GB2166466A

GB2166466A - Replacement conduits

Info

Publication number: GB2166466A
Application number: GB08525989A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jari Elomaa
Original assignee: LVI SUUNNITTELU ELPOCON
Current assignee: LVI SUUNNITTELU ELPOCON
Priority date: 1984-10-23
Filing date: 1985-10-22
Publication date: 1986-05-08
Also published as: NO854209L; SE459429B; NO168258B; SE8504978D0; DE3537443A1; FI844164L; GB8525989D0; NO168258C; DK485385D0; FI75634B; FI75634C; DK485385A; FI844164A0; GB2166466B; SE8504978L

Abstract

A replacement conduit unit comprises an elongate body 1, one or more pipelines 2, 3, 4 therein, and connecting lines 5, 6, 7 connecting with the pipelines. Fastening means 10 are provided for fastening the body an eg. a wall. The body may be formed of a polyurethane foam or a mineral wool, to provide thermal and acoustic insulation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Unit for use in the heating, plumbing, ventilation or wiring of buildings This invention relates to a unit for use in the heating, plumbing, ventilation or wiring of buildings, of a type comprising an elongated frame mounting one or more pipelines extending the length of the frame.

Building units are known which are intended to be used in the heating, plumbing, ventilation and wiring of buildings. Such units usually comprise a concrete frame, in which a required number of pipelines has been embedded. Examples of such units are described in Swedish Patent Specification 324,340 and Swiss Patent Specification 534,275. The units described therein, however, are intended to form one wall of a building, and they are therefore not applicable for use e.g. in the renovation of buildings. During renovation, structures generally must be broken up to gain access to the pipelines for the replacement or repairing thereof or, alternatively, new surface mounted pipelines must be constructed. Such surface mounted pipelines can be unattractive in appearance and are often difficult to mount adjacent floor structures.In addition, it is time-consuming and, consequently, expensive to provide thermal or acoustic insulation for surface mounted pipelines. It is in any event desirable in most cases to encase at least the rising pipes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a unit which may be used in renovation of buildings and by means of which repairing of heating, plumbing, ventilation or wiring structures can be simplified and expedited.

It is also an object to provide a unit which is neat in appearance and easy to mount.

Viewed from one aspect the invention provides a unit for use in the heating, plumbing, ventilation and wiring or the like of buildings, such unit comprising an elongate, substantially solid frame, one or more pipelines fitted within and extending the length of said frame, connecting lines communicating with said pipelines, and fastening means for fastening the frame to a floor, wall or ceiling surface or the like.

The frame preferably comprises two parts which are adjoined along a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the pipelines, wherein the connecting lines are solely located within one half of the frame. In order to make the unit light and easily manageable, the frame is preferably manufactured from a polyurethane foam or mineral wool pressed to shape. Because the unit is solid and made e.g. of a polyurethane foam or pressed mineral wool, the unit is provided with good heat and sound insulating properties. As the unit is intended to be mounted on the surface of e.g. a wall structure it is possible to extend the connecting lines from the outer surface of the frame on a narrower side thereof only, and the lines can extend closely adjacent the surface of the wall, which is advantageous.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of a unit in accordance with the invention in partial cross-section; Figure 2 is a side view of the unit shown in Fig. 1 in partial cross-section, and Figure 3 is a cross-section through the unit shown in Fig. 1 along the line A-A in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a unit comprising a frame 1 and pipelines 2, 3, 4 fitted within the frame and extending from one end of the unit to the other. The pipelines 2, 3, 4 are provided with connecting lines or branches 5, 6, 7 which communicate the pipelines with respective points of connection therefor. The unit of Fig.

1 is suitable to be used e.g. as a water supply element, whereby the pipelines 2, 3 are for hot and cold water and the pipeline 4 for warm circulation water respectively. When the unit of Fig. 1 is used as a rising pipe in a building, the length of the unit is adjusted according to the room height. The ends of the pipelines 2, 3, 4 may be provided with conventional connecting means for example in the form of sleeves provided at one end of each pipeline 2, 3, 4, which sleeves may be provided with grooves for a resilient O-ring arranged to form a seal with the end portions of the pipelines projecting from the upper or lower end of the unit and received by the sleeves.

Separate connecting pipes can be used where the pipelines need to extend through floors, both ends of which connecting pipes are provided with sleeves adapted to receive respective end portions of the unit pipelines.

