GB1604016A - Ducting - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN DUCTING (71) We, UNI-THERM HEATING AND PLUMBING LIMITED, a British Company, of 16, King Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire, formerly of 10, Upper Bath Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to ducting and is concerned with the provision of a form of ducting suitable for use in connection with central heating systems for domestic dwellings.

One of the recent developments in central heating involves the use of microbore pipes through which hot water is supplied to a plurality of radiators from a boiler, the pipes being installed in a building at the time of erection thereof and valve means being provided for connection of radiators to the pipe work so that a building as erected may include, for example, only the boiler and one or two radiators with provision made for the connection of a number of other radiators to the system at a later date.

The present Water Board regulations are such that access must be readily obtainable to the water pipes which must, therefore, not be built into the concealed with the floor or the walls of the building.

It is accordingly a specific object of the invention to provide a form of ducting capable of receiving microbore pipes and for use during the building of a dwelling so as to facilitate installation of a central heating system.

According to the present invention there is provided ducting comprising an elongate channel-sectioned element having locating flanges separate from the side walls of the element and spaced inwardly therefrom, and an elongate closure member having a part adapted to extend across the open side of the channel-sectioned element and locating flanges which are a resilient force fit between the locating flanges on the channel-sectioned element and the adjacent side walls so as to retain the closure member in a closure position with said part thereof extending across the open side of the channel-sectioned element.

Preferably said closure member has side flanges which extend outwardly of the side walls of the channel-sectioned element when the closure member is in said closure position.

In one embodiment of the invention said side flanges lie in substantially the same plane as said part of the closure member which is adapted to extend across the open side of the channel-sectioned element. This form of ducting may be installed during erection of a building. The channel-sectioned element is fastened to a wall prior to plastering of the wall, and the wall is then plastered so that the free edges of the side walls of the channel-sectioned element are either flush with the plaster or inset relative to the plaster. The width and depth of the channelsectioned element will normally be such that it is capable of receiving two parallel microbore pipes which are held in position within the channel-sectioned element by clips. Fitting of the closure member into position serves to close the open side of the channelsectioned element and to conceal the pipes.

The fact that the closure member has side flanges which project beyond the side walls of the channel-sectioned element means that if there are any subsequent expansion or contraction gaps between the plaster and the sides of the channel-sectioned element, such gaps will be covered by the flanges.

In an alternative embodiment, the side flanges extend transversely of said part of the closure member which is adapted to extend across the open side of the channel-sectioned element, so as to overlie the side walls of said element, externally thereof, when the closure member is in said closure position. This form of ducting is suitable for fitting on the surface of a wall instead of being recessed therein.

The following is a more detailed description of two embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of one form of ducting, in use, Figure 2 is a section through the ducting of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a section through an alternative form of ducting suitable for surface fitting.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the ducting comprises an elongate channel-sectioned element 10 having side walls 11. Spaced inwardly of the side walls 11 are flanges 12 each having tooth formations 13 on the side thereof which faces the adjacent side wall of the channel-sectioned element.

The ducting also comprises a closure member 14 having a part 15 which, in use, extends across the open side of the channelsectioned element 10. The closure member 14 is formed with spaced longitudinal flanges 16 the spacing of which is such that they are received between the flanges 12 and their adjacent side walls II respectively. The flanges 16 are formed, on their inwardly facing sides, with tooth formations 17 which interengage with the tooth formations 13 on the flanges 12. The dimensions of the flanges 16 in relation to the spacing between the flanges 12 and adjacent side walls 11 is such that the flanges 16 are a resilient force fit between the flanges 12 and side walls 11.

The closure member 14 is formed with outwardly projecting side flanges 18 which lie in substantially the same plane as the part 15 of the closure member.

The ducting is used as follows. During erection of a building, the channel-sectioned element 10 is fastened to a wall 19 prior to plastering of the wall, and the wall is then plastered, as indicated at 20, and finished with a surface layer as indicated at 21, so that the free edges of the side walls of the channel-sectioned element 10 are either flush with the surface or are inset relative thereto.

The width and depth of the channel-sectioned element 10 are such that it is capable of receiving two parallel microbore pipes 22, for example of 8 or 10 mm internal diameter.

The pipes 22 are held in position within the channel-sectioned element 10 by clips (not shown) and these clips may be held in place by the fasteners which are employed to secure the channel-sectioned element to the wall.

The method of fastening the pipes into position may thus be such that, after the plaster has been applied to the wall, the fasteners employed to secure the channelsectioned element to the wall are partially released and then the clips are engaged with the fasteners, which clips engage over and act to retain the pipes which have, by that time, been fitted within the channel-sectioned element.

Fitting of the closure member 14 into position serves to close the open side of the channel-sectioned element and to conceal the pipes 22. The fact that the closure member has side flanges 18 which project beyond the side walls of the channel-sectioned element means that if there are any subsequent expansion or contraction gaps between the plaster and the sides of the channel-sectioned element, such gaps will be covered by the flanges. Since a plurality of tooth formations are formed on each of the flanges 12 and 16, a degree of adjustment of the position of the closure member 14 is provided. Thus if it is necessary for the plasterer to plaster to a depth such that the channel-sectioned element is well inset relative to the surface of the plaster, the closure member 14 can still be engaged with the channel-sectioned element.

The flanges 18 may be formed slightly inclined towards the wall surface so that their extreme edges resiliently engage the surface as the closure member is engaged with the channel-sectioned element. This ensures that there is close engagement between the flanges and the surface regardless of slight variations in the depth of the channelsectioned element in the plaster.

The channel-sectioned element and closure member are preferably formd as extrusions from a synthetic plastics material having the appropriate strength characteristics.

