U.S. patent application number 12/119792 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-02 for radiator of highly flexible use.
This patent application is currently assigned to RIDEA S.R.L.. Invention is credited to Olivo FOGLIENI.
Application Number | 20090084522 12/119792 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39590733 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090084522 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FOGLIENI; Olivo |
April 2, 2009 |
RADIATOR OF HIGHLY FLEXIBLE USE
Abstract
The radiator of highly flexible use comprising a radiant element
provided with supports for its connection to a wall. The supports
comprise at least one hinge to support the radiant element and to
enable it to be rotated between a working position and a
maintenance position.
Inventors: |
FOGLIENI; Olivo; (Italy,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY
5670 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 2100
LOS ANGELES
CA
90036-5679
US
|
Assignee: |
RIDEA S.R.L.
Ciserano(Bergamo)
IT
|
Family ID: |
39590733 |
Appl. No.: |
12/119792 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/67 ;
165/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24D 19/02 20130101;
F24D 19/0293 20130101; F24D 19/0236 20130101; F24D 19/0209
20130101; F24D 2220/2018 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/67 ;
165/148 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/007 20060101
F28F009/007; F28D 1/00 20060101 F28D001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 2007 |
IT |
MI2007A001882 |
Claims
1. A radiator of highly flexible use comprising a radiant element
provided with supports for its connection to a wall, wherein said
supports comprise at least one hinge to support said radiant
element and to enable it to be rotated between a working position
and a maintenance position.
2. A radiator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supports also
comprise at least one element for locking said radiant element in
its working position.
3. A radiator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hinge and said
locking element are fixed to opposing side regions of said radiant
element.
4. A radiator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge presents a
first portion fixed to said radiant element and a second portion
fixable to the wall, said first and second portion being rotatably
connected together by a removable pin.
5. A radiator as claimed in claim 1, further presenting two hinges
positioned at one end of said radiator and having said pins
aligned.
6. A radiator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locking element
presents a hook projecting from said radiant element and, fixable
to the wall, a seat to receive said hook, said seat carrying a lock
for said hook.
7. A radiator as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lock comprises a
threaded element or socket head screw.
8. A radiator as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lock comprises a
magnet mounted on the base of said seat.
9. A radiator as claimed in claim 1, further presenting
thermovector fluid feed and discharge conduits in the form of
flexible hoses.
10. A radiator as claimed in claim 9, wherein said flexible hoses
have that end connected to the radiator and/or that end connectable
to a residential heating plant articulated or rotatable.
11. A radiator as claimed in claim 1, further being of plate type
and comprising, as the radiant element, a plate provided with at
least one groove into which a conduit containing a thermovector
fluid is inserted.
12. A radiator as claimed in claim 11, further presenting a
plurality of heat transfer fins fixed to that side of said plate on
which said grooves are provided.
13. A radiator as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fins are fixed
both to said plate and to said tube.
14. A radiator as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fins present a
plurality of recesses, said fins being fixed to said plate, the
tube being inserted into said recesses in those regions in which
the fins are superposed on the tube.
15. A radiator as claimed in claim 13, wherein said fins present a
plurality of recesses, said fins being fixed to said plate, the
tube being inserted into said recesses in those regions in which
the fins are superposed on the tube.
16. A radiator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinges consist of
valves feeding/discharging water to/from the radiator.
17. A radiator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinges enable
said radiator to be rotated about a horizontal or vertical axis.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a radiator of highly
flexible use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Buildings are usually heated by radiators which typically
comprise radiant elements provided with one or more heating
conduits.
DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] The conduits receive hot water from the heating plant of a
building; the hot water circulates through the conduits to heat the
radiant elements, which then heat the environment in which they are
installed.
[0004] However, radiators are known structures which because of
their complexity and the presence of roughness, represent a dust
accumulation point.
[0005] It is known to be extremely difficult to clean radiators (in
particular their rear) and those wall regions behind the radiators,
and is in some cases impossible (particularly for very large
radiators).
[0006] A further drawback is caused by the difficulties encountered
by the usual installation, checking and maintenance operations, as
these have to be carried out with the radiators mounted, usually in
very small and difficulty accessible spaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The technical aim of the present invention is therefore to
provide a radiator of highly flexible use by which the stated
drawbacks of the known art are eliminated.
[0008] Within the scope of this technical aim, an object of the
invention is to provide a radiator which can be cleaned easily and
thoroughly, including its rear region, in the case of both
small-dimension and large-dimension radiators.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a radiator
which also enables the wall behind the radiator to be cleaned
easily and thoroughly, in the case of both small-dimension and
large-dimension radiators.
[0010] A further object of the invention is to provide a radiator
by which the installation, checking and maintenance operations are
simplified and accelerated.
[0011] The technical aim, together with these and further objects,
are attained according to the present invention by a radiator of
highly flexible use in accordance with claim 1.
[0012] Other characteristics of the present invention are defined
in the subsequent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Further characteristics and advantages will be more apparent
from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of
the radiator according to the invention, illustrated by way of
non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a radiator according to the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a hinge of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIGS. 3 and 4 show two different embodiments of locking
elements of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a different embodiment of the radiator of the
invention;
[0018] FIGS. 6, 7 are two different examples of the connection of
fins to the constituent plate of the radiant element of a plate
radiator, shown at the tube;
[0019] FIG. 8 is an example of the connection of fins to the
constituent plate of the radiant element of a plate radiator, shown
in a plate region where the tube is not present; and
[0020] FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of the radiator of the
invention.
DETAILS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] With reference to the figures, these show a radiator of
highly flexible use indicated overall by the reference number
1.
[0022] The radiator 1 comprises one or more radiant elements 2 (if
these are more than one in number, they are all connected together
to define a single body, in which case they will be considered
hereinafter as a single radiant element, see FIG. 9) provided with
supports for connection to a wall 3.
[0023] For example, FIG. 1 shows a plate radiator provided with one
radiant element, while FIG. 9 shows a different radiator example
presenting a plurality of elements connected together to define one
radiant element; for brevity, reference will be made hereinafter to
plate radiators, however the same considerations are valid for
radiators of the type shown in FIG. 9.
[0024] The supports comprise hinges 5 arranged to support the
radiant element 2 and to enable it to rotate between a working
position (in which the radiant element 2 is in a position parallel
to a wall 3) and a maintenance position (in which the radiant
element has one end spaced from the wall 3).
[0025] The supports also comprise an element 7 for locking the
radiant element 2 in its working position.
[0026] As shown in the figures, the hinge 5 and the locking element
7 are fixed to opposing side regions of the radiant element 2;
typically the hinges 5 are connected in proximity to a side edge of
the radiant element 2, while the locking element 7 is fixed to the
opposite edge.
[0027] The number of hinges 5, the number of locking elements 7 and
their position on the radiant element 2 can be different in
relation to the radiator characteristics.
[0028] The hinge 5 presents a first portion 11 fixed (by welding or
mechanically) to the radiant element 2, and a second portion 13
fixable to the wall 3 by suitable screws 14 provided with fixing
plugs (not shown).
[0029] The first and second portion 11, 13 are joined together
rotatably by a removable pin 15 (consisting for example of a bolt
threaded either only at its end, or throughout its length).
[0030] Preferably (as shown in the figures) the radiator 1 of the
invention presents two hinges 5 positioned at one end of the
radiator 1 and having their pins 15 aligned along a vertical axis
16.
[0031] The locking element 7 presents a hook 18 projecting from the
radiant element 2 and a seat 19 for receiving the hook 18.
[0032] The seat 19 can be fixed to the wall 3 by screws 20 and
fixing plugs, and carries a lock 21 for the hook 18.
[0033] In a first embodiment, the lock 21 comprises a threaded
element or socket head screw screwable into a threaded hole of the
seat 19 such as to cause interference and lock the hook 19.
[0034] In a second embodiment, the lock 21 comprises a magnet
mounted on the base of the seat 19 to retain the hook 18.
