GB2202320A

GB2202320A - Central heating radiator assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2202320A
Application number: GB08729721A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Downey; David Cahill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-02-25
Filing date: 1987-12-21
Publication date: 1988-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-21
Also published as: GB8704393D0; GB2202320B; GB8729721D0

Abstract

A radiator assembly includes a radiator 12 and two pairs of valves connected to a water inlet 16 and a water outlet respectively. Each pair of valves comprises a control valve 30 and an isolation valve 36 joined together by a separable connector 38 and connecting the water inlet 16 and the water outlet with a water inflow pipe 24 and a water outflow pipe respectively. In this manner the control valve 30 may be used to control the flow of water into the radiator 12 during normal operation. The radiator 12 can be isolated from the inflow and outflow pipes by operation of the isolation valves 36. If the separable connections 38 are now released the radiator 12 can be removed with any water contained therein. In a modification (Figs. 4 to 7, not shown), the movable valve member of valve 30 includes a T-shaped passage and is associated with a drain pipe. <IMAGE>

Description

RADIATOR ASSEMBLY This invention concerns a radiator assembly especially for a water filled radiator forming part of a heating system.

It is known to provide valves in heating systems adjacent to radiators so that a radiator can be removed without requiring the draining of water from the entire heating system. To accomplish this such valves are commonly disposed in the water inlet and outlet pipes in close proximity to a radiator. If it is desired to remove the radiator from the heating system for maintenance purposes or redecoration, for example, the valves in the water inlet and outlet pipes are closed thus isolating the radiator from the rest of the heating system. The problem still arises in that the radiator itself still contains water and if it is desired to detach the radiator from the system the water still present within the radiator will have to be drained which can prove to be a difficult and messy operation.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a radiator assembly which will permit the easy removal of a radiator from a water heating system without requiring the draining of either the system or the radiator.

With this object in view the present invention provides a radiator assembly for connection to a water heating system having at least a water inflow pipe and a water outflow pipe connected to a hot water supply, the assembly including a radiator, having a water inlet and a water outlet, and two pairs of valves, each pair of said isolation valves being joined together via a separable connector, one pair of said isolation valves being disposed so as to connect the water inlet with the water outflow pipe and the other pair being disposed so as to connect the water outlet with the water inflow pipe.

It will be appreciated that operation of both pairs of isolation valves will close off the inflow and the outflow pipes and the water inlet and outlet on the radiator thus permitting the removal of the radiator from the system by disconnection of the separable connectors.

Preferably each pair of valves will have a screw thread on one end, said screw thread mating with a thread provided respectively on the water inlet and the water outlet of the radiator thus allowing such valves to be fitted to existing radiators.

Advantageously one of each pair of valves are permanently fixed to the radiator by brazing or welding prior to installation as part of a heating system.

Preferably each of the isolation valves connected to the water inlet and outlet of the radiator has a valve body mounting a rotatable valve member disposed at 900 to the direction of water flow along the inlet or outlet said valve member having a passage aligned with the inlet or outlet to permit water to pass therethrough and disposed such that rotation of the valve member through approximately 900 will move the passage in the member out of alignment with the inlet or outlet and hence the member will obstruct the water flow and isolating the radiator.

Advantageously the valve member has a recessed head accessible from the exterior of the valve body thus requiring a screwdriver or similar shaped tool for rotation.

Preferably the passage in the valve member is T-shaped and a drain tube is provided connected to the valve body and disposed such that, depending on the orientation of the T-shaped passage, it may communicate with the passage and the inlet or the outflow pipe, or the outlet and the inflow pipe respectively.

Advantageously the drain tube is provided with a separable closure or sealing device for example, a screw cap or other stopper.

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a radiator assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation to a larger scale of a preferred embodiment of one pair of valves illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valves illustrated in Fig. 2; and Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are side elevations of a second preferred embodiment of one pair of valves according to the invention.

A preferred embodiment of a radiator assembly according to the invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 and is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10.

The radiator assembly 10 includes a conventionally constructed radiator 12 having substantially on its lower edge 14, at opposed corners a water inlet 16 and a water outlet 18. The water inlet 16 and the outlet 18 are both formed of short lengths of pipe projecting from the radiator 12. The inlet 16 and outlet 18 are each connected to respective pairs of valves 20, 22 which connect the inlet 16 and the outlet 18 respectively to a water outflow pipe 24 and a water inflow pipe 26. The inflow 26 and outflow pipes 24 serve to circulate water from a hot water supply (not shown) to the radiator 12 and then back to the supply for re-heating.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate one pair of valves 20 to an enlarged scale, the other pair. of valves 22 corresponds exactly except as regards its connections which are to the outlet 18 and the inflow pipe 26 respectively. A single pair of valves 20 comprises a control valve 30 of conventional design as would normally be provided on a radiator. The control valve is operated by rotation of a head piece 32 which opens or closes, depending on the direction of rotation, a constriction (not shown) in the valve's body 34. When the constriction is open water is permitted to flow from the outflow pipe 24 into the radiator 12. Closure of the constriction in both control valves 30 will isolate the radiator 12 from the water supply. However, the radiator 12 will still be full of water and would normally have to be drained prior to removal from the system for repair or redecoration etc.

