ITBS20100092A1 - FORMATION AND ASSEMBLY SYSTEM OF FLUID CIRCULATION PLANTS FOR HEATING OR COOLING - Google Patents

Description

â € œSYSTEM FOR THE TRAINING AND ASSEMBLY OF PLANTS A

CIRCULATION OF FLUID FOR HEATING O

COOLINGâ €

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a modular panel in particular for the formation of radiant fluid circulation systems for both the cooling and heating of residential environments, offices, laboratories, public places and the like, as well as a system of components for the connection and the assembly on site of a plurality of modular panels to constitute radiant elements for walls, ceilings and floors.

State of the art

The same applicant has already proposed a modular panel made of metal, typically aluminum or its alloys, in the form of a profiled element to be used for the formation of thermo-radiant systems of the aforementioned type. Such a modular panel can be constituted by a body obtained by extrusion having: a substantially flat front surface defined in width by two opposite longitudinal sides; at least one longitudinal duct passing in an intermediate portion parallel to said two opposite sides and extending along the length of said body; and preferably a decreasing thickness towards the two opposite longitudinal sides starting from the intermediate portion bearing the longitudinal duct. The opposite longitudinal sides are substantially C-shaped, each delimiting a groove which extends along the entire length of the panel.

The panel thus configured can be cut into pieces of the desired length, each of which, then, connected in line, square, corner and / or even side by side, horizontally or vertically, with other panels allows the formation of sets thermo radians of various configurations for cooling or heating systems. They can be placed according to various patterns, on the floor, along walls or on the ceiling, around doors and windows, used as skirting boards, wall hangers, frames, etc., with the interposition, where required, of an insulating material between each panel and the surface on which it is to be placed. Their longitudinal ducts are also suitably connected for the circulation of a vector fluid, typically water, which will be cool in cooling systems or hot in heating systems.

However, the modular panel as previously proposed when installed must always be supported with its back on a horizontal or vertical surface so its support in use depends on this same surface and comes to have only a radiant surface so it radiates in one direction only.

Aims and summary of the Invention

A first purpose of the invention is to propose instead a profiled panel for the aforementioned use, which in addition to being modular is suitable for the composition of thermo radiant systems without having to place them against support surfaces such as walls, ceilings, floors. and similar.

This first object is achieved according to the invention with a panel for circulation systems for heating or cooling fluids consisting of a panel body with a length of your choice and essentially having:

- two radiating walls facing in opposite directions, substantially parallel, defined in width by two opposite longitudinal sides,

- at least one duct in an intermediate portion between said radiating walls, extending along the length of the body and intended for the circulation of a heat-carrying fluid, and where

- each radiant wall has a decreasing thickness towards the two opposite longitudinal sides starting from said intermediate portion crossed by said duct, and

- along each longitudinal side there are provided a channel and possible coupling means with a finishing profile.

Therefore and advantageously, the panel thus configured has, in comparison with the thermo-radiant panels of the known art:

- a double radiant surface in opposite directions, therefore a double heat exchange capacity towards the environment;

- increased lateral stiffness and on long stretches, thanks to the closed construction and the massive intermediate part at the level of the duct for the heat transfer fluid;

- great flexibility of use even without wall fixings, thus being able to be used to compose self-supporting heating or cooling systems in the form of internal partitions, screens, towel warmers on both sides, autonomous radiators that can be moved from one room to another other, as well as furnishing radiators and the like;

- a wide possibility of setting and integration with other systems to solve air conditioning problems that cannot be solved with traditional systems.

Another purpose of the invention is to propose an assembly system suitable for facilitating both the hydraulic and watertight connection and the mechanical connection of several fluid circulation panels for the formation of radiant systems of various configurations, both horizontally and in vertical.

This other purpose is achieved with an assembly system which essentially comprises a connection joint to be associated with the longitudinal duct of a radiant panel to connect an additional straight connection, to â € œLâ € or to â € œTâ €, as well as others fittings of various configurations to fix a pipe in the radial direction directly to the longitudinal duct of the radiant panel or to join several pipes together.

In particular, said connection joint is composed of a first element and a second solid, coaxial element, with at least one interposed flat gasket and a pair of tightening screws, said elements and the at least one flat gasket are crossed from a longitudinal seat intended to receive a stem of said connection,

the first element has, preferably, two threaded holes, parallel, on opposite sides of said longitudinal seat,

the second element and the at least one flat gasket have through holes coinciding with, but with a diameter greater than, said threaded holes of the first element, and

said tightening screws are housed in said through holes and screwed into the threaded holes of the first element to cause both mechanical and fluid-tight locking of the joint in the longitudinal duct of the panel and around the stem of the associated fitting through a compression of the At least one gasket between the two solid elements and its expansion, both towards the outside and towards the inside of these.

