GB2180334A

GB2180334A - Heat deflector for a space heating radiator

Info

Publication number: GB2180334A
Application number: GB08621829A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sydney Albert Varndell
Original assignee: SQUIRES
Current assignee: SQUIRES
Priority date: 1985-09-12
Filing date: 1986-09-10
Publication date: 1987-03-25
Also published as: GB8522578D0; GB8621829D0

Abstract

A heat deflector (1) for improving the distribution of heated air from a room-heating radiator (2), has a sheet metal underside deflector portion (3) with a concave downwardly directed polished outer surface which directs heated air outwardly into the room. An upper horizontal portion 13 of the deflector (1) serves as a shelf. The deflector (1) is mounted against a wall (4) above and adjacent the upper edge of the radiator (2) by expandable fixing means (8, 10) located in the space between the radiator (2) and the wall (4) to avoid the need to drill holes in the wall (4). A second defector (1) may be mounted part way up the outer face of the radiator (2). In another embodiment, a deflector (1) having two portions (3) facing in opposite directions may be mounted on the top of a free- standing radiator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heat deflector shelf This invention relates to a heat deflector for fitting above a heating device such as an electric or hot water radiator.

All such heating devices tend to soil or stain the wall, curtains or ceiling above them due to the movement of air they cause. It is therefore common practice to install a shelf above a radiator, but although the shelf may reduce the staining it may do so at the expense of free circulation of air which affects the heating efficiency.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved heat deflector. According to this invention, a heat deflector comprises an elongate shelf having wall or other fixing means, and a contoured underside deflector portion having an outer heat reflecting surface. In its preferred form the deflector portion is a metal sheet having a curved cross section with a polished concave outer surface arranged to deflect heated air rising from a radiator below outwardly into the room space in front of and above the radiator, the contour of the deflector portion promoting a smooth transition in direction of air flow from vertically upwards to generally outwards.

The shelf of the invention has the advantage of reducing staining of adjacent surfaces substantially without reducing the heating efficiency of an unshielded radiator. Indeed, in many room situations rising air deflected at waist level allows convected heat to be available to the occupants of the room more rapidly and effeciently than is the case with an unshielded radiator. In addition, the polished surface reflects radiant heat energy into the room. Being removable, it does not become a landlords fixture, and is easily cleaned.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of a heat deflector in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the deflector of Fig. 1 shown in a wall mounted position above a radiator; Figure 3 is a more detailed sectional side view of a delfector mounted above a radiator; Figure 4 is a side view similar to that of Fig.

2, but showing an arrangement with two deflectors; and Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative heat deflector mounted on a free-standing radiator.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the preferred mounting position of a heat deflector in accordance with the invention is as a wall mounted shelf 1 above a radiator 2 with a deflector portion 3 facing outwards from the wall 4 and towards the radiator 2 to reflect radiated heat and deflect warm air as indicated by the arrows A and B respectively.

The preferred method of mounting the shelf 1 makes use of a bracket 5 fixed to upper and lower fixing flanges 6 and 7 of the shelf 1 and carrying a bolt 8 mounted in a downwardly extending portion 9. The bracket 5 is forced against the wall 4 by means of a threaded sleeve 10 which is rotated to engage the rear surface of the radiator 2. This avoids the need to drill holes in the wall 4. A tommy bar hole 10A is provided in the sleeve 10 to enable rotation.

The shelf 1 itself comprises two press formed or rolled sheet metal sections joined together along a front edge portion 11 of the shelf. A first section of solid or plated material constitutes the deflector 3, includes the lower fixing flange 7, and has a front flange 12. The second section provides a horizontal shelf surface 13, includes the upper fixing flange 6 and a front flange 14 which overlaps the front flange 12 of the first portion and is attached to the flange 12 by a series of dome-head studs 15. The second portion is embossed on its outer surface for decoration.

Deflectors of lengths of up to approximately 3 metres can be made quite easily on conventional machinery, and in instances where greater lengths are required, a simple joining device can be used.

A second deflector 16 may be mounted part way up the outer surface of a radiator 2, as shown in Fig. 4, to deflect heated air to foot level. Such a deflector 16 may be mounted by hanging it from hooks placed over the top edge of the radiator, or by clamping means gripping opposite end edges of the radiator.

In an alternative embodiment suitable for use with a free standing radiator, the deflector has two deflecting surfaces 18 and 20 as shown in Fig. 5. These two surfaces are each of similar form and material to those of the other embodiments described above, but face in opposite directions so as to direct air laterally outwards from both sides of the radiator to distribute heated air more evenly in a room space than is the case without such a deflector. The deflecting surfaces 18, 20 are joined by a shelf 22 attached to their upper edges, and by a clip arrangement 24 for fixing the deflector to the top edge of the radiator 26.

1. A heat deflector comprising an elongate shelf having wall or other fixing means, and a contoured underside deflector portion having an outer heat reflecting surface.

