IES80717B2

IES80717B2 - Panel radiator with concealed valves and pipework

Info

Publication number: IES80717B2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Stephen Pius Sheenan
Original assignee: Runtalrad Ltd
Priority date: 1998-04-27
Filing date: 1998-04-27
Publication date: 1998-12-30
Also published as: IES980316A2; GB9909713D0; GB2336897A; GB2336897B

Abstract

A panel radiator (10) with concealed valves and pipework comprises a hollow panel (11), an inlet header (12) and an outlet header mounted on the hollow panel (11). The headers have sections (17) extending beyond a side of the hollow panel. An inlet valve (15) and an outlet valve are mounted on the extended sections of the inlet and outlet headers. A thermostatic valve head (20), which is separate from and connected by hydraulic means to the inlet valve (15) is provided. The radiator is connectable on-site to a circuit without any additional pipework to the rear of the hollow panel. The valves are concealed in use by a false floor 52.

Description

ffwrxi j* a«m «wu «ουι Panel radiator with concealed valves and pipework This invention relates to a panel radiator and, in particular, to a panel radiator with concealed valves and pipework.

Panel radiators of this type are commonly used in office blocks and are usually connected to the circuit piping which has been laid on a sub-floor before a false floor is fitted over the piping and other services. Alternatively the circuit piping would be hidden above a false ceiling.

A panel radiator is known having the inlet valve and the outlet valve mounted near the top of the panel but out of sight to the rear thereof. When installing this radiator, supports are first of all fixed to the sub-floor and the radiator is then mounted thereon. Connecting pipes are then fitted between the circuit piping and the inlet and outlet valves to the rear of the panel. Thus, when fitted the valves and pipework connecting the radiator to the circuit cannot be seen from the front of the radiator, which is desirable from an interior design standpoint.

However, radiators of this type are usually fitted close to a wall or full-height glazing. A problem arises with this arrangement in that it is difficult and therefore time consuming to connect the radiator valves at the rear of the radiator to the circuit with the radiator in place, due to the restricted space to the rear of the radiator. It will be appreciated that the extra time spent on each radiator, when multiplied by the number of radiators to be fitted in an average office block, results in a significant cost factor for the contractor.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problem with the known radiator as detailed above.

Thus, the invention provides a panel radiator with concealed valves and pipework comprising a hollow panel, an inlet header and an outlet header mounted on the hollow panel, the headers having sections extending beyond a side of the hollow panel, an inlet valve and an outlet valve mounted on the extended sections of the inlet and outlet headers respectively, and a thermostatic valve head, separate from and connected by hydraulic means to the inlet valve, such that the radiator is connectable on-site to a circuit without any additional pipework to the rear of the hollow panel.

The advantage provided by the radiator in accordance with the invention is that, as the inlet and outlet valves are mounted beyond a side of the hollow panel, they may be connected directly to the circuit piping without the need of additional piping to the rear of the radiator. This results in a significant saving in time when compared with the installation of the known radiator. There is also a saving on materials as no connecting pipes are required. This arrangement is made possible by the use of an inlet valve with a separate thermostatic valve head.

The circuit piping can be fitted in the void between a sub-floor and a false floor of a room or alternatively in the void between a ceiling on a false ceiling. The circuit pipes can also be fitted behind a false wall.

Preferably, the thermostatic valve head is mounted on the rear of the hollow panel and is connected by a hydraulic capillary to the inlet valve.

The mounting of the thermostatic valve head to the rear of the hollow panel makes it easier to conceal from view.

It will be appreciated that the radiator can have one or more hollow panels. Thus, where the radiator has two hollow panels the thermostatic valve head can be mounted there between.

Further preferably the panel radiator has a grille mounted on the hollow panel such that it conceals the thermostatic valve head from view, and an access gate mounted in the grille to allow access to the thermostatic control unit.

The addition of a grille to the hollow panel helps to further camouflage the control unit, and allows the control unit to be mounted such that it protrudes beyond a side of the panel, if necessary, for ease of use.

Preferably, the panel radiator has a temperature sensor mounted remotely from and connected to the thermostatic valve head.

The remotely mounted temperature sensor permits more accurate control of the temperature of the room to be heated by a radiator.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a panel radiator according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the panel radiator of Fig. 1, taken on the line II-II; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a further panel radiator according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the panel radiator of Fig. 3, taken on the line IV-IV; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the panel radiator of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is illustrated, generally at 10, a panel radiator having a hollow panel 11 with an inlet header 12 and an outlet header 13 mounted on the rear surface 14 of the hollow panel 11 and in communication therewith. An inlet valve 15 (Fig. 2) is mounted at the base 16 of a section 17 of inlet header 12.