At least the first solid element of the connecting joint is at least partially configured to prevent its rotation when screwing the clamping screws into it. Preferably, between the two solid elements there are two flat gaskets, superimposed, and with a thickness chosen in such a way that the compression stress is limited and that even when they are compressed to lock the joint in place they remain in the elastic range.

Furthermore and preferably, compensation springs are associated with the tightening screws which are suitable to ensure the mechanical and sealing action even when the stress / expansion to which the joint is subject varies, depending on the temperature and pressure of the circulating fluid. .

It should be noted that where the use of an additional fitting is not required, the connection joint can have no longitudinal seat, therefore blind, and as such can be used as a plug, mounted in the same way for an end closure of the longitudinal duct of the relative panel. Moreover, in this case the locking of the joint in the duct of a panel can also be achieved with a single tightening screw operating in the center of the two solid elements and the gasket or gaskets between them, also in this case with the use of a respective compensation spring.

For its part, the additional fitting to be associated with the duct of a radiant panel has at least one branch to connect, both mechanically and fluid-tight, a plastic pipe to connect in series or in parallel ducts of several contiguous radiant panels in the ™ scope of the same radiant element. The or each branch of the additional fitting defines a conical seat intended to forcefully receive one end of said tube and inside said seat of the anti-slip ridges.

The plastic pipe will have an external diameter slightly greater than that of the tapered part of the conical seat so that when it is inserted the pipe is progressively tightened in said seat and the anti-slip ridges interfere with the external surface of the pipe to hold it axially , assisted in this action also by the pressure of the fluid when it is placed in circulation.

Other configurations of fittings are provided for different ways of connecting a pipe to the longitudinal duct of each modular panel and for connecting sections of pipes with both the same and different diameters.

Overall, the assembly of several panels is facilitated; the overall dimensions of the means of connection, joint and fittings, are minimized also in consideration of the reduced thickness of the radiant panels to which these means are associated, without however creating substantial reductions in the passage openings of the thermo-vector fluid, advantageously with couplings and easy and safe connections and without the need for hose clamps or other similar impractical means to be used in confined spaces.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will however be better illustrated in the rest of this description by referring to the attached indicative and non-limiting drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a configuration of a radiant panel according to the known art;

Fig. 2 shows a preferred configuration of a radiant panel according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows in longitudinal section two radiant panels complete with components for connecting pipes to them in different ways;

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of detail A circled in Fig. 3, showing the connection joint;

Fig. 4a shows a perspective view of the connection joint only without tightening screws;

Fig. 4b shows a T-fitting for pipes to be associated with the joint of Figs. 4 and 4a;

Fig. 4c shows an L-shaped fitting for pipes to be associated with the connection joint as shown in detail B circled in Fig.3.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of the detail C circled in Fig. 3, showing an end cap;

Fig. 5a shows a perspective view of the end cap only without tightening screw;

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged view of the detail D circled in Fig. 3, showing a first configuration of linear connection;

Fig. 6a shows, enlarged, a section of the linear connection only of Fig.6;

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged view of detail E circled in Fig. 3, showing another configuration of linear connection for pipes;

Fig. 7a shows, enlarged, a section of the linear connection only of Fig.7;

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged view of the detail F circled in Fig. 3, showing a configuration of a two-faced linear connection; Fig. 8a shows, in section, only the two-front connection of Fig. 8;

Fig. 9 shows, in section, a connection similar to that in Fig. 8, but at an angle;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the detail G circled in Fig. 3, showing another configuration of linear connection for pipes;

Fig. 11 shows a further configuration of a double-sided linear connection for pipes;

Figs. 12 and 12a show two examples of thermo radiant systems composed with the panels of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, therefore, a modular panel 10 is represented consisting of a profiled body 11, for example, in aluminum or its alloys, whose length can be chosen each time and whose width is predetermined, defined by two opposite longitudinal sides 12 preferably having a C-shaped profile to each define a groove 13 along the length.

In particular, the profiled body 11 has a substantially flat front surface 14 and has on its rear face at least one longitudinal duct 15 formed at the level of an intermediate portion 16 which extends along the axis of the body itself. In the transverse direction, the longitudinal duct 15 preferably has an elliptical section and the body 11 has a variable thickness in the sense that it decreases starting from the area contiguous to said duct towards the opposite sides 12.

