US1998273A - Radiator - Google Patents

Description

April 16, 1935. A. H. DAVIS. JR., El AL RADIATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1933 INVENTORS M /9aow, @f

nrromvsw A ril 18, 1935. A. H. DAVIS, JR., ET AL RADI-ATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1933 11L F, lg W J h N INVENTORS 440M XV, @M, 0/

W$Q M RTTORNEYO WITNESSES fi W April 1935a A. H. DAVIS, JR., ET AL RAD IAT OR 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 4, 1933 WITNESSES INVENTORS RTTOH VEKS I I Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE :nADIA'ron p v nmhibala n. Davis, an, New Castle, and. 1 mm 1 Winsborough, .Pittsburgh', Pa... assignors to Shaw-Perkins Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 4,1933, Serial'No; 700,790

V eolaims. 01. 257-4361 7 unit. The panels are also provided with upper Our invention relates to radiators and particularly to radiators of the combined'radia'nt and convection type.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a radiator of the type described above...

that isof unitary construction and that-maybe easily and conveniently positioned in asuitable recess or that may be partially or fully exposed to view for operation in a'substantially similar manner. r I

Another object of our invention is to provide a radiator comprising a convection unit to which air may be admitted and' delivered therefrom substantially without interference from the accumulation of such foreign materials as may terials against the inlet face of the unit will be i readilyaapparent and such materials may be face thereof for substantially vertical flow there through and out at the top thereof. Insuch cases it will be appreciated-that-the-accumulation of any foreign material such as plaster upon the upper surfaces or outlet surfaces of the unit willtend to restrict flow of air'threthrough' and that if such accumulation is allowed to continue for any considerable period of time the flow of air through the convection unit may be substantially stopped. v

In accordance with our invention we provide a radiator of unitary construction and having a convection unit composed of vertically disposed plates that extend transversely 'to' the front panels of the radiator; Suitable tubes for heating fluid, such as steam or hot water, extend horizontally through the plates of the convection unit. Other horizontal tubes,'which may zontally and upwardly through the convection or outlet openingsfor delivering air currents of convection to the room to be heated.

Y It will be understood, however, that the radiating section also. heats by convection and-the convection unit also heats by radiation. These parts are "so named because of their primary function in the distribution of heat. In the ra diator we have provided the radiating section and the convectionunit are so structurally and functionally interrelated that theyconstitute in effect a single unit although, for convenience of description herein, they arereferred to separately. Q 7

The radiator briefly described above'may be mounted entirely within a recess in which case it isspaced from the back of the recess to provide in'effect a flue for air currents of 'convece tion whereby the latter may travel from ;the convection unit upwardly and out through .the outlet openings in the front panels.

In case the radiator is mounted 'fullyex Jposed position, it maybe suitably enclosed ina sheet metal casing that covers the ends and top, the casing being open at the back but in engage}- ment with the surface of the wall which may be suitably insulated. The radiator'unit is spaced from the wall in order to provide the'flue referred to above. I

' If desired, the radiator unit may have a casing that completely encloses it except'for the'front thereof and comprises a back suitably spaced from the front panels to provide the flue referred. to above. The back of the casing may alsobe spaced from the wall to provide an insulating blanket of air therebetween. g I

The details of our invention willbe described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a View in front elevation of a radiator of the cabinet type shown in fully recessed mounting, parts being broken away; Fig. 2 a horizontal sectional" view taken on line IIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 afvertical sectional view of the radiator of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a face view of a blank for form ing a frontpanelof the radiator; Fig. 5 a viewof one of the panel sections in finished form before it is folded; Fig. 6 a view of the panel section of .Fig. 5 in folded position; Fig. '7 a view in vertical sectionof a radiator of our invention mounted in exposed position with an adjacent wall serving as back therefor; Fig. 8 a similar view of a radiator having a complete casing, therefor and spaced from an adjacent wall; and Fig. 9 an end elevation of a radiator of doubleunit type.

" Referring particularly to Figs. 1. 2 and 3. a I9.-

diator I constructed in accordance with our invention is illustrated as mounted within a recess 2 in the wall 3 of a room to be heated. By way of example, the recess 2 is located beneath a window I. The radiator I is a unitary structure provided with a smooth paneled front surface.