Thus, communication through floors may be achieved by drilling holes in the floor structure at desired points e.g. by means of a diamond drill, which holes need not be accurately positioned, the connecting pipes thereafter being pushed through the holes to extend above and below the floor. The units of an upper and a lower floor are then connectable to the end portions of the connecting pipes, which end portions are provided with sleeves as mentioned above, simply by pushing the pipelines of the units into the sleeves. Other ways of forming connections with the units are possible, such as e.g. soldering or bead joints, although these may be less convenient to carry out in practice. Where the pipes extend through a floor in a manner described above, sealing can be achieved by means of subsequent foaming.The abovementioned means of connecting the units are conventional in the art, and are therefore not shown in the figures.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, the connecting branches 5, 6, 7 attached to the pipelines 2, 3, 4 extend laterally so that the branches project from the units on the narrower side surface 9 thereof. In this way, the broader side surfaces of the units remain intact. Furthermore, as apparent from Figs. 2 and 3 in particular, the connecting branches 5, 6, 7 extend from the unit very near the rear surface which is intended to be positioned against a wall, for example. Thus the connecting pipes can extend neatly to any desired fittings, in this particular case water fittings, via conventional surface mounted pipelines. Alternatively, such connections can be made by means of a further unit or units constructed in accordance with the invention. It is thereby possible to conceal all pipes which may otherwise have an unattractive appearance.The preferred unit is manufactured from a polyurethane foam or from a mineral wool pressed to shape, and can be conveniently coated by any desired coating. The unit can be painted or papered or, in case of moist rooms, coated with tiles, whereby it can be readily accommodated in existing surroundings.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the unit is formed of two parts in such a manner that the frame breaks along a plane containing the longitudinal axes of the pipelines 2, 3, 4, whereby access may readily be gained to the pipelines if desired. Thus, the connecting branches 5, 6, 7 attached to the pipelines 2, 3 and 4 are wholly positioned in the rear part 1a of the unit whereby the front part 1 b, which is effectively a cover, is easily detachable. Th part 1 b forming the cover of the unit can be constructed either so that it is directly detachable or alternatively it can be made to open in a hinge-like manner.The front and rear parts 1a and 1b can be secured together e.g. by means of apertures provided in the rear part la which receive pins attached to the front part 1 b. However since the structure of such connecting parts may vary and may take any convenient form the parts thereof are not shown in the figures.

In order to connect the units to the floor, wall or ceiling surfaces of a building, the units are provided with apertures 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which comprise a part 11 of larger diameter and a part 12 of reduced diameter. The part 12 is formed by positioning a flanged bushing in a mould used in the manufacture of the unit. Thus the unit is connectable to the underlying surface by inserting for example a screw in said aperture 10, which is screwed fast into the surface so that the screw head is positioned against the flange of the bushing 12. Where the parts 1a and 1b are interconnected e.g. by hinges it is possible to form the fastening holes only in the rear part 1a which is intended to be fastened on the underlying surface, so that the surface of th part 1 b forming the outer surface of the unit may be unbroken.

The unit has been described only in connection with water supply pipes 2, 3, 4, although it will be appreciated that any desired plumbing, gas ventilation, electrical or the like pipes can be located in such a unit. Furthermore, the number of pipes can, of course, vary in a manner desired. The cross-section of the unit can also vary in any desired manner, e.g. the corners thereof can be bevelled or rounded or, if the unit comprises only one or two pipes, it can be made e.g. of triangular cross-section or other desired configurations having regard to the place of installation thereof. The fastening means may also vary, for example other ways of fastening are possible, such as glueing or, in some cases, suitable fastening bands. Thus, whilst certain broad aspects and specific features of apparatus have been described and illustrated herein, modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the disclosure hereof is intended to encompass any such modifications.

Claims

1. A unit for use in the heating, plumbing, ventilation and wiring or the like of buildings, such unit comprising an elongate, substantially solid frame, one or more pipelines fitted within and extending the length of said frame, connecting lines communicating with said pipelines, and fastening means for fastening the frame to a floor, wall or ceiling surface or the like.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame comprises two parts which adjoin along a plane defined substantially by the longitudinal axes of the pipelines, and wherein said connecting lines are located solely within one half of the unit.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connecting lines extend laterally from the frame via a side surface thereof adjacent the rear surface which is located in use against a mounting surface.

4. A unit as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said fastening means includes apertures extending through at least the part of the frame which is to be positioned against a mounting surface, such apertures comprising a part of a larger diameter and a part of reduced diameter adapted to cooperate with screws or other fastening members received thereby.

5. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the frame is made of a polyurethane foam or a mineral wool.

6. A unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.