An outlet valve (not shown) is mounted at the base 18 of a section 19 of outlet header 13.

A thermostatic valve head 20 is mounted on a flange 21 which is in turn welded to the rear surface 14 of hollow panel 11. The thermostatic valve head 20 is connected to the inlet valve 15 by a hydraulic capillary 22. A temperature sensor 23 is connected to the thermostatic valve head 20 by hydraulic capillary 24.

A suitable inlet valve with separate thermostatic control unit and temperature sensor is available from Herz Armaturen, Vienna.

A grille 25 is mounted on the hollow panel 11 at points 26, 27, by means of connecting elements 29, 30, 31, respectively. An access gate 32 in the grille 25 allows access to the thermostatic control unit 20 and is shown in the open position in Fig. 2.

A base grille 33 is mounted on brackets 34, 35, 36 which in turn are connected to the lower part of the rear surface 14 of hollow panel 11 at points 37, 38, 39, respectively.

A plinth 40 is also connected to brackets 34, 35, 36 at points 41, 42, 43, respectively.

The base grille 33 and plinth 40 effectively conceal the structural elements of the radiator 10 when viewed from the front.

Two support posts 44, 45 are fixed to the rear surface 14 of hollow panel 11 via standard bracket arrangements 46, 47 and 48, 49, respectively. The support posts 44, 45 have brackets 50, 51 at one end thereof, for fixing to the sub-floor of the building.

Thus, to install the radiator in a building the support posts 44, 45 are fixed to the sub-floor and the radiator 10 is attached to the support posts 44, 45, via the standard bracket arrangements 46, 47 and 48, 49, respectively. The thermostatic valve head 20 is mounted on the flange 21 and connected to the inlet valve 15. The radiator inlet valve 15 and outlet valve (not shown) are connected to the heating circuit pipes and a false floor 52 is then placed in position.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the space between the rear surface 14 of the hollow panel 11 and wall 53 of the building is quite restricted. However, the only operation required in this space is the fitting of the thermostatic valve head 20.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, a second embodiment of a radiator in accordance with the invention is illustrated generally at 100. The radiator 100 has two hollow panels, 101, 102 (Figs. 4 and 5) which are mounted on an inlet header 103 and an outlet header 104. An inlet valve 105 is connected to the inlet header 103 at point 106 and the outlet valve (not shown) is connected to the base of the outlet header 104 at point 107.

A thermostatic valve head 108 is mounted on a bridging piece 109 and is connected by a hydraulic capillary 110 to the inlet valve 105.

Brackets 111, 112, welded to the base of inlet header 103 and outlet header 104, respectively, are used for fixing the radiator to the sub-floor.

A grille 113 (Figs. 4 and 5) is mounted between the upper edges 114, 115 of hollow panels 101, 102, respectively. An access gate 116 (shown in the open position in Fig. 5) allows access to the thermostatic valve head 108.

In practice the radiator 100 is fixed to the sub-floor by brackets 111, 112. The heating circuit pipes are connected to the inlet valve 105 and the outlet valve (not shown) and the false floor is put in place.

In a known radiator it is necessary to fit connecting pipes from the heating circuit between the panels to the inlet and outlet valves positioned near the top of the radiator.

It will be appreciated that less time will be required to fit radiator 100 than the known radiator.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A panel radiator with concealed valves and pipework comprising a hollow panel, an inlet header and an outlet header mounted on the hollow panel, the headers having sections extending 5 beyond a side of the hollow panel, an inlet valve and an outlet valve mounted on the extended sections of the inlet and outlet headers respectively, and a thermostatic valve head, separate from and connected by hydraulic means to the inlet valve, such that the radiator is connectable on-site to a circuit without any additional pipework to 10 the rear of the hollow panel.

2. A panel radiator according to Claim 1, wherein the thermostatic valve head is mounted on the rear of the hollow panel and is connected by a hydraulic capillary to the inlet valve.

3. A panel radiator according to Claim 2, having a grille 15 mounted on the hollow panel such that it conceals the thermostatic valve head from view, and an access gate mounted in the grille to allow access to the thermostatic control unit.

4. A panel radiator according to any preceding claim, having a temperature sensor mounted remotely from and connected to the 20 thermostatic valve head.

5. A panel radiator substantially as hereinbefore described, ; < with particular reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1-2 and Figs. 3-5 S of the accompanying drawings.