The radiator I is illustrated as provided with the usual supply .pipe 5 for conveying steam through a control valve Ii to horizontally disposed heating tubes I arranged in a single verticalbank and connected in series. A thermostatic trap 8 at the outlet end of the heating tubes I connects the latter to a return pipe 9. In case hot water is used, suitable connections will, of course, be employed. Certain of the horizontal tubes 1' are preferably connected in pairs at adjacent ends thereof by suitable integral return bends, separate return bends being used at the other ends,

whereby they form structurally and functionally a continuous tube from the supply pipe'5 to the return pipe9 at the other end thereof.

At the lower end of the radiator I is a convection unit IIconstituted by a series of vertical metal plates or fins I2 that are mounted on the lower two tubes I. versely to the front of the radiator I and the vertical spaces or passageways therebetween serve for the flow of air currents of convection through the unit. The separation of the exterior of the unit into inlet and outlet spaces for facilitating the flow of air therethrough will be later described.

The front of the radiator is constituted by a series of vertical panels I3 of sheet metal. 'Each panel I3 is provided adjacent the bottom thereof with a flanged inlet opening I4 for the admission of air horizontally therethrough into the vertical spacesbetween the plates I2 of the convection unit II. The upper portion of the radiator is in the form of a grille integral with the panels thereof, the topof each panel I3 being provided with a pair of elongated openings I5 and an approximately square opening IS for permitting the outward flow of air that has been heated principally by the convection unit I I. The openings I5 and I6 are also flanged.

As is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the radiator unit is spaced from a plate I! in the back of the recess 2 in which it is mounted in order to provide in effect a flue space I8 in rear of the convection unit I I whereby air that has been heated by the latter and other heated parts may flow upwardly and then outwardly through the outlet openings I5 and IS. The depth of the flue space need not be exact but should be such as to permit the flow of air without material resistance.

In the formation of the panels i3. sheet metalblanks 26 having the form of that shown in Fig. 4 are provided. The rectangular openings at the ends of the blanks 29 are then expanded in such manner as to provide suitable flanges on one side of the blank, thus forming the inlet opening I4 and outlet openings. I5 and I 6- of the panel I 3. Similarly the circular holes on both sides of the blank are expanded to provide flanged holes oropenings 2I through which the tubes 'Iare to be threaded.

. When the panels I3 are in the form illustrated in Fig. 5 they are folded into channel shape along longitudinal lines extending slightly within the edges of the end projections 22 and 23 to provide completed panels such as the panel I3 shown in Fig. 6. The panel sections I3 are then assembled by placing them 'side-by-side and threading the tubes? through the flanged These plates extend transopenings 2! in the re-arwardly extending panel flanges 24, the ends of the tubes being connected by return bends as stated above to provide for continuous flow of heating fluid therethrough.

The plates I2 of the convection unit II are placed on the lower pipes I in proper sequence with each other and with the flanges 24 at the same time that the tubes 1 are threaded through the lower openings 2| in the flanges 24 of the panel sections I3. If desired the tubes 7 may be expanded by hydraulic pressure after they are in position in the holes 2i and through the plates I2 in order that there may be such firm engagement between the tubes I and the surrounding flanged edges as to readily effect expanels I3 bear against the upper and lower outer edges respectively of therecess 2. The upper and lower edges ofthe radiator I may be cov ered with suitable molding strips 25 and 26 as best shown in Fig. 3.

When the radiator is assembled as set forth above the continuous tube formed; by the connected tubes I constitutes a mechanical support for the panelsl3 and the plates I2 and ties the entire structure together. This continuous tube supplies heat for both the radiating and convection portions.

The flanges 24; which extend in pairs between groups of the plates I2 and the rear vertical edges of'which are flush with those of the plates,

are of relatively heavysheet metal and of such 1-- rigidity as to protect the edges of the relatively thin metal plates particularly in shipping and erecting the radiators. The flanges 24 serve as convection members and also conduct heat to the front surfaces of the panels I3.

The arrangement of the plates I2 of the convection unit II entirely Within the flanges 2d of the panels I3 provides that the flanges act as 'flues to increase the upward flow of air above the convection unit. 'A greater flow of air with a corresponding increase in heat exchange occurs in this arrangement with plates or flns of relatively short vertical length than would be the case if the plates were relatively long by reason of the increased air resistance of the longer plates.

In the operation of the radiator shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 steam orother suitable heating fluid is admitted through the control valve 6 for flow through the the several tubes I in series. The plates I2 of the convection unit I I are heated as are the flanges 2t and the front portion of each of the panels I 3. The heating of the latter causes them to radiate heat outwardly into the room.

