GB2048450A

GB2048450A - Increasing heat transfer area of central heating radiators

Info

Publication number: GB2048450A
Application number: GB8011604A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-04-07
Filing date: 1980-04-08
Publication date: 1980-12-10
Also published as: GB2048450B

Abstract

A corrugated sheet 14 is engaged with or attached, e.g. removably, to a radiator 10, the peaks of the corrugations being vertically oriented and one side of the sheet being in contact with the radiator. Heat from the radiator is convected by the sheet thus increasing the heat output from the radiator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to heating means This invention relates to heating means.

According to this invention a heating unit comprises in combination structure for containing liquid to be heated and, engaged therewith, an element formed from sheet material, portions of said element being spaced from said structure, the arrangement being such that in use when the liquid is heated the element is heated by the structure.

The element may be a corrugated sheet, the peaks of the corrugations on one side of the element being engaged with the structure.

The corrugations may be zig-zag or partcircular.

The corrugated sheet would be located with the peaks generally vertical.

There may be removable spring means biassing the element into engagement with the structure.

The invention may be performed in various ways and two specific embodiments with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a heating unit; and Figures 2 to 4 are plan views, similar to that of Fig. 1 of three further embodiments of heating unit;; Referring to Fig. 1 a conventional central heating radiator 10 having inlet and outlet manually operable flow control valves 11, 1 2 is located adjacent a wall 1 3. A sheet 14 of aluminium formed into a corrugated zig-zag shape and of uniform cross-section is located with spaced vertical edges 1 5 in engagement with the rear surface 1 6 of the radiator 1 0. A spring clip has a flat base 1 7 in engagement with rear vertical edges of the sheet 14 and, integral or welded to the base, a resilient metal tongue 1 8 which engages the wall 1 3 and urges the sheet 14 against the radiator 10.

The sheet 14 and clips may be inserted into the space between the radiator and the wall from the side and/or the top, as indicated by the arrow.

With this heating unit, as the radiator 10 heats up as hot water flows through it, the sheet 14 becomes heated by conduction from the radiator. The air is heated by conduction from the sheet and thus the room in which the unit is located is heated by convection. Air is, of course heated in the usual way by the radiator 10.

The relatively larger area of the sheet 1 4 gives good heat transfer to the air and the heat output of the unit, for a given temperature of the radiator 10, is considerably greater than that of the radiator alone. With the invention, therefore heat from a radiator which previously was lost through the wall behind the radiator is convected into the room instead.

The tongue 1 8 may be urged from the wall by a suitable tool or possibly manually to allow the sheet 14 and clip to be removed readily.

In the arrangement of Fig. 2, the radiator 20 is in the form of a double radiator having two spaced panels 21, 22. In this case the sheet 14 is held against the rear of the front panel 21 by the clips which engages the front of the rear panel 22. In some circumstances the sheet and clip could be insulated from a side, or possibly from above.

In the arrangement of Fig. 3, the sheet 14 is formed to have a degree of resilience so that it can be reduced in overall thickness by opposed forces as shown by the arrows, placed in position, and the forces released whereupon the sheet expands in overall thickness and becomes engaged between the radiator panels without the need for a biassing clip.

Referring to Fig. 4 the sheet 14 is formed with trapezoidal shaped corrugations, the peak of each corrugation being the shorter parallel side of the trapezium. The sheet is fixed to the radiator so that the flat peaks of the corrugations are in contact with the radiator. (The drawing shows the sheet slightly spaced from the radiator but that is a diagrammatic representation only for the sake of clarity).

It will be appreciated that the shape of the corrugations can be varied as can the length and width of the sheet. Materials other than aluminium can be used for the sheet. Installation and removal of the sheet does not require a plumber or draining of the central heating system. The sheet can be used with a variety of types of radiator, for example an electrically heated liquid-filled panel.

The corrugated sheet may be fixed to the radiator by any suitable means and not necessarily by the arrangements specifically described. For example clips can be fitted to the radiator itself by which the sheet is held to the radiator. Alternatively there may be clips on the sheet which are engagable on the radiator, particularly in the case of panel radiators, on the radiator edge.

