GB2115545A

GB2115545A - Heat reflecting panel

Info

Publication number: GB2115545A
Application number: GB08236806A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm John Siddall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-02-19
Filing date: 1982-12-24
Publication date: 1983-09-07
Also published as: GB2115545B; EP0087278B1; DE3371117D1; EP0087278A1

Description

1 GB 2 115 545 A 1

SPECIFICATION Heat reflecting panel

9 1 45 This invention concerns a heat reflecting panel of the kind (hereinafter termed 'of the kind referred tol intended to be located between a central heating radiator and a wall behind such radiator in order to reduce heat losses through the wall.

It is known that provision of a reflecting material behind a central heating radiator serves to reflect heat back into the room, thus reducing loss of heat through the fabric of the' building located behind the radiator and making welcome savings in these times of rapidly rising energy costs.

Many people use aluminium foil for this purpose, but such has the disadvantage that it is difficult to instal, largely because it is flimsy and easily torn as it is manoeuvred into the generally confined space behind the radiator which is also usually obstructed by mounting brackets for the radiator. In any event, after installation the foil is inevitably crumpled and unsightly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat reflecting panel which can be installed easily by the householder and which presents a neat and workmanlike appearance.

According to the present invention, there is provided a heat reflecting panel of the kind referred to comprising an elongated rectangular metallic sheet which has a bright reflecting surface on at least one of its sides, the sheet being longitudinally flexible and further comprising a magnet secured thereto at one end thereof by which the panel may be secured to an upper part of a central heating radiator to hang therebehind with said bright surface directed towards the radiator.

The invention will be further apparent from the 100 following description, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing, which show, by way of example only, one form of heat reflecting panel embodying the invention.

Of the drawings:- Fig. 1 shows an elevation of the panel; Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through the panel on the line 11-11. of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows how the panel is installed behind a central heating radiator.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the panel comprises an elongated rectangular sheet 10 which may typically have a width of ten centimetres or so and one of a variety of lengths approximately equal to the height of standard 115 central heating radiators.

The sheet 10 is of metal and has a bright reflecting surface on at least one of its faces. The sheet may be of stainless steel or aluminium alloy for example. It is capable of being flexed along its 120 length but has cranked edge portions 11 and 12 to give some stiffness and to improve its appearance.

Adjacent one end of the sheet 10, a magnet 13 is secured on the centre line of the sheet and if only one face of the sheet is bright on that face.

In use, the panel is introduced into the space behind a central heating radiator, its flexibility greatly facilitating this and enabling, for example, it to be fed down behind the radiator R from above by bending it through the space between the radiator R and a radiator shelf S (see Fig. 3). The sheet is secured to hang downwardly behind the radiator by engaging the magnet 13 with an upper part of the radiator. Generally a plurality of panels will be positioned in this way in side-by-side relationship so as to be extend over the entire width of the radiator.

To minimise heat conduction from the radiator R to the panel, it is preferred that the magnet 13 be secured to the panel by some thermally insulating means or that the magnet itself be constituted by a thermally insulating material.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope thereof.

Thus for example, although the panels are particularly suitable for use with modern pressed steel radiators (having upper and lower manifolds which are thicker than the main body of the radiator) they may be used with older cast iron radiators by securing a steel grip to the top of the radiator or to the wall behind the radiator and to which the magnets 13 may be attached.

Claims

1. A heat reflecting panel of the kind referred to comprising an elongated rectangular sheet which has a bright reflecting surface on at least one of its sides and which is longitudinally flexible, and a magnet secured to said sheet at one end thereof by which the panel may be secured to an upper part of a central heating radiator to hang therebehind with said bright surface directed to the radiator.

2. A panel according to claim 1, wherein said sheet is of stainless steel.

3. A panel according to claim 1, wherein said sheet is of aluminium alloy.

4. A panel according to any preceding claim, wherein the longitudinal edge portions of the sheet are angled relative to the main body of the sheet to give some stiffness without destroying the longitudinal flexibility of the sheet.

5. A panel according to any preceding claim. wherein said magnet is secured on the centre line of the sheet and on a face of the sheet which has a bright reflecting surface.

6. A panel according to any preceding claim, wherein said magnet is in the form of a circular disc.

7. A panel according to any preceding claim, wherein said magnet is connected to the sheet by thermally insulating means.

8. A panel according to any preceding claim, 2 GB 2 115 545 A 2 wherein said magnet is of a material of low thermal conductivity.

9. A heat reflecting panel substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1983. Published by the Patent Office 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.

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