GB2269659A

GB2269659A - Adjustable radiator mounting assembly allowing movement for thermal expansion

Info

Publication number: GB2269659A
Application number: GB9316800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Karel Moses
Original assignee: CLYDE COMBUSTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: CLYDE COMBUSTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 1992-08-12
Filing date: 1993-08-12
Publication date: 1994-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2013-08-12
Also published as: GB9316800D0; GB9217077D0; GB2269659B

Abstract

A radiator mounting assembly comprises a body member 18, a screw 20 for fixing the body member 18 to a supporting wall, a support member 22 for engaging the body member 18 and a bracket 24 for fixing to a radiator and for engaging the free end of the support member 22. The support member 22 is mounted on the body member 18 to permit adjustment of the spacing between the supporting wall and the radiator. The engagement between the bracket 24 and the support member 22 permits a degree of relative movement between the radiator 12, 14 and the supporting wall 16 to accommodate thermal expansion of the radiator and assembling tolerances. Also disclosed is a support for mounting a radiator (figures 6 and 7) comprising a leg (62) having a radiator mounting location (66, 88) and a foot (64) for fixing to the floor. In use the locations (66, 88) may receive support members 22. <IMAGE>

Description

RADIATOR MOUNTING ASSEMBLY This invention relates to radiator mountings and supports particularly but not exclusively for use in the mounting and support of column radiators.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a radiator mounting assembly comprising a body member, means for fixing the body member to a supporting surface, a support member for engaging the body member and extending therefrom and a bracket for fixing to a radiator and for engaging the free end of the support member, wherein the support member is mounted on the body member to permit adjustment of the spacing between the supporting surface and the radiator and the engagement between the bracket and the support member permits a degree of relative movement between the radiator and the supporting surface to accommodate thermal expansion of the radiator and assembling tolerances.

In use, a plurality of assemblies will be provided for each radiator and the provision of the possibility of adjustment facilitates mounting of radiators on uneven walls.

Preferably also, the body member has a plantar base for abutting the supporting surface, and most preferably the body member has a relatively large area base to provide resistance to bending moments created by the weight of the radiator and to reduce compacting loads on the supporting surface. For use with relatively soft supporting surfaces, the mounting assembly may further comprise a relatively large diameter plate for location between the body member and the supporting surface.

The fixing means may be in the form of a screw which is screwed into a plug located in a hole drilled in the supporting surface. The fixing means may be separate from the body member or may be integral therewith.

Preferably, the support member is in the form of a screw and engages a corresponding threaded bore in the body member. Preferably also, the support member includes an annular slot for receiving a portion of the bracket, the slot permitting the relative movement between the radiator and the support surface.

Preferably, the bracket is in the form of a clamp for engaging a portion of a column radiator having a front and back arrays of columns. The clamp comprises a backplate for extending between and engaging rear surfaces of two columns in the back array and for engaging the support member, and a clamp head for extending between and engaging front surfaces of the columns. An adjustable member, preferably in the form of a screw, connects the backplate and head. Preferably, the backplate has angled side edge portions which may extend around or between the columns to allow the plate to be centred between the columns to provide a more secure mounting. The backplate may also have an angled upper or lower edge portion. This also assists in locating the backplate between the columns, and further serves to stiffen the backplate.

Preferably also, the clamp head has angled side edge portions to allow the head to be centred between or around the columns.

Preferably, the bracket is provided with catch means for engaging the support member on location of the bracket on the support member to prevent the radiator from being lifted from the support member. Most preferably, the catch means is manually releaseable to allow dismounting of the radiator from the support member.

The catch means is preferably mounted on the backplate and defines a recess or aperture extending downwardly from the backplate for location over the end of the support member. Preferably, the catch means is in the form of a plate. The plate may be mounted on the screw which connects the backplate and clamp head. The plate may be of a flexible material, such as a plastics material, and includes a spigot which retains the plate on the screw. This arrangement allows for deflection of the plate by the head of the support member as the bracket is positioned on the support member. Alternatively, a spring located over the screw may locate the plate against the backplate and provide resilience.