1. A heating unit comprising in combination a structure for containing liquid to be heated and, engaged therewith, an element formed from sheet material, portions of said element being spaced from said structure, the arrangement being such that in use when the liquid is heated the element is heated by the structure.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the element is a corrugated sheet, the peaks of the corrugations on one side of the sheet

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to heating means This invention relates to heating means. According to this invention a heating unit comprises in combination structure for containing liquid to be heated and, engaged therewith, an element formed from sheet material, portions of said element being spaced from said structure, the arrangement being such that in use when the liquid is heated the element is heated by the structure. The element may be a corrugated sheet, the peaks of the corrugations on one side of the element being engaged with the structure. The corrugations may be zig-zag or partcircular. The corrugated sheet would be located with the peaks generally vertical. There may be removable spring means biassing the element into engagement with the structure. The invention may be performed in various ways and two specific embodiments with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a heating unit; and Figures 2 to 4 are plan views, similar to that of Fig. 1 of three further embodiments of heating unit;; Referring to Fig. 1 a conventional central heating radiator 10 having inlet and outlet manually operable flow control valves 11, 1 2 is located adjacent a wall 1 3. A sheet 14 of aluminium formed into a corrugated zig-zag shape and of uniform cross-section is located with spaced vertical edges 1 5 in engagement with the rear surface 1 6 of the radiator 1 0. A spring clip has a flat base 1 7 in engagement with rear vertical edges of the sheet 14 and, integral or welded to the base, a resilient metal tongue 1 8 which engages the wall 1 3 and urges the sheet 14 against the radiator 10. The sheet 14 and clips may be inserted into the space between the radiator and the wall from the side and/or the top, as indicated by the arrow. With this heating unit, as the radiator 10 heats up as hot water flows through it, the sheet 14 becomes heated by conduction from the radiator. The air is heated by conduction from the sheet and thus the room in which the unit is located is heated by convection. Air is, of course heated in the usual way by the radiator 10. The relatively larger area of the sheet 1 4 gives good heat transfer to the air and the heat output of the unit, for a given temperature of the radiator 10, is considerably greater than that of the radiator alone. With the invention, therefore heat from a radiator which previously was lost through the wall behind the radiator is convected into the room instead. The tongue 1 8 may be urged from the wall by a suitable tool or possibly manually to allow the sheet 14 and clip to be removed readily. In the arrangement of Fig. 2, the radiator 20 is in the form of a double radiator having two spaced panels 21, 22. In this case the sheet 14 is held against the rear of the front panel 21 by the clips which engages the front of the rear panel 22. In some circumstances the sheet and clip could be insulated from a side, or possibly from above. In the arrangement of Fig. 3, the sheet 14 is formed to have a degree of resilience so that it can be reduced in overall thickness by opposed forces as shown by the arrows, placed in position, and the forces released whereupon the sheet expands in overall thickness and becomes engaged between the radiator panels without the need for a biassing clip. Referring to Fig. 4 the sheet 14 is formed with trapezoidal shaped corrugations, the peak of each corrugation being the shorter parallel side of the trapezium. The sheet is fixed to the radiator so that the flat peaks of the corrugations are in contact with the radiator. (The drawing shows the sheet slightly spaced from the radiator but that is a diagrammatic representation only for the sake of clarity). It will be appreciated that the shape of the corrugations can be varied as can the length and width of the sheet. Materials other than aluminium can be used for the sheet. Installation and removal of the sheet does not require a plumber or draining of the central heating system. The sheet can be used with a variety of types of radiator, for example an electrically heated liquid-filled panel. The corrugated sheet may be fixed to the radiator by any suitable means and not necessarily by the arrangements specifically described. For example clips can be fitted to the radiator itself by which the sheet is held to the radiator. Alternatively there may be clips on the sheet which are engagable on the radiator, particularly in the case of panel radiators, on the radiator edge. CLAIMS

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the element is a corrugated sheet, the peaks of the corrugations on one side of the sheet being engaged with the structure.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the corrugations are of trapezoidal shape, the shorter parallel side of each trapezium forming the peaks of the corrugations.

4. A unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the corrugations are of triangular shape.

5. A unit as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the peaks of the corrugations are arranged to extend substantially vertically.

6. A unit as clai.med in any preceding claim wherein the element is removably engaged on the structure.

7. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the element is held in the structure by one or more clips.

8. A heating unit substantially as described herein with reference to any one of Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.