Each of these sides 12, however, can be configured to mate with a contiguous side of another adjacent panel 10 and to be able to apply an additional profile 17.

Fig. 2 shows a modular panel 20 consisting of a profiled body 21 having a width defined by two opposite sides 22 each delimiting a longitudinal channel 23. However, according to the present invention, this panel 20 has not one but two walls radians 24 facing in opposite directions, substantially parallel. In an intermediate portion 26 between said radiating walls 24 there is at least one duct 25 extending along the length of the body and intended for the circulation of a heat-carrying fluid. Furthermore, each radiating wall 24 has a decreasing thickness towards the two opposite longitudinal sides starting from the intermediate portion 26 crossed by said duct.

In both one and the other embodiment, each modular panel 10, 20 can be cut into pieces according to need, and the pieces can be connected in line, i.e. butt, square, coplanar, corner or side by side to form thermo radiant systems S of the desired width in cooling or heating systems, to be placed on the ceiling, floor or along walls as shown in the example in Fig. 12 and, with use of panel 20, also of self-supporting radiant systems Sa as a screen, partition or other as shown in Fig. 12a. The longitudinal ducts of said panels will then be connected by means of pipes 27 to a distribution system of a heat-carrying fluid, more typically water, which will be cool in cooling systems or hot in heating systems.

By way of example, Fig. 3 shows two panels 20 side by side and some modalities for connecting the pipes 27 for the circulation of the heat-carrying fluid, both in axis and radially, to their ducts 25, and of the pipes to each other.

In particular, to connect at least one pipe 27 to one end of the duct 25 of each panel, the invention proposes a connection joint 30 - Figs. 4, 4a, composed of a first element 31 and a second element 32 solid, coaxial, by one or, preferably, several flat gaskets 33 arranged between the two solid elements 31, 32 and by a pair of tightening screws 34. The rigid elements 31, 32 and the gaskets 33 have an external shape corresponding to that of the duct 25 in which the joint is to be inserted and are crossed by a longitudinal seat 35 intended to receive a stem 41 of a fitting 40, which will be described below. .

Furthermore, the first element 31 has, preferably, two parallel threaded holes 36, blind, on opposite sides of said longitudinal seat 35, while the second element 32 and the gaskets 33 have through holes 37 coinciding with, but of greater diameter di, said threaded holes 36 of the first element. The tightening screws 34 are housed in said through holes 37 and, once the joint 30 has been inserted into the duct 25, they are screwed into the threaded holes 36 of the first element 31 to cause both mechanical and sealing locking of fluid, of the joint itself both in the longitudinal duct 25 and around the stem 41 of the joint 40 associated therewith. This, thanks to the fact that the gaskets 33 are compressed between the two solid elements 31, 32 so that they expand both towards the outside against the surface of the duct and towards the inside against the stem 41 of the fitting 40 â € “Fig. 4.

At least the first solid element 31 of the connection joint 30, where the duct 25 should be circular, is at least partially configured to prevent its rotation when tightening screws 35 are screwed into it.

In addition, compensation springs 38 are arranged between the heads of the clamping screws 34 and the second solid element 32 which help to ensure the effectiveness of the mechanical and sealing action of the joint even in the presence of variable thrusts and expansions. to which it may be subject.

As for the fitting 40 to be associated with the connection joint 30, it can be T-shaped or L-shaped as shown in Figs. 4b and 4c, respectively.

When it is a T shape, the fitting 40 comprises, as already mentioned above, a stem 41 with two branches 42 facing in opposite directions; when it is L-shaped, the fitting has a stem 41 with a single lateral branch 43. In both solutions, the stem 41 must be housed and tightened by the gaskets 33 in the longitudinal seat 35 of the connection joint 30, while each of the branches 42 or 43 delimits a conical seat 44 intended to forcefully receive an end of the tube 27 to be connected to it and inside said seat at least one sealing gasket 45 and anti-slip ridges 46.

As part of the whole system formed with the panels described above where it is required that one end of the longitudinal duct 15 or 25 of a modular panel 10 or 20 must be closed, it is possible to use the joint described above as a plug, however reconfigured so that two solid elements 31, 32 with the sealing gaskets 33 interposed can be connected by means of a single central assembly screw 35a engaged in a hole 34a preferably, here too, with the aid of a spring compensation 38a as shown in Figs. 3 (right), 5 and 5a.

For a connection of a tube 27 in a substantially radial direction to the longitudinal duct 15 or 25 of a modular panel 10 or 20, the invention proposes a first form of tubular fitting 50 and a second form of tubular fitting 60.