For use with central heating pipes a heat resistant plastics material such as ABS is preferred, although where the ducting is used, for example, to conceal electrical wiring the heat resistant property may not be essential and other materials may be used for the ducting.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 3, the channel-sectioned element lOis substantially identical with the channel-sectioned element in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, but the closure member 23 is of a different shape. The ducting shown in Figure 3 is suitable for surface mounting on a wall rather than being embedded in the plaster of the wall.

The closure member 23 comprises a part 24 adapted to extend across the open side of the channel-sectioned element 10, and is formed with spaced flanges 25 having tooth formations 26 and dimensioned to be received in force fit engagement between the flanges 12 and adjacent side walls 11 respectively of the channel-sectioned element. In the arrangement of Figure 3, however, the side flanges 27 of the closure member extend at right angles to the part 24 thereof so that the closure member is also generally channel-shaped in cross-section so as to fit over the channel-sectioned element 10, as shown in Figure 3, with the flanges 7 in close engagement with the side walls 11.

Since the ducting of Figure 3 is mounted on the surface of a wall, it is unnecessary to provide for adjustment of the position of the closure member 23 which respect to the channel-sectioned element 10 so that the flanges 25 are each formed with only one tooth formation which is shaped to engage the toothed formations on the flanges 12 when the closure member 23 is fitted over the channel-sectioned element 10, as shown.

In both of the arrangements described above the ducting provides a neat and unobtrusive cover for the pipework or wiring passing along the ducting while at the same time enabling the closure member to be stripped from the channel-sectioned element to provide access to the pipework or wiring.

The resilience of the material of the ducting permits the tooth formations 13 and 16 and 13 and 26 to be pulled out of engagement with one another by a sufficiently strong pull starting at one end of the closure member.

Since the tooth formations on the channelsectioned element are formed on flanges 12 which are separate from the side walls of the channel-sectioned element, the resilient deflection of the tooth formations which is necessary to permit withdrawal of the closure member from the channel-sectioned element will not cause deflection of the side walls 11 of that element which might otherwise cause the plaster within which the element is embedded to crack or crumble at the edges.

It is to be noted that, although the ducting shown has been designed for use in or on a wall, ducting of somewhat larger crosssectional configuration, to carry a larger number or size of pipes, could be used in a floor.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Ducting comprising an elongate channel-sectioned element having locating flanges separate from the side walls of the element and spaced inwardly therefrom, and an elongate closure member having a part adapted to extend across the open side of the channel-sectioned element and locating flanges which are a resilient force fit between the locating flanges on the channel-sectioned element and the adjacent side walls so as to retain the closure member in a closure position with said part thereof extending across the open side of the channel-sectioned element.

2. Ducting according to Claim 1, wherein said closure member has side flanges which extend outwardly of the side walls of the channel-sectioned element when the closure member is in said closure position.

3. Ducting according to Claim 2, wherein said side flanges lie in substantially the same plane as said part of the closure member which is adapted to extend across the open side of the channel-sectioned element.

4. Ducting according to Claim 2, wherein said side flanges extend transversely of said part of the closure member which is adapted to extend across the open side of the channel-sectioned element, so as to overlie the side walls of said element, externally thereof, when the closure member is in said closure position.

5. Ducting according to Claim 4, wherein said side flanges are so located as to lie in engagement with the side walls of the channel-sectioned element when the closure member is in said closure position.

6. Ducting according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein interengageable tooth formations are formed on the interengageable faces of the locating flanges of the channel-sectioned element and closure member respectively.

7. Ducting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3, of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tooth formation which is shaped to engage the toothed formations on the flanges 12 when the closure member 23 is fitted over the channel-sectioned element 10, as shown. In both of the arrangements described above the ducting provides a neat and unobtrusive cover for the pipework or wiring passing along the ducting while at the same time enabling the closure member to be stripped from the channel-sectioned element to provide access to the pipework or wiring. The resilience of the material of the ducting permits the tooth formations 13 and 16 and 13 and 26 to be pulled out of engagement with one another by a sufficiently strong pull starting at one end of the closure member. Since the tooth formations on the channelsectioned element are formed on flanges 12 which are separate from the side walls of the channel-sectioned element, the resilient deflection of the tooth formations which is necessary to permit withdrawal of the closure member from the channel-sectioned element will not cause deflection of the side walls 11 of that element which might otherwise cause the plaster within which the element is embedded to crack or crumble at the edges. It is to be noted that, although the ducting shown has been designed for use in or on a wall, ducting of somewhat larger crosssectional configuration, to carry a larger number or size of pipes, could be used in a floor. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Ducting comprising an elongate channel-sectioned element having locating flanges separate from the side walls of the element and spaced inwardly therefrom, and an elongate closure member having a part adapted to extend across the open side of the channel-sectioned element and locating flanges which are a resilient force fit between the locating flanges on the channel-sectioned element and the adjacent side walls so as to retain the closure member in a closure position with said part thereof extending across the open side of the channel-sectioned element.

2. Ducting according to Claim 1, wherein said closure member has side flanges which extend outwardly of the side walls of the channel-sectioned element when the closure member is in said closure position.

3. Ducting according to Claim 2, wherein said side flanges lie in substantially the same plane as said part of the closure member which is adapted to extend across the open side of the channel-sectioned element.

4. Ducting according to Claim 2, wherein said side flanges extend transversely of said part of the closure member which is adapted to extend across the open side of the channel-sectioned element, so as to overlie the side walls of said element, externally thereof, when the closure member is in said closure position.

5. Ducting according to Claim 4, wherein said side flanges are so located as to lie in engagement with the side walls of the channel-sectioned element when the closure member is in said closure position.

6. Ducting according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein interengageable tooth formations are formed on the interengageable faces of the locating flanges of the channel-sectioned element and closure member respectively.

7. Ducting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3, of the accompanying drawings.