NZ561175A - Solar water heating assemblies that connect a plurality of heat absorbing pipes to a manifold - Google Patents

Abstract

A clamping structure for clamping an array of small bore tubing elements that are part of a solar water heating assembly is disclosed. The clamping structure is clamped over an array of nozzle spigots (20) that extend laterally from a manifold (11) section. The clamping structure includes a first and a second clamping member (13, 14) each defining a first clamping surface (27, 28) having a plurality of recessed regions (29, 30) formed therein. In use the recessed regions are arranged in complementary pairs. When the clamping surfaces (27, 28) are arranged facing one another they capture and retain a portion of separate small bore tubing elements between each of the pairs of complementary recessed regions (29, 30) and an outer surface of a the nozzle spigot (20). This retains the small bore tubing pressed onto the spigots (20) within the clamping structure and secures them to the manifold (11).

Description

04-Sep-2007 11:14 AH WATERMARK 61398196010 6/21 *10053880987* PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Patents Act 1953 561175 Priority Details: No. 2006904880 Date: 6 September 2006 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION SOLAR WATER I We, Icon Plastics, Pty Ltd, an Australian company of 19 Hallam Road South, Hallam, Victoria 3803, Australia hereby declare the invention, for which ws pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement 04-Sep-2007 11:14 AM WATERMARK 61398196010 7/21 1 SOLAR WATER HEATING ASSEMBLIES The present invention relates to improvements in solar water heating assemblies where water is circulated between inlet and outlet manifolds through small bore tubing conveniently made from black or darkly opaque plastic material 5 or rubber material, the assembly (in use), being subjected to solar energy to increase the temperature of the water circulated.

Assemblies of the aforementioned type are well known and are commonly used to heat the water in swimming pools or other bodies of water, or to increase the temperature of water flowing to water heaters to thereby restrict the energy 10 from alternative sources (typically electricity or fuel combustion) to heat the water to a desired temperature level. Such assemblies are typically mounted on an upwardly facing roof surface of a building or some similar location that freeiy receives solar energy during daylight hours. It is known in solar water heating assemblies to provide manifold pipes made up of pipe sections having a mate 15 end and a female end enabling the sections to be joined together to form a manifold of a desired length. Each manifold section includes at least one row of longitudinally spaced nozzle spigots integrally moulded with the manifold section, each such nozzle spigot having an internal flow bore leading to the interior of the manifold section and an outer surface formation configured to cooperate with and 20 seal with a small bore tubing element fitted thereover. Commonly a plurality of small bore tubing elements are provided in the form of a mat each connected by webbing. In the case of the small bore tubing elements being made from an elastic or rubberised material, they may in use be simply pushed over the nozzle spigots and their natural elasticity will normally hold and seal same on to the 25 nozzle spigots. When the small bore tubing elements are made from a less expensive and more durable plastics material such as PVG or similar, the tubing is again pushed onto the nozzle spigots but an individual clamping element (of a variety of configurations) is applied to the tubing element on each nozzle spigot. The multiple application of such clamping elements is time consuming and 30 therefore thus increases costs, in one configuration inlet and outlet manifolds are created from manifold sections and positioned spaced apart such that small bore tubing can run between manifold sections in the inlet and outlet manifolds, however this arrangement is not now so commonly used because of the number 04-Sep-2Q07 11:15 AM WATERMARK 61398196010 8/21 2 of individual clamping elements that need to be installed. A solution to this problem was to provide the inlet and outlet manifolds in use running adjacent one another such that a mat of small bore tubing elements would run continuously from one group of nozzle spigots in one manifold to a second group of nozzle 5 spigots in the other manifold with the small bore tubing elements being looped distant from the manifolds. Such arrangements effectively halve the number of individual clamps that need to be applied however the distant loops tend to be unsightly, have the effect of attracting and holding debris and may eventually adversely affect the efficiency of heating water flowing through the tubing 10 elements. The individual manifold sections in the aforementioned type of arrangements would normally have the nozzle spigots positioned along about half of their length.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a more effective and efficient manner of clamping the small bore tubing elements to respective nozzle 15 spigots in arrangements of the aforementioned type which will then permit greater use of a solar water heater assembly where the inlet and outlet manifolds are spaced from one another, Accordingly, the present invention provides a clamping structure for clamping small bore tubing elements over respective nozzle spigots in an array of 20 said nozzle spigots extending laterally from a manifold section, said clamping structure including a first and a second clamp member each defining a first clamping surface having a plurality of recessed regions formed therein whereby in use said recessed regions are arranged in complementary pairs when said first clamping surfaces are arranged facing one another to, in use, capture and retain 25 a portion of separate said small bore tubing elements respectively between each of at least two said pairs of complementary recessed regions and an outer surface of a sard nozzle spigot.

Conveniently, each of said first and said second clamping members has a first edge zone connected to or connected to said manifold section. Each of the 30 first and the second clamping members may include a hinge means connective to or removable from said manifold section, each of said hinge means permitting said first and said second clamping members to pivot towards or away from each other during installation. Each of the aforesaid hinge means might be formed by 04-Sep-2007 11:16 AM WATERMARK 61398196010 9/21 3 a plurality of spaced hinge tabs each adapted to fit, in use, in a hinge recess or aperture formed in or on said manifold section.

The above described clamping structure may further include connection means enabling said first and said second clamping members to be retained 5 connected to each other in a position of use. The connection means might include provision for the use of screw fastener elements at one or a plurality of locations to connect the first and the second clamp members together. Other connection means could also be used including integrally formed male projections in one or the clamp members that are capable of being pressed into female bores 10 on the other clamp member and be retained therein. Many other fixing clamps or connectors could also be used.

In one preferred arrangement each said nozzle spigot may have on its said outer surface at least one first region of enlarged diameter and a second region adjacent said first region but positioned closer to the manifold section that has a 15 relatively reduced diameter, each said recessed region having at least one inwardly projecting ledge having an inner surface with a radius of curvature less than that of said first region of the nozzle spigots, said inwardly projecting ledge being positioned to cooperate with a said second region of the nozzle spigots.

Advantageously, the first and the second clamp members are configured 20 to cooperate, in use, with all of the nozzle spigots laterally extending from a said manifold section. This minimises the work required to complete the assembly which is particularly useful if carried out on an elevated roof or similar surface.

The present invention also anticipates providing an assembly usable in a solar water heater application, the assembly including a first manifold section and 25 a second manifold section, each of said manifold sections having an array of nozzle spigots extending laterally therefrom, an array of small bore tubing elements cooperable with and extending between the nozzle spigots of said first manifold section and the nozzle spigots of said second manifold section, and a clamping structure as described above cooperating with at least the array of 30 nozzle spigots extending from one of said manifold sections. Conveniently a said clamping structure is used with both said first and said second manifold sections. As is known, the manifold sections in use may be positioned adjacent one another or spaced from one another, although the latter is preferred.

Conveniently, the array of small bore tubing elements includes at least one web interconnecting and spacing apart the tubing elements.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a manifold section is provided having an array of longitudinally spaced nozzle spigots extending 5 laterally therefrom, said manifold section having a formation with a plurality of hinge apertures or recesses associated with said nozzle spigots and longitudinally spaced along said manifold section, at least some of said hinge apertures or recesses each being adapted to cooperate with hinge tabs position on at least one clamp member to retain said clamp member to said manifold 10 section while permitting hinging movement thereof. Preferred features of this aspect may be as defined in claims 14, 15 and 16 annexed hereto, the subject matter of these claims being incorporated into the disclosure of this specification by this reference thereto.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereafter be 15 described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a manifold pipe section and a cooperating clamping structure according to one preferred embodiment of this invention in the process of assembly; Fig 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig 1 where the clamping structure 20 has been assembled with the manifold section; Fig 3 is a detail view of region A circled in Fig 1; and Fig 4 is a perspective view of the respective clamp members forming the clamping structure shown in earlier drawings.

