GB2379007A

GB2379007A - Connection fitting for a radiator

Info

Publication number: GB2379007A
Application number: GB0214242A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Niels Bjerggaard
Original assignee: Danfoss AS
Current assignee: Danfoss AS
Priority date: 2001-06-22
Filing date: 2002-06-20
Publication date: 2003-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2022-06-20
Also published as: SE0201795D0; DE10130264A1; ATA8062002A; SE522347C2; FR2826435B1; AT412906B; ITTO20020532A1; FR2826435A1; DE10130264B4; GB0214242D0; GB2379007B; SE0201795L; ITTO20020532A0; CN1190630C; CN1393663A

Abstract

A connection fitting 1 for a radiator which disposes of a nut fastener so that the fitting may be connected without damaging the paint on the radiator or housing of the fitting comprises a housing 2 connectable to a radiator, at least one supply or return opening 4 connectable to a pipe, a fixing opening 5 through which a fixing element passes through a channel 8 to engage centrally with an internal thread 13 of a fixing insert 10, and the fixing insert 10 having an external thread 11 for screwing into the radiator. Internal thread 13 is arranged on supports 14 and fluid passes through free spaces 15 between the supports 14 and around the fixing element 6 via a gap 9. Fixing insert 10 also has a flange 12 which limits the depth it is screwed into the radiator. Internal thread 13 may not be arranged centrally and fixing head 7 may be countersunk completely in the housing 2. The fitting 1 may be used in combination with a valve, a thermostatic valve (19, fig 2a), or where there are two supply openings or two radiator openings (3, fig 3).

Description

Radiator connection fitting This invention concerns a radiator connection

fitting 5 comprising a housing, at least one radiator opening, to which a radiator can be connected, and at least one supply or return opening, to which a supply or return pipe can be connected. Such a radiator connection fitting is known from 10 DE 298 12 233 U1.

Such connection fittings for radiators are mainly used in connection with radiators arranged hanging on a wall. In many cases, such radiators are no longer directly connected with the supply and return pipes, that 15 is, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe for a heat transfer medium. On the contrary, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are connected with a connection fitting. A radiator valve, for example a thermostatically controlled radiator valve, can also be arranged in such a connection fitting.

20 In the known case, connection of the radiator with the connection fitting is achieved by means of union nuts, which are screwed onto external threads provided on connection pieces on the radiator. This construction has several disadvantages. Firstly, the installer has to 25 apply and remove a tool, for example a spanner, several times in order to be able to tighten the nuts. Secondly, there is a risk that the spanner will damage the paint on the radiator, the housing or the nut. If an unpainted nut is used, the colour of its material may detract from 30 appearances.

The invention is based on the problem of simplifying the mounting and demounting of the radiator.

- 2 - The present invention provides a radiator connection fitting comprising a housing, at least one radiator opening to which a radiator can be connected, and at least one supply or return opening, to which a supply or return 5 pipe can be connected, wherein a fixing opening is arranged opposite the at least one radiator opening, through which fixing opening a fixing element passes, in use, and engages with a fixing insert securable in the radiator. 10 With a radiator connection fitting as mentioned in the introduction, the above-mentioned problem is solved in

that the fixing opening is arranged opposite to the at least one radiator opening, through which flexing opening the fixing element passes and engages with the fixing 15 insert securable in the radiator.

With this construction, several advantages are achieved. Firstly, all parts used to fix the fitting on the radiator are concealed. The fixing insert is located inside the radiator, or, if appropriate, in its connection 20 piece. The fixing element is concealed by the housing of the fitting. Thus, the design of the fixing elements is no longer limited by visual criteria. Furthermore, it is no longer a prerequisite that the connection fitting is fixed directly on the radiator, which would cause certain 25 constraints in the designing of the fixing geometry. The fact that a fixing insert is arranged in the radiator and the fixing element is connected with the fixing insert enables both connections to be optimized for their respective application purposes. In many cases, this 30 permits the selection of an advantageous solution, with regard to both design and economy. The fixing insert can be removably fixed in the radiator, but this is not essential. It is alternatively possible to fix the fixing 451 15:22 19/06/02

- 3 - insert in the radiator by means of welding, or to cast it or otherwise mould it on the radiator.

