of this pipe at said inlet manifold, this said pipe being further configured in said first longitudinal tube so that its second end is open and opens into said first longitudinal tube at a non-zero distance from the transverse tube which is closest to the inlet manifold. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings for illustrative but not limiting purposes, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a radiator of the dry type; 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a part of an embodiment of the towel-type radiator or the like according to the invention, which corresponds to that which is framed in accordance with FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an industrial embodiment of the part of the radiator according to the invention which corresponds to that which is encircled at C in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 represents a front view; schematic of the radiator according to the invention, in another embodiment, and Figure 5 is a sectional view of the part of the radiator according to the invention which corresponds to that which is framed D in Figure 4.

It is first of all specified that, in the figures, the same references designate the same elements, whatever the figure on which they appear and whatever the form of representation of these elements. Similarly, if elements are not specifically referenced in one of the figures, their references can be easily found by referring to another figure. It is also stated that the figures essentially represent two embodiments of the object according to the invention, but that there may be other embodiments that meet the definition of this invention.

It is further specified that, when, according to the definition of the invention, the object of the invention comprises "at least one" element having a given function, the embodiment described may comprise several of these elements. Conversely, if the embodiment of the object according to the invention as illustrated has several elements of identical function and if, in the description, it is not specified that the object according to this invention must obligatorily comprise a number particular of these elements, the object of the invention may be defined as comprising "at least one" of these elements. Lastly, it is specified that when, in the present description, an expression defines, by itself, without a specific particular mention concerning it, a set of structural characteristics, these characteristics may be taken, for the definition of the object of the protection requested, when technically possible, either separately, or in full and / or partial combination.