2. A deflector according to claim 1, wherein the underside deflector portion is a metal sheet having a curved cross section with a downwardly directed polished concave outer surface for reflecting heat radiation.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Heat deflector shelf This invention relates to a heat deflector for fitting above a heating device such as an electric or hot water radiator. All such heating devices tend to soil or stain the wall, curtains or ceiling above them due to the movement of air they cause. It is therefore common practice to install a shelf above a radiator, but although the shelf may reduce the staining it may do so at the expense of free circulation of air which affects the heating efficiency. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved heat deflector. According to this invention, a heat deflector comprises an elongate shelf having wall or other fixing means, and a contoured underside deflector portion having an outer heat reflecting surface. In its preferred form the deflector portion is a metal sheet having a curved cross section with a polished concave outer surface arranged to deflect heated air rising from a radiator below outwardly into the room space in front of and above the radiator, the contour of the deflector portion promoting a smooth transition in direction of air flow from vertically upwards to generally outwards. The shelf of the invention has the advantage of reducing staining of adjacent surfaces substantially without reducing the heating efficiency of an unshielded radiator. Indeed, in many room situations rising air deflected at waist level allows convected heat to be available to the occupants of the room more rapidly and effeciently than is the case with an unshielded radiator. In addition, the polished surface reflects radiant heat energy into the room. Being removable, it does not become a landlords fixture, and is easily cleaned. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of a heat deflector in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the deflector of Fig. 1 shown in a wall mounted position above a radiator; Figure 3 is a more detailed sectional side view of a delfector mounted above a radiator; Figure 4 is a side view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing an arrangement with two deflectors; and Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative heat deflector mounted on a free-standing radiator. Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the preferred mounting position of a heat deflector in accordance with the invention is as a wall mounted shelf 1 above a radiator 2 with a deflector portion 3 facing outwards from the wall 4 and towards the radiator 2 to reflect radiated heat and deflect warm air as indicated by the arrows A and B respectively. The preferred method of mounting the shelf 1 makes use of a bracket 5 fixed to upper and lower fixing flanges 6 and 7 of the shelf 1 and carrying a bolt 8 mounted in a downwardly extending portion 9. The bracket 5 is forced against the wall 4 by means of a threaded sleeve 10 which is rotated to engage the rear surface of the radiator 2. This avoids the need to drill holes in the wall 4. A tommy bar hole 10A is provided in the sleeve 10 to enable rotation. The shelf 1 itself comprises two press formed or rolled sheet metal sections joined together along a front edge portion 11 of the shelf. A first section of solid or plated material constitutes the deflector 3, includes the lower fixing flange 7, and has a front flange 12. The second section provides a horizontal shelf surface 13, includes the upper fixing flange 6 and a front flange 14 which overlaps the front flange 12 of the first portion and is attached to the flange 12 by a series of dome-head studs 15. The second portion is embossed on its outer surface for decoration. Deflectors of lengths of up to approximately 3 metres can be made quite easily on conventional machinery, and in instances where greater lengths are required, a simple joining device can be used. A second deflector 16 may be mounted part way up the outer surface of a radiator 2, as shown in Fig. 4, to deflect heated air to foot level. Such a deflector 16 may be mounted by hanging it from hooks placed over the top edge of the radiator, or by clamping means gripping opposite end edges of the radiator. In an alternative embodiment suitable for use with a free standing radiator, the deflector has two deflecting surfaces 18 and 20 as shown in Fig. 5. These two surfaces are each of similar form and material to those of the other embodiments described above, but face in opposite directions so as to direct air laterally outwards from both sides of the radiator to distribute heated air more evenly in a room space than is the case without such a deflector. The deflecting surfaces 18, 20 are joined by a shelf 22 attached to their upper edges, and by a clip arrangement 24 for fixing the deflector to the top edge of the radiator 26. CLAIMS

3. A deflector according to claim 2, wherein the metal sheet has an outer longitudinal edge portion joined to an outer longitudinal edge portion of a second metal sheet arranged to form an upwardly directed planar shelf surface, both metal sheets having inner edges lying in a wall fixing plane perpendicular to the said shelf surface.

4. A wall mounting deflector according to any preceding claim, further comprising expandable fixing means for insertion in the space between a radiator and an adjacent wall.

5. A deflector according to claim 4, wherein the fixing means is associated with a deflector rear mounting plate.

6. A method of deflecting heated air flowing from an electric or heated water radiator in which an elongate shelf having a contoured underside deflector portion with an outer heat reflecting surface is fixed horizontally above and adjacent the upper edge of the radiator.

7. A method according to claim 6 in which a second heat deflector having an elongate contoured underside deflector portion with an outer heat reflecting surface is attached in a horizontal position to a front face of the radiator at a level spaced from the upper and lower edges of the radiator.

8. A heat deflector constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings.