WO2010021003A1

WO2010021003A1 - Kit for closing the hub of a terminal element of a radiator

Info

Publication number: WO2010021003A1
Application number: PCT/IT2008/000552
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lombardino Codenotti
Original assignee: Omec Dl Codenotti & C. S.N.C.
Priority date: 2008-08-20
Filing date: 2008-08-20
Publication date: 2010-02-25
Also published as: EP2318771A1

Abstract

The invention regards a kit for closing the hub of radiator elements and consists of a reduction element (10) that can be screwed into the hub of a radiator element, a valve body (30) that can be screwed into a hole in the reduction element, said valve body defining a valve housing (32) open towards the hub, an air-vent valve (50) compatible with said valve body for opening/closing said valve housing, a closure cap (60) that can be screwed, as an alternative to the valve body, into the hole in the reduction element in order to seal off said hole, an annular cap cover (70) to be applied frontally to the reduction element, said annular cap cover defining a central aperture (72) of access to the reduction element hole, an air-vent cap (80) to be applied to the reduction element-valve body assembly in such a way as to close the central aperture defined by the annular cap cover, said air-vent cap having an axial hole (84) for housing the air-vent valve and an inclined vent hole (84), and - a central cap cover (90) to be applied to the reduction element-closure cap assembly in such a way as to close the central aperture defined by the annular cap cover.

Description

DESCRIPTION "Kit for closing the hub of a terminal element of a radiator"

[0001] The present invention relates to a kit for closing the hub of a terminal element of a radiator. [0002] As is well known, caps or plugs are mounted on terminal elements of radiators to hermetically close the hub of these elements, sometimes in association with an air-vent valve.

[0003] These caps usually have a threaded part for coupling with the radiator element hub, a hexagonal grip part suitable for screwing/unscrewing the cap with a tool, and a collar set between said threaded parts which, when the cap is screwed to the hub, creates a hermetic abutment with the radiator element. [0004] Normally the caps are made in a metal material, for example by die-casting. Subsequently they are painted and mounted on the radiator. However, the operation of screwing on the cap ruins the paintwork of the hexagonal, visible part of the cap, resulting in wholly unacceptable unsightliness.

[0005] To obviate this drawback, in an earlier application by the same applicant N° WO2008020464 a plug for radiator elements was proposed comprising a cap suitable for being screwed into a radiator element hub and having a polygonal section grip portion for screwing/unscrewing the hub with a tool as well as a cap cover, for example in plastic material, applicable frontally to the cap to conceal the grip part projecting from the radiator element. The cap cover permits to avoid the painting of the grip portion.

[0006] Depending on its function as actual closure plug or plug with air-vent valve, the cap described in the aforementioned patent application has a different structure in each case. [0007] So for every radiator, with view to having all possible combinations available, the technician assembling the device must be supplied with two closure caps for a right hand radiator element, two closure caps for a left hand radiator element, two air-vent valve caps for a right hand radiator element and two air-vent valve caps for a left hand element.

[0008] To these eight parts, the air-vent valves and the various cap covers must be added

[0009] So there is a clear disadvantage in having to produce and to supply technicians with a high number of different parts. [0010] The purpose of this invention is to devise and supply a kit for closing the hub of radiator elements that offers the same advantages as the plugs described above with cap covers, but comprising a lesser number of parts.

[0011] A further purpose of this invention is to supply a kit for closing the hub of radiator elements that facilitates and reduces the cost of both production and assembly of radiator element plugs.

[0012] These purposes have been achieved with a kit according to claim 1. [0013] Further features and advantages of the kit according to the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example and not limitative, with reference to the attached figures, in which: [0014] - figures 1 , 1a and 1b show - in perspective, plan and axial section views, respectively - a reduction element of the kit for closing the hub of a radiator element in accordance with the invention;

[0015] - figures 2, 2a, 2b and 1c show - in perspective view, plan, elevation and axial section respectively - a valve body from the kit in accordance with the invention; [0016] - figures 3, 3a, 3b and 3c show - in perspective view, plan, elevation and axial section respectively - a closure cap from the kit in accordance with the invention;

[0017] - figures 4, 4a, 4b and 4c show - in perspective view, plan, elevation and axial section respectively - an annular cap cover from the kit in accordance with the invention;

[0018] - figure 4d is an enlargement of the circled detail Y in figure 4c;

[0019] - figures 5, 5a, and 5b show - in elevation, plan from above and plan from below respectively - an air-vent cap from the kit in accordance with the invention; [0020] - figure 5c is a section of the air-vent cap along the line A-A in figure 5a;

