U.S. patent application number 12/244002 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-02 for radiator with radiating plate having high efficiency.
This patent application is currently assigned to RIDEA S.R.L.. Invention is credited to Fogi Leni Olivo.
Application Number | 20090084533 12/244002 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40149572 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090084533 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Olivo; Fogi Leni |
April 2, 2009 |
Radiator With Radiating Plate Having High Efficiency
Abstract
The radiator (1) with radiating plate (2) having high efficiency
comprises a plate (2) that bears at least one manifold (3, 18)
whereto is fastened at least one tube (4) for conveying a
heat-carrying fluid. The plate (2) presents at least one groove (6)
in which is inserted the tube (4). The tube (4) and the groove (6)
present at least one coil portion (11) defined by a plurality of
first segments (12) substantially parallel to each other and able
to assume a substantially horizontal position when the radiator (1)
is installed, and second segments (13) interposed between said
first segments (12).
Inventors: |
Olivo; Fogi Leni; (Ciserano
(Bergamo), IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOLF, BLOCK, SHORR AND SOLIS-COHEN LLP
250 PARK AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10177
US
|
Assignee: |
RIDEA S.R.L.
Ciserano (Bergamo)
IT
|
Family ID: |
40149572 |
Appl. No.: |
12/244002 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 2001/0293 20130101;
F28F 1/22 20130101; F28F 2275/12 20130101; F28F 9/0253 20130101;
F28F 2275/025 20130101; F28D 1/0477 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/173 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/02 20060101
F28F009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 2007 |
IT |
MI 2007 A 001883 |
Claims
1. A radiator comprising a plate which comprises (1) at least one
manifold fastened to at least one tube for conveying a thermal
carrier fluid, and (2) at least one groove in which the at least
one tube is inserted, herein the at least one tube and and the at
least one groove comprise at least one coil portion comprising (i)
a plurality of first segments substantially parallel to each other
and able to assume a substantially horizontal position when the
radiator is installed, and (ii) a plurality of second segments
interposed between said first segments.
2. The radiator of claim 1, wherein the at least one coil portion
is placed at the delivery of heat-carrying fluid of the at least
one manifold.
3. The radiator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first are
rectilinear.
4. The radiator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first segments
have the same length.
5. The radiator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first segments
have different length.
6. The radiator of claim 1, wherein the at least one manifold is
positioned at a lower portion of the radiator when the radiator is
installed and the coil portion develops upwards.
7. The radiator of claim 1, wherein at the end of the coil portion
opposite the one where the at least one manifold is fastened, a
valve for venting air is fastened.
8. The radiator of claim 7, further comprising a tube and a return
groove interposed between the valve for venting and the at least
one manifold.
9. The radiator of claim 8, wherein the tube and the return groove
are substantially rectilinear or have substantially rectilinear
portions or are curved or coil shaped.
10. The radiator of claim 1, which comprises two manifolds
positioned wherein the coil portion is interposed between the two
manifolds.
11. The radiator of claim 1, wherein the at least one manifold has
a parallelepiped shape.
12. The radiator of claim 8, wherein the at least one manifold has
two cylindrical elements each delimiting a through hole, to which
the tube is fastened.
13. The radiator of claim 8, wherein the tube is inserted by
pressure in the return groove.
14. The radiator of claim 8, wherein the return groove is in the
plate.
15. The radiator of claim 8, wherein the tube is connected to the
return groove with the glue.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a radiator with radiating
plate having high efficiency.
[0002] In particular hereafter reference shall be made to radiators
manufactured by means of a thick plate of thermally conducting
material, e.g. aluminium, in which is obtained a groove (typically
by milling) and, into said groove, is inserted a tube for conveying
heat-carrying fluid.
[0003] Currently, radiators of the aforesaid type present a
structure provided with two manifolds; a first manifold is
positioned at the lower area of the radiator (when the radiator is
installed) whilst a second manifold is positioned at the upper area
of the radiator.
[0004] The plate is provided with vertical grooves positioned
between the two manifolds and with tubes (typically made of copper)
that are inserted in the grooves and that have the ends that
project from the grooves and are connected by welding to each of
the manifolds.
[0005] Alternatively, the radiator is provided with a single
manifold (presenting both the inlet and the outlet of water as
heat-carrying fluid) and, therefore, it is provided with one or
more tubes and grooves (or also multiple tubes and grooves) that
fold in "U" shape in order to present both ends connected to the
single manifold.
[0006] The structures of the traditional radiators described above,
however, present some drawbacks.
[0007] The structure with two manifolds requires the manufacture of
numerous welded joints to connect each tube to each manifold; this
requires long production times and the use of a lot of specialised
labour, with consequent costs that are very high.
[0008] Moreover, both the structure with one manifold, and the one
with two manifolds present a limited contact surface between tube
and plate; this severely limits the heat exchange capacity between
the tube (which contains the hot water that constitutes the
heat-carrying fluid) and the plate (which heats the space in which
the radiator is positioned); in practice, the ability of the
radiator to heat the spaces is limited.
[0009] An additional drawback of the traditional radiators
described above is constituted by the fact that, in particular for
plates whose shape is not squared, the tube and the groove cannot
cover the entire surface; therefore, the edges, in particular the
most irregular ones, are not adequately heated by the heat-carrying
fluid with a consequent limitation of the heating power of the
radiator.
[0010] Lastly, in particular the radiators with single manifold
present considerable problems with venting the air that is
introduced in the tube, because it can remain trapped at the curves
of the "U" shaped tubes.
[0011] The technical task of the present invention, therefore, is
to provide a radiator with radiating plate having high efficiency
that makes it possible to eliminate the aforesaid technical
drawbacks of the prior art.
[0012] Within this technical task, an object of the invention is to
provide a radiator with radiating plate that has a limited number
of welded joints, in order to reduce production times and use of
specialised labour, with the purpose of limiting production
costs.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a radiator
with radiating plate that presents a contact surface between tube
and plate (through the walls of the groove) that is very high, in
order to increase the heat exchanges between the tube and the plate
relative to traditional radiators.
[0014] An object of the invention is also to provide a radiator
with radiating plate in which the tubes and the grooves are able to
cover the entire surface of the plate, even at lateral edges of non
squared and/or irregular plates, in order to optimise the heat
exchange between the heat-carrying fluid and the plate.
[0015] An additional object of the invention is to provide a plate
radiator in which it is very simple and fast to vent the air that
remained trapped within the tube, also for radiators with single
manifold.
[0016] The technical task, as well as these and other purposes,
according to the present invention are achieved by providing a
radiator with radiating plate having high efficiency as claimed in
claim 1.
[0017] Other characteristics of the present invention, moreover,
are defined in the subsequent claims.
[0018] Additional characteristics and advantages of the invention
shall become more readily apparent from the description of a
preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the radiator with
radiating plate according to the invention, illustrated purely by
way of non limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0019] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a view of a radiator according to the
invention with rectangular radiating plate respectively with one
and with two manifolds;
[0020] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a view of a radiator according to the
invention with oval radiating plate respectively with one and with
two manifolds;
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a manifold according to the invention; and
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a sectioned detail of a plate at the tube and
the groove.
[0023] With reference to the aforementioned figures, a radiator
with radiating plate having high efficiency indicated in its
entirety with the reference number 1 is shown.
[0024] The radiator 1 (FIG. 1 or 3) comprises a plate 2 (typically
made of aluminium) which bears, at its rear side (when the radiator
is installed) a manifold 3, (typically made of aluminium or copper
or stainless steel or carbon steel) whereto is fastened (in the
example shown) a tube 4 (made of copper, aluminium or stainless
steel or carbon steel) for conveying a heat-carrying fluid.
[0025] The plate 2 has a groove 6 (obtained in the plate 2 e.g. by
milling) into which is inserted the tube 4.
[0026] The tube 4 presents (FIG. 6) its (outer) surfaces positioned
in direct contact with the surfaces of the groove 6 in which it is
inserted, without the interposition of glues; this makes it
possible to make very efficient the heat exchange between the
heat-carrying fluid contained in the tube 4 and the plate 2.
[0027] Alternatively the tube 4 is connected within the groove with
the interposition of a glue.
[0028] The edges of the groove 6 are converging at its own portion
open outwards.
[0029] The tube 4 is inserted in the groove 6 by pressure and,
preferably, by rolling.
[0030] This allows to insert each tube 4 into the groove 6 without
the tube being able to exit from the same groove 6 and, in
addition, it allows to deform the surface of the tube 4, making it
adhere to the surfaces of the groove 6.
[0031] In this way the retaining of the tube 4 in the groove 6 and
the heat exchange between the heat-carrying fluid contained in the
tube 4 and the plate 2 in which are obtained the grooves 6 are
further improved; moreover, the surface 4a that faces the exterior
of the tube 4 has its profile aligned with the profile 2a of the
plate 2.
[0032] The tube 4 and the groove 6 have at least one coil portion
11 defined by a plurality of first segments 12 substantially
parallel to each other and able to assume substantially horizontal
position when the radiator 1 is installed, and second segments 13
interposed between said first segments 12.
[0033] The coil portion 11 allows densely to cover the plate 2.
[0034] Advantageously, the coil portion 11 of the tube 4 and of the
groove 6 is at the delivery of heat-carrying fluid of the manifold
3 and the first segments 12 of the tube 4 and of the groove 6 are
rectilinear.
[0035] In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first segments 12
of the coil portion 11 of the tube 4 and of the groove 6 all have
the same length, however other configurations are also possible and
so FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the radiator according to
the invention in which the first segments 12 of the coil portion 11
of the tube 4 and of the groove 6 have mutually different
length.
[0036] In different embodiments, the radiator may have one or two
manifolds.