[0035] The radiator 1 advantageously presents conduits 25 for
feeding and discharging thermovector fluid (water of the heating
plant), these consisting of flexible hoses.
[0036] The flexible hoses 25 have that end 26 connected to the
radiator 1 and/or that end 27 connectable to the residential
heating plant articulated or rotatable preferably through
360.degree..
[0037] This enables the ends of the flexible hoses to rotate and
enables the flexible hoses themselves to move when the radiator is
brought from the working position to the maintenance position and
vice versa (in practice by opening or closing the radiator in the
manner of a book).
[0038] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the radiator is of the
radiant plate type and comprises a plate forming the radiant
element 2 and provided with at least one groove, into the interior
of which a tube 28 is inserted containing a thermovector fluid.
[0039] The tube 28 is provided with a bleed valve 28a and a
manifold 28b to which the flexible hoses 25 are connected.
[0040] Advantageously this radiator 1 presents a plurality of heat
transfer fins 29 fixed to that side of the plate 2 in which the
grooves are formed to contain the tube 28.
[0041] In a first embodiment (FIG. 6), the tube 28 is pressed by
rollers such that that surface 28c facing the outside of the
grooves is aligned with the plate surface 2a.
[0042] In this case the fins 29 are fixed (usually by welding) both
to the plate 2 and to the tube 28.
[0043] Alternatively (FIG. 7), the tube 28 is made to project
partially from the groove; in this case the fins 29 present a
plurality of recesses 30.
[0044] The fins 29 are fixed to the plate 2, the tube 28 being
inserted into the recesses 30 in those regions in which the fins
are superposed on the tube; this region is preferably fixed by
welding.
[0045] Finally (FIG. 8) the base 33 of the fins 29 can be inserted
into rounded longitudinal grooved seats, to increase the contact
surface between the plate 2 and the base 33 of the fins 29.
[0046] FIG. 9 shows an example of a radiator in which the radiant
element is composed of a plurality of components joined together,
it being provided with hinges 5 and the locking element 7 (only the
pin 18 is shown while the seat 19, although present, is not
represented).
[0047] The operation of the radiator of highly flexible use
according to the invention is apparent from that described and
illustrated, and is substantially as follows.
[0048] When the radiator is to be installed, the second portions 13
of the hinges 5 are fixed to the wall 3 (by screws and fixing
plugs); the first portions 11 of the hinges are then fixed to the
radiators by welding.
[0049] The seat 19 is fixed to the wall (also by a screw and fixing
plug) and the hook 18 is fixed to the radiator (by welding).
[0050] The first and second portion 11, 13 of the hinge 5 can then
be associated with each other and the pins 15 inserted.
[0051] The flexible hoses 25 for water feed and discharge can then
be applied from the residential heating plant.
[0052] When the radiator 1 has been installed, the maintenance and
cleaning operations, particularly on the radiator rear and on the
wall behind the radiator (these thus being hidden and inaccessible)
are very simple and quick as the socket head screw 21 has merely to
be unscrewed or force be applied to overcome the force of the
magnet 21, to be able to open the radiator in the manner of a book
in order to move it from its working to its maintenance
position.
[0053] The radiator can be returned to its working position in the
same manner.
[0054] During rotation the hoses 25 are not an obstacle as they are
flexible with articulated ends, consequently they can be rotated to
accompany the rotation of the radiator.
[0055] In another embodiment, the hinges are in the form of valves
feeding/discharging water to/from the radiator.
[0056] In other embodiments, the hinges can be all applied along
the upper or lower edge of the radiator, to enable the radiator to
be rotated about a horizontal axis.
[0057] It has been found in practice that the radiator of highly
flexible use according to the invention is particularly
advantageous because it renders the installation, cleaning and
maintenance operations simple and quick.
[0058] The radiator of highly flexible use conceived in this manner
is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling
within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover all details can
be replaced by technically equivalent elements.
[0059] In practice the materials used and the dimensions can be
chosen at will according to requirements and to the state of the
art.
* * * * *