Referring to Fig 1, a subassembly 10 is illustrated comprised of a manifold 25 pipe section 11 and a clamping structure 12 comprised of two cooperating clamp members 13, 14. The manifold pipe section 11 is essentially a pipe 15 with a female end 16 and a male end 17 such that any number of multiple sections can be assembled together to form a desired solar water heater of a desired size or capacity. As can also be seen, male locating projections 18 cooperate with 30 locating grooves or notches 19 on the female end 16 of an adjacent manifold section so that ultimately correct orientation of the manifold section 11 is achieved when assembled. The manifold section 11 further includes a plurality of nozzle spigots 20 each with an internal bore 21 that normally opens into the interior of 2 9 SEP 2008 RFn piwi-r. the pipe 15. In some circumstances one or more of the bores 21 of some nozzle spigots 20 may be blanked off at their inner ends for the installer to choose whether or not such nozzle spigots are to be used in the ultimate assembly installed. If such blanked off spigots 20 are to be used, then the installer would 5 be required to individually drill out the blanking off material. Figure 1 illustrates a manifold section 11 with twelve nozzle spigots 20 along its length in groups of four. The number of these nozzle spigots 20 is not critical to the present invention and as few as two up to twelve or more such nozzle spigots 20 could be provided depending on the size and capacity of the solar water heater to be 10 assembled. Also the spacing might be uniform but this is not essential and as with the prior art, blank sections of pipe 15 might also be provided. In some situations, a row of nozzle spigots 20 might be provided directed oppositely (from the other side of the pipe 15) to those illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The most common numbers of spigots 20 along one side of the pipe 15 may be 8, 15 10,12or14.

Each of the nozzle spigots 20 have an outer surface 23 with regions 24 of reduced diameter, regions 25 of relatively increased diameter and regions 26 tapering outwardly from the regions 25 to the regions 24. The regions 25 of relatively increased diameter preferably provide an interference fit with the 20 internal surfaces of the small bore tubing elements described hereafter with reference to Fig 3. Conveniently the pipe 15 and the nozzle spigots 20 (forming the manifold section 11) may be integrally moulded from a suitable plastic material.

Each of the clamp members 13, 14 may also be moulded from a suitable 25 plastics material each having first clamping surfaces 27, 28 with each of the surfaces 27, 28 having a plurality of recessed regions 29, 30 adapted, in use, to cooperate in pairs with a respective nozzle spigot 20. On one side face, a plurality of projecting hinge tabs 32 are provided. Each of the hinge tabs 32 fit into a respective aperture 34 opening in a circumferential direction in a flange 30 formation 35 integrally formed with and positioned along the pipe 15 through which the nozzle spigots 20 project. The flange formation 35 and the apertures 34 are configured to provide pivot bar elements 31 at the upper and lower ends of the apertures 34 co-operable respectively with the hinge tabs 32 on the clamp I INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.2. 2 9 SEP 2008 6 members 13, 14. The flange formation 35 comprises a flange wail 38 extending longitudinally of the pipe section 15 spaced from the wall of the pipe section 15 in which the apertures 34 are formed. The pivot bar elements 31 are portions of the flange wall 38 above and below the apertures 34. The flange wall 38 is 5 connected to the wall of the pipe section 15 by connecting flange elements 50 positioned at the longitudinal ends of the flange wall 38. As will be apparent, the hinge tabs 32 on one member 13 can fit into the same apertures 34 as the hinge tabs 32 on the other member 14. Alternatively a single bar element might be provided where the hinge tabs 32 from the members 13, 14 respectively are 10 staggered relative to each other but respectively, in use, engage with the single bar element. In either arrangement, both the clamp members 13 and 14 can be hingedly connected to or removed from the flange formation 35 forming part of the pipe 15 or manifold section 11. When both clamp members 13, 14 are hingedly connected to the flange formation 35, they may be pivoted relative to 15 one another to position the clamping surfaces 27, 28 adjacent one another if the web material in this area is removed or alternatively only separated by a web thickness of the material from which the small bore tubing elements are made. The small bore tubing elements might be constructed in any known configuration or material including where the tubing elements are in the form of a mat with 20 webbing sections between the tubing elements.