The heating of the air between the plates I2 causes the air thus heated to flow upwardly and rearwardly into the flue space I8 defined by the back plate I! of the recess and the front portions of the several'panels I3. Air flows horizontally through the openings I4 into the vertical spacesbetween the plates I2. The air cur rents of convection thus formed pass upwardly in the flue space I8 and flow outwardly through the upper openings l5'and I6 into the room to be heated.

As is best shown in Fig. 3, the upper portion of the front side of the convection unit is sealed from the inlet openings I4 by the flanges surrounding the openings I4. Such small amount continuow passageway formed by 5' of air as may flow upwardly around the flanges will be heated by theoverlappingportions of the panels l3 and plates I2. This arrangement serves two'very.usefulipurposes, one being that air isprevented from flowing diagonallyacross a very small portion of the upper front corner. of the unit into the fluespace is without being adequately heated, as would occurlifthe en-' tire front face of the unit were open to the 'in-,

the convection unit and out of the top thereof while permittinga nonnalrate of flow horizonper end of the unit may be sealedins'tead of the front upper portion and short-circuiting of the air will be prevented: However, in such case the flow of air through the unit will be substantially entirely horizontal andthe increasedcapacity ofthe preferred arrangement will be v with large floor spaces.

sacrificed. I

The lower portion of theconvection unit must also be sealed to prevent short-circuiting of' unit is not necessary.

It will be noted that in order to prevent shortcircuiting of cold air, it is necessary to seal the inlet space from the outlet space. The sealed portions. must have a width substantially equal to the horizontal width of the plates in order to insure that all air. passing through the unit traverses a distance at least approximately equal to the .width of the plates inorder to be adequately heated. This provision also equalizes the flow through various portions of the unit because of the substantially uniform distance between the various portions of theginletspace and the nearest outlet space,

Reference may nowbe'had to'Fig. '7 in which a radiator unit 28 similar to that of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is mounted in exposed position. The front portion of the radiator 28 is similar in all respects ,to that-of theradiator described above.

A casing 29 consisting of a top 30 and two similar 1 side members 3! (only one of which appears) encloses the space between the panels 13 of the front of the radiatoriand' the wall" 32 in rear thereof which maybe, if desired, providedlwith V asuitable heat-insulating plate .33. The operation of the radiator ZBis'similar in all essential respects to that of the radiator I described abover In case it is desired to space the entire radiator unit from the wall it may be mounted in a mannershown in Fig. 8. The casing 29 is now provided with a back 35 which maybe either integral with the top and end portions or may be separate, as desired The operation of this form of our invention is similar in all respects to that panel portions similarmain units 38 each of which is similar in, construction and operation to the radiator lof Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Parts that'are duplicates of thoseof Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are designated by like reference numerals.

' The, main units comprising front radiant l3 having inwardly extending flanges 24 are placed back-to-backand spaced to provide 'a flue 39 therebetween. Imus each unit ;38 constitutes a back for the flue space of-the other unit. The radiator units 38may be provided with a top 453 if the panels it are provided as shown withoutlet openings I5 and it. ,If desired, however, the-top of the radiator 3'! may be partially or whollyopen in which case the outletopenings l5 and) may be omitted.

.In the operation of the radiator 31 of the double unit type, air enters through the inlet openings M on each side and flows through the convection units l l horizontally and upwardly and into. the flue space 39 between the units. Heated air flows into the room either through the outlet openings, if provided, or out ofthe top.

form of radiator is particularly adapted for locations requiring radiators of large capacity such, for example 'aspublic buildings or rooms A radiator constructed in accordance with our invention is very. efiicient by reason 'of the increasedcapacity of-the convection unit as arranged therein. The radiator occupies relatively small space but provides a'relativ ely large total surface area-for the exchange of heat with the adjacent air. All visibleportions of the radiator including the panels, as well as the plates I2, radiate heat directly into the room and adjacent and substantially parallel-to the floor of the latterwhereheating'is ordinarily most desirable. In addition air is admitted horizontally to the ;heated'plates of the convectionunit for passage either horizontally orupwardly therethrough into a flue space for the air currents of convection.

asby lint'or other material may bereadily de-L tected and. removed and the free flow of air through the convection unit may thus be assured.

Also, it will be appreciated that in case foreign material, such as plaster or other material,

accumulates on the top of the convection unit It,

it will not prevent the flow of airthrough the latter because it may find an outlet at the rear of the convection unit regardless of the restric-' tion of flow through the top of'the unit.