Preferably, the fixing insert has an outer fixing geometry, which can be brought into engagement with the 5 radiator, and an inner fixing geometry which engages with the fixing element, at least one fluid passage being arranged between the outer and the inner fixing geometries. Thus, the two fixing geometries, that is, the shapes or designs with which the fixing insert engages 10 with the radiator on one hand and with the fixing element on the other hand, are separated. As this would usually result in a bulky part impeding or blocking the fluid passage for the heat transfer fluid, a fluid passage is provided between the two fixing geometries. This passage 15 can have various configurations. In the simplest case, it consists of one or more bores.

Preferably, the fixing element is arranged centrally in the fixing insert. This gives the advantage that fixing of the fitting housing on the radiator or on the 20 fixing insert, respectively, can take place with a certain symmetry. This symmetry makes it easier to achieve a sealed connection around the whole circumference.

Mounting also becomes simpler, as it can be carried out independently of the position of the fixing insert in the 25 radiator.

Preferably, an annular gap is arranged between the fixing element and the wall of a channel opening towards the radiator opening. Although the fixing element is guided through the channel that leads to the radiator 30 opening, it does not block this channel across its entire cross- section but leaves open an annular gap through which the heat transfer fluid can flow practically unimpeded.

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- 4 - Preferably, the fixing element is in the form of a screw bolt. A screw bolt is a particularly simple and tried-and-tested part for producing a connection. In the fixing insert, an inner thread must then be provided 5 accordingly. Fixing of the fitting on the radiator is then effected simply by turning the screw bolt. As the screw bolt is accessible from a free side of the fitting, it is not necessary for the fitter to apply and remove a tool several times. He/she may possibly even be able to 10 use a motor-driven screwing tool.

It is particularly preferred that the fixing element has a fixing head that can be countersunk in the housing by more than 50 percent. In many cases, the fixing head will even be fully countersunk in the housing, so that it 15 cannot be seen from the outside. The choice of visually attractive design elements is therefore substantially wider. Preferably, the fixing insert can be screwed into the radiator. Here, the same conditions apply as for fixing 20 of the fixing element in the fixing insert. The production of an external thread on the fixing insert and an internal thread on the radiator is relatively simple.

A screwed connection is a very firm form of connection.

Preferably, the fixing insert has entry limitation 25 means. On a screw thread, such an entry limitation means can be formed, for example, by a circumferential flange which prevents further screwing in of the fixing insert when the flange bears against the end of the bore in the radiator into which the fixing insert is being screwed.

30 This gives a defined positioning for the fixing insert.

Preferably, the entry limitation means is covered by the housing. Thus, when the connection fitting is 451 15:22 19/06/02

mounted, only the housing is visible. All parts used for fixing the fitting on the radiator are concealed.

Preferably, the fixing insert has supports projecting radially inward, on the radial inside of which the inner 5 fixing geometry is arranged. Thus, a very large share of the cross-section of the fixing insert is free for the flow of heat transfer fluid.

Radiation connection fittings constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by 10 way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a radiator connection fitting; Fig. 2 is a second embodiment of a connection fitting; and Fig. 3 is a third embodiment of a connection 20 fitting.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a connection fitting 1 for a radiator, not shown, has a housing 2, in which a radiator opening 3 and a supply or return opening 25 4 are arranged. The radiator, which is not shown in detail, is connectible to the radiator opening. A supply or return pipe, for example a pipe for the supply or return of a heat transfer medium such as hot water, can be connected with the supply or return opening 4 30 In the following description, it is to be noted that,

for reasons of clarity, no attempt is made to show seals in the drawings, whereas, in most cases, seals will 451 15:22 19/06/02

- 6 actually be provided to seal the contact faces between adjacent parts.

Opposite to the radiator opening 3 is arranged a fixing opening 5, through which a fixing element in the 5 form of a screw bolt 6 is guided. For reasons of clarity, the thread of the screw bolt 6 is not shown in detail.

The screw bolt 6 has a fixing head 7. In a manner known per se, a torque application surface, for example a hexagon socket, is provided on the fixing head 7.

10 The screw bolt 6 passes through a channel 8, which leads to the radiator opening 3. Even though the channel, as shown in Fig. 1, is stepped, between the screw bolt 6 and the housing 2 there is always an annular gap 9, through which the heat transfer fluid can flow.

15 A fixing insert 10 has an outer thread 11, with which it can be fixed in the radiator, which is not illustrated.

The fixing insert 10 merely needs to be screwed into the radiator. However, the fixing insert 10 can also be connected with the radiator in other ways. The outer 20 thread 11 forms an outer fixing geometry. On the end facing the housing 2, the fixing insert has a circumferential flange 12, which serves as a limitation to the screwing in of the fixing insert. The fixing insert 10 can be screwed into the radiator just until the flange 25 12 bears on the radiator.

