GB2113376A

GB2113376A - Air bleeding apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2113376A
Application number: GB08300412A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samuel Lewis Stone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-01-07
Filing date: 1983-01-07
Publication date: 1983-08-03
Also published as: GB2113376B; GB8300412D0

Abstract

Apparatus for bleeding a radiator comprises a plastics material vessel 10 having a key 15 extending diametrically through an upper part of the vessel, the key being carried in a pair of grommets 13 thus sealing but permitting rotation of the key with respect to the vessel. One end of the key 15 is provided with a square socket 17, grooved at 19 to allow liquid flow, and adapted to be engaged with the nipple of a radiator air bleed valve and a collapsible rubber seal member 22 is mounted around the socket for engagement with the radiator. A bore 20 extends axially in the key 15 from the socket and opens through the wall of the key within the vessel. In operation, liquid bled from a radiator is constrained by the seal member 22 to pass along the bore in the shaft and hence to collect in the vessel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Air bleeding apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for bleeding air from a liquid container provided with an air bleed valve, and in particular-though not exclusively-the apparatus is concerned with the bleeding of air from a water-filled central heating radiator. In the following, references will mostly be made to such radiators and the bleeding of air therefrom, though it will be appreciated that the apparatus of this invention may be used with other liquid-filled containers from which air is to be bled, through an appropriate airbleed valve.

It is necessary to provide in a hot water central heating system air-bleed valves at such points as air is likely to become trapped in order to allow the removal of such air and so to permit the efficient operation of the heating system. In general, it is the radiators of the central heating system which are provided with such air-bleed valves, at an upper part of the radiator. The most common type of air bleed valve has a valve body which is externally screwthreaded and is fitted into a correspondingly threaded bore provided in an end plate of the radiator. The valve body has a screwthreaded bore provided with a valve seat, and a screw-threaded nipple is engaged in that bore such that rotation of the nipple may open and close the valve seat.The exposed end of the nipple usually has a square cross-section, such that the nipple may be engaged and rotated by a key having a correspondingly-formed socket.

When a radiator is bled by means of a simple key engaged with an air-bleed valve as described above, it is the general practice to employ an absorbent cloth in the hope of catching such liquid as inevitably leaves the radiator along with trapped air, when the airbleed valve is opened. Unfortunately, and usually because the water may be discoloured for example with rust, damage to furnishing, wall coverings and so on often occurs.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus which may be used in the bleeding of radiators or similar liquid-filled containers to allow the collection of liquid which escapes from the container at the time of air-bleeding.

Accordingly, this invention provides apparatus for bleeding a liquid-filled container provided with an air-bleed valve, which apparatus comprises a vessel in which liquid bled from the container may collect, a shaft rotatably extending through an upper part of the vessel, the shaft having at one end of a socket adapted operatively to engage the air bleed valve and at the other end handle means allowing the manual turning of the shaft, a bore extending axially partway along the shaft from said one end and opening through the shaft wall within the vessel and a resilient seal member mounted to surround the socket and having a free edge which lies beyond the free edge of the socket at said one end of the shaft.

The apparatus of this invention is employed by engaging the socket with the nipple of the air-bleed valve provided on the radiator or other liquid-filled container, which operation will deform the resilient seal member to such an extent as to form a substantially liquid-tight seal between the resilient seal member and the radiator or other container itself. Then, on turning of the shaft in the appropriate sense, using the handle means at the other end of the shaft, the nipple may be rotated to open the valve, so to allow air and some liquid to escape from the radiator or other container.

This liquid will be constrained by the seal member to travel along the bore in the shaft, to enter and collect in the container. When the bleeding operation is completed, the handle means may be used again to turn the shaft in the appropriate sense to close the airbleed valve.

To allow efficient sealing by the seal member, it is preferred for this seal member to be substantially cup-shaped, and to be mounted directly on the shaft, around the socket. The seal member may for example be made of a natural or synthetic elastomer, such as natural rubber or neoprene.

The socket preferably is provided integrally with the shaft, for example by broaching an appropriately-shaped socket in the one end portion of the shaft. So that liquid may pass along the axial bore of the shaft, either the socket must be a relatively loose fit on the nipple with which it is to be engaged, or additional grooves or passageways must be provided within the socket to communicate with the axial bore in the shaft. In the region of the shaft within the vessel, at least two transverse bores may be provided in the shaft which transverse bores communicate with the axial bore, thereby to permit liquid passing along the axial bore to leave the shaft and enter the vessel.