It is first recalled that Figure 1 shows a radiator of the same type as that according to the present invention, and that radiator according to the prior art has been described above.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of a radiator with hot fluid circulation of the towel-drying type or the like according to the invention, able to be positioned in an ambient medium Mi, for example a bathroom, a room dryer, etc. The radiator comprises at least two first and second longitudinal tubes 11, 12 of substantially parallel axes. Only the tube 11 has been represented in these figures 2 and 3, but, by analogy, the tube 12 can be deduced without any difficulty from FIG. 1. These two longitudinal tubes are closed at their ends by bottom walls 14 The radiator also comprises a plurality of transverse tubes 21, 22, 23, ... fluidically connecting the two longitudinal tubes 11, 12 and substantially evenly distributed substantially between the two respective ends, an inlet pipe 16 of the fluid substantially. located at a first end 18 of the first longitudinal tube 11, 12, and an outlet 15 of said fluid (not shown in Figure 2 - but referenced 16 'in Figure 4) substantially located at a first end of the second longitudinal tube 12, 11. According to an important characteristic of the invention, the radiator further comprises a pipe 30 located in the first longitudinal tube 20, means for connecting so taps a first end 31 of this pipe 30 to the inlet pipe 16, this pipe 30 being further configured in the first longitudinal pipe so that its second end 32 is open and opens into the first longitudinal pipe at a non-zero distance of the transverse tube 21 which is the closest to the inlet pipe 16. This pipe 30 is located substantially coaxially with the first longitudinal tube 11 and, even more preferably, is further configured so that its second open end 32 opens into this first longitudinal tube 11 substantially equidistant from both ends of the first longitudinal tube. The structure described above allows the radiator according to the invention to no longer have the disadvantage of the radiator of the prior art, Figure 1. Indeed, in the radiator of the prior art, the hot fluid in circulation feeds the transverse tubes from that which is closest to the inlet pipe 16 to the one furthest from it. But, by traversing the longitudinal tube TI1, the fluid cools and, consequently, the temperature of the transverse tubes decreases as they move away from that which is closest to the inlet manifold Te, this is a disadvantage especially when such a radiator serves as a towel rail or the like. Indeed, such a radiator is generally positioned so that the longitudinal tubes are vertical, and the towels are normally placed astride the uppermost transverse tubes, which are therefore the least hot. On the other hand, by its structure described above, the radiator according to the invention has practically no longer this disadvantage. Indeed, the hot fluid that arrives through the inlet pipe 16 flows into the pipe 30 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. This hot fluid thus supplies the transverse tubes 21, 22, 23, substantially from the middle of the longitudinal tube 11, and thus the transverse tubes are hot relatively more uniformly with the radiators of the same type according to the prior art. In addition, since the towels or the like are generally positioned by the users, straddling the transverse tubes which are at man's height, the radiator, which is generally relatively high, can be advantageously positioned so that the second open end 32 the pipe 30 is substantially at this height of man, so that it is the transverse tubes which are opposite this second open end 32 and which are able to receive the towels, which are the hottest. The structure of the radiator according to the invention thus contributes to a very fast drying of these towels or the like. According to an advantageous embodiment, the means defined above for sealingly connecting a first end 31 of the pipe 30 to the inlet pipe 16 comprise a sealed intermediate chamber 19 made in the first longitudinal tube 11, at its first end 18 , so that the bottom wall 14 closing this first end of the first longitudinal tube 11 constitutes a part of the wall of the intermediate chamber 19, the inlet pipe 16 and the first end 31 of the pipe 30 being both connected This intermediate chamber 19 is defined by a portion of the wall of the first longitudinal tube 11, the bottom wall 14 of the first end 18 of the first longitudinal tube and a separating wall 20 secured to the intermediate tube 19. sealingly to the inner wall of the first longitudinal tube 11 and to the outer wall of the pipe 30, e n noting that this partition wall 20 is also used to support and fix the first end 31 of the pipe 30 in the first longitudinal tube 11, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The means for sealingly secure the wall 20 to the inner wall of the first longitudinal tube 11 and the outer wall of the pipe 30 can be made in various ways, for example by welding, by screwing with, for example, seals to facilitate assembly and / or disassembly, etc. Preferably, the radiator comprises, as the radiator according to the prior art, a control valve (referenced Var in Figure 1). However, while the control valve for the radiator according to the prior art is located outside in the middle environment Mi, and is therefore visible, which is not very aesthetic, the control valve 40 in the radiator according to the invention is connected in series between the inlet pipe 16 and the first end 31 of the pipe 30 and is located in the intermediate chamber 19. It is thus hidden, which contributes to improving the aesthetics of the radiator. Preferably, this regulating valve 40 is a thermostatic valve which, according to an advantageous embodiment, comprises a valve seat 41 defining a fluid passage section, a valve 42, and means 43 for moving this valve 42 as a function of the These means 43 are arranged so that the valve 42 is able to move continuously between two first and second positions with respect to the valve seat 41 so as to vary or change the temperature in the environment. modulating, between these two first and second positions, the fluid passage section between two different values, to regulate the flow of hot fluid in the tubes 11, 12, 21-23 of the radiator and to obtain the desired temperature in the ambient environment Mi for example in the bathroom, as in the case of radiators according to the prior art. Preferably, the means 43 for moving the valve 42 are further arranged so that the valve 42 is contained in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis 13 of the first longitudinal tube 11 and moves parallel to itself along this axis 13. In addition, the valve seat 41 consists of a sleeve 45 mounted in the intermediate chamber 19 coaxially with the first longitudinal tube 11 and whose two ends are sealingly mounted in cooperation respectively with the first end 31. of the pipe 30, via the partition wall 20, so that the inside of the sleeve is able to communicate fluidly without leakage with the interior of this pipe, and with the bottom wall 14 of the first end 18 of the first longitudinal tube 11, this bottom wall 14 closing the end of the sleeve 45 with which it cooperates. The sleeve 45 further comprises a through hole 46 formed in its wall. This through orifice 46 constitutes the fluid passage of the valve seat 41 defined above, the valve 42 being slidably mounted in the sleeve 45 along the axis of the sleeve which is advantageously merged with the axis 13 of the first tube 11 so as to it is able to take, relative to the through orifice 46, its first and second positions so as to modulate the flow of hot fluid. Preferably, the means 43 for moving the valve 42 as a function of the variation of the temperature prevailing in the ambient environment Mi outside are constituted by at least one rod 47 of a material whose linear expansion is a function of the variation of the ambient temperature Mi. This rod 47 is secured, at one of its ends, the valve 42 and through the bottom wall 14 of the first end 18 of the first longitudinal tube 11 by a sealed passage 48.

With the structure of the radiator described above, it is possible to position the inlet pipe 16 in different ways with respect to the first longitudinal tube 11, while maintaining its axis 17 perpendicular to the axis 13 of this tube, so as to to promote the mounting of the radiator in the general hot fluid supply circuit as a function of the position of the inlet column of this hot fluid, and to orient the sleeve 45 so that the inlet pipe 16 opens substantially into FIG. 4 shows a particularly advantageous embodiment, in which the two inlet and outlet pipes 16, 16 'which fluidly connect the radiator to the general hot fluid supply circuit are located. between the first and second longitudinal tubes 11, 12, and in the plane passing through their longitudinal axes. In this way, their respective inlet and outlet can be located close to each other so that these two pipes 16, 16 'make almost no one traversed by the hot fluid, for the inlet manifold 16, and relatively hot for the other tubing 16 '. This arrangement has advantages. It makes it possible in particular to recover a maximum of calories for heating the ambient environment Mi, to give the radiator a smaller footprint and to give it a more aesthetic character than that according to the prior art illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. sectional view of the part of the radiator according to the invention which corresponds to that which is framed at D in FIG. 4, and represents another embodiment of the part illustrated in FIG.

The embodiment according to this FIG. 5 differs from that according to FIG. 3 only in the means for sealingly connecting the sleeve 45 with the pipe 30. These means are in the domain of the person skilled in the art and will not be more fully described here for the sole purpose of simplifying the present description.

With the description made above, it clearly appears that the aims of the present invention are fully achieved, namely: to achieve a radiator with hot fluid circulation having a small footprint, improved aesthetics and a more homogeneous operation especially in the case of its application to the drying of towels or the like, although such a radiator may have other uses.

Claims (12)

REVENDICATIONS1. Hot-air circulating radiator of the towel-drying type or the like adapted to be positioned in an ambient medium (Mi), said radiator comprising at least two first and second longitudinal tubes (11, 12) of substantially parallel axes, these two tubes being closed at their ends by bottom walls (14), a plurality of transverse tubes (21, 22, 23, ...) fluidly connecting the two longitudinal tubes (11, 12) and substantially evenly distributed substantially between their two ends respective, an inlet pipe (16) of said fluid substantially located at a first end (18) of the first longitudinal tube (11, 12), and an outlet pipe (16 ') of said fluid substantially at a first end second longitudinal tube (12, 11), characterized in that it further comprises a pipe (30) located in said first longitudinal tube (11), means for sealingly connecting a first extr mité (31) of this pipe (30) to said inlet pipe (16), said pipe (30) being further configured in said first longitudinal tube so that its second end (32) is open and opens into said first longitudinal tube at a non-zero distance from the transverse tube (21) which is closest to said inlet manifold (16). 2. Radiator according to claim 1, characterized in that said pipe (30) is located substantially coaxially with the first longitudinal tube (11). 3. Radiator according to claim 1, characterized in that said pipe (30) is further configured so that its second open end (32) opens into said first longitudinal tube (11) substantially equidistant from the two ends thereof. first longitudinal tube (11). 4. Radiator according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for sealingly connecting a first end (31) of the pipe (30) to the inlet pipe (16) comprise an intermediate chamber seal (19) made in the first longitudinal tube (11) at its first end (18) so that the bottom wall (14) closing this first end of the first longitudinal tube (11) constitutes a wall of said intermediate chamber ( 19), said inlet pipe (16) and the first end of the pipe (30) both being fluidly sealed to said intermediate chamber (19). 5. Radiator according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a control valve (40) connected in series between said inlet pipe (16) and the first end (31) of the pipe (30), said a control valve (40) being located in said intermediate chamber (19). 6. Radiator according to claim 5, characterized in that said regulating valve (40) is a thermostatic valve. 7. Radiator according to claim 6, characterized in that said thermostatic valve (40) comprises: a valve seat (41) defining a fluid passage section, a valve (42), means (43), ) for moving said valve (42) according to the variation of the ambient temperature (Mi), said means (43) being arranged so that said valve (42) is able to move continuously between two first and second positions with respect to said valve seat (41) so as to vary between said first and second positions the fluid passage section between two different values. 30 8. Radiator according to claim 7, characterized in that the means (43) for moving the valve (42) are further arranged so that the valve (42) is contained in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis (13). ) of the first longitudinal tube (11) and moves parallel to itself along this axis (13) of the first longitudinal tube. 9. Radiator according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that said valve seat (41) consists of a sleeve (45) mounted in said intermediate chamber (19) coaxially with the first longitudinal tube (11) and whose two ends are sealingly mounted in cooperation respectively with the first end (31) of the pipe (30) so that the inside of the sleeve is able to communicate fluidly with the inside of said pipe, and with said bottom wall (14) of the first end (18) of the first longitudinal tube (11), this bottom wall (14) closing the end of the sleeve (45) with which it cooperates, said sleeve (45) comprising in addition, a through orifice (46) formed in its wall, said through orifice (46) constituting said fluid passage of the valve seat (41), said valve (42) being slidably mounted in the sleeve (45) according to the axis of said sleeve so that it is ap take, relative to the through hole (46), its first and second positions. 10. Radiator according to claim 9, characterized in that the means (43) for moving said valve (42) according to the variation of the ambient temperature (Mi) are constituted by at least one rod (47) in a material whose linear expansion is a function of the variation of the ambient temperature (Mi), said rod (47) being integral, at one of its ends, with the valve (42) and passing through said bottom wall (14) the first end (18) of the first longitudinal tube (11) by a sealed passage (48). 11. Radiator according to one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the axis (17) of said inlet pipe (16) is substantially perpendicular to the axis (13) of the first longitudinal tube (11) , and that the inlet pipe (16) opens substantially opposite said through orifice (46). Radiator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two inlet and outlet pipes (16, 16 ') which connect the radiator to the general hot fluid supply circuit are located between the first and second and second longitudinal tubes (11, 12) and in the plane passing through their longitudinal axes.