The fixing insert 10 also has an inner thread 13, into which the screw bolt 6 is screwed. The inner thread 13 forms an inner fixing geometry. It can be seen that the inner thread 13 is arranged on supports 14, which 30 project radially inwards in the fixing insert 10. Between the supports, free spaces 15 remain, through which the heat transfer fluid can flow from the radiator opening 3 into the radiator. Of course, it is also possible to make 451 15:22 19/06/02

- 7 - the inner thread 13 circumferential with no gaps and to provide free spaces that make openings in the outer thread 11, or merely to make bores in the fixing insert.

The fact that the inner thread 13 is limited to the 5 radially inner front sides of the supports 14, reduces the area of engagement between the screw bolt 6 and the fixing insert 10, but the engagement occurring will be sufficient to fix the screw bolt 6 and thus the housing 2 reliably on the radiator.

10 Preferably, the inner thread 13 is arranged centrally on the fixing insert 10, so that the rotated position of the fixing insert 10 in the radiator is not important for screwing in the screw bolt 6. In isolated cases, however, it may be desirable not to arrange the inner thread 13 15 centrally.

The housing 2 has a recess 16, which is arranged in the area of the fixing opening 5. The recess 16 has a diameter of sufficient size to receive the fixing head 7.

The depth of the recess 16 is also sufficient to receive 20 at least half of the fixing head. In many cases, however, it will be advantageous if the fixing head 7 can be countersunk completely in the housing 2.

In a similar way, a circumferential wall 17 is provided at the opposite end of the housing, said wall 25 surrounding a receiving space 18 for the flange 12. When the housing 2 is fitted on the radiator and held fixed there by means of the screw bolt 6, the flange 12 is covered completely by the housing 2, or rather by the wall 17. 30 Fig. 2 shows a modified embodiment, in which additionally a valve 19 is arranged in the housing 2.

This valve 19 is in the form of a thermostatic valve. It has a valve element 20, which can be brought to bear on a 451 15:22 19/06/02

- 8 valve seat 21, when the valve is to be closed. Otherwise, the parts the same as those in Fig. 1 have the same reference numbers. It can be seen that the fixing head 7 and the flange 12 are completely covered by the housing 2.

5 Fig. 2b shows the embodiment of Fig. 2a from the outside. It can be seen that basically no fixing elements are visible from the outside. When the fitting 1 is mounted on the radiator, the outer thread 11 of the fixing insert 10 has disappeared in the radiator.

10 Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment, in which the same parts have the same reference numbers. The fitting has two supply openings, of which only the openings 22 and the connection flanges 23 can be seen, the latter being arranged behind the housing 2. Accordingly, also two 15 radiator openings 3 are provided, a screw bolt 6 being led through each radiator opening 3 and screwed into a fixing insert 10. In the present case, the fixing insert 10 has several axially extending bores 24, which serve as fluid paths for the heat transfer medium, so that the inner 20 thread 13 is has a continuous circumferential wall.

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Claims

C L A I M S:

1. A radiator connection fitting comprising a housing, at least one radiator opening to which a radiator 5 can be connected, and at least one supply or return opening, to which a supply or return pipe can be connected, wherein a fixing opening is arranged opposite the at least one radiator opening, through which fixing opening a fixing element passes, in use, and engages with 10 a fixing insert securable in the radiator.

2. A fitting according to claim 1, wherein the fixing insert has an outer fixing geometry for engaging the radiator and an inner fixing geometry for engaging the fixing element, at least one fluid passage being provided 15 between the outer and the inner fixing geometries.

3. A fitting according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing element is arranged centrally in the fixing insert.

4. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an annular gap is provided between the fixing 20 element and the wall of a channel opening towards the radiator opening.

5. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fixing element comprises a screw bolt.

6. A fitting according to claim 5, wherein the 25 fixing element has a fixing head, which can be countersunk in the housing by more than 50 percent.

7. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fixing insert can be screwed into the radiator. 30

8. A fitting according to one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the fixing insert includes entry limitation means to limit its entry into the radiator.

9. A fitting according to claim 8, wherein the entry 451 15:22 19/06/02

- 10 limitation means is covered over by the housing.

10. A fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the fixing insert has supports projecting radially inward, on the radial inside of which the inner fixing 5 geometry is provided.

11. A radiator connection fitting substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A radiator connection fitting substantially as 10 herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A radiator connection fitting substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

15

14. A radiator provided with a fitting as claimed in any preceding claim.

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