The shaft conveniently passes through a pair of grommets, each fitted in an aperture formed in the wall of the vessel, whereby the shaft may easily be turned therewithin and yet may be sealed against substantial leakage.

Moreover such an arrangement permits the removal of the shaft and its replacement by another, for example having a socket of different dimensions to permit the operation of a different design of air bleed valve.

Most preferably, the vessel is moulded from a transparent or translucent plastics material, in order that an operator may perceive the quantity of liquid within the vessel and hence readily decide when the vessel needs to be emptied. Advantageously, a handle is moulded integrally with the vessel to facilitate the use of the apparatus.

By way of example only, one specific em bodiment of this invention will now be de scribed in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a radiator air bleeding apparatus of this inven tion; Figure 2 is a cross-section through one end of the operating key; and Figure 3 is a part view showing the operation of the apparatus.

Referring initially to Fig. 1, it can be seen that the apparatus of this invention comprises a moulded plastics vessel 10 generally of circular cross-sectional shape, and having a lower part 11 which is provided with an integrally moulded handle 1 2. In an upper part of the vessel 10 there is provided a pair of diametrically opposed apertures each fitted with a rubber grommet 13, the shaft 14 of a key 1 5 extending through the grommets 1 3.

One end 1 6 of the shaft is formed as a socket 1 7 whereas the other end of the shaft is provided with a handle 1 8 allowing the manual rotation of the shaft.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the socket 1 7 has a generally square form, though along each internal wall of the socket between the corners of the square form there is provided a groove 1 9 for a purpose to be described below. From the socket 1 7 a bore 20 extends axially of the shaft for part of the length thereof, and in the region of the shaft within the vessel there are provided three crossdrillings 21, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Mounted on the shaft 14 around the socket is a collapsible rubber seal member 22 of generally cup-shaped form, the free edge 23 of the seal member projecting considerably beyond the free end 24 of the shaft disposed within the seal member. At the top of the vessel, there is provided a screw-threaded cap 25 to permit emptying of the vessel whenever appropriate.

The apparatus described above is used in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. A radiator 26 to be bled is provided with a bleed valve 27 including a nipple 28 having a shank of square cross-sectional shape. The socket 1 7 of the key 1 5 is engaged with the shank of the bleed valve, which engagement causes the rubber seal member 22 to be compressed against the radiator 26, around the bleed valve. In this way, a substantially liquid-tight seal is formed between the bleed valve and the shaft 14. Rotation of the nipple by means of the key 1 5 will then allow air and water to leave the radiator, which liquid is constrained to flow along the axial bore 20 in the shaft, and then to enter the vessel 10 as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Air pressure build up will be prevented within the vessel 10, by leakage of air between the grommets 1 3 and the shaft 14 or between the screwed cap 25 and the main part of the vessel. Alternatively, a vent may be provided for example in the cap.

It will be appreciated that the key 1 5 may be removed from the vessel 10 and replaced by another having a differently dimensioned socket, for example to allow the bleeding of radiators having different sized bleed valve nipples. The apparatus of this invention is thus versatile and moreover permits the clean and efficient bleeding of air from radiators or other liquid-filled containers.

Claims

1. Apparatus for bleeding a liquid-filled container provided with an air-bleed valve, which apparatus comprises a vessel in which liquid bled from the container may collect, a shaft rotatably extending through an upper part of the vessel, the shaft having at one end a socket adapted operatively to engage the air bleed valve and at the other end handle means allowing the manual turning of the shaft, a bore extending axially partway along the shaft from said one end and opening through the shaft wall within the vessel and a resilient seal member mounted to surround the socket and having a free edge which lies beyond the free edge of the socket at said one end of the shaft.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is substantially cupshaped, and is mounted directly on the shaft, around the socket.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the seal member is made of a natural or synthetic elastomer.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the socket is formed integrally with the shaft.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the grooves or passageways are provided within the socket to communicate with the axial bore in the shaft.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least two transverse bores are provided through the shaft in the region thereof within the vessel which transverse bores communicate with the axial bore.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft passes through a pair of grommets, each fitted in an aperture formed in the wall of the vessel.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the vessel is moulded from a transparent or translucent plactics material.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a handle is moulded integrally with the vessel to facilitate the use of the apparatus.

10. Apparatus for bleeding a liquid filled container provided with an air-bleed valve, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accom panying drawings.