As can be seen in the drawings, the recessed regions 29, 30 in the clamping surfaces 27, 28 may include ridge structures 40, 41 that when installed press the material of the small bore tubing elements inwardly and behind at least one region 25 of increased diameter on the nozzle spigots 20 to both seal and 25 lock (or clamp) the material to the spigots 20. As can further be seen in the drawings, a series of apertures 39 are provided through the material of the clamp members 13, 14 to enable screw fasteners to be applied to draw and secure the members 13, 14 together. Other connection means as described earlier could also be used. It is believed that such connection means would not necessarily be 30 required between all nozzle spigots 20 and that perhaps three or four might be all that would be needed for the array illustrated. As shown in Fig 3, the screw fasteners may pass through the webbing sections of the mat or alternatively, as is known in the art the webbing material in this area might be removed. The 04-Sep-2007 11:18 AM WATERMARK 61398196010 13/21 7 clamping members 13, 14 might also include engageable temporary connection tabs 36 on the lower clamping member 13 capable of snap fitting onto ledge regions 37 on the ends of the upper clamp member 14 to enable quick connection of the clamp members 13,14 to each other while final assembly is completed by 5 application of the screw fasteners 44 through apertures 39. 8

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. A clamping structure for clamping small bore tubing elements over respective nozzle spigots in an array of said nozzle spigots extending laterally from a manifold section, said clamping structure including a first and a second clamping member each defining a first clamping surface having a plurality of recessed regions formed therein whereby in use said recessed regions are arranged in complementary pairs when said first clamping surfaces are arranged facing one another, in use, to capture and retain a portion of separate said small bore tubing elements respectively between each of at least two said pairs of complementary recessed regions and an outer surface of a said nozzle spigot.

2. A clamping structure according to claim 1 wherein each said first and said second clamping members has a first edge zone connected to or connectible to said manifold section.

3. A clamping structure according to claim 2 wherein each of said first and 15 said second clamping members includes a hinge means connectible to or removable from said manifold section, each of said hinge means permitting said first and said second clamping members to pivot towards or away from each other during installation.

4. A clamping structure according to claim 3 wherein each said hinge means 20 includes a plurality of spaced hinge tabs each adapted to fit, in use, in a hinge recess or aperture formed in or on said manifold section.

5. A clamping structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further including connection means enabling said first and said second clamping members to be retained connected to each other in a position of use. 25 6. A clamping structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein each said nozzle spigot has on its said outer surface at least one first region of enlarged diameter and a second region adjacent said first region but positioned closer to the manifold section that has a relatively reduced diameter, each said

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 3 OCT 2007

RECEIVED 5 10 9 recessed region having at least one inwardly projecting ledge having an inner surface with a radius of curvature less than that of said first region of the nozzle spigots, said inwardly projecting ledge being positioned to cooperate with a said second region of the nozzle spigots. 5 7. A clamping structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said first and said second clamping members are configured to cooperate, in use, with all of the nozzle spigots laterally extending from a said manifold section.

8. An assembly usable in a solar water heater application, the assembly including a first manifold section and a second manifold section, each of said 10 manifold sections having an array of nozzle spigots extending laterally therefrom, an array of small bore tubing elements cooperable with and extending between the nozzle spigots of said first manifold section and the nozzle spigots of said second manifold section, and a clamping structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7 cooperating with at least the array of nozzle spigots extending from one of 15 said manifold sections.

9. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein a said clamping structure is usable with both said first and second manifold sections.

10. An assembly according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein, in use, the first and the second manifold sections are positioned spaced from one another. 20

11. An assembly according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein, in use, the first and the second manifold sections are positioned adjacent one another.

12. An assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein the array of small bore tubing elements includes at least one web interconnecting and spacing apart the tubing elements. 25

13. A manifold section having an array of longitudinally spaced nozzle spigots extending laterally therefrom, said manifold section further including a clamping structure for clamping small bore tubing elements over respective individual said 10 nozzle spigots as defined in claim 1, said manifold section having a formation with a plurality of hinge apertures or recesses associated with said nozzle spigots and longitudinally spaced along said manifold section, at least some of said hinge apertures or recesses each being adapted to cooperate with hinge tabs 5 positioned on at least one of said first or said second clamping members to retain said clamping member to said manifold section while permitting hinging movement thereof.

14. A manifold section according to claim 13 wherein said hinge apertures or recesses are adapted to cooperate with hinge tabs positioned on at least two said 10 clamping members whereby said two clamping members are hingeable toward each other while being retained to said manifold section.

15. A manifold section according to claims 13 or 14 wherein said hinge apertures or recesses are formed in a longitudinally extending flange formation and open in a circumferential direction. 15