The catch means may also include means for preventing rotation of the securing nut for the screw which connects the backplate and the clamp head. This may take the form of a plug or tab, separate or integral with the plate, which extends through a corresponding aperture in the backplate.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a radiator support for mounting a radiator on a floor, the support comprising a leg having radiator mounting location and a floor engaging foot fixed to the lower end of the leg and including means for fixing the foot to the floor.

Preferably, the radiator mounting locations are adapted to receive the support member of the above-described first aspect of the invention.

The foot may be in the form of a plate with the leg fixed to a rear edge of the plate. Preferably the plate is triangular with a long rear edge to resist side forces.

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a radiator mounting assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the assembly of Figure 1 and also showing a portion of a radiator and a supporting wall; Figure 3a is a sectional plan view of the radiator mounting assembly of Figure 1; Figures 3b and 3c are sectional plan views of a clamp of the radiator mounting assembly of Figure 1 shown mounted on different forms of radiator; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a radiator mounting assembly in accordance with a further embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention;; Figure 5 is a sectional view of a body and support screw of a still further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a side view of a radiator support in accordance with another aspect of the present invention; and Figure 7 is a plan view of the support of Figure 5.

Reference is first made to Figures 1, 2 and 3a of the drawings which show a radiator mounting assembly 10, two rear columns 12, 14 of a radiator and a portion of a supporting wall 16. The assembly 10 includes a body 18, wall fixing screw 20 (or bolt 20a) and a radiator support screw 22 which are fixed to the wall 16 and a bracket or clamp 24 which is fixed to the columns of the radiator 12, 14.

The body 18 includes a cylindrical boss 18a and a larger diameter base 18b and is provided with a stepped central bore 26 which reduces in diameter towards the rear face 28 of the body 18. The wall fixing screw 20 is sized to be located in the rear of the bore 26 and to extend to engage a plug 30 positioned in a bore 32 which has been drilled in the wall 16. The larger diameter portion of the bore 26 is provided with an internal screw thread for engaging a corresponding thread provided on the screw 22.

An annular slot 34 is provided adjacent the free end of the screw 22 for engaging a portion of the clamp 24, as will be described.

The relatively broad base of the body 18b resists bending moments applied to the fixing screw 20 and also reduces compacting loads on the supporting surface by spreading the load over an area of the supporting wall 16. On relatively soft walls it may be desired to increase this area and this may be achieved by providing a larger diameter plate 35 to be positioned between the body 18 and the wall 16.

The clamp 24 includes a backplate 36, an edge of which is located in the slot 34. The plate 36 is sized to extend between the cclumns 12, 14 and has angled side edge portions 38, 40 and an angled upper edge portion 42 which serve to locate the plate 36 more securely on the columns 12, 14. The angled edge portions also provide additional ridgity for the plate 36.

The clamp 24 further includes a clamp head 44 which is located at the front of the columns 12, 14. The clamphead 44 has cut-away side edge portions for centring the head 44 between the columns 12, 14. In this particular example the clamp head 44 is formed of sheet steel folded to define a C-shape. Alternatively the clamp head may be -a casting or moulding of similar external shape.

The backplate 36 and clamp head 44 are held together by a screw 46 which engages a nut 48 provided on the rear face of the backplate 36.

To prevent the clamp 24, and thus the radiator, from being lifted from the supporting wall the assembly 10 further includes catch means in the forms of an anti-lift plate 52 which is mounted to the clamp 24 and engages the head of the radiator support screw 22. The anti-lift plate 52 is of a resilient material, conveniently of a plastics material, and is mounted on the backplate 36 and defines an aperture 54 for location over the end of the screw 22. The plate 52 defines a further aperture 56 to receive the screw 46, the plate being held against the backplate 36 by the engagement of a spigot 58 with the screw 46. A small peg 57 is located behind the plate 52 and extends into and through a corresponding aperture 59 in the backplate 36. The peg 57 serves to prevent.

rotation of the nut 48 when the screw 46 is being tightened.