The first fitting 50, as shown in detail D circled in Fig. 3 as well as in Figs. 6 and 6a, has a part with an external thread 51 which is screwed radially to the duct 25 and has a conical seat 52 intended to receive by force one end of the relative tube 27 with the interposition of a sealing gasket 53 and to hold this end with the help of anti-loosening teeth 54.

The second fitting 60, as shown in detail E circled in Fig. 3 as well as in Figs. 7 and 7a, has, at its end, an external thread 61 which is screwed radially to the duct 25, and, at the opposite end, an ogive terminal 62; the end of the tube 27 to be connected to this fitting is then fitted onto the ogive terminal 62, being then tightly constrained by means of a locking ring 63 which is at least partially conical inside and / or equipped with interpenetrating anti-slip teeth 64 the outer surface of the tube itself.

An in-line connection of two pipe sections 27, 27â € ™ with the same diameter, can be carried out with a linear tubular fitting 70 having two ogive terminals 71 at its opposite ends, on which the ends of the respective pipe sections are fitted. to be connected, then binding them tightly to them by means of locking rings 72 each of which is at least partially conical inside and / or equipped with anti-slip teeth 73 penetrating the external surface of the tube itself, as shown in detail F in Fig. 3 as well as in Figs. 8 and 8a.

An in-line connection of two pipe sections can also be made with a linear fitting 80 as shown in Fig. 9, having two branches 81 facing in opposite directions with respect to an intermediate part 82 and where each of the branches 81 delimits a conical seat 83 designed to forcibly receive one end of a section of pipe to be connected to it and inside said seat at least one sealing gasket 84 and anti-slipping ridges 85.

Still not shown, two pipe sections with the same diameter can also be connected at an angle by means of an angular connection 90 as shown in Fig. 10, having, similarly to the linear connection 70, two acting terminals 91 at its opposite ends , on which the ends of the tubes to be connected are fitted and equipped with locking rings 92 to tightly constrain the sections of tube on said ogive terminals.

Finally, the invention proposes a tubular linear fitting 95 also for an in-line connection of two pipe sections 27, 27a of different diameters, where the internal diameter of one pipe is almost equal to the external diameter of the other. This fitting 95 has a shoulder 96 at one end thereof and an ogival portion 97 in an intermediate part thereof. Then, the portion of pipe with a smaller diameter 27a is fitted in one direction on the fitting 90, bypassing the ogival portion 97 until it rests on the shoulder of the extremity 91, the portion of pipe of greater diameter 27 is fitted in the opposite direction on the first portion of the tube 27a beyond the expansion of this in correspondence to the ogival portion 97 and the coupling is then stabilized by means of a locking ring 98 which inside is at least partially conical and / or equipped with anti-slip teeth engaged in the Together close to the ogival portion as shown in detail G in Fig.3 as well as in the enlargement in Fig. 11.

Both linear and angled fittings (or T-shaped where required) which have at least one ogive portion on which to insert the end of a tube and where this end of the tube is then engaged by a locking ring which is particularly advantageous as it is easily usable, compact and highly reliable in ensuring the connection.

Claims (14)