[0037] In the case of a radiator with a single manifold (FIGS. 1
and 3) the manifold 3 is positioned at the lower portion of the
radiator 1 when the radiator 1 is installed and the coil portion 11
of the tube 4 and of the groove 6 develops upwards.
[0038] Moreover, at the upper end (when the radiator is installed)
of the coil portion 11, opposite the one where the manifold 3 is
fastened, is fastened an air venting valve 15 (typically made of
aluminium or copper or stainless steel or carbon steel).
[0039] Hence, the radiator presents a tube 16 and a corresponding
return groove, which are interposed between the vent valve 15 and
the manifold 3.
[0040] Said tube 16 and corresponding return groove are
substantially rectilinear or present two or more substantially
rectilinear portions or, alternatively, they can be curved or coil
shaped.
[0041] FIGS. 2 and 4 show two examples of radiators with two
manifolds (an upper one and a lower one).
[0042] In this case the tube 4 and the groove 6 defining the coil
portion 11 extend from the lower area of the plate 2 and the tube 4
is fastened both to the lower manifold 3 and to an upper manifold
18, which also bears the vent valve 15.
[0043] Conveniently, the manifold 3 (in the case of single
manifold) or both manifolds 3, 18 (in the case of two-manifold
radiator) has parallelepiped shape and it is made of aluminium,
copper or stainless steel or carbon steel, such as to favour the
connection, mechanical or welded, to the plate 2 without using
hooks, punches or other devices; hereafter reference shall be made
only to the manifold 3 but the manifold 18 (when present) has the
same structure.
[0044] The manifold 3 has two through holes delimited by
cylindrical elements 20 projecting longitudinally, to which is
fastened the tube 4 (or, when necessary, the vent valve 15).
[0045] This connection is typically achieved by welding, fitting
the tube 4 over or under the element 20 and, then, performing the
welding operation; thus, the presence of the cylindrical elements
20 is favourable to the welding, in particular when the tube 4 is
made of copper whilst the manifold 3 is made of aluminium.
[0046] Naturally, other connection systems are also possible, e.g.
the threaded connection which can be accomplished threading the
elements 20 and/or the ends of the tube 4 (threads meshing together
or self-threading).
[0047] Moreover, the manifold 3 is provided with threaded union
fittings 21 for the connection to the heating system of the
building in which the radiator is to be installed or to receive
appropriate plugs.
[0048] The operation of the radiator with radiating plate according
to the invention is readily apparent from what is described and
illustrated above and, in particular, it is substantially as
follows.
[0049] In the embodiment with single manifold, the heat-carrying
fluid (hot water coming from the heating system of a building)
enters the manifold 3 through a union fitting 21 and, passing
through a cylindrical element 20, it passes into the tube 4.
[0050] Then, circulating in the tube 4, it heats the plate 2, it
flows through the vent valve 15 and, through the tube 16, it
returns into the manifold 3 and it is expelled therefrom through
the other union fitting 21 into the pipeline of the heating system
of the building.
[0051] The discharge of air that remained trapped in the tube 4 or
in the tube 16 takes place opening the vent valve 15, so the air
escapes.
[0052] In this regard it is preferable for the coil portion to be
connected to the delivery of the manifold 3 because in this case
any air which may be contained in the tube 4 is favoured in its
upward motion.
[0053] For the same reason, the substantially rectilinear and
horizontal portions 12 of the tubes and of the groove 16 can be
oriented in slightly oblique manner, in order to promote the rising
motion of the air.
[0054] In the embodiment with two manifolds, instead, the
heat-carrying fluid (hot water) enters the manifold 3 through a
union fitting 21, through a cylindrical element 20 it passes into
the tube 4, it flows through the whole tube 4 heating the radiating
plate 2, and it enters the upper manifold 18 through a cylindrical
element 20 thereof.
[0055] Then, through a union fitting 21 of the manifold 18, the
water is returned to the pipeline of the heating system of the
building.
[0056] In this case, too, the discharge of air that remained
trapped in the tube 4 takes place opening the vent valve 15 in such
a way that the air escapes and, naturally, the substantially
rectilinear and horizontal portions 12 of the tubes and of the
groove 16 can be oriented in slightly oblique manner, in order to
promote the rising motion of the air.
[0057] Naturally the union fittings 21 and the cylindrical elements
20 that are not used to connect tubes or vent valves are closed by
means of plugs.
[0058] Moreover, it is clear that although only one coil tube (and
one corresponding groove) has been described, in different
embodiments there may also be more than one.
[0059] In practice, it has been noted that the radiator with
radiating plate according to the invention is particularly
advantageous because it can be manufactured in a simpler, more
economic manner than traditional radiators and, at the same time,
it enables to enhance the heat exchange performance of the
radiator.
[0060] Advantageously, the horizontal coil shape enables to
maintain the water in turbulent motion within the coil, to promote
heat exchanges with the plate.
[0061] The radiator with radiating plate thus conceived can be
subject to numerous modifications and variants, without thereby
departing from the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all
details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements.
[0062] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions,
may be any depending on requirements and on the state of the
art.
* * * * *