When a radiator is being lowered into position on a wall 16, and the backplate 36 is about to engage the slot 34, the head of the screw 22 is contacted by the chamfered lower edge of the plate 52 which is then deflected, allowing the plate 52 to ride over the end of the screw 22 until the aperture 54 is located over the screw 22 and the plate 52 is snapped back into position. If any attempt is then made to lift the radiator, the plate 52 engages the screw. 22 and only a small degree of movement is possible.

It should be noted that some degree of movement between the clamp 24 and screw 22 must be permitted to accommodate thermal expansion of the radiator, and also to allow for assembling tolerances.

In a still further embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, an anti-lift the plate 52a is held in position by a spring 58a mounted over the clamp head 44. The orientation of the plate 52a is maintained by a tab 57a which extends from the upper end of the plate 52a into the aperture 59. The tab 57a further serves to prevent rotation of the nut 48.

The form of the backplate 36 and clamp head 44 are adapted to allow the clamp 24 to be mounted on a variety of different forms of column radiator. Figure 3a shows the clamp 24 mounted on a cylindrical column radiator, fabricated from tubes. Figure 3b of the drawings shows the clamp 24 mounted on a portion of a radiator fabricated from castings. For location on such radiators the backplate 36 is reversed and the location of the upper edge portion 42 and the side edge portions 38, 40 allow the backplate 36 to securely engage the radiator columns.

In Figure 3c of the drawings the clamp 24 is shown mounted on a further form of radiator fabricated from pressings.

The backplate 36 is arranged in the same manner as shown in Figure 3a. It will also be noted that the spacing between the backplate 36 and clamp head 44 varies with the application such that different lengths of screw 46 must be provided.

In use, a number of assemblies 10 will be provided for each radiator according to the weight and size of the radiator. In a majority of cases four assemblies will be used and, when provided with catch means, all of the assemblies are used to support the weight of the radiator. However, where no catch means are provided the two upper assemblies support the weight of the radiator with the clamp plate 36 engaging in the annular slot 34 to the upper side of the screw 22 and the two lower assemblies prevent the radiator from being lifted upwards with the clamp plate 36 engaging in the annular slot 34 to the underside of the screw 22.

With or without catch means, the assemblies 10 allow the radiator position to be varied in three directions: the clamp 24 may be positioned at any vertical position on the radiator; the radiator support screw 22 may be adjusted in the body 18 to vary the spacing between the radiator and the wall, this feature being particularly useful in ensuring correct fitting on uneven or "wavy" walls which are not flat and/or not truly vertical and/or not coplanar with the radiator; and the provision of the slot 34 allows for longitudinal expansion and contraction of the radiator as it is heated and cooled.

Reference is now also made to Figure 5 of the drawings, which illustrates an alternative form for the body 18a which, in this example, includes an integral fixing screw 20a. This allows an assembly to be supplied for fitting with fewer separate parts.

Reference is now made to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings which show a further radiator support 60 for use in mounting a radiator on a floor. The support 60 comprises an upright leg 62 of rectangular section hollow tubing and a floor engaging foot plate 64 which is welded to the lower end of the leg 62. The leg 62 includes two radiator mounting locations 66, 68, in this example each mounting location 66, 68 being provided with a screw thread formed in the side walls of the leg 62 for receiving a screw of the form of the radiator support screw 22 described above.

The foot plate 64 is triangular and the leg 62 is fixed to the centre of the rear edge portion of the plate such that the plate extends forwards and under the radiator on the support 60. The plate 64 includes through bores 70 for receiving screws for fixing the support 60 to the floor.

The radiator support 60 is suitable for applications in which an adjacent wall is not suitable for supporting a radiator or where the radiator is, for example, located in front of a ceiling-to-floor window.