The mounting of the convection unit in a vertical position and sealed as'described above perunits the radiator to be mounted in a'recess flush with the front wall of the' room regardless of excessive depth of the recess as the width of the flue in rear of the panels is not material so long as it is ample; The draft created by such flue increases the'amount of air passing through the radiator. 1 1

Since air is admitted only atinletspaces of the convection unit that are suitably sealedfrom the outlet spaces thereof, the flow of air through the unit is assured inasmuch as cold air can not by-pass the unit. Also, the air must travel a predetermined distance through the unit.

Also the vertical spacing of the tubes extending through the convection unit increases'the "free air space or cross-sectional area of 'thepath of air through the unit and. the latter offers less resistance to the flow of air therethrough than would be the case if the tubes were spaced horizontally for upward flow therebetween. The length of the total clearance space between the tubes and adjacent walls is greater than if the unit is placed across the flue space for upward flow only therethrough.

The construction of the radiator whereby it may rest directly on the floor is of advantage because the appearance of the radiator. is greatly improved over that of one spaced therefrom because it appears to be an integral part of the structure of the room. In addition, the floor serves as a closure for the bottom portion of the radiator to limit the inward flow of air to the inlet openings in the front thereof.

The edges of the closely spaced convection plates 12 so divide the large spaces provided by the inlet openings in the front panels as to present an attractive appearance.

The foregoing and other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art of constructing radiators.

We claim: a

1. A radiator comprising a front panel for heating by radiation, a convection unit connected to said panel for heating air currents by convection, and tubes for heating fluid extending through said convection unit and adjacent said panel, said radiator having bottom and top openings for respectively admitting air laterally to said convection unit and delivering air currents of convection to the room to be heated.

2. A radiator comprising a front panel for heating by radiation, a convection unit connected to said panel for heating air currents by convection, said convection unit comprising a. plurality of vertically disposed plates extending transversely to said panel, and a series of horizontal tically disposed and arranged side-by-side on a plurality of said tubes adjacent the bottom portion of said radiator, said front panels being provided with lower openings for the admission of air horizontally therethrough between the front portions of said plates and provided also with upper openings for the delivery of air cur rents of convection into the room. 4. A radiator comprising sections eachof a single piece of sheet metal constituting front panels having inwardly bent flanges with tubereceiving openings, a plurality of vertically spaced horizontally extending tubes for heating fluid extending through said openings for holding said panels in alignment, and a series of horizontally spaced vertically disposed plates on certain of the. lower tubes, said'front panels having upper and lower openings for respectively admitting air adjacent the front edge portions of said plates fortravel therebetween and delivering air currents of convection into the room to be heated.

5. A radiator comprising a front panel, a convection unit having a series of horizontally spaced verticalplates adjacent to said panel, means in rear of said panel for defining a, flue for air currents of convection from said unit, andmeans comprising a portion of said panel for directing the flow'of air horizontally between said plateson one side thereof and out of unobstructed vertical spaces on another side thereof, whereby the depth of said flue may be greater than the horizontal width of said plates.

6. A radiator comprising a front panel composed of a series of vertically interlocking sheet metal units, a convection unit comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical plates'extending transversely to said panel, a portion of one vertical sideof said unit being open to the atmosphere and said panel overlapping another portion of said side to obstruct the flow of air thereinto, and a heating tube for connecting saidpanel and said plates and for heating them.

'7. A radiator comprisinga front radiant panel composed of a series of vertically interlocking sheet metal units, a convection unit comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical plates extending transversely to said panel and par tially overlapping the latter to provide open and obstructed portions of said unit on one side thereof, and said unit being adapted to rest upon the floor to obstruct'another side thereof, and a heating tube for mechanically connecting said panel and said plates.

3. A radiator comprising two spaced units in symmetrical relation, each unit comprising a front radiant portion having an inlet opening, and a plurality -of vertical convection plates across said opening and extending transversely to said front portion to provide spaces for the flow of air inwardlytherethrough to the'space between said units which constitutes a flue therefor, and means for heating said units. a

9. A radiator comprising two units that are placed back-to-back and spaced to provide a flue space therebetween, each of said units comprising a front radiant panel portion having a bottom inlet and having a plurality of rearwardly'extending flanges, a series of vertical convection plates extending transversely to said front panel portion and across said inlet to provide spaces for the flow of air therethrough into said flue space, and means comprising a tube extending through said plates and said flanges for heating said unit.

ARCHIBALD H. DAVIS, JR. PAXSON WINSBOROUGH.

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