In order to facilitate the removal of the radiator 12 a second isolation valve 36 is provided connected between the control valve 30 and the inlet 16. The connection between the two valves 30, 36 is preferably effected by a separable connector or union 38, for example, a nut and screw thread as illustrated. The isolation valve 36 has a valve body 40 carrying a substantially cylindrical or ball shaped valve member 42 having a passage 44 therethrough. The passage 44 connects the inlet 16 to the control valve 30 and is normally aligned so as to permit water to flow through. A recessed head 46 is connected to the valve member 42 such that the member may be rotated. The recess may be a screw head type slot or a square or hexagonal recess.

In use the radiator assembly described would be connected to a heating system (not shown) including a water reservoir having a water heater powered by, for example, gas, oil, sun, electricity or coal. The hot water from the reservoir is circulated along a series of pipes by a pump or gravity operation, the pipes being connected at one or more positions to radiators. The water from the radiators is eventually returned to the reservoir for re-heating. Control of the flow of water through an individual radiator is effected by its control valve which as explained previously also serves to isolate the radiator from the system if desired. With a radiator assembly 10 as provded by the present invention if it is desired to remove the radiator 12 completely the isolation valves 36 may be used.By 0 rotating the valve member 42 through 90 the passage 44 is no longer aligned with the direction of water flow and the valve member effectively closes the valve 36. The separable connector 38 is then released and the control valve 30 and the isolation valve 36 separated allowing the radiator 12, with the water held securely inside, to be removed. The only water lost is that present in the connection between the control valve 30 and the isolation valve 36.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7 wherein the passage 44 in the valve member 42 is T-shaped and a drain tube 48 having a screw cap closure or sealing element 50 is provided attached to the isolation valve body 40. In this configuration it is possible to align the valve member 42 as illustrated in Fig. 4 where water is allowed to flow in to (or out of) the radiator 12 bypassing the drain tube 48. In Fig. 5 the passage 44 is aligned so that the control valve 30, the inlet 16 and the drain tube 48 are interconnected so that water may be drawn off through the drain tube 48 whilst the radiator 12 is in use if desired. Fig.6 shows how the passage 44 is aligned when the radiator 12 is isolated.In this arrangement the water contained in the connection between the control valve 30 and the valve member 42 may be drawn off by the drain tube 48 when its cap 50 is removed. In this way no water can be spilt when the radiator 12 is detached. Fig. 7 illustrates how the radiator 12 can be drained even whilst it is still connected to the heating system by alignment of the passage 44 and use of the drain tube 48.

It will be understood therefore that the present invention provides a radiator which can be easily removed from the heating system with only a small loss of water. For this reason it will be apparent that the radiator may be removed for a number of minor reasons which would not pzeviously have been with the trouble of draining and refilling the radiator, for example, for redecoration or repainting of the radiator or the space behind it, for the retrieval of any item lodged behind the radiator or for the quick and easy isolation of all radiators in the event of a burst or leak in the heating system.

Variations are also possible. For example the eonfiguration and construction of the valves may be other than that previously described. For example a butterfly or disc type valve could be used as an isolation valve. Furthermore it is possible to situate the isolation valves in the heating system before the existing valves so that the existing valves act to isolate the radiator from the heating system. Other variations may also be possible.

Claims

1. A radiator assembly for connection to a water heating system having at least a water inflow pipe and a water outflow pipe connected to a hot water supply, the assembly including a radiator, having a water inlet and a water outlet, and two pairs of valves each pair of said valves being joined together via a separable connector, one pair of said valves being disposed so as to connect the water inlet with the water outflow pipe and the other pair being disposed so as to connect the water outlet with the water inflow pipe.

2. A radiator assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each pair of valves has a screw thread on one end thereof, said screw thread mating with a thread provided respectively on the water inlet and the water outlet of the radiator.

3. A radiator assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of each pair of valves are permanently fixed to respectively the water inlet and water outlet of the radiator.

4. A radiator assembly as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein one of each pair of valves connected directly to the water inlet and outlet of the radiator has a valve body mounting a rotatable valve member disposed at 900 to the direction of water flow along the inlet or outlet, and disposed such that rotation of the valve member through approximately 900 will cause the member to obstruct the flow of water.

5. A radiator assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the valve member has a passage which is disposed such that it can be aligned with the inlet or outlet to permit water to pass therethrough, and so that rotation of the valve member will move the passage out of alignment with the inlet or outlet respectively.

6. A radiator assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the passage in the valve member is T-shaped and a drain tube is provided connected to the valve body and disposed such that, depending on the orientation of the T-shaped passage, it may communicate with the passage and the inlet or the outflow pipe, or the outlet and the inflow pipe respectively.

7. A radiator assembly as claimed in claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein the valve member has a recessed head accessible from the exterior of the valve body.

8. A radiator assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the drain tube is provided with a separable closure or sealing device.

9. A radiator assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.