It will be obvious to those of skill in the art that the above described embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention and that various modifications and improvements may be made to the illustrated examples without departing from the scope of the invention, for example: the above described embodiments feature mild steel components though many of the components could equally well be formed of other materials, such as glass filled plastic. Further, with reference in particular to the first two embodiments described, the separate wall fixing screw 20 and body 18 could be replaced by a single male member, and the screw 22 replaced by a female member. In such an arrangement the single member replacing the screw 20 and body 18 may be sufficiently rigid to resist any bending moments such that a large area wall engaging face, such as 28, is not required.

Claims

1. A radiator mounting assembly comprising a body member, means for fixing the body member to a supporting surface, a support member for engaging the body member and extending therefrom and a bracket for fixing to a radiator and for engaging the free end of the support member, wherein the support member is mounted on the body member to permit adjustment of the spacing between the supporting surface and the radiator and the engagement between the bracket and the support member permits a degree of relative movement between the radiator and the supporting surface to accommodate thermal expansion of the radiator and assembling tolerances.

2. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 1 wherein the body member has a planar base for abutting the supporting surface.

3. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the body member has a relatively large area base to provide resistance to bending moments created by the weight of the radiator and to reduce compacting loads on the supporting surface.

4. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a relatively large diameter plate for location between the body member and the supporting surface.

5. The radiator mounting assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixing means is in the form of a screw which is screwed into a plug located in a hole drilled in the supporting surface.

6. The radiator mounting assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the support member is in the form of a screw and engages a corresponding threaded bore in the body member.

7. The radiator mounting assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the support member includes an annular slot for receiving a portion of the bracket, the slot permitting the relative movement between the radiator and the support surface.

8. The radiator mounting assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracket is in the form of a clamp for engaging a portion of a column radiator having a front and back arrays of columns.

9. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 8 wherein the clamp comprises a backplate for extending between and engaging rear surfaces of two columns in the back array and for engaging the support member, a clamp head for extending between and engaging front surfaces of the columns, and an adjustable member for connecting the backplate and clamp head.

10. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 9 wherein the backplate has angled side edge portions which may extend around or between the columns to allow the plate to be centred between the columns to provide a more secure mounting.

11. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the backplate has an angled upper or lower edge portion.

12. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein the clamp head has angled side edge portions to allow the head'to be centred between or around the columns.

13. The radiator mounting assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracket is provided with catch means for engaging the support member on location of the bracket on the support member to prevent the radiator from being lifted from the support member.

14. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 13 wherein the catch means is manually releaseable to allow dismounting of the radiator from the support member.

15. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 13 or claim 14 when dependent on claim 9 wherein the catch means is mounted on the backplate and defines an aperture extending downwardly from the backplate for location over the end of the support member.

16. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 15 wherein the catch means is in the form of a plate.

17. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 16 wherein the plate is mounted on the screw which connects the backplate and the clamp head.

18. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 17 wherein the plate is of flexible material and includes a spigot which retains the plate on the screw.

19. The radiator mounting assembly of claim 17 wherein a spring is located over the screw and locates the plate against the backplate.

20. The radiator mounting assembly of any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein the catch means includes means for preventing rotation of the securing nut for the screw which connects the backplate and the clamp head.

21. A radiator support for mounting a radiator on a floor, the support comprising a leg having a radiator mounting location and a floor engaging foot fixed to the lower end of the leg and including means for fixing the foot to the floor.

22. The radiator support of claim 21 wherein the foot is in the form of a plate with the leg fixed to a rear edge of the plate.

23. The radiator support of claim 22 wherein the plate is triangular with a long rear edge to resist side forces.

24. The radiator support of claim 21, 22 or 23 further comprising a support member for engaging the radiator mounting location and extending from the leg and a bracket for fixing to a radiator and for engaging the free end of the support member, wherein the engagement between the bracket and the support member permits a degree of relative movement between the radiator and the leg to accommodate thermal expansion of the radiator and assembling tolerances.

25. A radiator mounting assembly substantially as described herein and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3a, 3b and 3c, or Figure 4, or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A radiator support substantially as described herein and as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.