GB2449898A

GB2449898A - Central heating radiator draining tool/device

Info

Publication number: GB2449898A
Application number: GB0710929A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Mark Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-07
Filing date: 2007-06-07
Publication date: 2008-12-10
Also published as: GB0710929D0

Abstract

A tool/device to assist in draining of a radiator 10 comprises a body 1, 2 located around and in a sealed engagement with a flow or return pipe (15, fig 4) that supplies fluid to the radiator 10, and a spout 3 used to communicate fluid drained from the radiator 10 to a container (13). The body may comprise of two halves 1, 2 clipped together with a flexible split grommet seal 4 or non setting material such as petroleum jelly or putty that sits and seals around the pipes (15). Spout 3 may have a drip prevention means to prevent fluid running back under the tool. The grommet seal 4 may have a bead of non setting putty (16, fig 5) on top of it to prevent fluid running down the pipes. Seals 4 having varying sized bores may be used to seal pipes of different diameters.

Description

Specification

Central Heating Radiator Drainage Tool/device (Radiator Mate) This invention relates to a tool/device that assists with the drainage of a filled radiator such as a central heating radiator.

When draining radiators it can be difficult to guide the fluid (normally water) away from the radiator into a container without experiencing some spillage, this is due to the nature of the layout of the supply pipe to the radiator and the control valve. There is often little or no room to allow a container to fit underneath the valve where it disconnects from the radiator and the fluid being drained will often run around the supply pipe and fittings down to the floor potentially damaging floor coverings or ceilings below.

To overcome this problem I have designed a tool/device that surrounds the flow or return supply pipe feeding the radiator forming a channel that collects and guides the fluid away from the radiator and allows the fluid to be safely deposited into a container for disposal.

An example of the invention is shown in the drawings Figures 1 -6, the shape and size could vary from that shown to allow for various manufacturing processes as could the final choice of materials, but in principal the tool/device will consist of a split body (1 & 2) and a flexible grommetlpacker (4). Figure 3 shows the positioning of the tool/device in relation to the radiator (10).

As shown in figures 1 and 2 the main body will be in two parts I & 2, 7 & 8 to allow it to be positioned around a feed pipe to the radiator 15 as shown in Figure 3, 4 & 5, the two halves will push or clip together as detailed in figure 6 and a seal will be formed between the two halves by either a flexible seal 17 being compressed when the two halves are clipped together or by a non setting flexible sealer such as petroleum jelly or a putty 20 being applied to a tolerance fit channel that could be cleaned after each use, seal or sealer to be positioned where A joins to A and B joins to B in figure 1. A flexible split grommet/packer (4) would be clipped around the feed pipe and pushed into the space between the two halves of the body, this would both tighten the junction between the two halves and support the tool during use (the grommet/packer could have different size central bores (5) to allow for different size radiator feed pipes). A bead of flexible non setting putty (16) would then be applied on top of the grommet/packer around the feed pipe to form a seal in order that any fluid running down the radiator valve and feed pipe would be guided into the channel as shown in figures 4 & 5.

There is a projecting spout (3) formed in or attached to the body of the tool allowing the fluid to be carried to and deposited into a container (13) as shown in figure 3. The spout would have a drip formed to stop the fluid running back under the tool. The shape of the body of the tool/device will allow it to project beyond the size of the radiator valve to ensure the fluid is collected. When the valve is disconnected from the radiator the fluid will drain into the body of the tool and away to the container positioned under the spout.

The tool/device will allow the clean and safe removal of the fluid from inside the radiator preventing damage to floor coverings and other parts of the fabric of the building. The tool/device would be best suited to be used in pairs (mirrored) in order that one could be fitted either end of the radiator on both of the normally fitted flow and return supply feeds.

Claims

Claims Central Heating Radiator Drainage Tool/device (Radiator Mate) A

tool/device to assist in the draining of a radiator (such as a central heating system radiator) by forming a channel around the flow or return pipe feeding the radiator and guiding the fluid to a container via a spout attached to or formed in the body of the channel sealed with flexible seals or non setting materials.
2 A tool/device according to claim 1, in which the channel is formed from two halves to allow it to surround the flow or return pipe to be surrounded and with a flexible grommetlpacker that sits around the pipe and is placed between the two halves of the channel to pack and support them during use.
3 A tool/device according to claim 1 that guides the water to a container by means of a spout that could be formed in or attached to the channel formed with a drip to allow the fluid to be carried away from the channel to a freestanding container.
4 A tool/device according to claim I that forms a seal between the two halves by means of a flexible seal when compressed when the two halves are clipped together or by means of a temporary seal by using a non setting disposable material in a tolerance fit channel when pushed together.
A tool/device that according to claim I forms a seal to the flow or return pipe using a non setting material around the flow or return pipe over the grommetlpacker to guide the water into the channel.
6 A tool/device that according to any of the preceding claims can Suit various sized flow or return pipes by having different grommetlpackers with varying sized bores appropriate to these pipes.