[0021] - figure 5d is a section of the air-vent cap along the line B-B in figure 5a;

[0022] - figures 6, 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d show - in perspective view, elevation, plan from above, plan from below and axial section respectively - a central cap cover from the kit in accordance with the invention; [0023] - figure 6e is an enlargement of the circled detail X in figure 6d;

[0024] - figures 7, 7a and 7b show - in perspective view, plan and elevation respectively - an air-vent valve in accordance with the invention;

[0025] - figure 8 is an exploded section view of a valve cap obtainable with the kit in accordance with the invention; [0026] - figures 9, 9a and 9b show - in plan from above, plan from below and axial section along lines E-E and D-D respectively - the assembled valve cap;

[0027] - figure 9c is an enlargement of the circled detail Z in figure 9b;

[0028] - figure 10 is an exploded section view of a closure plug obtainable with the kit in accordance with the invention; [0029] - figures 11 and 11a show - in plan from above in and axial section along line C-C respectively - the assembled plug;

[0030] - figure 11b is an enlargement of the circled detail K in figure 11a; and [0031] - figures 12 and 12a show two perspective views of a multifunction wrench for tightening-loosening the kit devices. [0032] The kit for closing the hub of radiator elements in accordance with the invention permits the embodiment, with a minimum number of elements, of a cap or plug with air-vent valve functions (hereinafter "valve cap" 100) and of an actual closure cap or plug for the hub of the terminal radiator element (hereinafter "closure plug" 200). [0033] The kit includes, as an element common to both devices, a reduction element 10 with a threaded rear portion suitable for fixing to hub 14 of a radiator element, a forward grip portion 18 with a polygonal section which can accommodate a tool for screwing/unscrewing the reduction element, and a collar 20 which extends radially between and with regard to said threaded and grip portions and which is made in such a way as to create a hermetic abutment with the radiator element. [0034] In other words, collar 20 determines an end of stroke for screwing the cap in the hub. So, in practice, threaded portion 12 is completely inserted into the hub while collar 20 and the grip portion 18 constitute the part of the cap that projects from the radiator element. [0035] For example, from the part facing the rear threaded portion 12, collar 20 has an annular housing 22 with a substantially semicircular section suitable for housing a sealing element such as an o-ring.

[0036] Reduction element 10 is crossed by an at least partially threaded axial hole 16. [0037] The kit further includes: [0038] - a valve body 30 suitable for screwing into threaded hole 16 of reduction element 10, said valve body defining a valve housing 32 open towards the hub;

[0039] - an air-vent valve 50 that can be coupled with said valve body 30 to open/close said valve housing 32; [0040] - a closure cap 60 suitable for screwing, alternatively to the valve body, into threaded hole 16 of reduction element 10 to seal said threaded hole;

[0041] - an annular cap cover 70, applicable frontally to reduction element 10 to conceal the collar and the grip portion, said annular cap cover defining a central aperture 72 for access to threaded hole 16 of the reduction element; [0042] - an air-vent cap 80 applicable to the reduction element-valve body assembly in such a way as to close central aperture 72 defined by annular cap cover 70, said air-vent cap having an axial hole 82 for housing air-vent valve 50 and an inclined vent hole 84 ; and

[0043] - a central cap cover 90 applicable to the reduction element-closure cap assembly in such a way as to close central aperture 72 defined by annular cap cover 70.

[0044] So the valve cap 100 obtainable with the elements of the kit comprises: reduction element 10, valve body 30 screwed to reduction element 10, air-vent valve 50, annular cap cover 70 and air-vent cap 80. [0045] Closure plug 200 obtainable with the elements of the kit comprises: reduction element 10, closure cap 60 screwed to reduction element 10, annular cap cover 70 and central cap cover 90.

[0046] In accordance with one embodiment, the valve body 30 comprises a base 33 which contains valve housing 32 and an external cylindrical part 34 which extends from said base 33. Cylindrical part 34 is at least partially threaded for screwing the valve body 30 into threaded hole 16 of reduction element 10.

[0047] Valve body 30 further includes an internal cylindrical part 35 which extends from valve housing 32 to house air-vent valve 50.

[0048] The two cylindrical parts 34 (external) and 35 (internal) delimit a cavity 36 that can accommodate a tool for screwing the valve body to the reduction element. For example, this cavity 36 is at least partially delimited by a polygonal or star- shaped surface 37.

[0049] In accordance with one embodiment, the internal cylindrical portion 35 has an internal threaded hole 38 for screwing air-vent valve 50. The latter may therefore be shifted axially by screwing/unscrewing in hole 38 to close/open valve housing 32. [0050] To this end the air-vent valve 50 has a head 51 which can be turned with a tool (e.g. screwdriver) and therefore screwed/unscrewed in threaded hole 38. [0051] The air-vent valve 50 also has, at least at the extremity opposite to head 51 , a conical surface 52 that abuts with a complementary conical surface 32' of valve housing 32 in such a way as to regulate, on the basis of the axial position of the valve, the passage of water from the hub to the exterior through the valve housing. The air-vent valve 50 therefore has the form of a needle valve. [0052] In accordance with one embodiment the valve body 30 terminates frontally - at the part opposite base 33 - with an annular collar 39 that creates a hermetic abutment with the frontal surface of reduction element 10.

[0053] For example the annular collar 39, with the external cylindrical part 34, forms annular housing 40 for a gasket.

[0054] As for closure cap 60, it comprises a closed bottom 62 facing the radiator hub and a cylindrical surface 64 which extends from said bottom and is at least partially threaded for screwing cap 60 into threaded hole 16 of reduction element 10. The closed bottom 62 can therefore completely occlude hole 16 of reduction element 10.

[0055] In accordance with one embodiment, from cylindrical surface 64 an annular collar 66 extends frontally to produce a hermetic abutment with the frontal surface of reduction element 10. For example, annular collar 66, with the external cylindrical part 64, forms an annular housing 68 for a gasket.

[0056] Cap 60 is also provided with engaging means suitable to be engaged by a tool for screwing/unscrewing the cap in threaded hole 16 of reduction element 10. For example, cap 60 has an internal cavity 69 delimited at least in part by a polygonal or star-shaped lateral surface 70.

[0057] In accordance with one embodiment, closure cap 60 corresponds to a valve body 30 without the internal cylindrical part 35 for housing the air-vent valve 50 and with valve housing 32 closed. [0058] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, closure cap 60 corresponds to a valve body 30 in which valve housing 32 is closed by a wall. Most favourably, this wall can be removed at the time of mounting on the radiator in such a way that closure cap 60 is transformed into valve body 30.

[0059] As regards air-vent cap 80, this comprises a frontal or forward covering part 81 and a cylindrical axial appendage 82 that extends towards the rear from said frontal part 81 , which is to say towards valve body 30 to which it is connected, in such a way as to form a seal on the internal cylindrical part 35 of said body. In the axial cylindrical appendage 82, for example at the level of its area of attachment to frontal part 81 , there is an annular lip 82' which extends radially towards the axis of cylindrical appendage 82. When (figure 9a) air-vent cap 80 is connected to valve body 30 and air-vent valve 50 is screwed into the cylindrical internal part 35 of said valve body, annular lip 82' cooperates with the air-vent valve body 50 in such a way as to hermetically delimit with the latter an air-vent chamber 83. The inclined vent hole 84 is made in such a way as to put this chamber 86 in communication with the exterior. [0060] The frontal part 81 of air-vent cap 80 has a central slot 88 for housing head 51 of air-vent valve 50.

[0061] In accordance with a preferable embodiment, collar 20 of reduction element 10 has an external connecting surface 22 inclined towards the threaded rear part 12 in such a way as to create an undercut. The annular cap cover 70 has a peripheral edge 74 slightly inclined towards the interior in such a way as to create a forced geometric coupling with the connecting surface 22 of collar 20. In other words, annular cap cover 70 is hooked up by pressure to reduction element 10, exploiting the elasticity of at least its peripheral edge 74. [0062] In accordance with one embodiment, annular cap cover 70, air-vent cap 80 and central cap 90 are in the form of a spherical crown. Most favourably, the form and coupling of annular cap cover 70 and air-vent cap 80 or central cap 90 are such as to render the exposed external part a continuous spherical surface. [0063] In accordance with a preferable embodiment, the annular cap cover 70 terminates frontally with a cylindrical edge 75 abutting on the frontal surface of reduction element 10. In this cylindrical edge 75 there is a step 76 that defines an undercut 77. Correspondingly the air-vent cap 80 and the central cap 90 are equipped with a peripheral annular appendage suitable for engaging, with calibrated interference, with said undercut 77. [0064] In accordance with a preferable embodiment, the annular appendage comprises a multiplicity of hook-up teeth 86, 96 which extend rearwards from the peripheral edge of air-vent cap 80 and central cap 90 and which are suitable for the snap fastening to undercut 77 of annular cap cover 70 (figures 9c and 11b). These hook-up teeth 86, 96 extend for example along equidistant arcs of circumference. [0065] In accordance with a preferable embodiment, reduction element 10, valve body 30 and closure cap 60 are in metal, for example brass, while the annular cap cover, the air-vent cap and the central cap are in plastic, for example polypropylene. [0066] In the case of mounting a valve cap 100, first a reduction element 10, right or left, must be screwed into the hub of a radiator terminal element. A valve body 30 is then screwed into threaded hole 16 of the reduction element. At this point the annular cap cover 70 is hooked up to the reduction element, after which air-vent cap 80 can be applied, abutting the cylindrical appendage 82 against the internal cylindrical part 35 of the valve body and snap fitting the hook-up teeth 86 in undercut 77 of annular cap cover 70. Lastly, the air-vent valve 50 is screwed into threaded hole 38 of the internal cylindrical part 35 of valve body 30. [0067] In the case of mounting closure plug 200, first a reduction element 10, right or left, must be screwed into the hub of the radiator terminal element. Then closure cap 60 is screwed into threaded hole 16 of the reduction element. At this point the annular cap cover 70 is hooked up to the reduction element, after which central cap 90 can be applied, snap fastening the hook-up teeth 96 in undercut 77 of annular cap cover 70.

[0068] In practice, with a limited number of parts a technician can mount, on both right and left sides of a radiator, a valve cap 100 and a closure plug 200, or two valve caps 100 or two closure plugs 200. [0069] In fact the kit supplied to a technician, a plumber for example, may envisage only four reduction elements 10, two for the left side and two for the right, independently of their final function. Once it has been established whether to use a reduction element with threading for screwing to the right or left hub, either a valve body or a closure cap can be mounted on the same reduction element, irrespective of right or left side, this thanks to the fact that while the threading of rear part 12 of the reduction element may be right or left, the threading of hole 16 into which valve body 30 or closure cap 60 are screwed is always the same. [0070] A further advantage of the kit is that it includes a multipurpose wrench 300 for tightening-loosening the components. [0071] For example, wrench 300 has a polygonal window 302, to fit the polygonal grip part 18 of reduction element 10, and has profiled appendages 304, 306 and 308 for tightening-loosening valve body 30, closure cap 60 and air-vent valve 50. [0072] The forms and embodiments of the kit as described above may be modified or adapted by a skilled person, and elements may be replaced by others that are functionally equivalent, without for this reason departing from the scope of protection given by the following claims.

[0073] Each of the features described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be made independently of the other embodiments described.

Claims

1. Kit for closing the hub of radiator elements, comprising:

- a reduction element (10) with a threaded rear fixing part (12) suitable for screwing into the hub of a radiator element, a forward grip portion (18) with polygonal section that can be gripped by a tool for screwing/unscrewing the reduction element, a collar (20) that extends radially between and with regard to said threaded and grip portions and which is suitable for abutting hermetically with the radiator element, and an axial hole (16), at least partially threaded, through the reduction element;

- a valve body (30) suitable for screwing into said threaded hole (16) of the reduction element, said valve body defining a valve housing (32) open towards the hub;

- an air-vent valve (50) associable with said valve body for opening/closing said valve housing;

- a closure cap (60) suitable for screwing, alternatively to the valve body, into threaded hole (16) of the reduction element to seal off said threaded hole;

- an annular cap cover (70) applicable frontally to the reduction element to conceal the collar and the grip part, said annular cap cover defining a central aperture (72) of access to the threaded hole of the reduction element;

- an air-vent valve cap cover (80) to be applied to the reduction element-valve body assembly in such a way as to close the central aperture defined by the annular cap cover, said air-vent cap having an axial hole (84) housing the air-vent valve and an inclined air-vent hole (84); and

- a central cap cover (90) to be applied to the reduction element-closure cap assembly in such a way as to close the central aperture defined by the annular cap cover.

2. Kit in accordance with claim 1 , in which the valve body (30) includes a base (33) containing the valve housing (32), an external cylindrical part (34) which extends from said base and is at least partially threaded for screwing the valve body into the threaded hole of the reduction element, and an internal cylindrical part (37) which extends from the valve housing to house the air-vent valve, said cylindrical parts delimiting a cavity (36) which may be gripped by a tool for screwing the valve body to the reduction element.

3. Kit in accordance with claim 2, in which said cavity is at least partially delimited by a polygonal or star-shaped surface.

4. Kit in accordance with claim 2 or 3, in which said internal cylindrical part has an internal threaded hole (38) for screwing the air-vent valve.

5. Kit in accordance with any of the previous claims, in which the valve body terminates frontally in an annular collar (39) that hermetically abuts with the frontal surface of the reduction element.

6. Kit in accordance with claim 5, in which said annular collar, with the external cylindrical part, forms an annular housing (40) for a gasket.

7. Kit in accordance with any of the previous claims, in which closure cap (60) comprises a closed bottom (62) facing the radiator hub, a cylindrical surface (64) which extends from said bottom and is at least partially threaded for screwing the cap into the threaded hole of the reduction element, and an annular collar (66) which extends frontally from said cylindrical surface and hermetically abuts with the frontal surface of the reduction element.

8. Kit in accordance with claim 7, in which said annular collar (66), with the cylindrical part, forms an annular housing (68) for a gasket.

9. Kit in accordance with any of the claims 1-6, in which the closure cap is a valve body in which the valve housing is closed by a wall.

10. Kit in accordance with claim 9, in which said wall can be removed at the moment of assembly on the radiator in such a way as to transform a closure cap into a valve body.

11. Kit in accordance with any of the claims 2-10, in which the air-vent cap (80) includes an axial cylindrical appendage (82) that extends rearwards towards the valve body (30) in such a way as to abut hermetically with the internal cylindrical part (35) of said body, and in which there is an annular lip (82') that extends radially towards the axis of the cylindrical appendage in such a way as to hermetically delimit, with the body of the air-vent valve, a vent chamber (83).

12. Kit in accordance with any of the previous claims, in which the collar (20) of the reduction element has an external hook-up surface (22) inclined towards the rear threaded portion in such a way as to create an undercut and in which the annular cap cover has a peripheral edge (76) that can be snap fastened to said collar hook- up surface.

13. Kit in accordance with any of the previous claims, in which the annular cap cover, the air-vent cap and the central cap are in the form of a spherical crown.

14. Kit in accordance with any of the previous claims, in which the annular cap cover, the air-vent cap and the central cap are in plastic material.

15. Kit in accordance with any of the previous claims, in which the collar (20) of the cap has, in the part facing the threaded portion, an annular housing (28) of substantially semicircular section that can accommodate a sealing element such as an o-ring.

16. Kit in accordance with any of the previous claims, in which the annular cap cover (70) terminates frontally with a cylindrical edge (75) abutting on the frontal surface of the reduction element, where said cylindrical edge includes a step (76) defining an undercut (77) and in which the air-vent cap and the central cap are equipped with a peripheral annular appendage (86, 96) for engaging with calibrated interference with said undercut.

17. Closure device applicable to a radiator element hub, comprising:

- a reduction element (10) with a rear threaded part (12) to be screwed into hub (14) of a radiator element, a forward grip portion (18) with a polygonal section such as to accommodate a tool for screwing/unscrewing the reduction element, a collar (20) which extends radially between and with regard to said threaded and grip portions and which is made in such a way as to create a hermetic abutment with the radiator element, and an axial hole at least partially threaded through the reduction element;

- a shutter device (30, 60) screwed into said threaded hole of the reduction element;

- an annular cap cover (70) applied frontally to the reduction element to conceal its collar and the grip part, said annular cap cover defining a central aperture of access (72) to the threaded hole of the reduction element;

- a central cap cover (80, 90) applied frontally to the reduction element in such a way as to close said central aperture and conceal the shutter device.

18. Closure device in accordance with claim 17, in which said shutter device includes a closure cap (60) for hermetically closing the axial hole of the reduction element.

19. Closure device in accordance with claim 17, in which said shutter device includes:

- a valve body (30) screwed into said threaded hole of the reduction element, said valve body defining a valve housing (32) open towards the hub; - un air-vent valve (50) associable with said valve body to open/close said valve housing.

20. Closure device in accordance with claim 19, in which the central cap cover is crossed by an axial hole for housing the air-vent valve and by an inclined vent hole.

21. Valve cap to be applied to a radiator element hub, comprising a reduction element from the kit in accordance with any of the previous claims, a valve body from the kit in accordance with any of the previous claims screwed into the axial hole of the reduction element, an air-vent valve from the kit in accordance with any of the previous claims associated with the valve body, an annular cap cover from the kit in accordance with any of the previous claims applied to the reduction element, and an air-vent cap from the kit in accordance with any of the previous claims applied to the reduction element-valve body assembly.

22. Cap to be applied to a radiator element hub, comprising a reduction element from the kit in accordance with any of the previous claims, a closure cap in accordance with any of the previous claims screwed into the axial hole of the reduction element, an annular cap cover from the kit in accordance with any of the previous claims applied to the reduction element, and a central cap cover from the kit in accordance with any of the previous claims, hooked up to the annular cap cover in such a way as to conceal the closure cap.