â € œSYSTEM FOR THE TRAINING AND ASSEMBLY OF PLANTS A CIRCULATION OF FLUID FOR HEATING O COOLINGâ € R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1. A thermo-radiant system for heating and cooling, comprising at least one modular panel (10, 20) to be connected in line, square, corner and / or to be placed side by side, horizontally or vertically, with other identical panels and means for a hydraulic connection of said panels to a system of pipes for the circulation of a heat carrier fluid, characterized in that said modular panel has at least one radiant face (14, 24) and a longitudinal duct (15, 25) for the transit of the heat transfer fluid, and that said connection means comprise a joint (30) which can be coupled with one end of the longitudinal duct of each modular panel and linear fittings, L or T, to connect a pipe to said joint, on one side of said longitudinal duct and / or with another tube. Plant according to claim 1, wherein the modular panel (20) comprises a profiled body having two radiating walls (24) substantially parallel facing opposite directions, at least one longitudinal duct (25) in an intermediate portion between said radiating walls, intended for the circulation of the heat transfer fluid, and two opposite longitudinal sides defining a channel and possible coupling means with those of other modular panels placed side by side or with an additional finishing profile, each radiant wall having a decreasing thickness towards the opposite sides starting from said intermediate portion. 3. Plant according to claim 1, wherein the modular panel (10) comprises a profiled body having a radiating front surface (14), at least one longitudinal duct (15) for the transit of the heat-carrying fluid on the rear of said radiating surface, and two opposite longitudinal sides (12) each defining a groove (13) and can be coupled with those of other modular panels placed side by side or with an additional finishing profile. 4. Plant according to claims 1 and 2 or 3, wherein said connection joint (30) comprises a first element (31) and a second element (32) solid, coaxial, one or more flat gaskets (33) arranged between the two solid elements (31, 32) and a pair of tightening screws (34) where: said rigid elements and the gaskets delimit an axial seat and have an external shape corresponding to that of the longitudinal duct of a modular panel (10, 20) ; the first element (31) has two threaded holes (36) on opposite sides of said longitudinal seat, while the second element (32) and the gaskets (33) have through holes (37) coinciding with said threaded holes (36) of the first element; the clamping screws (34) are housed in said through holes (37) and screwed into said threaded holes (36) of the first element (31) to cause both mechanical and fluid-tight locking of the joint in the longitudinal duct of the panel and around a stem (41) of the joint (40) associated with it, through an expansion of said gaskets (33) between the solid elements both towards the outside and towards the inside. Implant according to claim 4, wherein compensation springs (38) are arranged between the heads of the clamping screws (34) and the second solid element (32). 6. Plant according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the fitting (40) associated with said connection joint (30) is T-shaped and comprises a stem (41) with two branches (42) facing in opposite directions, where each branch has a conical seat (44) intended to receive by force one end of a tube (27) to be connected to it and inside said seat at least one sealing gasket (45) and anti-slip ridges (46) engaging around to the tube. 7. Plant according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the fitting (40) associated with said connection joint (30) is L-shaped and comprises a stem (41) with branch (43) having a conical seat (44) intended to forcibly receive one end of a tube (27) to be connected to it and inside said seat at least one sealing gasket (45) and anti-slip ridges (46)) engaging around the tube. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a fitting (50) for radially connecting a pipe to the longitudinal duct (15, 25) of a modular panel (10, 20) is tubular equipped with a part with an external thread (51) for its screwing to said longitudinal duct, a conical seat (52) to forcefully receive one end of the relative tube (27) with the interposition of a sealing gasket (53) and, at the inside of said seat, of the anti-slipping teeth (54) engaging around the tube. 9. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a fitting (60) for radially connecting a pipe to the longitudinal duct (15, 25) of a modular panel (10, 20) is tubular, and has an end with an external thread (61) for its screwing to said longitudinal duct and an opposite end with an ogive terminal (62) intended to receive the end of said tube, and is equipped with a locking ring (63 ) internally at least partially conical and / or equipped with anti-slip teeth (64) engaged with the external surface of the tube itself within said ogive terminal (62). 10. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a fitting (70) for an in-line connection of two pipe sections with the same diameter, comprises a tubular body having two ogival terminals (71) at its opposite ends intended to receive the ends of the respective pipe sections to be connected, and two locking rings (72) inside at least partially conical and / or equipped with anti-slip teeth (73) engaged with the external surface of the pipe each within a respective ogival terminal (71). 11. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a fitting (95) for an in-line connection of two pipe sections of different diameter has a shoulder (96) at one end thereof and an ogival portion (97) in one of its intermediate part, where the section of pipe with a smaller diameter is fitted in one direction on the fitting until it passes over the ogival portion (97) and rests on said end shoulder (91), and the section of pipe with greater diameter is opposite direction on the first section of the pipe until beyond its expansion in correspondence with the ogival portion (97) and where the coupling is stabilized by means of a locking ring (98) at least partially conical and / or internally equipped with anti-slip teeth engaging around the pipe sections close to said ogival portion. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a fitting (80) for an in-line connection of two pipe sections comprises a tubular body having two branches (81) facing in opposite directions with respect to an intermediate part (82) and in which each of the two branches (81) defines a conical seat (83) to forcefully receive one end of a section of pipe to be connected to it and has inside said seat at least one sealing gasket (84) and some anti-slip ridges (85) engaged around the tube. 13. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a fitting (90) for an angled connection of two pipes comprises an angular body with acting terminals (91) at its opposite ends, on which the ends of the pipes to be connect, and is equipped with locking rings (92) to tightly constrain the pipe sections on said ogive terminals. 14. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a plug composed of two solid elements (31, 32) with one or more sealing gaskets (33) between each other and by a central assembly screw (35a) axially engaged said two rigid elements to cause an expansion of the or of the interposed sealing gaskets both towards the outside with the concurrence of a compensation spring (38a) of the locking, placed between the screw and one of said rigid elements (32).