GB2260398A

GB2260398A - An air venting device for a panel radiator

Info

Publication number: GB2260398A
Application number: GB9221055A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stack
Original assignee: VEHA RES DEV Ltd
Current assignee: VEHA RES DEV Ltd
Priority date: 1991-10-07
Filing date: 1992-10-07
Publication date: 1993-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-07
Also published as: GB9221055D0; GB2260398B

Abstract

An air venting device for a panel radiator comprises a bearing part 10 for mounting in a hole 11 in a radiator panel 6 and a screw 12 which is loosened to release air from the radiator, wherein the bearing part 10 has a conical portion 15 and a top collar portion 20 which engage with a seat-forming portion of the panel 6 adjacent the hole 11 to support part 10 during electrical resistance welding thereof to the panel 6. <IMAGE>

Description

"An air venting device for a radiator The invention relates improvements in and relating to radiators and in particular to an improved air venting device for a radiator.

Conventional air venting devices for radiators generally comprise a bearing part for mounting in a hole in a panel of the radiator and an air venting element which is movable relative to the mounting part to release air from the radiator, as required. The air venting device is mounted as close as possible to the highest point of the radiator in use.

Generally, such air venting devices are welded into position by providing a hole in the panel of the radiator, providing a support behind the hole and welding the venting device to the panel. This procedure, however, requires a number of operating steps and is generally time consuming and costly.

There is therefore a need for an improved air venting device which will overcome at least some of these difficulties.

According to the invention there is provided an air venting device for a radiator, the venting device comprising a bearing part for mounting in a hole in a panel of the radiator and an air venting element which is movable relative to the bearing part to release air from the radiator, characterised in that the bearing part has engagement means for engagement with a complementary hole in the panel of the radiator to support the venting device during welding of the bearing part to the panel.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the bearing part has a wedge surface portion for engagement with a complementary portion of a radiator.

In a particularly preferred arrangement the wedge surface portion is provided by a conical portion of the bearing part.

In one embodiment of the invention the bearing part includes a collar portion which engages with a seat-forming portion of the panel adjacent the mounting hole in the panel of the radiator. The seat may be raised from the surface of the panel or, most preferably, the seat may be recessed from the surface of the panel.

The invention also provides a radiator incorporating an air venting device of the invention.

The invention further provides a method for manufacturing a panel radiator including the steps of: providing a mounting hole and associated seat portion in a back panel portion of a radiator; inserting an air venting device having a collar portion into the mounting hole so that the collar portion is supported on the seat portion; and welding the venting device to the seat portion.

In one embodiment the seat is raised from the surface of the panel. Preferably the seat is recessed from the surface of the panel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the venting device is welded to the seat portion by electrical resistance welding.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a radiator incorporating an air venting device of the invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of the air venting device in use, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of another arrangement of air venting device, Fig. 4 is a view of a punched and die cut panel used in the method of the invention, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the panel after pressing.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, there is illustrated an air venting device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, for a radiator, in this case a panel radiator 2 having a convector fin arrangement 3 attached. The radiator 2 has water inlet and outlet connections 4, 5. The air venting device I and the inlet and outlet connections 4, 5 are provided on a back panel 6 of the radiator 2.

The air venting device 1 comprises a bearing part 10 for mounting in a hole 11 in the panel 6 and an air venting element provided by a screw 12 which in this cases has a square head for movement by a special tool to release air from the radiator on loosening of the screw 12. The bearing part 10 has engagement means, in this case provided by a conical portion 15, for engagement with a complementary portion of the panel 6 of the radiator to support the venting device 1 during welding of the bearing part 10 to the panel 6.

The bearing device 10 also includes a toke flange or collar portion 20 which engages with a seat-forming portion of the panel 6 adjacent the mounting hole 11 in the panel of the radiator. In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 the seat is provided by a recessed portion 21 of the panel 6 adjacent the mounting hole 11. This has the advantage of providing a flush mounted venting device.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3, the seat is provided by an outwardly raised portion 25 of the panel 6 adjacent the mounting hole 11.

In manufacturing a radiator 2, a mounting hole 11 and associated seat portion 21 or 25 is provided in the back panel 6 of the radiator. The venting device 1 is then dropped into position with the collar portion 20 supported on the seat 21 or 25 and the side wall of the hole 11 engaging with the conical portion 15 of the bearing part 10 of the venting device. The venting device is then welded into position by electrical resistant welding.

This process is considerably less time consuming and requires less operations than has been necessary to fit conventional venting devices. The weld formed is more reliable and may be accomplished with less pressure even though the venting device is not separately supported by a separate supporting element.

In more detail, the radiator 2 is typically formed by die cutting and punching a sheet of steel to form a panel 50 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The panel 50 comprises a pair of flat panel portions 51,52 having cut-away portions 53,54 which are shaped to form, on folding, a radiator panel with rounded corner portions. The panel 50 is passed to a pressing station where both panel portions 51, 52 are pressed to form channel formations 60, 61 as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The cut-out portions 53,54 are symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis 55 about which the panel portions 11,12 are folded. Preformed fins 3 are then attached to the panel 50, the side and longitudinal welds made and the inlet and outlet connections 4,5 are attached. The venting device 1 is then welded into position as described above, the seat portion 21,25 having typically been formed in the punching and die cutting step.

Many variations on the specific embodiments of the invention described will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. An air venting device for a radiator, the venting device comprising a bearing part for mounting in a hole in a panel of the radiator and an air venting element which is movable relative to the bearing part to release air from the radiator, characterised in that the bearing part has engagement means for engagement with a complementary hole in the panel of the radiator to support the venting device during welding of the bearing part to the panel.

2. An air venting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bearing part has a wedge surface portion for engagement with a complementary portion of a radiator panel.

3. An air venting device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the wedge surface portion is provided by a conical portion of the bearing part.

4. An air venting as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bearing part includes a collar portion which engages with a seat-forming portion of the panel adjacent the mounting hole in the panel of the radiator.

5. An air venting device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the seat is raised from the surface of the panel.

6. An air venting device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the seat is recessed from the surface of the panel.

7. An air venting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A radiator incorporating an air venting device as claimed in any preceding claim.

9. A method for manufacturing a panel radiator including the steps of: providing a mounting hole and associated seat portion in a back panel portion of a radiator; inserting an air venting device having a collar portion into the mounting hole so that the collar portion is supported on the seat portion; and welding the venting device to the seat portion.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the seat is raised from the surface of the panel.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the seat is recessed from the surface of the panel.

12. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11 wherein the venting device is welded to the seat portion by electrical resistance welding.

13. A method for manufacturing a panel radiator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A panel radiator wherever manufactured by a method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13.